“The Second Prince’s bedroom door wasn’t opened today either, right?”
“Oh my god, it's still closed?
Hasn't it been a week already?”
“Their chemistry must be amazing.
Even the first prince didn’t stay that long on his wedding night.”
The maids passing through the corridor of the Second Prince's Palace whispered to each other.
Their whispers echoed like the chirping of birds under the morning sunlight.
“It must be a wonderful life.
I wish I was born with fiery mana.”
"As if that alone was enough.
Compatibility is important too!
Compatibility!"
“That's true.
But these two… they have a rare harmony.
Oh, it's hot all of a sudden!”
“Oh, you—!”
The girls' laughter exploded.
A young man with brown hair was walking behind them, his face frowning deeply.
He asked the maid walking beside him in a cold tone: “Are these the new maids?”
“Yes, Superintendent.
They were hastily hired to serve the wife of the Second Prince.”
“It was your responsibility to train them, Isolde.
Don’t tell me you didn’t find time to train them?”
Lucius gave the maid a sharp look, and she became confused and quickly replied: “I apologize, I will dismiss them all.”
“What next?”
“I'll make sure their mouths are closed tightly, so nothing leaks out.
Don't worry.”
Finally, Lucius turned his gaze forward upon hearing her firm response.
He looked at the maids in front of him.
In fairness, he couldn't blame them entirely.
Most of what they said was true.
Today marks one week since the Second Prince spent his wedding night with his bride.
As if they were bragging about their honeymoon, they never left the bedroom.
Because of this, Lucius had to leave their meals in front of the door every mealtime.
Fortunately, the trays were coming back empty, indicating that they were at least eating.
But no one entered or left the room.
“I hope they come out today.”
Lucius murmured, rubbing his temples.
The royal welcome party for the new member of the imperial family is scheduled for today, a week after the wedding.
It is the first family gathering, usually hosted by the Emperor.
But since he is bedridden, the Empress will host instead.
Therefore, the first meeting will be between the Empress, the First Prince and his wife, and the Second Prince and his wife.
The Empress's palace had been on alert for days in preparation—cooking, decorations, and staff distribution.
The Empress seemed to make a special effort to welcome the wife of the Second Prince.
It is unthinkable for the second prince and his wife to be absent from such an event.
Lucius sighed softly.
'They must not have lost all sense, even in the joy of their honeymoon.'
However, he could not knock on the door of a couple immersed in the passion of the wedding.
Lucius continued walking, hoping Franz would remember what day it was.
The sound of moving dishes woke up Elisia.
While her long eyelashes were fluttering, a quiet voice sounded next to her: “Are you awake?”
Franz greeted her with a bright smile and kissed her forehead.
She squirmed slightly at the touch of his cold skin.
Even though he touched her repeatedly, she wasn't used to it yet.
"How are you feeling?
Are you still dizzy?"
"I'm fine."
Elisia answered dryly and tried to sit up.
Franz naturally rushed to help her, and leaned her against the bedrest.
“Lucius made you what you like—French toast.”
Franz watched her expression as he cut the toast into small pieces.
Elisia stared silently at the tray of food in front of her.
Today completes a full week.
She didn't leave the room once.
She ate the food brought to her, only because Franz was worried about her condition.
But what bothered her more than her health was Franz's constant presence.
“I can feed myf.”
What was most exhausting was his constant, non-stop care.
She turned her face away from him, trying to assert her independence.
Franz smiled embarrassedly.
“You still look weak.”
Elysia took a deep breath at his overprotectiveness.
“I told you—I'm fine now.”
When she emphasized her words, Franz nodded slowly.
But he did not stop examining her features with his eyes.
'He treats me like I'm sick.'
Elisia breathed again and started eating her toast.
She began to grow dull from the intensity of his gaze focused on her.
A week ago, Elysia collapsed due to the effect of Franz's mana.
The moment she lost consciousness, Franz immediately pulled out his mana and began to care for her.
After she woke up, he said that he needed to stabilize the mana link—and continued to hug her.
Under the pretext of calming the mana, Franz spent an entire week with her—day and night.
The more time she spent in his embrace, the more her nausea faded, and the bond between their mana strengthened.
But the more that bond stabilized, the more pain inside Elysia grew.
And not because of mana.
Rather, it is another kind of pain - it has nothing to do with magic.
“Drink some juice too.
Here.”
Elisia began to get used to Franz—this gentle, compassionate side of him, so different from the man she remembered from her previous life.
This made it even more painful.
As she sipped her apple juice, she looked at him.
He was busy cutting up more toast for her.
His fless behavior was difficult to reconcile with the Franz she knew in her previous life.
He seemed like a changed man, determined to be a good husband in this life.
Deep down, Elisia began to wish it were true.
Because - despite her hatred for him - she had once loved him enough to create that hatred.
But life wasn't that kind.
When Elisia recalled the events of the past week, her expression darkened.
Franz was endlessly kind — but always with a purpose.
He was not the type to do something without benefit.
She knew him well.
This kindness will not last long.
“We have to attend the royal banquet today.”
"Know."
Elisia answered calmly, running her fingers over the drops of water on her cup.
She wanted to ignore reality.
Just to stay here a while longer.
But…
“It's mandatory, isn't it?”
Franz seemed disturbed by her complaining words.
He gently took the cup from her hands and said, “It will only take a short time.”
He watched her face as he added, "If she doesn't fully recover, we can postpone it.
Nothing is more important than stabilizing the mana."
When he emphasized the word “mana” again, the sparkle in Elisia’s eyes dimmed.
She shook her head.
“You don't have to worry about that.
You checked it last night.”
Also last night, Franz had embraced her—under the pretext of stabilizing the mana bond.
Mana became the reason he couldn't let go of it.
And every time he hugs her, he whispers that their bond is only for mana — so she shouldn't stay away from him.
As if she didn't even know.
“I'm starting to feel suffocated anyway.
It's okay.”
Elisia smirked and looked at Franz.
He opened his mouth as if to say something, then closed it again.
“So, the wedding night is finally over.”
Elisia said this while watching his hesitation.
His dark gaze lingered on her for a moment, then turned away.
“You know, the whole palace is buzzing about how well you two get along.”
Elysia's fork stopped midway, over the smoked salmon salad.
She was now in the Empress's banquet hall.
After her embarrassing conversation with Franz in the morning, she returned to her own bedroom.
Although only a thin wall separated her from Franz's room, she felt as if a thick wall had risen between them.
Of course, Sarah didn't see it that way.
While helping her get dressed, Sara couldn't stop complaining about how much the Second Prince loved her.
At first, Elisia didn't understand why.
She thought it was just talk about the long honeymoon period.
But when Sarah brought a halter-neck lace dress, Elisia realized what the hype was all about.
'He literally leaves his mark on you.
Although it is not necessary, everyone knows that you are his.'
Sara's angry comment was enough to make Elisia's face completely red — she didn't even need the makeup.
“The Second Prince must make you feel safe.
The Empress’s gift to you was Roshanak’s necklace, and she has the Prince’s love.
What a blessing!”
As she recalled Sara's murmurs, Elisia raised her eyes, meeting Glenna's gaze.
Glenna smiled at her with crescent-shaped eyes.