Chapter 1: The Tea That Put Me to Sleep

From where Lilith’s thighs pressed down, she could feel the subtle friction of silk.

As a great archmage in her past life, Bai Jin had never experienced such a sensation.

‘To become a pretty girl and get to cuddle with a little cutie like this… this is fantastic!’

Lilith leaned down, her golden hair falling and blocking the dazzling morning light.
Her faint breath ghosted across Bai Jin’s face, carrying a pleasant floral scent.

Cheeks with a rosy tint on fair skin, a small and delicate nose, and pink lips curved into a beautiful arc.

Bai Jin turned her head away, trying to avoid the other’s burning gaze.
“I’ve told you so many times not to pounce on me so suddenly…”

“Because Sister has been acting a little strange since you woke up.”
Lilith’s smile widened, like a blossoming flower.

“Sister, you’re enjoying this, aren’t you~”

“Knock, knock.”

A knock came from the locked door, breaking the silence.
“Miss, your morning tea is ready.”

“Never mind, I’ll help Sister get dressed. I’ve prepared a little surprise for you today.”

In these three days, Bai Jin had already grown accustomed to the tedious process of putting on formal dresses.
Looking at herself in the mirror, dressed in a gorgeous Lolita-style dress, Bai Jin couldn’t help but sigh in admiration.
‘This extravagant noble life is pretty great.’

Although she didn’t have any superpowers, becoming a noble, living a life she had never imagined, and reaching the pinnacle of existence…

On the food trolley pushed over by the maid, a gilded three-tiered stand held various tea snacks, and a gilded tea set studded with rubies glittered brightly.

Bai Jin looked at this tea set, something she probably couldn’t have afforded even with a lifetime of hard work in her past life, now casually placed before her, filled with steaming black tea.

The scones drizzled with gold foil and the heart-shaped truffle chocolates made Bai Jin swallow hard.

“If Sister likes them, please enjoy them soon.”
Lilith picked up a knife and fork, pierced a macaron, and dipped it in red fruit jam before putting it in her mouth.

Bai Jin awkwardly copied Lilith’s movements, eating with a knife and fork.
Having used chopsticks her whole life, she was really struggling with the knife and fork.

“Sister, I have one piece of bad news and one piece of good news to share with you, about us. Which one would you like to hear first?”

Lilith picked up a napkin to dab the jam from the corner of her mouth, smiling as she looked at Bai Jin.

“Is this the surprise you mentioned? Then let’s hear the bad news first.”
Bai Jin lifted her teacup and blew on it gently to cool it down; she always saved the best for last.

“Alright then~”
Lilith cupped her chin with both hands.
“The funds allocated by the Royal Court probably won’t last until the end of the month.”

Bai Jin had just taken a sip of black tea, and before she could even savor it, she almost spat it out.

‘What does that mean? My noble life is about to end just as it’s beginning? What kind of royal noble has to wait for an allocation of funds?’

Bai Jin’s hands trembled as she set down the teacup.
“Then what’s the good news?”

Lilith’s smile grew even brighter.
She tugged on the silver chain around her neck, took the silver cross pendant, and pressed it to her forehead.
A crimson crest slowly emerged.

“The good news is, I have long since become a Saintess of the Royal Court.”

After saying this, Lilith stared intently at Bai Jin’s every move, as if anticipating her reaction.

‘Royal Court?’
Bai Jin heard this term from Lilith’s lips again.
‘Is it a theocracy, or…’

Bai Jin forced a strained smile.
“Well then, congratulations to Lilith on becoming a Saintess.”

Bai Jin had no idea what this actually meant, but since Lilith said it was good news, offering some pleasantries should be fine, right?

Lilith’s smile became even more radiant, but her gaze turned sharp.

Being stared at like that made Bai Jin’s hair stand on end.
‘Thinking it over, I shouldn’t have slipped up anywhere, right?’

Right now, all she wanted was to be a wicked noble, living a life of debauchery and luxury, as long as she could hide her identity as a transmigrator from Lilith.

‘But without any of the original owner’s memories, how can I keep up this act? I can only hope my behavior over the past few days has been in line with a noble’s temperament.’

Thinking of this, Bai Jin picked up her teacup again, wanting to calm her nerves.

“You’re not actually my sister, are you~? Is that right?”

The sudden words made Bai Jin freeze.
She forced herself to remain calm.
“My dear sister, what nonsense are you spouting.”

Lilith laughed out loud.
“Because Sister, you’re really strange.”

“For example, she hated corrupt nobles the most.”

The atmosphere grew heavy.
Lilith’s words sent a wave of panic through Bai Jin’s heart.
The more she tried to calm down, the more her hand, holding the teacup, trembled uncontrollably.

“And another example, my dear sister, you are a sworn enemy of the Holy Blood Royal Court.”
Lilith removed the silver cross pendant.
“If Sister knew I had become a Saintess of the Royal Court, she would definitely kill me~”

“But you, you who occupy my sister’s body, you do nothing, enjoying all of this with a clear conscience.”
Lilith’s tone turned icy.

Bai Jin’s heart pounded violently.
‘How the hell was I supposed to know the original owner’s identity? So the noble life of these past three days was all an act?’

‘That seemingly innocent Lilith is actually a cunning and manipulative schemer?’

Seeing that she could no longer hide it, Bai Jin prepared to make a run for it.

She shot to her feet, but the intense emotional fluctuation brought on a wave of dizziness.

“Sigh, to think you didn’t notice the problem with these tea snacks from beginning to end.”
Lilith spread her hands, her voice filled with disappointment.

“My dear sister is extremely cautious about everything she puts in her mouth.”

The intense dizziness caused Bai Jin’s vision to double.
‘This time, I’ve really fallen for it.’

She supported herself with both hands on the table, looking at the cup of tea that had turned blood-red, and spat out a few words.
“You actually… drugged the tea…”

With that, she collapsed, losing consciousness.

A sharp pain shot up from her spine to the back of her head.
Bai Jin awoke with a start to the smell of rust.

In the dim room, only a few candles flickered.
Rusted iron chains were tightly bound around Bai Jin’s body, securing her to a cross.

The candlelight stretched Lilith’s shadow long, a wide divine robe draped over her small frame.

The young girl stood on her toes, stroking the chains on the cross.
Only then did Bai Jin see clearly that the chains were forged from countless miniature crosses, each one engraved with “Bai Jin Lancaster.”

“Sister, did you know?”
Lilith gently caressed Bai Jin’s cheek.
“Ever since you died, I’ve made a cross on the anniversary of your death every year.”

“Why… why did you leave me alone in this cruel world…”

Bai Jin tried to struggle, but every movement sent a piercing pain through her.
It was as if these cross-shaped chains were embedded in her flesh.

Looking at the melancholic expression on Lilith’s face, Bai Jin wanted to try and keep up the act, hoping her “dear sister” would let her go.

“It’s alright, I’m back now, aren’t I?”

But Lilith slapped Bai Jin hard across the face.
“You are not my sister at all.”

“Saying everything was for my own good, do you have any idea how I’ve lived these past five hundred years? Huh!?”