Episode 3

The Set Empire is a strange land.

 

My first morning in the Star Palace. The priests rushed in. They checked my physical condition.

 

Dripping holy water on my wrists, touching my forehead with a blue stone, or holding my hair up to the sun.

 

“You have risen into a body as healthy as ever. Her Majesty the Empress.”

 

That was the ‘diagnosis’ of the priests.

 

I didn’t ask if there were any councilors in the palace. They knew there were none.

 

 

 

 

 

It is the goddess’s job to deal with life.

 

 

 

 

 

This is the main tenet of the Great War. Medicine and science were rejected for a long time under this creed. The current state of medicine is little more than crude folk remedies.

 

Not to mention the short life expectancy of the people. Even royalty can easily die if their bodies are weak.

 

Even when I watched the original movie, I hated this setting. As a medicine maker, it was so frustrating.

 

Anyway, after the priests had gone on their merry way,.

 

“Empress!”

 

A woman burst into the palace, a middle-aged woman with a noble face—Viscountess marais.

 

“Madame!”

 

I greeted her warmly.

 

Mrs. marais had been livia’s tutor, and it was she who had taught me the ways of the imperial court before our marriage.

 

“Your Majesty… to see you again like this… Goddess’s grace.”

 

Mrs. marais took my hand and sobbed. I thought I was going to cry myself.

 

“I thought you were just an unfortunate empress,” she said, “but livia was loved in her way.

 

I kneeled and helped the sobbing Madame marais to her feet. We sat side by side on the bed.

 

“I’m sorry to have worried you, Madame.”

 

“Don’t say that! When they told me he died after an illness, it pained me as if I had lost a child of my own.”

 

This man is sincere. It’s not flattery or politeness, and I feel a little bad for him. I’m not in livia.

 

“But… I need your help now, ma’am.

 

“Ma’am.”

 

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

 

“I was wondering if you could come into the palace. I would like to have your wife teach me again.”

 

Leto is not a man to be trifled with. If he wants to survive, he’s going to have to get it right in Gunkuk: every gesture, every glance, like a’real’ Empress. And to do that, I need to learn etiquette as quickly as possible.

 

Madame Marais smiled brightly.

 

“I’ve been meaning to.”

 

“What?”

 

“I’ve been told that your memory hasn’t been perfect since your resurrection. The Emperor personally summoned me this morning and ordered me to assist the Empress for the time being, to help her regain her memory.”

 

Leto was ahead of me. Making me a plausible empress is basic. Letting me learn manners naturally.

 

“Yes, sir. That’s right, I’ve had a few lapses in memory since I woke up. Like…….”

 

“Like what?”

 

“Like imperial etiquette.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“The family tree of the imperial family.”

 

“Ah, yes.”

 

“You also seem to have forgotten some of your grooming and mannerisms.”

 

“Ah… yes.”

 

“I should learn the history of the empire, if possible.”

 

“…I see.”

 

“I’d also like to learn about the nobles, their titles and estates, and their recent history.”

 

“Well… I see where you’re coming from, Your Majesty, but it will take a considerable amount of time to learn it all again, so perhaps we should take it one by one.”

 

“No, ma’am.”

 

“What?”

 

“You have ten days to learn them all.”

 

Mrs. Marais looked puzzled. I smiled and said,.

 

“Don’t worry, ma’am. I’m not as bad as I look.”

 

 

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

 

 

Despite my assurances, the Empress’s study load was formidable. She couldn’t leave her office in the palace for four days.

 

But I’m used to such intense studying. I’ve lived my entire life like this.

 

The goal was always the same. Enrichment? Money and power? I don’t want any of that. I studied only to survive.

 

But I’ve been studying to survive.

 

“And now I’m doing it again.”

 

I put down my quill and sighed.

 

“Selling people, nothing ever changes.”

 

It was already past midnight. My desk was piled high with review materials for tonight’s class.

 

My head is fuzzy. I’ll take a bath and then continue memorizing.

 

“Hello, is anyone there?”

 

I called out, and the maid came in, her head lolling. Had she been sleeping?

 

“Are you looking for me?”

 

“I need to take a bath.”

 

“At this time of night? Oh…….”

 

The maid smirked.

 

I was dumbfounded. A maid, not even a maidservant, reacting to the Empress’ words?

 

I blurted out.

 

“Yes. Right away.”

 

“Yes. I’ll be ready.”

 

The maid left the room. A few moments later, I was led by the maids to the bathroom.

 

The bath was nice until I stepped into the vast tub.

 

“Oh, it’s cold!”

 

“You didn’t heat the water at all, did you?

 

Despite my screams, the maids continued to pour water, as if they were used to this situation. They even gave me a look like they didn’t know what was wrong.

 

They didn’t seem to be trying to harass me. It’s just annoying and inconvenient.

 

“…Let’s see.

 

“There.”

 

“Yes. Your Majesty.”

 

“I don’t like the scent of that soap. Can you get me something else?”

 

“Ah, I don’t think there’s anything else.”

 

I wonder if it’s the same. It’s ugly again.

 

Why did livia have to be treated like this? I’m so angry at everything.

 

The problem is, I’m not in a position to make a big deal about it. Leto is probably being briefed on my every move, and I’d be in trouble if I made a scene.

 

“Still, I have to teach him a lesson.

 

“You’re still the same, aren’t you? No different than you were before you were resurrected.”

 

I spoke slowly to the maids.

 

“What?”

 

“Maid or maidservant, if you had any pride in your work, you wouldn’t behave like this.”

 

“Lung, Your Majesty, why are you suddenly…?”

 

The emperor’s panic is palpable. I can tell by their reactions. livia was very much underestimated by them.

 

Because she’s timid and meek?

 

An empress unloved by the emperor?

 

“Whatever it is, it doesn’t make sense. It’s unnatural.

 

“When I met the goddess a few days ago, what do you think I told her?”

 

I left it at that. If something was bothering her, she would react.

 

As a result,

 

“Your Majesty, your Majesty, you are guilty of death.”

 

“I’ve done wrong. Please forgive me.”

 

“Oh, I’ll do better in the future, but only to the goddess, please.”

 

The maids all fell to their knees and clutched their heads. It looks like I’m not the only one caught.

 

For livia’s sake, I should throw them out. But given the circumstances, I’ll take the blame for now.

 

“I thought I told you to find me another bar of soap and refill my water.”

 

“Yes, yes, I’ll find it right away!”

 

“Please wait a moment; I’ll heat the water!”

 

The maids scurried off, and a moment later…

 

I began the most luxurious bath of my life.

 

The temperature of the water is warming my body.

 

The rose-scented soap.

 

The fresh scent of bergamot.

 

The rose petals I picked from somewhere.

 

I let out a small laugh. The word ‘goddess’ makes my tail twitch. What’s the point of living lazily and looking for gods?

 

I don’t believe in gods. I’ve never been religious. But in this world, me and the goddess seem to have a special connection.

 

“Then, of course, I should use it, like today.

 

I trod the water as the maids carried me to my feet.

 

My tiredness is easing, and I’ll be able to study better in the morning.

 

 

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

 

 

Afternoon, two days later.

 

The National Founding Festival was just around the corner. I was nervous and couldn’t concentrate. I went out to the garden of the palace to get some fresh air.

 

I couldn’t afford to take a stroll. I walked slowly through the garden while reading the imperial courtesy book.

 

“The female imperial escort does not distinguish between men and women, but a man must have a female knight under him. Female knights are scarce in number, so they are appointed without distinction. Female imperial family members should clearly distinguish female escorts from maidservants so that they can be”

 

Tsk.

 

“Ah.”

 

I bumped into something lightly, not looking up from my book. I looked up to see if there was a tree.

 

“……!”

 

I thought my heart was going to drop. Leto was staring down at me.

 

“Your Majesty.”

 

Instead of answering, Leto took the book of manners. His large hands and long fingers made the book seem even smaller.

 

With a snap, the book was closed. He read the title page.

 

“‘The Revised Edition of the Imperial Courtesy Book’. I think I saw this when I was a kid.”

 

He glanced at me, then held out the book.

 

“You’re trying.”

 

His tone was almost nonchalant.

 

According to etiquette, I should have said, “Thank you. But somehow my pride got the better of me, and I took the book. I’m not quite there yet.

 

“When is Mrs. Marais’ class?”

 

“In an hour.”

 

“Plenty of time. Follow me.”

 

He strode ahead without answering. Where is he going? I followed behind him.

 

We arrived at the palace’s dining hall, the one reserved for the emperor and his wife. The table was already set with food.

 

Leto sat down and gestured to the seat in front of him.

 

“Sit.”

 

I sat down in front of him. He raised his wine glass and said,.

 

“Eat.”

 

There was no way food would fit. My throat was burning, so I took a sip of water.

 

He couldn’t have come to me for a meal. What was the point of this meeting?

 

“You look like a real livian, all dressed up and sitting there.”

 

“…….”

 

“Of course, it’s not livia.”

 

“How can you be so sure?”

 

“Because livia has never looked me in the eye. Not once.”

 

“She can’t look you in the eye like she’s going to pierce it. Maybe you should be a little nicer.

By the way, livia scared even her husband. How weak she must be.

 

 

I, on the other hand, lunged at him to save my life. Leto never believed in the resurrection in the first place.

 

He gestured with his chin to the book of manners on the table.

 

“You seem to be studying your manners quite diligently.”

 

“I’m preparing for the Founding Festival.”

 

“You know how to study; are you a nobleman’s child?”

 

What did I say to this? I think he’s trying to find out who I am.

 

‘The past… let’s make it up. Mix fact with fiction and make it believable.

 

“No, no. There’s no class system where I come from.”

 

“I’ve never heard of a country without a class system.”

 

“It’s a very distant country. I didn’t even know the Set Empire existed until recently.”

 

“Interesting. You went from that faraway place to being dropped into a coffin in livia overnight.”

 

“Yes. I don’t know why.”

 

He stabbed the table with his knife, his disbelief evident.

 

“Okay. If you weren’t a noble, what did you do there?”

 

“…I studied medicine.”

 

“Medicine?”

 

He looked intrigued.

 

“Yep. My family had an apothecary. My father and I made a living making and selling medicine.”

 

I won’t tell him I’m an orphan. No good would come from exposing his shame.

 

Leto puts down his fork and sighs shallowly.

 

“You gotta know how much to trust, Ewarton!”

 

The door to the dining room opened, and Yuton walked in. He walked up to me and held out something.

 

It was a bundle of papers.

 

“What is this?”

 

“Classified documents on the ‘Miracle of the Goddess’.”

 

Classified documents.

 

I looked up and saw Leto. His expression didn’t hide his intent to test me.

 

He was going to leave me hanging.