How could I forget that.

Pale sunlight settled on Olivia’s pallid cheeks.

Feeling stuffy inside the carriage, she opened the window slightly.

The early summer breeze carried the thick scent of acacia.

In Londos, servants stack the gifts brought by guests in the center of the reception room.

Like a Christmas tree.

And after the banquet, everyone gathers in the spacious reception room, drinking champagne and opening gift boxes one by one.

Along with the birthday celebrant’s words of gratitude.

Of course, Johan didn’t personally handle those tedious tasks.

The butler or aide would unwrap the gifts and read out the congratulatory cards on his behalf.

The thought of their shock upon seeing Olivia’s name on the card made her head spin.

She didn’t want to appear as if she still had lingering feelings for her divorced husband.

She didn’t want to upset his fiancée, nor did she want to be seen as a tactless woman.

‘It seems that’s the only way for now. Of course, time is tight.’
‘Is there a way?’

Olivia’s eyes lit up with a sparkle. But the moment was very brief.

‘Through a messenger… Though even that would require luck to be on our side.’
‘…’

It took 10 hours by express ship from Litten Port to Remon Port in the Kingdom of Londos.

Nine hours by express train from Remon Station to Leiden Central Station.

And about thirty minutes by carriage from the central station to Patek’s main store.

And Johan Leopold’s birthday party is tomorrow at 6 PM.

In other words, it meant the timing of all transportation would have to align perfectly just to barely retrieve the watch.

Olivia let out a long sigh of despair.

“My lady? Your hat.”

Only when Anne called out did Olivia realize she was clutching the flower decoration on the hat resting on her lap.

Ah! Olivia exclaimed softly and quickly let go.

Meanwhile, Anne was blaming herself.

If only she had spoken up when she saw the writing in the notebook that day…

The excuse of being too busy was of no help in this situation.

Recalling Lady Margaret Wellington’s vicious face, there was no time to hesitate.

“Um. My lady?”

Olivia, who had been fidgeting with her hands clasped together instead of the hat, looked up at Anne.

Her eyelids were half-closed, heavy with worry.

“I’ll go.”

“Anne?”

Olivia, who hadn’t considered Anne, asked in surprise.

“Yes. Please stay with Mrs. Mary for two days. I’ll be back soon.”

Anne’s eyes sparkled with determination as she sought Olivia’s approval. Olivia hesitated.

“It’s not like I’m going somewhere unfamiliar. Don’t worry.”

Olivia was concerned about Anne having to set out in the middle of the night.

They had never been apart since coming here.

For these and other reasons, she couldn’t readily give an answer.

“My lady.”

Anne called to Olivia once more.

The peaceful evening cityscape flowed slowly past the carriage window.

As the carriage entered Riverside 3rd Street along the river, Olivia clasped Anne’s hands tightly and said,

“Thank you, Anne. I’m counting on you.”

Looking back at Olivia, Anne nodded.

The sea water was crimson from the flames blazing over the dark night sea, and the dock was as bright as day.

A fire suddenly broke out on a ship scheduled to depart at 7 PM.

The fire that started in the cargo hold engulfed the house-sized ship, and in an instant, carried by strong winds, it spread to the passenger ship docked beside it. The ship Anne was supposed to board.

The pier became chaotic, and the dazed Olivia and Anne stood motionless amidst the panicking crowd, getting jostled about.

Olivia, who had been stiff with shock at this unexpected turn of events, was the first to come to her senses.

“Let’s look for another ship, Anne.”

Olivia hurried towards the building where they had purchased tickets, pulling Anne along.

The passenger ship terminal was already packed with passengers waiting to board.

The people who had rushed in all at once were competing to ask when they could board a ship.

The ticket counter clerk eventually screamed in response to the barrage of inquiries.

“Please look at the updated ship departure schedule! I beg you!!!”

Despite the clerk’s outcry, the angry voices of protesting passengers grew even louder.

Various curses and sighs mixed in the air, making their ears ring. It seemed unlikely they could expect help from the clerk.

Pushed along by the crowd to the waiting room, Olivia and Anne searched for the schedule.

Looking around, they found the sailing schedule hanging large on the right wall, where the whitewash had peeled off in places.

That area too was crowded with people trying to check the changed ship schedules.

Olivia and Anne looked at each other and took a deep breath. The two pushed their way through the crowd.

Having barely reached a spot where the numbers were clearly visible, Olivia stood on her tiptoes and quickly scanned down the green departure board, looking for ships bound for Remon.

June 15th 4:00 PM – Pers. Queen Elizabeth (to Remon) Cancelled
June 16th 7:00 AM – Roycan. Victoria (to Remon) Delayed. Scheduled departure 6:00 PM

“…”

This can’t be.

The next ship to Remon was scheduled to depart right at the time of Johan’s birthday celebration.

Faced with this unbelievable reality, Olivia checked the sailing schedule again. Not that it would change anything.

Really, this is.

This can’t be.

Olivia repeated the same words to herself.

“…It’s over. It’s all over, Anne.”

It looked like she was going to completely ruin Duke Johan Leopold’s birthday party. What should she do?

Olivia felt as if her mind had gone blank.

With slumped shoulders, the two turned back from where they had been wedged in the crowd.

Outside, pitch-black smoke continued to rise into the night sky.

The air they breathed was acrid, and the air touching their skin was hot.

The dock was in full swing with firefighting carriages and port staff intermingled, working on extinguishing the fire.

The two heading towards the carriage stand were silent.

Suddenly, the words of the birthday card written by Olivia Blanchet came to mind.

Sweet love confessions that Han Ji-an would never have uttered aloud.

Please, don’t let the fiancée see it… Though the chances were extremely slim, she decided to pray to God. Desperately.

“Olivia?”

It was then that the familiar voice was heard.

Olivia, who had just left the crowded pier, stopped in her tracks. She turned around slowly. A black carriage was gradually coming to a stop.

The door opened, and a very tall man stepped out. It was Edgar.

Edgar had been in a carriage heading to Litten Port for a business trip to Londos.

The speed of the fast-moving carriage noticeably slowed down just about two blocks away from Litten Port.

Fire engines quickly cut through the long line of carriages.

Edgar’s carriage also entered the port at a turtle’s pace, making way on one side.

Because of the slow speed, he could clearly see the woman outside the carriage window.

Olivia Blanchet. A woman who, according to her usual reported schedule, should have been quietly asleep at this hour was walking with a dazed expression.

Why on earth is she here.

He couldn’t help but stop the carriage.

“What brings you here?”

The blue eyes, startled, visibly trembled.

“That’s what I’d like to know. Are you waiting for someone?”

Unless it was to pick someone up, why would a woman be at the port at this hour?

Edgar, after confirming that the woman had nothing in her hands, came to that conclusion.

“No. It’s not that.”

The woman shook her head slightly.

“Then why.”

“…Well. I have some circumstances. What about you?”

“I have business in Londos.”

Circumstances, is it.

While answering Olivia’s question, Edgar thought about her circumstances.

Surely she wasn’t trying to run away in the night. The tennis tournament was just 3 weeks away.

“You probably won’t be able to go today. Everything’s been cancelled. And the ships scheduled to depart tomorrow have all been delayed.”

“Where.”

Edgar’s gaze sharpened.

“Were you planning to go on a trip?”

“Ah… That’s not it.”

If that’s not it, then why do you know the ship schedules so well. Edgar’s eyes darkened further as he watched the woman flinch and lower her head.

His gaze slowly shifted to the maid standing beside the woman.

The handbag the maid was holding, about the size of a typewriter, didn’t seem suitable for a long journey.

“Let’s move to a different location.”

“Pardon?”

The bustling dock was not a suitable place for conversation.

The woman didn’t seem likely to give an easy answer, and her voice was getting increasingly softer, mixing with the surrounding noise, which was starting to irritate him.

“Get in for now.”

Olivia hesitated.

Because her eyes were so clear, the woman’s inner thoughts were completely visible.

Should I get in or not. Her face, so seriously conflicted, was quite sincere.

Then, as if she had made up her mind, her upward gaze spoke.

She won’t get in.

Just as the woman’s scarlet lips were about to part, Edgar grabbed Olivia’s hand and pulled her along.

The wrist caught in his large grip was thin yet firm.

The carriage started moving again.

“So.”

A low voice resonated inside the Lancelot exclusive passenger lounge. Edgar tapped the ash off his long cigar and continued.

“You want to retrieve the birthday gift. Is that right?”

Though the expression ‘retrieve’ didn’t sit well with her, Olivia nodded slightly.

He has a ship.

She knew he owned a yacht, but Olivia hadn’t known he had a speedboat too. Edgar seemed like an omnipotent god to her.

“You can come with me then. That works, right?”

“Thank you so much.”

It was so simple. Olivia felt both perplexed and delighted.

Edgar gazed steadily at the woman sitting across from him. Her beaming face was pleasant to see.

Through the full-length glass window behind the woman, he could see the still-blazing No. 1 dock.

While it was unfortunate for the poor ship owner, Edgar was grateful to be entangled with the woman in this way.

Though it was a pity the maid wouldn’t be going alone.

After all, he could have her board his ship anytime if he wanted to. He decided to postpone the pleasures on board for another opportunity.

Because right now, he was shining in the woman’s eyes like a savior.

For now, that was enough.