Francheska stared at her grace's complexion that was reflected on the carriage glass window. It was a relief that the duchess approved of her dress of choice, although her grace only nodded in agreement towards her, that gesture only gave her heart rising from the anxiety of what her grace's thoughts were.

Francheska went with the simple and innocent look, only a plain white dress with small embroidered flowers at the hem of the dress. She also told her maids to apply a small tint of red color on her cheeks and lips to look lively, her hair was let down on her back, and clips supported on both of her temples so that it would prevent her hair from covering her face.

Soon Francheska's attention was caught, although they had not yet entered the capital, a large gate from the distance that failed to surround the massive building looked familiar to 'her' but at the same time uncanny, the building's design had the same vibe in one of 'her world' but as Francheska pushed back the images and squinted her eyes to focus on the infrastructure, everyone can tell that that place is the temple.

Entering the busy streets of the empire. Francheska can see all different walks of life as the carriage passes by, even how weird 'this world' is it still reminds her that there is no difference from the 'world' she once was in.

Seeing the people in the slums, she was 'once' in their place—a place full of hardship yet 'she' clung to life and is hopeful for a tomorrow. Can 'she' still look at 'it' the same way she has now?

The large gate that she saw from afar was now close, Francheska could see the details—colored in black and contrasted with gold, the local flowers displayed swirling with their vines intercepting with each other as the birds flapping their wings openly—as if about to embrace any visitors or worshippers that would come.

There was a small commotion before them but soon was easily resolved as the gate opened, their carriage continued to march on and was not inspected. Probably the temple must welcome everyone in the empire.

Entering the vicinity there were a few people that were either about to enter the temple or already done with their business to go back to their homes, but one thing was obvious—all of the stares were meant for them.

The carriage went to a halt, and the doors of their carriage were opened by their chaperone. The entrance of the temple was wide open and the interior was fully exposed to the public, with the intricates shimmering as the light shone through.

Her grace and her lady stepped foot on the ground, and only one person stood out wearing full white, and from what Francheska could observe this person must have been a 'priest' and was there to greet them.

Approaching the steps of the entrance, the priest bowed to them and told them to follow. With the priest leading them the way to the nave of the temple, the whispers from the worshippers that were on the pews were growing louder.

Francheska could pick up some words as they passed by them and she puzzled them together that they were talking about her or rather her mother the duchess.

Reaching the altar her grace stopped in her tracks as she slowly descended on her knees and clasped both of her hands together closer to her chest, the duchess bowed her head and closed her eyes—praying to the one before her.

Francheska was stunned at how the duchess looked as if a devotee who had faith that would not waver, despite what she heard on that 'night'.

Francheska soon followed her grace's position, which made the priest that was ahead of them stop and silently wait for them to finish their prayers, the whispers surrounding them became much louder, and the silence was already nowhere in the presence of the temple.

Focusing on the altar, she decided to confront the god that was before her. Knowing all of her questions won't be answered by a statue, Francheska for once only asked for peace of mind—no thoughts just nothing.

With the silence filling her mind, there was a sudden sharpness that went through her head like a needle. A pounding headache hit Francheska as she moved and held her head with both of her hands as if it were about to fall to the ground. The flood of unfamiliar memories flashed before her like pictures, it was like an illusion but she knew it was real and she recognized whose memory it was, they were from the 'real' Francheska—these were before when she woke up from her body.

With every memory shown in her mind, she could barely recognize the faces and people in the scene all she could tell was about how the 'real Francheska' felt, it was happiness, embarrassment, love, regret, and betrayal, but out of those what 'she' felt the most was hatred.

These were the real villainess' emotions, and it was hers alone to carry.

Francheska could sense eyes were staring at her unusual figure even the duchess beside her, the very familiar stares when she had her first scandal in the industry. A sinful woman who even in the presence of anything holy, is rejected both physically and mentally.

Releasing a huff, Francheska stood up as if nothing happened and proceeded to straighten her posture as she faced the priest waiting for them to follow.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Leading them to a hallway, with the sun shining through the colored mosaic window made the scene before them so 'out-of-this-world'—or more like a from a novel, to which Francheska agrees. Another feeling that time to time would ask herself as if she was in a dreamlike state.

The priest leading them went to an abrupt stop. Francheska can only guess that they have finally reached the person they were there for.

"Your highest father, the guests have arrived." The priest stood still, shouting their announcement before the closed door.

The doors slowly creaked open before the priest, before taking a step the priest gave a bow and greeted the others inside the room.

They did the same, the duchess and Francheska then went inside. The duchess gave a gesture to the chaperone commanding them to stand outside the door, and so they did. They just nodded their heads and stood on their ground as the door closed their sight of them.

Francheska scanned the room, it was beautiful—probably because of its eccentric interior that she had not seen. Everything is in white porcelain, and even the old books displayed on the shelves fit there. Despite all of it nothing compared to the person inside the room, the person in all white whose back hunched like a withered and frail like a dead tree, but his eyes were opposite of his physical appearance—alive and well.

The duchess went forth before the so-called 'highest father' and dropped to her knees. Francheska noticed her grace's figure was just like a while ago, her grace was praying to this person before her like some sort of god.

A shiver ran from the back of Francheska's spine, but she forced herself to remain calm. It was weird for the lady of what she was seeing, knowing what her grace is—this is really what you would do to keep your enemies close.

"Please child, there is no need." The elder held her grace's shoulder—reassuring her of his words. "Rise and stand, to witness you both full of life is already a gift and brings joy to my heart." All the wrinkles on his face moved as he smiled at them.

Francheska then returned the smile, but it seemed directed at herself. Thanking that she does not want to kneel before 'that'.

Her grace stood from where she was and stood a few paces back—distancing herself from their positions.

Francheska guessed it was her cue to introduce herself and took the opportunity to step forward to give her greetings before the highest father.

"I'm grateful for the medicine that you gave me highest father. Without your prayers highest Father I will not be here."

Smiling widely, Francheska wants to vomit badly after saying those words. As if she was thankful that she was here right now.

Raising his frail hands to give the little lady a pat on the head, the highest father with his unwavering smile spoke his mind.

"That is not true my little child, our god always listens to everyone's prayers it is just that our god goes through every prayer and tries to give a proper response. Yours is truly a miracle."

'now that is suspicious.' Francheska kept it to herself.

Replying with a sweet smile, the highest father left his hand and Francheska's head slowly dropped—raising both of her hands to her chest. "I feel so blessed."

Feeling the beating of her heart underneath her palm, she hoped that the intention she just said went through and that the highest father would take her acting.

"little child, prayers, and medicine was not the one that healed your wounds, it was our powers that restored you to life." the old man moved to the window and basked himself in the sun shining through the closed windows.

"Resurrection power is hard to execute, it will take another millennium for us to have consumed enough power... that is however if the same talented people are around—rather a power in this empire will be non-existent." Turning his attention to the little lady, whose expression was left confused by all the words he had said.

"Little girl, you are truly blessed. I'm grateful that no life was sacrificed after we poured every power we had just to get you back. Our god was the one that sent me to you lady Francheska of the house Hartpinjer, your existence is proof that our god still has plans that await you." With his wrinkly frail hand going to his left chest, the highest father bowed to the little lady.

This was a sight to see, and the duchess tried keeping her mouth pursed from the shock but failed miserably as the lady and her grace shared a look of 'what should they do next?'.

The duchess did not let the silence take over and instead opened their conversation of repaying the temple by gifting them resources of food, rather it sounded like a contract that would only end until betrayal would resurface.

Witnessing the environment of what is life inside the holy temple. Francheska who cannot join the conversation between adults could only stay silent, look alive, listen, and observe from a distance. Even though Francheska felt useless, knowing and seeing everything was enough.

The day went on and it was already time for the Hartpinjer to go back to their house. Bidding farewell to the highest fathers, priests, and worshippers with smiles plastered all over their faces meant that they were happy from knowing each other or not seeing each other for maybe their gods would know when.

Settling down inside the carriage Francheska sees the detailed exterior of the holy temple slowly getting smaller and non-existent from a far distance.

Sighing to herself, Francheska noticed her grace from the opposite side of the carriage got her full attention and led the little lady to slump to lean on the window as she acted tired and closed her eyes—acting asleep to avoid the questions that were ready to fly out from her grace's mouth.

Replaying the scenes that Francheska observed from the place could only summarize into one sentence—the people are their god's children. The whole empire is a dog to the holy temple even 'them' just because they have military power everything would go south if they were not loyal to the holy temple.

Letting out a scoff that Francheska realized how unfair 'this world' is, Francheska now realized how fortunate the female lead—Josephine. The female lead has the power to resurrect and alternate a person's life in just the palm of her hands, and yet 'that' girl in the future chooses the damn selfish thing and despite her choices, the female lead will still be loved by everyone in the empire.

If Francheska did the same, she would be labeled as a narcissistic sociopath who would lead the empire to its dark ages.

'How fucking laughable' Francheska cursed in her mind as a bitter smirk crept upon her face.

As the ride went smoothly the carriage finally reached the route near their estate, it was a relief that another stifling day was about to end.

Soon the carriage went to a stop on the porch of their house, the lights illuminating the night and guiding them back home and now they are.

A hand was about to reach out the 'sleeping' form of the little lady but was retracted as the girl opened her heavy eyelids and straightened her figure to exit their ride.

Stepping out, the little girl greeted their head maid and butler and then turned to her grace to say good night for her to go back to her chambers to finally sleep for the day. The duchess did not respond scared that taking more time to her little bird would exhaust her more, and it seems to be the right choice for the little lady stumbled and was quickly caught by one of her girl's maids.

The Duchess was relieved and ordered them to carry her back to her room. They all agreed to her grace's order and went to part to fulfill their duties.

They finally reached Francheska's room as the maids took care of the little lady's dress and cleaned her up for bed. This was uncomfortable for Francheska, letting others take care of her was very foreign to her but that was what she was taught, as a noble, it was not her job to take care of herself but the people under their house took that vital role.

Tucking a blanket to her sleeping form, they all left the chambers leaving her alone to enjoy her night hoping this time she could finally have a dream.

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Still looking forward, it was the same thing only blank—no uncanny dreams came to her, rather a loud noise of skin-to-skin contact was heard. The sound rang in her ears it woke Francheska up from her slumber. Moving to her side, it stung—she got slapped for no reason, but as she realized what happened to her, Francheska sat up with her back leaning towards the head of the bed, she glanced up at the strange figure before her.

It was her sister, the one who visited her on that day she was locked up inside the cold prison cell. She looked the same except she looked much younger—a teenager Francheska described.

A smile slowly showed on the young lady.

"Good morning dear sister, did you miss me?"