Chapter 40:
Franz’s seizure continued for a long time. Potion bottles rolled across the floor, and the doctor’s orders to the attendants filled the early morning with chaos.
Alesia listened to the sounds with a heavy heart. She leaned against the door, then slowly slid down to the floor.
She felt hollow.
It had saddened her to know that her only value to Franz was her usefulness. But now, realizing that she wasn’t even that useful left her feeling utterly empty.
‘What am I to you, really?’
Alesia lowered the sleeve of her gown.
The scar on her right wrist, still unhealed, remained stark and clear. She placed the candlestick on the floor and gently touched the wound.
It hadn’t even been a full month since she had purified Franz.
And now, another seizure? The frequency was abnormal. If the purification had been effective, this wouldn’t be happening.
Alesia furrowed her brow and clenched her wrist tightly. The veins on the back of her slender hand bulged.
‘I’m useless.’
She bit her lip in frustration.
She had endured such pain to perform the neutralization, and yet it hadn’t worked.
There’s a vast difference between failing to neutralize because it wasn’t attempted, and trying — but still failing.
The former implies she only pretended to do it — something possible only if she had perfect control over her purification abilities.
But the latter means the purification itself didn’t work. That meant either her abilities were inadequate — or her mana was incompatible with Franz’s.
Either way, it was disheartening.
Alesia bowed her head as she clutched her wrist.
Franz kept her by his side for one reason: mana neutralization.
But if her abilities were this poor, was there any reason for her to remain in the Second Prince’s palace?
Was there any reason for her to be the Second Prince’s consort at all?
And yet… Franz still insisted on keeping her near.
Why?
Alesia closed her eyes tightly.
She hadn’t been able to understand Franz’s thoughts in her past life — and lately, it had only grown worse.
When they were alone, he treated her like the most precious gem in the world, acting as if her every emotion swayed him.
But in front of others, even the mention of her name seemed to irritate him. He avoided speaking of her entirely.
At least the Franz from her past life had been consistent. Now, she couldn’t make sense of him at all.
If he disliked her, he should just dislike her. If he cared for her, then keep caring.
But he was neither.
His contradictory behavior only confused Alesia more.
“What kind of mess is this?”
Alesia lifted her gaze at the unfamiliar voice coming from the other side of the door. It was a voice she didn’t recognize, but it addressed Franz familiarly.
Judging by the lack of any formal greeting, this man likely met Franz frequently.
“Why did you even get married if this is how things are going to be? Wasn’t it for the neutralization?”
The young man’s clear voice lashed out with criticism.
Alesia didn’t hear Lucius or any attendants—only Franz and this mysterious man seemed to be inside the room.
“The potion…?”
Franz’s weak voice came through. Then came a scoffing laugh.
“Do you realize you might die at this rate?”
“The potion.”
“I warned you. There’s a limit to how much potions can suppress the seizures.”
A moment of silence followed. Franz was probably drinking the potion.
Alesia pressed her ear closer to the door. Franz’s secret—one she hadn’t known—was about to be revealed.
“I’m fine.”
“This is what you call fine? Look at the state of this room. Even a typhoon would have left it in better shape.”
Franz’s voice, now calmer, let out a low chuckle. But even his laughter sounded pained—like something torn from deep inside him. Alesia bit her lip unconsciously.
“Is this amusing to you? Who was it that insisted the wedding night was just to facilitate mana neutralization? That marriage was purely for that purpose?”
The unknown man mocked Franz, mimicking his tone. Then came Franz’s rasping voice:
“Enough.”
“I say this because I’m concerned, Your Highness.”
“I don’t want to hear it.”
Franz’s stern tone silenced the man for a beat. The mischievousness in his voice vanished completely.
“Don’t forget why you took the princess as your consort. Wasn’t it for moments like this?”
“…”
“If Your Highness won’t call for her, then I will.”
“Harun!”
As the man named Harun began to move, Franz called out urgently. The approaching footsteps halted and began to recede.
“I didn’t want to say this, but…”
Harun clicked his tongue.
“The princess’s reaction to the mana stone wasn’t ideal. It was weak. That means there were other options. For example, Lady Niris Roshanak—she never even got a chance to see the stone. And there were others, too—potential consorts who could have neutralized your mana perfectly.”
‘So Niris would’ve been a better match for him after all…’
Alesia clenched her skirt tightly, knees drawn close.
According to Harun, she wasn’t suited to be a prince’s consort.
There were many who could replace her.
And not just replacements—ones with clearly superior abilities, who could’ve freed Franz from his mana affliction.
“If you refuse to let the princess neutralize your mana, I’ll find another way. I’ll even hasten Lady Roshanak’s return.”
“If you’re just going to spout nonsense, leave.”
“What’s the issue, then?”
Harun sounded exasperated.
“Do you dislike the princess? Or do you dislike Lady Roshanak? Or both?”
“It’s not a matter of preference.”
“Even at the wedding, Your Highness didn’t look too happy. I know it was a political marriage, but still…”
Harun trailed off, falling silent. Franz, too, said nothing. He was likely soaking in the bath—he’d passed out like that before.
Still curled up, Alesia stared at the candlestick beside her.
Her eyes followed the long flame, then dropped to the melted wax dripping onto the carpet. Just then, Harun’s voice returned.
“This is cruel to the princess, too.”
Harun was rebuking Franz.
“If you don’t intend to let her help, send her back to Ambrose. The palace is no place for her. You know that. Keeping her here like this… it’s not right.”
“I can’t do that.”
“I’m not saying cancel the marriage. That’s impossible now. But at least give it some time. Or perhaps move her to a separate residence. Prince Crayton’s birthday ball is next month. You could find another candidate there—”
“That’s enough. Leave. I need to rest.”
“Your Highness.”
“The next potion should be ready in a week.”
“…”
“Did you not hear me?”
At Franz’s cold dismissal, Harun grumbled faintly. Then his voice—muttering something about Franz’s stubbornness—vanished.
Alesia blinked and pressed her ear against the door again. But it was as if only Franz had been inside the room all along—there was no longer any sign of the other man.
‘Who is he?’
Alesia pulled away from the door and fell into thought.
Franz had called the man “Harun.” But Alesia remembered no one by that name.
A grand mage from the Magic Tower did have a vaguely similar name—but it wasn’t Harun. His name was far longer and more ostentatious.
Harnakaarun Milakizerna.
He was a legendary figure—the founder of the empire’s magical tradition and the builder of the Magic Tower. Alesia shook her head at the thought.
‘It’s not the Grand Mage.’
The name was different, and the age didn’t match. The Grand Mage had ruled the tower even before Alesia was born.
The voice she’d heard earlier sounded about Franz’s age. A Grand Mage would sound far older.
‘I can’t expect to know everything about Franz.’
Alesia, trying to guess Harun’s identity, reached for the candlestick.
The candle, once longer than her palm, had now burned down to just two finger joints in length.
Judging by the conversation, Harun was likely a physician. Franz had asked him to bring a potion.
If not a physician, perhaps a mage.
But Harun’s identity didn’t really matter to Alesia.
He was someone she’d never met in her past life—and likely never would again in this one.
Even now, she had only learned of him purely by chance.
