What a pointless conversation this is. No matter how I think about it, I can’t understand the current situation.

‘Why did Ainberg specifically send Millean here? For what purpose?’

Does he really believe the rumors that I tried to harm the Empress?

Because sending guards would look bad and could cause worse gossip?

Is he trying to protect the bedridden Empress? No matter how I thought about it, I could only conclude it was detestable.

I glanced at Millean, who was sitting comfortably.

‘I don’t like that subtle smile of his.’

Since he’s already in my room, I can’t just let him leave like this.

“Priest.”

When I called him, Millean simply nodded once.

“There’s something I’d like to ask you.”

Without closing his book, he merely tilted his head again.

“I’m also curious… about why I collapse without reason. It seems strange that it’s just physical weakness, especially since I feel so well otherwise.”

As I gradually broached the subject, I could sense Millean’s expression slowly changing.

“So I’ve been thinking about various possibilities. And something occurred to me.”

“Yes?”

“Do you know anything about transmigration or reincarnation?”

At a glance, he appeared to be calmly reading his book, but looking closely, I could see he had frozen in place.

“Being confined to this room makes my mind wander.”

“Then walk around in here.”

Millean extended one finger and made a circular motion, as if drawing the perimeter of my room.

How ridiculous.

“I’m asking sincerely. Can’t you answer sincerely?”

“……”

“You said you have deep ties with me. Since childhood, or even from birth when you blessed me.”

I watched Millean’s expression and added:

“You know how precious and important a daughter I am to my father, don’t you?”

At that point, he seemed to swallow a sigh before responding curtly.

“Why did you suddenly think of transmigration?”

“I’m different now. Isn’t it strange that I keep collapsing when I don’t have any particular illness? What if someone else has entered my body, and I lose consciousness from the shock?”

He replied indifferently without even looking at me.

“That’s an absurd speculation and delusion.”

I expected he wouldn’t easily discuss such matters, but wasn’t he cutting me off too abruptly?

“Is that so?”

“Yes, transmigration is not only rare, but such a thing couldn’t possibly happen to a lady of the Chadmon family.”

For the first time, he spoke with a firm voice.

He had been acting leisurely and disinterested all along.

“If it’s rare, that means it’s still possible.”

“Well, it’s not impossible.”

“Have you ever seen such a case?”

When I asked again, Millean turned another page in his book.

“No.”

They didn’t send Millean to me solely because of his high holy power.

“Have you read about it in books, then?”

“You’re quite curious, my lady.”

By this point, I was beginning to understand why Ainberg had sent Millean specifically.

He was similar to Oz but much more resolute and solid.

He shows no openings.

“It concerns me. And—”

I started to speak but hesitated. I wasn’t sure if I should speak more deeply to this man.

But without going into detail, I felt I wouldn’t get any answers from him.

Though I wasn’t certain how close he was to the Emperor or why he was meeting me privately—

I wanted to find out something, anything.

“Before I collapsed yesterday, I heard a strange voice.”

I continued speaking while looking at the priest, who still kept his eyes fixed on his book.

“Someone called me. Right after that, I lost consciousness.”

Though it happened just a day ago, it felt distant, like a long-ago memory.

“Called you, my lady?”

Millean finally seemed somewhat interested and turned his head toward where I was sitting.

“Yes.”

“You must have misheard. A cat climbing the wall, night insects, or—”

“They called my name specifically.”

“Then you must have heard things. People with weak minds and bodies often see illusions and hear strange sounds.”

Hah, this isn’t going to lead to any real conversation.

Millean rotated his neck a couple of times as if massaging it, then returned his focus to the book.

It seemed like a gesture indicating he no longer wanted to talk with me, but I couldn’t let that happen.

Didn’t brother Allentain say something?

‘There are rumors that the temple has made a move, and that His Majesty is hiding something.’

The temple might have made a move.

If the temple really was plotting something, someone of Hartmann’s caliber wouldn’t be ignorant of it.

Though he’s pretending to know nothing and acting detached from worldly affairs.

Alright, if a barrage of questions won’t work, I’ll have to change tactics.

“You seem to really like books, priest.”

“Yes, books don’t speak unnecessarily and allow me to spend time in complete peace and freedom.”

Is he saying that for my benefit?

He wants to hurt my feelings so I’ll shut up, but sorry, I’m not that easily swayed.

“What book is it?”

“……”

This time, he didn’t respond at all.

But I persisted and asked another question.

“I like books too. So, may I visit the library for a moment?”

“No.”

“There’s a book I want to see.”

“Not just anyone can enter the library.”

“Ah, but I’m not just anyone.”

At that moment, Millean looked at me with an expression I hadn’t seen before.

“His Majesty gave me permission to visit the library whenever I want.”

“That’s impossible.”

“If you find it hard to believe, shall we go check right now?”

“That won’t be necessary.”

“Since you won’t answer my questions, I thought I’d look for answers myself.”

“……”

“Well, if that’s not possible, I’ll have to ask Sabine to gather all the relevant books.”

“……”

“It would be too much for her alone, so I’ll need lots of people. I should call enough people to fill the corridor and have them pile books like a mountain right here.”

I stretched and spoke loudly.

“Sabine!”

Millean let out a scoff and muttered to himself.

“So troublesome.”

“What did you say?”

Just then, Sabine came running, having heard my call.

“Miss, did you call for me?”

“Sabine, go to His Majesty right now and—”

Before I could finish, Millean closed his book and cut me off.

“Do you want to know about transmigration?”

Now we’re getting somewhere.

“Anything you know, if you have any knowledge.”

“Do you really think you’ve experienced transmigration?”

“I’m exploring various possibilities.”

“But looking at you now.”

He extended his hand, pointing at me once, and said:

“You do know what transmigration means, right?”

“What if I’m not really the lady?”

Since he obviously wouldn’t believe me anyway, I decided to take a gamble.

As I stared at him intently, Millean gave his characteristic smile and shook his head.

“Is that so?”

Wow, that expression gets more annoying the more I see it.

I suppressed my rising anger and continued.

“I might not be Leonora. What if I’m someone else who has transmigrated into Leonora’s body?”

I thought he might flinch a bit at this point, but Millean was not easily flustered.

“Then I would have noticed. By the way, my lady, you seem quite unwell.”

I thought he was supposed to have incredible holy power, but this is complete nonsense.

In my frustration, I almost blurted out that I was actually Sienna and would provide evidence if they all came out to see.

No, I can’t do that.

This is an important period of national events in the Empire.

They put me here to prevent incidents, and I’m thinking of causing an even bigger one.

I need to control myself, at least on that.

While I was trying to manage my emotions with these thoughts—

Millean spoke in an indifferent voice.

“When the physical body falls into a deep sleep, the soul can sometimes leave.”

That caught my attention immediately.

“What if the soul leaves? Then where does it go?”

Millean replied with a displeased expression.

“There’s no way to know where a departed soul goes.”

His claim about strong holy power must be a lie.

Still, Millean is the only person I can ask anything right now.

“Could it enter someone else’s body in a similar state?”

“The probability is very low, but it might.”

My heart started racing at the possibility.

But there was something strange.

Can a soul really leave just because of falling into a deep sleep?

“Priest, then how deep of a sleep would—”

“My lady, may I read now?”

I decided to stop there.

Don’t be greedy. This much is enough for now.

Though he grumbled, he did answer my questions, so I’ll back off.

‘He complains but still answers.’

I smiled at him.

“Yes, read to your heart’s content.”