He looked at Leona with a calm but stern expression. "Do you know who I am?"
Leona glanced at him, and the corner of her lips twitched.
"Yeah, I know. Are you a fool? I literally just asked if you're my husband."
His brow furrowed slightly, clearly not expecting that kind of blunt response.
"…Then shouldn't you bow when greeting me?"
Leona blinked. Then stared at him like he'd grown two heads.
"Oh, sure. I'll bow. Right after pigs fly and the palace stops smelling like ego."
"Wh-What…?"
The man placed a hand over his face, clearly flustered, then glanced at Leona with a puzzled expression.
"You do realize... acting like this could get our marriage cancelled."
Leona simply stared at him, completely unfazed.
"Sorry, sweetie. This marriage isn't getting cancelled—not even if you go crawling to the Sylvian Emperor and cry your eyes out."
Then she waved her hand at him like she was shooing a stray cat.
"And if you're planning to talk big, at least introduce yourself properly first. Go on, shoo, shoo."
"You—!"
He jabbed a finger in Leona's direction, his face flushed with irritation, but the words got stuck somewhere between his throat and pride.
His mouth opened and closed like a fish trying to argue, yet no sound came out.
Leona blinked at him, utterly calm, then tilted her head.
"What? Cat got your tongue? Or are you just shocked by how charming I am?"
The man clenched his jaw, clearly battling between fury and confusion.
"Hufff..."
After taking a deep breath, he finally spoke—his voice strained with effort.
"Greetings, my future wife. My name is Alaric Sylvain, and I am the second prince of this empire."
The word greetings came out like it was fighting his teeth—he practically chewed it out.
Leona simply waved her hand, completely unbothered."That's more like it."
Alaric's eyebrow twitched. The frustration on his face was almost comical. As he turned to leave, Leona suddenly stood up and, with surprising grace, gave an elegant bow.
"Greetings, Prince. My name is Leona. Nice to meet you."
Alaric paused mid-step. He glanced back at her, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.Her posture… refined. Graceful.At the very least, she knew her etiquette.
With a soft huff and a snort, he left the room, cloak billowing dramatically behind him.
Leona just shrugged and flopped back into her seat.
"Well... I guess all that posture training during the time when i watch Emperor's drama lessons wasn't completely useless."
With a little bounce, Leona flopped onto the bed, her arms spread out like a starfish. She let out a long sigh and draped one hand dramatically over her forehead like a tragic noblewoman in a play.
"Now I have to think of a way to earn money," she muttered to herself, staring at the ceiling. "Then I'll be free. No more royal drama, no more fake smiles..."
She paused, then narrowed her eyes as if plotting.
"And when that prince eventually introduces his secret lover—because, let's be honest, in first life he has one—I'll gracefully ask for a divorce, collect the sympathy, and live my best life far away from politics and arranged marriages."
She turned on her side and hugged the pillow like it owed her money.
"Yeah... that's the plan. Freedom, money, and a peaceful life. Preferably with snacks."
Leona sat up suddenly, her fingers snapping in the air like she'd just discovered a brilliant idea.
"Ohhhh, wait a minute... I could become a knight! With this much strength, I could easily take down anyone in my path. Or... an adventurer!" she exclaimed, her eyes lighting up with excitement. "Yeah, adventurer is way more my style. I get to kill monsters, earn money, and—most importantly—be free to do whatever I want!"
She swung her legs off the bed and stood up, striking an imaginary heroic pose. "No rules, no titles, just me and my sword, slaying beasts and collecting treasures. Now that's what I call living the dream."
She paused, her expression turning thoughtful.
"Maybe I'll start with something small... like a giant rat or an overgrown boar. Baby steps, right?"
Leona sat back down on the bed, her mind racing as she stared at the ceiling.
"But... why did Alaric show up so quickly this time? In my previous life, he didn't make his grand entrance until later. Did something happen? Did he... know about me before?"
She furrowed her brow, trying to piece things together. "Maybe he's always been involved with the kalgas emperor's plans. Maybe he's not the clueless prince I thought he was."
Leona sighed, lying back on the bed and staring at the ceiling with a mix of frustration and curiosity. "If he knew about me all along, then that means this marriage is even more of a setup than I thought. Great. Just great."
She chuckled to herself bitterly. "First, I die from poisoned food. Then, I'm reborn into a world with strange tecnologies then again reborn in first life where I get forced into marriage with a prince who's already got his own secrets. What's next, huh? A monster invasion?"
Her thoughts shifted to her new plan to become an adventurer. "Well, no matter what happens, I'll just have to keep going. I've got my own life to live. No one's stopping me from going after what I want, not even a prince or an emperor."
Meanwhile,
in Alaric's office, John stood with his hands clasped behind his back, a concerned look on his face. Alaric was sitting at his desk, his posture rigid, his thoughts clearly elsewhere.
John couldn't hide his surprise when Alaric returned sooner than expected. He stepped forward, his voice laced with curiosity and concern.
"His Highness, why did you return so quickly? Did something happen?"
Alaric turned his gaze toward John, his eyes reflecting a mixture of confusion and frustration. He leaned forward slightly, his voice filled with an unusual vulnerability.
"John… do you know, in my mind, there's a memory… a memory that never actually happened."
John's brow furrowed at Alaric's words, his confusion mounting. "A memory that never happened? My lord, what are you talking about?"
Alaric's gaze intensified, as if he was grasping for something just out of reach. "It's like… I've been here before. I felt an overwhelming sense of regret, like I should be doing something—finishing my task and returning. But I can't explain why. It's as if someone planted this feeling in me."
John took a step closer, a frown deepening on his face as he processed Alaric's words. "Did someone use magic on you, my lord?"
Alaric quickly shook his head, his voice sharp with denial. "No, no, John. It's not magic. It's more like… a persistent feeling that I've lived through this moment before. I can't shake it. It's so strong."
John looked at Alaric, concerned but uncertain. There was something strange in the air, something that didn't sit right. "What could this mean?" John thought to himself, his eyes narrowing with suspicion.