Woken up to a prefect morning.

She felt someone’s touch on her face. She allowed the sensation to guide her out of her sleep. The temperature that was just right, the perfectly peaceful quiet, and the warmth of someone’s touch.

She slowly opened her eyes. The warmth that had enveloped her face quickly drew away, leaving her with a lingering feeling of disappointment.

“Did you sleep well?”

Delicate eyelashes blinked.

“Ah…., yes. Did you also have a good sleep, Your Highness?’

“Yep.”

It seemed that she’d fallen asleep like that last night.

Jorg had been lying on his side facing her but now he wriggled out of the covers. She stayed where she was buried underneath them and blinked.

Last night, she had completely let her guard down without meaning to and let herself lean on him. She didn’t know why she did that, but she must have gotten caught up in the moment. She concluded that was probably it and breathed in the morning air.

A day had passed. It was morning. she was still in this place and in the body of Alexandra.

“Here, please have some water or would you like some wine?” Jorg offered in his earnest way.

“Water’s fine.” As she took the water from him, Jorg sat down next to her and quietly inspected her face.

“I think your face is a little swollen.”

It seemed that she was tired. And she hadn’t even gotten that much sleep.

“Is that so?”

She patted the face that wasn’t her own with both hands. How should she know if the face was swollen or not? But she supposed it must be.

She heard a snort.

Automatically, she turned her head to look at Jorg.

The sunlight made his blond hair sparkle, but what sparkled, even more, were his prettily smiling eyes.

She couldn’t look away for even one moment. His stunning violet eyes began to shake as if they were fearful of her gaze. ‘I see why she wanted him.’

He was the only person in this place who’d been kind to her the entire time she had known them. ‘Wasn’t that good enough? I shouldn’t need to hide my interest in him.’

As she was thinking this her stomach decided to have the absolute worst timing and growl. “……..”

“Should I tell them to bring in breakfast?”

“Yeah.” Feeling sheepish, she nodded her head. It was funny that she could feel hungry even in a moment like this. Jorg gave her a bright smile and stood up. Without even thinking about it, she grabbed his wrist.

“How about you?”

“Yes?”

“Aren’t you hungry too?”

“……..I am.”

“Then eat before you go.”

“Yes.”

She thought about how different he looked compared to when she first saw him. Back then, he had been crying in terror, but now his face looked bright. The princess had probably never seen him so peaceful. She stared at him without speaking.

Breakfast was ready within a few minutes. The food was delicious and her partner was quiet and pretty. There was no way she wouldn’t be satisfied. But there was one thing that was bothering her. Whenever she picked up her cup, the **** would stealthily raise his. And every time she cut her meat, he would hurriedly pick up his knife and begin cutting his.

“Jorg.”

“Y-yes.”

“Why are you copying me.”

“…….” If he wanted to, he should have made sure not to get caught. He seemed like he thought he was being natural about it, but it was way too obvious.

‘It’s not like it was his first time eating food. So why do you keep following me like a duckling barely hatched from its egg?’ She pondered as she continued to watch him.

“Don’t copy me.”

“…..Yes.” He poked at his salad sullenly. Seeing his dejected expression, she sighed. At the sound, he flinched. She tilted her head and observed him absentmindedly.

Under the collar of the shirt he had made sure to button up all the way, a red bruise caught her eye.

“Isn’t there something you haven’t been telling me?”

“Yes?”

Checking that the plates were all empty, she set down her silverware. Trying to read her mind, Jorg set down his silverware as well.

“Did I hit you?”

“……..”

“Did I also keep you from getting treatment?”

She was planning on not getting involved if she could avoid it. She had tried to act as close as possible to the original princess so that people who knew her wouldn’t feel like something was off.

However, it wasn’t easy when it was like this. That is to say, it wasn’t easy when there were things in front of her that she could change if she only reached out her hand, or said just a few words.

“I’m talking about that wound on your throat. I’m asking you if I made you like that.”

Jorg gave the tiniest nod.

“What about treatment?”

“I’m getting treatment.”

“Never lie to me. No matter what happens.” She stated in a stern voice.

“I’m telling the truth. I’m getting treatment. And I would never do that. I would never do something like lie… Never to you…”

She rang the bell and called in a servant, the same maid from yesterday came into the room and she eyed her curiously. ‘I should really get her name at this rate.’

Beckoning the maid over with her finger she then with the same finger, once the maid was close enough, pointed at Jorg across the table.“Who is his personal physician?”

“Your Highness...”Jorg opened his mouth to speak, a troubled look on his face. “I… treat myself.”

“Why?” The maid was the one who answered.

“It is customary for the property of the royal family to be managed so that no outside hands mishandle them, Your Highness.”

‘Property. Management. Ugh, we were having such a nice morning I completely forgot he was a ****...’ She barely swallowed back the anger that instantly shot up to her throat.

“I must have momentarily forgotten. Bring the medicine!” Her voice growled as she ordered the poor maid.

“Your highness you really shouldn’t lower yourself to do such things.” The maid suggested.

“Why? Am I also not allowed to touch him?”

“N-no, of course! I shall bring it immediately.”

The maid replied while bowing on the floor, and hurriedly left the room. She kept her mouth shut and didn’t say a word until the maid had brought the medicine.

A couple of servants entered, quickly cleaning off the table and setting down the medicine. Seeing their high level of discipline, it appeared they were quite afraid of the princess.

Then again, in some situations fear was the greatest power.

But because it was a castle made of sand, power like that didn’t last. It was clear from this Alexandra’s destined downfall. Richard’s sword could have been easily replaced by a one bad day from a disgruntled maid and an unhealthy amount of poison in the princess’ tea cup.

Looking at her now empty glass she in a slightly softer voice, ordered them to leave the room.

She looked at Jorg who was standing hesitantly, and asked. “Do you not want to be treated?”

“That’s not it.”

“Then why is your expression like that?”

His complexion revealed that he was troubled, but he made an effort to smile. “It’s just that, because of someone like me…. you being upset.”

“……..”

“I just, I don’t feel good about that….”

Without a word, she took his wrist and pulled him close. He readily came to her.

“I think I said it before.”

“Yes?”

“I said that you can’t do this. Not for anyone.”

Jorg made a tight fist. She felt him tremble slightly through her grip on his wrist. “I want to do it.”

“What?”

“I want to do it for you... Can’t I?”

She already knew. She wasn’t the one he was looking at. He was just being fooled by the shell. He thought that the kindness she was showing in the moment was from the ‘princess.’ That’s why he was treating her this way. She had to remember that.

She loosened her grip on his wrist. “You can’t.”

“……” Jorg smiled like someone who was used to getting hurt. Then as his smile faded, he lifted his hands and began to undo his buttons one by one.

She knew that she would have to see his bare skin if she was going to treat his wounds. ‘But if you unbutton your shirt like that when we’re this close, with our eyes locked...’

Without realizing it, she had taken half a step back. she casually turned around, opened the medicine box on the table and sifted through the contents.

Behind her, she heard the rustle of fabric past skin. And the sound of it falling onto the floor. Trying her best to look unbothered, She held up something that looked like ointment.

“Is this it?”

“Yes.”

Long wounds and bruises stood out on skin that was as white and soft as if it had never seen the light of the sun.

She hadn’t had the time to look closely back then but the wounds overlapped each other. In other words, he had been hit in the same places over and over again. The wounds were concentrated on his back and neck.

Jorg turned around and knelt so that she would have a good view. She dipped her fingers in the ointment and slowly began applying it over his skin. Whenever the cold ointment touched his skin, Jorg flinched.

Neither of them spoke.

“It’s done.”

Jorg slowly turned his body back over to face her. “Thank you.”

“It was nothing.”

It was her first time seeing this kind of smile from him. It was like a shadow had been cast over his pale cheeks. “Your Highness...”

“Yes?” She raised a brow at his sudden formal turn.

“I have some below too.” He admitted shyly and lowered his head and slowly brought his hands to his belt buckle.“Should I take it off? All of it?”

She was rendered speechless. But right then, there was a knock on the door.

“Your Highness!” It was the deep voice of a man bellowing loudly from behind the door.

She cleared her throat. “What’s the matter?”

“His Majesty sent me. Could I come in for a moment?”

“No!”

“…….Yes. It is just that His Imperial Majesty would like to converse with you for a little while over luncheon.”

She met Jorg eyes and mouthed ‘later.’ As she said the word she was struck with the realization. She was feeling disappointed right now.

He softly lifted her hand and lightly kissed the back of it. The movement of his eyes fluttering closed captured her eyes. She felt her heart race.

“Your Highness!” The voice boomed once more.

Jorg with a docile face submitted to her. Then he withdrew and slowly began buttoning his shirt up again.

Stealing a breath for herself she informed the servant outside her room. “I understand. I shall prepare, so wait for me.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Turning from the door she noticed Jorg linger in the room looking as perfect as the one to two seconds she looked away from him. She looked back on her relationship with Jorg with fresh eyes. It took only an instant for her desire to outpace her rationality. ‘Honestly, since Jorg was my concubine even if we did something more it shouldn’t be a problem. No, this wasn’t the time and I’m not even the real princess... Should I just have my way with him right now?’