Throughout the journey to the empire, Althea remained silent. The spring wind blew, but her head was filled with unanswered questions.
If every great magic has a side effect... then what about the magic Morfida cast on me?
She thought. Will I also perish?
Or will she be the one to suffer?
Upon reaching her room, Althea couldn't bear it any longer. She looked at Morfida—the woman was still standing gracefully, her face soft, yet there was a subtle line of fatigue she couldn't hide.
"Morfida..." Althea's voice trembled, "what about you? What are the side effects of that magic on you?"
Morfida did not answer immediately. She only looked at Althea for a moment, then gave a faint smile, a smile that was more like a thin blanket on a cold night than an actual answer. "Mistress... do not worry about that. It is my duty to protect you."
Althea bit her lip. "Why are you like this? You are only... my maid." The words came out more like a wound than a statement. She wanted Morfida to deny it, but was also afraid to hear the answer.
Morfida smiled again, this time deeper, her eyes gleaming softly. "Is that truly so, Mistress?" she asked gently. Only six words, but they seemed to open a long-closed door.
The question echoed in Althea's heart.
Her chest felt warm and constricted at the same time. Slowly, tears flowed without her realizing it. She quickly wiped them away, trying to appear strong.
She was jealous, jealous of the original Althea, the girl who had a sincere person by her side unconditionally. Something she herself had never felt.
She took a deep breath, then looked at Morfida with trembling eyes. "Morfida... promise me you won't leave me. Whoever I am... please don't leave me." Her voice was faint, almost like the whisper of a child afraid of being abandoned.
Morfida was silent for a moment. There was confusion on her face, but also a rare tenderness. Slowly, she nodded, her lips curving into a genuine smile. "Very well, Mistress."
She stepped closer, her voice returning to its usual warm and steady tone. "Now... let us not think of bad things yet. Let us wait for the magic on your body to vanish completely. Once it is gone, you can return to your true appearance, and carry out the plan you wish for. Whatever it is... I will always be with you."
The words were not just a promise, but an invisible hug that wrapped around Althea's fractured heart. For the first time since she had been in this world, she felt... not alone.
***
Althea had been settled in the empire for nearly a week, days that flowed like water slowly slipping through her fingers. The waiting for her original form to return felt like waiting for a hanging execution.
Her routine barely changed: waking up in a soft bed, eating at a table, then sleeping again. The servants now treated her like a cracked Ming porcelain, every step they took full of caution.
Several times a week, Caspian came to her room. Sometimes he just sat, signing documents, making the room smell of ink and power. Other times, he invited her out for a simple walk in the palace garden.
Every time Caspian looked at her, Althea could see a flicker of contempt hidden behind his sweet smile a look only fit for something repulsive.
It was all a pretense.
Althea knew, Caspian was only doing it for one thing: to convince everyone that she, the fat and ugly girl, was the crown prince's chosen future empress.
But as soon as they returned to the room, everything became as bland as cold tea again. Althea became increasingly sure: the man was dangerous, full of deceit like a snake hiding among flowers.
That day, late in the afternoon, Althea sat on the edge of the bed. The window was open, and the spring wind blew in, carrying the scent of jasmine and false hope. She took a deep breath, her eyes gazing distantly.
When will my true form return? I want to leave!
The thought pounded at her temples like a war drum.
But suddenly, a warm sensation spread through her body like a flow of magma. She jumped, staring at her hands. Her skin trembled as if covered in light. In an instant, her body heated up, and then... the mirror on the table showed her true face.
It was not a round, fat face full of blemishes.
Instead, it was a captivating beauty, her body slender and tall, white as perfectly sculpted porcelain artwork, with no more acne or anything else, but smooth and well-maintained skin. Everything was a perfect combination to complement her sea-blue hair and rose-red eyes.
Althea was stunned. "I-I..." her voice caught. "I'm back..."
But her happiness quickly turned to horror. Caspian. How could she explain this magical transformation? Caspian, who always looked at her with disgust, Caspian, who only tolerated her because of her poor appearance.
What would he do when he found out about her true beauty? This could change their entire power dynamic, and that change could be fatal.
She wanted to call Morfida immediately, to share the joy. But just as her feet stepped towards the door, a familiar heavy set of footsteps approached from the corridor. Followed by Caspian's distinctive scent, a mixture of pine and sharp metal, making her blood stop flowing for a moment.
Caspian.
"No, not now!" her inner voice screamed. In a panic, she swept her gaze around the room, looking for a hiding place. But there was none. Her only option was...
Althea's heart pounded fast. Panic attacked her. Without thinking, she ran back to the bed, pulling the thick blanket up to cover her face. Her breathing was ragged, her heart racing as if it would explode.
The door creaked. Caspian's scent filled the room. His aura, as usual, made the air heavier.
"Althea." His voice was deep, calm, yet there was a terrifying power behind it. "I want to talk about our plans. The royal garden will soon be filled with guests. We need to be seen there."
Behind the blanket, Althea bit her lip until it bled. Caspian's voice sounded so close. Could he see her now-slender body shape through the blanket? Was he suspicious?
Althea tried to calm herself. "Ahem—ahem!" she pretended to cough, covering her mouth with her hand. "Sorry, I... I don't feel well. I think I'm sick. How about... we cancel the walk?"
Caspian's steps approached, heavy and slow like a funeral procession. Althea could feel a subtle vibration on the floor. She hid her face further behind the blanket.
Caspian's voice was closer, low yet sharp. "Sick?" There was a faint tone of concern—or maybe just pretense, Althea wasn't sure. "In that case, I will call a physician. I do not want my business partner to be ruined just because of neglected health."
Business partner. The words reminded her of her true position. But how would this "business partner" status survive if Caspian knew her true beauty? Would he see her as a threat? Or perhaps... as a more valuable tool to exploit?
Althea held her breath. She had to get rid of him, right now. "N-no! No need for a physician. I just... I'm afraid of infecting you. You should stay away. You had better go see your lover, Your Highness. Haven't you been with me too often?"
The utterance hung in the air like a sword on a thread.
Althea could feel Caspian's gaze piercing the blanket, cold, full of analysis like a scientist observing a rare specimen. She trembled, but continued to pretend to cough, adding a weak tone to her voice.
"I will recover quickly," she continued in a rush. "Our business will continue, do not worry. This is not a deadly contagious disease. I just need a little rest... so, please... leave me alone for now."
The silence lasted too long. Then, a light laugh escaped Caspian's lips, a laugh that wasn't truly warm, but rather like a knife being scraped against the edge of a crystal glass.
"Interesting," he said softly. "You sound very eager to get rid of me, Althea."
His steps stopped right beside the bed. The blanket covering Althea's body shifted slightly, making a single strand of her shimmering sea-blue hair visible. Her heart stopped beating. Did Caspian see it? Did he notice the difference in texture of the now smooth and lustrous hair compared to the dull hair he usually saw?
But Caspian did not continue. He was just silent, looking at her from behind the shadows. That aura, the aura of a handsome and perfect man whose face was like a divine sculpture. Yet, it was enveloped in an invisible fear, keeping its distance yet making it inescapable.
A few seconds later, he took a breath, then said softly. "Very well. In that case... get well soon."
The door creaked again. His footsteps moved away, leaving his distinctive scent still hanging in the air like a ghost.
Althea waited until she was absolutely sure the man was gone. Only then did she dare to uncover herself, her face wet with cold sweat. Her hands trembled violently, as if she had just escaped the clutches of a wild beast.
She looked at the mirror again, her true face was still there, reflecting beautifully yet also terrifyingly. A beauty that could become a double-edged sword. Caspian might look at her differently, but the attention she gained might actually plunge her into greater danger.
Althea covered her face with both hands. "No... I must not be careless again. I must leave quickly," Althea said, looking at the sun that was beginning to set like an orange fireball on the western horizon.