It was a chilly night.

Evelia was perched on the edge of the bed, staring blankly out the window.

Thick inkblack clouds drifted slowly over the brightly shining full moon. The moonlight that leaked through bathed the winding ridge below eerily.

“Huuh…….”

Evelia, who had been silently gazing at the view outside the window, let out a deep sigh. The night was still young, yet sleep was unattainable. It was due to the insomnia that had worsened recently.

The insomnia had begun about a month ago. Specifically, after she had lost consciousness due to a fever and lay ill for three full days.

[The fever did not subside, so we used various medicines. The insomnia might be a side effect, but it should be temporary.]

That was all the royal physician had to say.

Neither a prescription to treat the insomnia nor a proper diagnosis was given.

Evelia Caroline was nothing more than a hollow crown princess.

Even if she wandered in deep agony every night, there was no physician in the palace to ease her suffering.

“Ah, now the headache is getting too severe…….”

Evelia narrowed her eyes and pressed her temples. Recently, her sleep time had drastically reduced, leading to severe headaches.

If it hadn’t been so late at night, she would have asked Faelin for a headache remedy, but it was too midnight for that.

With no other choice, she hugged her knees and repeatedly took deep breaths. It was the only thing she could do to alleviate her headache.

It took quite a long time to regain composure. Finally, Evelia weakly lifted her head and stared out the window with a pale face.

Her green eyes filled with the bright moonlight. The full moon was one of the few things Evelia liked.

She enjoyed it because, unlike herself, it seemed lively as it radiated bright light, and it was the only thing she could freely gaze at without anyone’s permission.

And the last reason was…….

“…….”

She chewed on her lower lip at the sudden image of someone’s face.

Then, screech, an unexpected noise sharply scratched her delicate body and passed by.

Startled, Evelia turned her pale face toward the sound, but there was nothing visible in the dark.

“Who’s there?”

Her voice, wrapped in fear, sharply cut through the air. There was no reply.

Thump, thump, only the heavy footsteps closing in further intensified her fear.

Evelia bit her lower lip tightly, staring intently beyond the canopy.

The tension was so intense it was hard to breathe, and soon a faint shape emerged from behind the canopy.

Evelia clenched her nightgown tightly.

“To come to the crown princess’s bedroom at this hour, you must have more than one life.”

“…….”

“Reveal your identity…….”

Her voice, soaked in tension, was in the midst of issuing a firm command. The wind from the newly opened window swept across the thin curtain, and the onceblurred shape became clear.

At that moment, Evelia could only stiffen her body.

“On my way back from the battlefield, I might as well have more than one life.”

With silver hair that seemed to hold the moonlight, red eyes that seemed stained with fatigue, and a voice filled with coldness.

It was the empire’s only crown prince and her only husband, Liurian Petrov.

“……Liurian?”

Evelia whispered her husband’s name with a trembling voice. In response to her reaction, the man drew closer, step by step, his lips curling slightly.

Evelia unconsciously swallowed her dry saliva. Her heart, beginning to pound roughly, felt like it would burst at any moment.

He stopped right in front of her, bending one knee and looking up at her.

“It’s been a long time, Evelia.”

He gently grasped her pale, lifeless hand and pressed his lips to the back of it.
Evelia looked at him with confused eyes, unable to say a word. It was an unbelievable scene.

He, he had kissed the back of my hand and greeted me.

“I sent a messenger that I would soon arrive at the palace, haven’t you heard the news? If not…….”

“…….”

“Or did you wish for my death on the battlefield?”

It was a languid voice, hardly believable as one belonging to someone who had just returned from battle.

But soon a clear sneer began to form at the corners of his mouth, and Evelia could only snap to attention at the sight of that horribly familiar face.

[Didn’t you and your family covet the crown prince’s wife’s position in the empire?] [I’d rather you didn’t walk this way. It’s a burden for me to run into you.] [You’ve imitated your father’s arrogance well. But there’s no need to put on airs even in front of me. After all, I don’t feel any emotion for you.]

He was like that every moment, blindly disliking and hating her as if she were the daughter of an enemy.

She knew that behind his transformation were the vile tricks of the Empress and Lady Rellia, but by then, her heart had been torn to shreds by countless insults and contempt, and Liurian’s prejudice against her had solidified too strongly.

There was nothing she could do against him.

As the Empress’s beloved son, he always eyed her, eager to drive her from the crown princess’s position.