Ivan?
Amelia stared at the man for a moment, lost in thought. The bright, vivid blond hair and emerald blue eyes, and face were clearly those of the man Amelia loved.
“...”
Amelia's lips trembled as if she were seeing things. She grabbed the hem of her clothes on her chest and tried to call Ivan's name.
"Your Majesty!"
She heard someone running down the hallway.
“If you suddenly go like this...”
“But I’m right. It looks like all the main characters of today are here.”
The man who appeared with words condemning his rash and reckless actions wiped the sweat from his forehead. However, his master only nodded to Aaron and Amelia, who were standing there dumbly, and answered his servant.
“High Priest, and Your Ladyship. I apologize for the suddenness. This is the Emperor of Escliffe, and I am his servant Rodan.”
As if on his behalf, Rodan bowed deeply and apologized politely. However, Amelia’s eyes were shaking like an aspen tree as she listened to Rodan’s apology.
"Emperor?"
An Emperor. That was Ivan, who was a trainee priest. That Ivan, who was like the wind, freely moved between the temple and the outside. How could that be? Amelia stared at Ivan as if denying reality. It seemed as if she wanted to find differences between him and Ivan, and also as if she wanted to find evidence that he was Ivan.
“...”
Ivan turned his head as if he sensed her gaze. Their eyes met. It was the same eyes in her memory that would shine with a subtle playfulness whenever they met Amelia’s eyes.
"This..."
It was when Amelia was about to call Ivan's name without realizing it.
“Of course, I came unexpectedly, but I’m a little surprised that you didn’t welcome me so warmly.”
It was strange. Ivan's eyes were familiar yet unfamiliar. Beneath the playfulness lay a desolation like the wind of midwinter.
“Oh, should I be the one to say nice to meet you first?”
“...”
“Nice to meet you.”
Ivan raised the corners of his lips and greeted her, as if he were seeing her for the first time.
Three teacups were placed in front of the three people sitting across from each other. Ivan was the first to touch the teacup that was leaking steam. Even though he had barged into the Lriestess’s reception room without warning, he looked confident as if he had nothing to worry about.
“I apologize for being unprepared for your sudden visit.”
“It’s okay. I didn’t come here to receive great treatment. You guys aren’t that interested in the royal family anyway.”
At Ivan's words, Rodan frowned with an embarrassed expression. It seemed as if he wanted to shut his master's mouth.
“I don’t know about you, Priestess, but I am bound to this land. So, as a citizen of Escliffe, I also serve you.”
However, Aaron calmly lowered his body and acted flexibly as if he had no intention of going against Ivan. It was a natural reaction for a man who originally tried to avoid unnecessary conflicts with anyone except Amelia.
“But this is, after all, the residence of a Priestess. In case I say anything nonsense, may I ask the reason for your sudden visit?”
Aaron asked cautiously. Ivan took his time savoring the aroma of the tea and took a sip.
“I want to get some support.”
And then he gave a belated reply. Aaron blinked twice, as if surprised by the unexpected reply.
“What do you mean by sponsorship...?”
Meanwhile, Amelia never took her eyes off Ivan, because she still couldn't tell if he was the Ivan she knew or not.
“It is literally a donation to the temple. As a faithful servant of god.”
Ivan answered slyly.
“Hasn’t the relationship with the temple become lukewarm since the reign of the previous Emperor? Rodan was worried about that.”
And he calmly brought up Rodan's concerns as if he had never been in conflict with the temple. His leisurely manner of enjoying tea really made it seem like Ivan was free from problems with the temple.
“By the way, the Priestess keeps staring at me.”
It was when Amelia was unable to hide her confused expression that Ivan pointed out Amelia's gaze directed at him.
“Is this a familiar face that you’ve seen somewhere?”
Too unexpected, and too direct.
“Her Ladyship is not used to direct encounters or contact with outsiders. That may be the reason why she is acting this way, so please do not be angry.”
Aaron hurriedly made an excuse for Amelia, perhaps because he felt that Ivan was trying to start a fight out of the blue. In the first place, it was hard to see that he had good intentions, considering that he had suddenly come to Amelia's palace without any prior consultation or schedule adjustment.
“...”
So Amelia thought that he was not the Ivan she knew. The Ivan she loved was not so rude, not so arrogant.
“I apologize if I offended you, Your Majesty.”
And above all, he didn't look at Amelia with contempt.
“I found myself staring at you intently because you seemed to resemble someone I know. Please forgive my rudeness.”
When she thought about it that way, the words of apology came out naturally. It was clearly rude to stare at a stranger. She could understand the discomfort he showed. Even the voice that mocked Amelia was similar to 'that' Ivan.
“If that's what you want.”
There's no way Ivan would do that.
It was a trust that went beyond simple belief. Just as believers believe in God, Amelia believed in Ivan’s actions and words. There was no way to break that trust, and the memories that remained for her.
“I accept your apology.”
Ivan accepted Amelia's apology leisurely. Amelia naturally looked away from the Emperor. She had no interest in any man other than Ivan.
“Thank you for your understanding, Your Majesty. However, if it was a donation or support, it could have been delivered through Count Warp.”
There was a subtle chill between Amelia and Ivan. Aaron noticed this and naturally spoke to Ivan, turning his gaze to him.
"Ah."
Ivan let out a short exclamation.
“Of course, that is possible, but then I think it would be difficult for me to ask the Priestess.”
“If you ask me to...”
Aaron asked with a trailing edge. No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn't figure out what Ivan was really thinking, so he kept doubting and questioning his sincerity.
“As I said, the relationship with the temple has been worse since the previous Emperor’s time, and there are many misunderstandings. I want to resolve those misunderstandings. But to do that, I need help.”
Ivan put the teacup down on the saucer. Even in that one light gesture, the countless lessons he had learned and mastered were revealed. It was different from the Ivan who had sat down on the floor without hesitation and touched Amelia.
“Wouldn’t it be nice if we could come to the palace once a month and have tea time?”
“...”
“I have no ill will toward the temple, and the temple trusts me. I think that would be a reasonable explanation.”
Just as Amelia was regaining confidence in her judgment, Ivan showed an overly gentle and cool favor toward the temple.
“I fully understand what you are saying, but...”
As expected, Aaron found it hard to believe Ivan's change of attitude and opened his mouth to express a subtle refusal with a smile. It was impossible to send him out through the wall when he was trying to escape at any moment.
"For a moment."
Ivan raised his hand and cut Aaron off. Aaron looked at Ivan with a puzzled look on his face.
“I can hear a baby crying from somewhere.”
Rodan muttered. For a moment, cold air passed over Aaron's face. It was a look of desperation.
“No way, Rodan. How could you possibly hear a baby crying here?”
Ivan rested his elbows on the table. He naturally rested his chin on his hand and pretended to ask Rodan a question. At that moment, a sharp whine pierced their ears.
“...I don’t think it was a mistake.”
Rodan answered. It was so loud that no one could lie and say no.
“...”
Ivan took the opportunity to leap to his feet and stride toward the door leading to Amelia's bedroom.
“Your Majesty! That is the Priestess’s bedroom!”
Then Aaron quickly got up from his seat and tried to stop him.
“Your Majesty! That is the Priestess’s bedroom!”
Unfortunately, Rodan was a little faster. Rodan pretended to catch Ivan and blocked Aaron's path.
“Yeah. There really is a newborn.”
So before Aaron could catch him, Ivan opened Amelia's bedroom door and barged in. Louis, who was trying to somehow stuff clothes into the child's mouth to shut it, was startled when her eyes met Ivan's.
“There’s no way that guy who was just born could be a priest.”
Ivan approached Louis without a care and pulled out the cloth that had filled the baby's mouth. The boy, who had been coughing dryly, opened his eyes slowly. As if he were desperate to make his presence known to the world and to Ivan.
Brilliant blonde hair, and...
Louis, with a helpless expression on her face, cast a look of urgent need for help.
“And your eyes are as black as the deep night.”
“...”
“Did the Priestess give birth to a child?”
Then Ivan followed the trajectory and asked, casting his gaze behind him. His voice was so full of satisfaction that it sounded like a mockery.
Amelia stared at the man for a moment, lost in thought. The bright, vivid blond hair and emerald blue eyes, and face were clearly those of the man Amelia loved.
“...”
Amelia's lips trembled as if she were seeing things. She grabbed the hem of her clothes on her chest and tried to call Ivan's name.
"Your Majesty!"
She heard someone running down the hallway.
“If you suddenly go like this...”
“But I’m right. It looks like all the main characters of today are here.”
The man who appeared with words condemning his rash and reckless actions wiped the sweat from his forehead. However, his master only nodded to Aaron and Amelia, who were standing there dumbly, and answered his servant.
“High Priest, and Your Ladyship. I apologize for the suddenness. This is the Emperor of Escliffe, and I am his servant Rodan.”
As if on his behalf, Rodan bowed deeply and apologized politely. However, Amelia’s eyes were shaking like an aspen tree as she listened to Rodan’s apology.
"Emperor?"
An Emperor. That was Ivan, who was a trainee priest. That Ivan, who was like the wind, freely moved between the temple and the outside. How could that be? Amelia stared at Ivan as if denying reality. It seemed as if she wanted to find differences between him and Ivan, and also as if she wanted to find evidence that he was Ivan.
“...”
Ivan turned his head as if he sensed her gaze. Their eyes met. It was the same eyes in her memory that would shine with a subtle playfulness whenever they met Amelia’s eyes.
"This..."
It was when Amelia was about to call Ivan's name without realizing it.
“Of course, I came unexpectedly, but I’m a little surprised that you didn’t welcome me so warmly.”
It was strange. Ivan's eyes were familiar yet unfamiliar. Beneath the playfulness lay a desolation like the wind of midwinter.
“Oh, should I be the one to say nice to meet you first?”
“...”
“Nice to meet you.”
Ivan raised the corners of his lips and greeted her, as if he were seeing her for the first time.
***
Three teacups were placed in front of the three people sitting across from each other. Ivan was the first to touch the teacup that was leaking steam. Even though he had barged into the Lriestess’s reception room without warning, he looked confident as if he had nothing to worry about.
“I apologize for being unprepared for your sudden visit.”
“It’s okay. I didn’t come here to receive great treatment. You guys aren’t that interested in the royal family anyway.”
At Ivan's words, Rodan frowned with an embarrassed expression. It seemed as if he wanted to shut his master's mouth.
“I don’t know about you, Priestess, but I am bound to this land. So, as a citizen of Escliffe, I also serve you.”
However, Aaron calmly lowered his body and acted flexibly as if he had no intention of going against Ivan. It was a natural reaction for a man who originally tried to avoid unnecessary conflicts with anyone except Amelia.
“But this is, after all, the residence of a Priestess. In case I say anything nonsense, may I ask the reason for your sudden visit?”
Aaron asked cautiously. Ivan took his time savoring the aroma of the tea and took a sip.
“I want to get some support.”
And then he gave a belated reply. Aaron blinked twice, as if surprised by the unexpected reply.
“What do you mean by sponsorship...?”
Meanwhile, Amelia never took her eyes off Ivan, because she still couldn't tell if he was the Ivan she knew or not.
“It is literally a donation to the temple. As a faithful servant of god.”
Ivan answered slyly.
“Hasn’t the relationship with the temple become lukewarm since the reign of the previous Emperor? Rodan was worried about that.”
And he calmly brought up Rodan's concerns as if he had never been in conflict with the temple. His leisurely manner of enjoying tea really made it seem like Ivan was free from problems with the temple.
“By the way, the Priestess keeps staring at me.”
It was when Amelia was unable to hide her confused expression that Ivan pointed out Amelia's gaze directed at him.
“Is this a familiar face that you’ve seen somewhere?”
Too unexpected, and too direct.
“Her Ladyship is not used to direct encounters or contact with outsiders. That may be the reason why she is acting this way, so please do not be angry.”
Aaron hurriedly made an excuse for Amelia, perhaps because he felt that Ivan was trying to start a fight out of the blue. In the first place, it was hard to see that he had good intentions, considering that he had suddenly come to Amelia's palace without any prior consultation or schedule adjustment.
“...”
So Amelia thought that he was not the Ivan she knew. The Ivan she loved was not so rude, not so arrogant.
“I apologize if I offended you, Your Majesty.”
And above all, he didn't look at Amelia with contempt.
“I found myself staring at you intently because you seemed to resemble someone I know. Please forgive my rudeness.”
When she thought about it that way, the words of apology came out naturally. It was clearly rude to stare at a stranger. She could understand the discomfort he showed. Even the voice that mocked Amelia was similar to 'that' Ivan.
“If that's what you want.”
There's no way Ivan would do that.
It was a trust that went beyond simple belief. Just as believers believe in God, Amelia believed in Ivan’s actions and words. There was no way to break that trust, and the memories that remained for her.
“I accept your apology.”
Ivan accepted Amelia's apology leisurely. Amelia naturally looked away from the Emperor. She had no interest in any man other than Ivan.
“Thank you for your understanding, Your Majesty. However, if it was a donation or support, it could have been delivered through Count Warp.”
There was a subtle chill between Amelia and Ivan. Aaron noticed this and naturally spoke to Ivan, turning his gaze to him.
"Ah."
Ivan let out a short exclamation.
“Of course, that is possible, but then I think it would be difficult for me to ask the Priestess.”
“If you ask me to...”
Aaron asked with a trailing edge. No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn't figure out what Ivan was really thinking, so he kept doubting and questioning his sincerity.
“As I said, the relationship with the temple has been worse since the previous Emperor’s time, and there are many misunderstandings. I want to resolve those misunderstandings. But to do that, I need help.”
Ivan put the teacup down on the saucer. Even in that one light gesture, the countless lessons he had learned and mastered were revealed. It was different from the Ivan who had sat down on the floor without hesitation and touched Amelia.
“Wouldn’t it be nice if we could come to the palace once a month and have tea time?”
“...”
“I have no ill will toward the temple, and the temple trusts me. I think that would be a reasonable explanation.”
Just as Amelia was regaining confidence in her judgment, Ivan showed an overly gentle and cool favor toward the temple.
“I fully understand what you are saying, but...”
As expected, Aaron found it hard to believe Ivan's change of attitude and opened his mouth to express a subtle refusal with a smile. It was impossible to send him out through the wall when he was trying to escape at any moment.
"For a moment."
Ivan raised his hand and cut Aaron off. Aaron looked at Ivan with a puzzled look on his face.
“I can hear a baby crying from somewhere.”
Rodan muttered. For a moment, cold air passed over Aaron's face. It was a look of desperation.
“No way, Rodan. How could you possibly hear a baby crying here?”
Ivan rested his elbows on the table. He naturally rested his chin on his hand and pretended to ask Rodan a question. At that moment, a sharp whine pierced their ears.
“...I don’t think it was a mistake.”
Rodan answered. It was so loud that no one could lie and say no.
“...”
Ivan took the opportunity to leap to his feet and stride toward the door leading to Amelia's bedroom.
“Your Majesty! That is the Priestess’s bedroom!”
Then Aaron quickly got up from his seat and tried to stop him.
“Your Majesty! That is the Priestess’s bedroom!”
Unfortunately, Rodan was a little faster. Rodan pretended to catch Ivan and blocked Aaron's path.
“Yeah. There really is a newborn.”
So before Aaron could catch him, Ivan opened Amelia's bedroom door and barged in. Louis, who was trying to somehow stuff clothes into the child's mouth to shut it, was startled when her eyes met Ivan's.
“There’s no way that guy who was just born could be a priest.”
Ivan approached Louis without a care and pulled out the cloth that had filled the baby's mouth. The boy, who had been coughing dryly, opened his eyes slowly. As if he were desperate to make his presence known to the world and to Ivan.
Brilliant blonde hair, and...
Louis, with a helpless expression on her face, cast a look of urgent need for help.
“And your eyes are as black as the deep night.”
“...”
“Did the Priestess give birth to a child?”
Then Ivan followed the trajectory and asked, casting his gaze behind him. His voice was so full of satisfaction that it sounded like a mockery.
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