Chapter 24
“Every time Your Imperial Highness visited the temple, you never saw me… but I often saw you from afar.”
“Ah…”
“The last time you came, you looked quite worn out, both in body and spirit. But now, you seem much better. I’m relieved.”
Isabella spoke with a warm, gentle smile. She had cared deeply for Ariel in the past and still did now.
Feeling Isabella’s sincerity brought a sudden warmth to my heart, but at the same time, it also stirred a sense of unease. What if she notices that I’ve changed?
As soon as the thought crossed my mind, I began to worry that meeting Isabella today might have been a mistake.
‘No… Three years is more than enough time for someone to change.’
Ariel had only been observed from a distance whenever she visited the temple. She and Isabella had never actually spoken. So I reassured myself that there was no need to be overly concerned.
“Is that so? I can’t really tell. I feel like I’m the same now as I was back then.”
I made sure to emphasize that I had always been the same.
“Then I must’ve been mistaken, seeing you from afar like that. I’m glad to hear it, though.”
Isabella’s words were met with a silent smile.
The room fell quiet again as we looked at each other, until suddenly a shadow passed over Isabella’s face. She looked as if she had something to say, hesitating for a moment, then, as if resolving herself, she finally spoke.
“You must be wondering… why I chose to speak to Your Imperial Highness today, after turning down the opportunity so many times before.”
I gave a slight nod, and Isabella continued without delay.
“I’ve prayed every day at the temple, but not once did the gods ever respond to me. Perhaps it was because my faith was lacking.”
Instead of replying, I kept my gaze fixed on Isabella and listened silently.
“But… a few days ago, for the first time, the gods answered me.”
“The gods… answered you?”
“Yes. They say when the gods respond, something flashes through your mind… and it truly happened. It felt like a miracle.”
Isabella closed her eyes, reliving the memory, and then slowly opened them again. But in that moment, her gaze wavered slightly. It didn’t seem like a particularly pleasant revelation.
“What… kind of answer was it?”
I asked carefully.
“Do you know Sir Allen Eustion, the Captain of the Royal Guard?”
At the sound of Allen’s name from Isabella’s lips, my eyes widened involuntarily.
“Pardon? Ah… yes. I know him.”
I quickly schooled my expression, worried Isabella might notice my surprise.
“He serves His Majesty more closely than anyone. It would be impossible not to know who he is.”
I quickly added.
“That’s true.”
Isabella asking out of nowhere whether I knew Allen, claiming she had received a divine revelation, I had been too shocked to consider the reason why. Especially since I had been deeply curious about the relationship between Allen and the princess.
Then, suddenly, a possibility struck me.
‘Could it be because of that…?’
After all, the gods sometimes revealed glimpses of the future. I asked, cautiously entertaining the thought.
“But… why do you ask about him?”
“Sir Allen and I have known each other for a long time.”
Given that Allen had once lived in the Princess’s Palace, it made sense the two would know each other. And more than that, he delivered flowers to the princess’s chambers every day.
Considering all that, there was likely something between them that I wasn’t aware of. Still, I hesitated. Was it right to reveal what I knew to Isabella?
While I was debating, Isabella continued.
“Allen… no, the Captain was very fond of me. I thought of him like a younger brother.”
The slip of the tongue, calling him by name, told me just how fond Isabella truly was of him.
“I actually spoke with him briefly not long ago. He told me he had lived in the Princess’s Palace for a time.”
“That’s right.”
“But when I entered the palace, I don’t believe I ever saw him…”
“You wouldn’t have. The Captain only lived there briefly, when he was very young.”
“I see…”
Isabella’s words finally made it clear why I hadn’t seen him back then.
“It must’ve been just before Your Imperial Highness arrived at the palace.”
“So that’s why I never saw him.”
“Exactly. But as Your Imperial Highness knows, His Majesty and the Captain both left the palace at a young age to fight on the battlefield. Even after they left, it was impossible not to worry.”
Ariel blinked in agreement.
“They’re survivors, through and through. No matter how desperate the battlefield, they always found a way to come back alive.”
“It was Your Highness who comforted me as I wept every day, waiting for His Majesty’s safe return.”
At that, Isabella gave a faint smile.
“I will never forget the kindness Your Highness showed me. I only hope that someday, I’ll have the chance to repay it.”
In Ariel’s memories, Isabella had been one of the most important people to her, second only to Calix and her nursemaid. Now, with Isabella right in front of me, perhaps moved by Ariel’s lingering emotions, I found myself bowing and addressing her as ‘Princess.’
“Please lift your head. The royal family of the Roimann Empire shouldn’t bow so easily.”
“But, Your Highness…”
“And let me say this again. I am no longer a princess. So please, raise your head.”
“My apologies.”
She looked up again, murmuring an apology.
“There’s no need to apologize.”
“Ah, I…”
She started to apologize again, but quickly stopped herself.
“You’re right. Just like you said, Your Highness, I’m the same as ever.”
“Am I?”
When I tilted my head slightly, questioning the meaning behind the words, Isabella met my gaze and gave a clearer, more defined smile.
“I do like Your Imperial Highness just the way you are. But I hope you’ll become stronger too. As you know… the imperial palace is not a kind place.”
Having grown up in the palace herself, Isabella knew that better than anyone. Perhaps she had grown concerned seeing Ariel so quick to apologize.
“It will likely become harder and harder to endure. And perhaps soon… no, never mind. I’m rambling again.”
She had begun to say something with a sympathetic look, but suddenly clamped her mouth shut, as if catching herself.
Even without hearing the rest, I knew what she had been about to say.
‘She must have seen Hestia, the future Empress.’
My time was running out. It had already been a month since I had come to possess this body, which meant only a month remained until Hestia returned to the capital.
‘Finally…!’
Of course, it would still take time for Hestia and Calix to fall in love before I could gain true freedom, but this life wouldn’t last much longer.
“Thank you, Priestess Lowella. I’ll do my best to grow stronger.”
So that I could live well outside the palace.
“Ah, by the way… why did you ask me about the Captain?”
Realizing they had strayed from the topic, I steered the conversation back.
“Actually… the revelation I received from the gods was about him.”
“About the Captain?”
I feigned surprise, as if I knew nothing about Allen’s future.
“Yes. And that’s why I wanted to ask you for a favor.”
“If it’s something I can do, I’ll do it. Even if I can’t… I’ll find a way. So please, don’t hesitate to ask.”
II tried to mimic the way Ariel would’ve spoken to someone so dear to her.
‘But what could she possibly ask of me?’
Was it really that? Would she even have a favor to ask? As I wondered, Isabella finally spoke.
“Thank you. What I want… is for Your Imperial Highness to deliver a message to His Majesty on my behalf.”
“To His Majesty?”
“Yes. Perhaps it’s because my faith is weak, but the vision the gods showed me wasn’t very clear. I couldn’t tell when or where it was. But I saw it. I saw the Captain lying on a cold floor… covered in blood…”
Even recalling it seemed unbearable. Isabella bit her lip and fought to maintain her composure. And in that moment, I knew my guess had been exactly right.
‘She saw Allen’s death.’
……
T/N: That must have been scary 😓
