Chapter 24
Alesia twisted her arm to pull free from Franz’s grip. But he didn’t budge.
Worse, he climbed on top of her and pinned both her hands down.
“I’ll never let you go.”
Alesia’s red hair fanned out across the pillow, her body trapped beneath Franz’s.
Breathing heavily in frustration, she struggled to break free.
“Let me go! I said, let go!”
Having only just regained consciousness after passing out all day, her strength hadn’t fully returned. Escaping from a man who trained in martial arts daily was close to impossible.
“So I should bring in another woman?”
Franz looked down at her with a burning gaze.
Without releasing her wrists, he whispered in a hoarse, low voice.
“Have you always thought that way? Always plotting to get away from me?”
“Let go!”
“Was the bond of souls between us such a horrible thing to you? Did you hate me that much?”
His anguished voice crushed her heart. Alesia stopped twisting away and stared up at him, catching her breath.
Franz looked pained, his beautiful face contorted, eyes filled with a sorrow on the verge of tears.
“We haven’t even had our wedding yet. And yet you’re telling me to take a mistress. Alesia, that’s cruel.”
“Cruel?”
Alesia scoffed.
It was absurd.
Who was calling who cruel right now? The one who summoned a palace maid for appearance’s sake and tried to cover it up? The one who tried to make her his possession against her will?
Who was really the cruel one…?
“Your Highness, the Second Prince.”
“Franz.”
Alesia shot a cold glare at him for correcting her.
Even now, he clung to such petty things as titles—it was laughable. She felt a surge of defiance.
Suppressing the urge to spit on his arrogant face, she opened her mouth.
“Your Highness, I only offered that advice with your best interests in mind. If it displeased you, I beg your forgiveness.”
Though her words were polite, her voice was scathing.
As her sarcastic apology ended, Franz’s grip on her wrists slowly loosened.
He finally released her and looked down at her with a hollow expression.
And Alesia added, driving the wedge in deeper:
“From now on, I will never do anything to damage Your Highness’s reputation. I will no longer make presumptuous suggestions about taking a mistress.”
“…Ha.”
Franz let out a hollow laugh. He climbed off her and sat at the edge of the bed, his back to her, head bowed low.
Alesia stared at his back with an indifferent gaze. She’d seen that back countless times.
But never like this—never looking so defeated.
“Do whatever you want.”
He sat still for a long while before murmuring those words and slowly got up.
She watched his heavy steps as he walked toward the side door.
He looked… unfamiliar.
Pitiful.
A feeling she never imagined she’d have for him wrapped around her chest.
‘Why am I… pitying him?’
Alesia was bewildered by her own emotions.
If anyone deserved pity between the two, it was undoubtedly Alesia.
She had lived in loneliness under his cold indifference, lost her child without comfort, and in the end, had been killed by his hands.
Her revenge hadn’t even truly begun. Yet her heart felt heavy.
Why?
Was her thirst for vengeance really so shallow?
Was her heart really so weak that it wavered with just a few of his words?
‘No way. It can’t be. It mustn’t be.’
She steadied herself and glared at Franz. By then, he was already standing by the door.
“This is one thing I won’t do as you wish.”
There will be no other woman.
As he turned the doorknob, he muttered to himself. Alesia kept her eyes on his back until it disappeared behind the door.
Sunlight continued to pour through the window.
“You say he and Lady Ambrose fight just by making eye contact? My poor younger brother. Shouldn’t they be all lovey-dovey with the wedding so near?”
Crayton gave a mocking laugh, saying something he didn’t mean.
He could barely contain his laughter whenever news came from the Second Prince’s palace. Glenna raised a brow at his monologue.
“Are you really worried?”
“Of course, my love. If I don’t worry for my little brother, who will?”
Crayton flashed a charming smile as he sat behind his desk.
Glenna exchanged glances with him and smiled sweetly.
“Indeed. I’m quite worried too.”
The two exchanged knowing looks, mouthing pleasantries like conspirators.
Crayton rambled about how the upcoming royal wedding next week concerned him, all the while picking up an envelope.
It bore no seal.
He opened it carelessly and began scanning its contents.
The coldness in his eyes slowly turned into heat.
Watching from the sofa, Glenna tilted her head as his face lit with anticipation.
“What is it? If it’s good news, you should share it with me, Crayton.”
“Of course. But… this is still a bit early.”
Crayton replied in a honeyed voice. He tucked the letter into the deepest part of his desk drawer and murmured:
“When things begin in earnest, I’ll tell you then.”
“I look forward to it.”
Glenna gave him a beaming smile.
The Second Prince’s wedding was just around the corner. Lady Ambrose would soon officially become the Second Princess.
After that, she’d be beneath Glenna in imperial rank.
Up to now, she’d been flaunting her power under the Empress’s protection, but after the wedding, Glenna could suppress her with royal authority.
Glenna fully intended to crush the arrogant Lady Ambrose underfoot.
“I can’t wait for the wedding. I’m excited to have a sister-in-law.”
Her sweet tone would fool anyone into thinking she genuinely adored Alesia Ambrose.
But Crayton knew her all too well. When Glenna spoke like that, it meant she was planning to bring someone down.
“The wait won’t be long.”
He nodded meaningfully to his wife with a cryptic smile.
For both of them, the real fun was about to begin.
The Second Prince’s wedding was grand.
Held at the cathedral within the imperial palace, the ceremony was attended by royalty and high-ranking nobles alike.
Alesia, dressed in a white silk gown, wore a tiara adorned with dazzling jewels. Her face was covered with a delicately embroidered veil.
In her hands was a bouquet of cream-colored calla lilies and pale pink roses.
She took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves.
Everything she wore and held was different from her past life. Lucette, acting on the prince’s orders, had prepared everything with the utmost care.
But that wasn’t the only difference.
She hadn’t been pushed from the detached palace to the chapel.
Instead, she had rested comfortably in a rose-decorated salon in the prince’s palace before riding a golden carriage to the ceremony.
She had been treated like a precious jewel.
“Please enter.”
With Lucette’s guidance, the doors to the chapel opened. Everyone inside stood as the bride appeared.
The ceremony had begun.
To the sound of the pipe organ, Alesia slowly walked down the red carpet. At the altar stood the high priest and Franz, waiting for her.
Franz wore the exact same uniform as in her past life.
A white ceremonial suit adorned with various insignias, with golden cords that emphasized his broad shoulders.
Everything was the same.
Except his eyes.
He looked at her with a fiery, anxious gaze.
Franz was nervous.
In her previous life, he had made no effort to hide how reluctant he was to marry her. But now, he looked like he couldn’t wait for her to reach him.
Alesia looked at him, puzzled.
Then she realized why—and lowered her eyes.
Even last night, Franz had groaned in pain from his mana.
Nearly every day up until the wedding, he had suffered. The physician came and went from his chambers, and servants hurried about with hot water every night.
‘Of course he’s anxious.’
Alesia smirked.
Once the wedding was complete and the first night spent, the pain from the mana bond would end.
Franz must have been clinging to that belief.
He must be desperate to get married as soon as possible.
Standing beside him, Alesia stared quietly at the white-gloved hand he extended toward her.
If she took that hand, she would become the Second Princess.
She would once again become Franz’s tool—something she never wanted to be again.
She had tried so hard to escape, yet in the end, she couldn’t.
Was this really the only path left?
Was there truly no other way?
Was there no way to escape Franz and live without misery?
“Resa. Take my hand.”
Still staring at his outstretched hand, she slowly reached out.
As their hands joined, the high priest’s solemn voice echoed through the hall.
“On the 27th day of the 11th month, year 549 of the Laurentzian Empire, in the name of the Sun, I declare the union of Franz Eustace and Alesia Ambrose.”
With a resigned expression, Alesia quietly exhaled.
At last, her wedding had begun.
And with it, her second life was now truly underway.
