“What? Cast a curse? Me?”

Rumors began to spread that I had deliberately infiltrated to harm the Empress.

Even claims that I would stop at nothing to become Empress and planned to cast a curse on her birthday.

Groundless, malicious words were spreading.

A curse? What nonsense.

How could I cast a curse on myself!

“Yes, Miss. Everyone is saying you tried to curse Her Majesty the Empress.”

“Is there even such a thing as a curse cast while wearing a maid’s outfit and holding a teacup? Ridiculous.”

Sabine spoke to me with hunched shoulders.

“I’m so sorry!”

“No, Sabine. You have nothing to be sorry about.”

“I feel guilty even mentioning such things.”

Of all things, I had to wear a maid’s uniform and carry a teacup. Anyone would think I was an assassin.

‘If only I hadn’t collapsed, I would never have been caught……’

“So. What about His Majesty and Father?”

“Since you’re known for your curiosity and have always wanted to meet the Empress, and thanks to Sir Chadmon’s emphatic point that nothing was found in the teacup, the matter has been settled for now.”

“No, thank you for letting me know. Was there anything else?”

After hesitating for a long time, Sabine finally opened her mouth.

“They say you’re too frail to become the mother of the Empire.”

Oh, that’s completely true.

“And?”

“I heard there’s strong opposition against you, even though His Majesty hasn’t made an official announcement.”

“Opposition?”

“Yes.”

“Surely these words have already reached His Majesty’s ears?”

Sabine silently nodded.

“What? Really?”

When I brightened up and asked again, Sabine looked somewhat puzzled and answered slowly.

“Yes, I heard some people have already spoken directly to His Majesty.”

I’m sure Foil Viper must be among them.

‘Well, I should be grateful if they’re all opposing it.’

Yes, oppose more vigorously. Ask them to send this immature lady back home quickly.

“Miss, are you alright?”

Just as I was about to say I was excited without thinking, a thought occurred to me.

Wait, should I really be grateful?

Ainberg isn’t the type to meekly comply when faced with opposition and prohibition.

‘That man is rebellious to the bone, so the more they oppose, the more likely he’ll push forward. Look at Romeo and Juliet. Being forbidden only made their passion burn hotter.’

When that thought hit me, I suddenly felt chilled.

“Oh no. They shouldn’t oppose it!”

When I shouted, Sabine looked at me with tearful eyes, as if deeply sympathetic.

“I know. Everyone is so mean. They only believe what they see.”

“Mmm, that’s right.”

“That’s not everything. How can they say such things about someone as good as you? I can’t bear how upsetting it is.”

Sabine thumped her small fist against her chest and continued.

“No matter what anyone says, I believe in your sincerity.”

“What?”

What’s this now?

“That your love for His Majesty is genuine. Someday, everyone will know.”

No, that’s not it.

“……”

“Miss, please rest well. Someone from the temple will be coming shortly.”

❀❀❀

With the unsettled atmosphere ahead of the auspicious day, the temple began to take action.

Since even doctors couldn’t determine why I kept collapsing, the temple stepped forward under that pretext.

But I knew this was just a surface reason; they wanted to verify whether I was truly trying to cast a curse.

Moreover, they wanted to keep me confined during the national events.

How ridiculous.

I’ve lived in the imperial palace too, you know?

“It’s been a while, my lady.”

The person who came to see me was a young priest who appeared to be around my age.

I could tell at a glance he was sent to monitor me.

“Hello, priest. Unfortunately, I don’t remember who you are.”

‘I’ve never seen this face before, yet he says it’s been a while.’

He must be a priest with connections to Leonora.

Instead of pretending to know him, I decided to feign honesty.

The young priest responded in a flat voice.

“It doesn’t matter.”

At first glance, he had ordinary brown hair and was tall. I didn’t think his appearance was particularly striking, but his eyes were so unique and mysterious that I couldn’t look away.

‘Annoyingly pretty.’

Perhaps due to his holy power, his eyes were transparent and beautiful like glass.

Feeling I should at least know his name, I deliberately introduced myself.

“I am Leonora Chadmon.”

“So it’s true that you’ve lost your childhood memories.”

He nodded casually and approached me.

“You don’t just forget how I blessed you when you were born…… It’s a bit disappointing that you’ve forgotten all our years together.”

“You personally blessed me when I was born?”

“Yes, indeed.”

“……?”

He seems too young for that.

As if reading my thoughts, he tilted his head and said:

“Believe me, my lady. You’re still as doubtful as ever.”

Then he smirked with one corner of his mouth and stared at me.

“By the way.”

“……”

“You had all sorts of illnesses as a child, but sleepwalking wasn’t one of them. How strange.”

Sleepwalking? I almost flared up but—

Thinking they must have covered up my nighttime visit to the Empress’s quarters this way, I decided to just nod.

There was no point in stubbornly denying it.

“Yes.”

“Well, illnesses come and go, after all.”

Disrespectful attitude and impolite speech.

He was completely different from any priest I had met before.

Is he really a person who serves the gods?

“What’s your name?”

When I finally couldn’t hold back and asked, he lazily replied while unrolling a scroll he had brought.

“You’ll have nothing to do from today until tomorrow, so take your time remembering.”

Then he began reciting a list of things that needed to be done for my treatment.

Having had blessing abilities when I was Empress, I knew all of this was nonsense and just a way to stall for time.

‘All this lengthy explanation when a simple palm extension would suffice.’

I just sat quietly and pretended to listen attentively.

Then the priest folded the scroll with a sound and placed it on the table.

“Enough of this. You know this is all nonsense anyway, right?”

“……”

“The important thing is that you must not leave this room until tomorrow afternoon.”

I knew it.

They wanted to prevent any mischief from the start.

My original purpose was to check if my physical body was well and if Leonora’s soul might be there.

I wasn’t curious about the memorial ceremony or birthday celebration, nor did I want to participate.

“I thought so. Your coming to wish me well was all a lie too, right?”

“No, that part is true.”

“Who sent you here, priest? It doesn’t seem like my father.”

When I narrowed my eyes and asked, he laughed heartily.

“Why, do I seem too frivolous for a man of faith to be trustworthy?”

You know it well.

“That’s not it, but shouldn’t I know who you are?”

Am I supposed to follow the orders of an arrogant, lying priest who won’t even reveal his identity?

“Millean Hartmann.”

He answered in an indifferent voice again.

“…Hartmann, you say?”

Though I’d never seen his face, I had heard the name.

Hartmann.

A priest with holy power strong enough to rival High Priest Romaeti, who constantly clashed with me.

However, I’d heard that due to his eccentric nature, he couldn’t stay at the temple and wandered from place to place.

Is this man that priest?

“Yes, do you remember now?”

“No.”

Only then could I understand why this young man’s eyes appeared transparent like glass marbles and why he looked younger than his age.

I could also guess who might have sent this extraordinary person.

“…His Majesty sent you, didn’t he?”

Millean said nothing, but his silence allowed me to infer everything.

Only the Emperor could mobilize a priest of this caliber.

“Did he tell you to watch over me?”

When I spoke in a sharp voice, Hartmann tilted his head.

“No, my lady. It’s for your peace and safety.”

Then he casually sat down on the sofa beside the table.

He leaned back lazily and opened a thick book that had been placed on the sofa.

“……”

What is he doing?

If he came for my well-being, shouldn’t he be performing a blessing, sprinkling holy water, or doing something?

“So?”

I asked again, but Millean showed no particular reaction.

“Shouldn’t you be praying for me or infusing me with blessings to explain why I keep collapsing for no apparent reason? That is, if you’re really here for me and not to monitor me.”

Millean nodded and said loftily:

“There’s nothing I can do for you right now, my lady. Judging by your speech, you seem to be in good condition…… Let’s just rest for now.”