CH 37

(Anastasia’s POV)

The new language was the verbalization of the goddess’s voice, and it was also the basis for writing the content of the Bible.

Therefore, the priests that belonged to the temple, it was essential for them to learn and read.

For most everyone else, especially those who were not so fortunate, they have difficulties learning it. The scope of usage of such skills is also limited. Neither Anastasia nor Wilhelm even knew how to speak of it.

“You can understand it?”

“Yes of course, Your Majesty. I just read what was written on this parchment. Is there something wrong with it?”

“How are you able to read it?”

“Well, I just…I just read it?”

Seeing Anastasia’s unusual reaction, Selene then asked with a serious face.

“Well, if I did something wrong…”

“No, I didn’t mean it like that. I was just fascinated by how you were able to read this language. Because…it’s a very difficult text to be able to understand.”

“I, I don’t know either. I just….I just read it quite naturally…..”

Halting responses came from Selene because she did not know how she was able to read it so easily to be able to answer Anastasia’s question. 

Why was I interrogating such an innocent child? Someone who had suffered from losing her memory no less…

I quickly lost the excitement that I felt earlier, as I composed myself and said.

“Sorry, I was just too excited. But I want you to know that it’s not a common thing to be able to do.”

At my answer, a brief thought came to mind and then I asked.

“Selene, can you also read the Rosenberg text?”

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

Although commoners could speak Rosenberg, not everyone could read or write in Rosenberg script.

Very few people had that kind of ability. Not because they don’t want to, it was just very difficult to learn.

The ability to read and write was reserved for nobles who had the time and perseverance.

When I learned about this in my first life, I felt sorry for those who could not understand it and wanted to create a text that was easy to learn like Hangul, but…..

‘Unfortunately, I am not a genius like (*)King Sejong.’

(T/N:(*) The fourth ruler of the Joseon Dynasty, he created the unique alphabet known as Hangul to promote literacy among the common people.)

In any case, if Selene knew the new language, there was a high probability that she would even know the Rosenberg script, which has a lower threshold to learn.

‘She’s definitely not an ordinary child.’

As I noticed Selene’s uncertainty, I immediately took her hand and said.

“Follow me. Let’s test it out.”

-ˏˋ ━━━━━━ ʚɞ ━━━━━━ ˊˎ-

(3rd Person POV)

The results were as expected. I gave Selene a book and let her read it, and Selene read the contents smoothly like a flowing stream.

Anastasia could not hide her surprise and praised Selene.

“That’s great, Selene! You are fluent in Rosenberg script as well as neologism.”

“Is this a good thing?”

“Of course! Not all nobles are capable of learning the new language. Even the Rosenberg script is not something that commoners can easily learn either.”

At those words, Selene became confused. She thought to herself, ‘Then why do I have this kind of ability?’.

“Does Her Majesty mean to say that I might be a noble?”

“We can confirm it once you get your memory, but for now it’s very likely that you are.”

But considering that fact aside, knowing how to speak a new language was still a mystery.

After a moment of thought, I spoke again.

“I don’t know how you got this ability, but it would be best to hide the fact that you can read two difficult languages in front of others.”

Selene’s background was still unknown. It didn’t matter whether or not how she lost her memories or how she was sold into slavery. It was likely that she would have an unusual story.

‘It would be better to refrain her from doing something that will catch the attention of others. Especially for those who have impure intentions…just in case.’

Selene replied that she would do it without any fuss over my words nor would she ask why. 

“By the way, are you interested in becoming my personal handmaid?”

“Pardon?!”

Selene waved her hands in surprise at my suggestion.

“I…how can I possibly serve and be next to such a noble person as Your Majesty. I don’t know if I’m capable enough to do so. I thought I was already beyond my means to even be just working as a normal maid…”

“You are qualified for it. None of my maids can read the new language. Your talent in itself surpasses beyond a normal skill. You are able to read a new text but can also read and write in the Rosenberg language. That is not a skill you can call ‘common’. It would be such a waste if you are not able to use it.”

“But…it hasn’t been long since I have entered the palace. I don’t even know the etiquette very well yet and…I am afraid that I will only cause trouble for Your Highness.”

“That’s okay. What skills you are lacking can be learned.”

“But….”

“Does that mean that you don’t want to serve me? If that’s the case then..”

“Oh no please!”

Selene was terrified and hurriedly waved her hand to stop Anastasia.

I was taken aback by her reaction. However, the one who was most surprised was actually Selene herself.

‘Oh my, what have I done!’ Selene was terrified.

Trembling at the thought that she had dared to shout in front of Her Majesty like this, she was greatly embarrassed and restless.

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

“I’m so sorry, Your Majesty. What kind of response was that, I am so….”

“Oh, no. I’m glad you answered me right away.”

I replied back to her with a smile as if everything was okay.

“Then you will work as my personal handmaid from now on, do you understand?”

“Yes. Yes, of course Your Majesty….”

“Thank you, Selene.”

I said with a smile as I held onto Selene’s hand.

Selene almost fainted.

‘Wow, the Empress held my hand again…..’

‘I was so startled the first time she did it. It was as if my whole body was frozen due to the sheer panic. But the second time was no different from the first. I still couldn’t get used to it.’

‘But this was still a very exciting and pleasant paralysis I am experiencing.’

‘If I became the Empress’s handmaiden, would I be able to see Her Majesty every day? Will she hold my hand like this again? Oh no, what should I do?’

Selene felt her heart beating fast like it was going to explode and answered bravely.

“I will gladly give my life to you, Your Majesty!”

“Oh dear, you don’t have to sacrifice your life for me.”

“But, I would still give it to you!”

Seeing Selene’s wretched appearance burning with loyalty, Anastasia burst into laughter as she realized she couldn’t stop her in the end.

-ˏˋ ━━━━━━ ʚɞ ━━━━━━ ˊˎ-

(3rd Person POV)

Anastasia only told Madame Rochester about this, and as expected, she too was taken by surprise.

“If she can read a new language, then that child is obviously not an ordinary child.”

“I think there’s a story behind her. It seems that I’ve done a good job by bringing her back to Empress Palace. Until she recovers her memories, I will keep her safe by my side and keep her talent a secret.”

“Yes, knowing the new language will certainly be of great help to Your Majesty.”

Madame Rochester nodded, then changed to a worried look.

“But before that, I had already noticed your uneasiness after the conversation with the high priest, and yet I didn’t know that there was such a situation…”

Talking about Selene’s affairs, Madame Rochester eventually found out about the new prophecy.

She muttered with a serious face.

“A small misfortune to prevent a major misfortune…Just what nonsense is that?”

“I don’t know either. But we should try not to dwell too much about it. I feel the same as well. I don’t know why it was addressed to me, and with such a vague prophecy. So I thought that they must be trying to tell me not to be worried no matter what happens in the future.”

“I can’t help but admire your tranquility about this. If it were me, I don’t think that I would have remained this calm….”

“This is the reason why I wanted to keep this a secret from you. Because I knew that you would be worried like this.”

“Your Majesty is too much. If you had kept it a secret from me, then I would be really sad.”

“There was no need to put a burden on your heart, Madame Rochester. On a plate that will not be enough even if you reduce it because this is not a situation that can be resolved by worrying alone.”

When Madame Rochester heard those words, a wave of emotions passed over her face.

“Thank you so much for saying that, but it is my mission to worry about Your Majesty. So, in the future, please tell me everything.”

The sincerity in her words was seen clearly through Madame Rochester’s eyes, showing her genuine concern for Anastasia.

Not long after Anastasia’s return, the contempt and coldness that Madame Rochester initially had were now long gone.

Anastasia finally realized that the Madame Rochester that was in front of her, was the same version she had known before her regression, and was moved to tears.

“From this point on, it seems that I am Your Majesty’s handmaiden.”

“…..It was like that before.”

“Yes?”

“…It’s nothing.”

Anastasia grinned and swallowed the words she couldn’t speak.

‘If only I can say this…’

‘Thank you for loving me and giving me your undying loyalty. Just as you had before and continue to do so now.’

-ˏˋ ━━━━━━ ʚɞ ━━━━━━ ˊˎ-

(3rd Person POV)

“It is said that Her Majesty the Empress had appointed a new handmaiden. It looks it is the child that she had rescued from the slavery situation last time.”

Wilhelm paused for a moment at what Colton said with his report.

But soon after, he continued to do what he had been doing as if there was nothing.

“Her Majesty is doing something that is out of the norm, and once this gets out, it will have quite an impact on society.”

“Perhaps. Now, the popularity of Her Majesty the Empress is not something to be taken lightly.”

Colton nodded his agreement.

“Her reputation in the Santoro region has completely improved. The old notoriety is now long gone. Currently, everyone is revering Her Majesty the Empress.”

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

“……”

“Honestly, it’s kind of fascinating. Not only can a person suddenly change, but that their reputation can also change in an instant. It is completely unbelievable, isn’t it?”

“It’s definitely hard to believe.”

Attitudes changing are one thing but tastes and thoughts changing completely are even harder to change

Wilhelm had trouble keeping up with her continuous changes which surprised them everytime.

“Are you still watching the Empress these days?”

“Yes…since His Majesty the Emperor has not given the order to stop monitoring.”

Colton asked with a puzzled expression.

“Should we stop the surveillance? Well that’s one thing less to do, so I hope that…”

“No, go ahead.”

Wilhelm interrupted Colton.

[pr/n: insert a picture of pat pat Colton with a there there.]

“Keep watching.”

Colton quickly noticed that the voice that spoke those words had a slightly different tone than before. He was so puzzled as to what had changed.

‘….Wait? Did I hear it correctly? His voice sounds very strange.’

But he soon brushed it off as he made up his mind. ‘I must be mistaken.’

‘It is impossible for the Emperor to have such feelings about anything that is related to the Empress.’

Colton hurried out of Wilhelm’s office, fearing that he might be caught thinking about such things.