“So what’s up today?”
Ivan asked first. And naturally, he headed towards the head of the table. He did so very slowly, even though he knew that the Duke of Russell was following him.
“I have something to tell you, so I’m asking for your valuable time.”
“Sit down.”
This time, Ivan didn't even try to tease him. Ivan nodded, and the Duke of Russell sat down in the seat he was allowed.
“I heard you ordered the easing of security along the northern border near Reed. Are you considering reestablishing diplomatic relations with them?”
And he asked honestly, without turning around. Ivan leaned back comfortably on the back of the chair with his legs crossed.
"That's right."
Ivan's honest answer continued. The Duke of Russell wiggled his eyebrows at the unwanted answer.
“They are the ones who dare to insult the Priestess and insult Escliffe.”
The Duke of Russell cited the reasons why Reed and Escliffe had broken off diplomatic relations, reminding him of the reasons why they had closed the border gates.
“You came to tell me because you thought I didn’t know? How kind of you to tell me.”
Ivan gave a short laugh. He ran a hand through his hair and answered dryly. It was obvious to anyone that he wasn't listening carefully to the Duke of Russell.
“They simply doubted the existence of the Priestess.”
"Your Majesty."
It was just as the Duke of Russell was opening his mouth to respond to Ivan.
“Even the god who was said to have existed in the beginning came down to this earth and departed as a spirit, so how can a mere proxy live forever? Can’t we at least have some doubts?”
Ivan said coldly. He pretended to mention the opinions of the neighboring countries, but in reality, their opinions were no different from Ivan's true feelings.
“The Priestess is the representative of the god who protects Escliffe.”
“...”
“Doubting her existence is like doubting and denying Escliffe.”
The Duke of Russell, who had read Ivan's mind, calmly argued that insulting a Priestess meant insulting God, and furthermore, it meant insulting Escliffe, the owner of the land.
“Isn’t this the logic of a miracle?”
Ivan muttered with a smile on his lips. But it was far from a pleasant smile or joy.
“Above all, I do not feel insulted as the master of the royal family.”
“...”
“And the Duke of Russell. If there really is a God, he wouldn’t be so petty.”
Ivan stood up, denying the Duke of Russell's claims.
“You may not die even if you starve and don’t drink water for a year, but that’s not the case for the people of this land.”
Then he walked up to the window and opened it wide. A lukewarm breeze blew through the curtains and poured into the room.
“Reed is a country built on flat land, so it has vast granary areas. On the other hand, we have vast land but little farmland. In fact, our land is even barren.”
Ivan pointed to the peak of the mountain that was higher than the castle, and pointed to the reality of Escliffe. Duke Russell's gaze slowly moved to the peak of the mountain.
“For ten years, diplomatic relations were severed. Whenever there was a famine, countless people starved to death on the streets.”
The Duke of Russell's gaze turned back to Ivan's face.
“Your family doesn’t seem to care because they’re not starving, but I hear there’s a bad harvest expected this year, too.”
Ivan was denouncing the behavior of the great nobles with a smiling face. Their cruelty was the same, such as severing diplomatic relations for the sake of honor, making it difficult to obtain food, and forcing soldiers to chase them to death for petty theft before starving to death.
“Even that may be God’s will.”
The Duke of Russell answered calmly. Even the fake smile on Ivan's face disappeared completely.
“If God is so good, it would be better for both of us if we just converted to religion.”
Ivan opened his mouth, looking straight at the Duke of Russell with an expressionless face.
“Ten years is enough. Now, God should live the life of God, and humans should live the life of humans. Isn’t that right?”
“Your Majesty, I think so.”
The Duke of Russell answered softly.
“I understand. As the Chairman, I simply wanted to ask for Your Majesty’s intentions. We will discuss this again at the meeting.”
And after paying his respects to Ivan, he left the audience room. Ivan's eyes were fixed on the empty space left by the Duke of Russell.
“Call Rodan and have everyone vacate the spot.”
Ivan rang the bell and summoned his servant. Soon after, Rodan, who had received his order, entered the audience room alone.
“I have a feeling that the Duke of Russell will push for the resumption of diplomatic relations with Reed.”
“You already know?”
Rodan frowned as he asked. He was just beginning to open up the conversation. He had never tried to hide it, but even so, it was too early for the Duke of Russell to notice.
“Find out where the word came from. It must be somewhere nearby.”
Rodan nodded at Ivan's tired voice. Then he quickly pulled away when he saw Ivan waving his hand to tell him to leave. That meant he had to leave.
“What kind of god is he if he closes his eyes regardless of whether his followers die or not...?”
In the room where he was left alone, a brilliant light poured down upon his head. Ivan, sitting on the windowsill, stared blankly at the sky and muttered reproachfully.
The top of his head felt hot. He couldn't tell whether it was because of the hot light or because he was angry at his conversation with the Duke of Russell.
“You don’t care about what the other person feels. No matter how much they get hurt...”
Amelia's voice came to mind, as if telling him not to ignore the other person's feelings and hurt them.
“Me too, on the same topic.”
He also found it funny that Amelia was criticizing someone on a topic that was the same for him and his god. Ivan laughed at Amelia coldly. He felt like drinking alcohol, even though he didn't enjoy it.
He was thoroughly on the side of humanity. If that were God, then Ivan and God could never be together forever.
Amelia, heading to the prayer room, tilted her head and touched her ear.
“Why are you like that?”
“It’s nothing. My ears just itch a little.”
“You don’t mean to leave your seat because you’re sick, do you?”
Louis asked suspiciously. Amelia shook her head.
Still, there was a faint distrust in Louis' eyes. Amelia often disappeared for a while, saying she was not feeling well, was tired, or had to go to the bathroom. Naturally, it was Louis's job to clean up the mess.
“This time, my ears were just itchy.”
Amelia responded, somewhat annoyed. Louis was a decent woman, except for the fact that she followed Aaron more, but she often got annoyed at times like this.
“Please, let me see the Priestess!”
It was then that a loud noise was carried by the wind. Amelia's gaze naturally turned to where the noise was coming from.
“Your Ladyship!”
It was a woman holding a baby. The woman, who was delighted to see Amelia, shook off the priests and tried to rush at her. At the moment when Amelia was startled and tried to step back, two priests subdued the woman with force.
“Didn’t I say no!”
Amelia's path and the commoners' prayer room were in completely different directions. It was surprising that she had managed to sneak in here.
“Priest, please hurry to the prayer room...”
Louis quickly tried to lead Amelia to the prayer room. However, Amelia's feet were not directed to the prayer room.
“What's going on?”
The Priests bowed their heads in embarrassment at Amelia's question.
“I apologize for the commotion, Priestess. I will get her out quickly.”
“Priest, please save the child.”
Despite the power of the priests, the woman holding the child did not give up. And as if she had no strength to cry, she prayed for the life of the baby wrapped in cloth.
“Please lend me your power, God...”
There is no God. Amelia knew that better than anyone. But it was understandable that she would want to grab onto even a shred of hope.
“Please save the child!”
Didn't my mother cry like that? Amelia reached out to the child as if possessed, recalling the face of the woman who had been screaming.
“Your Ladyship.”
But a soft voice stopped her actions. Amelia unconsciously stopped her hands and turned her head. Aaron approached her with a kind smile.
“You can’t make an exception for just one individual.”
He said that, but in reality, he realized that the child was sick. No one could replace Amelia right now. If Amelia suddenly got sick and died, everything would fall apart.
“...”
Amelia's face turned cold as she read Aaron's mind. She didn't know why she was born on this earth, but she believed that it wasn't because she was just living as someone else's puppet.
“Even making that exception is God’s will.”
So, even though he was young, he couldn't help but refute her. Perhaps because he had a discerning eye, Aaron couldn't refute Amelia.
“Show me the child.”
At Amelia's words, the woman trembled and opened the cloth covering the child's face. The fever bloomed here and there on the young skin, barely able to breathe, and was pitiful.
“..."
Aaron's jaw tightened as he watched Amelia place her hand on the child's forehead and whisper words of comfort and blessing. What's the big deal about the loss of a single life?
“Please examine the child’s condition and treat him. Since the Priestess herself has blessed him, he will definitely become healthy. That is the only way.”
Aaron, who had softened his expression as if nothing had happened, called one of the priests closer and whispered. Since Amelia had blessed the child, the child had to live. That must have been what Amelia was aiming for.
“...”
An impudent gaze, as if asking what to do now, collided with the air. He’s forgetting his place again and acting selfishly. Aaron smiled quietly.
It seemed like some education was needed.
Ivan asked first. And naturally, he headed towards the head of the table. He did so very slowly, even though he knew that the Duke of Russell was following him.
“I have something to tell you, so I’m asking for your valuable time.”
“Sit down.”
This time, Ivan didn't even try to tease him. Ivan nodded, and the Duke of Russell sat down in the seat he was allowed.
“I heard you ordered the easing of security along the northern border near Reed. Are you considering reestablishing diplomatic relations with them?”
And he asked honestly, without turning around. Ivan leaned back comfortably on the back of the chair with his legs crossed.
"That's right."
Ivan's honest answer continued. The Duke of Russell wiggled his eyebrows at the unwanted answer.
“They are the ones who dare to insult the Priestess and insult Escliffe.”
The Duke of Russell cited the reasons why Reed and Escliffe had broken off diplomatic relations, reminding him of the reasons why they had closed the border gates.
“You came to tell me because you thought I didn’t know? How kind of you to tell me.”
Ivan gave a short laugh. He ran a hand through his hair and answered dryly. It was obvious to anyone that he wasn't listening carefully to the Duke of Russell.
“They simply doubted the existence of the Priestess.”
"Your Majesty."
It was just as the Duke of Russell was opening his mouth to respond to Ivan.
“Even the god who was said to have existed in the beginning came down to this earth and departed as a spirit, so how can a mere proxy live forever? Can’t we at least have some doubts?”
Ivan said coldly. He pretended to mention the opinions of the neighboring countries, but in reality, their opinions were no different from Ivan's true feelings.
“The Priestess is the representative of the god who protects Escliffe.”
“...”
“Doubting her existence is like doubting and denying Escliffe.”
The Duke of Russell, who had read Ivan's mind, calmly argued that insulting a Priestess meant insulting God, and furthermore, it meant insulting Escliffe, the owner of the land.
“Isn’t this the logic of a miracle?”
Ivan muttered with a smile on his lips. But it was far from a pleasant smile or joy.
“Above all, I do not feel insulted as the master of the royal family.”
“...”
“And the Duke of Russell. If there really is a God, he wouldn’t be so petty.”
Ivan stood up, denying the Duke of Russell's claims.
“You may not die even if you starve and don’t drink water for a year, but that’s not the case for the people of this land.”
Then he walked up to the window and opened it wide. A lukewarm breeze blew through the curtains and poured into the room.
“Reed is a country built on flat land, so it has vast granary areas. On the other hand, we have vast land but little farmland. In fact, our land is even barren.”
Ivan pointed to the peak of the mountain that was higher than the castle, and pointed to the reality of Escliffe. Duke Russell's gaze slowly moved to the peak of the mountain.
“For ten years, diplomatic relations were severed. Whenever there was a famine, countless people starved to death on the streets.”
The Duke of Russell's gaze turned back to Ivan's face.
“Your family doesn’t seem to care because they’re not starving, but I hear there’s a bad harvest expected this year, too.”
Ivan was denouncing the behavior of the great nobles with a smiling face. Their cruelty was the same, such as severing diplomatic relations for the sake of honor, making it difficult to obtain food, and forcing soldiers to chase them to death for petty theft before starving to death.
“Even that may be God’s will.”
The Duke of Russell answered calmly. Even the fake smile on Ivan's face disappeared completely.
“If God is so good, it would be better for both of us if we just converted to religion.”
Ivan opened his mouth, looking straight at the Duke of Russell with an expressionless face.
“Ten years is enough. Now, God should live the life of God, and humans should live the life of humans. Isn’t that right?”
“Your Majesty, I think so.”
The Duke of Russell answered softly.
“I understand. As the Chairman, I simply wanted to ask for Your Majesty’s intentions. We will discuss this again at the meeting.”
And after paying his respects to Ivan, he left the audience room. Ivan's eyes were fixed on the empty space left by the Duke of Russell.
“Call Rodan and have everyone vacate the spot.”
Ivan rang the bell and summoned his servant. Soon after, Rodan, who had received his order, entered the audience room alone.
“I have a feeling that the Duke of Russell will push for the resumption of diplomatic relations with Reed.”
“You already know?”
Rodan frowned as he asked. He was just beginning to open up the conversation. He had never tried to hide it, but even so, it was too early for the Duke of Russell to notice.
“Find out where the word came from. It must be somewhere nearby.”
Rodan nodded at Ivan's tired voice. Then he quickly pulled away when he saw Ivan waving his hand to tell him to leave. That meant he had to leave.
“What kind of god is he if he closes his eyes regardless of whether his followers die or not...?”
In the room where he was left alone, a brilliant light poured down upon his head. Ivan, sitting on the windowsill, stared blankly at the sky and muttered reproachfully.
The top of his head felt hot. He couldn't tell whether it was because of the hot light or because he was angry at his conversation with the Duke of Russell.
“You don’t care about what the other person feels. No matter how much they get hurt...”
Amelia's voice came to mind, as if telling him not to ignore the other person's feelings and hurt them.
“Me too, on the same topic.”
He also found it funny that Amelia was criticizing someone on a topic that was the same for him and his god. Ivan laughed at Amelia coldly. He felt like drinking alcohol, even though he didn't enjoy it.
He was thoroughly on the side of humanity. If that were God, then Ivan and God could never be together forever.
***
Amelia, heading to the prayer room, tilted her head and touched her ear.
“Why are you like that?”
“It’s nothing. My ears just itch a little.”
“You don’t mean to leave your seat because you’re sick, do you?”
Louis asked suspiciously. Amelia shook her head.
Still, there was a faint distrust in Louis' eyes. Amelia often disappeared for a while, saying she was not feeling well, was tired, or had to go to the bathroom. Naturally, it was Louis's job to clean up the mess.
“This time, my ears were just itchy.”
Amelia responded, somewhat annoyed. Louis was a decent woman, except for the fact that she followed Aaron more, but she often got annoyed at times like this.
“Please, let me see the Priestess!”
It was then that a loud noise was carried by the wind. Amelia's gaze naturally turned to where the noise was coming from.
“Your Ladyship!”
It was a woman holding a baby. The woman, who was delighted to see Amelia, shook off the priests and tried to rush at her. At the moment when Amelia was startled and tried to step back, two priests subdued the woman with force.
“Didn’t I say no!”
Amelia's path and the commoners' prayer room were in completely different directions. It was surprising that she had managed to sneak in here.
“Priest, please hurry to the prayer room...”
Louis quickly tried to lead Amelia to the prayer room. However, Amelia's feet were not directed to the prayer room.
“What's going on?”
The Priests bowed their heads in embarrassment at Amelia's question.
“I apologize for the commotion, Priestess. I will get her out quickly.”
“Priest, please save the child.”
Despite the power of the priests, the woman holding the child did not give up. And as if she had no strength to cry, she prayed for the life of the baby wrapped in cloth.
“Please lend me your power, God...”
There is no God. Amelia knew that better than anyone. But it was understandable that she would want to grab onto even a shred of hope.
“Please save the child!”
Didn't my mother cry like that? Amelia reached out to the child as if possessed, recalling the face of the woman who had been screaming.
“Your Ladyship.”
But a soft voice stopped her actions. Amelia unconsciously stopped her hands and turned her head. Aaron approached her with a kind smile.
“You can’t make an exception for just one individual.”
He said that, but in reality, he realized that the child was sick. No one could replace Amelia right now. If Amelia suddenly got sick and died, everything would fall apart.
“...”
Amelia's face turned cold as she read Aaron's mind. She didn't know why she was born on this earth, but she believed that it wasn't because she was just living as someone else's puppet.
“Even making that exception is God’s will.”
So, even though he was young, he couldn't help but refute her. Perhaps because he had a discerning eye, Aaron couldn't refute Amelia.
“Show me the child.”
At Amelia's words, the woman trembled and opened the cloth covering the child's face. The fever bloomed here and there on the young skin, barely able to breathe, and was pitiful.
“..."
Aaron's jaw tightened as he watched Amelia place her hand on the child's forehead and whisper words of comfort and blessing. What's the big deal about the loss of a single life?
“Please examine the child’s condition and treat him. Since the Priestess herself has blessed him, he will definitely become healthy. That is the only way.”
Aaron, who had softened his expression as if nothing had happened, called one of the priests closer and whispered. Since Amelia had blessed the child, the child had to live. That must have been what Amelia was aiming for.
“...”
An impudent gaze, as if asking what to do now, collided with the air. He’s forgetting his place again and acting selfishly. Aaron smiled quietly.
It seemed like some education was needed.
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