NMBTD 07

Chapter 7

Franz’s pale lips trembled slightly as he tried to speak. Splash—the water in the bathtub rippled gently. His wet hand moved weakly in the water.

Alaisia turned toward him, almost involuntarily drawn by his faint gesture.

As she approached the tub, the eager gazes of Lucius and the attending servants followed her. Their intense stares made her hesitate, and seeing this, Franz strained to turn his head toward Lucius.

Reading the prince’s silent command, Lucius quickly ushered the servants and the physician out of the room. Once everyone had left, silence blanketed the chamber.

Only the occasional crackle of firewood burning in the fireplace broke the stillness.

Perhaps fearing Franz might freeze from the cold within, the servants had tossed in more firewood than was needed, enough for the harshest of winters. As a result, Alaisia, in her velvet dress, felt like she was about to steam alive.

“Alaisia… Lady Ambrose.”

Franz called her again as she dabbed the sweat from her brow with a handkerchief. His voice was steadier and more distinct than before.

Placing her handkerchief on the side table, Alaisia slowly approached the bathtub.

Even during their marriage, she had rarely seen his bare torso—now visible beneath the clear water. She had thought only his face neared perfection, but his body, too, was sculpted like a statue.

So this is why noblewomen whispered that I was ‘a lucky woman’…?

Only now did she begin to understand the envy behind those stares. Of course, contrary to their assumptions, she had never even been allowed to touch him without permission.

“I… have a request.”

His weak voice pulled her from her thoughts. She knelt beside the tub with a blank expression.

When their eyes met, Franz struggled to lift the corners of his mouth into a smile. In the past, seeing him like this would’ve made her cry from pity.

But she was no longer the same woman.

Hearing him say he had a request, her heart went cold again.

A request, huh. Of course.

Then as now, Franz only found one use for her.

“Please speak, Your Highness the Second Prince.”

Alaisia forced herself to respond politely, swallowing the urge to smirk.

Franz hesitated, unsure whether to speak. She found his indecisiveness nauseating.

Just say it—ask me to ease your pain. Ask me to neutralize your mana. Isn’t that why you came all the way to Ambrose?

“You… called me Franz…”

“…Pardon?”

His words caught her off guard. She blinked in disbelief.

“What did you say?”

“F… Franz. Haa…”

He gasped for breath, even the act of speaking seemed too much. Her gaze lowered unconsciously—and widened in shock.

Though the room was sweltering, with sweat dripping from her forehead, a thin layer of ice covered the bathtub’s surface.

This is how bad it is?

She finally saw, if only indirectly, the devastating effect his mana had on his body. The realization sent a chill down her spine.

Sensing her gaze, Franz turned away, looking embarrassed. As he winced, the ice cracked and grew even thicker.

“Please don’t worry about it.”

Alaisia was startled to find herself almost reaching for the tub. Had he not stopped her, she might’ve instinctively tried to help him with her fire mana.

“What is it you want to ask of me?”

“I… I want you… to keep calling me Franz… always.”

“That’s all?”

“Yes.”

She looked at him with confusion. Frost had formed over his golden hair.

As she stared blankly at him, he gave a bitter smile and added, “Is that… too much to ask?”

“…”

Alaisia hated him.

It was in this very room that she had been murdered—by someone he had ordered. Even if she killed him now, no god would blame her.

Yet… she didn’t want to.

They say people don’t change so easily, right?

It was bitterly amusing. The timid Alaisia from before must not be completely dead.

Franz might seem like a changed man now—but that change meant nothing to her.

I’m the one who needed to change… So why is it only you who’s different now?

“No. I’ll do that.”

She gave a curt answer and stood up. Then, without looking back, she walked toward the side room Lucius had shown her earlier.

Just as she stepped inside and began to close the door, Franz’s voice drifted faintly behind her.

“Cover your ears. Don’t listen. No matter what sounds I make.”

And that night, until dawn, pained groans echoed from Franz’s room.

“Prince Franz personally went to the Ambrose estate to bring you, didn’t he?”

“Yes. I was honored that he did.”

“Such affection even before marriage—how wonderful to see.”

The Empress smiled warmly, pouring tea. Alaisia had come for an audience with her.

Last night, Franz had writhed in agony until morning.

Lucius and the servants had entered and exited his room several times. The sounds of changing bathwater and burning logs continued until dawn.

‘Forgive my disgrace.’

But when breakfast came, Franz appeared perfectly composed, as if nothing had happened. Anyone who hadn’t seen him the night before wouldn’t believe he had been in agony.

He apologized briefly for the previous night and ate his meal. The servants, too, acted completely unfazed.

Everyone in the Second Prince’s palace seemed used to this.

That realization unsettled Alaisia more than anything.

Was it like this in my past life too?

Did Franz also endure such pain then, starting days like this?

She would never know. In her past life, they never had breakfast together.

And they never would.

“Thank you for your kind words. I still lack much, but I will work hard and learn well.”

“Oh my.”

The Empress let out a pleased sigh at Alaisia’s humble attitude.

Alaisia smiled inwardly. She was nothing like the trembling girl from her past life who wore wilting flowers and country dresses.

Today, she wore a refined gown prepared by Franz himself.

And after years of studying etiquette, she was flawless.

She had trained herself—so she could be a fitting match for Franz.

“I don’t see anything lacking in you at all.”

With a smile, the Empress picked up a bell on the table and gave it a soft shake. It seemed Alaisia had made a good first impression.

Looks like I passed the test.

Before the bell’s clear chime had even faded from the receiving room, uniformed maids appeared.

“My new daughter-in-law deserves a small gift. You’ve learned well already, so let’s see…”

The Empress looked Alaisia up and down thoughtfully. Alaisia clasped her hands nervously.

She’d done her best to dress perfectly, but the Empress’s discerning eye would surely spot flaws.

“Simplicity is nice, but too plain is not. Bring my jewel box.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The Empress tilted her head with a graceful smile. The sparkle in her brown eyes reminded Alaisia of Prince Crayton.

“Now that we’ve welcomed the Second Princess, there’s nothing more to worry about. I hear you possess fire mana? That complements Franz’s ice element quite well. A perfect balance.”

“We’ve brought the jewel box.”

At the maid’s return, the Empress turned her head.

Expecting a modest jewelry case, Alaisia was stunned to see a box the size of a small suitcase.

When opened, it revealed rows of hooks like a wardrobe rail, each one holding brilliant gems without a single gap.

Drawers filled the bottom portion, and as each opened, the room lit up with dazzling light.

Every piece was clearly worth a fortune.

So this is why they say the Empress’s influence is so strong…

Alaisia stared, not spellbound by the beauty but deep in thought.

Seeing the Empress’s jewelry finally answered one of her long-held questions.

Despite having weaker mana than the late former Empress—Franz’s birth mother—this woman had maintained her place and reigned gracefully.

People assumed it was thanks to her birth family—the enormously wealthy Count Roshanac.

But no one had known to what extent.