Chapter 6
After a short while, the Empress regained her smile.
“Eve, you have such a kind heart. If you truly wish to go, you may visit the temple as you like. His Majesty will surely be pleased.”
The Empress smiled as if she knew nothing.
Her lips smiled like a saint, but her cold green eyes were full of malice — as if she wanted me to go embarrass myself in front of the Duke.
The Duke always visited the temple quietly to avoid attention.
If foolish Eve showed up there and caused a scene, what would happen?
Of course, he would be furious.
The Empress probably thought that no matter what I planned, I’d just cling to the Duke and humiliate myself again.
Even if the Emperor scolded her later, she already had an excuse prepared:
“Eve begged to go so sincerely, and there were so many witnesses that I couldn’t refuse.”
But I didn’t care what she thought.
‘As long as I can get out of the palace, that’s good enough.’
I rose gracefully and curtsied.
“Thank you for granting me permission, Mother.”
* * *
A luxurious carriage rolled through the snow-covered streets.
Through the rattling window, I saw the dazzling white cityscape — buildings straight out of a movie or a medieval game.
‘I really am in another world.’
Even though I already knew it, seeing it again made me marvel.
I smiled faintly at the frost-covered window.
‘Still, everything’s going according to plan.’
I was on my way from the Imperial Palace to the Grand Temple.
Imperial princesses often visited the temple for prayer or purification.
Even for a short visit, a princess was usually accompanied by maids and a full escort of knights.
But I had asked the Empress to let me go quietly without all that fuss.
Thanks to her “generosity,” I was now traveling to the temple with only a single maid.
‘Good thing we left quickly,’ I thought.
Drawing too much attention could be dangerous — especially considering who was visiting the temple today.
Timing was important too; if I’d taken time to gather a full escort, I might have missed him completely.
That’s why I brought only one maid.
I glanced at the girl sitting across from me.
She looked about seventeen or eighteen, with neatly braided sandy-blond hair.
Her maid’s headdress made her seem a bit older, but her heart-shaped face looked innocent and kind.
It was Nel, the first person I met after waking up in this world.
When I’d first opened my eyes here, I had been in total shock.
I thought I was dead — yet somehow, I’d woken up inside a book.
Anyone else would’ve fainted on the spot.
And standing right there was this timid little maid, Nel, who had come in to check on the sleeping Princess Eve.
‘I must have grabbed her and asked over and over who I was and where this was.’
Once I realized what had happened, I quickly covered it up, pretending I had temporary memory loss.
“M-Memory loss? Shouldn’t we call a doctor?” she’d asked.
“No!” I had shouted.
Then I came up with an excuse that Eve might have used:
“If people find out I’m ill, it might ruin my marriage. You know how important my wedding is. Please, keep this a secret until then.”
Since Eve’s obsession with marriage was well-known, the maid believed me completely.
“Don’t worry, Your Highness. I’ll keep it secret, I promise!” she’d said earnestly.
I’d been worried she might tell the Empress, but thankfully, the Empress seemed unaware.
‘So she’s not one of the Empress’s spies.’
That was a relief.
But what about the Emperor’s side?
If this maid had reported my “memory loss” to him, he might have ordered tighter surveillance.
However, judging by the Empress’s carefree attitude, she hadn’t received any message from the Emperor about me.
‘That means this maid probably isn’t one of his agents either.’
She might not be completely harmless, but at least she wasn’t connected to the two most dangerous people in the empire.
That was reason enough for me to choose her as my companion.
“Uh, Y-Your Highness,” Nel stammered softly.
“Yes?” I turned to her.
“You’re not wearing gloves… are you sure that’s all right?”
She looked worriedly at my bare hands resting on the window frame.
Ah, right. Eve suffered from extreme germophobia — she never went outside without gloves.
It was so bad that people considered it a mental illness rather than a quirk.
“It’s fine. I just felt a little suffocated from always covering my hands,” I said casually, lowering them onto my lap.
Of course, there was a reason I’d left my gloves behind.
‘Eve’s prophetic ability.’
That ability was tied to her bare hands.
In the original story, Eve almost never used her divine power.
After she turned ten, she hadn’t used it at all, so she assumed she’d lost it.
But the truth was, she still had it — she just didn’t know how to activate it.
To use that power, her hands had to be uncovered.
I quickly changed the subject to distract Nel.
“As you know, I still don’t remember everything. This is my first time leaving the palace, so please help me out today, all right? I’ll be counting on you.”
At that, Nel’s eyes began to fill with tears.
“Why are you crying?” I asked, surprised.
She wiped her eyes with her sleeve and sniffled.
“I’m just so moved, Your Highness… that you would ask for my help…”
Moved? From a simple request?
At first, I wondered if she was mocking me, but her face was too pure and sincere for that.
She was truly touched.
“You really have lost your memory,” she whispered.
I could tell from her reaction that the real Eve must have treated her maids terribly.
‘I figured she was cruel to everyone, but even to her own attendants? That’s pretty bad.’
Still, it was almost funny — this young girl, barely an adult, was crying from gratitude.
I smiled faintly and nodded.
“Thank you, Nel.”
Outside, the snow-laden trees cast quiet shadows over the carriage as sunlight sparkled through the flakes.
* * *
The Grand Temple stood atop a hill in the center of the capital.
Even from afar, its great blue-tiled roof was visible.
Its dome, made of pale blue stone, looked like a white-veiled crown beneath the snow.
“Welcome, Your Highness. It is the greatest honor of my life to receive you,” said the head priest, bowing deeply as soon as I stepped down.
“I wish to offer my late mother’s keepsake. Where should I go?” I asked.
He smiled politely.
“This way, please. We have prepared everything after receiving word of your visit.”
The ritual wasn’t complicated.
I knelt before the altar, pressed my hands together, and prayed quietly.
While I prayed, the priest lit incense in a flower-shaped burner.
Bitter-sweet smoke rose into the air.
When I finished, I placed a jade rosary, said to be my mother’s keepsake, upon the altar.
Then I turned and called softly,
“Excuse me…”
The head priest paused, closing the lid of the incense burner.
“Yes, Your Highness? What may I do for you?”
I beckoned Nel closer and had her bring out a small jewelry box I’d prepared.
“I wish to meet the High Priest. Where is he now?”
“The High Priest is currently in the main hall, blessing the worshippers,” he replied.
It seemed the place was busy with visitors, as tomorrow would begin the festival days.
Still, it was surprising that the High Priest hadn’t come to greet a princess.
Soon, I was led to the large sanctuary attached to the main hall.
Inside, an elderly man in ornate robes stood surrounded by a dozen worshippers.
As I entered, everyone immediately recognized me and bowed deeply.
Of course — anyone who frequented the temple would know the Imperial Princess’s face.
The old man in his splendid priestly robes quickly hurried toward me and bowed even lower.
