【 Epilogue 】

So, that’s when Hans and I were enjoying teatime at home.

“Owen’s here again, make yourself comfortable.”

Mom really adored Hans. Dad did too.

Hans was staying at a nearby orphanage. It seemed he was enjoying this break quite a lot.

“Owen, do you want some of my strawberry too?”

“No, you have it.”

We were offering each other the strawberry on top of the cake, and Mom watched us with a fond smile.

“I’m so glad Owen and Camila get along like siblings. If our situation was a bit better, we would’ve welcomed Owen into our family.”

“No, that’s alright.”

“No way.”

Hans and I responded in turn to Mom’s words. It would be a huge deal if Hans were to be adopted into our family.

“Ha-ha, you kids. I’m going to go help your dad at the diner. You two have fun.”

“Okay, thank you.”

Mom, perhaps wanting to help Dad, gathered her things and left the house.

Finally, we dropped the act and heaved a deep sigh.

“Pretending to be a child is quite exhausting.”

“You don’t seem to be trying very hard.”

“Shush.”

As we were having this light-hearted conversation, there was a knock on the door.

“Are you expecting someone?”

“Maybe the neighbor?”

We were on good terms with the neighbors, so it was a natural assumption.

Ignoring Hans, I got up from the chair and headed towards the door.

“Who is it……”

When I opened the door, there was someone standing there I never expected to see.

“I found you.”

It was Davi.

She looked much more mature than the last time I saw her.

“……?”

I stared at Davi, baffled. She looked very upset.

“Davi?”

“Yes, that’s me. You’re the ‘former’ Anais, right?”

Davi emphasized the word “former” as he spoke.

I nodded, somewhat bewildered.

Then Davi began to vent his frustration.

“Really, would it kill you to come find me first? If it wasn’t for Venecia, I might have never found you!”

“You had a reason to find me?”

“Don’t you have any sense of responsibility?”

It was odd being called “sister” by someone who looked at least ten years older than me.

But it seemed Davi did have some affection for me. I was touched.

“Did you come looking for me because you missed me?”

“Not at all.”

Davi remained resolute. After all this time, not even a courtesy greeting.

“Then why?”

Davi answered simply to my question.

“The prince has come to the temple.”

It wasn’t particularly surprising news. After all, it was part of my plan.

Jamon had come to keep the promise I asked of him in my past life. I was glad I had asked Jamon for this favor.

“Come to the temple as soon as possible. I’ve delivered the message.”

Davi left after dropping those words. His blunt nature hadn’t changed.

‘She’s still as adorable as ever.’

She should be in her twenties by now, but Davi had always been cute.

After the conversation, I returned to where Hans was. He was leisurely enjoying his cake.

“Who was it? It sounded noisy.”

“Davi.”

“She came?”

“Yes. Jamon is looking for me.”

Hans’s expression turned blank at my words.

“…How would Jamon know to look for you?”

“I asked him when I was Anais.”

Jamon had graciously accepted my request back then.

It was because of that request that Jamon was looking for me. Even after 7 years, he kept his promise. It was so like Jamon.

“But even if you asked, everyone’s memories of Anais should have been erased here.”

With my reincarnation, the existence of Anais was meant to have been erased as if she had never existed. So, Hans’s confusion was understandable.

“I asked Ian for a favor.”

I had a quite reliable ally.

“They might not remember me, but the promise should be clear. Ian said making them remember everything was too much.”

“Why did you make such a request?”

The answer was simple.

“I wanted to meet everyone. I’m curious about how they’ve been.”

Jamon was the most suitable for such a request. Being a prince, he could easily order people around.

Hans looked incredulously at me.

“I thought you wanted a fresh start.”

“I never said I wouldn’t meet the people I know ever again.”

“Ah…”

Hans let out a sigh mixed with laughter, seemingly anticipating this to some extent.

“Now that it’s come to this, let’s go before Mom comes back. I have plenty of points saved up.”

“Are you suggesting we go together?”

“You’re going to send me alone?”

“…No, let’s go.”

Hans reluctantly agreed.

I purchased two Teleport Scrolls from the shop. Mom and Dad would be coming home in the evening, so we had to hurry.

* * *

We arrived at the temple using the scrolls.

“It’s been a while.”

“Indeed.”

I used to visit this place so often it became tedious.

As we tried to enter the temple, one of the temple guards stopped us.

“Could you please state which family you are from?”

“We don’t have a family.”

“Are you commoners then?”

“Yes.”

“Ah, I see… Don’t worry. Venecia respects all individuals regardless of their status.”

The priest smiled kindly.

“……”

Next to me, Hans was visibly uncomfortable, seemingly displeased at the mention of Ian.

Unperturbed, the priest led us in without suspicion, kindly explaining everything along the way.

“It’s admirable to see such deep devotion in young folks. Venecia will be pleased. If you keep attending the temple, you could even become a priest.”

“Haha, that’s quite a statement.”

Hans laughed out loud, but only in sound. The thought of having a job revolving around his friend as a deity must have been dreadful.

“Here’s the prayer room…”

“We’re not here for the prayer room.”

“……?”

The priest looked puzzled at my words.

Usually, outsiders would be directed to the prayer room, so he must have assumed that’s where we wanted to go.

But we had a different purpose.

“Please call Shailo.”

The priest’s face turned to confusion and then he gestured with his hands in denial.

“I’m sorry, but the High Priest is not available to just anyone.”

Shailo, so he had become the High Priest. All that struggle finally paid off.

“Um……”

Perhaps I had no choice but to reveal it.

After a moment of contemplation, I spoke.

“If you say ‘Anais,’ would he understand?”

“……!”

The priest’s eyes widened in shock.

“Anais, the Lady?”

“Yes, that’s me.”

“Good heavens, Venecia!”

The priest brought his hands together in prayer, seemingly quite astonished.

The temple folks all remembered me. They were touched by divine power, after all.

The priest’s attitude changed from treating me like a child to bowing and apologizing.

“I’m sorry for not recognizing you! How dare I treat Anais like…”

“Don’t worry about it. It’s fine.”

“I’ll fetch Shailo immediately! You, take these guests to the reception room right away!”

The priest shouted to an attendant nearby. The attendant, though puzzled, obediently followed the command.

“Effective.”

“Well, you are of a divine maiden’s rank, after all.”

The temple people had no choice but to treat me with reverence. I was someone who communicated directly with Venecia, also known as Ian. To them, I was no different from Davi, another divine maiden.

We didn’t have to wait long in the reception room before someone burst into the room.

“Lady!”

It was Shailo. He, too, had aged over the 7 years.

“It’s been a while, Shailo.”

“It’s an honor to meet you again! How have you been?”

“Yes, well.”

I had been doing very well. I was showered with love and happiness for 7 years.

“But, who is this with you…?”

“It’s Hans.”

“My goodness.”

Shailo covered his mouth with one hand. Hans, without even glancing at Shailo, continued to drink his tea.

“So, the saintess went to meet someone, and it turned out to be the lady…”

“It’s awkward to be called a lady now that I’m not one anymore. Just call me Camilla.”

“Understood, Lady Camilla!”

‘I wish he’d drop the formalities too. But if Shailo is comfortable with it, I won’t insist.’

“I heard His Highness the Prince came to the temple.”

“Yes, he’s still here!”

Davi would have traveled by carriage, and it would have taken a few days to get here. So, he must have stayed at the temple for a few days.

‘He did all that just to see me?’

While I was grateful for him keeping the promise, Jamon’s consistent nature was still something I hadn’t gotten used to.

Hans and I followed Shailo’s lead to the place where Jamon was.

As expected, it was the best room, fitting for hosting a prince.

‘It’s been a while since I saw Jamon.’

I wonder if he’s still getting along with Nemoh. Nemoh must have grown into an adult cat by now. I started to miss him.

“You seem excited.”

Hans was looking at me with a blank expression.

Maybe because of the previous engagement with Jamon, but Hans seemed to get filled with dissatisfaction whenever Jamon was mentioned.

I gently grabbed Hans’s hand.

“Don’t be upset.”

“I’m not upset.”

What a liar.

As we chatted, we finally arrived.

“Here we are. Have a comfortable conversation…”

Shailo tactfully left us alone.

Hans and I entered the room.

And there was.

‘Jamon.’

Jamon was there.

He was leaning on the table with his chin propped on his arms. And he had a rather fierce expression.

Not that I expected any affection (since he probably wouldn’t even remember me), but it was somewhat disappointing to be met with such a look.

We just locked eyes, neither of us uttering a word.

Finally, Jamon spoke.

“What are you doing here?” 

It was a rather abrupt question.