"So?" Iris said, raising a brow as Zarah entered the chamber. "A third night, huh?"
Zarah shot her a glare.
"Stop making that face. It's not that big of a deal."
She walked over to the bed and collapsed onto it, burying her face in the pillows.
Iris chuckled, sitting down beside her. She reached out, gently running her fingers through Zarah's hair.
"You can downplay it all you want, but it is something," she said, her tone teasing. "Her Majesty doesn't summon anyone to her chamber twice — let alone three times like she has with you."
Zarah groaned, pressing her face deeper into the pillow. Her fingers curled into the fabric as she clutched it.
She let out a slow breath—
—and for a fleeting moment, she caught it.
That faint scent of rosemary.
As if Ines's hands were still on her.
Her ears turned pink.
That morning, when she had woken up, Ines had already left — as usual.
But this time, she had left a maid behind.
A message.
She had already contacted Nolan. The presence detection would be carried out, and the results would arrive by afternoon.
And not only that…
The maid had been instructed to give Zarah a glass of warm milk before leaving.
Zarah paused.
Did the Empress… care about her well-being?
'Get yourself together, Zarah!'
She flipped over abruptly and slapped both her cheeks.
Ines was the Empress.
Why would she care if Zarah was sore or not?
It was probably just pity.
Yes.
Like how a person might pity a stray cat.
…That had to be it.
Her expression soured.
Iris, who had been watching the entire sequence, burst into laughter.
"What is wrong with you, Zar?" she said between laughs. "You just went through every emotion possible. First annoyed, then blushing, then thoughtful, then happy, then sad — what are you even thinking about?"
"I did not do any of that!" Zarah shot back.
"Ah, I see. I must be going blind," Iris mused, poking her cheek.
Zarah huffed and grabbed a pillow, throwing it at her.
"Stop it, Iree!"
Iris laughed, dodging easily as she flopped down beside Zarah.
Zarah rolled her eyes — but then wrapped her arms around her.
Iris stilled for a second before smiling softly, returning the hug and patting her head.
After a moment, Iris broke the silence.
"So… what did Her Majesty say?" she asked, her voice lowered to a whisper.
"Her Majesty agreed to conduct the presence detection," Zarah replied, a small smile forming. "Celine's innocence will be proven now."
Iris hummed thoughtfully.
"When will the results come?"
"There was a maid stationed outside. She said they should be ready by the afternoon."
Zarah glanced at Iris before asking,
"Do you want to visit Celine before then?"
She propped herself up on one elbow, resting her head on her palm.
Iris sighed, sitting up.
Truthfully, the thought had crossed her mind.
Though she didn't quite understand why.
Celine had never welcomed them. If anything, she avoided them — resented them.
Iris gave a small shrug.
"Wouldn't it be strange? It's not like she'd be happy to see us."
Zarah hummed.
"That's true. But we should still go at least once. She's been in that cell since yesterday… and we should tell her about the presence detection. At least she'll know she isn't being abandoned."
Iris frowned slightly.
"She wouldn't even understand what that is. I only know because you told me. What if she thinks we're there to mock her?"
"I know," Zarah admitted, leaning back against the headboard. "But I need to ask her something too… and besides, I doubt Melody has visited her."
Iris looked down at her fingers, thinking.
"Melody always calls Celine her best friend," she said slowly. "But if she's the one behind this… I doubt she'd hesitate to throw Celine under the carriage."
"Exactly," Zarah said, a hint of mischief in her tone. "All the more reason to go visit your dragonfly."
Iris made a face, turning away.
"It's been days. Drop that already," she muttered.
Then she looked back.
"Wouldn't we need permission to enter the Imperial prison?"
Zarah nodded.
"Yes. But there's another way."
Iris narrowed her eyes.
"…Another way?"
"Lady Peirce," Zarah said with a grin. "If we act concerned and ask her nicely, she can get us in. Send a maid — say you need her help choosing accessories."
Iris's suspicion deepened.
"And how do you know she's still in the palace? That wasn't in the webcomic."
Zarah grinned wider.
"I'm omnipotent."
Iris rolled her eyes and shoved a pillow into her face.
"Spill it, Zar. Come on!"
Zarah laughed, falling back onto the bed, the pillow muffling her voice.
Brightening Iris's mood again?
Success.
She pulled the pillow away.
"While I was leaving Her Majesty's chamber, I overheard the maids. The Empress Dowager requested Lady Peirce to stay… and Duke Zepher remained for the investigation."
Iris nodded, absorbing that.
Then her gaze softened.
"…Are you okay?"
Zarah blinked.
"Why wouldn't I be? If you mean Her Majesty, then yes, I'm fi—"
"Not that," Iris interrupted gently. "I mean… Duke Zepher."
Zarah stilled.
Iris continued carefully.
"You said in the webcomic that the entire Zepher family died. But he's alive… which means…"
She hesitated.
"…you're related, right?"
Zarah didn't respond.
Iris went on.
"I asked Penny yesterday, after you left for the Empress's chamber. She said Duke Nolan Zepher is the younger brother of Duke Sebastian Zepher."
Her voice softened further.
"When the massacre happened… he was only twelve. Maybe that's why he survived."
A pause.
"But the rest of the family died. And his newborn niece was never found…"
Iris swallowed.
"People believe she was torn apart by wild animals in the forest."
Her eyes met Zarah's.
"But… you're alive."
"…You're his niece."
Zarah's fingers tightened around the bedsheet.
She lowered her head.
She had never known them.
The Zepher family had only ever been words on a page.
A tragedy in a story.
But now—
After eighteen years of living as Zarah in this world—
something twisted painfully in her chest.
A longing.
A guilt she couldn't quite explain.
A quiet, aching pull toward something she had never even had.
Family.
And all of it…
because of a prophecy.
Zarah had never even seen the future.
Had the Goddess's blessing been false?
No.
That wasn't possible.
Aelthrya did not lie.
"Iree… do you think the Goddess's blessing failed… because I'm not the original Zarah?"
Zarah's voice was quiet, her head lowered.
Iris frowned immediately and moved closer, gently cupping Zarah's face and lifting it.
"What do you mean it failed?" she asked.
Zarah hesitated.
"I can't see the future—"
She didn't get to finish.
Iris let out a soft laugh and tugged lightly at Zarah's cheeks.
"Zar… you're being silly again."
Zarah blinked.
"You read a webcomic from another world," Iris continued. "You already know the future. Why would you need to see it again?"
Her tone softened, but her eyes stayed firm.
"And you're trying to make sure Her Majesty doesn't die, right? That means you're protecting her."
A small pause.
"You're fulfilling the prophecy exactly as it was meant to be."
Zarah's eyes widened.
Iris was right.
She did know the future.
But—
"…I'm still not the original Zarah," she said quietly.
Iris scoffed.
She let go of Zarah's face, only to grab her shoulders and shake her slightly.
"Who decides that?" she shot back. "Original? Fake? From another world? Who gets to define that?"
Her grip tightened.
"You're Zarah. The Zarah I know."
Her voice grew more intense.
"The one everyone else knows."
"Maybe the Zarah in that webcomic died. Maybe she was never meant to survive."
A breath.
"But you did."
Her expression softened, but her words didn't lose their weight.
"You're the one who's here. You're the one who knows what's coming."
"Maybe you're the one the Goddess actually meant all along."
Zarah's lips parted slightly.
"So who are you to decide whether you're real or not?" Iris finished. "All I know is this—"
A small, certain smile.
"You're the only Zarah I've ever known."
"And that's enough."
Zarah's vision blurred as tears gathered in her eyes.
A soft, breathless laugh escaped her.
"…Yeah."
She leaned forward and wrapped her arms around Iris.
"I am Zarah."
A small pause.
"The one and only."
Iris smiled, her hand coming up to gently pat Zarah's back as she returned the hug.
They stayed like that for a while.