HUAN RAN

In the morning, we made our way back. Karol is driving the horse-drawn carriage. A troop leader became a coachman as well as a bodyguard. This sounded very strange, but Karol persisted. The journey to get there was very tiring. Last night I couldn't sleep well. The children asked me to read them fairy tales. It turns out that the quiet figure of Karol has a busy family. I felt significant drowsiness. Riding the horse-drawn carriage for a long time made my waist hurt like everything was going to break. I used to ride a motorbike when I was travelling. Now my stomach is starting to feel queasy, like I'm motion sickness. It's impossible to faint in front of my lady-in-waiting. During the few days of the journey, I did not move much. The desire to get to the destination is vast.

"We have arrived at our destination, Your Majesty."

I opened my eyes slowly after hearing the words of Lady Yun. To make sure, I opened the window and took a look. A sizeable whitewashed church stood. A beautiful garden and large trees surround it. The church is in the middle of the forest.

"You just wait here together with Lady Yun. I'll go inside myself."

Karol stepped forward with his left foot and right hand. He wanted to prevent. But stopped after remembering the words of The Empress before coming here.

"Yes, Her Highness the Empress." He answered with his face buried. 

I then walked into the church. The room is spacious and clean. A significant cross mark is mounted on the wall. The long chair for people who will pray is made of teak wood and feels smooth. It seems to be done by experienced craftsmen. Two people came to me.

"Did miss come here to pray or want to meet the saintess?"

Those two people are the wings of the Saintess. They work and serve only for the Saintess. Saintess has four branches. Right, left, front and back. Symbol as a shield. The person who becomes the wing must be an unmarried man. God gave their hearts and souls. During his life, he may not have a wife. The body must forever be pure. The Empress was captivated by the two men's good looks. Regrettably, they could not have a wife—a wasted beauty.

"Miss?"

Wings call back. The Empress, who was drooling, then woke up. Back from the dream. The Empress then wiped the saliva that came out immediately.

"I want to meet the saintess."

"The Saintess is praying. Miss can come with us both."

The Empress walked behind the two wings of the Saintess. She was following behind. In front of the Empress on the right had yellow hair and a pretty face. While on the other hand brown hair and a handsome appearance. Like two opposite coins. No doubt. Most of the men in this world have handsome faces. They were even willing to become concubines of a woman. Inside the church, there is a small room. One of the saintess wings opened the door. Saintess is praying. Even though it's only a tiny room, the atmosphere feels different. I feel peace of mind. The restless feeling since leaving the palace has now disappeared. The brown-haired and dashing wing walked up to the Saintess. He then said something. Saintess then looked at my face and walked over.

"Greetings to Her Majesty the Empress. The sun of the northern kingdom."

The Saintess paid her respects to the Empress. Does he know who I am? That's great, just by looking at me. Saintess is indeed a messenger from God.

"I came here to ask for your help."

"I will endeavor to grant Her Highness the Empress' request."

I then raised my face.

"Actually I came from another dimension. My name is Huan Ran. China is where I live. One day I had a car accident. When I woke up and found I was already in this body. The Empress of the Northern Kingdom who has a Harem and several concubines. I want to know how my body used to be. Can I return to my country?"

"Her Highness the Empress. Life is a gift from God. So is the lady. For questions regarding the state of the body when she was left behind. Miss's body has been unconscious for a month. But there was someone occupying that body. Now the body is already doing the activities that the lady did. Regarding the way to get back to where you came from, it seems that you can't come back anymore."

I was surprised to hear that between happy and sad. Happiness is that I'm still alive. Unfortunately, the body now belongs to someone else, and I can't possibly return to my original world.

"Who is the person who entered my body?"

"Miss never met her but you two are connected to each other."

My heart then beat fast. I don't know why I have a terrible feeling. Hear the words of the Saintess. It seems I already know who the person who entered my body is. I then clenched my fists and placed them on my chest.

"Empress Jeong Hui. Was the person who entered my body him?"

The words I said haltingly. As strong as possible to speak. Saintess looked at me sadly. He seemed hard to answer.

"Right. The person inside your body is Empress Jeong Hui. The Empress of the Northern Kingdom."

"How can I talk to Empress Jeong Hui. I want to meet him."

"Okay. I'm going to connect two different dimensions. Miss might be able to see and talk to Empress Jeong Hui."

The Saintess spoke with her two wings. They then left the room. Moments later, the two men brought equipment—a container filled with water and a cross necklace. The container is placed on the table. Saintess and I stood facing each other. The two wings left us alone. Saintess gripped the cross necklace tightly and closed her eyes. Say a prayer. Not long after, the water in the container corrugated. Slowly a place appeared. The room didn't look familiar to me, and there was a girl fast asleep. Huan Ran knew who the girl was.

"This is my body. The two of us swap bodies."

Huan Ran had tears in her eyes.

"Are you ready miss?"

"Yes."

"Miss is now able to speak to Empress Jeong Hui."

Outside the church, Karol stood and leaned his body on the horse-drawn carriage. He then slowly opened his eyes. It had been an hour that Empress Jeong Hui had been inside.

"Do you know why Her Highness the Empress came here?"

Karol spoke with lady Yun. The Empress asked Lady Yun to keep it a secret. The meeting between the Empress and the Saintess even though Lady Yun didn't know why The Empress wanted to meet.

"I don't know sir."

Lady Yun answered in fear. Karol sighed. He wanted to urge her to tell the truth. But he was afraid that The Empress would be angry if something happened to the lady-in-waiting.