Amelia never let the baby leave her arms during the three months she was allowed to spend after giving birth. She didn't even allow Louis to hold him. She acted as sensitively as an animal that had just given birth.
“Leave it alone.”
But if you think about it, Amelia was sensitive even before she gave birth. More precisely, after her coming-of-age night.
“You’re going to force another man into my bedroom without even knowing if I’m pregnant or not?”
Amelia trembled and rebelled. She told him to wait at least two months, and that it wouldn't be too late to come in after that. It was only natural that she wouldn't be happy spending the night with a stranger whose face she didn't even know.
“Yes. Three months. Let’s wait and see.”
Aaron must have thought so too, because he said he would wait and see. In any case, if Amelia started to scream and resist, it would be difficult for them to resolve the issue quietly.
But unexpectedly, Amelia got pregnant right away. Naturally, there was no need to let another man into Amelia's bedroom.
“I will do it.”
“Yes? How could a Priestess do something like that...”
“I’ll do everything, including breastfeeding and washing the baby, so don’t let anyone touch the baby. Do you understand?”
Even though things were getting better, Amelia was more sensitive than before. She couldn't stand anyone approaching her like a wounded cat abandoned on the street.
“I told you not to touch it!”
She would get dizzy just seeing someone touch the child while she was away for a moment.
By this time, it was beginning to dawn on Louis that she wasn't just being sensitive. If Louis was suspicious enough, Aaron must have been keeping an eye on Amelia before then. And sure enough, Louis was given the order to check on the child's condition.
“...”
Amelia, who had breastfed her baby to her heart's content, left the room. She probably went to the bathroom or something. Louis, who couldn't even see the baby's face properly, cautiously approached the baby sleeping on the bed.
“There’s nothing special about it, so why are you making such a fuss?”
But the sleeping child was small and ordinary. It was only a little bit strange to suspect Amelia of something unusual. Louis began to think that mothers naturally become that sensitive after giving birth to children.
“Who is taking my child away?”
Louis, who had been muttering, paused. Well, come to think of it, the Amelias of the previous generation had never been able to hold a child in their arms and raise them. They must have been very proud to have given birth to a child from a man they had never seen before, but when they came to their senses, they would have been completely snatched away. If Amelia knew that fact, she might have felt terrified.
“Both mother and daughter have strange fates.”
Louis clicked her tongue and put her hand on the child's hat. It was disheveled, so she was trying to straighten it out.
“...?”
The little bit of hair that was visible under the hat looked strange. It was obvious that black hair should be showing at least a little bit, but it looked like there was no hair at all.
"What are you doing?"
Louis was about to take off his hat when a cold voice pierced Louis's ears. Louis flinched, took her hand off the child, and took a step back.
“Oh, I thought her hat was crooked, so I was going to fix it for her.”
And she smiled as if there was no malice in it. Amelia crossed the threshold of the bedroom, watching Louis' movements with her eyes.
“But I guess the baby’s hair hasn’t grown yet. I don’t think I can see a single hair.”
“It seems like she’s growing up a little late.”
Louis brought up the topic wittily. Amelia calmly made an excuse that the child seemed to be developing slowly. Louis’s eyes sharpened. Amelia was pretending to have a normal face, but her pupils were trembling slightly.
“Is there anything that hurts?”
Louis blurted out the words. It was so natural that it was hard to see any particular intention behind her words.
“You only have to have a baby once. If she gets sick, it’s a big deal. Why don’t you go see a doctor?”
And he suggested that she see a doctor, saying that the child might be sick. Unless she was hiding something, it was a suggestion that Amelia had no reason to refuse.
“No, I don’t think it’s necessary. She's already sleeping well. And she's eating well, too.”
“I see. Yes, I understand.”
But Amelia awkwardly smiled and declined the offer. Louis didn’t ask Amelia a second time. She just smiled and nodded slightly before leaving Amelia’s bedroom.
“Tell the High Priest that it is time to return.”
There was no need to force it. It would only provoke unnecessary resistance from Amelia. All he had to do was swing it.
“...”
Amelia blinked her eyes and dug her fingernails. She had been anxious all night and couldn't sleep.
The memory of yesterday was vivid. The way Louis' eyes calmly scanned Amelia’s face, and the trajectory of her gaze as it finally touched the child and then left. It seemed as though Louis had noticed.
“What should I do?”
She knows that she can't postpone the separation from her child forever. She also knows that she can't hide the gender of her child forever. Just having her child by her side now was a favor to Amelia.
“What should we do, Ian?”
The steps naturally led to the crib. The light began to slant over the soft, delicate skin.
“Ian.”
Amelia called the baby's name in a pitiful voice. It was a name she had thought about for a long time, but had never called in front of others. It was also a name she would never be able to call in the future.
“My baby...”
The name Ian was taken from Ivan. Perhaps it was because there was only one letter difference, or perhaps it was because the shadow of his father still flashed across the face of a young child. Amelia naturally recalled the face she had missed.
The moment she heard a knock on the bedroom door, tears welled up in her eyes. She had a gut feeling that she would soon meet her end with her child. She knew that she would not be able to protect the last traces of Ivan with her own strength.
“You’re awake?”
Louis opened the bedroom door and came in, even though she hadn't given her permission to come in. There was a cool air mixed with her smiling face. Louis was also Aaron's cousin. There was no way the bloodline of that family had gone anywhere.
“The High Priest sent a letter. He said that he wanted the Priestess to return now.”
“Oh, the child...”
“Originally, the child should have been sent straight to Count Skipper’s villa, but the Priestess is very attached to her.”
Louis' gaze turned to the crib. Amelia stood between them, protecting Ian from Louis.
“Let’s go together for now. There are still days left before we get permission to stay with the baby. We can also say that we picked up an abandoned baby while we were exploring different places.”
Of course, Louis didn't care at all about Amelia's protective attitude. She just offered to be kind and let her spend as much time with the child as she was allowed.
“I’ll have you bring your luggage later. For now, please take the carriage. I’ve already sent a carriage for you so that you can get there comfortably.”
In fact, it was almost like a mockery, telling people not to rebel in vain, since they would inevitably end up revealing the secret.
“I’ll help you get dressed.”
Louis brought Amelia's clothes hanging on the wall. She helped her take off her nightgown and change into her clothes. Originally, she had received service from maids, but here, Louis was helping Amelia.
It was a natural thing. If you want to keep a secret, you have to have a few people who know about it. Everyone who knows about what's going on here will die. There was no need to go to the trouble of killing all the servants.
“Should I hold the baby?”
Louis' gaze turned to Ian, who was beginning to whine. Amelia hurried over to the bed and picked up the child.
“I thought so. Take her out.”
As if he knew it, Louis went out without looking back. Amelia's gaze turned to the baby in her arms.
“Good.”
Ian quickly calmed down as shr rocked his body to soothe him. In fact, it seemed that he found comfort in his mother's body temperature rather than in the soothing actions. Ian was such a kind and gentle baby.
"Sorry."
Amelia muttered softly. Her feelings of longing and guilt crossed over countless times.
Wouldn't it have been better if she had left the baby in the hands of a midwife and run away right after giving birth? If she could go back in time, she would have done that. Or if she could have died here and protected Ian, she would have done that.
“Your Ladyship!”
But that's unlikely to be possible.
Outside, Louis could be heard calling for Amelia. Amelia reluctantly started to walk, like an animal being dragged by a leash.
“Let’s go!”
The door closed quietly with Amelia's back to the door. The clatter of the carriage wheels was the last noise left in the space.
“Leave it alone.”
But if you think about it, Amelia was sensitive even before she gave birth. More precisely, after her coming-of-age night.
“You’re going to force another man into my bedroom without even knowing if I’m pregnant or not?”
Amelia trembled and rebelled. She told him to wait at least two months, and that it wouldn't be too late to come in after that. It was only natural that she wouldn't be happy spending the night with a stranger whose face she didn't even know.
“Yes. Three months. Let’s wait and see.”
Aaron must have thought so too, because he said he would wait and see. In any case, if Amelia started to scream and resist, it would be difficult for them to resolve the issue quietly.
But unexpectedly, Amelia got pregnant right away. Naturally, there was no need to let another man into Amelia's bedroom.
“I will do it.”
“Yes? How could a Priestess do something like that...”
“I’ll do everything, including breastfeeding and washing the baby, so don’t let anyone touch the baby. Do you understand?”
Even though things were getting better, Amelia was more sensitive than before. She couldn't stand anyone approaching her like a wounded cat abandoned on the street.
“I told you not to touch it!”
She would get dizzy just seeing someone touch the child while she was away for a moment.
By this time, it was beginning to dawn on Louis that she wasn't just being sensitive. If Louis was suspicious enough, Aaron must have been keeping an eye on Amelia before then. And sure enough, Louis was given the order to check on the child's condition.
“...”
Amelia, who had breastfed her baby to her heart's content, left the room. She probably went to the bathroom or something. Louis, who couldn't even see the baby's face properly, cautiously approached the baby sleeping on the bed.
“There’s nothing special about it, so why are you making such a fuss?”
But the sleeping child was small and ordinary. It was only a little bit strange to suspect Amelia of something unusual. Louis began to think that mothers naturally become that sensitive after giving birth to children.
“Who is taking my child away?”
Louis, who had been muttering, paused. Well, come to think of it, the Amelias of the previous generation had never been able to hold a child in their arms and raise them. They must have been very proud to have given birth to a child from a man they had never seen before, but when they came to their senses, they would have been completely snatched away. If Amelia knew that fact, she might have felt terrified.
“Both mother and daughter have strange fates.”
Louis clicked her tongue and put her hand on the child's hat. It was disheveled, so she was trying to straighten it out.
“...?”
The little bit of hair that was visible under the hat looked strange. It was obvious that black hair should be showing at least a little bit, but it looked like there was no hair at all.
"What are you doing?"
Louis was about to take off his hat when a cold voice pierced Louis's ears. Louis flinched, took her hand off the child, and took a step back.
“Oh, I thought her hat was crooked, so I was going to fix it for her.”
And she smiled as if there was no malice in it. Amelia crossed the threshold of the bedroom, watching Louis' movements with her eyes.
“But I guess the baby’s hair hasn’t grown yet. I don’t think I can see a single hair.”
“It seems like she’s growing up a little late.”
Louis brought up the topic wittily. Amelia calmly made an excuse that the child seemed to be developing slowly. Louis’s eyes sharpened. Amelia was pretending to have a normal face, but her pupils were trembling slightly.
“Is there anything that hurts?”
Louis blurted out the words. It was so natural that it was hard to see any particular intention behind her words.
“You only have to have a baby once. If she gets sick, it’s a big deal. Why don’t you go see a doctor?”
And he suggested that she see a doctor, saying that the child might be sick. Unless she was hiding something, it was a suggestion that Amelia had no reason to refuse.
“No, I don’t think it’s necessary. She's already sleeping well. And she's eating well, too.”
“I see. Yes, I understand.”
But Amelia awkwardly smiled and declined the offer. Louis didn’t ask Amelia a second time. She just smiled and nodded slightly before leaving Amelia’s bedroom.
“Tell the High Priest that it is time to return.”
There was no need to force it. It would only provoke unnecessary resistance from Amelia. All he had to do was swing it.
***
“...”
Amelia blinked her eyes and dug her fingernails. She had been anxious all night and couldn't sleep.
The memory of yesterday was vivid. The way Louis' eyes calmly scanned Amelia’s face, and the trajectory of her gaze as it finally touched the child and then left. It seemed as though Louis had noticed.
“What should I do?”
She knows that she can't postpone the separation from her child forever. She also knows that she can't hide the gender of her child forever. Just having her child by her side now was a favor to Amelia.
“What should we do, Ian?”
The steps naturally led to the crib. The light began to slant over the soft, delicate skin.
“Ian.”
Amelia called the baby's name in a pitiful voice. It was a name she had thought about for a long time, but had never called in front of others. It was also a name she would never be able to call in the future.
“My baby...”
The name Ian was taken from Ivan. Perhaps it was because there was only one letter difference, or perhaps it was because the shadow of his father still flashed across the face of a young child. Amelia naturally recalled the face she had missed.
The moment she heard a knock on the bedroom door, tears welled up in her eyes. She had a gut feeling that she would soon meet her end with her child. She knew that she would not be able to protect the last traces of Ivan with her own strength.
“You’re awake?”
Louis opened the bedroom door and came in, even though she hadn't given her permission to come in. There was a cool air mixed with her smiling face. Louis was also Aaron's cousin. There was no way the bloodline of that family had gone anywhere.
“The High Priest sent a letter. He said that he wanted the Priestess to return now.”
“Oh, the child...”
“Originally, the child should have been sent straight to Count Skipper’s villa, but the Priestess is very attached to her.”
Louis' gaze turned to the crib. Amelia stood between them, protecting Ian from Louis.
“Let’s go together for now. There are still days left before we get permission to stay with the baby. We can also say that we picked up an abandoned baby while we were exploring different places.”
Of course, Louis didn't care at all about Amelia's protective attitude. She just offered to be kind and let her spend as much time with the child as she was allowed.
“I’ll have you bring your luggage later. For now, please take the carriage. I’ve already sent a carriage for you so that you can get there comfortably.”
In fact, it was almost like a mockery, telling people not to rebel in vain, since they would inevitably end up revealing the secret.
“I’ll help you get dressed.”
Louis brought Amelia's clothes hanging on the wall. She helped her take off her nightgown and change into her clothes. Originally, she had received service from maids, but here, Louis was helping Amelia.
It was a natural thing. If you want to keep a secret, you have to have a few people who know about it. Everyone who knows about what's going on here will die. There was no need to go to the trouble of killing all the servants.
“Should I hold the baby?”
Louis' gaze turned to Ian, who was beginning to whine. Amelia hurried over to the bed and picked up the child.
“I thought so. Take her out.”
As if he knew it, Louis went out without looking back. Amelia's gaze turned to the baby in her arms.
“Good.”
Ian quickly calmed down as shr rocked his body to soothe him. In fact, it seemed that he found comfort in his mother's body temperature rather than in the soothing actions. Ian was such a kind and gentle baby.
"Sorry."
Amelia muttered softly. Her feelings of longing and guilt crossed over countless times.
Wouldn't it have been better if she had left the baby in the hands of a midwife and run away right after giving birth? If she could go back in time, she would have done that. Or if she could have died here and protected Ian, she would have done that.
“Your Ladyship!”
But that's unlikely to be possible.
Outside, Louis could be heard calling for Amelia. Amelia reluctantly started to walk, like an animal being dragged by a leash.
“Let’s go!”
The door closed quietly with Amelia's back to the door. The clatter of the carriage wheels was the last noise left in the space.
Support Novellate!
Comments
Post a Comment