Taya was so exhausted that she couldn't manage to change her clothes. Instead, she threw herself onto the bed, collapsing into a deep sleep almost immediately.
When she woke up, she found herself facing Orig's massive form, his back turned to her as he lay next to her on the bed. His skin was unmarked, as if nothing had ever touched it.
"When did he come here?" she muttered to herself, puzzled. As she tried to make sense of his presence, she received no answer. Shrugging it off, she decided to take a hot shower to refresh herself.
The shower took less than five minutes, and once she was done, she emerged wrapped in a towel, her hair damp and still dripping. She stood near the window, letting the sunlight warm her skin, while she gently dried her hair. Her long strands cascaded down her shoulders, and the sight was enough to take Orig's breath away.
"Beautiful," he whispered, though he quickly shook his head, trying to banish the thoughts from his mind. He refocused, saying, "There will be a party this evening to welcome you. Evail will explain everything about this palace to you."
"Wow. How about what you said earlier? 'Just rest,' and now you're saying I have to meet everyone immediately?" Taya grumbled, her voice tinged with exhaustion. She moved to the wardrobe, but before she could reach it, Orig's strong hands pushed her into his lap.
"You don't understand, Taya," Orig murmured. "My decisions are for you to obey. As long as you play the wife's role, I don't want to hear any complaints, no objections from you."
Taya offered him a thin smile, realizing that he had become even more complicated than before—more than in her previous life.
"As you wish, Your Majesty. But could you please leave my waist? I want to change." Taya turned her face to the side, trying to avoid his intense gaze. Orig, satisfied with her response, finally released her, allowing her to make her way to the bathroom to change.
Once she was alone, Orig muttered quietly to himself, "Why is she hiding her body from me? I've already seen everything. She's not as sexy as everyone describes her." He chuckled, though his tone held something darker beneath the surface.
At that moment, Evail entered with a tray of tea and some fine bread. She looked nervous, her hands shaking as she set it down in front of Orig. He hadn't requested the tea, and as he examined the assortment, a thought crossed his mind: Did she make this herself?
Before he could ask, Evail trembled even more. "Your Majesty," she stammered. "The Queen is upset and is asking for your presence."
Orig's brows furrowed at her words, but he said nothing. He simply gestured for Evail to finish the task she had been given.
Evail hurried to leave the room, but not before Orig gave her one more command. "Evail, bring me the fashion designer who works near the blacksmith's shop, Oscar. Also, I need some new shoe collections from the top markets," he instructed.
Taya's voice echoed from the bathroom just then, "As you wish, Princess Taya," Evail responded, her gaze flicking nervously between Taya and Orig.
Taya had transformed in the brief moments she was away. She emerged from the bathroom, her hair styled in an elegant manner, her neck long and exposed, a few short locks falling in front of her forehead. She looked stunning, and Orig couldn't help but admire her.
Outside, the palace was buzzing in preparation for the welcome party. Most of the noble families from the Tulip Lands were eager to meet the new wife of Prince Orig. They were curious about her background and whether she would live up to their expectations.
Meanwhile, a conversation was taking place elsewhere in the palace.
"Why is my brother Orig hiding her? Is she too fat? Is her face disfigured? Or is she just plain ugly? Who would want to marry my brother?" Prince Dollyo, sitting with a glass of wine in hand, scoffed. His voice dripped with disdain. The party hadn't even started yet, but Dollyo already looked bored. He never stayed until the end of any gathering, not even for his own birthday parties.
"I'm not in the mood for your nonsense," his mother, Queen Lucy, said coldly. She had no time for his complaints, and she quickly shifted her attention to welcoming the guests arriving at the hall.
The palace was beautifully decorated, with lights, lamps, and candles all shining brightly. Yet, Lucy's mind remained on her son's strange behavior.
"Orig won't even talk to me," Lucy muttered, frowning. "He just justifies his preoccupation with the knights. But I know he's lying. Why is he hiding her? What happened to my son? Who is this woman he married, and what has changed about him?" she added, smiling for the benefit of the guests, though her smile was forced.
"I heard her father was a retired general, someone trusted by the ruler of Rose. And her older sister is engaged to a member of the ruling family in the capital. They say their family holds great influence and wealth," one woman whispered to her companion, both staring at a woman with blonde hair and gray eyes standing quietly in the corner.
"But her luck is bad, poor thing," the other woman replied, glancing over at Loayan, who was standing by herself, looking forlorn. "She married an unknown man, and now she's left her husband's house."
The two women exchanged looks, their words laced with pity for Loayan, who was clearly struggling. Her mother was holding her hand tightly, but it seemed like Loayan could hardly summon the energy to smile at the guests.
"Look! It's the first prince, Orig!" one woman exclaimed. "I can't bear his handsomeness." Her voice was filled with awe as she saw Orig descend the stairs, his arm around an attractive woman.
Taya made a deliberate show of descending the stairs herself, her hips swaying with each step, as if she was saying, "Look at me."
Her cheeks were rosy, like cherries, and her long eyelashes cast gentle shadows over her sparkling eyes. It was a sight that made heads turn.
"Don't be fooled by appearances," Orig murmured in her ear, his voice low and filled with warning. "Most of them wear masks to hide their true selves."
Taya smiled knowingly, remembering the painful lessons of her previous life. She had learned not to trust outward appearances.
"Don't worry about me too much. I'll be fine," she said lightly, trying to ease his tension. "I just hope you're not a bad dance partner. I don't like being embraced in front of guests."
Her comment made Orig chuckle softly, but when they reached the last stair, he shifted his position. In an unexpected move, he knelt before her, his voice ringing out for all to hear as he looked up at her.