Chapter 14

"Corina? -- Corina!"

The hesitant inquiry turned into a desperate cry.

The moment Gesualdo gently placed his hand on the shoulder of the black-haired woman sitting in the washroom, her body, dyed red, fell limply.

Nearby, a blood-soaked knife lay on the ground.

Even from Lilius's perspective, it was clear that the woman had already passed away, yet Gesualdo was desperately trying to revive her.

Apparently sensing the anomaly, the maids and guards rushed in, causing a commotion.

The shrill screams of the maids were grating on the ears.

Suddenly, Lilius woke up, drenched in sweat.

Perhaps the scream just now was mine.

She thought this, but there was no sign of Taina or anyone else in the waiting room, so it seemed she hadn't actually made a sound.

She had heard rumors of the tragic death of the Empress of Aerlas, but seeing it in the past had left Lilius shaken.

No matter how many deep breaths she took, her heart wouldn't stop racing.

She had seen difficult scenes before, and even witnessed battles and killings in some country's war.

But those were always about someone else, and had nothing to do with Lilius herself.

In the end, she realized she didn't understand anything.

Lilius got out of bed, sighed deeply, and opened the window.

The night breeze felt pleasant, and she didn't want to wake Taina just to change clothes, so she stared at the twinkling stars visible through the window, waiting for her body to cool down.

In the distance, the city walls were visible, with bonfires lit for night watch.

Seeing things she didn't want to see was the price of her power.

As a child, she often cried out in her sleep, troubling her nurses.

But thanks to this power, Froit had overcome many crises, so she could endure this.

Tomorrow, she would be bright and cheerful as if nothing had happened.

Thinking positively, Lilius suddenly realized something.

(Come to think of it... don't married couples sleep together?)

Her parents and her brother, Prince Spiritus, and his wife each had their own rooms, but they were supposed to sleep together.

She was certain about her parents, but not so much about her brother.

(That... isn't that dangerous?)

The power was a secret from Gesualdo.

Her father had said she could decide when to reveal it, but the family's opinion was to wait and see for a while.

Lilius agreed with this.

From what she had seen of Gesualdo over the past few days, he was not in a state where she could reveal her secret.

(Should I say I can't sleep together? But that would sound like I want to leave as soon as it's over... What exactly is "it"? It shouldn't last until morning, right?)

The day before they left the castle of Froit, her mother, the queen, had given her advice as a bride.

Among the various things she had learned—most of which she had been taught since childhood and seemed fine—there was a particularly important duty of a bride.

Apparently, at night, the husband would visit the wife's bedroom, and the wife must not disobey him.

She should let the husband do as he pleases, and everything would be fine.

If she obeyed sincerely, even if it was initially shocking, she would surely become happy.

Her mother and sister-in-law seemed happy, so it must be true.

(But isn't that because their relationship is good? I've seen a few unhappy ladies at the tea parties hosted by my mother. They say there are constant arguments or that their husbands have other lovers...)

Thinking about those ladies, she gradually became anxious.

She regretted her impulsive decision, thinking it might have been due to the shock of seeing Daria and Alno together.

After some self-analysis, she calmed down, and her anxiety eased.

(If he visits, it means the bedrooms are separate, right? From the way Prince Gesualdo acts, it doesn't seem like he would sleep together all night like her father, so it should be fine.)

Once she reached this conclusion, she noticed that her body, which had been drenched in sweat, was now cold, and quickly closed the window.

She returned to bed, wrapped herself in the warm bedding.

The basically carefree Lilius fell asleep immediately after, dreaming of a nostalgic family gathering that comforted her.