Chapter 1
Kayena had consumed a deadly poison and died. Yet she found herself waking up, lying on a bed in an unfamiliar room. Her head hurt a little bit, and she was very hungry. She got up from lying down and leaned against the big pillow resting on the headboard. But she became all the more confused, seeing her arms and hands that looked unfamiliar. She walked to a large mirror on the opposite side of the room and was surprised to see a face she didn't recognize.
She was in someone else's body, Kayena realized.
Memories of the owner's body revealed themselves to her. The body belonged to Elise Guerin, the sole eighteen-year old granddaughter of Arko Guerin, the head of the Guerin family. Back when she was an empress, Kayena heard about this family. A rich noble family who owned stores and large lands in Suni, just an hour away from the capital. Although they contributed many things to the empire, they were not involved in politics.
Kayena felt an ache in Elise's stomach, fatigue all over her body, and her heart racing.
"My l-lady? You're awake!" a female voice was heard.
Elise turned her head to a female maid. Elise's memory said she was Anni. The young maid now bore a mixture of worry and relief on her face.
"What happened… to me?"
Anni ran toward Elise and held her hands. "My lady, you fell last night. You had a high fever. I was so worried. I—didn't know what to do. The master isn't here yet. And the doctor... he was not here too! Oh. But then, you were fine before this. And then, the next thing I knew, you fell on the ground here in your room. But I know your heart is always weak, everyone knows that. You just couldn't breathe after dinner last night. How was it possible? And now, you're fine?" Anni explained with tears in her eyes and continued: "The master is always worried about you too. If he knows this! And Old Madam hasn't come back yet too!"
Anni spoke whatever came to her mind as she struggled to hold back tears. Kayena sighed and gently ran her fingers through Anni's hair. Kayena reminisced about her childhood days as Kayena Lidet in the Lidet mansion, reminding her old, sweet maid of those times.
Kayena suddenly recalled Anni's words. 'So, Elise was fine last night until dinner?'
"What did I eat or drink last night?" She asked suddenly.
"Well, it was just the usual evening tea. This one?" Anni gestured towards the tea jar on the table stool beside the bed.
Kayena took hold of it and sniffed. It had a spicy, green, and sweet aroma with a touch of lemon. She was certain. This was a lily of the valley flower. It's beneficial for those with weak hearts, but there's a catch—it could worsen the condition if taken at the wrong time. So if this girl's body had already suffered from a weak heart, consuming this tea would only worsen her heart condition. 'How is it that people in this house fail to understand that teas are typically limited to people with weak hearts and in the absence of proper medical advice?'
"Who ordered this tea?" She asked again.
"It was the head maid, Mayen."
"Where is she?"
Anni's eyes fell to the ground. "Sh-she's preparing Miss Duscha's dress for tomorrow's ball."
Elise sighed, glancing at the food Anni had set on the round table. It looked like scraps, not the kind of nourishment a patient needs.
"Send Mayen to me."
Once Anni left, Elise turned back to the mirror. Her complexion appeared pale, her body so thin, cracks forming on her lips, and her eyes showed signs of fatigue. 'So Elise probably died last night. But why had she been reincarnated into Elise's body?'
Anni came back again after a few minutes and stuttered nervously. "M-my lady, s-he said she's busy."
"Where is she?"
"She's inside the dressing room."
The dressing room housed all the expensive dresses Elise's grandfather had gifted her. She'd never used any, as she never attended parties because of her illness. Now, Kayena was surprised to see one being used by someone else.
Heading downstairs, Elise found Mayen sitting on a couch while she was chatting with a young woman. In Elise's memory, this must be Duscha Rodel, a distant relative who'd moved in two years ago. The two people noticed her presence and looked shocked.
"Ah, er, Elise. How—" Duscha was more confused than shocked.
Mayen didn't even stand up, remaining passive. "Lady Guerin, we are talking about something for tomorrow's ball. Since you won't be there, we're looking for dresses that may fit Miss Duscha as she's going to take your place instead."
"Oh?" Elise smiled slightly, which made Duscha wary, and looked at Mayen. " You. Come here."
Mayen and Duscha looked at each other. The Elise they saw in front of them seemed different. Mayen stood up and approached Elise.
"Then stand there..." Elise paused as Mayen stood in front of her. "And take this."
Elise slapped Mayen hard.
Everyone in the room was shocked, including the maids who were arranging the dresses in the cabinets. Elise kept slapping her repeatedly, but what terrified everyone more was her passive expression while doing so. Mayen's face was left marked with red.
"E-Elise, this is going too far! What has she done wrong?" Duscha exclaimed.
Elise sighed and stared down at Mayen who was kneeling now. "She's asking what you've done wrong."
Mayen watched the sharp, soulless eyes of Elise that terrified her even more. She gulped. "I apologize, Lady Guerin, whatever I did—"
"Wrong answer," Elise smiled and slapped Mayen twice.
Elise turned her head towards the three maids, who stood motionless, observing the scene. They immediately kneeled when Elise's eyes landed on them.
"You three, prepare a proper meal for me. Anni will give you later the list of foods I'd like from breakfast to dinner. This should be the head maid's responsibility, but see how incompetent she's become just because I've been lenient in this house. That won't happen anymore," she paused, then turned to Mayen. "If you don't want to be punished more, come with a correct answer. Go to my room after my breakfast."
Elise left the room, and immediately, the maids followed, hurrying off to the kitchen hall. Duscha was left shocked. Elise spared only a single glance at her and didn't bother to acknowledge Duscha's presence, as if it didn't matter to her at all.
Duscha clenched her fists in frustration. Elise used to be a frail and timid girl who spent most days inside her room. Now, she was a terrifying presence, someone not to be crossed. 'Didn't my mother come up with a plan last night? she asked herself annoyingly.'
1.2
Kayena stood by the window in Elise's bedroom. Moments ago, she had questioned Anni about the news from the capital.
"I don't know much about the capital, my lady. But everyone knows Empress Kayena died a year ago. And it was the young fifth prince that became the emperor."
'The fifth prince. Then it's Rayan Durantis Taryen', Kayena thought to herself.
One of her goals had happened: Rayan became an emperor. Rayan, the best of all the Taryens. As an empress, she never openly supported him. It was her biggest enemies who did, and she knew Mattheiu Sighart and his faction had done something.
She sighed. But that part of her life was over. Despite her struggles, her revenge, her obsession, she was now relieved that everything from that life was gone for good. She had once planned to end her life out of necessity, but now that all of her goals had been fulfilled, she knew it was time to let go. Free from being Kayena Lidet or Empress Kayena Taryen, she could finally find peace. From now on, she should live her life as Elise Guerin and live freely.
There was a knock on the door. "My lady."
It was Mayen, her head bowing, appearing humbled now.
Elise sat on a couch by the window. "Have you come up with some good answers?"
"My lady, I apologize for the horrible meal this morning."
"Last night, when I got sick, where were you?"
"I was downstairs with Miss Duscha. I apologize for not attending to you last night. Please give me a chance to serve you properly, Lady Elise."
"Why did you serve me that tea last night?"
Mayen seemed surprised by the question. "Madam Vera had asked me to do that, my lady."
'Vera Rodel, Duscha's mother?' According to Elise's memory, she was a distant relative of Elise's grandfather. The Rodels came from a poor province, but due to Arko's benevolence, he offered them to stay in the Guerin residence. Partly, it was because Arko wanted Elise to have a companion, as she was the only child in the mansion.
Yet, according to Elise's memory, the Rodels would only engage with her if the Old Madam or Arko was present. Most of the time, Elise was ignored, and Duscha acted as if she were the granddaughter. People outside thought she was Elise, but that was because the nobles had never seen Elise before. Kayena felt annoyed that after dealing with serious matters as an empress, she now had to contend with family squabbles.
"It was irresponsible to give it to me, given my poor health already. Do you know the effects of that tea?"
Mayen's eyes widened. "I—I'm sorry, my lady. I thought it should give you calming effects, like all teas."
"Why are you so clueless? That tea might have benefits, but without a doctor's advice, it could be poisonous. That tea is from a flower called lily of the valley. It's risky for someone with a weak heart to take."
'Is the lady always this knowledgeable?' Mayun wondered.
She kneeled swiftly. "I'm sorry, my lady. I'm very ignorant. I was just receiving orders."
"Usually, I shouldn't share my suspicions with you because I don't trust you. I don't trust incompetent people. But..."
Kayena's mind was built differently, as she was all too familiar with intrigue and clever schemes from her previous life. Elise, being the granddaughter and the sole heir of the Guerin, had faced this alone, without any help. She likely had been too afraid to confide in her grandfather.
"...if anyone plots against me, they'd better leave no trace."
Mayun understood Lady Elise's message now. If she took any action, it wouldn't make a difference because Lady Elise was confident that anybody, including Mayun herself, would be caught. By sharing her thoughts with Mayun, the lady was just offering her a second chance.
"My lady, I was just following orders. Madam Vera is the type that you can't say no to. And since, all this time, you were not much interested in the house, Madam Vera stood as the leader of the house when the master or the Old Madam wasn't around. I would never harm you."
"Grow a brain from now on, Mayen. Anyway, lock that dress room. No one should be allowed to use it without my permission. Go," Elise commanded.
"Yes, my lady," she bowed and left.