Chapter 48

Having imprinted a mark on Elise’s neck, Rezette abstained from further intimacy. Mornings would find him fleetingly visiting the bedroom, vanishing like a specter before Elise could fully awaken.

Yesterday, however, marked a change. Elise descended to his office and stationed herself there the entire day. Curiously, Rezette offered no resistance. Instead, he adorned the table before her with an array of delectable desserts: cherry compote, wine-infused pear tart reminiscent of festival sights, clover sugar preserves, and cheesecake kissed by elderflower and rosewater. The creations readily attainable were presented in the wake of the accomplished chef’s return, his countenance reflecting satisfaction.

I tried to create the atmosphere like back then when there’s a chance, but to miss the opportunity over a cake…

To temper the fervent emotions and savor the moment, she attacked the desserts with gusto. Later, she ascended to dine, headed straight to bed, only to awaken for another breakfast. To stretch the truth a tad, her days now seemed centered around consuming like an insatiable piglet.

But, as a result, a plumpness had returned to her cheeks. The once-pale Parisian hue had been restored, as if the rains of time had washed away the pallor of yesteryears.

Recently, Elise had been basking in a streak of vibrant health, experiencing days of undeniable vitality. There were no disqualifications, no impediments. She found herself musing, “Should I just pounce on him when he arrives tomorrow morning?” It seemed as if all she had to do was release the reins and cross that final threshold.

Lost in these contemplations, Elise exhaled a profound sigh and paused. Her mind had begun to wander unnecessarily. Doubts crept in. “What if I did and end up being thrown out?” she pondered aloud.

Ivetsa chimed in, “Who on earth would do such a thing?”

Elise was ready to respond when a sudden jolt of surprise disrupted her intentions. Heavy footfalls drew closer—an impending presence that sent a ripple of concern through her. Oh no.

“Who would dare throw out Your Highness?” Rezette’s voice, initially assured, faltered as he approached the bedroom. His words hung suspended, swallowed back.

Before him, seated before a grand mirror, sat the woman in question, her eyes registering astonishment as they met his. Silver curls framed her figure, partially veiling her. The mirror revealed even the angles hidden from his vantage point, creating an oddly charged silence within the room.

Momentarily disoriented, Rezette’s gaze shifted awkwardly aside. “Surely, this isn’t your form of protest?” he asked, his voice tinged with a reddening embarrassment.

Even as her cheeks flushed from the unforeseen ambush, Elise found herself confounded. Protest? Her? She reacted defensively, “Absolutely not. It’s not like you intentionally barged in while I was in the midst of this, right?”

“I never said that.”

“Your words are spot-on. I didn’t undress for the purpose of displaying myself to you…”

Elise’s sentence hung in the air, a sudden realization interrupting her thoughts. The puzzle she had been mulling over suddenly unraveled. Hadn’t he come here on his own accord? A perfect chance, indeed.

With a determined motion, Elise adjusted her chemise and rose from her seat. Flustered ears sought refuge behind a curtain of hair. “So, are you here to verify?” she inquired.

Rezette, puzzled, queried, “What do you mean?”

“You mentioned it to me last time.”

As Elise drew nearer, Rezette executed an exaggerated gesture, evading her advance entirely. Suppressing her rising frustration, Elise grasped his forearm. “This is the opportune moment to check.”

Rezette struggled to maintain eye contact, avoiding lowering his gaze below her shoulders. “I don’t necessarily need a direct confirmation. Your medical records arrive daily, Your Highness.”

“Does my weight make an appearance in those records too?”

“Absolutely.”

The response, casual with a touch of irony, left her feeling deflated. Elise’s lip found itself caught between her teeth.

“You’re really being mean.”

Her vexation, more a weary resignation that refused to manifest as tears, painted her face in telling hues. Without a spoken word, a light summer shawl settled upon Elise’s shoulders as she turned away. Following suit, tender arms enfolded her, warming her back and shoulders.

For a moment, Elise held her breath, and then it was released slowly, like the soft exhale of a breeze. “This, you know, doesn’t exactly comfort me.”

This situation typically left her befuddled by the man who presently held her from behind. He could be maddeningly inconsistent. A delicate peck found its way to the nape of Elise’s neck.

“I get it,” he replied.

“But?”

“But still, don’t be mad.”

“Why shouldn’t I be mad? It’s as if it doesn’t even faze you whether I’m angry or not.”

“I’ll be gone for a while.”

Ah, yes. Elise recognized the pattern. Affection seemed to surface in him only when he had regretful news for her. She inhaled deeply, mastering her emotions.

“Can I know the reason?”

“My cycle usually returns once every four months.”

Cycle? About to inquire about what kind of cycle he meant, realization dawned upon Elise. The term clicked into place—his words referred to the time when the dragon’s cycle took place.

“The physician must have informed you already, but you won’t be able to see me during this period, Your Highness. Probably won’t last more than a week, even if it takes longer.”

“…You had promised that once I put on enough weight, you would proceed without delay.”

“I understand that gaining twenty pounds in such a short time is unlikely. If you maintain a diligent eating routine while I’m away, things should still proceed as planned.”

“Seems like you’ll come up with another excuse next time.”

“I hope you understand that this isn’t my preference either.”

With a gentle movement, Rezette brushed Elise’s hair from her neck, revealing a faint mark of a hickey that was gradually fading. Even the slightest remnant seemed to trouble him. A soft sigh escaped Rezette as he gazed down at her.

Every morning, without fail, he came to check the mark on her neck. It seemed he was still preoccupied by the traces he had left there. Yet, a minor blemish like a hickey should have been easily dismissed.

Rezette took a moment to neaten Elise’s tousled hair before drawing her in, this time holding her by the waist.

“Do you still experience those nightmares?” he inquired.

Elise remained silent, a slight sense of childlike petulance in her demeanor.

“You had a peaceful night’s sleep.”

“I don’t have them anymore,” Elise replied, her head shaking slightly. It felt as if she were playing at being childish. She longed to ask him to stop mirroring Andrei, to stop feigning concern and pretend worry. To end the persistent intrusions into her mind.

You had said we merely needed to fulfill our respective ends for this to be a marriage, and yet…

“You can simply rest. Should nightmares persist, request sleeping aids from the physician. And if you find yourself with leisure time, the study or office can be your refuge,” continued Rezette.

Once I’ve savored good meals, enjoyed peaceful slumber, and basked in half a year devoid of worries, what would you do if I vanished without a trace?

With every promise broken, hope withered, and a facade of plunging her into desolation, Elise found herself compelled to pursue an alternative course. She must harness her magic skillfully, effect an escape before the emperor’s forces close in.

But…

“While I’m away, I’ve instructed the knights not to roam the tower freely. If you want to go outside the castle, cover your face like the last time, and be sure to have an escort. It would be preferable if you waited until I returned, but I don’t want to restrict you that much,” he said.

Elise remained silent.

“It means you can do what you want, but never be alone.”

But…

“Your Highness?”

In her mind, she knew, but still…

“Elise, you have to answer.”

Suddenly, her thoughts went blank. Her heart drummed, unabashed. How peculiar, this flutter only at the sound of her name escaping his lips. Would it not be simpler if his demeanor toward her were colder? Were he to seethe and adopt an air of indifference, her own stance could harden. And yet, his genuine concern, his earnest demeanor – they unfailingly drove her heart into retreat.

He was merely a man bound by the role he must play before the princess. This she grasped vividly.

Indeed, a month had transpired, and the apprehension that initially gripped Elise had considerably ebbed. The days spent secluded on this uppermost floor had gradually distanced her from the real world. Perhaps Rezette had proffered her counsel, but of late, even Lady Petisson seemed to ease her watchfulness. Even Andrei had ceased to haunt her dreams.

So I find myself ensnared in the serenity of this place.

What if I don’t want to leave even when autumn comes?

“Your Highness, are you alright?” Rezette inclined his head, seemingly scrutinizing her countenance. Elise’s voice trickled forth in a hushed cadence.

“If you’re not going to be kind to me even in the autumn, spare me these pretenses.”

“Pardon?” Rezette furrowed his brow.

“You said that once. That I know nothing, that I’m ignorant about the world.”

A sigh of confusion wafted from above. Rezette eased his arms from around Elise. She pivoted, met by the bewildered face of the man before her, seemingly adrift for words. Uncharacteristically, he appeared taken aback, his gaze inspecting her.

“Just a moment, Your Highness. Why are you saying this now…”

“It’s not that I’m saying it. I’m just naturally a bit like a blank page… If someone pushes me, I’ll get pushed. If someone deceives me, I’ll believe them. And then…”

When you show a kind light, I get completely dyed in that color. So if you’re not going to be on my side, don’t bother paying attention to me like this. That’s what I’m saying.