Maybe because it was the second time, the wedding seemed boring.
In her previous life, she was so excited and nervous that the party was over before she even realized what was happening.
But in this life, since she knew the order of events, the party was unbearably dull.
The priest announced the decision, recited prayers, greeted the imperial family, and finally heard a congratulatory speech from the Empress.
It was a simple procedure.
But that was only at the weddings of ordinary nobles.
Even if the procedures were the same, the fact that it was an imperial wedding made everything solemn and formal.
Because of that, the party went on for a long time.
Each ritual took at least an hour.
Just when she thought she might choke from boredom, all the wedding rituals were finally over.
All that remained was the banquet and the wedding night.
“Ah...”
Elisia sighed deeply as she left the church and entered the Second Prince's palace, the veil being lifted from her.
As soon as she entered the bedroom, she just wanted to collapse on the bed, no matter what else happened.
As if reading her thoughts, Lucette smiled gently.
“You must be exhausted from stress.
Everyone feels that way on their wedding day.
Just bear with it, Your Highness.”
“I just want it to be over quickly.”
Elysia smiled hesitantly.
But the truth was different.
She was just bored and wanted to escape.
But she swallowed her true feelings and added politely: "I'm glad I chose a comfortable dress for the banquet.
I'm feeling a little tired."
“The wedding dress has a long train.
It's not easy to walk with that train behind you.”
Lucette skillfully helped her change her clothes and continued: “The banquet dress has a wide skirt, but it is made of light chiffon fabric, so it will be much more comfortable.”
Elysia nodded, looking at herself in the mirror.
The light peach-colored banquet dress highlighted her chest and waist, and the skirt flowed very wide underneath it.
Wearing this dress, she looked like a doll sitting on top of a cake.
“It's comfortable.”
said Elysia with sincere admiration.
From the outside, it looked like a carefully designed costume, but it had freedom of movement in mind, so it wasn't as restrictive as a wedding dress.
Now she understood why Lucette is the best in the empire.
“Excuse me, Your Highness.
His Highness the Second Prince is waiting for you.”
While Elisia was putting on the diamond necklace that the Empress had given her, she turned her gaze towards the voice coming from behind the door.
When she turned, Sarah quickly approached the doorstep.
“She'll be here soon.
Just a moment.”
“His Highness said he would come personally to pick you up.
How do I inform him?”
“Okay...”
Sara was talking to one of the maids at the door, then looked at Elisia.
As soon as she heard “The Second Prince,” her eyes darkened.
Sara read Elisia's facial expressions, and said gently to the maid: "Isn't this unnecessary?
His Highness has to greet the guests.
Don't worry.
We will accompany Her Highness properly."
While Sarah was talking to the maid, Lucette adjusted Elisia's necklace.
She looked at Elisia with admiration and spoke sincerely: “You are the most beautiful bride I have ever seen.
There is no doubt that the Second Prince will fall in love with you again.”
"Thank you."
Elysia responded with a faint smile to Lucette's compliment.
She didn't want to look pretty in Franz's eyes.
But she couldn't say it out loud.
So she hid her true feelings behind a mask of smiles.
From now on, she has to live this way again and again—hiding her true self.
She had to get used to that in her second life.
“Her Highness the Second Princess enters!”
When Elisia entered the banquet hall, one of the guards slammed his spear on the ground and shouted.
All eyes in the hall turned to her.
Looks of curiosity, hostility, and admiration mixed together and made her feel dizzy.
But Elysia walked forward with an indifferent expression.
She was used to those looks.
The nervous, sweaty girl, who didn't know what to do, disappeared.
“Second Princess.”
A man emerged from the audience and bowed politely to Elysia.
“I was about to come to you.”
Elisia looked at him calmly.
He seemed proud to call her “Second Princess.”
He is now officially her husband as of this day.
Franz smiled slightly and lowered his eyes.
As he bent down, his blonde hair shone under the lights.
Elisia watched his expressionless face as he raised his head.
He was dressed in a banquet uniform, not the white uniform that made the wedding sacred, but a simpler naval uniform.
The design highlighted his broad chest and slim waist in an inverted triangle shape.
He was so handsome that all the women in the hall gave him secret glances.
'Just like in my previous life.
'I thought it would be different.'
Elisia assessed Franz's outfit without any enthusiasm.
She was past the stage of being amazed by his beauty.
Being fooled by his handsome face was something only the former naive Elisia could do.
But now, Franz's appearance no longer had any effect on her.
Neither his renewed smile nor his serious look could influence her.
“This peach color suits you very well.
I must ask Madame Lucette to make you some more dresses in this color.”
Elisia furrowed her eyebrows lightly.
How could he say something like that, knowing exactly how she would respond?
His manner is suspicious, whether he meant it or not.
Every time Franz compliments her, she pretends not to hear him and ignores him.
However, he never tired of praising her beauty.
'What is his intention?'
Elisia began to feel anxious every time he approached her gently.
Her previous experience made her wary.
At any moment, it might suddenly be announced that it smells disgusting.
She didn't know when it would happen, but she was sure it would.
Perhaps Franz was suppressing an intense desire to hold his nose at this moment.
Perhaps he was enduring everything with all his might to maintain the bond between them and obtain the mana blessing.
'Do as you wish.'
Elysia thought coldly.
No matter what he did, she was sure she wouldn't get hurt.
She was used to being treated coldly.
Elysia and Franz walked together towards the Empress, who was waiting for the Prince and the Second Princess.
The Empress was sitting at the main table, and she smiled kindly when they bowed before her in a respectful greeting.
“Congratulations on your marriage, Second Prince and Second Princess.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“If the Emperor were present, he would be very pleased to see you together...”
The Empress's eyes filled with tears as she looked at the venerable Franz and the beautiful Elisia.
When her voice broke, one of the bridesmaids approached to dry her tears with a handkerchief.
The Empress smiled shyly.
“How foolish of me.
Showing my tears on such a happy day.
Forgive me, Second Princess.”
“Please do not apologise, Your Majesty.”
Elysia came forward and took the Empress's hand.
The Empress was surprised by this initiative, and looked at Elysia.
“When the Emperor wakes up later, let me greet him properly.
With you, Your Majesty the Empress.”
Elysia's warm words made the Empress bite her lip.
She nodded, and said in a shaking voice: “Elysia... having a warm person like you at Franz’s side is a true blessing for the imperial family.”
“You are being too kind.”
Elysia gave a slight bow.
The Empress looked tenderly at the sparkling necklace on her neck.
“I'm glad I gave you this necklace.
It suits you very much, doesn't it, Franz?”
“I can only admire your insight, Your Majesty.”
Franz answered politely, but in a somewhat formal tone.
Then, after saying that formal sentence, he cleared his throat and added: “Do you allow me to dance the first dance with my wife?”
“Oh, how stupid I am.
Of course, of course I have to.”
The Empress blinked in astonishment at Franz's words, then gently pushed Elisia towards him.
Elisia approached him suddenly.
The Empress applauded lightly.
Immediately after the Empress's applause, silence fell throughout the hall.
While everyone's eyes were focused, the Empress looked at the orchestra sitting in the hall.
The leader responded to her signal, moved his baton, and a soft note began to filter through—a piece of slow-tempo dancing music.
As the music started, the guests naturally gathered around Franz and Elisia.
They wanted to witness the honor of the first dance between the bride and groom.
Franz advanced into the crowd and extended his hand towards Elisia gracefully, with a confident expression.
“Elysia, my bride.
Will you do me the honor of dancing with me?”
"… Yes."
Elysia reluctantly took Franz's offered hand.
She was avoiding him all the time.
But now, she couldn't keep him away.
At least once, she should dance with him.
Because the feast begins with the couple’s dance.
As soon as she took his hand, the slow tone began to gradually turn into a faster rhythm.
Franz held Elisia's hand with one hand, and circled her slender waist with the other.
The warmth of his body spread from her waist to her entire body.
Elisia felt her cheeks heat up, so she bit her lip and lowered her gaze to hide the blush on her face.
'Don't tremble, Liz.'
It's just a formal dance.
It means nothing to Franz, or to anyone.
“Elisia, look at me,” Franz, who was embracing her in preparation for the dance, whispered in a soft voice.
His sweet voice pierced her ears.