PPCTD 3

chapter 3

The Set Empire is a very strange country.

On my first morning in the annex palace, priests came barging in. They examined my condition—

By dripping holy water onto my wrist, pressing a blue stone to my forehead, and holding my hair up to the sunlight.

“You have been resurrected with a body far healthier than before, Your Majesty.”

That was their “diagnosis.”

I didn’t bother asking if there were physicians in the palace. I already knew there weren’t.

—

“Life is the domain of the Goddess.”

—

That was the central doctrine of the Grand Temple. Under this belief, medicine and science had long been rejected. What little “medicine” existed was no better than crude folk remedies.

It went without saying that the average lifespan of the people was short. Even royalty would die young if they were frail.

I had hated this setting even when reading the original story. As someone who made medicine, it was suffocating.

Anyway, after the priests finally left—

“Your Majesty!”

A woman rushed into the annex palace. The elegant middle-aged lady was… Lady Mare, the Baroness.

“Lady!”

I greeted her warmly.

Lady Mare had been Livia’s tutor. She was the one who had taught her palace etiquette before marriage.

“Your Majesty… to see you again like this… it is the Goddess’s grace.”

Lady Mare held my hands and sobbed. I nearly teared up too.

I thought she was just an unfortunate empress. But Livia must have been quite loved in her own way.

I helped her up from her knees, and we sat side by side on the bed.

“I’m sorry for making you worry.”

“Please don’t say that! When I heard you had passed after your illness, it felt like I had lost my own child.”

She meant it. This wasn’t flattery or courtesy.

Which made me feel a little guilty.

Because I’m not Livia.

Still… I need her help right now.

“Lady.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Would you consider coming to the palace? I’d like to learn from you again.”

Leto was not an easy man. If I wanted to survive, I had to perform perfectly at the Founding Festival—every gesture, every glance, like a true empress.

That meant mastering etiquette as quickly as possible.

Lady Mare smiled gently.

“I was planning to do so anyway.”

“…What?”

“I heard that your memory is incomplete after your resurrection. His Majesty personally summoned me this morning and ordered me to assist you until your memories return.”

So Leto had already taken the initiative.

Not only to make me appear like a proper empress, but to have me naturally learn etiquette as well.

“I see… Yes, that’s right. My memories are fragmented since I awoke. For example…”

“For example?”

“Imperial etiquette.”

“Yes.”

“The royal family tree.”

“Ah, yes.”

“My manners and speech as well.”

“…Yes.”

“And if possible, I should study the empire’s history too.”

“…I see.”

“It would also help to learn the nobles’ titles, territories, and their current situations.”

“…I understand your intentions, Your Majesty. However, learning all of that again will take quite some time, so perhaps we should proceed step by step—”

“No, Lady.”

“…Pardon?”

“I need to learn it all within ten days.”

She looked completely bewildered.

I smiled.

“Don’t worry. I’m more stubborn than I look.”

I said that confidently… but the amount of studying required of an empress was truly terrifying.

For four days, I couldn’t even leave the office in the annex palace.

Still, I was used to this kind of intense studying.

I had lived like this my entire life.

My goal had always been the same.

Not wealth. Not power.

I studied simply to survive.

And now…

“I’m doing it here too—”

I put down my quill and sighed.

“Fate really doesn’t change.”

It was already past midnight. My desk was piled high with review materials.

My head felt foggy.

Maybe I should bathe and then continue memorizing.

“Hello— is anyone there?”

A maid came in. Her hair was messy.

Was she sleeping?

“You called, Your Majesty?”

“I’d like to take a bath.”

“At this hour? Ah…”

She hesitated.

I was stunned.

That was her reaction to the empress’s request?

Not even a lady-in-waiting—a mere maid?

I spoke clearly.

“Yes. Right now.”

“…Understood. I’ll prepare it.”

Only then did she leave.

Soon after, I was guided to the bath.

At first, soaking into the wide tub felt nice.

“Ah! It’s cold!”

They didn’t heat the water at all.

Despite my outcry, the maids continued pouring water as if nothing was wrong.

They looked used to this situation.

Some even seemed annoyed, as if wondering why I was making a fuss.

It didn’t seem like they were trying to harm me.

Just… being lazy.

Let’s see how far this goes.

“Excuse me.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“I don’t like the scent of this soap. Could you bring another?”

“Ah… I don’t think there is another…”

As expected—more hesitation.

What kind of treatment was this?

I was getting angry on Livia’s behalf.

But I couldn’t make a scene.

Leto was likely being informed of everything I did.

Still…

At least I can correct their behavior.

“You’re all the same as ever. Nothing has changed since before my resurrection.”

“…Pardon?”

“If you had pride in your work, you wouldn’t act like this.”

“Y-Your Majesty… why suddenly…?”

Their panic told me everything.

Livia had been looked down on.

Because she was timid?

Because she wasn’t loved by the emperor?

Whatever the reason… it feels unnatural.

“When I met the Goddess a few days ago, what do you think we talked about?”

I stopped there.

If something bothered them, they’d react.

And sure enough—

“Y-Your Majesty! We’ve committed a grave sin!”

“Please forgive us!”

“We’ll do better! Just… please don’t tell the Goddess—!”

All the maids fell to their knees, bowing repeatedly.

Looks like they had plenty to feel guilty about.

Ideally, I should dismiss them all.

But given the situation, avoiding mistreatment was enough for now.

“I asked for another soap. And refill the water.”

“Yes! Right away!”

“We’ll heat the water immediately!”

They rushed out.

Soon after—

I began the most luxurious bath of my life.

Warm water enveloping my body.

Rose-scented soap.

Fresh bergamot fragrance.

Even rose petals somehow gathered from somewhere.

I let out a small laugh.

They cowered at the mention of the “Goddess,” yet lived lazily otherwise.

I didn’t believe in gods.

Never had.

But in this world, I seemed to have a special connection with the Goddess.

If so… I’ll use it when needed.

Like today.

I stretched my legs in the water as the maids attended me.

This really melts away the fatigue. I think I can study better at dawn.

Two days later, in the afternoon.

The Founding Festival was approaching.

Maybe it was the nerves—I couldn’t focus.

So I stepped into the garden.

I didn’t have time for a leisurely walk.

I read the etiquette book while walking slowly.

“For female royalty, knights may be of either gender. However, if male knights are appointed, a female knight must be placed beneath them…”

Thud.

“Ah.”

I bumped into something.

I looked up—

“……”

My heart nearly dropped.

Leto was looking down at me.

“Your Majesty.”

Instead of replying, he took my book.

It looked smaller in his large hands.

He shut it with a snap.

“‘Revised Imperial Etiquette Manual.’ I remember reading this as a child.”

He glanced at me and handed it back.

“You’re working hard.”

His tone was indifferent.

I should’ve said “Thank you.”

But for some reason, my pride got in the way.

“What about Lady Mare’s lesson?”

“In an hour.”

“Then there’s time. Follow me.”

Without waiting for a response, he walked ahead.

I followed him.

We arrived at the imperial dining hall.

A private one for the emperor and empress.

The table was already full.

“Sit.”

I sat across from him.

“Eat.”

But I couldn’t.

My throat was dry—I only took a sip of water.

There was no way he called me just to eat.

“So dressed and seated like this… you really do look like Livia.”

“……”

“Though you’re not her.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because Livia never once met my eyes.”

Maybe because you stare like you’re going to pierce through someone.

So Livia was afraid of even her husband.

How fragile must she have been?

Meanwhile, I had thrown myself at him just to survive.

No wonder he didn’t believe in my resurrection.

He gestured at the etiquette book.

“You seem to be studying quite seriously.”

“I have to prepare for the Founding Festival.”

“You know how to study. Are you from a noble family?”

What should I say?

Let’s make something up. Mix truth and lies.

“No. Where I lived, there was no class system.”

“I’ve never heard of such a place.”

“It’s very far away. I didn’t even know the Set Empire existed until recently.”

“Interesting. So you fell into Livia’s coffin overnight from that distant place?”

“Yes. Though I don’t know why.”

He tapped the table with his knife, clearly unconvinced.

“Fine. If you’re not a noble, what did you do there?”

“…I studied medicine.”

“Medicine?”

He showed interest.

“My family ran an apothecary. I made and sold medicine with my father.”

I wouldn’t mention being an orphan.

No benefit in revealing weaknesses.

Leto sighed and called out,

“Yuton.”

A man entered and handed me a bundle of documents.

“What is this?”

“Confidential records regarding the ‘Goddess’s miracle.’”

Confidential documents.

I looked at Leto.

His expression made it clear—

He was testing me.