They genuinely liked the Crown Prince, but it was also because of their family's pressure.

When they returned home, they had to listen to their family nagging about why they hadn't captured the Crown Prince's heart yet.

When everyone heard of Ancia's return, they gave up at once.

But Camilla was different. She refused to give up even though the Crown Princess had returned.

"To be honest, it's true that the current Crown Princess is lacking."

"Her family's reputation has declined a lot, and she's older than the Crown Prince."

Camilla said with a voice full of irritation.

"That's true....

"But what can we do? They're already married."

As the maids complained, Charlotte said, "But Her Highness is the descendant of Laontel Bellacian! That's why the Crown Prince's curse had been lifted!"

Everyone thought that because of her appearance, power of light, and the fact that she lifted the curse.

When Charlotte shouted that, everyone quickly shut their mouths.

Everyone knew it.

It was too late now. They should've captured Blake's heart when she was gone.

"She's a hundred times better than that monstrous woman. She's so beautiful. She was also pretty when she was young, but now she has become much more prettier."

They attacked Rose instead.

They thought that she couldn't beat Ancia. Rose wasn't worthy of becoming the Crown Prince's partner. She had no good qualities at all.

Rose couldn't even speak, and her appearance was horrid.

"We don't know anything about her identity, but she didn't know how to write, so she must be a commoner at best. If a woman like that captured the Crown Prince's heart, she would be ridiculed for years."

"Yes! We can't even compare her to the Crown Princess!"

"But what's going to happen to her now?"

"I thought she would be kicked out yesterday, but unexpectedly, she wasn't kicked out."

"Hey, stop it. Chelsea will be mad when she hears us."

"Wait, where's Chelsea?"

The maids looked around.

Rose and Chelsea were making their way towards them.

The maids became speechless at the sight. It was not because they were caught talking behind her back.

Rose's hairstyle and makeup hid most of her scars, so there were only a few visible.

In addition, her slim white dress made her look even more attractive.

It wasn't just that. She was radiating confidence and felt really elegant and charismatic.

She never looked like this before.

"Was Rose always this pretty?"

They even forgot to greet her because they were busy appreciating her appearance.

Rose greeted them slightly and grinned.

The maids bowed their heads in a hurry.

***

Blake headed to the Sephia Palace this morning.

Ancia called him because she was sick.

Blake went into her room.

The woman who claimed to be Ancia leapt straight into his arms as soon as he opened the door.

"Your Highness! I've missed you!"

Blake shook her off and said monotonously, "I heard you're sick."

"It was scary to be alone. I was so scared that I became sick. I thought I would sleep with you at your palace. I was so scared."

"Sleep together?"

Blake's gaze hardened and he began to radiate a chill.

But Ser continued pretending to be Ancia and held his hands tightly.

"We always slept with our hands intertwined like this."

Even though Serphania was locked in the door of darkness, she could see the world through the power of light that she had given to Phillip and Laontel.

But she didn't remember them fully.

She had a thousand years worth of memories, scattered here and there.

Her memories were like shards of shattered glass.

However, she clearly remembered that Blake and Ancia fell asleep while holding hands everyday.

"......"

Blake looked at the woman in front of him.

When he didn't say anything, the corners of her mouth went up.

She was happy she got it right.

Blake tried to shake her hand off, but then he saw a ring necklace hanging around her neck.

It was definitely his and Ancia's ring.

"Diana's going to be a little late."

"Diana?"

"Yes, Ancia's sister."

"Ah..."

"Don't you remember?"

"My memories will be back little by little."

She couldn't really remember this.

Ancia's sister...

When she dug into her memories, she could only see Diana's face, but she didn't have any memories of her.

Diana, Diana...

Ser barely remembered Diana.

"The exam season is over. She's back after seven years. Don't you want to see her?"

"... No, I tried to contact her. Fortunately, after returning to school, her grades have been good, so I thought she was aiming to be the best now. I thought she would contact me after the exam."

To avoid suspicion, she really had to contact Diana. After hearing Blake's words, the woman replied hastily.

"......"

"You mean her exams are more important?" asked Blake.

Ancia wouldn't have said that.

He did not say anything about Diana because he thought she would be heartbroken if she was the real Ancia.

Yet, she blamed Diana like this.

Even though she lost her memories, Blake still felt that something was not right with her.

It wasn't just disappointment.

Rather, a fundamental question arose inside him.

'Is she really Ancia?'

If she was really Ancia, he wouldn't care about her sudden change of character.

He was only grateful to her for coming back alive.

If her personality had really changed, he would feel guilty, thinking how hard it must've been to survive in that place for seven years.

It didn't matter whether her appearance changed or her personality changed. Or even if she committed an unforgivable sin.

If she really was Ancia, he wouldn't feel like this. The more he looked at her, the more irritated he felt.

"Or maybe she's jealous."

"Jealous?"

"Yes, she had the chance to take over my place, but it didn't happen because of me, so she's being mean. She was supposed to marry you after all."

"She's not that kind of person, and that was a false rumour."

Blake and Diana were childhood friends.

After Ancia introduced them, they became close.

Her mere words made him angry.

Not many were polite to Diana, like her.

But someone who claimed to be Ancia really said that.

She trusted the rumours so easily.

Diana being jealous and mean?

This was an insult to her.

"Really? But you need to be more careful. If she wasn't interested in you, she wouldn't keep coming back to you. No wonder the rumours spread."

"...Diana isn't that kind of person."

"Did the Emperor also think so?"

Blake sighed, seeing Ancia's face being used by someone like this.

"I have nothing to say. If you're not sick, I'll leave now."

"Wait, Your Highness!"

Ser called Blake in a hurry.

But he left without looking back.

***

I went into the study room to read.

I was worried I had lost my reading skills, but fortunately, I could read normally.

I sat on the chair, took a paper and grabbed a pen.

— I'm two years older than His Highness.

— I'm 20 years old.

— I'm Rose.

'My name is Ancia.'

But when I tried to write it, my mind went blank again and I couldn't write anything.

It's not working.

— The woman...

I couldn't write that either

I could only write what I was allowed to say.

It's possible to say I'm not Ancia. I could lie about it, but I couldn't tell the truth.

For some reason, I felt really frustrated.

'I'm your wife.'

I tried to write that but my mind went blank again.

If I can't reveal my identity, should I search for another way?

—...

I tried to write 'I fell into the door of darkness' but again, my mind went blank.

I tried 'I used to live in Amoria Palace, and I am the heir to the light, Laontel Bellacian.'

But this attempt, too, failed.

Not only was I forbidden to say what I had been through but things from thousands years ago were also forbidden.

Then, how about ordinary content?

— I'm a woman.

— I have long hair.

There was no problem with that.

— I like roses.

— I like perilla leaves.

— Tea tastes best when you add lemon jam to it.

I wrote about my favorite things and soon I couldn't write again

—...

'I love Blake.'

I tried to write it, but I couldn't.

I was going to write it in my last letter before I left, but I couldn't write it.