Until The Real One Shows Up

(Anastasia’s 3rd’s Person POV)

A prophecy came down last night.

Anastasia was so surprised that she didn’t know how to respond to it.

Lyell felt strange when he noticed Anastasia’s reaction, so he added cautiously.

“You seemed very surprised.”

“Ahmm….”

Then she belatedly came to her senses and answered.

“Because it’s so sudden.”

A prophecy doesn’t come that easily, and based on the original novel, it only happened twice before the real heroine came back.

The first one, when she was chosen by the goddess to become the next Empress, and the second will be the time that Avelin appeared and the Temple declared that the previous oracle was wrong.

So now, there’s only one thing that came to Anastasia’s mind.

‘Does that mean that the prophecy, about me being a fake, finally came down?’

‘It doesn’t make any sense at all.’

After her regression, she tried her best not to change the original plot as much as possible, but the fact that she regressed again with all the memories from the original Anastasia as well as her past life, is such a huge difference from the original plot.

‘But I was relieved because it had nothing to do with my relationship with Wilhelm.’

But then she realized that her reaction was not appropriate towards the situation that she’s seeking to.

(T/N: This part contains Anastasia’s POV.) 

‘Wait, why am I reacting like this? I had no reason to hate the things that were destined to happen even if it was earlier than expected.’

Rather, it should be something that I’d be thankful for. From the moment I returned, didn’t I find it painful to stay by Wilhelm’s side for a whole year?      

Please do not repost our translation. Read only at Pink Muffin Translations.

Now that my reputation wasn’t as bad as it was after my return, even if the prophecy came down that I’m a total fake, I was certain that I’ll be able to avoid the guillotine.         

‘But why….  Why do I feel so empty?’       

The moment I heard that the oracle had come down, I felt so suffocated. And even the mouth tasted bitter, enough to give me a headache due to the unpleasant taste.

I don’t know why I feel this way. It’s really an unnecessary feeling.

‘Anastasia woke up! Haven’t you forgotten the reason why you came back?’

I was afraid that I might betray my first promise without realizing it.

(—End of Anastasia’s POV)

Anastasia then went towards Lyell before she fell into more trivial thoughts.

“High Priest, I am ready to listen.”

Anastasia’s voice was trembling as she said those words.

“So, please tell me.”

Looking at Anastasia’s eagerness, he immediately pulled something from his sleeves and handed it over to Anastasia.

It was parchment. Written with unknown characters.

Anastasia narrowed her brow and accepted it.

“Is it a new language?”

“That’s right.”

“What does it mean?”

Anastasia asked in a nervous voice.

After clearing his voice, Lyell finally opened his mouth.

“The destined child will sooner or later bring a small misfortune, to prevent a bigger misfortune from happening. Do not be worried, my daughter.”

“……”

Hearing Lyell’s words, Anastasia was dumbfounded.

‘…… Isn’t the prophecy supposed to say that I’m a fake.’

Anastasia asked in disbelief.

“Is that really a prophecy?”

“This is the prophecy that came down last night.”

“I’m not sure If I understand that?”

Anastasia couldn’t grasp the situation, because it’s completely different from the original. No such oracle had come down before even from her first life as Anastasia.

“Neither do I. Even the chief priests don’t seem to understand.”

“I just can’t believe that I had to bring a small misfortune, to prevent a bigger misfortune from happening….”

Anastasia asked, with a worried look on her face.

“Should I be relieved?”

“Well, wouldn’t a small misfortune be better than a big misfortune? It even said not to be worried at the end of it.”

“My daughter… -does it mean me?”

“Of course, Your Majesty the Empress. You are the chosen one by the Goddess of Rhea.”

“That kind of….”

Anastasia clutched the parchment, still confused with what’s happening.

“Did the Emperor hear this oracle?”

“Yes. Before I came here, I saw His Majesty the Emperor first.”

Please do not repost our translation. Read only at Pink Muffin Translations.

“What did he say?”

“He  told me to keep it private.”

Lyell patted his chin and added.

“He didn’t want me to tell you. Because it might create some kind of anxiety.”

“… That’s true.”

No matter how small misfortune is better than great misfortune, misfortune is still a misfortune.

Moreover, if it was leaked on the mouths of many people, the oracle could be distorted and exaggerated unintentionally contrary to its intention.

It was an oracle that did not need to be revealed even in Anastasia’s judgment. Besides, this is hardly a notice.

“Everyone who heard this could tell that the oracle is related to the Empress.”

When Anastasia’s complexion worsened at those words, Lyell hurriedly added.

“You don’t have to worry too much. According to the contents of the oracle, it will surely end in a small commotion.”

“… I guess so.”

‘He even kindly warned me not to be surprised, so it didn’t look like anything major was going to happen.’

‘However if it’s not that serious, then why did it become an oracle?’

‘That something I don’t understand.’

“Anyway, I agree with what His Majesty had said on keeping it a secret. So I hope that the temple will also work hard not to reveal this to anyone.”

“Of course, Your Majesty. You don’t have to worry that much. I will continue to pray for Her Majesty the Empress at the Great Hall.”

“Thank you.”

After a brief meeting, Lyell returned to the Great Hall. While Madame Rochester

immediately approached Anastasia and asked.

“What did the High Priest say? Why did he suddenly come to visit Her Majesty? Did something happen?”

‘Would it be okay to tell Madame Rochester?’

Anastasia pondered for a moment, then shook her head.

‘No, I didn’t want her to worry.’

Anastasia smiled casually and shook her head.

“It’s nothing. He just came here to say hello.”

“That’s a relief then.”

Fortunately, Madame Rochester did not ask any further questions, and Anastasia followed through.

“I need to take a walk.”

-ˏˋ ━━━━━━ ʚɞ ━━━━━━ ˊˎ-

(Anastasia’s 3rd’s Person POV)

Anastasia sat on the bench after walking for a long time in the back garden of the Empress Palace, where the sunflowers were in full bloom.

“Phew…..”

A long sigh came out. My heart was troubled.

‘Why has such a prophecy come down?’

‘I just couldn’t understand. If it’s the goddess’s will, then there’s no reason for me to know it.’

‘Is there something that they want to tell me?’

She took out the parchment paper that she got from Lyell earlier and looked at it again. It was written in a language that Anastasia couldn’t read.

“Just what is it? I’m positive that there’s a reason for this….”

Then, as the wind blew, Anastasia lost one’s hold of the parchment in her hand. The startled maids rushed over to pick it up.

However, the one who successfully grabbed it was an unexpected person.

“Huh?”

It was Selene. Anastasia was very pleased to see her after a long time.

“What is this?”

“Selene!”

“Oh my, Your Majesty!”

Selene’s expression immediately brightened when she saw Anastasia nearby.

She trotted closer to Anastasia and greeted her.

“Greetings to Her Majesty the Empress, Imperial Moon of the Empire.”

“It’s nice to see you again. You seem to have gotten a lot better.”

“It’s all thanks to Her Majesty’s grace, I’m perfectly fine now! Fully recovered to be exact.”

Seeing Selene responding with a bright face, Anastasia smiled back as her worries were washed away.

“I’m really glad to hear that. Do you have any trouble getting your memories back?”

Selene shook her head with a slight embarrassment at Anastasia’s question.

Anastasia felt sorry for her, as she looked at her sadly and comforted her.

“No need to be impatient. It hasn’t been long since you came here to the Empress Palace. All you just need to do is to put your mind at ease, and somehow it will come back.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. That’s what I think as well!”

Selene replied bravely.

“In fact, I don’t think it’s bad to live like this. I mean , I love living here. Sometimes I can see Her Majesty’s presence like this, and the people I live with are very nice people.”

Please do not repost our translation. Read only at Pink Muffin Translations.

Selene’s expression, as she continued to speak, turned a little gloomy at that moment.

“Rather…. I think it would be very hard for me to leave this place, just to look for my lost memories. I already felt at home in this place….” 

“You don’t need to worry about that. Even if you have your memories back, you can stay here whenever you want.”

“Is that for real?”

“Of course it’s real. I don’t see any reason why I would drive you out, just because you have your memories back, right?”

“Wow! I’m so happy! Thank you so much for saying that, Your Majesty.”

Seeing the look on her face made Anastasia smile, knowing that Selene was satisfied with her life at the Palace.

“How is life in the Empress’s Palace? Are you having any trouble?”

“It’s definitely not hard, Your Majesty! In fact I was very happy! How happy I am to be able to work for Her Majesty!”

There was not the slightest falsehood in that lively reply. Selene smiled shyly and added.

“I’m glad to be able to serve and do something in any way I can to my benefactor, even just a little. Of course, compared to the things that Her Majesty has done for me, even my life is not enough….”

“Don’t say such things. Finding you made it possible to eradicate the slavery problem in Rosenberg.”

“It is because Her Majesty the Empress is good and just. I don’t think it’s something anyone can do.”

“Thank you for saying that.”

“By the way, does this parchment belong to you, Your Majesty?”

“Yes. Can I have it please?”

Selene bent over and politely held out the parchment to Anastasia.

Anastasia accepted it with a smile, but her expression quickly hardened at Selene’s next words.

“But it’s a strange thing to say. That doing small misfortune would prevent a bigger misfortune.”

“….. Wait, Selene.”

Anastasia was so surprised hearing those words coming from Selene.

Seeing that she had an innocent look on her face, proved that she had no idea what she had done. But this discovery is something that can’t be overlooked.

“You can read this kind of language?”