Chapter 38
“It’s a political marriage, after all. It’s not easy to develop feelings,”
Creighton said in a tone that suggested complete understanding.
“Then, sharing a bedroom with her for a week—was that just for mana? Or were you hoping for a hot night?”
“Shut up.”
As Creighton whistled, Franz, who had been quietly drinking tea, replied in a chilling tone. He glared at Creighton with a gaze that could crush him.
“Since when were you so interested in my affairs? And where did you hear I spent a week sharing the bridal bed?”
“Are you embarrassed? Come on, Franz. You and the Second Princess Consort are in your prime—no need to be shy about that…”
Creighton’s babbling mouth suddenly shut tight. The tulips beside Franz had frosted over in an instant.
Franz quietly set down the teacup he was holding. The tea inside the thin porcelain cup had frozen solid.
Seeing this, Creighton laughed awkwardly.
“Calm down. I was just joking.”
“She means nothing.”
“What?”
“The Second Princess Consort means nothing. So let’s stop talking about her.”
“Huh. That’s a bit of an overreaction. Why? Did her ability to neutralize your mana disappoint you?”
“…Yeah.”
Franz shot Creighton a blazing glare. He clenched his teeth and spoke, enunciating every word.
“So shut up.”
Alesia quietly brought her hand to her lips. She had been walking through the Empress’s garden when she overheard the conversation.
“She means nothing.”
Franz’s clear voice froze her heart. Her fingertips, which were covering her face, felt as though they’d turned to ice.
As someone born with fire mana, the only time she ever felt cold was when neutralizing Franz’s mana.
But now, she was wrapped in a chill far worse than that.
“All right, all right. I’ll shut up. I didn’t know you hated the Second Princess Consort that much. Wow, I’ve got to tell Glena about this,” Creighton rambled on, but none of it reached Alesia’s ears.
Even when Creighton left and Franz eventually rose from his seat, Alesia didn’t move. She couldn’t.
Franz walked away, his back to her, toward the entrance of the garden.
As his figure receded, Alesia’s heart pounded so loudly it echoed in her ears.
Once Franz left the garden, her legs gave out beneath her. She collapsed to the ground.
Clutching her skirt with trembling hands, she thought:
Faster than I expected.
Franz hadn’t even met Nerys yet. And already, he found Alesia annoying?
Or… is it not fast at all?
A sad smile played at the corners of her lips as she stared blankly at her skirt.
Come to think of it, it’s actually later than before.
In her previous life, Franz had hated her from the moment they met.
But now, a month has passed since their wedding. That’s two months longer than before. So it’s not exactly “fast.”
She had prepared herself for this.
She thought she’d be calm.
Then why… does it feel like I can’t breathe?
Alesia slightly parted her lips.
Her eyes burned. She bit her lip hard, trying to hold back her tears.
People don’t change.
Just like she had hesitated and wavered, even after deciding to take revenge on Franz…
Franz still saw her as something to use and discard.
Just like in her past life.
You promised not to delude yourself. You already knew this would happen.
Alesia muttered to herself as she swallowed her tears.
Just a few days of Franz’s gentle behavior had almost swayed her.
She had foolishly thought that maybe, in this life, Franz would be different. That maybe she wouldn’t need to take revenge on him.
Idiot.
She berated herself.
Even if only for a moment, she had hoped. What a pathetic fool.
Tears stained her skirt. She stared blankly at the drops falling to the fabric.
You… will be unhappy. Just as much as I suffered while loving you.
Alesia’s face twisted in anguish. Her dying words from the previous life—spoken as she died in Franz’s arms, run through by his sword—struck her like a blow.
She had been so desperate. So wretched.
So why had she tried to forget that pain?
She thought one regret was enough. How foolish of her.
“Alesia, you—are you trying to toy with me? If not for the bond on our souls, I would’ve had you dethroned already!”
Would it take another threat of dethronement for her to finally wake up?
Would she go on making the same mistake again in this second life, still holding on to the same foolish hope?
Alesia’s eyes widened.
She would never let that happen again.
I won’t waver anymore.
She bit down hard on her lip. It split, bleeding red, but she didn’t loosen her grip.
As if to punish herself for becoming numb to pain, she didn’t stop even as blood trickled down her chin.
* * *
“Oh dear, you’ve injured your lip, Second Princess Consort.”
“I’m fine, Your Majesty.”
Alesia gave the Empress a faint smile in response to her concerned gaze. The Empress looked at her closely, then sighed deeply.
“You don’t look well either. I suppose you haven’t been sleeping?”
“I apologize for worrying you.”
After the formal apology, Alesia took a seat beside the Empress. A maid approached and refilled her teacup.
“Hot tea will only make your lips hurt more. Nadia, bring her some iced tea instead.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Alesia stared blankly at the exchange.
She should thank the Empress.
But if she opened her mouth, she might start sobbing uncontrollably.
She felt like a balloon about to burst. Holding a neutral expression was all she could manage.
“I should have let you rest longer. It seems I called you needlessly.”
“…Not at all.”
She barely managed to squeeze out a reply, her throat tight. The Empress glanced at the lady-in-waiting standing behind Alesia—Sara.
“I told you to inform me right away if the Second Princess Consort needed anything. Why didn’t you?”
Alesia blinked and looked at Sara. The Empress had summoned Sara first, even before Alesia.
She had assumed it was to give household instructions, but it seemed the Empress had called her just to ensure she cared well for Alesia.
Sara bowed deeply, flustered.
“I’m terribly sorry, Your Majesty. I failed to properly attend to Her Highness’s condition. It won’t happen again.”
“Don’t apologize to me—apologize to your lady.”
As Sara knelt in apology, the Empress gave a gentle wave. Sara then approached her mistress.
“You are her personal maid from her natal home. You must be especially attentive. Adjusting to palace life is already hard enough.”
“I will keep that in mind, Your Majesty.”
The Empress smiled kindly, then gestured to Nadia.
Nadia took a small bundle from her sleeve and handed it to Sara. It clinked faintly—likely a pouch of jewels.
When Nadia revealed its contents, Sara stepped back, eyes wide.
“Your Majesty, this is too generous!”
“You’re not greedy, I see.”
The Empress tilted her head.
“But it’s just a small gift. As a maid to royalty, you should have at least something like this.”
“But still…”
“Sara,”
Alesia spoke gently, her voice calm now. She fixed her gaze on the sapphire brooch.
“It would be rude to refuse Her Majesty’s kindness. Accept it with thanks.”
She received the brooch from Nadia and said softly:
“I should have taken better care of you. I’m sorry I made Her Majesty worry. I’ve been overwhelmed adjusting to the palace.”
Sara bowed deeply, touched by Alesia’s kindness.
“No, Your Highness.”
Alesia beckoned her over and pinned the brooch to her chest.
“Next time, I’ll gift you one in a color that suits your pretty eyes. Her Majesty is right—a maid to a princess consort should have at least this much.”
“…Yes, Your Highness.”
Sara replied quietly, touching the brooch on her chest. Alesia smiled at her blushing face.
Seeing Sara happy filled her with warmth.
She was newly reminded of how thoughtful the Empress truly was.
Just moments ago, Alesia’s mind had been in turmoil over Franz, but the Empress’s warmth calmed her.
In her past life, Alesia had not made a good first impression on the Empress.
Confined to a remote palace, she barely saw Franz, let alone had the chance to be alone with the Empress.
She only ever saw her from afar at formal events.
Thus, she had no way to approach or seek help from the Empress.
If she could have, at the very least, she might have been spared the misery of living in isolation.
