“Was my request difficult for you, Lady Elysia?” Franz's voice reached her kindly.
Elisia was sitting absentmindedly, and when she heard her name, she blinked slowly.
'What is he doing?
What's going on...?'
She furrowed her eyebrows and looked at Franz.
As the silence extended, the smile began to fade from his lips.
There was a hint of worry in his golden eyes.
“Did I ask too much?”
“...I'm sorry”
Elysia answered deadpan.
She couldn't accept his kindness as it was.
His true nature - that man who mocked and insulted her - is still engraved in her memory.
A normal couple?
This is ridiculous.
Franz in the past would have scoffed at such a thought.
He didn't even want to talk to her, let alone share something resembling marriage.
Every time she prepared to neutralize mana, Elisia would prepare in advance—bathed, dressed in her best, full of hope.
As for him, he came straight from the training ground, drenched in sweat, and frowning like a child forced to visit the doctor.
He held her wrist with cold hands, endured the neutralization of the mana, and then let go as if he had touched an ember.
The memories are still fresh.
She saw his back much more than his face throughout their marriage.
Even when he was smiling at others, his expression would freeze as soon as their eyes met.
Then he leaves the room immediately.
And now, this same man wants to be a normal husband?
It seemed like he was mocking her.
"I believe the Imperial Family has its own protocols.
I may not be very cultured, but I intend to serve Your Highness properly," she said in a dry, formal tone.
The carriage continued silently, and only the driver's calls and the sound of wheels over gravel were heard.
“I apologize, Your Highness,” she added insincerely.
Franz looked at her silently, then shook his head.
"No need to apologise.
I was the one who asked selfishly."
And with that, the conversation ended.
When the carriage stopped and the door opened, Elisia blinked in confusion.
They were not at the annex.
“This is the Second Prince’s palace.
You will stay here – before and after the wedding,” Franz explained.
Elisia looked at him in amazement.
What is he saying?
No, more importantly - why?
The Palace of the Second Prince was a restricted area, and entry was only permitted with Franz's permission.
Even his wife lived in the annex.
I stared at the gray dome, the column-like corridors of temples, and the vast garden that extended beyond.
The fountain…
She didn't even notice Franz's hand extending towards her.
Her eyes were fixed on the sparkling fountain, where rays of light reflected on the water.
'I thought I had let go of the past.'
She seemed fine—she held herself together in front of Franz, and was unmoved by the idea of returning to the palace to marry him.
But the sight of the fountain, exactly the same as before, awakened something deep inside her.
In her previous life, Franz had torn down that fountain when he noticed her looking at it—right after the wedding banquet.
It was as if her mere looks disgusted him.
She cried alone in the bridal chamber that night.
Later in the evening, Franz visited her, not to console her, but to silently and dutifully perform the duty of marriage.
Then he left before dawn.
And from here the rumor started: The second prince despises his wife.
As for those who doubted, they pointed to the missing fountain as evidence.
But now, the fountain is still standing.
Franz hasn't removed it yet.
When she looked at the statues of angel children, her eyes filled with tears.
“You seem to like the fountain,” Franz commented.
Elisia suddenly noticed and looked away quickly.
“No,” she said.
'Don't cry, Liz.
Crying will bring the past back as it was.'
“The light was just bright”
She answered in a calm, composed voice, and accepted his extended hand.
His body was colder than before.
He must be in pain.
However, Franz remained calm, as if suppressing mana was a normal thing.
"Franz!
Where have you been?
I looked for you everywhere!"
Elysia froze mid-step when a familiar voice rang out.
Quick, confident steps approached.
“When your big brother calls you, you have to answer.
Always cool!”
The man who grabbed Franz's shoulder and spun him around was none other than the First Prince, Creighton.
Elysia instinctively backed away.
Creighton furrowed his eyebrows when he noticed her presence.
"Who is this?"
Franz did not answer.
He just removed Creighton's hand from his shoulder.
But Creighton, unmoved, insisted: “I asked who she was.”
Elysia bowed politely.
“Greetings, Your First Highness.
May the glory of the sun descend upon you.
I am Elysia Ambrose.”
"Ambrose?
Oh, are you Caleb Ambrose's sister?"
I was surprised by the question.
She looked up in surprise.
“Do you know my brother, Your Highness?”
“We studied together at the academy.
It was nice to meet you, Lady Elysia.
Or should I…sister?”
Creighton smiled warmly.
Creighton Eustace - first son of the sun, the strongest contender for the throne, a man who combined power and popularity.
He was known for his charm and leadership skill, and he was the head of students in every institution where he taught.
His palace was always crowded with guests.
There was no noble in the empire he did not know.
His wife, Princess Glenna, was the daughter of the Duke of Cornell, the most powerful family in the empire.
‘Compared to our elegant galena, I must have looked so rustic…’ Elisia thought bitterly.
Maybe that's why Franz was always so disappointed in her.
Perhaps that's why he fell in love with Naerys Roshanak at Creighton's birthday party.
She had no ill will towards Creighton - but his party was the stage where Franz met his beloved.
If he hadn't met her, he probably wouldn't have tried to kill her...
Perhaps she would live as a ghost, invisible and unimportant.
'But I wouldn't have come back then.
So, maybe this is better…'
Elisia swallowed a bitter smile and said:
“Take it easy, Your Highness.”
“As you wish.
I heard that your wedding is next month.
Congratulations on joining the imperial family.
Oh, and...”
Creighton looked at Franz, then leaned toward Elysia.
Franz immediately stepped forward, closing the distance.
“What are you trying to do?”
“Nothing important.
Just warn her about your bad temper.”
Creighton smiled slightly and tilted his head.
“As you can see, life with him will not be easy.
Feel free to visit the First Prince’s Palace whenever you want to talk.
I will be happy to listen.”
“Thank you,” Elisia said.
“You won't,” Franz said sharply.
Elysia shuddered at his cold response.
He gave Creighton a look of hatred.
“We'll see,” Creighton replied, smiling unimpressed.
He was used to this treatment.
As for Elisia, she was surprised by this hostility.
'Did something happen between them that I don't know about?'
They were not close in her previous life, since they were rivals for the throne.
But there was no such coldness between them.
Franz respected Creighton, and it was Creighton who introduced him to Naerys.
So what has changed?
'I haven't done anything yet.
Supposedly the future hasn't changed...'
Elisia looked at Franz, confused.
Finally, Creighton broke the awkward silence.
“He's still as stubborn as he is.
I'm sorry you had to witness this.
I'll leave you both now before the situation gets any worse.”
He waved his hand exaggeratedly and left, as if he was not affected by Franz's rudeness.
“Your mother is looking for you,” he added, “wondering why you are breaking protocol.
I gave her a vague explanation...”
His eyes moved to Elysia.
I understood immediately.
It is not appropriate for the prince to come personally to take his bride - or to place her in the royal palace before the marriage.
With the Emperor falling ill, the Empress must have summoned Franz to reprimand him.
“Anyway, I'm sure you'll find a way.”
Franz didn't answer, so Creighton contented himself with that.
“See you later.
Blessed again.”
He disappeared with confident steps.
Elysia watched him walk away, until the sound of ragged breathing next to her startled her.
“Oh...”
Franz staggered, placing his hand on his chest in intense pain.