Judging by the faint light filtering through the thick curtains, it was clearly daytime. However, the room was as dark as night. It seemed as if they were trying not to disturb her deep sleep.
Elise opened her eyes, still lying in bed. Her dazed eyes stared at a man in a suit, sitting with his legs crossed.
'Grand Duke Blake Frozen.'
He was looking at the documents by candlelight.
His expressionless face was a true sculpture. The combination of his dark blue hair, which barely covered his neck, his piercing blue eyes, his sharp nose, and his tightly pressed lips created a face of unparalleled beauty.
'What the hell happened?'
Elise thought back to what Philippe had said just before she entered the story.
[Your husband-to-be, Blake Frozen, is possessed by an agent from the world above. Apparently, they've encountered problems there, so they've formed a temporary alliance with us. As long as you properly perform the scenes in the script, they won't interfere with you at other times and will accommodate you.]
Elise opened her eyes, still lying in bed. Her dazed eyes stared at a man in a suit, sitting with his legs crossed.
'Grand Duke Blake Frozen.'
He was looking at the documents by candlelight.
His expressionless face was a true sculpture. The combination of his dark blue hair, which barely covered his neck, his piercing blue eyes, his sharp nose, and his tightly pressed lips created a face of unparalleled beauty.
'What the hell happened?'
Elise thought back to what Philippe had said just before she entered the story.
[Your husband-to-be, Blake Frozen, is possessed by an agent from the world above. Apparently, they've encountered problems there, so they've formed a temporary alliance with us. As long as you properly perform the scenes in the script, they won't interfere with you at other times and will accommodate you.]
She was relieved to hear that. If the person she was going to have to deal with up close was an agent, she figured it would be okay to relax a little in the private realm.
[Well, he's known for being a man of clear and cold demeanor, so it's hard to expect help from him. But maybe it's better for both of us.]
'Cold. Cold.'
Even after giving in a hundred times, Blake didn't seem cold.
'Who on earth is that man? How should I treat him?'
After much deliberation, Elise made her decision.
'First, we need to figure out that man's identity. That's the most urgent task.'
When Elise rustled her hair, Blake suddenly raised his head, and his gaze turned to her.
“Are you awake?”
He set down the documents, rose to his feet, and she watched as he approached. Elise also lifted her upper body. Grabbing the blanket that was slipping off her body, she pulled it up, precariously exposing only her sternum. She slowly blinked her downcast eyes.
Even though her face was unwashed, Elise had no doubt that she was beautiful even at this moment.
'I would have been pretty even in death.'
Even though he was murdered.
"Your Highness..."
Because she was rushed into the role, Elise only had time to read the script for the first scene, the first night. With the role changed, she couldn't grasp the character's personality or background, so she had to keep her words to a minimum.
“Are you feeling better?”
Blake leaned toward her, sitting on the edge of the bed. Elise noticed that the emotion in his eyes wasn't just concern.
Of course, what man would be sane when he sees me now? The ability to control men, adorned with both allure and pathos, was a natural instinct, something that came naturally without effort. For an Asian to rise to the ranks of world-class stardom was anything but ordinary.
“...I want to wash.”
Even the slightly trembling voice. Even she thought to herself, it was perfect.
“I’ll tell them to prepare the bath water. Before that, how about doing some simple yoga?”
Elise shook her head. She could tell without even looking how messy it was down there. It was terribly uncomfortable, and it didn't bode well for her perfect image. She couldn't sit down for a meal with him like this.
"All right."
Blake ran his hands through her hair gently.
“I’m just resting a little longer.”
Instead of pulling the bedside table, he left the room. It seemed he would call his attendant and get ready.
After the door closed, Elise, who had been holding her breath for a moment, quickly turned over the blanket and tapped the ring on her ring finger.
Her elaborately engraved wedding ring wasn't just a simple accessory. It was a mid-level piece with a special function. It also contained the script for the film "Fallen Lovers," which she was to portray.
In response to her gesture, a palm-sized panel display surfaced above the ring. Elise manipulated the panel, quickly reading the initial script.
'Ah. The male protagonist is still in the castle. The next appearance will be a conversation with him.'
In "Fallen Lovers," the male protagonists, Lucas Clanton and Grand Duchess Elise, were siblings who had remarried their respective parents. While not related by blood, they were legally within the family.
In the scenario, Lucas would not only attend the wedding and loiter around the bridal suite, but he would also wait all day, saying he wanted to meet his sister.
'He really is a truly pure man.'
Of course, his heart is completely moved by the female protagonist who appears after a while.
'The role I'm given is that of the sister-in-law who makes life difficult for the female protagonist.'
Elise frowned as she recalled the actors cast in "Fallen Lovers," one by one. What had become of "him," the man who had played her actual male lead?
'That crazy guy.'
Elise shook her head, clearing her mind of the thoughts, and concentrated on memorizing her lines. The room was dark, making it difficult to gauge the time, but she had a feeling it wouldn't be long before she could finish.
“Brother, will you come see me again?”
“(With moist eyes) I’ll try to hold on. Don’t worry about me. Of course, I’ll be very lonely...”
Elise was so focused that she didn't even hear the knock or the door opening.
Elise was startled by the voice coming from right next to her and shut down the display.
‘Did you hear...?’
As she gently lowered the blanket she been covering, she saw the maids standing by the bed. They seemed to have come to help her with her bath. Judging by their expressions, she couldn't tell whether they'd heard her or not.
Well, what could they do even if they heard it? Elise thought with relief.
'By the way, I haven't memorized all the lines yet. What should I do?'
Elise could only hope for another chance to be alone. She climbed down from the bed.
Despite being naked, she accepted the maid's guidance without any sign of shame. She held her head high and walked with grace and dignity.
Luxurious baths and maids of honor, top-quality perfumes and massages, expensive and ornate jewelry and dresses.
'First, I must enjoy the luxurious life of an aristocrat.'
Elise's eyes sparkled with anticipation.
“Your Highness, you are so beautiful.”
“How can your skin be so smooth?”
Elise's face, reflecting her made-up appearance in the mirror, showed satisfaction.
'I'm ten years younger.'
Except for the color of her eyes and hair, she looked exactly like she did when she was nineteen. Elise gently stroked her lavender hair, which was braided into a bun. She also liked the fact that her eyes were the same color as her hair. She looked fresh, yet at the same time, languid.
Elise didn't particularly dislike her dark hair and hazel eyes, but she wasn't proud of them either. She'd often been limited in her roles during her acting career.
“Yeah. It’s pretty.”
Elise responded to the maids' compliments as if it were a given. Why should she be humble? She was far from being polite.
Fortunately, Elise's husband, Blake, must have found her quite beautiful, too. He froze the moment he entered the room and saw her.
Elise looked back at him with a smile.
"Your Highness."
"...Ma'am."
He slowly approached her and kissed her cheek. A whistle of air could be heard from all around. Elise glanced away, glancing at the maids.
“You guys, you can just step back.”
Realizing their mistake, the maids hurriedly lowered their heads and left the room one by one.
Only when the two were left alone did Elise look up at Blake. Whether the maids were present or not, he was fixated on her.
“Madam, aren’t you very tired?”
"Yes. I'm fine now. Thanks to Your Highness's consideration, I was able to rest well."
“That’s good to hear.”
His lips formed a soft curve.
“Then shall we have lunch together?”
"Great."
Elise lightly placed her arm around his right arm. Perhaps because their chests touched, his body stiffened slightly.
'Wow, I want to play a prank.'
It seemed as if she provoked him just a little more; he'd suddenly grab her for lunch and head to bed. She found that routine incredibly exciting, but she decided to hold back for now. Because...
'Now is the time to meet the male lead.'
As expected.
“Lord Clanton will also be present.”
Blake has informed her that they will be attending lunch with the male protagonist, Lucas Clanton.
“Is my brother still here and not back yet?”
Even though she knew it, Elise opened her eyes wide in surprise.
“He said he would feel better if he went to see Madam.”
"Ah..."
Elise smiled faintly. This too was an act, but Blake, of course, didn't notice.
“Lord Clanton... You seem to be on good terms.”
In a slightly uncomfortable voice, he probed Lucas and Elise's relationship. Of course, Elise, completely oblivious to his intentions, responded with a bright smile.
“Yes, that’s true. Sometimes I rely on him more than my father... My brother took great care of me.”
"...But now, Madam has me. I will do my best to be someone you can rely on more than anyone else."
He spoke with a strong tone, and Elise found him quite cute.
"I am glad. I, too, will strive to be a wife who satisfies Your Highness's heart."
“Madam, that’s enough for me already.”
Ah, this guy. He's so sweet. Elise giggled inwardly for a long time. He might not be an ally, but he was a man she really liked.
As she walked with him, Elise roughly memorized the layout of the castle.
The bedroom where she spent her first night was on the third floor of the main building, and Blake's office and study were on the same floor. The second floor contained numerous rooms, including the VIP suite, and touring them all would likely take several hours.
The central hall, reception room, and banquet hall where the banquet was held were all located on the first floor. Descending the stairs, she glanced outside and saw several large buildings within the inner walls, in addition to the main castle. The inner walls were so high that it was difficult to see beyond, but the distance between the watchtowers gave her an idea of the scale of the outer walls.
'It's amazing. It's almost like a royal palace.'
Elise realized anew that she was not at the level of an ordinary noble.
As they arrived on the first floor, the servants guarding the banquet room opened the door for them. Elise took a deep breath, trying not to show it. It was her habit of focusing before the filming began.
Through the open door, a bright blonde hair appeared. As if signaling the start of the scene, the ring on her ring finger vibrated.
“Your Highness.”
A man in a white uniform stood up and bowed. This was the first line of the scene.
'That guy is the original male lead, Lucas Clanton.'
He is the Vice-Captain of the Knights of Nephrus, who protect the royal family, and is the successor of Clanton, acknowledged by the Marquis.
‘A handsome young man with blond hair and green eyes... Just looking at his appearance, he really looks like a prince from a fairy tale.’
His gaze, raised, turned towards her.
“Elise.”
The corners of his mouth twitched awkwardly. Elise recalled the script's description of her behavior. It was clearly "smiling brightly."
[Well, he's known for being a man of clear and cold demeanor, so it's hard to expect help from him. But maybe it's better for both of us.]
'Cold. Cold.'
Even after giving in a hundred times, Blake didn't seem cold.
'Who on earth is that man? How should I treat him?'
After much deliberation, Elise made her decision.
'First, we need to figure out that man's identity. That's the most urgent task.'
When Elise rustled her hair, Blake suddenly raised his head, and his gaze turned to her.
“Are you awake?”
He set down the documents, rose to his feet, and she watched as he approached. Elise also lifted her upper body. Grabbing the blanket that was slipping off her body, she pulled it up, precariously exposing only her sternum. She slowly blinked her downcast eyes.
Even though her face was unwashed, Elise had no doubt that she was beautiful even at this moment.
'I would have been pretty even in death.'
Even though he was murdered.
"Your Highness..."
Because she was rushed into the role, Elise only had time to read the script for the first scene, the first night. With the role changed, she couldn't grasp the character's personality or background, so she had to keep her words to a minimum.
“Are you feeling better?”
Blake leaned toward her, sitting on the edge of the bed. Elise noticed that the emotion in his eyes wasn't just concern.
Of course, what man would be sane when he sees me now? The ability to control men, adorned with both allure and pathos, was a natural instinct, something that came naturally without effort. For an Asian to rise to the ranks of world-class stardom was anything but ordinary.
“...I want to wash.”
Even the slightly trembling voice. Even she thought to herself, it was perfect.
“I’ll tell them to prepare the bath water. Before that, how about doing some simple yoga?”
Elise shook her head. She could tell without even looking how messy it was down there. It was terribly uncomfortable, and it didn't bode well for her perfect image. She couldn't sit down for a meal with him like this.
"All right."
Blake ran his hands through her hair gently.
“I’m just resting a little longer.”
His hand brushing against the cheek was not just warm, but hot.
After the door closed, Elise, who had been holding her breath for a moment, quickly turned over the blanket and tapped the ring on her ring finger.
Her elaborately engraved wedding ring wasn't just a simple accessory. It was a mid-level piece with a special function. It also contained the script for the film "Fallen Lovers," which she was to portray.
In response to her gesture, a palm-sized panel display surfaced above the ring. Elise manipulated the panel, quickly reading the initial script.
'Ah. The male protagonist is still in the castle. The next appearance will be a conversation with him.'
In "Fallen Lovers," the male protagonists, Lucas Clanton and Grand Duchess Elise, were siblings who had remarried their respective parents. While not related by blood, they were legally within the family.
In the scenario, Lucas would not only attend the wedding and loiter around the bridal suite, but he would also wait all day, saying he wanted to meet his sister.
'He really is a truly pure man.'
Of course, his heart is completely moved by the female protagonist who appears after a while.
'The role I'm given is that of the sister-in-law who makes life difficult for the female protagonist.'
Elise frowned as she recalled the actors cast in "Fallen Lovers," one by one. What had become of "him," the man who had played her actual male lead?
'That crazy guy.'
Elise shook her head, clearing her mind of the thoughts, and concentrated on memorizing her lines. The room was dark, making it difficult to gauge the time, but she had a feeling it wouldn't be long before she could finish.
“Brother, will you come see me again?”
“(With moist eyes) I’ll try to hold on. Don’t worry about me. Of course, I’ll be very lonely...”
Elise was so focused that she didn't even hear the knock or the door opening.
"Your Highness, did you catch a cold?"
‘Did you hear...?’
As she gently lowered the blanket she been covering, she saw the maids standing by the bed. They seemed to have come to help her with her bath. Judging by their expressions, she couldn't tell whether they'd heard her or not.
Well, what could they do even if they heard it? Elise thought with relief.
'By the way, I haven't memorized all the lines yet. What should I do?'
Elise could only hope for another chance to be alone. She climbed down from the bed.
Despite being naked, she accepted the maid's guidance without any sign of shame. She held her head high and walked with grace and dignity.
Luxurious baths and maids of honor, top-quality perfumes and massages, expensive and ornate jewelry and dresses.
'First, I must enjoy the luxurious life of an aristocrat.'
Elise's eyes sparkled with anticipation.
***
“Your Highness, you are so beautiful.”
“How can your skin be so smooth?”
Elise's face, reflecting her made-up appearance in the mirror, showed satisfaction.
'I'm ten years younger.'
Except for the color of her eyes and hair, she looked exactly like she did when she was nineteen. Elise gently stroked her lavender hair, which was braided into a bun. She also liked the fact that her eyes were the same color as her hair. She looked fresh, yet at the same time, languid.
Elise didn't particularly dislike her dark hair and hazel eyes, but she wasn't proud of them either. She'd often been limited in her roles during her acting career.
“Yeah. It’s pretty.”
Elise responded to the maids' compliments as if it were a given. Why should she be humble? She was far from being polite.
Fortunately, Elise's husband, Blake, must have found her quite beautiful, too. He froze the moment he entered the room and saw her.
Elise looked back at him with a smile.
"Your Highness."
"...Ma'am."
He slowly approached her and kissed her cheek. A whistle of air could be heard from all around. Elise glanced away, glancing at the maids.
“You guys, you can just step back.”
Realizing their mistake, the maids hurriedly lowered their heads and left the room one by one.
Only when the two were left alone did Elise look up at Blake. Whether the maids were present or not, he was fixated on her.
“Madam, aren’t you very tired?”
"Yes. I'm fine now. Thanks to Your Highness's consideration, I was able to rest well."
“That’s good to hear.”
His lips formed a soft curve.
“Then shall we have lunch together?”
"Great."
Elise lightly placed her arm around his right arm. Perhaps because their chests touched, his body stiffened slightly.
'Wow, I want to play a prank.'
It seemed as if she provoked him just a little more; he'd suddenly grab her for lunch and head to bed. She found that routine incredibly exciting, but she decided to hold back for now. Because...
'Now is the time to meet the male lead.'
As expected.
“Lord Clanton will also be present.”
Blake has informed her that they will be attending lunch with the male protagonist, Lucas Clanton.
“Is my brother still here and not back yet?”
Even though she knew it, Elise opened her eyes wide in surprise.
“He said he would feel better if he went to see Madam.”
"Ah..."
Elise smiled faintly. This too was an act, but Blake, of course, didn't notice.
“Lord Clanton... You seem to be on good terms.”
In a slightly uncomfortable voice, he probed Lucas and Elise's relationship. Of course, Elise, completely oblivious to his intentions, responded with a bright smile.
“Yes, that’s true. Sometimes I rely on him more than my father... My brother took great care of me.”
"...But now, Madam has me. I will do my best to be someone you can rely on more than anyone else."
He spoke with a strong tone, and Elise found him quite cute.
"I am glad. I, too, will strive to be a wife who satisfies Your Highness's heart."
“Madam, that’s enough for me already.”
Ah, this guy. He's so sweet. Elise giggled inwardly for a long time. He might not be an ally, but he was a man she really liked.
As she walked with him, Elise roughly memorized the layout of the castle.
The bedroom where she spent her first night was on the third floor of the main building, and Blake's office and study were on the same floor. The second floor contained numerous rooms, including the VIP suite, and touring them all would likely take several hours.
The central hall, reception room, and banquet hall where the banquet was held were all located on the first floor. Descending the stairs, she glanced outside and saw several large buildings within the inner walls, in addition to the main castle. The inner walls were so high that it was difficult to see beyond, but the distance between the watchtowers gave her an idea of the scale of the outer walls.
'It's amazing. It's almost like a royal palace.'
Elise realized anew that she was not at the level of an ordinary noble.
As they arrived on the first floor, the servants guarding the banquet room opened the door for them. Elise took a deep breath, trying not to show it. It was her habit of focusing before the filming began.
Through the open door, a bright blonde hair appeared. As if signaling the start of the scene, the ring on her ring finger vibrated.
“Your Highness.”
A man in a white uniform stood up and bowed. This was the first line of the scene.
'That guy is the original male lead, Lucas Clanton.'
He is the Vice-Captain of the Knights of Nephrus, who protect the royal family, and is the successor of Clanton, acknowledged by the Marquis.
‘A handsome young man with blond hair and green eyes... Just looking at his appearance, he really looks like a prince from a fairy tale.’
His gaze, raised, turned towards her.
“Elise.”
The corners of his mouth twitched awkwardly. Elise recalled the script's description of her behavior. It was clearly "smiling brightly."
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