Even though I heard the maids' sarcasm, I didn't feel anything in particular.

She couldn't be the real Ancia because I was right here.

Then, who was it?

The door opened as Edon and a beautiful woman appeared.

The moment I saw the woman, my expression hardened.

She was not a fake.

That was my body. I felt it instinctively the moment I saw her.

"Nice to meet you. My name is Ancia."

When she greeted them, people began to chatter.

"Are you sure she's the Crown Princess?"

"Is she real?"

"Well, she's beautiful."

"Right. She's so beautiful that her face wasn't easily forgotten."

The servants admired the woman's appearance.

"Your Highness! You're really Ancia! You look like just when you were a kid!"

Charlotte also couldn't help but jump up and down in happiness.

Melissa stared at the woman blankly.

"Your Highness..."

"Are you really Her Highness?"

The fake Ancia smiled at them. But she wasn't really smiling, only the corners of her mouth were lifted up.

Looking at the woman's empty eyes, Melissa and Hans fell into doubt.

Edon saw their expressions and explained cautiously.

"Her Highness says she lost her memories."

At that moment tears fell from Melissa's eyes. She smiled, hastily wiping the tears away.

"Your memories will gradually come back."

"That's right. You can slowly collect them from now on."

"Thank god you're so healthy..."

"This is my first time here right?"

The fake Ancia asked, cutting off the crying Melissa. She looked like a doll without any emotions.

"Pardon? Ah, that..."

"I'd like to have a tour of the palace."

"We'll guide you."

"I'd like to be guided by her."

The fake Ancia pointed at me. She looked at me and the corners of her mouth raised up. I also stared back at her.

Looking at her smiling face, I was sure.

That woman was Serphania. She swapped our bodies.

"Your Highness, I'm sorry, Miss Rose is not a maid."

"I like that kid."

Melissa was perplexed but Ser refused to budge.

"But..."

"Are you ignoring me because I suddenly showed up? I'm the Crown Princess but you can't even follow my orders?"

"Miss Rose is a guest, and she hasn't been here for long."

"At least she knows more than I do."

Melissa was at a loss.

I looked up at Ser and raised my hand. Everyone's gazes focused on me.

I wrote in my notebook.

— I'll show her around.

Chelsea quickly came to my side and checked the note. She delivered the words to everyone.

"Miss Rose says she'll guide her."

***

I said I would guide her, but Melissa and Chelsea also followed us, as if they were worried.

"Is this the bedroom of the Crown Prince?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

When Melissa answered, Ser spoke innocently.

"I want to take a look inside."

"...You must have the permission to enter."

"Then where's my room?"

"There."

"What about her?"

Melissa hesitated as Ser pointed at me. She wasn't sure how to introduce me. Then Chelsea answered quickly.

"Miss Rose uses the room for VIP guests."

"Where's the VIP room?"

"Right there."

"It's close to my room."

Ser frowned and opened the door of my room.

"Your Highness, wait...!"

Chelsea tried to stop her, but Ser looked at me, ignoring her words.

"Can you show me around?"

I nodded.

"Don't let the others in. I want to talk to you privately."

"But Your Highness, Miss Rose can't speak."

"Are you going against my orders now?"

When Ser spoke sharply, Melissa and Chelsea bowed their heads.

"...no. I will obey your orders."

I had something to say to her too. We left Melissa and Chelsea outside as we went into the room.

***

'Ser.'

I called her name as soon as I got in. I only moved my lips since I didn't have a voice.

"You noticed? Interesting."

She smiled. She hadn't looked at my lips so she must've read my mind.

"This room is very nice. Is this the kind of treatment you're getting after you chose to give up your body and your life? It's pathetic."

'What are you thinking? Why did you swap our bodies?'

"I wanted to let you know of the pain of being abandoned."

'What?'

"Now you'll be abandoned. The real Ancia is here so they won't care about you anymore."

She burst into laughter. She held her stomach as she leaned back and smiled.

"You ignored me even though I gave you a chance! It's no use begging me now! This body is mine! I'm not giving it back! You will die a miserable death after being abandoned by the Crown Prince!"

'What are you trying to do with Blake?'

What was she thinking?

I wouldn't live long. Still, I accepted my death calmly because I believed I could protect Blake.

But Ser appeared. She was also impersonating me and deceiving everyone.

"Even in this situation, are you still worried about the Crown Prince?"

'You promised me that you wouldn't touch anyone after I die.'

"Even at this moment those people are still important to you. You're screwed! It's over! Make a wish to me! Make a wish to save yourself! Just worry about yourself!"

Ser screamed in a fit of madness, but she suddenly shut her mouth.

After a while, the door opened and Blake came inside. She approached Blake with a big smile.

"Your Highness, you're here."

Blake lightly struck Ser's hand when she tried to touch him.

"Why are you here?"

"Miss Rose invited me! Ah, Your Highness, I wanted to see your room but the maids stopped me!"

Ser quickly changed the subject, but Blake's gaze grew even colder.

"The crown prince's bedroom is not open to just anyone. They're doing the right thing."

Blake's gaze was like ice. When he replied so coldly, Ser was perplexed for a while, but then she grinned.

"Your Highness, I'd like to go to my room. It would be much better than here, wouldn't it?"

"You'd better go to the Sephia Palace."

"Pardon? Why? I don't want to be away from you."

"Ancia was often there. If you really lost your memory, staying at the Sephia Palace would be good for you to remember again."

Blake spoke in an extremely formal tone. He did not seem to fully believe that she was Ancia yet. Ser also exclaimed in impatience, perhaps feeling the same thing.

"But she's here. She's using the same palace as the Crown Prince. I also want to stay here!"

"Go to the Sephia Palace."

"......"

Blake said firmly. It was an order, not a suggestion.

He replied so coldly that she could no longer remain stubborn.

"Then take me there."

"A knight will escort you."

She folded her arms again.

"Your Highness is nice. I don't like that knight. I'm so scared of him."

Blake tried to shake her hand off, but Ser firmly grasped his arm.

"When I fell through the door of darkness, I was so scared of everything. The whole world was dark and there was nothing. I'm scared, Your Highness, I don't want to be apart from you."

"Your Highness."

"I'll take you there."

He snapped in a low voice.

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Ser smiled at Blake, and then glanced at me for a moment.

The moment I saw Ser's gaze, my heart sank.

***

Ser went with Blake to the Sephia Palace.

Before leaving the room, Ser smirked at me. Was she trying to make me jealous? But I was more worried than jealous.

According to Chelsea, it was Richard who brought her to the Imperial Palace.

What happened?

I'd understand if Ser suddenly showed up here.

But this Richard was the reincarnation of Phillip. He had taken away Ser's power and sealed her in the door of darkness.

He was Ser's enemy.

I had no idea why she was with Richard, or why she came with him to the palace.

What was she thinking? No matter how much I agonized over it, I couldn't think of an answer. Only one thing was for sure. Blake was in danger.

Ser tried to bring down the Asteric Empire, and now she appeared in front of everyone, impersonating me.

She was deceptive and sly. I couldn't just let her run wild.

I got up from my seat. I had to let them know that Ser was a fake.

Considering Blake's pain and sadness when he would be left alone after I died, I couldn't reveal the fact that I was Ancia.

But now was not the time for such worries. Blake was in danger. I couldn't keep silent any more.