“Shall we set a date to meet again?”
Ivan suggested first. Amelia looked at the splendid man as if she were entranced by the light that had reappeared. Who was he trying to charm? For a priest, he looked like a young man.
“Here every Friday night around 11pm.”
Amelia nodded at Ivan's suggestion.
“Yes. Let’s part ways for today.”
For some unknown reason, Louis and her servants' surveillance had become somewhat less intense recently. It was rare for them to be apart for even a moment like before. So spending thirty minutes or so in the prayer room under the pretense of praying didn't seem like a big deal.
“If I’m away for too long, they’ll come looking for me.”
Even after saying that, Amelia couldn't get up easily, as if she still had some regrets. It was natural that she couldn't let go of Ivan's sleeve either.
“You said you had to go.”
Amelia smiled awkwardly at Ivan's words. It didn't seem like she could get up on her own. Ivan reached out with his free hand and gently pulled Amelia's hand away. The hand that had wrapped around her slender wrist was now under Amelia's hand.
“We’ll meet again next time.”
Ivan whispered soothingly. Amelia's eyes turned to the hand that was being held by Ivan.
"...Yes."
Although the regret that could not be hidden deep in her dark eyes still remained, the answer was gentle.
“You go out first.”
Amelia nodded at Ivan's words and stood up. Ivan's hand also gradually moved away. His long, strong fingertips skimmed Amelia's palm and fell.
“Yes.”
Amelia, who had just reached the door of the prayer room, looked back. Ivan, who was still sitting on the platform, looked at her with a languid gaze.
"Why?"
Ivan asked. She couldn't tell if he was being formal or informal. He just seemed relaxed and easygoing, like he was talking to a friend. Shd swear to heaven, Ivan was the type of person Amelia had never met before.
Maybe that's why. Strangely, Amelia felt comfortable with him. For some reason, she felt good about him. She also liked the fact that he didn't have enough faith in God to choose to go astray.
“Can you call me by my name?”
And she had a strange intuition that Ivan would accept her favor.
“My name is...”
“I know your name.”
Ivan interrupted. Disappointment was rising in her heart as she wondered if she would be called anyway.
“Amelia.”
Ivan called Amelia. A name that existed, but did not exist.
“...”
Amelia felt a thrill run through her body the moment Ivan called her name. It was as if she had been reborn. As if she had been wandering the world as a spirit all her life and had finally set foot on the ground.
“See you again.”
Ivan waved one hand with a smiling face. The moonlight poured down in slivers. Amelia, unable to say anything, grabbed the doorknob of the prayer room.
"...Yes."
Amelia barely managed to answer with a choked voice and opened the door to the prayer room. She left Ivan behind and left the room. As the door closed behind her, the world became quiet.
No. In fact, the temple of the deep night was originally this quiet. Shr just didn't notice it because she was so absorbed in Ivan.
“...”
As she passed through the corridor, through the garden, and reached the bedroom, the servant girl, who had no tongue and could not speak, woke up at the sound of someone's presence and rubbed her eyes.
“Sleep more. I’ll sleep too.”
Amelia whispered as she climbed onto the bed. The maid lay back down and closed her eyes.
“I know your name.”
Amelia recalled the gentle voice as she lay in bed without even covering herself with a blanket. The curtains fluttered beyond the open window, and the insects played the music of the deep night.
“Amelia.”
Amelia. Amelia Escliffe. My name is...
Amelia, who had been recalling her name over and over again, closed her eyes and curled up like a baby. A blush spread across her soft cheeks that she couldn't hide.
"Your Majesty."
Ivan, who was walking down the hallway to the audience room, suddenly stopped. At the end of the hallway, Rodan appeared. The black shadow that exquisitely covered half of his face looked quite bizarre.
“You look like a ghost when you stand there like that.”
But Ivan's answer was cheerful. He didn't even look surprised.
“Did you really go to the temple again yesterday?”
“You told me to use my ID card if I took it away.”
Ivan replied calmly and began to walk briskly again.
“I was asking you if you were going to climb over the wall, so there was no need to get your identification badge.”
Rodan spoke with a small sigh.
“So yesterday, I passed through the temple gate pretending to be an apprentice priest without climbing over the wall. But I didn’t kill the Priestess.”
“What are you going to do if you get caught?”
“I have to make sure I don’t get caught.”
Ivan answered slyly, even though he knew it wasn't something he could do on his own. The only one who had a headache dealing with his impulsive master was Rodan.
“Whether you climbed over the wall or passed through the main gate using your ID, it’s all the same that you sneaked in. If you get caught, you won’t stay still even in the temple.”
Rodan tried hard to convince Ivan.
“I’ve already made arrangements to meet with her regularly.”
“Are you planning on going to the temple again? If something happens, your identity badge is not a complete excuse... You’re not listening.”
But Ivan was clearly listening with one ear and letting it go out the other. He always was. It was his nature to be indifferent to anything other than what he was interested in.
“But I can buy enough time to pretend to be a lost priest and escape. Destroying the sacred legend is what I want to do.”
“I don’t want you to risk the Emperor’s life.”
Rodan denied that he had any intention of gambling with Ivan's life. That was his true intention. The imperial power had already been weakened by the long confrontation with the divine right. Ivan was the last card for those who supported the imperial family. If he was wrong, the imperial family of Escliffe would no longer be able to remain a glorious name.
“Next time you meet, be sure to kill her.”
Rodan said. Ivan avoided Rodan's gaze with a huff.
"Your Majesty."
“Yeah, someday.”
When Rodan pressed for an answer, Ivan answered. Not reluctantly. He was thinking of killing Amelia someday, just not right now.
“The more times you enter and exit the temple, the more dangerous it becomes.”
Ivan stopped walking at Rodan's words. It was a reasonable concern. It was not that he did not understand his concerns. However, he had already failed to kill her.
“But isn’t it a bit of a shame to just kill and eliminate those who seem to have utility?”
It was not in his nature to look back and regret the past. If he thought about what happened after that, it would be different. If he couldn't kill the woman, he would just find a reason to keep her alive.
“Rodan.”
"Yes."
“She’s hungry for attention and affection. And she knows everything that goes on inside.”
Ivan looked back at Rodan, who was standing one step behind him with a smiling face.
“She already believes in me as her friend.”
“...”
“Anyway, when you meet her, she’s a woman you can kill at any time. No one will come out with seeds. So, isn’t this an opportunity you don’t want to miss?”
For Ivan, every moment he faced Amelia was an opportunity, whether to live or die.
“Why are you asking questions when you’re not going to listen to me anyway?”
Rodan shook his head. He had already given up on persuading his reckless master. He had no power to break Ivan's stubbornness. Ironically, it was also Ivan's recklessness that had created the first opportunity to contact the Priestess.
“I don’t think this opportunity will come twice.”
None of the messengers sent by the imperial family to the temple could reach Amelia. It was difficult for men who were not Priests to approach the Priestess, who rarely went out.
The women were the same. They were only doing chores in the kitchen or the stable. Except for the servant, Louis, the maid who looked after Amelia most closely was unable to speak. Naturally, she could not write either. There was a reasonable reason that she could pretend to be the will of the gods by listening to stories she had heard while staying by the Priestess's side.
“Do as you wish.”
Rodan answered after a sigh. It was an arrogant attitude, but Ivan didn't point it out. Instead, his face looked refreshed.
“Leave it. I’ll open it.”
Ivan, who had arrived in front of the audience room, blocked the guards' movements and opened the door himself.
“The Duke of Russell.”
“See the sun at Escliffe.”
The Duke of Russell, who had been waiting on the sofa, rose from his seat and bowed to him. Ivan stared at the back of the Duke of Russell's round head without answering his greeting or giving permission to straighten his back.
“I have recently injured my back and am in pain. Please forgive me for raising my head without permission, Your Majesty.”
Soon after, the Duke of Russell straightened his back and smiled at Ivan, meeting his gaze. Of course, the Emperor had not even given permission. To anyone, the Duke of Russell did not look like he was sick.
“Of course I understand, Duke.”
Cheeky little kid.
Ivan thought.
“Thank you for your understanding.”
The Duke of Russell, who had read his mind, responded leisurely. He was pretending to express gratitude while ignoring the Emperor's authority.
“Now it is time for you to think about passing the title on to your children.”
Ivan, who could not stand to see such a sight, continued speaking. Then, a faint slash appeared at the corner of the Duke of Russell's lips, which had been gently curved.
Cheeky brat.
The Duke of Russell thought. Ivan, who had coolly exposed his old age, read his mind and smiled.
Ivan suggested first. Amelia looked at the splendid man as if she were entranced by the light that had reappeared. Who was he trying to charm? For a priest, he looked like a young man.
“Here every Friday night around 11pm.”
Amelia nodded at Ivan's suggestion.
“Yes. Let’s part ways for today.”
For some unknown reason, Louis and her servants' surveillance had become somewhat less intense recently. It was rare for them to be apart for even a moment like before. So spending thirty minutes or so in the prayer room under the pretense of praying didn't seem like a big deal.
“If I’m away for too long, they’ll come looking for me.”
Even after saying that, Amelia couldn't get up easily, as if she still had some regrets. It was natural that she couldn't let go of Ivan's sleeve either.
“You said you had to go.”
Amelia smiled awkwardly at Ivan's words. It didn't seem like she could get up on her own. Ivan reached out with his free hand and gently pulled Amelia's hand away. The hand that had wrapped around her slender wrist was now under Amelia's hand.
“We’ll meet again next time.”
Ivan whispered soothingly. Amelia's eyes turned to the hand that was being held by Ivan.
"...Yes."
Although the regret that could not be hidden deep in her dark eyes still remained, the answer was gentle.
“You go out first.”
Amelia nodded at Ivan's words and stood up. Ivan's hand also gradually moved away. His long, strong fingertips skimmed Amelia's palm and fell.
“Yes.”
Amelia, who had just reached the door of the prayer room, looked back. Ivan, who was still sitting on the platform, looked at her with a languid gaze.
"Why?"
Ivan asked. She couldn't tell if he was being formal or informal. He just seemed relaxed and easygoing, like he was talking to a friend. Shd swear to heaven, Ivan was the type of person Amelia had never met before.
Maybe that's why. Strangely, Amelia felt comfortable with him. For some reason, she felt good about him. She also liked the fact that he didn't have enough faith in God to choose to go astray.
“Can you call me by my name?”
And she had a strange intuition that Ivan would accept her favor.
“My name is...”
“I know your name.”
Ivan interrupted. Disappointment was rising in her heart as she wondered if she would be called anyway.
“Amelia.”
Ivan called Amelia. A name that existed, but did not exist.
“...”
Amelia felt a thrill run through her body the moment Ivan called her name. It was as if she had been reborn. As if she had been wandering the world as a spirit all her life and had finally set foot on the ground.
“See you again.”
Ivan waved one hand with a smiling face. The moonlight poured down in slivers. Amelia, unable to say anything, grabbed the doorknob of the prayer room.
"...Yes."
Amelia barely managed to answer with a choked voice and opened the door to the prayer room. She left Ivan behind and left the room. As the door closed behind her, the world became quiet.
No. In fact, the temple of the deep night was originally this quiet. Shr just didn't notice it because she was so absorbed in Ivan.
“...”
As she passed through the corridor, through the garden, and reached the bedroom, the servant girl, who had no tongue and could not speak, woke up at the sound of someone's presence and rubbed her eyes.
“Sleep more. I’ll sleep too.”
Amelia whispered as she climbed onto the bed. The maid lay back down and closed her eyes.
“I know your name.”
Amelia recalled the gentle voice as she lay in bed without even covering herself with a blanket. The curtains fluttered beyond the open window, and the insects played the music of the deep night.
“Amelia.”
Amelia. Amelia Escliffe. My name is...
Amelia, who had been recalling her name over and over again, closed her eyes and curled up like a baby. A blush spread across her soft cheeks that she couldn't hide.
***
"Your Majesty."
Ivan, who was walking down the hallway to the audience room, suddenly stopped. At the end of the hallway, Rodan appeared. The black shadow that exquisitely covered half of his face looked quite bizarre.
“You look like a ghost when you stand there like that.”
But Ivan's answer was cheerful. He didn't even look surprised.
“Did you really go to the temple again yesterday?”
“You told me to use my ID card if I took it away.”
Ivan replied calmly and began to walk briskly again.
“I was asking you if you were going to climb over the wall, so there was no need to get your identification badge.”
Rodan spoke with a small sigh.
“So yesterday, I passed through the temple gate pretending to be an apprentice priest without climbing over the wall. But I didn’t kill the Priestess.”
“What are you going to do if you get caught?”
“I have to make sure I don’t get caught.”
Ivan answered slyly, even though he knew it wasn't something he could do on his own. The only one who had a headache dealing with his impulsive master was Rodan.
“Whether you climbed over the wall or passed through the main gate using your ID, it’s all the same that you sneaked in. If you get caught, you won’t stay still even in the temple.”
Rodan tried hard to convince Ivan.
“I’ve already made arrangements to meet with her regularly.”
“Are you planning on going to the temple again? If something happens, your identity badge is not a complete excuse... You’re not listening.”
But Ivan was clearly listening with one ear and letting it go out the other. He always was. It was his nature to be indifferent to anything other than what he was interested in.
“But I can buy enough time to pretend to be a lost priest and escape. Destroying the sacred legend is what I want to do.”
“I don’t want you to risk the Emperor’s life.”
Rodan denied that he had any intention of gambling with Ivan's life. That was his true intention. The imperial power had already been weakened by the long confrontation with the divine right. Ivan was the last card for those who supported the imperial family. If he was wrong, the imperial family of Escliffe would no longer be able to remain a glorious name.
“Next time you meet, be sure to kill her.”
Rodan said. Ivan avoided Rodan's gaze with a huff.
"Your Majesty."
“Yeah, someday.”
When Rodan pressed for an answer, Ivan answered. Not reluctantly. He was thinking of killing Amelia someday, just not right now.
“The more times you enter and exit the temple, the more dangerous it becomes.”
Ivan stopped walking at Rodan's words. It was a reasonable concern. It was not that he did not understand his concerns. However, he had already failed to kill her.
“But isn’t it a bit of a shame to just kill and eliminate those who seem to have utility?”
It was not in his nature to look back and regret the past. If he thought about what happened after that, it would be different. If he couldn't kill the woman, he would just find a reason to keep her alive.
“Rodan.”
"Yes."
“She’s hungry for attention and affection. And she knows everything that goes on inside.”
Ivan looked back at Rodan, who was standing one step behind him with a smiling face.
“She already believes in me as her friend.”
“...”
“Anyway, when you meet her, she’s a woman you can kill at any time. No one will come out with seeds. So, isn’t this an opportunity you don’t want to miss?”
For Ivan, every moment he faced Amelia was an opportunity, whether to live or die.
“Why are you asking questions when you’re not going to listen to me anyway?”
Rodan shook his head. He had already given up on persuading his reckless master. He had no power to break Ivan's stubbornness. Ironically, it was also Ivan's recklessness that had created the first opportunity to contact the Priestess.
“I don’t think this opportunity will come twice.”
None of the messengers sent by the imperial family to the temple could reach Amelia. It was difficult for men who were not Priests to approach the Priestess, who rarely went out.
The women were the same. They were only doing chores in the kitchen or the stable. Except for the servant, Louis, the maid who looked after Amelia most closely was unable to speak. Naturally, she could not write either. There was a reasonable reason that she could pretend to be the will of the gods by listening to stories she had heard while staying by the Priestess's side.
“Do as you wish.”
Rodan answered after a sigh. It was an arrogant attitude, but Ivan didn't point it out. Instead, his face looked refreshed.
“Leave it. I’ll open it.”
Ivan, who had arrived in front of the audience room, blocked the guards' movements and opened the door himself.
“The Duke of Russell.”
“See the sun at Escliffe.”
The Duke of Russell, who had been waiting on the sofa, rose from his seat and bowed to him. Ivan stared at the back of the Duke of Russell's round head without answering his greeting or giving permission to straighten his back.
“I have recently injured my back and am in pain. Please forgive me for raising my head without permission, Your Majesty.”
Soon after, the Duke of Russell straightened his back and smiled at Ivan, meeting his gaze. Of course, the Emperor had not even given permission. To anyone, the Duke of Russell did not look like he was sick.
“Of course I understand, Duke.”
Cheeky little kid.
Ivan thought.
“Thank you for your understanding.”
The Duke of Russell, who had read his mind, responded leisurely. He was pretending to express gratitude while ignoring the Emperor's authority.
“Now it is time for you to think about passing the title on to your children.”
Ivan, who could not stand to see such a sight, continued speaking. Then, a faint slash appeared at the corner of the Duke of Russell's lips, which had been gently curved.
Cheeky brat.
The Duke of Russell thought. Ivan, who had coolly exposed his old age, read his mind and smiled.
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