(In the Third Prince's Study)
The Third Prince Hyeon's study was silent until the door suddenly burst open, and one of the maids rushed in, panting and visibly shaken.
Maid 1: (desperate) Master Hyeon! Master Hyeon!
Hyeon lifted his eyes from the documents he was analyzing and frowned.
Third Prince Hyeon: (calm but alert) What is it?
Maid 1: (still catching her breath) Lady Mi-Suk… she has returned from the dead! She's alive!
Silence filled the room.
Hyeon froze for a moment, his features as rigid as stone while he processed the information.
Third Prince Hyeon: (narrowing his eyes) What do you mean?
Before the maid could answer, a mocking laugh echoed through the room. The Second Prince, Victor, was comfortably seated in an armchair, sipping wine, watching everything with amusement.
Second Prince Victor: (dismissive) That doesn't matter, brother. What matters is that she's fine… and that Ying won't get what he wants.
Hyeon blinked, pushing aside his initial surprise.
Third Prince Hyeon: (muttering) That's true…
He then turned to the maid.
Third Prince Hyeon: (calmly) Where is Mi-Suk's servant?
Maid 1: (bowing her head) She's in the garden, my lord.
Victor let out a teasing whistle, twirling the wine cup between his fingers.
Second Prince Victor: (provocative) So, your wife comes back from the dead and doesn't even care to see her own husband? What a devoted wife you have, little brother.
Hyeon, still absorbing the news, ignored the provocation, but Victor wasn't finished.
Second Prince Victor: (smirking) That means she doesn't love you.
Hyeon rolled his eyes, his patience thinning.
Third Prince Hyeon: (impatient) That's not important right now, Victor.
Victor set his wine cup down and leaned forward, his grin turning sharp.
Second Prince Victor: (confident) Oh, but it is. If she loved you, you would have been the first person she looked for after waking up.
The maid hesitated before speaking, nervous about the growing tension between the brothers.
Maid 1: (lowering her head) Forgive me for speaking out of turn, my lords, but… Lady Mi-Suk has lost her memory. That may be why she hasn't sought out Master Hyeon.
Victor raised an eyebrow, unimpressed.
Second Prince Victor: (laughing) Don't make excuses for your mistress!
Maid 1: (insistent) I swear it's the truth, Master Victor.
Victor chuckled, but his expression quickly turned serious.
Second Prince Victor: (frowning) That only makes things worse.
Hyeon looked at him suspiciously.
Third Prince Hyeon: (crossing his arms) What do you mean?
Victor stood up slowly, adjusting his robe, and shot his younger brother a knowing look.
Second Prince Victor: (smirking) Oh, Hyeon… If she lost her memory, then even the duty of marriage doesn't bind her to you anymore. In other words… she doesn't love you one bit.
Hyeon exhaled heavily.
Third Prince Hyeon: (irritated) Of course not. Our marriage was arranged, Victor. Are you forgetting that detail?
Victor shrugged.
Second Prince Victor: (mocking) All five of my marriages were arranged too, but my wives still love me.
Hyeon let out a sarcastic laugh.
Third Prince Hyeon: (mocking) They love your title, Victor.
Victor's grin widened.
Second Prince Victor: (placing a hand on his chest, feigning offense) How dare you doubt my charm?
Hyeon narrowed his eyes, realizing his brother was only trying to provoke him.
Third Prince Hyeon: (raising an eyebrow) Do you actually believe they love you?
Victor spread his arms theatrically.
Second Prince Victor: (smugly) Without a doubt! And besides, I'm better-looking than you. If your wife sees me, she'll fall for me instantly.
Hyeon scoffed.
Third Prince Hyeon: (mocking) Oh, really?
Victor blinked confidently.
Second Prince Victor: (challenging) Why don't we test the theory?
Hyeon raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
Third Prince Hyeon: (crossing his arms) You want to test the irresistible charm of Prince Victor?
Victor grinned, already convinced of his victory.
Second Prince Victor: (pleased) Exactly. Let's see if your wife can resist me.
Hyeon sighed in exasperation but then smirked slightly.
Third Prince Hyeon: (amused) This should be interesting.
Second Prince Victor: (excited) Then let's go! I want to see your wife struggle to resist my undeniable charm.
Hyeon adjusted his robe, shaking his head in disbelief.
Third Prince Hyeon: (muttering to himself) This is going to be a joke…
With the nervous maid following behind, the two princes left the study and headed toward the garden.
(In the Garden)
The lush garden bore witness to a peculiar reunion between Mi-Suk, the Third Prince Hyeon, and the Second Prince Victor. The gentle breeze wasn't enough to dispel the tension lingering in the air.
Third Prince Hyeon: (surprised) Mi-Suk, you're back. Are you feeling well?
Claudete/Mi-Suk: (coldly) Back? Where else would I be?
Hyeon and Victor exchanged uneasy glances, realizing something was off about Mi-Suk's reaction.
Third Prince Hyeon: (cautiously) You were… in an unusual state. It seemed like you—
Claudete/Mi-Suk: (interrupting) Spare me the details. I don't have time for guessing games.
Second Prince Victor: (mocking) Mi-Suk, don't you remember your beloved husband?
Claudete shot Victor a frosty look, his unpleasant words hanging in the air.
Claudete/Mi-Suk: (sarcastic) Beloved husband? That's a terrible joke.
Third Prince Hyeon: (uncomfortable) Mi-Suk, I…
Claudete/Mi-Suk: (ignoring Hyeon) And who are you? Besides a presumptuous brother?
Second Prince Victor: (laughing) Looks like amnesia made your tongue sharper.
Claudete/Mi-Suk: (defiant) My tongue has always been sharp. I don't change because of amnesia.
Hyeon watched the exchange between his wife and his brother, feeling trapped in an increasingly complicated situation.
Third Prince Hyeon: (trying to calm things down) Mi-Suk, please understand…
Claudete/Mi-Suk: (cutting him off) Understand? Understand what? That I was forced to marry someone who clearly means nothing to me?
Second Prince Victor: (provoking) Perhaps you should consider other options, Mi-Suk. Options that are… more attractive.