Chapter 48
‘Sky blue…?’
“Illena! I really missed you—ah!”
The woman who rushed forward to embrace her suddenly shrieked when something huge blocked her way.
It was Iago, who had risen from his seat in an instant and planted himself before Illena.
With his broad back filling her entire view, Illena felt as though a massive boulder had been placed right in front of her.
‘When did he get up?’
He had been seated on the throne just a moment ago. For someone of that enormous size, his speed was unbelievable.
“Show proper respect before the priestess.”
Iago’s voice rumbled low like a growl.
The small woman, captivated by his appearance up close, couldn’t take her eyes off him. Yet like a small animal before a predator, her body shrank in fear.
“I-I…”
Her light brown eyes welled up with tears as she stammered.
“Illena… say something.”
The woman pleaded faintly, looking past him at Illena for help.
‘She said she missed me? Does she know the original Illena? But I don’t have any memories from before I came into this body…’
As Illena hesitated, tears pooled even more in the woman’s eyes.
For an envoy sent to negotiate the extradition of a criminal, this was an exceedingly strange way to behave.
“I, Illena… it’s me, Reina. Don’t tell me you’ve already forgotten me?”
Instead of answering, Illena quickly scanned the gathered ministers in the audience chamber.
They all wore looks of confusion at the sudden turn of events.
Only she and Iago knew that Illena had lost all her memories.
And that hair.
Illena frowned slightly at the woman’s curly hair.
Sky-blue hair—certainly not a common color on this island.
Everyone she met had marveled, “What a rare hair color!”
She glanced sideways at Iago and saw that he was thinking the same thing.
The two nodded subtly to each other.
‘We need to move somewhere else.’
She had to talk to this suspicious woman. But except for Iago, no one in Lihu knew about her memory loss.
If they continued here, it might get exposed.
“…This isn’t the place to discuss such things.”
Keeping her composure, Illena spoke. Iago naturally followed up with authority.
“Indeed. This audience is adjourned. The northern envoy shall have a private meeting with the priestess.”
They moved to the reception room of the Solar Palace.
Seated with a warm teacup in her hands, the woman still sniffled pitifully.
‘What kind of trick is this now?’
Illena observed her with sharp eyes.
The cunning North would hardly send one of Illena’s childhood friends among their envoys simply for her comfort while she lived in enemy territory.
“…When did we meet? I don’t quite recall.”
Illena asked with her practiced “diplomatic smile”—lips curved, but eyes cold and unyielding.
“You… you really don’t remember anything?”
Reina’s eyes widened, then she smiled brightly through her tears.
“We first met at the orphanage! I—I looked after you when you were small, and you followed me everywhere. I was your only friend. …You truly don’t remember any of it?”
“Mm. As you know, I was very young. And I don’t think we saw each other much afterward, right?”
Illena calmly lifted her cup as if she knew what she was talking about.
In truth, she remembered nothing at all.
During her three months in the North, when she had been shut away in her room from lethargy, no one had come to see her—including Reina.
“Well… you eventually became a priestess and lived in the royal palace. I stayed at the orphanage, and the palace folk disliked me visiting, so I couldn’t see you anymore.”
Reina pouted with exaggerated sadness.
“Hm… and suddenly you’re here as an envoy?”
“Yes. When I heard you went south, I was so worried you’d suffer among the cruel desert people… sniff.”
‘Strange thing to say with one of those “desert people” sitting right here.’
Illena glanced at Iago.
He sat unruffled, clearly used to such prejudice.
Reina, oblivious, kept her brown eyes fixed solely on Illena.
“I—I’m your older sister! I thought I had to protect you!”
‘Sister?’
Illena gave her a puzzled look.
She herself wasn’t tall, but this woman was even smaller and thinner.
‘She doesn’t look older than me at all.’
First she said “friend,” now “sister.” Her words wavered strangely—highly suspicious.
And yet, something about it unsettled Illena.
She soon realized why.
‘The fact that they sent someone this obviously suspicious—that itself is suspicious.’
“I see. So you came all this way for me. I’m truly grateful.”
Illena smiled sweetly again.
Reina ducked her gaze, stammering.
“N-no… no need to thank me so much…”
Yes, very suspicious indeed.
Illena studied her coldly and came to a decision.
“Perhaps the memories will return in time.”
For now, keeping her in the palace would be the quickest way to discover her true intentions.
“Really? M-maybe so… though you needn’t force it. They might be painful memories, after all.”
She hesitated, then smiled radiantly again—like a sunflower turning toward the sun.
It was a strangely captivating smile.
‘Could she actually have been a real friend?’
Looking nervously at Iago’s imposing, cold figure, Reina carefully asked Illena,
“Illena, are you really all right? Y-you haven’t cried… have you?”
Even as she asked, her voice trembled with emotion and she dabbed at her eyes with her sleeve.
Such an overly sentimental person.
“No. I haven’t had any reason to cry.”
“…Truly? You didn’t cry?”
Head lowered as she wiped away tears, Reina asked again.
“Mm. You can tell just by looking—the desert remains unchanged.”
Illena murmured with a trace of bitterness.
“…I see. Thank goodness.”
“Then, since it’s late, the guest should retire to her room.”
Suddenly, Iago cut in, shutting down the conversation.
“B-but—”
“Whatever remains can be said later. The envoys are staying for two days.”
With a firm expression leaving no room for protest, he rang the bell to summon an attendant.
“Show the guest to her chamber.”
“B-but…”
“Illena, you’ll dine with me this evening.”
‘Ah, that’s why—because it’s nearly dinner time.’
Understanding Iago’s urgency, Illena nodded inwardly.
Both he and Andre were always overly concerned with her meals.
Not wanting him to worry further, she decided to end this suspicious meeting for now.
“Indeed. You must be tired from your long journey. Rest well tonight.”
“Eh? O-oh, yes.”
Illena rose, and Reina reluctantly answered, her voice small and weak.
“They’ve prepared grilled fish with lemon sauce and tropical fruits. I recall you enjoyed fruit last time.”
Iago stood and escorted her toward the door.
“I can’t eat that much.”
Illena shook her head with a faint smile. Warmth touched her expression.
Reina watched her disappear beyond the door, dazed, then whispered softly,
“…I came because I feared she was suffering.”
She remained frozen like stone until their voices were gone.
“Um… Guest, shall I escort you to your room?”
Who knew how much time had passed.
Reina had stood motionless for so long that at last, the attendant timidly spoke.
“You’re a servant too, right?”
Still staring at the door Illena had vanished through, Reina suddenly asked an odd question.
“Huh? Ah—yes, that’s right.”
“Don’t you think it’s strange?”
“W-what do you mean…?”
But Reina fell silent again.
After another long pause, the attendant asked once more, carefully,
“Shall I show you to your room?”
“Yes! Thank you!”
Reina’s face instantly brightened as though she had never been stiff.
As they walked together, she chattered on.
“By the way, where does Illena stay? I was so, so worried whether she was doing well!”
“Ah, the priestess resides in the annex next to the Solar Palace.”
“Ahh! Then… surely much nicer than the guest rooms, right? Illena’s always been very sensitive about where she sleeps…”
“Of course. The annex is small, but it is famous for being beautiful and comfortable.”
“…I see.”
“This is your chamber, Guest. May you have a restful night.”
The attendant bowed politely and withdrew.
Reina smiled sweetly and shut the door.
At the sound, her smile vanished, leaving only a chillingly blank face.
She slowly scanned the room.
It was neat and orderly, befitting a palace guest room.
But—
“So Illena has a better room. In the annex…”
She muttered, leaning back against the door.
“You really are living well… Number 21.”
