NMBTD 45

Chapter 45

Alesia didn’t want to stand out at the ball if she could help it.

In her previous life, when Prince Crayton’s birthday ball was held, this wasn’t a difficult task.
No one even spared her a glance when she entered. Not even her husband, Franz, had shown the slightest bit of interest.

The Second Prince’s consort was a living ghost, a person without a shadow.

No one even bothered whispering about her shabby dress. The Second Prince’s consort was so insignificant that she wasn’t worth mentioning.

Instead, what people talked about was Niris.

The daughter of the noble Roshanach family and the Empress’s niece.
A delicate, rare lady, fluttering like a cosmos flower.

Alesia still remembered vividly the dress Niris had worn and what had happened that day.

The events of that night had clung to her ever since, refusing to fade even for a moment.

Niris wore a pale pink dress, a shade even softer than her own hair.

With those bright blue eyes that people praised as sapphire-like, she sparkled as she approached Franz.

Introduced by Glenna, Niris spoke with Franz, her gaze innocent and lovely.

Watching Franz lean toward her, Alesia quietly dug her nails into her chest.

She wanted to run over and scream at him not to look at Niris, not to listen to her stories.

She wanted to beg him not to touch Niris with the same hand that had cast Alesia aside, not to dance with his hand on her waist.

But Alesia simply stood there, shabby and alone against the wall, watching them.

She knew the moment she approached, Franz would pinch his nose and frown.

She didn’t want anyone—especially not Niris—to see her being treated like that in front of all the nobles.

So she just watched—watched him dance with Niris, and then again, and again.

After all the dances were over, she watched Niris lead Franz out onto the terrace, then draw the curtains across the window.

She didn’t even remember how she had gotten back to the palace that night.

The only thing she did remember was the smile Franz had given Niris.

A beautiful smile he had never once granted Alesia.

Cruelly beautiful… and utterly heartless.

“By the way, where is His Highness the Second Prince now?”

Alesia, lost in thought, snapped her head up at Lucette’s question.

She took a small breath as she looked at herself in the full-length mirror.

Before her stood not the shabby consort of the past—but a prince’s consort, elegantly dressed in a glamorous gown.

Her drifting mind snapped back to the present.

Lucette, carefully adjusting a gem caught on the hem of Alesia’s dress, continued speaking.

“I thought it might be nice to show His Highness how stunning you look.”

“He’s busy right now.”

“Well, I suppose surprising him at the ball wouldn’t be such a bad idea either.”

Since his seizure, Franz had shut himself away. Lucius had told Alesia that he simply had a cold.

She had pretended to believe him, not wanting to dip her toes into the secret surrounding Franz.

“And besides, he probably wouldn’t care about a dress,” Alesia added quietly.

At that, Lucette, crouched at her feet, jerked her head up and shook it firmly.

“That’s not true, Your Highness.”

Lucette stood, patting her back. She signaled the assistants to double-check the jewelry and went on:

“He gave me very specific orders—to make sure your dress for the ball was the most beautiful and dazzling. He even said cost didn’t matter.”

Lucette winked as she finished. She looked at Alesia with a gaze full of admiration.

Alesia looked surprised. She wasn’t used to being looked at like that.

She had always envied others, never been the object of envy herself. She didn’t know how to react.

“Oh… I see.”

“Of course! And he also said the design should suit the necklace Her Majesty the Empress gifted you. What do you think?”

As Lucette spoke, Sarah brought over the necklace. She placed it around Alesia’s neck, then let out a gasp.

“My goodness. Madame, you’re a genius. It’s perfect.”

“Haha, I think so too,” Lucette chuckled proudly.

Alesia looked like she had stepped out of a royal portrait—beautiful and elegant. If only the shadow on her face could be lifted, she’d be perfect.

Alesia gently touched the necklace, her expression unreadable. Then, as Lucette tried to interpret her face, a soft voice broke the silence.

“I didn’t know he’d given such instructions.”

“He ordered quite a few personal items for you too. His attention to detail was astonishing.”

Lucette snapped her fingers.

An assistant organizing hat boxes approached with a notepad, which Lucette handed to Alesia.

“This is the list of items His Highness ordered from our atelier.”

On the list, just as Lucette had said: ‘Gloves for outings, hair ribbons, soft cotton socks, silk stockings, eye mask, indoor slippers, bathrobe, jewelry box’—all neatly written.

Had Lucette not mentioned it, Alesia might’ve assumed Lucius or Sarah had prepared them.

Her eyes widened as she read, and the shadow on her face slowly lifted.

Lucette smiled, pleased to see the sunshine returning to her face.

“Amazing, right? So please don’t say His Highness doesn’t care about you. If the other noble ladies heard that, they’d be green with envy.”

“Why…? Why go to such lengths…?”

“Well, obviously because he loves and cherishes you.”

“…That can’t be true.”

Alesia murmured, confused, her hand dropping the note.

‘When did he do all this?’

Her gaze drifted toward Franz’s room. As she stood there silently, Lucette hurried to add,

“What do you mean it’s not true? You two are the empire’s most perfect newlyweds! Still in the honeymoon phase!”

Alesia slowly turned to face her.

Lucette looked flustered, unsure how to respond to Alesia’s unexpected reaction.

“Yes, Lucette.”

Alesia smiled softly and handed the memo back. She glanced once more at the woman in the mirror and said,

“His Highness cherishes me.”

And we’re newlyweds.

So, of course, the Second Prince cherishing his wife is only natural—she let that hopeful, foolish line slip out of her mouth without meaning to.

After Lucette left, Alesia sat alone in the spacious room.

The setting sun cast a deep golden hue across everything. Her red hair glowed like transparent gold in the light.

‘It’s only natural that Franz cherishes me?’

Alesia laughed bitterly at her own reflection.

A woman clad in a pricey dress, adorned in expensive jewels, showing off an elegant pose.

A woman foolish enough to utter lies and hold onto hope.

This was Alesia Eustache in this life.

‘Why do I keep hoping?’

She pressed a hand to her forehead.

She needed to throw away expectations and hope—especially in times like these.

‘Niris has shown up a year early. I need to act fast too.’

Alesia placed a hand over her heart.

Right at the center of her chest—where Franz’s assassin had once plunged a sword.

If she didn’t want another blade to pierce her there, she had only one option.

The one thing she had repeated to herself over and over again.

Revenge.

Alesia clenched her teeth and grabbed her chest. The silk wrinkled under her grip, and her pale hand trembled.

She was anxious. Things were moving too fast, beyond her control.

Niris had appeared early, and Franz’s mana had not yet been neutralized.

Was it because she provoked Glenna? Or because she chose to stay in the Second Prince’s palace instead of the separate one?

She couldn’t be sure what triggered the change.

Alesia slowly let go of her chest.

‘I can’t just panic. I have to stay calm.’

She needed to think about what she could do right now.

She had two goals in her revenge.

One: refuse to neutralize Franz’s mana.
Two: draw the Skylar family to her side and build them into a faction opposing Franz.

Of the two, only the mana neutralization was going according to plan.

She had yet to bring the Skylars to her side, nor give their faction any real strength. There simply hadn’t been enough time.

They had only just gotten married.

Alesia bit the tip of her nail.

‘What do I do now?’

Her head hurt. Even the mana neutralization wasn’t proceeding exactly as planned. It was starting to spiral beyond her control.

Everything was going wrong.

‘Still, it’s better than neutralizing him against my will.’

She tried to stay positive. If she couldn’t control it, she’d find a way to use it.

Alesia collected her thoughts and looked around her crimson-lit room.

Her gaze passed over the bed, the table, and the mirror—then landed on the door to Franz’s room.

Franz was behind that door.

She recalled his conversation with Harun. Harun had urged Franz to use someone else to neutralize his mana.

If Franz valued his life, he would soon accept that suggestion.

‘I can’t let that happen.’

Alesia quietly rose to her feet.

Then, cutting through the sunlight that filled the room, she headed toward Franz’s door.