Chapter – 02
Because I was so flustered, I couldn’t answer right away, and Ian pressed me again.
“Then if you really are a saintess, show me proof.”
“P-proof?”
“Yes. If you really are one, you must have a divine power.”
Divine power.
At that word, my eyes widened.
In the world of The Saintess Doesn’t Know Love, saintesses always possessed some kind of power.
Whether healing, prophecy, or some other mysterious ability.
Since he brought up divine power, it seemed I had guessed correctly. I didn’t know how this happened, but this place appeared to match the world of The Saintess Doesn’t Know Love.
But my brief satisfaction at being right quickly vanished when Ian asked coldly:
“Well? No answer? Don’t tell me you’re about to say you don’t have any power?”
“…Prophecy! My power is prophecy!”
I blurted it out hastily.
Healing came to mind first, but if I said that, he might immediately demand that I heal someone. That would be a disaster.
But prophecy… maybe if I talked cleverly enough, I could bluff my way through for now.
“Prophecy, huh.”
Ian examined me with cold eyes.
“Then answer this. Where is my holy sword right now?”
At that moment, it felt like my mind cleared instantly.
Ian Esteban’s holy sword. I knew very well about that weapon.
Most people thought the ornate sword he always wore at his waist was the one gifted by the late emperor.
But that wasn’t the real one.
The real sword—
“In subspace. You always store it there, don’t you?”
Inside a magically created inventory.
“…Correct.”
Ian curled his lips slightly.
“Did you just guess?”
“No! I-I really am a saintess!”
Ugh. Saying it myself made my whole body cringe, but I forced myself to continue.
“Commander, I don’t think that’s something she could guess by luck.”
Nice, Lucian! Thanks to his support, I lifted my chin more confidently.
“…Really. You’re truly a saintess?”
Ian muttered slowly, still looking doubtful.
I tried to make the most pitiful and pure expression possible. Judging by how his face twisted, it seemed I had failed.
“That expression looks like you’re mocking me… it’s irritating.”
“Commander, surely that’s not the case.”
“Hm… A new saintess after 15 years. If true, that’s certainly encouraging. …Well then. I’ll believe you for now.”
“You made the right choice!”
I answered loudly, already planning to run away before any formal verification process could begin.
“Good, Saintess. There’s something I’d like you to do first.”
Ian smiled faintly. For some reason, the sight sent a chill down my spine.
“…What is it?”
“Since the saintess who appeared after 15 years happened to fall into my bedroom… I’ve found myself in a very, very difficult position.”
Even though he was speaking politely, it somehow felt even more terrifying.
“…On behalf of the god who sent me, I apologize.”
“No need for apologies. You’ll just need to help clarify things.”
Ian stared at me with eyes as blue as the sky.
“A clarification that I did not sleep with you.”
“Al- alright. Hic… okay.”
“Commander, I think you’re frightening her too much. She must be shocked as well…”
“Tch.”
Ian clicked his tongue softly.
“Very well. Before we go explain things, perhaps we should first deal with that… rather indecent attire.”
As he said that, Ian took a cloak from a chair and placed it over my shoulders.
Then he tapped his own neck.
“You should also get treatment for those insect bites.”
“…What? Insects? Ah… ah.”
Lucian and I both looked toward my collarbone.
The reddish marks scattered across my pale skin were so embarrassing that just looking at them made my face burn.
…Did he really say that after seeing these?
No way. He’s an adult. There’s no way he doesn’t know what those marks mean.
But Ian simply clicked his tongue again, looking almost sympathetic.
“You were bitten quite badly. It looks painful. Anyway, Lucian. Take good care of her.”
“Yes, yes sir! This way, Saintess. I’ll prepare some clothes for you to change into.”
Lucian hurriedly gestured for me to follow him.
As I walked after him, I finally felt a little relieved.
Good. At least I’m alive for now.
What remained was escaping before my lies were exposed.
And figuring out why I had fallen into this strange world.
…Could I really do it?
* * *
To get straight to the point, I still hadn’t managed to escape.
I looked awkwardly down at the clothes I had just changed into.
The cream-colored dress was much cuter than anything I would normally wear, but it was a hundred times better than that embarrassing slip from before.
After changing, I looked into the mirror.
A woman about my real age looked back at me.
Light hazelnut-brown hair. Deep green eyes like a forest.
A fairly attractive woman blinked back at me.
“So this… is me.”
I sighed.
It was hard to believe, but it was reality. If I wanted to survive, I had no choice but to accept it.
Usually when someone ends up inside a novel, they at least become the heroine, a main villain, or at least a supporting character, right?
How did I end up as an extra whose name wasn’t even mentioned?
I never even read about an episode like this in the original story!
In the novel, Ian was a devout and perfect knight commander from beginning to end. A character defined by his purity.
A woman secretly ending up in his bed?
I definitely didn’t remember any scandal like that.
“…Wait. Could the reason this wasn’t in the original story be…”
Could it be that Ian simply eliminated the woman before anyone found out?
Was this body originally destined to die, and I just survived through some one-in-a-billion chance?
That thought sent chills down my spine.
Ian absolutely seemed capable of quietly disposing of someone to prevent a scandal. He was that kind of person.
My mind went blank from the realization when—
“Saintess, have you finished changing?”
Lucian’s cautious voice came from outside the door. He probably thought I might try to escape through the window.
“Yes, I’m coming out now.”
Unfortunately, I wasn’t that reckless.
Escape was my first goal, but not if it meant getting caught five seconds later.
For now, I needed to wait for a chance to get out of Ian and Lucian’s sight.
When I stepped out after changing, Ian had already returned.
“Now you finally look properly dressed.”
He briefly commented after seeing me in a normal dress instead of the slip.
Sitting on a sofa, he gestured to the chair across from him.
“Please, sit here, Saintess.”
Even though he called me “Saintess,” his eyes were full of suspicion.
“Before we go make public clarifications, shouldn’t we first have an honest conversation ourselves?”
“Haha… yes. That makes sense.”
I answered reluctantly, crying inside.
I had desperately tried to think while changing clothes, but there wasn’t enough time.
From here on, I would have to rely on improvisation.
Please work, my survival instincts.
The moment I sat down, the questions began.
“Let’s start with who you are and where you came from.”
As expected. Basic background check.
Should I say: I’m Lee Seoyeon from Korea. I fell asleep after drinking at a friend’s house and woke up in your arms?
Yeah, that would probably land me straight in the knights’ torture chamber.
Ugh, my head hurts.
Please, if this is a dream, just let me wake up.
Crying internally, I opened my mouth.
“My name is… Irene. Irene Grace.”
In this world, Irene was an extremely common name.
Even the heroine’s friend and aunt were named Irene. Grace was also a very common surname.
Basically, it was like saying “Jane Smith.”
“Irene Grace, huh.”
“Yes. That’s my name.”
“Isn’t that a bit too common?”
“They say common names are good names.”
Ian rested his chin on his hand thoughtfully.
“Where are you from?”
…
Alright. Second obstacle.
But I expected this question.
I secretly pinched my thigh hard.
“I am…”
The pain quickly brought tears to my eyes.
With watery eyes, I stared out the window.
“I’m… actually not from this empire.”
…
Ian raised one eyebrow, silently urging me to continue.
“…And… I was a slave. A runaway slave.”
“A runaway slave?”
Ian’s eyebrow twitched.
I quickly continued my improvised story.
“Yes. I was abandoned as a child and raised as a slave without ever knowing my parents… and I was lucky enough to escape.”
…
“This is the first time I’ve ever told anyone this.”
I lowered my head, forcing a solemn voice.
This was my best option.
Slaves had no way to prove their identity.
Which also meant Ian couldn’t trace my background.
If I said I ran away, there would be no documents to track.
This was the best plan I could come up with in that short time.
“A slave… I see.”
Ian muttered while staring straight at me.
His sky-blue eyes sent chills down my spine.
“Why does that sound like a convenient excuse?”
…
Because you’re not an easy man to fool, maybe? Haha.
No wonder he eventually becomes emperor.
“Well. Fine, for now. Then tell me more. Which slave merchant group did you belong to? Who was your owner?”
Sharp questions came flying one after another.
This was the real critical moment.
I covered my mouth with my hand.
