The Thalassian Concord Empire dominates the Peninsula region, a land of unparalleled beauty—as if the Goddess of Balance and the God of Ocean had personally selected its location and estates.
At the heart of this thriving empire sits Emperor Arsenios Vynar Thalas, a powerful water mage and a Thalassian, descended from a magical bloodline deeply rooted in oceanic mysticism. His reign is characterized by steady growth and stability, though unseen dangers begin to stir in the shadows.
The empire's nobility is complex and hierarchical:
- 4 Dukes
- 12 Marquesses
- 30 Counts
- Numerous Viscounts and Barons, many recently appointed for their achievements and contributions
Four powerful noble families wield significant influence:
- The Grand Duke of Northcrest rules the North
- The Duke of Larousse governs the South
- The Duke of Righwolf oversees the East
- The Duke of Wysteria commands the West
However, in recent years the Marquise Valmont has been gaining considerable influence, primarily due to The Empress Aletheia Vynar Thalas, being the daughter of a former marquess, has significantly strengthened the Valmont family's power.
Each of these noble families possesses their shadow army, tasked with protecting them. And most powerful.
I've spent the past few days gathering this information. Curiously, despite not knowing their language, I can still speak and read the local language—something I discovered through various books, which suggests that certain linguistic capabilities remain intact even when memories fade.
"Hmph… if this happening, I'm going to die."
Reading the empire's history fills her with frustration. So much remains unknown, and this body's memories are frustratingly incomplete.
"Knock… Knock."
A soft, familiar voice approached the door. Yura stood outside—the servant she had previously sent to the library to collect historical, political, and business-related texts.
"Put the books over there," she instructed Yura. "It looks like you've brought the right materials."
My past life as a businesswoman never truly left me. The Divine Tree's warning echoes in my mind: a future betrayal must come someday.
"Yes, my lady," Yura responded, her honey-smooth voice carrying a newfound confidence. Just days ago, she had been a trembling maid, and now she moves purposefully, executing my requests without hesitation.
"Yes, my lady. The head butler was there too." "He said these books are the best"
Yura said, her voice soft and honey-melting voice. A few days a girl who was trembling in fear of other maids was now she was going here or there only for my work.
She stared at Yura, the head butler. He didn't help Elara; instead, he always gave her a cold expression. Perhaps he was influenced by the false rumours circulating about her.
"Did you know about those rumors regarding me, Yura?" Elara asked her, eager to understand why she remained by her side until the end.
In Elara's first life, she was accompanied by her master, Elara, but after a year, she was killed by the crown prince right in front of her. In her second and third lives, she was the only one who stayed with her.
In this life, I vowed to save her. We will live together, no matter what. I promised myself that I would not neglect those around me as I had in Korea—this time would be different..
"Bang Bang"
"Oi…Ela? Should I send a search party or an invitation to get you out of your room?"
A sudden loud voice comes across the door as if someone knocking on the door desperately. Yura went to open the door.
"Are you alive? Is this Dungun, you are hiding from me? Or you are planning to run away from this empire?"
Without warning, a sharp, teasing voice broke the silence in Elara's room. It was Elara's twin brother, Cassius Larousse, who was only seven minutes older than her.
"Seriously, knock like a normal human! Not like a maniac!" she exclaimed.
The loud knocking had startled me, but this was typical for him. He never seemed to knock like a regular person, always barging in unexpectedly.
"Why don't you come outside? Eirlys said you've been holed up in here. Is there a problem?"
he asked, concern evident in his expression. Cassius was always the gentleman, and we shared the same hair and eye colour. 'Do all twins look that alike?' she wondered.
"Oh, I just wanted some alone time. And can you escort me to the Royal Library next week?" she asked.
When I first woke up, I asked Yura about our family, and she was shocked when I mentioned my situation. To smooth things over, I told her I'd broken up with the Crown Prince and hadn't left my room since.
Technically, it wasn't a lie; the girl who had saved me had indeed broken up with her lover before my reincarnation. But now, it was confusing—what should I call her? The real Kiara or Elara? Whatever the case, I needed to focus on my survival.
"Did you hit your head on a rock or something? Do you have amnesia?" Cassius asked. "Next week is Calantha's 20th birthday."
He was right; I had hit my head, but not on a rock—on a car. I had completely forgotten her birthday. Sometimes, I even forget my own.
Cassius looked shocked when he heard my request, but perhaps his reaction was more subdued than it would have been from others.
"Huh… No, I remembered her birthday, but I didn't buy her a gift."
She sat on the sofa. Her younger sister, Calantha, is turning 20, and her birthday coincides with something tragic that happened at that night's party.
"Then let's go shopping. You can buy some accessories for yourself too."
she nodded.
'Of course, I wanted to go outside to gather information about magic. What is the fated cycle?'
"Um… brother, do you know anyone familiar with the High Priest of the Holy Temple?"
If I'm correct, most holy power users know about this. When I'm bored, I often read novels, and in those stories, high priests are known to have time-travelling abilities; sometimes, those saints even turn back time.
"Why don't you ask Eirlys? She is a saintess."
"But why are you suddenly interested in the High Priest and the Temple?"
'Cassius was curious; he knew his sister very well. I had memories, and in those memories, Elara had not shown interest in the Temple or its powers. She only wanted love from her father, who always regarded her with a cold stare. '
'What kind of person was he?'
"I have a little business with them. Let's go to the capital, bro."
"Yes."
'What are you thinking, Ela? You've never shown interest in them before, and now you're keeping to yourself while wanting to know about that priest.'