Chapter 3
“We don’t have to clean. The maids will take care of it.”
Sarah tugged on Lellia’s ear with a stern face, not even sure if the girl was listening.
“Are you listening?”
“Yeah.”
“What did I just say?”
“You said we don’t have to clean. I know that.”
It was something Lellia had learned after following Sarah around for a month.
But Sarah, as instructed by the head maid, was explaining everything again from scratch. Releasing Lellia’s ear, she continued,
“Until now, I did it alone because you were acting strange, but from now on, at the end of each week, you and I both need to report the Empress’s weekly schedule to His Majesty.”
“We’re telling the Emperor directly about the Empress’s schedule?”
“Yup. In person.”
Sarah added that it was meant as a check against the Empress’s powerful backing — the Grand Duchy of Actilus.
“We work three days a week, so the other four are your free days. You can go home, go out for tea, whatever. Just don’t hole up in your room sleeping all day.”
“You didn’t say I could go wherever I wanted.”
Sarah ignored Lellia’s grumbling and said what she wanted anyway.
“Where else are you going to find a job this good? The pay’s amazing.”
Except for the part where you’re basically a hostage.
Lellia inwardly objected to Sarah’s muttering.
‘That’s the biggest problem of all.’
“I just had a brilliant idea, Sarah.”
“Don’t tell me you’re thinking of getting married and then divorced?”
“You read minds?”
“Are you insane?!”
Sarah flailed and smacked Lellia on the back. For someone who didn’t seem like she’d ever hit anyone, her palm really stung. Lellia’s eyes welled with tears — it hurt that much.
“That hurt.”
“How could you think that? Once you’re married here, divorce isn’t even an option!”
Sarah looked around and lowered her voice, scolding Lellia,
“There’s a reason the Empress and the Emperor can’t get divorced! It’s illegal!”
“Oh, right.”
“Oh, right?!”
Sarah’s terrifying glare shut Lellia up. She knew that already, but in her desperation to escape, she’d asked anyway — and was now branded an idiot.
That didn’t really matter, but her back was really stinging. It felt like it was on fire.
“Is there something running down my back?”
“You’re fine.”
Lies. It hurt like crazy.
Then Lellia’s eyes widened as a realization hit her. She blocked Sarah’s path.
“What is it now?”
“How do you know nothing’s running down my back when I’m wearing clothes? How do you know it looks fine?”
Seeing Lellia suddenly playing detective, Sarah, now looking a bit apologetic, gently brushed her back.
“Does it hurt that bad?”
“It’s burning.”
“It’ll go away soon. Sorry. I just couldn’t stand it when you said something so stupid…”
“So it’s my fault?”
“Seems like you forgot the layout too, so I’ll teach you again.”
Sarah was a master at changing the subject. Meanwhile, Lellia groaned and rubbed her throbbing back, even though it made no difference.
* * *
Lellia was hopeless with directions. Sarah had tried to help her learn her way around the Empress’s Palace but had eventually given up.
“Just stick close to me,” she’d said.
But that proved useless. On her day off, Lellia went for a walk and got lost.
Sarah had returned to her family estate, so Lellia had no choice but to wander around alone.
“I should’ve just listened to her.”
It was too late for regrets now.
The Empress’s Palace was huge, and it wasn’t exactly surprising that someone like Lellia — still unfamiliar with this world — got lost.
The smart thing to do would have been to stay put, but Lellia chose to walk around and find someone to ask for directions.
“Ah! I should’ve had Sarah explain who I am in detail.”
She was sure Sarah would’ve thought she was crazy again, but at this point, Lellia didn’t really care.
Now that she was Lellia, she needed to understand this body’s background. She couldn’t stay clueless forever.
Ideally, she’d find a way back home… but for now,
‘I’ll ask Sarah when she gets back.’
Sarah would return in exactly two days.
“I’m such an idiot…”
As Lellia wandered in search of someone, she stumbled upon a man hunched in front of a tree, muttering to himself.
“I’m an idiot… such an idiot…”
He looked like a palace knight.
Most people might have passed by someone who clearly wanted to be alone, but not Lellia. She wanted to get back to her quarters and rest.
She walked straight up and addressed him.
“Sir Knight.”
“I’m an idiot…”
“You’re not, Sir Knight.”
She tapped his shoulder. It was barely a touch, but the knight jumped and landed on his butt.
“Huh, wha…”
“Sir Knight.”
Lellia, unfazed, called to him again. The knight lifted his head and stared blankly at her. Her platinum-blonde hair flowed gently in the breeze, long locks unbound.
The wind carried a sweet scent to his nose, and when their eyes — her deep violet ones — met,
“Is it hot?”
His face turned bright red.
She was beautiful — so much so, he almost mistook her for a fairy.
The knight was clearly smitten by Lellia’s looks, unable to tear his gaze away.
Lellia, unaware of his thoughts and frustrated by his lack of response, decided to leave.
She didn’t want to waste any more time here.
Just as she turned, the knight suddenly blocked her path.
“Ah, hello! I’m Cedric!”
“I’m Lellia.”
Thankfully, it seemed she was finally being acknowledged.
“Um…”
Lellia was about to ask for directions when Cedric abruptly cut her off.
“Are you busy?”
Her face filled with irritation. He hadn’t answered her once and now was asking pointless questions.
Cedric flinched at her cold aura. Then, her repeated calls to him finally registered.
“S-Sorry! I was lost in thought… Did you want to ask me something?”
“I can’t find the Empress’s Palace.”
“Oh, so you’re a maid from the Empress’s Palace.”
Now noticing her uniform — the red and black signified she served the Empress. The blue brooch at her chest meant she was among the closest attendants.
“Did you get lost while working?”
“No, it’s my day off.”
“Then… why the uniform?”
Usually, servants dressed casually on their days off, but Lellia was still in her maid outfit.
“This is just the most comfortable thing I own.”
“Ah, so you got lost during a walk.”
Cedric, forgetting all about his own self-loathing, kindly asked,
“Would it be alright if I guided you back?”
Finally, the answer she’d been waiting for. Her face softened ever so slightly.
There wasn’t much change in expression, but Cedric could feel the atmosphere ease, and he sighed in relief.
“I’d appreciate it.”
“Then follow me.”
Lellia lightly stepped after him — finally, she could go home.
Cedric kept sneaking glances at her.
The Empress’s Palace was the most avoided place in the Imperial Palace, thanks to the Emperor’s lack of affection.
No one wanted to work there, so only a small number of staff remained. Even the Empress kept few attendants.
If not for the Grand Duchy of Actilus behind her, the palace would have been colder than an icebox.
Though the Emperor didn’t dare torment the Empress directly, he avoided her and her palace as much as possible.
Sarah had deliberately not told Lellia about this.
She feared what reckless thing Lellia — unpredictable ever since losing her memory — might do if she knew the truth.
In any case, that’s why Cedric hadn’t known someone so beautiful was working there. He couldn’t tear his gaze away, even though it was rude.
His stare made Lellia’s cheek itch. She scratched at it awkwardly.
“Why are you staring?”
“Ah, n-no!”
Lellia decided to ignore Cedric’s nonsense. Apparently, their brief communication had been a fluke.
Seeing her suddenly turn cold again, Cedric panicked. He must have messed up somehow.
She didn’t care, but he looked devastated.
“I-I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“Uh… for, um…”
His face flushed red in the orange twilight.
Lellia just wanted him to stop talking and walk faster.
Dinner was coming up soon, and the Empress’s head chef, Edward, was exceptionally talented. The Grand Duke himself had sent him, worried the Empress was wasting away.
Thanks to that, the food at the Empress’s Palace was amazing.
The Emperor had objected once, but whatever conversation took place afterward, the complaints had stopped.
Anyway, because the palace was so isolated, the people who remained there were all close-knit and got along well. They weren’t bothered by the palace being shunned.
“Edward’s a great cook.”
“…Excuse me?”
“I’m saying we should hurry. If you get me back quickly, I’ll give you one of my prized snacks as thanks.”
She’s giving me a snack?
Cedric’s heart pounded, and he quickened his pace. Lellia cheerfully followed him.
Soon, they arrived at the Empress’s Palace. Lellia rushed into her quarters, snuck out a cupcake (carefully hidden from Edward), and handed it to Cedric.
“Thanks for bringing me back. Take care.”
“Uh, wait…!”
But before Cedric could say anything, Lellia vanished.
