Marianne put down her teacup and turned to look at me.

“Yes, Your Majesty the Empress.”

“How would you feel if your lover, whom you thought was dead, appeared as a different person?”

“A different person… Do you mean possession, like in the play ‘The Lover of Grandpeur’?”

The play “The Lover of Grandpeur”, which has recently been a big hit in the empire, used the theme of someone being possessed by a lover’s spirit.

Because of this, the people of the empire easily accepted the concept of possession.

“Yes.”

Of course, that was just limited to the play’s theme. If it were real, one would likely be called crazy.

Anyway, Marianne seemed to think I was talking about the play and answered earnestly without much thought.

“Well… I think I would be overwhelmed with joy. It would depend on how much I loved them, though.”

“…”

“If I loved them as much as in ‘The Lover of Grandpeur’, I’d be overjoyed beyond control.”

The Lover of Grandpeur.

The play begins with the disappearance of the female protagonist.

The male protagonist desperately misses her and eventually finds her…

But she was in someone else’s body.

Coincidentally, it seemed like a story inspired by me and Casius.

“But what if that lover was fake?”

“Oh, just imagining it gives me chills. It would be torturing someone’s hope with deception. Realizing it wasn’t true after thinking they had come back to life…”

Marianne was so filled with anger that she couldn’t continue speaking.

Watching her reaction made my thoughts complicated.

‘The shock Casius would receive would be greater than anyone else’s, certainly not less.’

The method for me to act and reveal the truth was simple.

But that would leave Casius with an even greater wound.

I prayed earnestly.

That Casius would learn the whole truth before receiving an even greater wound.

*

Meanwhile, Casius was deeply engrossed in numerous books he had brought from the library.

Beside him, Tikan was reading through just as many books.

The silence that had settled thickly was broken after a long while.

“Your Majesty, I’ve found documents suggesting possession is possible.”

The two had been searching for information about possession for some time.

In reality, possession in the empire was nothing more than a theme used in plays, and it wasn’t known to be actually possible.

But in the document Tikan pointed to, information about possession was clearly recorded.

“It says that among those who have reached the level of Grand Mage, a very small number are capable of it.”

Casius looked at the document Tikan indicated.

The final confirmation was complete.

Now Casius had no choice but to believe that Iblina was Rachel.

“The court physician.”

“I’ve taken measures as you instructed.”

“Attach Hilter as well and have him monitor the progress.”

“Understood.”

“No. I’ll go myself.”

After that, Casius issued an excessive amount of orders.

It was only natural. She was the sister he had been searching for for 7 years, and his lord’s only lover.

Tikan carried out his orders without complaint.

*

Iblina watched the healers approaching her again today.

She couldn’t even count how many times she had undergone examinations.

Still, the fact that so many healers were visiting meant the Emperor’s concern was that great.

Thinking of that, Iblina couldn’t contain her joy.

She was about to act moderately again this time, but upon seeing Lord Hilter, she swallowed hard.

He was famous for being the most skilled court physician in the imperial household.

Unlike those who merely acted as doctors technically, Hilter was one of the few with powerful healing abilities.

‘It doesn’t matter otherwise, but it would be a big problem if he discovers I don’t actually have amnesia…’

Just as Iblina’s head was filled with complicated thoughts, Casius also entered.

Iblina looked at him and turned even paler.

However, she carefully composed her expression and pleaded gently.

“I’ve only lost my memories, I’m not ill anywhere.”

Casius sat on the edge of the bed and gazed at Iblina.

“You seem tired from all the examinations you’ve had so far.”

There was only one reason why Casius called even Hilter to examine Iblina.

Rachel disappeared 7 years ago without knowing why. She herself doesn’t know the reason.

If, as expected, she made that choice to save him…

She must have given something in exchange.

Even a Grand Mage cannot revive someone without a sacrifice.

If by any chance she had wagered her life force like he did…

Then he needed to take every measure possible to prolong her life.

Now, in Casius’s eyes, even Iblina saying she wasn’t ill seemed like she was hiding something from him.

The mere thought made Casius dizzy, and he couldn’t help but become more adamant.

“It’s been 7 years. You might have been injured somewhere without knowing it, since you can’t remember anything.”

Iblina realized that pushing further here wouldn’t change anything.

It might only raise unnecessary suspicion.

Moreover… even Hilter probably couldn’t tell if she actually had amnesia or not.

“If that is Your Majesty’s wish, then I shall comply.”

Hilter’s examination began immediately.

Iblina watched nervously as pure white energy enveloped her body.

Casius was equally tense.

The two stared intently at Hilter with different reasons for their tension.

After a moment, Hilter opened his eyes, tilted his head briefly, then spoke.

“There doesn’t seem to be any particular problem.”

Finally relieved, Casius dismissed Hilter.

Iblina also let out a long sigh of relief.

The two resumed their conversation in an affectionate manner.

Watching this scene, Hilter left the room.

He tilted his head as he heard Iblina’s coquettish voice flowing out.

‘Since when has His Majesty been so affectionate towards his aide?’

Moreover… Wasn’t Lady Iblina said to have amnesia?

When Lord Tikan called him, he said she had suddenly injured her head and her memory wasn’t intact.

Normally, if one’s memory isn’t intact, the flow of energy should be scattered as well.

But Lady Iblina’s energy flowed normally.

Well, the flow of energy can’t be determined definitively with just one examination, so it would be hasty to make a diagnosis based on today’s examination alone.

It wouldn’t be too late to report after a more definitive conclusion was reached.

With that, Hilter walked away.

Vivian watched him intently from a distance.

*

For the past few days, Casius hadn’t sought me out even once.

The same went for our regular lunch meetings.

Of course, it wasn’t unexpected.

From Casius’s perspective, there would be no reason to see me now that he had found Rachel.

However, soon he will… learn that Iblina is not Rachel.

And in the end, he will learn that I am dead.

As I was returning from a walk to sort out my complicated thoughts.

An uninvited guest was waiting in front of the Empress’s palace.

“I greet Your Majesty the Empress.”

Iblina curtsied gracefully.

As if conscious of the etiquette I had pointed out before, her overly cumbersome movement caught my attention.

It was laughable to see her bright face, unaware of the hell that was about to unfold.

I couldn’t not watch this absurd play.

“Come inside.”

Iblina surveyed the interior of the Empress’s palace and took a seat in front.

Marianne, reading the atmosphere, put down the teacup and disappeared outside.

A thick silence descended over the space.

Sitting like this reminded me of when Iblina first came here.

I knew from then, but Iblina was definitely not normal.

Well, I suppose there aren’t any normal people among those who covet other people’s husbands.

As expected, she didn’t disappoint my expectations today either.

“I was worried you wouldn’t meet me, but as expected, Your Majesty the Empress’s generosity is exceptional.”

As if she had never bitten her lip and turned away from here before, her shoulders were spread wide.

“It had to be. Dealing with tactless, reckless people who don’t know etiquette accumulates and leads to this.”

As I calmly sipped my tea, a deep silence fell over the space.

When I put down my teacup, I could clearly see Iblina gripping her teacup as if about to break it.

After composing her expression in a moment, Iblina narrowed her eyes.

“You must be very anxious since His Majesty only seeks me out.”

Iblina smiled broadly and glared at the Empress.

‘How dare you act so haughty when you don’t even receive the Emperor’s favor.’

“It seems the aide is the anxious one, not me. Seeing as you’ve come all the way here.”

Iblina was not at all pleased with Vivian’s still dignified demeanor.

‘I thought she would be shriveled up by now because the Emperor doesn’t seek her out.’

The Empress’s face was brighter and gentler than ever, her complexion was fine, and her noble tone and demeanor were still aristocratic.

As if she were the noble Empress, unlike other women who crave the Emperor’s favor.

But your days in the imperial palace are numbered.

When that time comes, you too will be wailing on the ground like a dog.

As long as His Majesty thinks I’m Rachel, the position of Empress will surely be mine.

Iblina gazed into the violet eyes with a sneer.

“That can’t be. If I didn’t mishear, His Majesty said that Your Majesty the Empress would be stepping down soon.”