“What kind of nonsense is that?”

Really, I’m dumbfounded.

I raised an eyebrow at Lilith’s whispered words.

“I am the first thing God created. A human.”

After making me so tense, the answer that finally came was absurd.

“Hm?”

Well, what’s with that reaction now?

I straightened my bent back, and felt slightly irritated by Lilith’s attitude of cupping her cheek with one hand.

I thought the one I had known since my first life, favored by God, was spouting baseless words and sophistry to tease me.

“It seems Your Highness doesn’t know…”

But then she came out with an unexpected comment.

“How dangerous it is to expose your existence.”

No, that’s not what we’re talking about right now.

I asked gruffly to Lilith, who was smiling with her eyes and covering her mouth with one hand:

“You recognized me, didn’t you? Isn’t it strange for me to hide now?”

Unless it’s a special case like Lilith who saw through my identity despite my different appearance, there’s no danger.

Moreover, I didn’t reveal it to those like Hecate and Jeff, except for Ulrika, the only friend who understood all of me.

There was no one left in the world who would understand anyway, and it would only cause confusion if I told them, so there was no need to make trouble.

Having lived hundreds of years, I wouldn’t foolishly repeat actions that gnaw away at my life.

“That’s true.”

So hurry up and explain properly who it is that hates me!

I swallowed the words rising in my throat and decided to change the subject.

“I’m different from back then, as you can see.”

Honestly, I wanted to press more about the one who supposedly hates me.

But if I did, I felt the snake would wrap difficult words around her nonsense and waste another hour. I couldn’t tell how much she would torment me by seeming to tell but not really telling.

So I decided to change the course of the conversation.

“You don’t have your powers anymore, so how did you recognize me?”

Let’s try this instead. I changed my mind and looked up at Lilith.

I hadn’t paid much attention because I wasn’t very interested, but I needed to know how the snake recognized me inhabiting a different body.

“That’s obvious… because of those special eyes.”

Why are you smiling so ominously again? I blinked my eyes, and Lilith pulled up the corners of her mouth.

“Your noble purple eyes, that is.”

After finishing her words, Lilith moved her right hand.

Leisurely and slowly, with a pleased expression, she spread her fingers and moved her index finger to block the point of view exactly where our eyes met, then fell silent for a moment.

“It’s something allowed only to one person in this world, after all.”

Breaking the momentary silence that followed, she removed her right hand and looked at me.

Afterwards, Lilith stared intently at something beyond my eyes for a while, then leaned forward, placing both hands on the desk.

“By the way, how did you recognize me?”

Lilith, her face suddenly full of curiosity, added:

“It’s been centuries since we last saw each other.”

“Your name and face are the same as in ancient times.”

I closed my eyes and sighed.

“I’ll have to use an alias next time.”

“That’s pointless.”

Unless you repeatedly reincarnate like me and become a completely different person from your past life each time, you can’t perfectly hide your identity just by using a different name.

‘The great beings were eventually forgotten.’

Come to think of it, hearing Lilith’s words reminds me of the founding legend Sasha talked about.

‘Even the gods didn’t remember the great beings.’

The reason I, the first human, was loved by the second humanity in ancient times was because God created me first.

‘What if one of them is the great being that appears in the legend?’

Since Lilith didn’t properly tell me, and I let it pass vaguely, if I deduce it myself, the identity of the one who supposedly hates me could be among them.

‘No, that’s a ridiculous thought.’

But that’s all, I judged there was no credibility.

‘Mere human legends are not to be believed.’

The same goes for the stories Elaila, Sasha, and countless other scholars babble about.

‘Moreover, during my numerous lives…’

Because I personally felt it during my long, long life.

‘No one has ever stood in my way.’

There’s nothing that can stop me, that is.

Although I experienced a miserable life like a beggar in the middle, I never failed to move forward. If I wished for ten things, I would definitely obtain all ten, even if I had to go through all sorts of hardships.

‘If someone created before me hates me, they would have interfered with everything I did until now.’

Of course, let’s set aside the fact that I only found one answer to God’s question in my current life after several centuries. That alone was always out of reach no matter how much I sought it.

‘Ugh, the snake said useless things and only made my head complicated!’

To begin with, it doesn’t make sense that there’s a being who hates the perfect me. I ruffled my hair with both hands, feeling more and more confused.

“Are you confused after learning about a new being?”

Then Lilith, seeing my appearance, laughed with a cackle.

“Well, I only learned about it recently too, so how much more for you?”

That’s really true. I gritted my teeth inwardly.

‘Only she’s excited!’

Glancing around, I saw that Poppy was dozing off drooling, and since the theory class was wrapping up, I decided to slip out quickly.

“The class seems to be over, so I’ll be going now.”

I don’t want to childishly argue with the snake.

“Oh my, how could that be?”

As I was about to get down from the chair, Lilith spoke with a nuance of asking where I was going.

“We still have the training ground tour left.”

Damn it. I felt lightning strike my head, thinking I was about to be liberated.

‘This is maddening.’

It was truly another ordeal after an ordeal.

* * *

Unlike my inner feelings stained with irritation and gloom, the weather was bright.

Clang-!

I was looking at the clouds spread out wide and long in the sky like cotton candy, when I turned my head at the noise of swords clashing. It seemed we had already come close to the training ground.

Clang, clang-!

Soon after, as we passed the entrance to the training ground, the view opened up.

Knights were training or sparring with various weapons, some resting, burning their sweat and passion in various ways. I watched their appearances closely as I moved forward.

Meanwhile, Lilith, who had been keeping pace by my side, stopped at the top of the stairs leading to the center of the training.

“Your Majesty!”

Thinking she wouldn’t be heard if she just called normally because the place was so noisy, she called out loudly to Hecate, who was concentrating on training from afar.

“!”

Then Hecate, who had been immersed in practice to the point of sweating, turned her head.

“Darjeeling!”

Discovering me before Lilith who had called her, Hecate returned her sword to the display stand and ran over in one breath.

Ahahahaha-.

Next thing I knew, she hugged me tightly and spun around happily several times, to the point where I had the illusion that sunflower petals were fluttering. What on earth was she doing? I remained stiff until it was over, wondering what this was all about.

“My daughter~ Did you come because you missed Mommy?”

I thought she would put me down on the ground soon, but no.

“Mommy was about to collapse because she missed our daughter so much too.”

Hecate plays the drum and janggu alone like Jeff. I didn’t say anything.

‘She’s gone crazy too.’

I chose silence, feeling disgruntled.

Above all, Lilith was behind me. I may have seen the maid every day, but thinking that the snake who knew my identity was watching the current situation and inwardly giggling, I wanted to bury my face in a plate.

‘There’s a saying that couples resemble each other, is this what it means?’

I really hate this. I screamed a silent scream in my heart.

“Oh right! Did you enjoy the treasure hunt?”

“O-Of course.”

Answering reflexively, I thought to myself.

Earlier it was more bewildering than enjoyable, that is.

“I’m glad.”

Meanwhile, Hecate didn’t hide her pleased expression, seemingly satisfied with the answer.

“Those treasures were ones I made myself, little by little every night thinking of you while on the battlefield.”

I had expected it since she was in the position of commander-in-chief, but seeing her warm smile saying she made them by squeezing out non-existent time, I felt strange for a moment.

Throb-.

Then a sensation of my heart aching swept in like a tidal wave.

‘This feeling again…’

I unconsciously placed my hand on my chest and clenched my fist tightly.

“They were all so cute indeed.”

Honestly, I didn’t get a good impression, but I tried to go along with it roughly and escape the awkward situation.

“Ah, Lord Lilith! How did you bring the princess here?”

However, the situation flowed in the opposite direction of my wishes, and Hecate belatedly addressed Lilith.

“Her Highness was very eager to see Your Majesty, so I brought her. Please forgive my rudeness for not giving prior notice.”

Where are you selling medicine! I was flabbergasted by Lilith’s shamelessness.

“You clearly said earlier it was a training ground tour…”

“I see! This mother will show our daughter the spirit of the royal knights!”

I tried to refute feeling deceived, but it didn’t reach Hecate. She laughed cheerfully while lifting me even higher towards the sky.

‘No!’

Of course I struggled, but it seems she didn’t judge it as an action of denial.

“From now on, all practice is suspended.”

As soon as she put me down on the ground, Hecate grabbed her sword again and went up to the platform.

Bang-!

“Everyone, fall in by rank and file!”

Then she struck her sword forcefully on the ground in a straight line and returned to being Commander-in-Chief Hecate.

“Today, the one and only princess has come to this place to see the skills you have honed.”

Hecate continued in a voice filled with dignity and charisma.

“Normally, it would be appropriate to showcase a sword duel, but there is concern the young princess might get hurt.”

After looking down at the knights standing in perfect alignment without the slightest deviation, Hecate raised one hand holding the hilt up to the sky.

“Therefore, you shall show the military song that has united and led us for the past 3 years!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

The knights answered resoundingly, and immediately set their swords straight on the ground like Hecate.

“Raise your swords with loyalty and advance with a sense of duty.”

Next, they gently placed both hands on the end of the hilt, and sang with a solemn expression while slightly bowing their heads.

“Our blue spirit is the justice that protects the soul of the fatherland.”

“Even if hardships and adversities knock us down, we will rise again and fight.”

“Brave hawk comrades.”

“As the unsetting sun lights the way, our spirit will protect our families and fatherland!”

The voices of the knights spreading across the training ground became one and brushed my ears like the wind, and I saw Hecate watching the knights with a faint smile.

“How was it, Darjeeling?”

When the passionate singing ended, Hecate puffed out her chest proudly.

‘It was really terrible.’

At first I thought it was somewhat okay, but by the end my opinion had changed.

‘Knights should just be good at swordsmanship. What is this?’

The dignity of a knight as I thought of it could not be expressed by mere singing. But I couldn’t openly give a negative evaluation, so I told her with an indifferent face that it wasn’t bad.

Of course, I could have clapped and praised it as cool.

But was my personality one to say flattering things? Absolutely not.

“Wasn’t it splendid? Shall we return now?”

After a while, when Hecate resumed training, Lilith, who had been quiet, approached.

“No.”

Annoying one. I put my hands on my hips with a sullen face.

“I’m going to sit over there and see how capable the knights are.”

Then I pointed with my right index finger to the long resting chair prepared on one side of the training ground and said:

“I’ll return at mealtime, so you may withdraw now.”

It also meant “please disappear from my side,” but Lilith simply said she understood, bowed politely, and left the training ground.

She said she had paperwork to do as Hecate’s assistant or something?

Anyway, it was none of my business.

Swing, swing-.

How much time had passed like that? I watched, swinging my legs back and forth. I carefully observed the knights until the sky turned orange.

“Despite participating in battle for 3 years, those knights’ swordsmanship still has a hint of immaturity.”

Their skills falling short of expectations was disappointing, and I pouted my lips to express my dissatisfaction.

And when I turned my head to the left unconsciously, Poppy, who I didn’t know when she had followed, was sitting demurely and dozing off.

“Boring.”

I indifferently lost interest and looked around.

“?”

Then a statue I hadn’t seen when first entering the training ground came into view.

“What’s this?”

A statue of a woman erected on marble steps in the direction of exiting the training ground.

I walked like a person entranced towards the artwork located in the middle of well-maintained grass and a fountain.

‘It looks exactly like my ancient self!’

The reason was simple.

I lost myself looking at it, thinking how could such a coincidence exist.

‘Even if I look at it upside down, this is undoubtedly me.’

Suddenly, I became curious about the identity of the sculptor and was considering looking into it when…

“It’s a statue our family dedicated to the empire.”

Suddenly there was a presence behind me and a familiar voice was heard at the same time.

“You startled me!”

I thought my soul was going to leave my body. I confirmed the identity of the one who butted in was Sasha, and got annoyed first.

“If you came, shouldn’t you have made your presence known!”

Feeling embarrassed and getting angrier, I decided to change the subject, thinking what kind of behavior this was towards a child.

“Anyway, your family made this statue?”

When I asked while clearing my throat, Sasha smiled with her eyes while folding her arms.

“Yes, His Majesty commanded a statue to be made for the training ground.”

After answering, Sasha looked up at the statue.

“This is one of them.”

“Is that so?”

Answering indifferently, I felt a sense of aversion rising in my heart.

At first I approached out of curiosity, but the more I looked at it, the more uncomfortable the statue became.

‘She said it’s one of many statues, but I feel bad that it’s exactly the same as my ancient self.’

Why on earth did they make it look just like my first life’s appearance, of all things.

I even suspected that someone, other than Lilith, who knew my past was targeting me and deliberately made it resemble me.

“Why can’t Your Highness take your eyes off this statue?”

“Strangely enough, this statue…”

Meanwhile, I answered Sasha’s question like this:

“It reminds me of someone I know.”