EPISODE 4

A plaster statue that seemed like it was only half-finished in sculpting a human form was placed in the corner. As Cordelia approached it, there were still some fragments scattered on the floor despite the area being tidied up. She gently brushed her fingers over it and made up her mind.

“I should stop looking and leave.”

Even if it was an unavoidable situation, it still felt rude. The thought of someone seeing a room filled with scraps of paper covered in jotted-down stories and ideas was embarrassing even in imagination.

Although the field was different, this person might be similar.

Cordelia carefully closed the door and quickly left, passing through the eerily quiet corridor and stepping outside the mansion.

The mansion was much smaller compared to the ducal residence where she was staying, but it was neat. Unlike the nearly empty interior, quite a few soldiers were guarding the exterior. The soldiers who glanced at Cordelia quickly turned their heads back.

It was an indifferent attitude to the point of being rude, but Cordelia was in no position to point that out.

Perhaps it was the fall season. Despite the mansion’s elegant appearance, it seemed oddly desolate due to the lack of any signs of life.

A breeze brushed past Cordelia’s ear and the faint image of a woman with waist-length golden hair blended with the back of a short-haired man.

Standing outside the closed front gate and looking up at the mansion, Cordelia realized she didn’t even know this person’s name.

Turning her head, Cordelia stepped onto the muddy ground, soaked by the rain. First, she needed to head to the ducal residence.

***

“You cannot enter.”

Cordelia had been worried about the distance, but fortunately, the mansion she had woken up in was on the outskirts of the capital. As soon as she reached the city, she took a carriage to the ducal residence.

The problem was what happened next. The moment Cordelia saw the knight who had been smiling warmly now responding coldly with a blank expression, she remembered something she had forgotten.

Oh.

‘I told them to turn away any man who comes looking for me!’

Although she had parted ways neatly with some people, there were quite a few who had shown up at the mansion and behaved poorly, so she had given that instruction to prevent it. She hadn’t expected it to come back around like this.

Cordelia asked the knight standing in front of her again.

“Is the Lady out?”

Trying his best to maintain a neutral expression, he answered firmly.

“I cannot disclose that.”

This is driving her crazy!

She continued trying to extract information from him, but he completely shut his mouth. The knight on the other side, Kyle, narrowed his eyes. Feeling like she was about to be disgracefully turned away, she turned around and walked away dejectedly.

Only after moving to the corner of the wall did Cordelia glance back at the mansion visible inside the wall.

“I thought our ducal residence staff did a great job…”

Who would have thought this would hold her back?

Cordelia idly stroked her chin.

She could have climbed over the wall to get in, but if she were caught, it would be incredibly difficult to sort things out. Even her handsome face might not help solve the problem.

After all, her family was one of the most powerful in the country. No matter what, she couldn’t be a hindrance to the bright future of a young man.

Moving a bit further away from the mansion, Cordelia folded her arms and walked around in circles. People nearby glanced at her but, as always, ignored her.

“Where to go?”

Should she search a bit more, or ask someone for help? But finding someone who would believe in such a strange situation without prejudice…

Cordelia thought of potential people who might help. Her sisters, for example. Calia was currently in her territory, so she was out of reach, and Jerania was in the palace, but there was no guarantee she could meet her due to the lack of a reliable introduction.

That left only one option.

“Do or die.”

Muttering that she didn’t want to die, Cordelia stepped forward with determination.

In the distance, through the carriage window, the Grand Temple of Sandria came into view. The massive white building was both a symbol of the capital, Kaam, and the center of magic in the country.

Although the privilege it enjoyed often led to friction with the royal palace, the indigenous religion was, after all, a spiritual support for the people.

A man with his hat pulled low got out of the carriage that had stopped in front of the majestic and ornate temple. The young man, though somewhat awkward, walked confidently, touching his forehead and gazing up at the Grand Temple.

Entering the site surrounded by high walls, Cordelia saw the Grand Temple in the center along with several large and small buildings.

The extent of the site indicated its status, but it also meant a long walk. Unauthorized carriages were not allowed inside.

“This person has great stamina.”

Normally, she would have been fed up with the long walk to the end, but she didn’t feel tired walking to the building used as the reception area right in front of the Grand Temple.

Stretching out her arms, Cordelia looked at the long line of people waiting outside with a tired expression.

Usually, she would have boldly used her sister’s name as queen, but she couldn’t do that now. After waiting in line for a long time and finally reaching the front, she saw a cleric with a gentle smile sitting at the desk.

“I’d like to see Priestess Lyneth Sandria.”

“What is your relationship with her?”

“We’re friends. She’ll know me as Cordy.”

“Alright, I’ll let her know. Please wait in that room.”

After waiting for a while in the small waiting room, Cordelia lifted her head at the sound of the door opening. As soon as she saw the woman with red hair in a white clerical robe with golden-yellow embroidery, she called out her name happily.

“Lyneth!”

“…Who are you?”

To the woman who was gripping the doorknob and looking at her with wary eyes, Cordelia quickly called out.

“On your nineteenth birthday! You were so excited about finally becoming a full-fledged priestess. Then, you got drunk, staggered around, and knocked over a nearby vase…”

Which, of course, was something the priestess she was mentoring cherished.

“Ugh, shut up!”

Before Cordelia could continue, Lyneth rushed over and covered her mouth. Cordelia silently grinned as Lyneth glared at her with a bewildered expression.

“Who are you? How do you know that? Did the princess tell you? I thought she said she wouldn’t tell anyone…”

With the air that suggested she might silence her forever, Cordelia calmly reached out and gently held the fingers that covered her mouth.

“I didn’t say a word, Lyneth.”

The clear blue eyes revealed under the hat curved into a smile.

“It’s me, Cordelia.”

“So, what happened?”

Lyneth, who might have been expected to dismiss her as crazy, quickly grabbed Cordelia’s wrist and led her out of the waiting room and outside. Cordelia, watching Lyneth’s graceful movements with interest, asked.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m casting a barrier so no one overhears us.”

Lyneth, one of the most talented young priests among her peers and someone who had known Cordelia for a long time, was now handling the situation calmly. Cordelia grinned and said.

“Wow, you can do that too?”

“That way of speaking… It really must be you, Cordelia.”

Seeing Lyneth’s resigned expression, Cordelia laughed. The wizard, known for her ability to calmly assess situations even with just one link, had completed the barrier and was now scrutinizing Cordelia.

“Did someone use magic to transform you?”

The absurdity of the question made Cordelia widen her eyes.

“Isn’t it a bit too natural for you to assume something illegal?”

“Then what is it? Doesn’t it look exactly like the impression you usually give? A handsome, well-mannered man with a noble bearing and a good physique. I thought you decided to take on such a face yourself since there weren’t any suitable men around.”

Cordelia frowned at the harsh reply, but even her deep-set eyes seemed to give off a serene feeling. Lyneth was astonished at the fact that Cordelia seemed to be thinking about this situation with such an attitude. It was clear that the spirited princess had influenced quite a bit.

“Anyway, it’s not my body! It belongs to someone else.”

“Wow, so such a man actually exists.”

Lyneth’s feigned admiration, as if observing someone else’s business, made Cordelia instinctively reach for her collar before pulling her hand back. With the current size difference, it would have looked like a threat.

“But, I feel like I’ve seen him somewhere before.”

Lyneth, who had been quietly tilting her head, asked the next question.

“What’s the name?”

“I don’t know.”

Lyneth’s brown eyes narrowed. Noticing the look of disdain in her gaze, Cordelia quickly added.

“But I do know his profession. He seems to be a painter.”

“A painter?”

“Or maybe a sculptor. Or both? Anyway, he doesn’t seem to be very famous considering how young he looks…”

“Well, he does look just over twenty. Wait a moment.”

As Lyneth thought deeply, her eyes widened as if she had remembered something.

“Princess, could you take off your hat?”

“Huh? Okay.”

When Cordelia removed her hat, the bangs she had tucked inside fell and obscured her vision. Lyneth, who had been staring intently, nodded as if she understood.

“Do you know him?”

“It’s just a guess… but isn’t this person Noah Epherman?”

That’s right, that’s the one. Surprised by Lyneth’s gaze, which thoroughly examined her, Cordelia was a bit taken aback. As someone well-versed in high society, Cordelia knew quite a bit about the famous figures of the kingdom.

And the name that Lyneth mentioned was indeed someone Cordelia had heard of.

“That genius painter who’s been very popular recently?”

“Yes. As you know, he recently completed the mural in the annex. I saw him briefly when he was working on it.”

The painter, who had kept his face covered and worn a gloomy appearance, had been silent and requested that no one come near the building while he was working on it.

During that time, one of the priests who happened to pass by the annex where the mural was being painted mentioned seeing a sculptural-looking man.

Of course, most people didn’t believe it. The first opinion was why he would cover his face so much, and it was hard to imagine such a handsome appearance from the rather clumsy-looking man.

The mural commissioned by the temple was completed to such an extent that it earned the painter a reputation as a genius, marking the beginning of his fame.

Even Lyneth, who usually wouldn’t remember such things if she wasn’t interested, remembered the painter’s name.

Cordelia, having listened to the explanation, looked convinced but still questioned.

“So why did I end up in the body of such a person?”

“How would I know? By the way, what happened to your original body? Is it safe?”

Cordelia shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly.

“I don’t know. When I went to the Duke’s residence, it felt like he had already left. No one would give me a straight answer, but you can tell when you get the vibe. Where could he have gone?”

“Why are you so nonchalant about your own body?”

Seeing the carefree and relaxed attitude, Lyneth was getting increasingly frustrated. If they were of equal status, she might have been cursing and grabbing her by the collar, but reminded of their social difference, Lyneth managed to calm herself down.

People do get on your nerves sometimes.

“But it doesn’t look like he treated the servants badly, does it? He probably isn’t a bad person.”

Lyneth let out a resigned laugh.

“Here we go again with the princess’s charming blind spot. No wonder your romantic relationships end up like that.”

“This time it’s for real!”

“Yes, I understand. But think of a solution. I’ve never heard of anything like this before. It seems like a type of magic. By the way, are there others who know about this body switch?”

“No, you’re the only one who knows right now.”

“Then let’s keep it a secret for now.”

“Huh? Why?”

Lyneth smiled and whispered in a subtle tone.

“Do you want to be dissected?”