Franz didn't even glance at the spoon that had slipped from his grasp.
His eyes locked onto Elisia, boring into her like arrows.
Elisia kept talking, pretending not to notice.
“According to proper tradition, I should have resided in the Separate Palace for the past month.
Although I've been staying in His Highness the Second Prince's Palace thanks to his kindness, I haven't been able to properly learn court etiquette because of that.”
“But, Your Highness, the separate palace is merely a temporary residence.
It's old and hardly befitting your status.
Wouldn’t it be better for you to stay in the Second Prince’s Palace?”
said the Empress, who was trying to soothe Elisia gently, before turning to Franz.
She noticed his pale, frozen features before speaking cautiously.
“It would also be more convenient for purifying mana if you remained in the same place.”
“Even if I stay in the Separate Palace, I will not neglect my refinement.
I will appreciate the opportunity to adapt to life in the Imperial Palace.”
Elisia stood firm.
She wanted to distance herself from Franz.
Because she feared she would melt under his kindness.
Because Elisia knew the future.
Nerys Roshanak would appear a year from now at Crichton's concert.
Franz would abandon her to dance with Nerys.
From the beginning of the party to its end, it would be as if he declared he would have Nerys entirely to himself.
Afterward, Nerys would become his mistress and take up residence in the Second Prince's palace.
Everything was predetermined, like the sequence of seasons.
And worse, Nerys was his first love.
There was no denying this future.
Franz's feelings might fade sooner than expected.
One week...was more than enough, Elisia thought bitterly.
She didn't want to be banished to the Separate Palace after Nerys appeared.
If she moved in from the start, she could at least avoid that insult.
“If a separate palace doesn't suit me, I am satisfied with any other residence.
I will accept whatever place your Majesty allocates.”
Elisia lowered her gaze and spoke politely.
She could feel the cold radiating from Franz's side.
Franz was clearly dissatisfied.
But Elisia had no intention of changing her mind.
She wasn't thinking about his feelings.
What mattered was reducing future pain.
At first, after returning in time, she had planned to quietly disappear once Franz and Nerys were together again.
But after experiencing Franz's warmth, she realized it wouldn't be that easy.
Every time he smiled at her, stroked her hair, or kissed her gently... she felt her heart clench.
It was extremely sad to know that this emotion had an expiration date.
She would never be able to completely hate Franz.
She was weak in the face of love.
If she hadn't been, she wouldn't have died so horribly in her previous life.
So—for her own sake—she had to start walking away now.
In order for her to suffer less later, moving to the separate palace was necessary.
Although the separate palace connects to the Second Prince's Palace, it remains isolated.
If she moved in, she would rarely see Franz.
Unless he summoned her or deliberately searched for her, she wouldn't even catch his shadow.
In her previous life, that feeling of loneliness had crushed her.
She wandered through the gardens and walked aimlessly at night.
In the end, she found herself lingering near his room.
Because she missed him so much—she longed for just one look from him.
What she received in return were looks of contempt and rebuke.
In her previous life, Franz was someone who could only be reached after hardship.
So in this life too, if she moved to the separate palace, they would naturally drift apart.
“But you are newlyweds, isn’t it a very short time to be apart?”
“I am not requesting a new residence, Your Majesty.
I am only requesting to remain in an unoccupied palace.”
Elisia answered calmly, expressing the words she had prepared in advance.
“I am fully aware that I am not suitable for His Highness.
I want to study court etiquette and prepare myself to be worthy of him.”
“Common sense,” Glenna said with a smile, then looked at Crichton.
“It's a good thing Her Highness is being reasonable and realistic about herself.
Isn't it, Crichton?”
“If you say so...what does Your Majesty think?”
“Well… I would have preferred you to stay in the Second Prince’s Palace.
But that has to be decided by the person concerned.
What do you think, Franz?”
Everyone's eyes turned to Franz, who still bowed his head in silence.
Elisia looked at him with calm eyes.
“His Highness will definitely agree.
There will be no problem with mana purification.”
She added, aiming directly at his weak point.
Despite the harshness of her words, he did not answer.
It was as if he had completely frozen in place.
“...I...”
As the awkward silence began to drag on, Franz finally spoke, his voice heavy.
He clenched his fist tightly on the table.
What's wrong?
Elisia furrowed her eyebrows, watching him tremble.
Something was off.
The cold emanating from him was strong enough to give her goosebumps.
His mana was supposed to have stabilized.
So why...?
The previously calm mana was beginning to become disturbed—and it wasn't just Elisia who noticed this.
The table shook, and the servants began to tremble.
The warm atmosphere of the banquet hall suddenly turned into a harsh winter.
"Franz?
What's wrong?
Are you okay?"
The Empress called him anxiously.
But he didn't move, sitting completely upright.
“Your Majesty...
I...”
He groaned between his clenched teeth.
Elisia stared at him in shock.
Was his mind so shaken?
How was this possible?
In her previous life, Mana had calmed down immediately after the marriage was consummated.
The disturbance had disappeared immediately.
And this time, they had spent a whole week together—his mana should have been more stable.
So why...?
Confused, Elisia looked at him.
Little by little, he turned toward her as if it had cost him tremendous effort.
"No."
“No, Liz.”
He held her hand, his grip icy.
Across the table, Crichton and Glenna exchanged shocked looks.
“I heard that they consummated the marriage.
How can the Second Prince’s mana be in this state?
Is this possible?”
“I'm not sure.
Normally, this doesn't happen.”
“So, maybe...”
Glenna's suspicious gaze turned to Elisia.
“Perhaps Mana has bonded with the wrong person?
Perhaps Miss Ambrose is not compatible with Mana?”
“Shut up.”
Franz's golden eyes flashed with anger.
He looked at Glenna through clenched teeth.
“Not Miss Ambrose.
She is the wife of the Second Prince.
Stop talking.”
"Franz!
How dare you!"
Crichton's face flushed with anger at Franz's harsh tone.
He shouted at the Empress in anger.
"Mother!
Won't you intervene?
Didn't you hear what he said to Glenna?"
“My hearing is fine.
Be quiet.”
The Empress raised her hand, stopping him with cold authority.
Then, after giving everyone a sharp look, she turned to Elisia.
“Your Highness, have you consummated your marriage to Franz?
Are your souls joined?”
“Yes, Your Majesty the Empress.”
“Then, purify his mana.
Now.
In front of me.”
Elisia's warm face froze in a moment of shock.
"…Sorry?"
"Now.
I have to see with my own eyes."
The Empress's tone was stern.
Elisia's eyes twitched.
She looked at Franz.
He looked at her painfully.
He looked like he wanted to say something, but his lips were frozen.
She looked at his hands.
Ice had formed on the tablecloth under his fist.
Mana was consuming him.
If this continued, his heart might freeze.
This was what Elisia had wanted—but not like this.
“Your Highness, this is an order from the Empress.
Purify his mana immediately.”
She couldn't leave him like this.
Why here?
Why now...?
Elisia drew a deep breath.
This was the second time she had seen Franz in such pain.
The first time, she had been merely confused.
But now… her feelings were even more turbulent.
She wasn't sure if what she felt was remorse, sadness, pity—or something else entirely.
“Your Highness.
Now!”
As the Empress's voice rose again, Elisia did not hesitate further.