"You may have forgotten many things, Your Highness," the maid replied cryptically, her eyes holding a depth of knowledge that sent a shiver down Chantal's spine. "But some memories have a way of finding their way back to you. You might have been too tired after the night of the wedding with the prince."
The maid chuckled and glanced at Yunho. "Your Highness, please restrain yourself."
The maid then went out and waited for the couple to prepare.
"Did she mean I lost memories because of spending a honeymoon? But why was she calling you a prince?"
"I am not clear about it, but we might have played other people's roles in this story. We better get ready. Would you like me to join your bath?" Yunho teased Chantal, hoping to lighten the mood.
"Nah, uh, we might get late for breakfast if you come." Chantal teased back and left with a smirk on her face.
Although Yunho and Chantal were feeling uneasy and had a lot of questions running through their minds, they let the maid lead them. Along the way, Chantal saw a painting on the wall that showed a happy family. The family consisted of an image of the moon goddess in the middle and a boy and a girl on either side of her.
Chantal murmured next to Yunho, "Can gods reproduce asexually?"
"I don't think so. Well, not unless they give up half of their lifespan to ask for a blessing from the main Creator."
Since Chantal looked at the faces in the picture, she realized who they were. She could feel her breath getting tighter in her throat. She examined the face of the goddess's daughter and saw herself. A reflection of the woman she used to be in her previous life.
Chantal thought silently. 'The goddess's daughter possessed my face in the last life. Am I really connected to the gods in any way? But this might also explain why I never died. Because I always come back to life in a different form, I guess.'
With chaotic thoughts consuming Chantal in uncertainty, she suddenly felt Yunho's hand as it wrapped around hers. "You'll be fine."
Chantal sighed, 'It seems like Yunho was also in doubt. I should face the problem with him, and we should talk about it. The matter is not simple by any means. I just find it hard to believe that I have a hidden identity. So the girl in the painting might be me.'
As they walked to the dining hall, the burden of the news was heavy in the air. Their trip was linked to an epic tale that went back hundreds of thousands of years. When Yunho and Chantal stepped through the door into the unknown, they knew that the dark aspects of their past were just the start of an entirely novel aspect of their future together.
When the maid left them, Chantal and Yunho spoke.
"That person identified you as my husband and a prince earlier. Yunyun, can you guess what identity you portrayed if I am the moon goddess's daughter?"
"We can only find out if someone speaks of it, Chanty. We just need to be careful to avoid suspicion."
As they walked into the dining hall, people whispered words of admiration and affection for Yunho.
[The prince is very outstanding, and he complimented our princess well!]
[The prince is not just any random man, but a war general!]
[Have you seen his transformation?]
[I heard it was a massive, pure white wolf!]
[He was the bravest man we'll ever meet!]
[That's right! He annihilated a rebel group with his own hands!]
[The princess is very lucky to have them marry each other.]
Talk of his brave actions echoed through the room, portraying a depiction of a warrior with unmatched skill and bravery—the prince who had led the werewolf region to victory while the moon goddess watched over them.
"So you are a war general." Chantal was amazed when Yunho's true identity came out.
"Indeed, but I still prefer being the prince charming who saved you."
The table was set impeccably, adorned with fine silverware fit for royalty. At the head of the table sat the illustrious goddess, Cresencia, her presence commanding respect and reverence from all who beheld her. "Thank the heavens, you two are here!"
First, Chantal and Yunho, who were sitting next to the goddess at the breakfast table, waited for Cresencia to take the initiative before they began eating their food. The goddess was the subject of their gazes as they shifted between each other and the goddess, and their manner reflected an equal amount of respect and anticipation.
"Cha, have you been well?" Cresencia's voice, melodic and serene, broke the silence that hung in the air. "I guess there must be an improvement in your relationship with the prince."
Chantal felt a flutter of apprehension in her chest at the mention of the prince. Her thoughts were momentarily clouded with uncertainty. "We were closer than before, Mother," she replied, her words measured as she sought to conceal the nervousness that threatened to betray her composure.
Her gaze wandered briefly to the vacant seat opposite her, acting like a pang of longing stirring within her heart as she silently looked like someone who yearned for the vacancy of her brother. Cresencia's stern interjection abruptly ended her sentence as she started to say, "Mother, how about..."
"Do not mention his name!" Cresencia's tone was firm, laced with an undercurrent of simmering anger. "Never will he believe that I will pardon him for fleeing and cohabiting with that cursed woman!"
Chantal's heart sank as the weight of her mother's words settled on her, as if she were truly embodying the spirit of the goddess's kin. "Mother, who is this cursed woman?"
Cresencia sighed deeply, as if containing her anger and frustration. "A fallen angel who betrayed the main creator!"
"A fallen angel?"
"Cha, I think it's time for you to hear the history of the forbidden race," Cresencia spoke with a grim tone.
"Tell me about them, mother."
"They are beings who tried to break the laws of heaven and abandoned their oaths to guard the celestial realm. Those beings have hideous hearts, and they were cursed to live among us in this universe. Your brother unfortunately fell for a woman of that race. What a great sin!"