“Who dares to undermine the authority of God?”
When Amelia opened her eyes again, people, who had momentarily forgotten that it was a solemn time for prayer, were bending down slightly and whispering.
“Who is that?”
"North?"
"The lead?"
Aaron, who would normally have thoroughly managed even that small noise, just stood still and watched everything.
“It makes sense for them. They’ve done that before, too...”
Because everything was going according to his plan. Aaron said the more people were in commotion, the better. Amelia took a deep breath in relief. For a moment, her head was spinning.
“It seems like Your Ladyship is tired.”
Aaron, who quickly climbed up onto the stage, grabbed Amelia's arm and supported her.
“I guess we should end our prayer time here today.”
Those who were seated rose up in a commotion. Then they bowed their heads toward Amelia, who was coming down from the stage with Aaron's help.
“...”
It was clearly a fanaticism. As she walked down the carpeted central aisle, Amelia lowered her eyes to the floor in unbearable guilt. She could not bear to look at those who were asking her to pray for them. Whatever the reason, Amelia was deceiving them. There was no point in making excuses.
“Well done.”
Just as she was leaving the prayer room, the door behind her closed, and Aaron's praise rang in Amelia's ears. It was a soft whisper, but it didn't hurt Amelia's feelings of self-loathing.
“Just let me go now.”
Amelia squirmed and tried to get away from Aaron's hand. In fact, his touch was unbearable. A strong sense of rejection arose.
“I have something to tell you anyway, so I have to go to your residence. Please go now.”
But Aaron wouldn't let go. As was always the case with their relationship.
“...”
Amelia kept her mouth shut and walked with him in resignation. Aaron, who was too exhausted to walk properly, accompanied her into the small sitting room next to the bedroom.
“If you have something to say, say it quickly and get out.”
As soon as the door closed, Amelia defiantly slapped Aaron's hand away. As if he had expected such behavior, Aaron calmly grabbed her hand.
“Coming of Age Night.”
Then Aaron dropped the bombshell with a smiling face. He knew that this was the story Amelia least wanted to hear. Since he was the one who was going to bully her anyway, the more intense the rebellion, the more enjoyable it might have been.
“You know there isn’t much time left.”
Amelia bit her lips and looked away from Aaron. However, her trembling eyes clearly showed her emotional turmoil.
“There is one month left.”
Aaron, who was quick-witted, could not help but feel the commotion. Aaron laughed at Amelia and informed her of the remaining period of freedom.
“Until then, I plan to allow you some freedom.”
“...”
“If only you could do it like today.”
The idea was to give them a moderate amount of candy, then hold it in their hands and shake it.
“You know, as a Priestess, you must ensure that the sacred legend continues for the rest of your life.”
Amelia turned her gaze to Aaron at the soothing voice. He was staring at Amelia with a face that everyone unanimously called affectionate.
"Why?"
“...”
“Why must the sacred legend continue? Why can’t it end here?”
His benevolent expression soon turned into a pitiful one.
“You still don’t know that?”
He seemed to be asking how she could still ask the question without knowing the reason.
“Because that’s where your value lies.”
“...That’s it?”
Amelia asked with a trembling voice. A smile slowly appeared on Aaron's lips.
“...”
Silence was the clearest answer. Amelia froze in place like a statue.
“I’m going to go now. I don’t want to cause any unnecessary misunderstandings.”
Aaron turned away from Amelia. Only after he had completely disappeared through the door did she regain her senses. Only then did Amelia realize that her hands were trembling pitifully.
“Leave, leave...”
Even though she held her hands together as if praying, the trembling did not go away. Aaron’s story was not simply about doing one’s duty.
Giving birth to a child was the continuation of a Priestess's life. And it was like the beginning of a life with a limited time limit.
“Run away.”
A feeling of fear swept over her head. It was different from the fear she felt when she encountered a dog. It was a distant despair that she would one day be devoured. It was different from the realistic fear that was immediately before her eyes, but it was a feeling of anxiety that was slowly tightening around her leash. It was the kind that would drive people crazy. Amelia knew that very well.
Amelia's mother also gradually became mad over time. At first, with contempt and anger toward those who had brutally murdered her child, and at some point, with fear toward her own moment of mortality.
“...Where did my mother go?”
She wished time would stop, but it passed as quickly as Amelia grew up. And so, not long ago, Amelia's mother was discarded for having outlived her usefulness.
“Mother? You don’t have a mother, do you?”
And from then on, Aaron treated Amelia like she had fallen from the sky.
“If you give birth to a child, you die. Either the child dies or you die. That’s how life is destined.”
Her mother's voice, which she whispered every time they met, once every few years, was faint but clear. Aaron said that her mother had been crazy for a long time, but Amelia was sure that she had not.
“Run away, please...”
The mother wanted to go crazy, but she couldn't go completely crazy. She just suffered as if she were burning in a fire all her life.
“...”
She really has to run away now.
Amelia's hand turned pale from its own evil power. She knew that if she couldn't escape, she would end up in the same situation as her mother.
***
“He who weakens the power of God is in the north.”
Ivan laughed briefly after hearing the contents of the revelation. His face, chewing over the contents, looked like that of a person who was so happy that he didn't know what to do.
“Is that revelation about Reed or about me?”
Rodan, who would normally have been outspoken to the Emperor, simply kept his mouth shut. Naturally, his master was not happy at all. Rodan, who had been with Ivan for a long time, knew this.
“...”
Ivan looked away from Rodan, who was trying to save his body. He was simply annoyed by the situation and had no intention of harassing his confidant.
“The timing is perfect. Just as I was announcing that I was planning to reestablish diplomatic relations with Reed, you gave me a revelation that there was someone in the North who was going against God’s will.”
Who makes that decision?
If there is a true God, then it must be God's will, and if there is no God, then it must be someone pretending to be God's will. And Ivan's belief was the latter.
“Bring me a cigar.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
At Ivan's command, the attendant hurriedly opened the cigar case. He cut the end and handed it to Ivan. Ivan took a deep drag on the lit cigar and thought.
Who believes this revelation?
“...”
The answer came to him in his exhale. It was a belief that had lasted for a full 200 years. Most Escliffians would believe and follow that. Unless they were non-believers like him.
A stream of thoughts spread out as he took a breath. So what effect would this revelation have on him and the Escliff royal family?
The revelation that God may take away the goodwill and blessings that He has bestowed upon Escliff will be a fear that will sway the majority of Escliffians. That fear will effectively hinder Ivan's efforts and may even tie the hands and feet of the royal family.
“Reestablish diplomatic relations with Reed immediately. Before the rumors spread faster and became uncontrollable.”
But Ivan had no intention of being swayed by the wicked ones as they wished. He had no intention of giving up his plans according to their will.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Rodan also knew the thought and answered obediently. Then, following Ivan's gesture, he left his office.
“Just. I just follow your will.”
Left alone in the office, Ivan recalled the cheeky face and voice that simply followed his will. And the small hands that had been hanging on to him as if they were his lifeline.
"Cheeky..."
A twisted smile appeared on Ivan's lips. He was annoyed that she acted kind and pitiful, but she mocked the honor of the royal family and tried to interfere with him at every opportunity. In fact, she was terribly hateful. That was why she was a woman who should never be left alone.
“I'm glad I met you.”
Ivan swore, recalling the small voice that had told him that she was glad to meet him.
Amelia will not be able to close her eyes and die in peace. She will lose everything she cherished and die a miserable death. He will make her think that she should never have met him, even though she thought it was lucky to have met him.
It was the price she paid for daring to manipulate him, and at the same time, it was a just punishment for a conman who deceived the world.
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