“You weren’t there by any chance of running away again, were you?”
Louis asked suspiciously. Amelia shook her head quietly.
“If I were trying to run away, why would I be in the prayer room? I should have been unlocking the door and unchaining it.”
It was a rare moment of truth. Louis' expression of doubt disappeared, and only then did she nod.
“I was surprised when you suddenly left the room.”
“I'm sorry about that.”
Amelia turned to Louis and answered with a face that showed no remorse at all. Louis also felt the insincere apology and did not jump up or deny it.
“Then take a rest.”
“Louis, too.”
The door closed as Amelia stepped into the bedroom. This time, Amelia was particularly unsociable and unfeeling. It was fortunate that she was kept hidden, but if she had been exposed, she would have caused a hundred more accidents. Louis sighed and turned around.
“...”
Amelia walked to the bed only after hearing the sound of people fading away. Her hands were dry as she took off her pearl earrings and placed them on the side table next to the bed.
“Why did you come at that time of all times?”
Actually, she wasn't feeling too good. Not only was she unable to escape, but she also couldn't hear the story outside the walls.
“I had a lot of questions.”
She was curious about the world outside the walls. How lively the market was, what clothes people wore, what kind of houses they lived in, what they did with their free time, how they dated.
"..."
And how ordinary people raise their families and live.
“...”
Amelia was a blank slate in that regard. She had been locked up her entire life. The only people she had ever met in the world were her dead mother, Aaron, a few familiar nobles, Louis, and a few servants who changed hands several times.
Oh, there was one more. A girl smaller and more fragile than herself. Born as a twin, Amelia had a sister who was unnamed. The name Amelia was given only to those who were to continue the lineage.
“No, please. No! I will do whatever you say...”
“Twin women are unprecedented.”
A young child who died before she could live past three years, despite her mother's pleas. Amelia tightly closed her eyes as she recalled the moment when the knife was stuck in her sister's heart. It was a terrible memory that stuck in her mind and wouldn't go away, even though it was something that happened a long time ago, when she was very young.
“You might as well kill me!”
The moment she recalled her mother’s screaming voice, her hand twisted. Amelia's hand, which was feeling around on the side table to keep her balance, pulled the earring into her palm. As she put strength into her hand, the sharp needle of the earring stabbed her palm.
"...Ah."
Only then did she come to her senses. Amelia let out a short sigh and put down her earring. Blood was coming out of her palm where the hole had been. It was nothing serious. The several scars on her palm were already proof of it.
“I don’t want to die.”
She doesn't want to die like that. A clear rejection and hostility appeared in Amelia's black eyes.
Before the night comes when she must fulfill her 'duty', she must escape somehow. If she cannot do it alone, she must use something else.
“Isn’t there much time left until I have to fulfill my duty?”
The Duke of Russell, the head of the noble family, raised his glass and opened his mouth. Aaron, sitting across from him, nodded quietly.
“This time, Amelia is already twenty.”
“That’s what happened.”
The Duke of Russell chuckled and downed his drink in one gulp.
“Would you like a drink? You're not a real priest anyway.”
And he held the bottle by the spout and held it out to Aaron. Aaron smiled awkwardly and shook his head. Whatever his true nature, his shell was claiming to be a priest.
“I don’t really feel like it.”
“Yes, then.”
The Duke of Russell also backed down easily. He thought of himself as an old-fashioned person, but it didn't really matter to him whether Aaron drank or not.
“The man has already been prepared.”
Aaron's movements, which had been fiddling with his empty glass, stopped for a moment. It was only for a split second, so much so that it was barely noticeable.
“Is it disposable?”
The Duke of Russell chuckled at Aaron's question.
“That’s impossible. It’s rare for someone to get pregnant in one go.”
Of course, he couldn't let him in often, lest he spread the unholy rumor that a man was coming into the Priestess's bedroom. But unless she got pregnant right away, it wasn't something that could be done with just one try.
“Besides, there are quite a few cases where boys are born.”
The Duke of Russell nodded to the servant standing beside him, who took out his cigar case with a practiced manner, cut off the end of a cigar, and offered it to him.
“Phew...”
The Duke of Russell took a drag on his lit cigar. The deep, heavy scent began to fill the space where their secret meeting was taking place.
“You’ll have to use it until she gives birth to a girl with black hair and black eyes. There aren’t many sane black-haired women.”
The Duke of Russell smiled and tapped his head with his index finger. Aaron, who knew what was going on in the basement of the building, in the secluded villa, didn't ask why.
“This time, Amelia is a particularly naughty woman, so you’ve had a hard time.”
The Duke of Russell smiled and passed the glass filled with amber liquid back to him.
“Well, if you think about it, it was difficult from the beginning.”
“...”
“Twin girls?”
It was an unprecedented event. However, there could not be two Priestesses under heaven. They tried hard to select a child who resembled the previous Amelia more until the very last moment. Aside from the striking features of black hair and black eyes, it was not easy to distinguish the appearances of different races.
“In the end, didn’t it eat away at your mind as well?”
Anyway, as a result, they killed a weak girl who was less like her mother. The previous Priestess went mad after seeing her child die.
“I wish this were the last time for me, too.”
The Duke of Russell muttered.
“I’m tired of having to break their necks and stab their hearts every time.”
Of course, it wasn't because he felt sorry for Amelia's sacrifice. He was just tired of ordering people to kill.
“It would be better for everyone if the Russell family absorbed the royal family. The young Emperor doesn’t know that yet.”
The Duke of Russell said, exhaling smoke from his cigar.
“Isn’t it true that he secretly spread rumors that she’s a witch, not a Priestess?”
“...”
“Perhaps because he is still young, he doesn’t even know who has the upper hand in power, and he is acting very arrogant.”
It was a tone that clearly showed his displeasure. In fact, he did not like Ivan, the current Emperor. Ivan, who ascended the throne at a young age, had deep-rooted resentment toward the temples and the great nobles.
“I need to give him a proper education sometime.”
The Duke of Russell smiled and pushed his hair back.
“Anyway, until then, keep an eye on Amelia this time. It’s not good to be noisy before something important happens.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
Aaron answered obediently. In fact, he had sworn allegiance to the Duke of Russell.
“See you soon.”
Perhaps pleased by that gentle answer, the Duke of Russell threw down the cigar he was smoking and stood up.
“Put away the bottles and used glasses.”
Aaron brought his servant inside and ordered him to clear the messy table. He then opened the window to ventilate the room, which still smelled of cigars.
“High Priest.”
“Louis.”
It was then that Louis appeared through the open door.
“I found the Priestess and brought her to her room. She didn’t run away; she was in the prayer room near the north gate.”
It was to report Amelia's location. Then, Louis added that Amelia seemed to be feeling suffocated. It was natural for her to feel suffocated when she thought of the coming-of-age night when her duties would soon be forced upon her.
In spite of everything, Louis, who was a woman of similar age and the same age as Amelia, felt a little sorry for her. It was different from the attitude of the Duke of Russell or Aaron.
"Yes."
Aaron was also willing to let that level of defense slide, especially considering his conversation with the Duke of Russell just before.
“You should check the route carefully...”
So, he opened hia mouth somewhat impulsively.
“If she doesn’t show any signs of trying to run away, just leave her alone for a while and do whatever she wants.”
“Is that okay?”
Louis opened her eyes wide. Amelia's face, which seemed younger and pitiful despite being around the same age, came to mind.
There must have been a time when she was that cute and lovely, Aaron thought.
“It’s going to break soon anyway.”
Aaron said with a grin. His softly curved lips and kind eyes were quite at odds with his words.
“That level of freedom...”
Of course, Aaron felt sorry for Amelia, too. He really did. Even if it was a little different from how Louis felt.
“I guess you can give it to her.”
"Sure!"
Louis was delighted.
“Yes. Now go back.”
“Yes. Good night.”
Louis left his room with a light step. Aaron moved to the window, making no sound. And he thought.
My beautiful flower. But one day, I will have to twist it and kill it myself...
The sky swayed like Amelia's black hair, hiding his madness.
Louis asked suspiciously. Amelia shook her head quietly.
“If I were trying to run away, why would I be in the prayer room? I should have been unlocking the door and unchaining it.”
It was a rare moment of truth. Louis' expression of doubt disappeared, and only then did she nod.
“I was surprised when you suddenly left the room.”
“I'm sorry about that.”
Amelia turned to Louis and answered with a face that showed no remorse at all. Louis also felt the insincere apology and did not jump up or deny it.
“Then take a rest.”
“Louis, too.”
The door closed as Amelia stepped into the bedroom. This time, Amelia was particularly unsociable and unfeeling. It was fortunate that she was kept hidden, but if she had been exposed, she would have caused a hundred more accidents. Louis sighed and turned around.
“...”
Amelia walked to the bed only after hearing the sound of people fading away. Her hands were dry as she took off her pearl earrings and placed them on the side table next to the bed.
“Why did you come at that time of all times?”
Actually, she wasn't feeling too good. Not only was she unable to escape, but she also couldn't hear the story outside the walls.
“I had a lot of questions.”
She was curious about the world outside the walls. How lively the market was, what clothes people wore, what kind of houses they lived in, what they did with their free time, how they dated.
"..."
And how ordinary people raise their families and live.
“...”
Amelia was a blank slate in that regard. She had been locked up her entire life. The only people she had ever met in the world were her dead mother, Aaron, a few familiar nobles, Louis, and a few servants who changed hands several times.
Oh, there was one more. A girl smaller and more fragile than herself. Born as a twin, Amelia had a sister who was unnamed. The name Amelia was given only to those who were to continue the lineage.
“No, please. No! I will do whatever you say...”
“Twin women are unprecedented.”
A young child who died before she could live past three years, despite her mother's pleas. Amelia tightly closed her eyes as she recalled the moment when the knife was stuck in her sister's heart. It was a terrible memory that stuck in her mind and wouldn't go away, even though it was something that happened a long time ago, when she was very young.
“You might as well kill me!”
The moment she recalled her mother’s screaming voice, her hand twisted. Amelia's hand, which was feeling around on the side table to keep her balance, pulled the earring into her palm. As she put strength into her hand, the sharp needle of the earring stabbed her palm.
"...Ah."
Only then did she come to her senses. Amelia let out a short sigh and put down her earring. Blood was coming out of her palm where the hole had been. It was nothing serious. The several scars on her palm were already proof of it.
“I don’t want to die.”
She doesn't want to die like that. A clear rejection and hostility appeared in Amelia's black eyes.
Before the night comes when she must fulfill her 'duty', she must escape somehow. If she cannot do it alone, she must use something else.
***
“Isn’t there much time left until I have to fulfill my duty?”
The Duke of Russell, the head of the noble family, raised his glass and opened his mouth. Aaron, sitting across from him, nodded quietly.
“This time, Amelia is already twenty.”
“That’s what happened.”
The Duke of Russell chuckled and downed his drink in one gulp.
“Would you like a drink? You're not a real priest anyway.”
And he held the bottle by the spout and held it out to Aaron. Aaron smiled awkwardly and shook his head. Whatever his true nature, his shell was claiming to be a priest.
“I don’t really feel like it.”
“Yes, then.”
The Duke of Russell also backed down easily. He thought of himself as an old-fashioned person, but it didn't really matter to him whether Aaron drank or not.
“The man has already been prepared.”
Aaron's movements, which had been fiddling with his empty glass, stopped for a moment. It was only for a split second, so much so that it was barely noticeable.
“Is it disposable?”
The Duke of Russell chuckled at Aaron's question.
“That’s impossible. It’s rare for someone to get pregnant in one go.”
Of course, he couldn't let him in often, lest he spread the unholy rumor that a man was coming into the Priestess's bedroom. But unless she got pregnant right away, it wasn't something that could be done with just one try.
“Besides, there are quite a few cases where boys are born.”
The Duke of Russell nodded to the servant standing beside him, who took out his cigar case with a practiced manner, cut off the end of a cigar, and offered it to him.
“Phew...”
The Duke of Russell took a drag on his lit cigar. The deep, heavy scent began to fill the space where their secret meeting was taking place.
“You’ll have to use it until she gives birth to a girl with black hair and black eyes. There aren’t many sane black-haired women.”
The Duke of Russell smiled and tapped his head with his index finger. Aaron, who knew what was going on in the basement of the building, in the secluded villa, didn't ask why.
“This time, Amelia is a particularly naughty woman, so you’ve had a hard time.”
The Duke of Russell smiled and passed the glass filled with amber liquid back to him.
“Well, if you think about it, it was difficult from the beginning.”
“...”
“Twin girls?”
It was an unprecedented event. However, there could not be two Priestesses under heaven. They tried hard to select a child who resembled the previous Amelia more until the very last moment. Aside from the striking features of black hair and black eyes, it was not easy to distinguish the appearances of different races.
“In the end, didn’t it eat away at your mind as well?”
Anyway, as a result, they killed a weak girl who was less like her mother. The previous Priestess went mad after seeing her child die.
“I wish this were the last time for me, too.”
The Duke of Russell muttered.
“I’m tired of having to break their necks and stab their hearts every time.”
Of course, it wasn't because he felt sorry for Amelia's sacrifice. He was just tired of ordering people to kill.
“It would be better for everyone if the Russell family absorbed the royal family. The young Emperor doesn’t know that yet.”
The Duke of Russell said, exhaling smoke from his cigar.
“Isn’t it true that he secretly spread rumors that she’s a witch, not a Priestess?”
“...”
“Perhaps because he is still young, he doesn’t even know who has the upper hand in power, and he is acting very arrogant.”
It was a tone that clearly showed his displeasure. In fact, he did not like Ivan, the current Emperor. Ivan, who ascended the throne at a young age, had deep-rooted resentment toward the temples and the great nobles.
“I need to give him a proper education sometime.”
The Duke of Russell smiled and pushed his hair back.
“Anyway, until then, keep an eye on Amelia this time. It’s not good to be noisy before something important happens.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
Aaron answered obediently. In fact, he had sworn allegiance to the Duke of Russell.
“See you soon.”
Perhaps pleased by that gentle answer, the Duke of Russell threw down the cigar he was smoking and stood up.
“Put away the bottles and used glasses.”
Aaron brought his servant inside and ordered him to clear the messy table. He then opened the window to ventilate the room, which still smelled of cigars.
“High Priest.”
“Louis.”
It was then that Louis appeared through the open door.
“I found the Priestess and brought her to her room. She didn’t run away; she was in the prayer room near the north gate.”
It was to report Amelia's location. Then, Louis added that Amelia seemed to be feeling suffocated. It was natural for her to feel suffocated when she thought of the coming-of-age night when her duties would soon be forced upon her.
In spite of everything, Louis, who was a woman of similar age and the same age as Amelia, felt a little sorry for her. It was different from the attitude of the Duke of Russell or Aaron.
"Yes."
Aaron was also willing to let that level of defense slide, especially considering his conversation with the Duke of Russell just before.
“You should check the route carefully...”
So, he opened hia mouth somewhat impulsively.
“If she doesn’t show any signs of trying to run away, just leave her alone for a while and do whatever she wants.”
“Is that okay?”
Louis opened her eyes wide. Amelia's face, which seemed younger and pitiful despite being around the same age, came to mind.
There must have been a time when she was that cute and lovely, Aaron thought.
“It’s going to break soon anyway.”
Aaron said with a grin. His softly curved lips and kind eyes were quite at odds with his words.
“That level of freedom...”
Of course, Aaron felt sorry for Amelia, too. He really did. Even if it was a little different from how Louis felt.
“I guess you can give it to her.”
"Sure!"
Louis was delighted.
“Yes. Now go back.”
“Yes. Good night.”
Louis left his room with a light step. Aaron moved to the window, making no sound. And he thought.
My beautiful flower. But one day, I will have to twist it and kill it myself...
The sky swayed like Amelia's black hair, hiding his madness.
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