The Supposed Saint

chapter 4

Chapter 4: The Little Princess's Dilemma

Athanasia stared out the window of her lavish room, her small hands clutching the edge of the windowsill. The sun was beginning to set, casting a warm, golden hue over the Obelian Empire, but the little princess’s mind was far from the beauty outside.

She couldn’t stop thinking about the strange woman who had suddenly appeared in their lives—Minji.

Athanasia was no ordinary child. She had memories of a past life, memories of reading a story about this very world, and those memories had guided her carefully through her young life so far. She knew her father, Emperor Claude de Alger Obelia, was a dangerous man, cold and ruthless, especially toward her. But she had also seen glimpses of another side to him—a side that cared, even if he tried his best to hide it.

But now, with Minji’s arrival, everything felt... different.

The woman was odd, with her silver hair and those striking red lenses that hid her true eye color. Athanasia had been wary at first, but there was something about Minji that drew her in. It wasn’t just her appearance; it was the way she spoke to Father, the way she didn’t seem frightened of him like everyone else was. And that made Athanasia both curious and a little scared.

The girl had seen the way her father’s eyes lingered on Minji. There was something there, something Athanasia couldn’t quite understand. But more than that, she was worried about what Minji’s presence would mean for her carefully laid plans.

Athanasia had worked hard to survive in this world. She had learned to be sweet and endearing, to charm her way into people’s hearts. It wasn’t easy, especially with a father like hers, but it was necessary. And now, this woman, who might be the saintess everyone was talking about, could throw everything off balance.

A soft knock at the door interrupted her thoughts. Athanasia turned to see her maid, Lily, standing in the doorway, looking a bit uncertain.

"Princess Athanasia, would you like to go to the garden? The evening air is quite refreshing," Lily suggested, offering a gentle smile.

Athanasia hesitated, her mind still full of questions. But maybe some fresh air would help clear her head. "Alright," she agreed, slipping down from the windowsill and following Lily out of the room.

As they walked through the palace corridors, Athanasia couldn’t help but think about the stories she’d heard of the saintess. A woman of immense power, sent by the goddess to guide the empire alongside the emperor. But Minji didn’t seem like a saintess. She seemed... lost, like someone who didn’t belong here at all.

When they reached the garden, Athanasia’s eyes immediately sought out the familiar figure sitting by the fountain. Minji was there, her expression thoughtful as she stared into the water. The little girl’s heart fluttered with nervous energy. She had come to this world with a plan, but Minji’s presence was a wildcard she hadn’t anticipated.

Taking a deep breath, Athanasia walked over to Minji, trying to summon the courage to speak. "Sister Minji?" she called out softly.

Minji looked up, her eyes meeting Athanasia’s. For a moment, the little girl thought she saw something—an emotion she couldn’t quite name—flicker in Minji’s gaze. But it was gone as quickly as it had appeared, replaced by the same warm smile Minji always wore around her.

"Princess Athanasia," Minji greeted, her voice gentle. "What brings you out here?"

Athanasia bit her lip, trying to figure out how to ask the questions swirling in her mind. "Sister Minji... are you really the saintess?"

The question hung in the air, and for a moment, Minji didn’t respond. She seemed to be thinking, her expression turning more serious.

"I don’t know," Minji finally admitted, her voice soft. "I didn’t come here by choice, and I don’t know if I have any special powers. But if I do, I want to use them to help."

Athanasia studied her, trying to figure out if Minji was telling the truth. She seemed sincere, but Athanasia knew better than to trust people too easily. After all, this was a world where even her own father could be her greatest enemy.

"But what if Father doesn’t believe you?" Athanasia asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "What if... he sees you as a threat?"

Minji’s smile faltered slightly, and Athanasia felt a pang of guilt. She didn’t want to scare Minji, but she needed to know if this woman was a friend or a foe.

"Your father is a difficult man to understand," Minji said carefully. "But I don’t want to be his enemy, and I certainly don’t want to be yours, Princess."

The little girl’s heart softened at those words. Minji wasn’t like the others who sought power or influence at the palace. She seemed... kind, genuine. And that made Athanasia want to protect her, just as she had protected herself all these years.

"You should be careful," Athanasia said quietly, her blue eyes serious. "Father... he’s not always kind."

Minji’s smile returned, this time tinged with a hint of sadness. "I know," she said. "But I think there’s more to him than what he shows. Maybe he just needs someone to remind him of that."

Athanasia frowned, not sure if she believed that. Her father had always been cold, distant, even cruel at times. But Minji’s words planted a small seed of doubt in her mind. Could her father really change?

Before she could dwell on it further, a voice called out from the garden entrance. Athanasia’s heart skipped a beat as she recognized it—her father’s voice, cold and commanding as always.

"Princess Athanasia," Emperor Claude called, his gaze flicking from his daughter to Minji. His expression was unreadable, but there was a tension in the air that Athanasia couldn’t ignore.

"Father," Athanasia replied, trying to keep her voice steady.

The emperor’s eyes lingered on Minji for a moment longer before he turned his attention fully to his daughter. "It’s time to return to your chambers," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Athanasia nodded, but as she moved to follow her father, she glanced back at Minji. The woman was watching them, her expression unreadable, but there was a warmth in her eyes that made Athanasia feel... safe.

For the first time in a long while, Athanasia wondered if she could trust someone other than herself. And as she followed her father back into the palace, she couldn’t shake the feeling that Minji might be the key to unlocking the parts of this world she had yet to understand.

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Hmm?