Chapter 4. I’ll Allow the Remarriage
I was curious about what realistic plan Ailish was going to suggest.
Ailish gave me a sly smile and opened her pale lips.
[Think about it, Elia. What’s the best possible way?]
“…I really have no idea what Your Highness means. Could you explain it to this foolish me?”
I played along with Ailish, who looked like she was having fun.
She shrugged as if saying “you really don’t get it?” and said,
[I give you permission. Get married.]
“…What?”
What kind of thunderbolt was that out of nowhere?
Ailish twirled around and brought her face close to mine.
Her golden eyes were full of amusement—yet they also held sincerity.
[It’s the most legal and proper way to see your daughter. Much more realistic than trying to bring the dead back to life. Instead of messing with divine power, do something humans can actually do.]
Ailish raised her index finger like she was giving wise advice.
“…Are you serious, Your Highness?”
[I’ve never lied since becoming a ghost.]
Ailish lifted her chin proudly.
I asked cautiously, still doubting what I was hearing.
“Don’t you already have a fiancé, Your Highness? Are you talking about him?”
[Oh… Daniel Siegfried? I don’t even know what that guy does. I don’t like him.]
Ailish puffed her cheeks and grumbled.
“I’m sure he’s a good person. The emperor must’ve chosen him carefully.”
I didn’t even know why I said that.
It wasn’t really my business—especially considering my own situation.
Still, I couldn’t treat this body carelessly when Ailish was watching through it.
Even though my marriage was a mess, I didn’t blame the emperor.
He could’ve picked worse people: a gambling addict or a drunk nobleman.
Compared to them, Ahntrus was the better choice.
If he put that much thought into picking my husband, he’d have been even more careful for his beloved daughter.
Ailish chuckled like she found it all very entertaining.
[Don’t you think this whole thing is strange?]
Strange?
[Isn’t it weird that your parents don’t seem to care about their daughter who woke up after five years?]
Is that… really so strange?
The emperor and empress did visit the day she woke up.
And their hired maids had been serving me nonstop.
When Julia was sick, I stayed by her side the whole time.
But Ahntrus, being busy, couldn’t.
Everyone has a different way of showing love to their children.
But… I never really had parents, so I’m not sure.
The only one who stayed by my side was the old maid who cursed all the time.
After she died, no one really left a lasting emotional mark on me.
She couldn’t make a big impact anyway—she was just a maid, and I was a marquis’s daughter.
“I’m not sure, Your Highness. But I think they would care about their daughter’s marriage after five years.”
[You’re being very generous. They don’t even know what Daniel’s like. They don’t even notice when he pulls my hair or trips me.]
“…But—”
I stopped myself from arguing.
Well, maybe she was right.
Everyone said the emperor and empress would give her the moon if she asked for it.
But maybe that was exaggerated.
Maybe they just paid a little more attention to her than to the others.
Maybe those small gestures were blown out of proportion.
And only the person involved really knows how it feels.
Ailish shrugged like she didn’t care.
[So I give you permission, Elia. Get me out of this palace. I’ll do anything if it means leaving here. I allow you to remarry Duke Cloveus.]
Even if she says that, would the emperor really let his youngest daughter marry Duke Cloveus?
That man is Julia’s father!
“…He would never approve.”
I felt complicated.
Still, I couldn’t deny that Ailish’s suggestion was the most realistic option.
The only legal way to get close to Julia again.
[I know my offer is tempting. You said you wanted to see your daughter, didn’t you? I’m just a soul right now, and the body’s owner is okay with it. And the Duke will never give up the heir. If you want to see your child, this is the only way. What else can you do with a princess’s body?]
Ailish laid out the logic clearly.
And she was right about everything.
The Cloveus family would never let go of their heir.
Since I’m dead, Julia is not just the Nerd Brown heir—she’s also the next Duchess of Cloveus.
She’s now someone extremely valuable.
My heart wavered. I was already thinking of Julia nonstop.
The desire to be with her again took root in me.
She was the very first thing I thought of when I opened my eyes in this body.
She was the only light in my life.
But standing in my way was the huge wall of the royal family.
“The emperor would never allow this, Your Highness.”
[I’m sure he will, Elia. Isn’t it better to try than to do nothing?]
Ailish raised her chin proudly.
I had promised myself so many times—if I ever got another chance, I would never go near Ahntrus again.
He was the reason my marriage was such a disaster.
But if what Ailish said was true—and this was the only way to stay near Julia—
My heart shook like a tiny boat caught in a storm.
Ailish smiled as if she could see right through me.
[Just try bringing it up. Tonight’s dinner is your last chance. From experience, I know how rare it is to see my parents’ faces. If you fail, you’ll probably have to marry Daniel instead.]
Daniel, the prince she was engaged to…
He must be Daniel from the Siegfried family.
Heir of the Duke of Siegfried, and just 20 years old.
And Ailish was right. The emperor wouldn’t let his daughter stay unmarried forever.
That meant I only had two options.
Daniel… or Ahntrus.
If I had to choose—there was really only one choice I could make.
I decided to follow Ailish’s advice.
The emperor probably wouldn’t agree, but there was no harm in trying.
Even trying made a difference from doing nothing at all.
“Are you really okay with this, Your Highness? Ahntrus already has a child. This wouldn’t be his first marriage. Even if I’m in this body now—it’s still yours.”
[Elia Nerd Brown… or Elia Cloveus. I’ll do anything if it gets me out of this palace.]
I could feel her sincerity.
But why?
[The palace isn’t as pretty as it looks. Living here is like standing on thin glass all the time.]
Ailish gave me another mysterious smile.
I didn’t fully understand what she meant, but one thing was clear—she wanted out.
I took a deep breath and thought about the dinner banquet.
Well, I had her permission now.
Might as well give it a shot.
* * *
Ahntrus followed his routine perfectly.
He ate, he slept, he worked—just as the Duchess wanted.
“Konoel.”
“Yes, Your Grace?”
“Is this the last file for today?”
“Yes.”
Konoel stared at the dark purple folder.
That color—purple—was Elia’s favorite.
So any documents related to Nerd Brown were always sent in purple folders.
It used to be Elia’s job. Now, it had passed to Ahntrus.
He flipped through the file with a blank expression.
He could almost smell Elia’s floral scent from the papers.
For the past four years, Elia had quietly filled his life.
Even this office still had her traces.
[“A flower or two makes a dull office feel brighter, doesn’t it?”]
She had once said that as she placed a vase on his desk and left.
That must’ve been early in their marriage.
The Cloveus family had always served the royal family.
As head of the Privy Council, a businessman, and someone who handled the empire’s dirty work.
That day, Ahntrus was meeting with young nobles about a new business.
Elia hadn’t expected visitors. She blushed—but then boldly walked in, placed the vase, and left.
He had been speechless.
After that, she always changed the flowers herself when no one was around.
The servants confirmed she never let anyone else do it.
But ever since the carriage accident, the vase had only held withered roses.
No one changed the water. It even smelled bad now.
Ahntrus had ordered that no one touch it.
He stared at the vase and chewed his dry lips.
“…Your Grace.”
Konoel spoke cautiously.
“Is Lady Elia the same today?”
“Yes, sir. Her external injuries are healing, but her consciousness…”
She hadn’t woken up.
“I see.”
Ahntrus replied coldly and opened the folder.
It smelled like the perfume Elia used to wear.
Meaning, she had handled these papers before.
He exhaled slowly and lifted his hand.
He was about to sign—but then stopped.
It was just a simple document—Nerd Brown’s first quarter profits and tax details.
He only needed to confirm the numbers and sign, but he stared at it for a long time.
At the bottom was Elia’s signature—cute and decorated with a little heart.
He never noticed that before.
Even though her documents came to him often.
He had never looked at her signature closely.
Emotion rose in his throat.
He barely managed to sign and put the papers down.
Another day had passed without Elia.
That accident—should’ve happened to him, not her.
[“I’ll protect you, my lady. I swear on my honor as a knight.”]
He hadn’t kept any of his promises to her.
He was the worst husband.
Knock knock.
“Come in.”
“…Ahn.”
For a moment, he thought it was Elia.
The dress was her favorite shade of light pink.
He blinked.
‘Of course… it’s not her.’
The person who came in—
“…Luisha.”
She wore a dress that looked just like something Elia would’ve worn.
