Chapter 09
“Ugh.”
My stomach started to ache from the nerves.
I had to fool Ian—and the entire empire—for a whole year?
“Can you really do this, Lee Seoyeon?”
I didn’t know. I wasn’t confident.
“Huuu.”
I let out another deep sigh into my pillow, then suddenly lifted my head.
“No. Confidence or not—I have to do it.”
That’s the only way to survive.
If I could fool Ian, I’d survive the first step. If I could hold out for a year, I could use his help to escape from Nine too.
“And the knowledge I have from the original novel will come in handy.”
I knew about the major events that were going to happen.
I also remembered important details about characters like Ian.
“For example… About a year from now, on the female lead’s debut day, there’s a huge lightning storm over the capital.”
That lightning storm marks the moment when the female lead awakens as a saintess and uses her power for the first time.
Her power? She can control the weather. She calms the lightning storm with it.
“Later, she helps regions suffering from droughts and floods too.”
Saintess powers are usually about saving lives. The heroine’s weather control ability is perfect for protecting people from natural disasters.
So—if I give people a warning about the lightning storm ahead of time, they could prepare for the damage.
Then, of course, everyone would praise me as a miracle-working saintess!
Not that I plan to steal the heroine’s spotlight. That’s just an example.
“The problem is… My memory isn’t that amazing.”
Still, I read The Saintess Doesn’t Know Love three times from start to finish.
I don’t remember every line, but I can recall most of the story.
“I can do this.”
I clenched my fists.
If I present it as a “prophetic vision,” I can talk about future events from the novel naturally.
“And since I plan to disappear after a year, it won’t matter that I don’t know what happens after the novel ends.”
Of course, I couldn’t overuse this knowledge. Too much interference could mess up the story or expose me.
“So I’ll only use it when it really counts. Big, dramatic moments only.”
“Alright, alright!”
I pumped my fist. If I correctly predicted the future a few times, even that scary knight commander might start treating me more kindly.
“Saintess, did you call for me?”
A voice came from outside the curtain.
“Oh no.”
Right—I wasn’t alone in this room.
“No, it’s nothing, Sir Joan.”
I replied with as much grace as I could.
“I see. Please call me if you need anything.”
“Thank you.”
Phew. I let out a quiet breath.
Sir Joan was the knight Ian assigned to guard me today.
She used a rapier, had a short but solid build, and was known to be skilled in both swordplay and magic.
Lucian whispered to me that she might even become a swordmaster one day.
“Such a talented knight, just to guard the little old me… Seems like a waste.”
Still, I decided to accept her help without complaint.
After all, the one after me was Nine. No amount of preparation would ever feel enough.
Ding, ding.
The clock chimed.
I glanced at it—it was nearly midnight.
“Wow, it’s late already.”
I closed my book and placed it on the nightstand.
It was time for bed. I had a full schedule ahead starting tomorrow.
“He said the engagement ceremony will be held in just three days.”
Seriously, who arranges an engagement in three days?
“Still… It’s better to act quickly before the rumors get worse.”
Aside from the ceremony, I had a lot of personal tasks too.
“First off, I need to get rid of this time-limited curse.”
I lifted the hem of my nightgown slightly.
The number “76” was faintly marked on my thigh. It had faded a bit, but the outline was still visible.
If I didn’t bring down Ian within a year, this curse would ignite and burn me alive—starting from that very spot.
“Thankfully, the original novel had a scene where the heroine broke a similar curse.”
In the story, Nine once cast a time-limited curse on the heroine’s close friend.
It forced them to poison the heroine within a set time limit.
Thankfully, the heroine figured out how to break it just in time.
I was going to use that same method.
“It has to work.”
No—I will make it work.
It must work.
Because if it doesn’t, I’m dead.
“Ugh, of all people to possess, why did I end up with someone with such a cursed life…”
Groaning, I pulled the blanket over my head.
Anyway, it was time to sleep.
I reached over and turned off the bedside lamp.
“Goodnight, Sir Joan.”
“Sleep well, Saintess.”
And like that, the whirlwind that was my first day came to an end.
****
“Ughh…”
The bright morning sunlight made me frown.
“Miss Irene, did you just cough?”
Anette’s gentle voice rang out.
Hearing her reminded me that everything that happened wasn’t a dream.
Ian. The saintess lie. The fake engagement. Nine.
All of it was real.
“…Worst. Morning. Ever.”
I groggily sat up.
“Anette, is there any water?”
“Yes! I’ll bring it right away!”
Anette pulled aside the bed canopy and brought over a glass of water—along with a tray full of papers.
“I also brought today’s newspapers for you to review.”
On the tray, newspapers from various presses were neatly arranged.
“Wow… I feel like a CEO or something.”
“Thank you, Miss Anette.”
“Oh no, please don’t speak so casually!”
She blinked shyly as she responded.
I picked up one of the papers at random… and of course, it was The Imperial Morning.
The same paper that plastered my scandal with Ian on the front page yesterday.
“Oh! Miss Irene! That paper—!”
Anette panicked too late.
But I had already seen today’s front-page headline:
“The Holy Knight Commander’s Mysterious Lady!
Despite the press’s efforts, no information could be found about her. Is Sir Esteban fiercely guarding his lover’s identity?”
“Please, just leave me alone.”
I screamed inwardly, but deep down I knew—
If I were just a regular citizen, I probably would’ve rushed to buy this paper too.
Anette whispered guiltily,
“I’m so sorry, Miss Irene. I meant to remove that one earlier.”
“No, it’s fine. I should know what kind of stories are spreading.”
The Imperial Morning might deal in gossip, but it wasn’t a trash tabloid.
It was stocked in almost every salon. That’s how influential it was.
To be on the front page two days in a row meant one thing: right now, the biggest gossip in the capital was me and Ian.
“Well… that’s not wrong.”
I sighed and got out of bed.
Anette asked,
“What’s your schedule today, Miss Irene?”
I answered casually,
“I’m going to the Mage Tower.”
“Huh? The Mage Tower?”
Her eyes went wide.
I smiled and nodded.
“There are some things I need to buy.”
“Should I go for you?”
“No, I think I’d better pick them myself.”
“Got it! I’ll help you get ready right away!”
She looked determined like she’d just been given a secret mission.
The temporary residence had a wardrobe full of clothes that perfectly fit me. Lucian must’ve arranged it.
I chose a simple outing dress and put on a cloak.
“You wear the hooded cloak so well! It’s really popular right now—and you look gorgeous, Miss Irene!”
Anette clapped excitedly.
“Good thing hooded cloaks are in style.”
Thanks to the hood, I made it to the carriage without drawing too much attention.
Anette told the coachman my destination for me.
“I’m actually going to the Mage Tower… The one from the novel. This is kind of exciting.”
Watching the scenery fly by outside the window, my heart pounded.
The Mage Tower. It’s every fantasy fan’s dream.
A place filled with brilliant mages and wise scholars. A literal tower of knowledge!
“Though… this Mage Tower is a little different from the ones in other fantasy stories.”
“We’ve arrived, Miss Irene.”
Sir Joan kindly helped me out of the carriage.
I took her hand and stepped down, then looked up.
“Wow… it’s tall.”
Seeing the Mage Tower in person, after only reading about it, was incredible.
Unlike the bright white cathedrals, the twin towers shimmered with deep blue hues. They looked mysterious and magical.
I hid my nerves and confidently stepped inside.
“Welcome, dear customer! How may I help you today?”
The moment I walked in, I was greeted with cheerful customer service.
Looking up, I saw a friendly mage at the front desk smiling brightly at me.
I pulled my hood lower and approached. Luckily, this place had all kinds of unusual customers, so I didn’t stand out.
“Hello. I’m here to buy a magical item.”
“I see! Is it for yourself or a gift?”
“For me.”
“Got it, ma’am! One of our staff will assist you shortly.”
Another mage appeared to guide me to a private consultation room.
Everything about the process was so smooth—it left me honestly impressed.
“They said it was commercialized, but I didn’t expect this level.”
The Mage Tower used to be a pure research institute for mages, just like in most fantasy stories.
But everything changed when the current genius tower master, Rizello, took over.
He reformed the tower, tore down the old structure, and rebuilt it completely.
In less than ten years, the tower became the sleek, commercial magic superstore it is today.
Thanks to that, it also became unbelievably wealthy.
“This way to your consultation room, dear customer.”
The front-desk mage beamed at me and pointed to a room.
I couldn’t even tell if she was a real mage or an award-winning service rep of the month!
