Synopsis and Starting Chapter Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Chapter 60
Chapter 61
Chapter 62
Chapter 63
Chapter 64
Chapter 65
Chapter 66
Chapter 67
Chapter 68
Chapter 69
Chapter 70
Chapter 71
Chapter 72
Chapter 73
Chapter 74
Chapter 75
Chapter 76
Chapter 77
Chapter 78
Chapter 79
Chapter 80
Chapter 81
Chapter 82
Chapter 83
Chapter 84
Chapter 85
Chapter 86
Chapter 87
Chapter 88
Chapter 89
Chapter 90 - Light And Shadow>
Chapter 91
Chapter 92
Chapter 93
Chapter 94
Chapter 95
Chapter 96
Chapter 97
Chapter 98
Chapter 99
Chapter 100
Chapter 101
Chapter 102
Chapter 103
Chapter 104
Chapter 105
Chapter 106
Chapter 107
Chapter 108
Chapter 109
Chapter 110
Chapter 111
Chapter 112 - The Morning Comes>
Chapter 113
Chapter 114
Chapter 115
Chapter 116
Chapter 117
Chapter 118 - After The Storm
Chapter 119
Chapter 120
Chapter 121
Chapter 122
Chapter 123
Chapter 124
Chapter 125
Chapter 126
Chapter 127
Chapter 128
Chapter 129
Chapter 130
Chapter 131
Chapter 132 -
Chapter 133
Chapter 134 - Epilogue 1.3
Chapter 135 - Epilogue 2.1: Traces Of Life
Chapter 136
Chapter 137 - Epilogue 2.3
Chapter 138
Chapter 139
Chapter 140
Chapter 141 - Epilogue 4.1: Ever After>
Chapter 142 - Epilogue 4.2
Chapter 143 - Epilogue 4.3
Chapter 144 - Epilogue 5.1>
Chapter 145 - Epilogue 5.2
Chapter 146 - The Most Romantic Weekend>
Chapter 147 - Short Stories 1.2
Chapter 148 -
Chapter 149 -
Chapter 150 -
Chapter 151 -
Chapter 152 -
Chapter 153 -
Chapter 154 - Short Stories 3.1: Unexpected Things Happen>
Chapter 155 - Short Stories 3.2>
Chapter 156 -
Chapter 157 -
Chapter 158 -
Chapter 159 -
Chapter 160 -
Chapter 161 - Short Stories 5.1: The Man Behind The Mask>
Chapter 162
Chapter 163
Chapter 164 -
Chapter 165 -
Chapter 166
Chapter 167 - Short Stories 6.2
Chapter 168 - Short Stories 6.3
Chapter 169
Chapter 170
Chapter 171
Chapter 172
Chapter 173
Chapter 174
Chapter 175
Chapter 176
Chapter 177
Chapter 178
Chapter 179
Chapter 180
Chapter 181
Chapter 182
Chapter 183
Chapter 184
Chapter 185
Chapter 186
Chapter 187
Chapter 188
Chapter 189 (End)
Categories Genre: All, Completed, Fantasy Status: Completed ______
Total Chapters in book: 189
Estimated words: 290059 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1450(@200wpm)___ 1160(@250wpm)___ 967(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 290059 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1450(@200wpm)___ 1160(@250wpm)___ 967(@300wpm)
______
LIST OF LAST 10 CHAPTERS:
Page No. 189 Page No. 188 Page No. 187 Page No. 186 Page No. 185 Page No. 184 Page No. 183 Page No. 182 Page No. 181 Page No. 180 Page No. 179 Chapter 95
Chapter 95:
The hole wasn’t very big. It was just big enough for a person to go through.
I murmured in confusion, “[Is it a sinkhole?]”
I knew in Seoul, many sinkholes were occurring and causing problems in the city. I remembered seeing on the news that the experts were discussing where all the soils and rocks were disappearing to when a sinkhole appeared.
One of the theories was the overuse of underground water. People used too much of it and the empty spaces were being filled by the dirt and the rocks.
However, now that I thought about it, maybe they disappeared from earth.
Perhaps, they actually were transported to a different world as I did.
“Oh my…”
Just like everyone, I knew of the dangers of sinkholes, but I never thought I would become a victim of them. No one ever thought bad things would happen to them.
I realized how naïve I was in believing that.
In a way, it is possible the sinkhole saved me from being hit by the train.
However, in return, it transported me to this world, and now, I was stuck here.
Suddenly, the scene in front of me disappeared, and I was again able to see the priestess. She was putting on the eyepiece back over her eyes again.
When I remained seated quietly, she said to me, “So that was it.”
“Y, yes.”
“The thing that made you come here…”
The priestess didn’t finish her sentence. She seemed like she was thinking about something.
I wanted to give her as much information as possible.
“It’s called the [sinkhole.]”
“[Sinkhole]?”
“Yes. It… happened suddenly. It is a hole that appears on the ground, and sometimes, it even happens at the bottom of the ocean.”
She nodded as I continued. “Perhaps some of the holes are actually some sort of a connection between different worlds.” She seemed troubled. “This isn’t great. If what you think is right, returning back home would be… very difficult.”
“I know…”
I bit my lips. If I was transported by someone or something intentionally, it would have been better. I could try to find that person or try to make the opposite happen.
However, this was not the case. If it was a random natural phenomenon, like a typhoon or an earthquake… How could I make it happen?
I turned to the priestess desperately.
“C… could there still be a way?”
I knew I was asking the impossible, but I had no one else. She was my only hope.
The priestess.
This was the first time someone gave me any kind of hope. A real possibility.
Without her, I wouldn’t have been able to learn about this sinkhole.
The priestess raised her head slowly. Izvita patted my hand gently.
“At this point, I can’t tell you anything. I can’t promise you anything.”
“…”
I felt like my heart was breaking. My eyes started to fill again with tears. I blinked a few times to stop myself from crying. Just then, the priestess smiled and gave me the answer I hoped for.
“But I will search for the answer. I will do my best to find a way for you. I will examine all the records in the Aos temple…”
She hesitated before continuing, “I can’t be sure, but there might be an answer to what you seek.”
I cried. I couldn’t help it.
“Thank you.” That was the only thing I could tell her. “T, thank you so much.”
While I talked with the priestess in tears, Lucretius continued to watch us silently. He didn’t interfere at all. He kept his promise to me.
***
Time passed by fast from then.
Nothing major happened during the celebration, which was fortunate. What I learned from the session with the priestess was so overwhelming I couldn’t’ stop thinking about it.
I had to do my best not to get too hopeful. Despite this distraction, I made sure I did my duties as the emperor’s only wife during the events.
Other than missing the second day due to my illness, I never missed another event.
The only difference from the first day was the fact I learned to enjoy the jealous and angry stares from other single ladies.
Knowing Lucretius’ feelings helped me to relax a little, but it didn’t mean I decided to stay with him permanently. I still planned on returning to my home and family.
I also couldn’t be sure of how I truly felt about him. How he felt about me was a completely different thing than how I felt about him.
A woman didn’t have any obligation to return a man’s feeling. It wasn’t my duty to love him just because he felt that way about me.
However, I knew one thing for sure.
… I was starting to fall for him.
My heart pounded fast whenever I was around him. I couldn’t deny the new feelings I was beginning to have.
I didn’t know for sure why. Was my feeling genuine, or was it because of his looks and background? Was I just flattered that an emperor confessed his love for me?
I tried to look at myself objectively. I had minimal experience with boys. I went to an all-girls’ schools since junior high. I dreamt of dating someday since I was young.
This meant I was an easy target when it came to romance. A gorgeous rich ruler being kind and loving to me…
It would have been odd not to feel something.
That was why I couldn’t help but doubt my feeling. Was it really genuine?
And… if Lucretius wasn’t so beautiful, would I have felt the same way?
I remembered when I saw my first husband, the former emperor, for the first time. I was devastated. I had actually hoped Lucretius would be my husband instead.
At the time, I had no idea I would really become his wife, and that he would end up falling in love with me.
What if he wasn’t an emperor with all the riches and powers in this world? Would I have felt something for him?
… I couldn’t be certain.
I couldn’t be sure if my feelings were from shallow reasons. I didn’t know if my feelings were for what he was, rather than who it was.
In fact, at the beginning of our relationship, I was actually afraid of him. I felt a little ashamed that my feelings changed so fast.
***
Finally, it was the last day of the celebration.
I had greeted and met with so many people over the last few days that I was exhausted.
People approached me with never-ending compliments.
“Your highness!”
“You look so beautiful today.”
I couldn’t even remember their faces or names, but they acted like they knew me well.
“Your silver dress is so lovely.”
“Soon, everyone will be wearing silver dresses. You are such a style setter.”
Someone laughed and agreed. “I know! Many young ladies are already wearing the wing-shaped ear cuff.”
A nearby lady explained to me, “On the first night, your highness wore the most beautiful ear cuff. Everyone found out that it was a gift from his highness made for you from Losinite.”
“That’s right and because of it, Losinite was able to make a year’s worth profit in only a few days recently.”
Losinite, named after the owner and jewelry maker, was apparently was one of the best jewelry workshops in Cransia.
The ladies exclaimed excitedly, “You are so loved by his highness!”
“I’m sure we will be hearing good news very soon.”
They laughed exaggeratedly, which annoyed me.
So the ear cuff was a very expensive piece?
I planned on saying something to Lucretius later. For now, I had to take care of these annoying women.
A tyrant usually had a witch of a woman next to him. A woman who was both mean and corrupt. It was unfair, but sometimes, the woman was blamed for many of the tyrant’s actions.
The women here were insinuating I was that witch, and I didn’t plan on letting them continue.
“Oh my… I didn’t realize it was such a precious piece, especially for someone unworthy like me. If I knew, I would have refused…”
When I looked upset, the ladies became pale and tried to fix the situation.
“But it is only a small price considering how wealthy Cransia is as a kingdom!”
“It’s true! It’s nothing compared to the budget for the dowager empress’ wing.”
“Exactly!”
“Your highness is well known for your frugalness!”
I finally gave them a small smile of relieve.
“I’m glad to hear.”
Total Chapters in book: 189
Estimated words: 290059 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1450(@200wpm)___ 1160(@250wpm)___ 967(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 290059 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1450(@200wpm)___ 1160(@250wpm)___ 967(@300wpm)
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