She felt as if time had stopped.
In the vast banquet hall, it seemed as if only Franz and Elisia were present.
She could no longer hear orchestral music.
Was it like this last time too?
Elysia wondered absently as she danced, led by Franz.
She couldn't remember clearly.
Maybe because the dance with Franz last time ended too quickly.
If her usual stubborn memory, which did not forget the smallest details about Franz, held nothing about that dance, then it must have been brief.
“Do you like waltzing?”
Pulled out of her thoughts, Elisia fluttered her eyes in surprise at Franz's whisper.
Unconsciously, she tightened her grip on his shoulder.
The faint echo of the waltz became clear in her ears.
"no."
As soon as she answered, the orchestra stopped playing.
The first song is over.
Elisia immediately withdrew her hand from Franz's, as if she had been waiting for that moment.
“I don't like it.”
When Elisia tried to back away, Franz extended his hand towards her.
But before his hand could touch her, Elisia turned away.
“To—”
“Congratulations on your marriage, His Highness the Second Prince, and Her Highness his wife.”
“Belissa, you have come!”
Elisia ignored Franz's voice calling to her, and walked towards Belissa.
She felt his urgent gaze penetrating her back, but she deliberately ignored them and spoke cheerfully: “Thank you for coming.”
“Of course I had to come.”
Belissa smiled warmly and replied.
Elisia held her hand and walked with her towards the corner of the banquet hall.
She had danced the wedding dance with Franz in the first song, so her part in the party was over.
She no longer had to deal with him.
At least, until the wedding night.
“Can I leave His Highness the Second Prince to you?”
Belissa asked, glancing towards Franz, who was still staring at Elisia.
Elysia looked at him.
His gaze was still fixed on her, his mysterious expression difficult to read.
“I can't burden him any more.”
Elisia waved her hand and looked away.
“There are many young women who want to get close to the Second Prince other than me.
Do I monopolize him alone?”
She said cheerfully, winking.
Before she finished speaking, the young women had already begun to gather around him.
Elisia laughed softly when she saw Franz looking embarrassed in front of them.
When he saw her smile, sternness appeared in his eyes.
He seemed worried.
He hesitated as if he could not restrain his desire to approach her.
In the end, he tried to make his way among the young women, but a noble lady stopped him.
Elisia thought coldly as she watched him:
He cannot ignore the guests who congratulate him.
She will let him deal with noble ladies and young ladies.
She wanted to enjoy her last moments of freedom before darkness fell.
“It was a really beautiful wedding.
Nat wanted to come too.”
“Why didn't Miss Schuyler come?
I thought she would.”
Elysia tried to take her mind off Franz.
The more she tried to avoid him, the more she felt strangely drawn to him.
So she decided to change her ideas completely.
“We sent out an invitation to young women as well.”
“Yes, you did.
But yesterday she suddenly had a fever.”
Belissa sighed anxiously, and placed her hand on her cheek.
“She cried and said she had to come to the wedding, but we had to leave her behind and bring her later.”
"That's unfortunate.
Is the fever high?"
“Don't worry.
I think she got it from excitement.
Kids are like that sometimes.”
Elysia smiled softly.
“Please visit us again with Little Miss next time.
Is Duke Linden still in Dafa?
It would be great if everyone came.”
“He only came back yesterday.
So he attended the wedding today as well.
There—oh, he’s talking to His Highness the Second Prince.”
Elisia followed Belissa's fingers with her eyes.
An imposing man, with black hair and red eyes, was talking to Franz.
All the young women who had gathered around Franz had disappeared.
Elisia furrowed her eyebrows as she looked at him.
Just a moment ago they were gathering to ask for the next dance.
Where did they go?
Did he expel them?
As if she had read Elisia's question, Belissa whispered next to her:
"Oh my God.
It seems my husband has sent away all the ladies again.
At this rate, Prince Franz's only dancing partner today will be Her Highness."
“Why is the Duke of Linden like this?”
Elisia opened her eyes wide and looked at Belissa, who smiled shyly and opened her fan.
“He doesn't do anything.
But when he looks with those sharp eyes, everyone runs away.”
“He doesn't look sharp.”
“You're the second person to say that to him.”
“Who was first?”
Belissa smiled jokingly and said, “Me.”
She looked at Linden with eyes full of love.
“He looks cold on the outside, but because he has this strange nature, he becomes even more beautiful.”
“…Belissa really loves Duke Linden.”
“Oh, my God.”
Belissa blinked in surprise at Elisia's innocent admiration.
She waved her fan, smiling shyly.
“I look foolish in front of the new bride, Your Highness.
Forgive me.”
“It's so nice to see you like this.
I'm jealous.
To love someone like this...”
Belissa stopped waving and looked at Elisia.
The second princess looked like she was genuinely jealous.
Although she had just gotten married today, her expression was sad, not like a newlywed.
'It's a political marriage, so the atmosphere is still tense'
Belissa formed her own conclusion.
The second princess was chosen based on the interaction of the mana stone.
Most likely, she had never met Prince Franz before.
From a country baron's daughter to a member of the royal family overnight—people said she was lucky.
But for her, adapting to this huge change in environment must have been difficult.
Learning court etiquette alone is an arduous task.
In a situation like this, it is difficult for one to have illusions about one's marriage partner.
Unless she's a naive, childish girl, which the Second Princess isn't.
“We were nervous at first too.
Linden was silent, you know.
Like His Second Highness.”
“Franz...”
Not quite silent.
Elisia closed her mouth before objecting to Belissa.
Now that she thought about it, Franz talked a lot in this life.
In her previous life, she had to cling to him and beg him just to hear a cold word from him.
But now, he constantly talks about things she didn't ask him to.
“You're already calling the Second Prince by his name?
That's a good sign.”
When Elisia's tone softened, Belissa smiled happily and crossed her arm.
Then Belissa took her and led her towards Linden and Franz.
“I'll introduce you to my husband.
Come on.”
“Belissa!”
Elisia was confused and grabbed Belissa's arm.
But she was determined.
In the end, Elisia surrendered and stood in front of the two men.
“Linden, have you greeted the Second Princess?”
At Belissa's warm voice, the sharp-eyed man slowly turned his head.
His cold gaze had immense power.
He carries a prestige befitting the head of the ancient family that supports the Loret Empire.
“What are you doing?
Of course I have to greet her.”
But Belissa only saw in him her husband.
She nudged his side with her elbow.
Linden bent his body slightly as if he remembered what he had to do.
“My apologies, Her Highness the Second Princess.
Congratulations on your marriage.
May the sunshine always be with you.”
“Thank you.
May the sunshine continue with Duke Linden as well.”
“What were you two talking about?”
Belisa asked cheerfully, while Elisia greeted Linden with confusion.
Linden looked at her with a warm look, as if he had never held that cold look.
“Nothing important.
We talked about the weather.”
“The weather?”
“Yes, the weather.”
Linden cleared his throat lightly and continued: “This summer wasn’t very hot, so I wondered what next summer would be like.”
“The sun wasn't scorching this year, but we don't know about next year.
What do you think, Duchess?”
When Franz asked, Belisa's eyes moved lightly.
"I don't know.
But, Your Highness, winter has not yet arrived.
Isn't it too early to worry about next year's summer?"
“It's better to prepare early.”
Franz said gently to Belisa.
Elisia watched him carefully and spoke: “In order to reach summer, we must first get through the winter well.
So, first think about how to survive the dark season.”
At Elysia's words, Franz and Linden turned to her at the same time.
Silence prevailed between the four.
Linden narrowed his eyes and looked at Elysia as if trying to read her thoughts.
She straightened her back and looked at him steadily.
The atmosphere was tense.
As the dance music stopped and people's attention turned to them, Linden suddenly burst out laughing.