Caleb ran towards Elisia and embraced her in a tight hug.
Although he was not as tall as Franz, he was tall enough to completely submerge her.
“Are you really leaving so quickly?
Without even saying goodbye?” , he muttered complainingly.
“That's what I'm saying too,” Patricia interjected sarcastically from behind him.
Anger was seeping from every pore.
Elysia stifled a laugh.
Patricia was boiling with anger, not knowing where to put it.
And seeing this scene—which she had often imagined in her dreams—gave her a strange feeling of satisfaction.
“I was surprised that His Highness came himself.
I am sorry.”
“You'll be gone for a long time, and I didn't even get to say goodbye...ah!”
“That's enough,” interrupted Franz sharply, sliding between them.
He pushed Caleb aside and stood directly in front of Elysia, blocking her from view.
Elisia opened her eyes in surprise as she looked at him from behind.
“You won't let me say goodbye to my family?” She said in an angry tone.
"family?" Franz repeated the word, looking at Elisia's red hair and Caleb's silver locks suspiciously.
“We don't need to be alike to be a family,” Elisia answered politely, hiding her annoyance.
'What's wrong with him?'
Franz never cared for her, let alone her family.
She remembered well how much he had ignored her repeated requests to let Caleb visit her.
She clenched her fist and said, “Even if the blood is not identical, or we are not similar in appearance, we are still a family—just like Your Majesty and the First Prince.”
“So, you and this man are family?” he asked her rudely.
Didn't she just say that?
“Family...”
Franz repeated the word, as if it tasted bitter in his mouth.
Elysia tried to hold back her rising anger.
“I don't know what you're thinking, but Caleb and I are normal brothers, like any other brothers.”
“Normal?”
“Yes.
Usually—”
Elisia began to explain what a normal sisterly relationship meant, then she hesitated.
Caleb and she were just that—brothers.
Even though they were half-brothers, Caleb always stood by her side, even when Patricia was cruel to her.
She met him for the first time when she was only two years old—she still couldn't read.
And he, only two years older, was no more advanced.
Most children of nobles were able to read then, but Caleb was born a commoner.
People circulated rumors about how lucky he was—how his life changed when he inherited the title of Baron after Elysia's father died.
But Elysia never thought of him that way.
No matter Patricia's ambitions, Caleb was always her brother.
When she scraped her knee, he would blow on her and carry her home.
He was a gentle, steady presence.
However, in noble families, close relationships between brothers were rare.
For a royal like Franz, the concept of “close brotherhood” might be quite foreign.
He was embroiled in a silent rivalry with his half-brother, First Prince Creighton, for the throne.
So Elisia decided to explain to him as she would explain to a child:
“A normal brotherly relationship means growing up together—eating together, playing together, studying together.
Like playmates, or like Your Majesty and the First Prince.”
“I understand.”
Finally, Franz pulled back the hand that was covering Caleb, and his expression turned into a faint smile.
That smile—which was once a wish she made from the bottom of her heart—became easy today.
"Liz?
Are you okay?" Caleb asked her, tilting his head towards her after remaining silent.
When he gestured with his hand, silently asking her for another hug, Elisia smiled at him brightly.
"Yes, Caleb.
Be okay, okay?"
"Why are you talking like we'll never meet again?
We'll meet...right?"
'no.
'We will never meet,' Franz would never allow it.
Elisia swallowed those words, gently patting Caleb's back.
Franz watched them silently.
The expression on his frozen face betrayed his dissatisfaction.
But Elysia paid no attention to him.
I've endured much worse contempt than this.
“Shall we go, Your Highness?”
I deliberately ignored Patricia, who was standing with her head held high awaiting a formal farewell.
When her face turned red with anger, Elisia did not show any interest.
Franz watched her for a moment, then pointed toward the waiting carriage.
Elisia caught his gaze—and her face froze.
The golden carriage dedicated to the second princess.
She walked towards her slowly.
It was like entering the mouth of a monster.
As soon as you enter it, hell begins again.
Two years of loneliness, neglect, and cruelty.
'But this time, I won't be the one to suffer.'
Every step was a covenant.
Her emerald eyes glowed with silent determination.
The imperial carriage was far more luxurious than anything the Ambrose family had owned.
It was even possible to drink tea comfortably inside.
When the carriage started with a slight jolt, Franz grabbed the window frame.
“Do you feel uncomfortable?
The trip will take about three hours.
We can use a magic portal, but it has side effects.”
“Side effects?
I thought it was just light dizziness.”
Elisia looked at him in surprise.
Franz has always favored using magic.
The more he used it, the less he suffered from the mana pressure.
Although the gates consumed a small amount of mana, he was constantly using them to relieve the pressure.
“Yes,” Franz answered coldly, then fell silent.
He clearly wasn't interested in continuing the conversation.
Elisia did not try to pressure him.
Old Elysia would have tried desperately to continue the conversation.
But now, she no longer cares about anyone but herself.
'What now?'
She looked at him from the corner of her eye.
It was exactly as I remembered it.
He's so handsome that it's hard to call him masculine—sharp eyes that give him majesty, broad shoulders that taper to a slim waist, and long, straight legs.
Still amazing.
Still bright.
But...there is something different about it.
'Not everything has to be repeated the same way, it seems.'
Is it possible that Franz went back in time too?
Very little possibility.
But she needs to confirm it.
If Franz had returned with his full memories, she would have strangled him where he was.
But if not...
'Either way, it doesn't matter.
'I will take revenge.'
Elisia smiled sarcastically, taking her steps calmly.
“Oh, I forgot to greet you properly,” she said, straightening up in her seat, placing her hand on her chest.
“Nice to meet you, Your Highness.
May the glory of the sun rest upon you.”
Franz turned to her.
She continued speaking smoothly.
“I am Elysia Ambrose, and soon to be Elysia Eustace—your bride.”
“…Is that all you are going to say?” he asked her, extending his hand in a dry voice, his golden eyes tinged with a hint of despair.
She looked at his hand, then slowly raised her head.
Their eyes met—clear gold and deep green.
Franz's gaze trembled as soon as he entered her gaze.
But Elisia feigned ignorance, and smiled kindly at him.
“Is there anything more I should say to someone I'm meeting for the first time?
Or...have we met before?”
"no."
Franz turned away quickly, as if her smile was unbearable.
“No, we haven't met.”
That slight shudder… was so familiar.
Elysia raised an eyebrow.
So, he didn't go back in time.
If he had returned, that smile alone would have been enough to recall the scene of her death in his mind—because she had smiled at him in her last moments.
He would have remembered the curse she uttered after her confession.
If that had happened, he would not have sat quietly in this carriage.
He would have demanded that she remove the curse.
But he didn't.
As I expected—this Franz doesn't know the future.
'I hope the curse is still effective.
Unfortunately, I can't repeat it.'
Casting the same curse on the same person twice will bounce back on the magician.
Even if the previous curse has been lifted, it is not safe to try again.
Then, Franz suddenly spoke:
“You said...you and Mr.
Caleb are natural brothers.”
“...Excuse me?” Elisia blinked in surprise.
He was looking directly at her now.
'What does he mean?'
“Mr.
Caleb Ambrose.
You said you were natural brothers.”
It was as if he read her thoughts.
She nodded.
“Yes, I said so.
Why do you ask?”
“I want us to be a normal couple.”
The sudden display made her furrow her eyebrows.
What is he saying?
Is he aware of what it means?
For a member of the royal family to say that he wants a “normal” relationship with his bride?
“We eat together, we walk, we sleep in the same room.
That's kind of normal.”
Franz smiled, his lips curling into a perfect curve.
Elysia stared at him dumbfounded, unable to say a word.
Because the version of Franz she loved more than anything…was finally looking at her.