Chapter 3
The Set Empire is a strange place.
My first morning at the separate palace began with the priests barging in. They checked my condition—sprinkling holy water on my wrists, pressing a blue stone to my forehead, holding my hair up to the sunlight.
“You have been reborn with a body far healthier than before, Your Majesty the Empress.”
That was the priests’ diagnosis.
No one asked if the imperial palace had doctors. They knew there were none.
—Dealing with life is the goddess’s domain.
This has been the principal doctrine of the Grand Hall for ages. Under this creed, medicine and science were long shunned. The current state of medical knowledge is barely more than crude folk remedies.
It goes without saying that the common people have short lifespans. Even royals, if their health is weak, die prematurely.
I hated this part even in the original story. As someone who makes medicine, it’s infuriating.
Anyway, that was the commotion caused by the priests.
“Your Majesty the Empress!”
A woman burst into the palace. Her face was noble and mature—it was Madame Mare, the wife of Marquis Mare.
“Madame!”
I greeted her warmly.
Madame Mare had been Livia’s tutor. She was the one who had taught Livia the proper court etiquette before her marriage.
“Your Majesty… to see you again like this… it is the goddess’s grace.”
Madame Mare grasped my hand and wept. I felt tears prick at my own eyes.
‘I thought she was just an unfortunate empress. But Livia… she must have been loved, in her own way.’
I helped Madame Mare up from her knees, and we sat side by side on the bed.
“I’m sorry for worrying you, Madame.”
“Do not say that! When I heard that she had died after her illness, it felt as if I had lost my own child.”
She meant it. It wasn’t flattery or etiquette. That made me feel a little guilty—I’m not Livia, after all.
‘But… right now, I need her help.’
“Madame.”
“Yes, Your Majesty?”
“Could you possibly come to the palace? I would like to receive your guidance again.”
Leto is no easy man. To survive, I have to perform perfectly at the Founding Ceremony—every gesture, every glance. I must appear truly like an empress. That means learning etiquette as fast as possible.
Madame Mare smiled.
“I was planning to do just that.”
“Excuse me?”
“I heard that your memory has been somewhat fragmented since your resurrection. This morning, His Majesty the Emperor personally summoned me and instructed me to assist Your Majesty in regaining your memory, while serving you for the time being.”
So Leto is already one step ahead. Making me a proper empress is the minimum. Naturally, I’ll learn etiquette along the way.
“Yes. That’s right. Since awakening, my memory has had gaps… for example…”
“For example?”
“Imperial etiquette.”
“Yes.”
“The family tree of the royal house.”
“Ah, yes.”
“I seem to have forgotten some of my posture and speech as well.”
“Ah… yes.”
“If possible, I should also learn the history of the empire.”
“…I see.”
“And it would be good to study the nobles’ titles, lands, and even their current affairs.”
“Hmm… I understand your intentions, Your Majesty. But relearning all of that will take considerable time, so perhaps we can tackle it step by step—”
“No, Madame.”
“Pardon?”
“It must be learned within ten days.”
Madame Mare looked utterly bewildered. I smiled.
“Do not worry, Madame. I’m more stubborn than I seem.”
I had boasted like that, but the empress’s workload was truly terrifying. For four days, I barely left the palace office.
Still, I was used to this kind of grueling study. I had lived my whole life like this.
The purpose was always the same. Wealth and glory? Money and power? I never desired those. I studied purely to survive.
Yet enduring such hardship here…
“They’re doing it here too…”
I put down the quill and sighed.
“Some things never change about people.”
It was past midnight. The desk was covered with review materials from the day’s lessons.
My head felt foggy. A bath first, then more memorization.
“Um—anyone here?”
When I called, a maid appeared. Her hair was disheveled. Had she been sleeping?
“Did you need something, Your Majesty?”
“I’d like to take a bath.”
“At this hour? Ah…”
The maid hesitated.
I was taken aback. That’s how she reacted to the empress’s request? And she’s not even a lady-in-waiting, just a maid?
I spoke firmly.
“Yes. Right now.”
“Y-yes! I’ll prepare it.”
The maid finally left. Soon, guided by the maids, I went to the bath.
The large tub was inviting.
“Ah, it’s cold!”
‘They didn’t heat the water at all?’
Despite my cries, the maids continued to pour water. They seemed accustomed to this. One even looked as if I were being dramatic.
They weren’t trying to torment me—just lazy and inattentive.
‘…Let’s see how far this goes.’
“Um.”
“Yes, Your Majesty?”
“I don’t like the scent of this soap. Could you bring another?”
“Ah… there might not be another…”
Of course, more hesitation.
Why did Livia endure such treatment? I was getting angry.
The problem was I couldn’t raise my voice. Leto would be watching my every move. Any unnecessary commotion would get me in trouble.
‘Still… I should at least correct their manners.’
“You haven’t changed at all. Exactly the same as before I was resurrected.”
I spoke slowly to the maids.
“Pardon?”
“If a maid or lady-in-waiting had pride in her duties, they wouldn’t act this way.”
“Y-Your Majesty? Why… all of a sudden?”
They looked flustered. Now I understood. Livia must have been looked down upon by them.
Because she was timid and obedient?
Or because she wasn’t loved by the emperor?
‘Whatever the reason, it doesn’t make sense. It’s unnatural.’
“When I met the goddess a few days ago, what do you think I said?”
I stopped there. If anything was amiss, their reactions would reveal it.
And sure enough,
“Y-Your Majesty! We have committed a grave sin! Please forgive us! We will do better from now on, especially for the goddess, please…”
All the maids knelt, bowing their heads. They had many offenses to atone for.
If I were thinking of Livia, I would have dismissed them. But given the circumstances, I’d simply avoid mistreatment for now.
“I asked you to find another soap, didn’t I? And refill the water.”
“Y-yes! I’ll get it immediately!”
“Please wait a moment! We’ll heat the water!”
The maids rushed off. Soon after…
I began the most luxurious bath of my life.
The water enveloped me in warmth.
Soap scented with roses.
Fresh bergamot fragrance.
Even rose petals, somehow acquired, floated in the water.
I chuckled. Bowing to the word “goddess” after living so lazily… what was the point?
I didn’t believe in gods. Never had a religion. But somehow, in this world, the goddess and I were unusually linked.
‘Then… naturally, I should take advantage of it, like today.’
I moved my feet in the water, served by the maids.
‘My fatigue is completely gone. My morning study will go much smoother.’
Two days later, afternoon.
The Founding Ceremony was approaching. I was restless and couldn’t concentrate. I stepped out into the palace garden to get some air.
There was no time for a leisurely stroll. I walked slowly, reading the royal etiquette manual.
“Female royal bodyguards may be of either gender, but in the case of men, female bodyguards must be placed beneath them. Female guards are appointed regardless of status due to their scarcity. Female royals must clearly distinguish between guards and maids…”
Thud.
“Ah.”
I bumped into something. I hadn’t been watching where I was going, too absorbed in the book. Thinking it might be a tree, I looked up.
“…!”
My heart stopped. Leto was staring down at me.
“Your Majesty.”
Instead of answering, Leto took the etiquette book from me. His large, long-fingered hands made the book look small.
With a soft thud, the book closed. He whispered the title.
“‘Revised Imperial Etiquette Manual.’ I think I read this when I was a child.”
He glanced at me and handed it back.
“Doing well.”
His tone was utterly indifferent. According to etiquette, I should have said “thank you,” but my pride made me just take the book silently. The Founding Ceremony hadn’t begun yet.
“Madame Mare’s lesson?”
“In an hour.”
“Time is enough. Follow me.”
Without waiting for an answer, he led the way. Where was he taking me? I followed.
We arrived at the imperial dining hall—reserved for the emperor and empress. The table was already laden with food.
Leto sat down, gesturing to the seat opposite him.
“Sit.”
I did. He lifted a wine glass.
“Eat.”
I couldn’t eat. My throat was dry, and I just sipped water.
He surely didn’t summon me to eat. What was the purpose of this meeting?
“Dressing you like this… you really look like Livia.”
“……”
“Of course, not really Livia.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Livia never looked me directly in the eyes. Not once.”
‘No wonder she couldn’t meet his gaze if he looked right through her. Couldn’t he be a little gentler?’
I realized Livia must have been terrified even of her husband. She must have been incredibly timid.
Compared to that, I… had lunged at him to survive. Leto would never have believed in resurrection from the start.
He gestured toward the etiquette manual on the table.
“You seem quite diligent with your studies.”
“I have to prepare for the Founding Ceremony.”
“Seeing you know how to study… were you a noble’s child?”
How should I answer that? He was clearly trying to dig into my past.
‘Past… I’ll fabricate a bit. Mix truth and fiction. Plausibly.’
“No. The place I lived didn’t have a class system.”
“I’ve never heard of a country without a class system.”
“A very distant land. Until recently, I didn’t even know the Set Empire existed.”
“Interesting. And from that faraway place, you suddenly fell into Livia’s coffin?”
“Yes. I don’t know why either.”
He jabbed the table with his knife. His disbelief was obvious.
“Fine. If not a noble, what did you do there?”
“…I studied medicine.”
“Medicine?”
He showed interest.
“Yes. My family ran a pharmacy. I made and sold medicine with my father.”
I wouldn’t tell him I was an orphan. No need to reveal my weaknesses.
Leto set down his fork and let out a shallow sigh.
“How am I supposed to know what to believe… Yutten!”
Through the dining hall door, Yutten entered, approaching me with a bundle of documents.
“What is this?”
“Confidential documents concerning the ‘Goddess’s Miracle.’”
Confidential documents.
I looked up at Leto. His expression left no doubt—he intended to test me.
He was going to probe me.
