Chapter 24
Of course I’m the real one, so I want to say I am the real one. However, it’s clear that he would not believe it even if I said it, and it was clear that Lilith was responsible for how twisted the situation had become.
Why in the world did Lilith pretend to be me? Besides, what did Lewarren know about it?
Even Kylian looked confused now. I didn’t know anything, and I thought it would only backfire if I told him I’m the real Anais. I was sure to have been able to persuade him just until daytime, but seeing that he drew his sword and showed his rejection, my resolve shrunk a little.
“I never said that. I’m just trying to say that the current Lady Anais is a fake.”
“…….”
“Have you ever thought that the soul inside her might not be the soul of the real Lady Anais?”
“…….”
Kylian looked at me without answering, but his expression had somewhat softened compared to how he looked before.
“Then are you saying that you’re the real one?”
“What?”
“The High Priest said that. The fact that your hair turns blue is a side effect of being revived by the power of God.”
“Ah…”
“Then are you also a resurrected person?”
I didn’t know what to say, so I just looked into his eyes. I fixed my gaze on him, transfixed, and soon the look on his face, like he was seeing something abominable, disappeared. He really hated Lilith, didn’t he?
“Your Majesty…”
“…….”
“If you tell me why Your Majesty hates me, I will tell you.”
“Don’t you think I already know the answer?”
“What kind of answer do you think it will be?”
“…….”
I went to the sofa where he was sitting and sat down. He stood near the bed and sat across from where I was sitting. Then, with a ‘click’ sound, I flicked my hand, and the light on the chandelier was brightly lit. Kylian frowned for a moment, then opened his eyes properly and returned to the usual Kylian with a familiar expression.
A face that is not hostile, but instead looks like he was intrigued.
“I’ve been hearing the same thing.”
“…….”
“Anais used to tell me that I had a destined person. She said it was you.”
“…….”
“Even you told me that.”
The reason I didn’t realize Kylian’s feelings for me was because I thought he loved Lilith. Because Lilith relied on Kylian a lot.
I’ve seen the two of them rely on each other so much. There really isn’t a place for me to intervene. It wasn’t the first time I ran away because I hated having to witness that.
“And my wife… After that, you…”
“…Me?”
“Damn, it’s not worth talking about.”
“Why?”
He narrowed his brow again and covered his mouth with his large hand, as if it’s really annoying to him. No, what the hell did you do?
In the meantime, I thought that even the wrinkled expression looked handsome.
“Kylian.”
“…….”
“Why didn’t you look at Lady Anais with those eyes when she was alive?”
“…….”
“Why did you avoid making eye contact at that time, and then go away because you couldn’t communicate with her?”
The large hand that covered his mouth went down, and he looked at me with a strange face. The bright, golden eyes still seemed to keep me alive every time I would meet his gaze.
“You’re trying to pretend to be my wife again. How foolish.”
“…….”
“Get out. I have nothing more to listen to.”
“…….”
It seemed like I had to stop here today. He got up from his seat, showing he had no intention of listening to me anymore. Then he went to my body and untied the braids one by one.
“Then why did you have her hair braided like that back then?”
“…….”
“I know. I will go.”
I looked back a few times as I went out, and each time our eyes met. He didn’t look as hateful as before, but he seemed confused.
I don’t even want you to know that I’m the real Anais, but I at least want you to know that what’s inside there was a fake.
It was clear that Kylian couldn’t understand my words.
“I am a saint, not a servant.”
“As a servant of God, there is no difference in obeying the master.”
“You’ve resorted to sophistry today, I see.”
I was called to come out in the morning, so I thought my body had woken up so he called me. But what the hell. It wasn’t that at all.
“A servant of God is a slave of God, not of Lady Anais’.”
“The term ‘slave’ is embarrassing. I called because I thought I needed you, so just follow me.”
“Huh.”
It felt strange to see my body hiding behind Kylian and glancing at me. I thought my body wouldn’t be able to wake up, but even blinked and looked alert.
That was the reason he had been looking for me since morning. He didn’t know when and how my body might be in an emergency situation, so I had to take care of her while he was away. Because he has a lot of work to do as the emperor.
“Your Majesty… I-I want to be with Your Majesty…”
“Wife, I would like that as well. But I have work to do. I will be back soon.”
“…Oh my gosh.”
My reaction didn’t come out well. Moreover, Kylian said that he needed me and brought me back to life, but he didn’t recognize me. I’ve never seen myself being so dependent in my life. Even to Lilith.
Even when he saw that, he still thought that she’s really me.
“You just need to focus on finding your memories.”
“Ah… T-Then…”
“I won’t leave you. Don’t worry, the second bishop will help you in case of an emergency, Wife.”
Kylian gently stroked the fake Anais’ cheek. She rested her face in his hands and blinked her eyes.
In this space, I felt like a complete stranger again. I feel like I’ve felt this feeling often before, so I’m used to it, but it was a bad feeling because one side of my chest felt stuffy.
The door opened with a squeak sound, and Phileal came in immediately.
“Did you call me, Your Majesty?”
“You must have heard of it.”
“Yes.”
“Then I’ll leave it to you.”
“Yes.”
Oh no.
In the end, all we had to do was take care of Anais. It was very strange to have to call my body like a stranger, but now I was not in a position to refuse.
Above all, it seemed that Lewarren, who was able to stop this, had yet to wake up. How much energy did he give me?
“Empress. How about this dress?”
“Your Majesty, would you like a massage first?”
“Your Majesty, how about this jewel?”
In the meantime, I even became the empress without knowing it. No matter how arrogant Kylian is, should he keep my father in a dungeon while he made me the empress? An empress with no relatives.
The reason why the ministers didn’t object is because they didn’t think they would survive anyway. In their eyes, the seemingly normal emperor has at least one bizarre desperation in order to perform his duties. There was a high probability that they would have thought so.
Above all else, Kylian’s father, the former Emperor Cypnos, was also a formidable madman—like father like son. It is highly probable they dismissed it like that.
Besides, Kylian made me an empress and called me his wife. Maybe it was because he could bring my soul into my body better by calling me his wife.
“Lilith.”
“Yes.”
“What do you think?”
It was the first time we had a proper conversation. I know it’s a fake in my body, but I wondered if she had really lost my memory, or if she was pretending not to remember. It must be someone who knows Kylian and knows me.
“I don’t like everything. Lady Anais is the best when you hold your sword in a suit.”
“That… Are you envious?”
Plus, when Kylian explained everything, he said she wanted me to disappear? Then she didn’t get any better in my eyes.
To what extent does Kylian really believe that this person has lost her memory? Didn’t he at least know that I’m not the kind of person who’d just stay obedient to only one person and make such requests, even if I don’t have any memories? Didn’t he curse at me saying that even if he stabs me, not a drop of blood will come out?
“His Majesty said so, you changed your hair to the same color to imitate me.”
“…….”
“It’s pathetic. His Majesty has no interest in you.”
It was clearly a soul with low intelligence that had entered my body. It was so funny to think that I would fall for such a cheap provocation.
“You see, Lady Anais.”
“Say it.”
“Even if Lady Anais collapses here, I can not heal you, right? Then you will die without moving like a rock, so can you still speak like that?”
“How rude!”
I was slapped across the cheek. But it was the maid who was next to the empress who hit me. She looked familiar, but I couldn’t remember the name.
“How dare you disrespect the Empress, Saintess Lilith.”
My eyes met with Phileal, who, perhaps perplexed by the situation, remained fixed with his mouth open. I thought he wouldn’t be surprised by anything.
“I will speak to His Majesty and punish you for your rudeness!”
“Yes, tell him all about it.”
I didn’t want to listen, so I left. No, why am I possessed by someone who does not stop such injustice? In fact, what was even more upsetting than her pretending to be me is that Kylian didn’t recognize me.
My reputation, my position, the solid knowledge and leadership I have built up. Even though everything seems to have been erased, Kylian doesn’t even suspect it. Because of who I am, I made it all happen.
“No, no! Lilith! We have to go together!”
“Second bishop! stop! You must escort me!”
“You already have a lot of bodyguards.”
Phileal’s voice came faintly, but he was following me, perhaps I wasn’t hearing things. But I couldn’t let him follow me. Because my face must have been messed up.
“Where are you going, Lilith?”
“I won’t tell you! Don’t follow me!”
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