chapter 9

After being reborn for so long,

I finally realized that a single tear from Xiao Qi in my previous life had become a Cinnabar Mole on my wrist.

I was stunned for a long time.

Until a crisp child’s voice pulled me back to reality.

“Goddess, why are you able to pray for rain?”

I lowered my head and met a pair of clear black-and-white eyes.

During these days since my rebirth,

I had been busy gaining the Emperor’s trust,

busy plotting my revenge,

but had neglected the most important Little Highness.

Such a small child, always trailing behind me like a little tail.

“Goddess, Goddess,” he would ask endlessly.

I could never refuse his requests.

I pushed open the window lattice, letting the moonlight flood the hall.

“Little Highness, did you hear that?”

Xiao Qi was taken aback.

“…The wind?”

“Yes.” I smiled. “And it’s an east wind.”

“So, tomorrow will be a fine day.”

One leaf falls and you know autumn is coming to the world.

How could a little beggar, who dined on the wind and slept in the dew, predict thunder and avoid storms?

It all depended on these things:

The brilliance of the sun, the direction of the wind, the shape of the clouds.

Xiao Qi understood immediately.

He seemed thoughtful.

“Before that rain, what did the Goddess see?”

“A sun halo,” I told him softly.

“That’s why I dared to assert there would be rain at midnight.”

After getting his answer, Xiao Qi stared at me for a long time.

So long that a vague unease rose in my heart.

I bit my lip without betraying any emotion.

Would he think I was a liar?

But then I heard his clear, childish voice-

“Goddess, I feel like you are familiar to me.”

“As if I’ve seen you somewhere before.”

The candlestick in my hand nearly toppled.

“Really?”

My smile was a little forced.

It would be better if he thought I was a liar.

I would rather he never remembered any of that for all eternity.

I would rather he had never met me at all.

Xiao Qi nodded earnestly, then frowned in frustration.

“But I can’t remember.”

I crouched down, wanting to pat his head.

Halfway there, I suddenly felt it would be overstepping, so I smoothed his collar instead.

I said softly, “Perhaps it was in a dream.”

Where could it have been?

His Highness is gentle and compassionate.

Perhaps, in his love for all living things, he has seen me before.