—
Somewhat clichéd to say, but last night with Nathan was intense.
It was the first time he encountered a woman’s body that didn’t hurt even when touched.
He embraced me, who was just a handful compared to himself, to the point of breaking, and relieved his pent-up desires.
It was a bit overwhelming at first.
‘But later, he did treat me quite gentlemanly, didn’t he? He even gave up his superior position.’
Making a much larger man gasp for breath while lying beneath me was truly exhilarating.
Although it wasn’t a relationship born of love, it was enjoyable enough.
‘What was it like at the end?’
I couldn’t remember well because I was so exhausted.
Just before I fainted from fatigue, I recalled his words, spoken with a regretful expression.
[I’m sorry.]
He had said he was sorry.
Even though it was something I had desired, so there was no need for him to apologize.
‘Did he think he dragged me into the mud when my future was guaranteed?’
I couldn’t understand why he apologized.
Anyway, after that, I was swallowed up by the somnolent realm.
He probably fell asleep after holding me a bit longer.
And now, upon waking up in the morning.
I was alone on the large bed.
‘Huh……. Where could Nathan have disappeared to, leaving me here?’
Although he was gone, fortunately, there was a bell on the bedside table for calling a servant.
After some deliberation, I rang it.
‘A man should come, right? There shouldn’t be any women in the First Prince’s palace.’
Before they arrived, I covered myself with a blanket, hiding my naked body.
That said, I had no need to hide that I was in his bedroom.
Since I would be officially announcing our marriage soon, why would I hide our relationship?
“Did you call for me?”
As expected, a male servant came in.
Moreover, he looked quite calm even after spotting me.
It seemed Nathan had given him a heads-up.
“Could you prepare a bath for me?”
“Yes, I’ll get it ready right away. His Highness has gone to the training grounds for a moment and will be back soon.”
“Alright.”
The servant quickly prepared the bath for me.
He then pointed to the water and explained.
“The herbs floating in the water are medicinal. His Highness procured herbs beneficial for muscle pain. The towels are over here.”
“Okay.”
I had been staying under the blanket, but as soon as he left, I washed myself.
I was feeling quite sticky due to sweat.
After washing, I put on the dress I had worn yesterday.
Here’s where the problem arose.
‘Come to think of it, this dress needs the help of a maid to wear it.’
The corset’s lacing was in the back, so someone else had to tie it.
Reluctantly, I rang the bell for the servant again.
However, this time, it wasn’t a servant who entered.
“I didn’t expect you to wake up so early…… Is there something you need help with?”
I couldn’t help but feel embarrassed when I saw Nathan leaning against the door.
‘Why isn’t a servant coming…….’
He was my political partner. I didn’t want to show any signs of incompetence.
But how could I explain that I was struggling with just putting on a dress?
It was embarrassing.
Standing awkwardly in a loose corset, the silence continued to build up.
It was at the point where my mouth might remain shut forever.
“Oh, um, you’re not covering your face today?”
“Is covering it better?”
“No! It’s much better now.”
I hadn’t realized his expression could be so expressive when covered with cloth.
His face, which had seemed somewhat displeased earlier, brightened up again.
“By the way, is there anything you need help with?”
If I said there wasn’t, he would leave.
Then I would have to wrestle with the corset and stretch my arms behind my back alone.
“Actually……”
Giving up on hiding, I turned around and showed him the corset laces.
“I can’t reach behind my back. Could you help me with putting on the dress?”
Fortunately, he didn’t look at me disdainfully.
He simply walked over and grabbed the laces of my corset.
“Try holding onto the wall.”
“Yes. Please pull it tight. They say if it’s loose, it makes the waist look thicker.”
“Won’t it be hard to breathe?”
“It’s fine…… ugh!”
Although I had asked him to pull it tight, I didn’t expect him to pull it this much.
It was foolish of me to make the same demands on Nathan as I did with the maids.
His strength couldn’t be the same as that of the maids.
“Loosen…… loosen it…… My waist is going to break……”
“Did I pull too tight? I tried to be moderate……”
He adjusted the corset until I said it was okay.
Then, tying the knot, he said.
“I want to ask you one thing.”
“Gasp, gasp…… Please go ahead.”
“Why do you want to annul the engagement?”
I was suddenly faced with a difficult question while gasping for breath due to the corset.
After some thought, I answered.
“As I mentioned before, it’s because we don’t love each other……”
“No.”
He sharply interrupted my answer and asked again.
“My younger brother is the Crown Prince. Even if there was no affection between you both, it seems strange to go this far to annul the engagement.”
“……”
“If you stayed as you are, you’d become the Empress. Aren’t you tempted by that position?”
His hands had finished tying the knot and he turned me towards him.
“Tell me. The real reason.”
The biggest reason was knowing that Regis would eventually kill me.
Coming from outside the game, I knew the fate of ‘villain Claudia’.
But I couldn’t say that as it was……
“It’s because he doesn’t love me. That’s really all there is to it.”
“I still can’t understand. Did you really expect love in a political marriage?”
“Oh, I misspoke. More accurately, it’s because he hated me.”
He slightly furrowed his brows.
“Hate?”
“What he truly loves is my younger sister, Naila. And I…… I wasn’t kind to her. I wasn’t her real sister, after all.”
“So Regis hates you because of that……?”
“Yes, that’s right. His hatred towards me is ultimately my fault.”
A heavy silence pressed down on my shoulders.
It might have been because of the negative connotation of the word ‘hate’.
I awkwardly smiled at Nathan.
“The broken relationship will never be mended. So I want to escape as soon as possible. Before he executes me later…… haha.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. You’re worrying too much.”
“It was just a joke.”
It seemed it was an unnecessary joke. The atmosphere grew colder than before.
The silence continued without a sign of ending.
Eventually, he spoke first.
“Anyway, if that’s the case, then I’m a thorough tool for the annulment.”
“Please don’t say it as if I’m a bad person. Didn’t you also use me as a thorough tool?”
He had used my body for pleasure last night.
We both used each other without emotions.
There was no need to feel wronged.
“I……”
He hesitated, as if searching for an excuse.
But it was futile.
“Yeah. I used you.”
There was no denying it now.
As long as the image of him losing his sanity and embracing me last night was vividly stored in my memory.
“So, I hope you don’t see my actions as rude. And you don’t need to feel guilty about your actions.”
I wanted a dry, emotionless symbiotic relationship.
Give him what he wanted,
And receive what I wanted,
And when we were both satisfied, it would end cleanly.
‘It would be troublesome if he feels victimized for being used. No, maybe he’ll just forget about me after breaking the curse? He’ll probably be immersed in enjoying meeting other women.’
So there might be no need to worry in advance……
While I was lost in these thoughts, I heard a sudden and bewildering statement that left me stunned.
“Let’s go. To get my father’s permission for marriage.”
“……What? Right now?”
“Yes, there’s no need to delay.”
Although it might be convenient for Nathan since the Emperor was his father, it wasn’t for me.
He was the head of the Empire. I wanted at least some preparation time to avoid making a slip of the tongue.
But for some reason, he was already leaving the room.
“Let’s go together!”
Carefully avoiding stepping on the dress hem, I hurriedly followed him.
Arriving at the corridor outside the Emperor’s office, following Nathan.
Before entering, Nathan gave me one last warning.
“There will be my father and Regis inside. Avoid mentioning anything about breaking the curse in front of them.”
“Yes? Why?”
“Because it’s not certain.”
He tightened his grip on my shoulder. His seriousness was palpable.
“No matter what method was used, I don’t expect a centuries-old curse passed down through the imperial family to be lifted so easily.”
It seemed he still had doubts about me.
Although we could touch each other thanks to the antidote, that was all.
The curse hadn’t been completely lifted.
“Hmm, yes……”
“Disappointing me is one thing. But you must not disappoint my father. He won’t view you as leniently as I do.”
I agreed with his point.
After all, it wasn’t just anyone but the Emperor.
It would be dangerous to boast about breaking the curse only to fail.
“Then I’ll reveal it after the curse is completely lifted.”
“No, keep it a secret even after it’s lifted.”
“Yes? Are you saying you’ll hide it even when your body is fully healed? Why?”
If he kept it a secret, Nathan wouldn’t be able to claim the position of Crown Prince.
It would mean he couldn’t get back at that detestable Regis.
For me, it was very disappointing.
‘What could the reason be?’
After waiting breathlessly for his answer, I finally heard it.
A truly incomprehensible explanation.
“I want to leave the position of Crown Prince to Regis.”
“What!!!!
