Chapter 57: Joseph

The tea time with the empress left this lingering feeling in my heart. I couldn't say it was good, nor could I say it was bad. If anything, it was surprisingly peaceful. She used to hate me and looked at me as if she loathed me more than anyone in the world. 

'But today, she looks at me as if she is my mother,' I thought, walking through the empty hallway in the palace. I knew this place like it was written in the back of my hand, so I took my precious time to look around to see 'me.' 

'I guess the rumors of her fondness to my fiance isn't just an exaggeration.' My steps slowed down, recalling the empress' friendly demeanor towards me, Marsella. 'I wonder if she likes Marsella in the past too.'

I wouldn't know that since I had nothing to do with the real Marsella in my previous life. I didn't even know she existed, and I believed it was the same for her. She probably didn't know Vera existed as she lived a short life.