In the end, Ivan did not come until the midnight bell rang. Even after midnight, it was the same, even if she waited a long time. Amelia had to return to her bedroom that night without any results.
“...”
Why on earth didn't you come?
Four more days had passed since then, and Amelia still couldn't figure out why. It was Ivan who had suggested that they meet next week. Of course, Amelia had meant to say the same thing herself, but Ivan had taken the initiative.
“Your Ladyship.”
If that's the case, doesn't that mean Ivan wanted to meet her again?
“Priest?”
Amelia, who had been chewing her fingernails and lost in thought like that Saturday morning when she returned home without meeting Ivan, looked up in surprise.
“What were you thinking that made you so surprised?”
Louis asked in a puzzled voice. It was natural, since it would be an incomprehensible behavior.
“No, just.”
Amelia trailed off, her voice trailing off.
“Stop biting your nails. You are supposed to be an example to this temple.”
Louis's gaze, which was secretly spicy, fell on Amelia and then fell. It was telling her not to do anything reckless in front of everyone.
"Yes."
Amelia answered obediently and turned her gaze forward. Then, numerous priests appeared on the path leading to the prayer room in the west wing, where only nobles gathered.
“...”
Amelia's eyes darted between them, wondering if Ivan was among them. But even when she reached the door of the prayer room, Amelia couldn't find Ivan.
“The Priestess has arrived.”
Even though they were in the same palace, why was it so hard to see each other's faces? She thought about it, but it was actually natural when she thought about it. Ivan was a 'corrupt' priest in the temple, so much so that he liked to go out and hang out at bars. It was unlikely that he would faithfully attend daytime services.
“Your Ladyship.”
Even while thinking that way, it was difficult to stop following Ivan’s trail with her eyes. Until Aaron, who had been watching the scene, called out to Amelia quietly.
“Is there anyone you are looking for?”
“Oh, no.”
Amelia quickly denied it. No secret could be revealed to Aaron, especially if Ivan was an apprentice priest whose life could be at stake at his behest.
“Please come in.”
Aaron's voice pushed Amelia's back. Amelia walked calmly past the nobles watching her.
Priestesses usually prayed to the gods alone, but sometimes they prayed together in the prayer rooms of the commoners and the nobles. Of course, this was only a facade. Most of the time, it was a play with a purpose or to show off the Priestess's presence.
“There is a sick child.”
Amelia finally turned around as she climbed the stairs leading to the stage. At the same time, the child burst into tears. It was clear that the child had burst into tears because the parent had twisted his delicate flesh or because of some kind of shock.
“Come here.”
The child's mother approached Amelia. Amelia looked down at the little baby in her arms. There were red spots all over its face.
“...”
It was fake. It was just a realistically drawn spot. Unlike the fever of the child that Amelia had once voluntarily placed her hand on and wished for his health.
It was a natural thing. Today’s play was a play in that sense. The blessings that were previously given to commoner babies were not so beautiful on the outside, and there were hardly any eyes watching them, except for the priests.
“In the name of the Lord Mary.”
They won't let her do anything that could endanger her health. They won't even consider a person who is useless and insignificant. They won't care if she dies and disappears at any time. It was a disgusting mission.
“Health and blessings....”
Amelia looked up. Her eyes met Aaron's, who had a soft smile on his face. Amelia, who was moving like a puppet with her arms and legs tied, seemed satisfied with the script.
***
“Why didn’t you go see the Priestess?”
Rodan asked. Ivan, who was absentmindedly turning the pages of a book, turned his gaze to Rodan.
“I don’t feel like it.”
And he answered simply. Ivan was a somewhat impulsive person, so it was not an incomprehensible answer.
“Are you not planning on going this week either?”
Ivan rolled his eyes slowly at Rodan's words. Last week, he simply did not act impulsively. He had not thought about whether he would meet Amelia or not this week.
"Well."
Ivan said briefly. If you feel like it, go; if you don't feel like it, don't go. That was the extent of his feelings.
“Isn’t it time to sort things out now?”
Rodan opened his mouth softly. As Ivan's servant and the Emperor's subject, he could not be allowed to work only when he felt like it.
"Short things out?"
“The existence of a Priestess.”
Rodan had no intention of taking any more risks. Ivan seemed to be letting his guard down because he had never been caught, but he couldn't help but worry. It was time to avoid a full-blown conflict between the temple and the imperial family.
“It doesn’t have much meaning, so it’s probably something you can easily throw away. In that case, wouldn’t it be better to get rid of it now?”
Contrary to what Ivan had said with great confidence, he had not received any information specifically from Amelia. It had been like that until now, so how could it be different in the future? Rodan did not have high expectations. Perhaps, since they had come this far, Ivan would feel the same way.
“I will send someone to meet the Priestess at the appointed time. I will choose a guy who will not cause trouble.”
Maybe the story of the trust was so loud that it just made him want to kill her.
“...”
Rodan believed that his guess was not wrong. Ivan, who was quite clear about his opinions, did not object to his words. He even seemed to be struggling.
“Do as you wish.”
Ivan answered belatedly. In the end, he was saying to do as Rodan wished.
“I will prepare.”
Rodan bowed his head and left Ivan's office. Ivan, who was left alone in the office after Rodan left, stared at the closed door as if glaring. It was because he wanted to find fault with Rodan's words. To some extent, he even felt hesitant about the decision he had made.
Ivan's gaze moved to the book on the table. It was a book containing the diaries of previous Emperors.
On July 31st of the 30th year of the Esclip calendar, a woman who claimed to be God's representative appeared.
The day the Priestess first appeared. And the moment she took control of Escliffe by calling the world. The time when the oracle was fulfilled. A woman who cured sick people and survived alone during an epidemic. A mythical story of saving people on the verge of death.
An assassin was sent to kill the Priestess, but failed. Public sympathy for the Priestess grew, and the number of believers increased, so it cannot be said that it was anything other than a painful mistake.
The Escliff Imperial Family sent assassins to eliminate the threatening Priestess. However, the moment the rumors of the Imperial Family sending assassins repeatedly began to circulate on the streets, the Imperial Family lost trust.
A pitiful agent of God. A Priestess persecuted by the power-hungry royal family.
It was not a good situation, since what the Priestess held in her hand was faith in God. From then on, the imperial family pretended to maintain a proper relationship with the temple. They could not kill her at will. However, as if they liked that peace, there were some members of the imperial family who actually believed in the existence of the Priestess.
“If that’s the case, then you should have just converted to religion.”
Ivan spoke blasphemously, recalling the 8th Emperor and his wife. The 8th Emperor gave power to the temples and Priestesses, like a fool in love.
The temple did not miss the moment and dug in, spreading like a spider web within the imperial family. Its influence has continued to this day. The Emperors of the past suffered from lethargy and even lost control, and as a result, many of them remained in the shadow of the temple. Originally, the temple should have been regarded as a power opposing the imperial family, or as a force that checked it.
They must eliminate this source so that something like this never happens again.
Ivan's gaze stopped at the last words spoken by his father, the 14th Emperor.
“Ivan.”
At the same time, Ivan reflexively recalled the face of the harmless woman who had been smiling at him.
“There’s nothing I can do.”
But that face didn't influence his decision-making. It was only his thoughts that influenced his decisions.
“...”
He guessed that the brief hesitation just before was because he couldn't use Amelia as he had intended. It was definitely a shame that he couldn't use her as he had intended.
But if the Priestess disappears in any way, that's the end of it. Those who falsify the will of the gods will lose their center of gravity, and unless they put someone else forward, they will naturally fall. So, when there is a chance, it is better to kill the Priestess while pretending that the imperial family is not involved.
“I'm glad I met you.”
Ivan closed the cover of the thick book out loud, as if trying to drown out the whispering voice.
“Because we couldn’t live under the same sky anyway.”
If Amelia dies, the tragedy might better be labeled the collusion of a derailed apprentice priest and an infidel.
“...”
That's the end of it. It wasn't that big of a deal.
***
I definitely thought so, but why am I here?
Ivan sighed with a tired expression. His breath was mixed with an expression of not understanding himself for opening the door to the prayer room.
“Ivan.”
Just as Ivan was closing the door to the prayer room, a familiar voice greeted him.
“You came...!”
Amelia, who was sitting on the stage, couldn't contain her joy and jumped up from her seat. She then walked towards Ivan. With each step, a light that was divided into several parts poured down. Ivan stared meaninglessly at the face that was smiling brightly.
Every time Amelia walked towards Ivan, the hem of her white skirt would flutter and sweep across the floor.
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