"Yes, it's alright. Your Majesty, please do not worry about such minor details." Yuriel's smile was charming but freezing.

Hyejin knew that he wasn't offended over this, but this was just the norm for him. In fact, Yuriel was described to be very cold even in the novel. It was a miracle that he even opened up to Vyriana in the book.

To Hyejin, Yuriel fit the stereotype of the cold male lead since once again, the author had decided to have everything cliché shoved altogether, including different personalities for the love interests. If Hyejin could describe it, it was like an otome game? Although the capture target in front of her was too young, but still had an aura of cool sophistication.

For Hyejin personally, she never played the otome games since she didn't really like the concept of playing different routes for different guys. If she shipped the main character with one guy, she would finish his route and never play the other routes since it was mostly repetitive and she was too lazy.

Meaning a big waste of money and time.

Hyejin smiled awkwardly and tried to shake off her absentminded behavior. She couldn't think about such matters in front of the regent king and the crown prince of the kingdom.

But subconsciously, she eyed Yuriel a bit more clearly. Even though he was young, his face was obviously going to grow into a handsome man that was worthy of being a potential male lead. Not to mention, he was also the only heir to one of the three kingdoms, it was no wonder that the author couldn't resist adding him to the six love interests. Something that was irritating was the necessity of adding the most powerful men to all fall in love with the princess. From a crown prince, to the best swordsman, best merchant, best sorcerer... it was utterly ridiculous.

However, Hyejin assumed that the author did it like so in order to help the Mary Sue female lead if she ever needed any assistance in any of the areas that the love interests were proficient in. Which meant literally every area. From a crown prince, to sorcery, to the best swordsman, best merchant... it was still too much.

Meaning many couldn't help the charms of the little girl? Yes the princess was sure to grow to claim her title of the most beautiful woman in the continent, but it was only fictitious that it seemed appealing. In reality, Hyejin couldn't help but think that there was some weird charm. The six love interests were love interests, the amount of admirers couldn't even be counted.

It was so dumb!

The main focus wasn't even a beauty contest, so how did that tie into the idea of revenge?

Since it was fictional, Hyejin wondered how it was going to play out in real life. Surely, the little daughter wouldn't be that charming, would she?

"Thank you for understanding..." Her lips curved upwards slightly. Her attention turned back to the regent king. "Please, join me for tea since I'm sure you're exhausted from coming."

"Using the traveling portals wasn't as bad as you think," the regent king shook his head. "However, your hospitality is much appreciated."

Hyejin found it a bit difficult how they spoke in such wayward methods. In a sense, it was polite, maybe a bit too much. He wasn't rejecting her offer, but also stating that it wasn't necessary. Hyejin wanted to dig a grave for herself if this was how she was going to learn to speak in the future. Another reason that she didn't want to deal with the throne.

The polite smiles containing daggers and the hindrance of the political agendas, it was too much for her twenty year old brain to process.

Damn it, where is the life of leisure I wanted?

All those transmigration novels, the main character never did anything relevant in accordance to their position. So why was she stuck with merely false fantasies and not living a lazy life of luxury!

She ushered for a servant to bring the prepared tea and snacks and sat across from the two royals. Their seats were of course, of the utmost luxury like the rest of the castle with velvet comfort.

After a brief silence, the servants brought the tea in a gold and black patterned marquetry beverage cart and snacks. The servants served the pipping hot tea without uttering a word, adding onto the silence.

Hyejin desperately raked her mind to break the silence but fortunately, the regent king spoke first.

"Asielle, what do you plan to do now?" The regent king looked at her with unconcealed pity. "I understand that Redian's absence is causing a period of distress, but there will be many using this as an opportunity to oppose and create chaos in the kingdom."

Right as he spoke, a familiar heart ache erupted in Hyejin's body. The same pain as the funeral; a pain that she couldn't understand.

Her face contorted into pain and she gripped her dress, immediately turning pale. The regent king recognized the urgency and he yelled for the servants to summon a royal physician.

"Asielle!"

Queen Asielle had such a good friend.

Was Hyejin's last thought before she fainted.

♚♚♚

"It's incredibly odd." Alfrek said in exasperation.

Hyejin slowly found herself conscious again and she began to overhear the conversation that Alfrek was having with Helenda. She closed her eyes again and pretended to still be unconscious, in order to hear what was incredible odd.

"What do you mean, Alfrek?" Helenda's voice was filled with concern. It was already alarming that the queen was suffering from amnesia, but were there other problems that accounted for the misery of the queen?

"Well, I've tried to diagnose the issue with the heartache naturally, and I've found nothing." Alfrek began to explain, but Helenda questioned him.

"Then there is nothing odd about it? Did you use the other method?"

Hyejin wondered what the other method was and Alfrek answered with something that amazed her.

"Yes," Alfrek sighed. "I've tried to use magic and that's where the oddness comes in."

In the Exreim Empire, the physicians used two methods of diagnosis. One was the traditional with the medical knowledge granted through years of accumulated school and training and the other was... magic.

Yes, magic.

Through the help of the mythical force, many illnesses and diseases have been cured. The usage of magic was highly evident in this world as there was a dependency in all areas, such as the medical field. Although it wouldn't necessarily be considered as medical and more like the standard healing with magic.

Oddness?

Hyejin started to panic.

What if the magic exposed me?

"What do you mean, Alfrek?" Helenda continued the conversation while Hyejin was formulating all sorts of horrific scenarios in her head for getting exposed.

"Well, as you know, even with the usage of magic, there are still limitations. However, I was fortunate enough to use the most powerful magic to diagnose Her Majesty as she is royalty and it is of utmost importance to keep her safe." Alfrek fiddled with his fingers nervously.

Get with it and say what's wrong already!

"The magic showed that there was an instability within Her Majesty's body..." Alfrek finally revealed what was odd about the queen. The magic had shown that there was an instability, but it never exhibited what was unstable in the queen's body.

"Instability?" Helenda paled with more worry. "Should we get a higher physician from the empire...?"

"That won't be necessary!" Hyejin sat up and blurted out loud, shocking both that didn't know she was awake.

"Your Majesty, did you hear—"

"Yes! I happen to wake and hear the problem that is causing my heartache." Hyejin smiled sheepishly at exposing herself eavesdropping. In a sense, it was about her so it didn't matter if she was eavesdropping; however, it was still embarrassing.

"Are you sure you don't want us to get the empire's help...?" Alfrek was perplexed. Why was the queen trying to resist getting better and a better diagnosis?

"No!" Seeing them both look at her at her strangely, Hyejin quickly uttered a lame excuse. "If they diagnose me, then my amnesia will be exposed." Alfrek opened his mouth to explain that there was a completely different process and diagnosis for that, but Hyejin shook her head. "I will not take any chances and prefer to keep this a secret among us."

Helenda wanted to press more on the subject but Alfrek shot her a look. In the end, they both nodded.

"As you wish, Your Majesty."

"Good. How long have I passed out for?"

Was it days like last time?

"Oh no, less than an hour, actually. In fact, the Regent King and the crown prince actually decided to stay for a bit in case you awoke. Seeing as Your Majesty did, it's your choice to meet with them or stay and rest."

"I think I'll go see them since our time got interrupted!" Hyejin didn't want to ruin any diplomatic relationships between the two nations because she passed out.

"As you wish, Your Majesty." Helenda ushered for more servants to come in the room to help the queen get ready again.

While they were preparing her hair and her dress and jewelries, Hyejin couldn't help but think of the instability in her body.

The only instability that she could think of was the one she feared the most: her foreign soul and the body of the queen who belonged in this world weren't compatible!

♚♚♚

Happy Sunday!

I hope the pacing of the novel isn't too slow. I don't want to rush anything and wanted to slowly develop her surroundings. Yes there will be romance, but it's slow burn since it's not the focus.

See you next week!