Amelia also saw the fire growing bigger. Through the window of the bedroom where she had been dragged by Aaron's hand, she saw the flames burning her body as if something was boiling from deep within the ground, burning everything.
“...”
There was a lot of commotion outside. There were so many people running around trying to put out the fire, but the fire wasn't easily put out.
“Your Ladyship!”
There was only one dungeon within the temple. So the only place Ivan could be imprisoned was that one burning building.
At that thought, her legs began to move. Amelia ran, shaking off the servants who were trying to call her and grab her. The servants, who could not touch the Priestess's body without permission, simply followed the reckless Priestess.
“Bring me more water!”
“Pour it by the bucket!”
Finally, in front of the temple where they had arrived, the fire swayed in the wind like a gorgeous flower before Amelia's eyes. Red as blood, it fed on her body, growing bigger and more intense.
“The fire won’t go out!”
The priests and guards hurriedly poured water. The awakened servants and knights rushed in and worked hard to put out the fire.
“Your Ladyship.”
Amelia stared helplessly at the burning building, unable to do anything. Then, someone called Amelia. Her gaze moved mechanically.
The moonlight was still dim, but the flashing light was strong. The intruder's face was obliquely revealed in the light. It was Aaron.
“...”
Aaron didn't say anything. He just had a faint smile on his face, as he always did.
Like when Ivan was dragged out.
“...Aaron.”
“This is not a place for Your Ladyship. Please return to your bedroom.”
Aaron spoke to Amelia as if he were trying to persuade her. He respected her good heart, but he couldn't put her in a dangerous situation where there might be a problem. His kind and gentle voice brought back memories from a few hours ago.
Yeah, like that moment.
Amelia gritted her teeth. In Amelia's memory, Ivan was being dragged out of the prayer room by their power. Amelia, in her disheveled attire, was about to follow him. Aaron naturally blocked the path Ivan was being dragged through. In fact, he had been looking straight at Amelia from the beginning.
“Are you okay?”
Aaron, who had been staring blankly at Amelia until just now, had a look of concern on his face, and his voice was filled with pain. It was a surprisingly quick change. It was creepy.
“I was sorry. Please forgive him.”
Aaron's eyes fell on Amelia's exposed arms. He lifted his hands and pulled up Amelia's flowing dress, as if to hide the scars she had not hidden.
“A trainee priest who has not been able to properly manage himself has dared to approach with evil intentions and attempt to rape your precious body.”
What?
Aaron was speechless at the ridiculous accusations he had made against Ivan. Amelia's eyes just widened. Aaron met Amelia's gaze and slowly opened his mouth.
“I will execute him according to the law.”
And he sentenced him to the punishment that had already been decided.
“There’s nothing wrong with him!”
When Amelia let out a new scream, Aaron smiled and took a step closer. The distance was so awkward that she could feel his breath, and Amelia unconsciously tried to take a step back.
"I know."
Then Aaron grabbed Amelia's two arms tightly and spoke in a very small voice. The space where the two of them were left was so quiet that even if they spoke softly at such a close distance, it would be heard.
"He's still going to die.”
Aaron whispered affectionately.
“Is he there?”
Amelia asked, barely able to shake off her memories from a few hours ago.
Aaron looked back, his face flushed with embarrassment. The red tongue of the beast flickered and fell against his hair.
“Your Ladyship, step back!”
"Thank you."
Aaron answered in a gentle voice and took two more steps in front of Amelia. Amelia glared at him without backing down.
“Yes, he is there too.”
Aaron devoured the hatred greedily.
"...Ah."
As the strength left her legs, Amelia's body began to sway and sway. Aaron, who came over as if he had been startled, held Amelia's body in his arms and lifted her up from her slumped position. He pretended to have an unavoidable contact and brought their body closer.
“It’s a shame.”
Their bodies had become incredibly close, and Aaron bent his head to Amelia's ear. And he whispered something sweeter than anything else in the world.
“He's probably already dead.”
He has no regrets at all about having to die because it is something she cherishes and loves.
“Become a handful of ashes.”
A single transparent tear ran down Amelia's cheek. Aaron watched her eyes, where the light had disappeared, with a pitiful face. It was a disgusting play.
“It’s a shame that it ended so easily due to an unexpected accident.”
Aaron grinned, revealing that he had planned to make Ivan die the most miserable death in the world. Amelia could tell from Aaron's whispers that he had not killed Ivan on purpose.
Her mind was spinning. So, who killed Ivan, who burned to death inside?
“Do you still want to follow me?”
She remembered the voice of a man asking her if she wanted to follow him, even if it meant giving up all her glory.
"Yes."
The answer of the foolish woman who had been urging him to take her with him followed. The field of vision containing Aaron in the backlight shook unsteadily.
“The building is collapsing!”
“Everyone, evacuate!”
At the same time, the building, unable to withstand the flames in the bright sunlight that made it difficult to tell if it was dawn or morning, began to collapse with a creaking sound.
“Come with me, then. I’ll figure out a way to get you out.”
Thud.
It was the sound of everything collapsing, even what had once been hope.
The memory was hazy. Amelia blinked slowly. She remembered seeing the building collapsing and Aaron’s smiling face in front of it, but the puzzle pieces of what had happened were not easily put together.
“Are you in your right mind?”
Amelia was just lying there blankly when a familiar voice woke her up. She barely managed to turn her gaze, and it was Louis.
“How surprised were you that you fainted?”
There was a faint worry in his pitiful tone. The gaze he was looking at Amelia was also sharp.
“Please drink some water.”
Louis held out a glass of water to Amelia, who had her lean back against the cushion. Amelia took the glass as Louis offered it to her, but did not drink it.
“Your Ladyship.”
“...”
“Why did you do that?”
Louis asked Amelia why she did what she did. Her voice seemed to be criticizing Amelia's foolishness.
“I thought maybe you needed some time alone because you were afraid of or didn’t like the upcoming Coming of Age Night. I understood that you might be thinking a lot.”
Amelia, who had been trying to say something, did not respond as usual. Then Louis continued to accuse her.
“But you were having a secret meeting with a man there? Forgetting your responsibilities and duties.”
Louis was also a member of the Count Skipper. She had a duty to maintain their glory somehow. She had even been scolded for not keeping a close eye on her, so it was only natural that Amelia's behavior was not good.
“You have no one to blame. You killed that man.”
However, Amelia's small shoulders were pitiful as she lowered her head without saying anything, so Louis sighed with a face that held back the urge to criticize her more.
“...The lights are out?”
Finally, Amelia's voice broke through the silence. It was rough, having been locked up the whole time.
“Yes. The building was completely burned down, and the fire was put out.”
“Are there any survivors?”
Louis was silent for a moment at Amelia's question. She seemed to know what the question was about. There was no reason to give false hope, and there was no good result from it.
“No one. No one.”
Louis answered coldly.
“Anyway, he would have died if he had been caught having a secret meeting with you. It would have been better if it had been an accident.”
And as if that were some consolation, he added that it would have been better for him to have died in a fire of unknown cause than to have been tortured to death.
“...”
Amelia didn't say anything. However, water droplets fell one after another into the glass of water she was holding. Naturally, waves arose as a result. Louis stared at the sight quietly and then turned around.
Amelia felt sorry for losing the only special person in her life. But that was none of Louis's business. What could she do when Amelia's life itself was shaped for that? Louis opened Amelia's bedroom door with a blank expression and went out.
Amelia's despair was only expressed by the sound of sobbing and crying through the door that was about to close.
“...”
There was a lot of commotion outside. There were so many people running around trying to put out the fire, but the fire wasn't easily put out.
“Your Ladyship!”
There was only one dungeon within the temple. So the only place Ivan could be imprisoned was that one burning building.
At that thought, her legs began to move. Amelia ran, shaking off the servants who were trying to call her and grab her. The servants, who could not touch the Priestess's body without permission, simply followed the reckless Priestess.
“Bring me more water!”
“Pour it by the bucket!”
Finally, in front of the temple where they had arrived, the fire swayed in the wind like a gorgeous flower before Amelia's eyes. Red as blood, it fed on her body, growing bigger and more intense.
“The fire won’t go out!”
The priests and guards hurriedly poured water. The awakened servants and knights rushed in and worked hard to put out the fire.
“Your Ladyship.”
Amelia stared helplessly at the burning building, unable to do anything. Then, someone called Amelia. Her gaze moved mechanically.
The moonlight was still dim, but the flashing light was strong. The intruder's face was obliquely revealed in the light. It was Aaron.
“...”
Aaron didn't say anything. He just had a faint smile on his face, as he always did.
Like when Ivan was dragged out.
“...Aaron.”
“This is not a place for Your Ladyship. Please return to your bedroom.”
Aaron spoke to Amelia as if he were trying to persuade her. He respected her good heart, but he couldn't put her in a dangerous situation where there might be a problem. His kind and gentle voice brought back memories from a few hours ago.
Yeah, like that moment.
Amelia gritted her teeth. In Amelia's memory, Ivan was being dragged out of the prayer room by their power. Amelia, in her disheveled attire, was about to follow him. Aaron naturally blocked the path Ivan was being dragged through. In fact, he had been looking straight at Amelia from the beginning.
“Are you okay?”
Aaron, who had been staring blankly at Amelia until just now, had a look of concern on his face, and his voice was filled with pain. It was a surprisingly quick change. It was creepy.
“I was sorry. Please forgive him.”
Aaron's eyes fell on Amelia's exposed arms. He lifted his hands and pulled up Amelia's flowing dress, as if to hide the scars she had not hidden.
“A trainee priest who has not been able to properly manage himself has dared to approach with evil intentions and attempt to rape your precious body.”
What?
Aaron was speechless at the ridiculous accusations he had made against Ivan. Amelia's eyes just widened. Aaron met Amelia's gaze and slowly opened his mouth.
“I will execute him according to the law.”
And he sentenced him to the punishment that had already been decided.
“There’s nothing wrong with him!”
When Amelia let out a new scream, Aaron smiled and took a step closer. The distance was so awkward that she could feel his breath, and Amelia unconsciously tried to take a step back.
"I know."
Then Aaron grabbed Amelia's two arms tightly and spoke in a very small voice. The space where the two of them were left was so quiet that even if they spoke softly at such a close distance, it would be heard.
"He's still going to die.”
Aaron whispered affectionately.
“Is he there?”
Amelia asked, barely able to shake off her memories from a few hours ago.
Aaron looked back, his face flushed with embarrassment. The red tongue of the beast flickered and fell against his hair.
“Your Ladyship, step back!”
"Thank you."
Aaron answered in a gentle voice and took two more steps in front of Amelia. Amelia glared at him without backing down.
“Yes, he is there too.”
Aaron devoured the hatred greedily.
"...Ah."
As the strength left her legs, Amelia's body began to sway and sway. Aaron, who came over as if he had been startled, held Amelia's body in his arms and lifted her up from her slumped position. He pretended to have an unavoidable contact and brought their body closer.
“It’s a shame.”
Their bodies had become incredibly close, and Aaron bent his head to Amelia's ear. And he whispered something sweeter than anything else in the world.
“He's probably already dead.”
He has no regrets at all about having to die because it is something she cherishes and loves.
“Become a handful of ashes.”
A single transparent tear ran down Amelia's cheek. Aaron watched her eyes, where the light had disappeared, with a pitiful face. It was a disgusting play.
“It’s a shame that it ended so easily due to an unexpected accident.”
Aaron grinned, revealing that he had planned to make Ivan die the most miserable death in the world. Amelia could tell from Aaron's whispers that he had not killed Ivan on purpose.
Her mind was spinning. So, who killed Ivan, who burned to death inside?
“Do you still want to follow me?”
She remembered the voice of a man asking her if she wanted to follow him, even if it meant giving up all her glory.
"Yes."
The answer of the foolish woman who had been urging him to take her with him followed. The field of vision containing Aaron in the backlight shook unsteadily.
“The building is collapsing!”
“Everyone, evacuate!”
At the same time, the building, unable to withstand the flames in the bright sunlight that made it difficult to tell if it was dawn or morning, began to collapse with a creaking sound.
“Come with me, then. I’ll figure out a way to get you out.”
Thud.
It was the sound of everything collapsing, even what had once been hope.
***
The memory was hazy. Amelia blinked slowly. She remembered seeing the building collapsing and Aaron’s smiling face in front of it, but the puzzle pieces of what had happened were not easily put together.
“Are you in your right mind?”
Amelia was just lying there blankly when a familiar voice woke her up. She barely managed to turn her gaze, and it was Louis.
“How surprised were you that you fainted?”
There was a faint worry in his pitiful tone. The gaze he was looking at Amelia was also sharp.
“Please drink some water.”
Louis held out a glass of water to Amelia, who had her lean back against the cushion. Amelia took the glass as Louis offered it to her, but did not drink it.
“Your Ladyship.”
“...”
“Why did you do that?”
Louis asked Amelia why she did what she did. Her voice seemed to be criticizing Amelia's foolishness.
“I thought maybe you needed some time alone because you were afraid of or didn’t like the upcoming Coming of Age Night. I understood that you might be thinking a lot.”
Amelia, who had been trying to say something, did not respond as usual. Then Louis continued to accuse her.
“But you were having a secret meeting with a man there? Forgetting your responsibilities and duties.”
Louis was also a member of the Count Skipper. She had a duty to maintain their glory somehow. She had even been scolded for not keeping a close eye on her, so it was only natural that Amelia's behavior was not good.
“You have no one to blame. You killed that man.”
However, Amelia's small shoulders were pitiful as she lowered her head without saying anything, so Louis sighed with a face that held back the urge to criticize her more.
“...The lights are out?”
Finally, Amelia's voice broke through the silence. It was rough, having been locked up the whole time.
“Yes. The building was completely burned down, and the fire was put out.”
“Are there any survivors?”
Louis was silent for a moment at Amelia's question. She seemed to know what the question was about. There was no reason to give false hope, and there was no good result from it.
“No one. No one.”
Louis answered coldly.
“Anyway, he would have died if he had been caught having a secret meeting with you. It would have been better if it had been an accident.”
And as if that were some consolation, he added that it would have been better for him to have died in a fire of unknown cause than to have been tortured to death.
“...”
Amelia didn't say anything. However, water droplets fell one after another into the glass of water she was holding. Naturally, waves arose as a result. Louis stared at the sight quietly and then turned around.
Amelia felt sorry for losing the only special person in her life. But that was none of Louis's business. What could she do when Amelia's life itself was shaped for that? Louis opened Amelia's bedroom door with a blank expression and went out.
Amelia's despair was only expressed by the sound of sobbing and crying through the door that was about to close.
Support Novellate!
Comments
Post a Comment