If it was just a dream.
But Elisia's death was not a dream.
And this current reality…wasn't a dream either.
“…Lisia.
Elisia!”
Elisia was sitting in front of the mirror when she suddenly trembled at the sound of a sharp voice calling her name.
Instinctively, she adjusted her seat.
Reflected in the mirror behind her was a middle-aged woman, her silver hair tied into a bun.
As soon as their eyes met, the woman shouted sharply:
“Can’t you concentrate a little?
We will leave for the Imperial Palace soon, and you are here being discharged!”
“Sorry.
I was just thinking.”
“What could you be thinking about?”
When Elisia tried to explain, her stepmother, Patricia, scoffed sarcastically.
“I go to the trouble of helping you, and you don't show an ounce of gratitude.
Really, you're a dull girl.
Sarah, bring it on.”
“Yes, ma'am.”
At Patricia's command, the maid presented Sarah with a velvet-lined tray.
Above it are fresh flowers and small diamond brooches.
Patricia grumbled as she reached for the flowers.
“For you to faint before a wedding of such importance to the imperial family...
Do you know how much I worried that you would not get up again?”
Elisia looked to the side as she watched Patricia choose a purple flower that was bright and full, but it contrasted perfectly with her red hair.
Even choosing a purple stock flower...is exactly the same as before.
So, this is not really a dream.
She held her skirt quietly so no one would notice.
Everything happens exactly as it happened before—as you remember.
Just like it was two years ago.
After being stabbed in the heart by an assassin sent by Franz, Elisia awakens again.
It wasn't a metaphor about coming back from the dead.
Somehow, she went back in time—to one week before the wedding.
At first, she couldn't believe it.
But seeing everything repeated as in her memory forced her to accept it.
She didn't know the exact reason, but it seemed like it was a side effect of the life-threatening curse she cast.
“Don't worry too much, mom.”
“How could you not?
You have to do what you can if we want our family to survive.”
“One moment, please.”
Elisia gently stopped Patricia's hand, as she was about to put the stock flower in her hair.
“I think a jewel would be better than a flower.”
“A flower is more beautiful than a small jewel.”
“No, I prefer gems.”
Patricia looked at her suspiciously.
Her daughter had never shown interest in clothes or accessories before, and now she insisted on a jewel.
After a slight frown, she finally gave in.
“Okay, as long as you insist.”
Patricia pointed to the small diamond bobby pins, and Sara stepped forward to pin one of them into Elisia's hair.
Through the mirror, Elysia had a determined expression.
She had no choice but to marry the second prince for the sake of her family.
Canceling a royal engagement at this stage was impossible.
But at least—you won't make the same mistake again.
In her previous life, Patricia insisted on exuding the innocence of a country girl, so she put fresh flowers in her hair as she headed to the palace.
When I arrived, the flowers were wilted.
So she had to meet Franz with faded flowers adorning her head.
He was waiting at the entrance, and as soon as he saw her, he looked away in disgust at the miserable scene.
He ordered the servants to accompany her to the attached suite, then disappeared with a hesitant voice.
Thus, Elisia had to go alone, without accompanying him.
The bride-to-be was to stay in the annex for a month before the wedding—a period intended to help her adjust to the palace and grow closer to her fiancé.
But Franz, disappointed by her appearance, never visited her once.
Their first face-to-face meeting was on the wedding day.
The first—and the last.
“You look decent.
The diamond is a bit small, but it's okay.”
After finishing her hair, Patricia examined her daughter critically.
High braids on the sides sparkle with diamond pins, reflecting light from every angle like stars scattered in her hair.
“Thanks, Sarah.”
Elisia thanked her maid briefly, then headed towards the bed where the dresses were spread.
Patricia chose a dress drenched in ruffles.
“Wear this.
You should look impressive when you enter the palace.”
“The hair accessory is impressive enough.”
Elisia resolutely rejected her opinion and chose a simpler dress.
Patricia looked in amazement at the dark wine-colored velvet robe.
“You want to wear this gloomy thing to the palace?
No way!
You will bring shame to our family!”
“I'll change it when I get there anyway.
The carriage ride takes three hours—I'd better wear something comfortable.”
“And yet, you can't!
This dreary thing doesn't even have lace!
Are you crazy?”
“Sara, help me put it on.”
Elisia ignored Patricia's theatrical protests and called for her maid.
Sarah hesitated, stuck between the two.
Elisia was still wearing the corset only after finishing the hair, so she lowered her gaze and added softly: “Or should I just go out like this?”
"Okay!
Do whatever you want!"
Patricia put her hands on her waist, her face red with anger, then she left, slamming the door behind her.
Sara shuddered from the noise and asked hesitantly: “Are you sure?
The lady looked very angry.”
The reason Patricia insisted on supervising Elisia's appearance was simple—to maintain control of her until the last minute.
There was nothing to be gained from obedience.
“I'll be fine.”
Her sarcastic response struck Sarah as a shock, and she stopped fastening the dress's buttons for a moment.
But before Elisia could turn to look at her, Sara returned to complete her work.
The servants had noticed a change in her behavior after she fainted.
Elisia no longer tried to act as she had before.
After she returned from the dead, those efforts seemed meaningless.
The new life must be lived in a different way.
Now that she had another chance, she wasn't going to waste it.
You will erase past regrets.
She will never yearn for Franz's love again, nor will she devote her life to pleasing him.
Because that only led to betrayal.
To Franz, she was nothing.
Even in the palace, their paths would likely never cross.
So, all she has to do is live well—comfortably and freely—as a princess.
She no longer had any feelings for Franz.
Her love died with her last confession.
All that remained was hatred.
'See, did my curse work?'
She furrowed her brow slightly as she adjusted her sleeve.
Suddenly, I was curious—did the curse she cast before she died work?
The one that invites misfortune for Franz, and prevents anyone from nullifying his destiny?
'If things were truly back to where they started, maybe the curse would be gone as well.'
But she did not intend to confirm this by approaching Franz.
Of course, she wasn't planning on going away quietly either.
This wouldn't be fair.
'Just wait, Franz.
I will become the most useless princess you have ever seen.'
She wasn't going to neutralize mana again.
Whether the cold mana drove him crazy or not—she didn't care.
No, she was hoping for it.
If the princess, chosen only to stabilize his powers, is of no use—how great will he be disappointed?
She hoped that this disappointment would hurt him.
Although this small revenge will not last.
Within two years, Franz will find a new lover to take her place.
But, at least until then, he will spiral into torment.
“You look like you're going to a funeral.”
After getting dressed, Elisia went out to find Patricia had returned.
It was clear that she had only returned because Elisia had not come to beg her.
“Since you are leaving the house today, I let you do whatever you want this time, but I did not expect this amount of stubbornness.
How can you ignore your mother’s heart?”
She wiped away non-existent tears, begging Elisia to console her.
A familiar feeling of exhaustion washed over Elysia.
“I'm sorry.
Since I will continue to do things like this, I apologize in advance.
I will no longer obey your orders.”
"What?
Have you lost your mind?"
Patricia's face changed in astonishment.
Elisia responded with a soft smile and shook her head.
“No, I'm perfectly fine.
But if you send me another message asking me to sneak into the Second Prince's bedroom, or seduce him to claim a title—I'll go crazy.”
"W-What obscene nonsense!
I never said anything like that!"
“Exactly.
Keep it like that.
Don’t contact me.
Don’t wait for a response.”
“Elysia Ambrose!”
“It would be more correct to say ‘Elysia Eustace,’ mother.”
She said with a smile, using the royal family title.
Patricia's face turned red with anger, and she started waving her fan violently, then burst into feigned crying.
“I raised you without a father, and gave you everything!
How can you treat me like this?
The late Baron will never forgive you...”
Ignoring her false stepmother's grief, Elisia picked up her shawl.
The road to the palace will be covered in snow.
She needed something warm.
“Sara, get my gloves.”
“Yes, miss.”
“The warmest...”
"Miss!
Madam!"
While she was ignoring Patricia's crying and finishing her preparations, there came a knock on the door with hurried steps.
Patricia shouted, wiping her fake tears: “What’s wrong?!”
"M-Ma'am!
It's…!"
The butler gasped as he looked between Elisia and Patricia, then said in astonishment: “Your Highness, the Second Prince… has come to meet you!”
Elysia jumped to her feet.
"What?!"
“He said he came to accompany you himself!”
She couldn't say a word.
In her previous life, Franz had waited for her at the palace.
But now… he himself came to the Ambrose's house.