"Why?"
Ivan asked. His voice was slightly lowered, and there was a hint of playfulness in it. It was obvious that he had noticed why Amelia was hiding her breasts.
“Stop looking.”
Because her slightly flushed cheeks and her voice, mixed with a whine, were showing her embarrassment. Ivan crossed his arms leisurely and stared at Ian's head more persistently. Amelia was the only one who didn't know what to do, since it was impossible to take the mouth of a child who was sucking milk away.
“Ugh...”
As if he had noticed his mother’s embarrassment, Ian opened his mouth. His eyes were closed, as if he had fallen asleep while eating. Amelia quickly put on her clothes and held Ian in her arms, patting his back.
“...”
Meanwhile, Ivan's eyes were fixed on the hat, which was full of a sense of kinship, for that kind of bond was something Ivan had not had even a little with Ian.
Of course, he didn't feel sad or uncomfortable about it. In the first place, he only saw Ian in person a handful of times. It was rare for him to even touch him once. If there were any warm affection or feelings between the two, that would have been even stranger.
His child. Clearly his child, but still a stranger to even his very existence...
That was the extent of Ivan's feelings for Ian.
“Ugh.”
Finally, Ian burped softly. Only then did Amelia lay the child back down on the bed.
“You look familiar. Have you been breastfeeding like that all along?”
While she was patting his chubby belly to make sure that the sudden drop in body temperature was not unfamiliar, Ivan suddenly asked a question. It seemed strange that Amelia was handling the child so familiarly.
“If not me, who would have done it?”
Amelia answered with a smile, as if raising her own child was a natural thing. It was a strange answer for Ivan, who had only ever seen children being raised by nannies.
“If I hadn’t raised this child in my arms, he would have died as soon as he was born.”
“...”
“Ian was able to live because I hid it from everyone and never showed it to anyone, and you came to save him on the day the whole truth was revealed.”
At Amelia’s words, Ivan’s eyes sank into a somewhat dark light. Was it surprising that if he had been just a little bit later, that bloody lump would have been erased forever without even leaving a record of its birth in the world?
“Did I ever tell you about my sister?”
Amelia asked softly. It was an impulsive decision, but she thought it was okay to know. Ivan shook his head without saying anything.
“I was the first twin born in the Priestess’ generation. My sister was born later than I and was born with a weak body.”
“...”
“She died when we were three. Two girls with black hair and black eyes, because I grew up well without any illness.”
A person who knows a secret should write it down. Aaron lived by that saying. So he kept his word.
“They are the kind of people who would kill a girl who has the conditions they want. What good would it do to raise a useless boy?”
Amelia muttered self-deprecatingly. Her gaze was fixed on the small life form under her palm. It was so cute to see him sleeping soundly, unaware that he had once been in danger.
“I wanted to protect Ian somehow, but I felt miserable every time I realized my helplessness.”
In fact, it might have been best to send him away secretly in the hands of a midwife. But that was something she realized after she was blinded by the child, and the midwife left. There was no place to hide the child. It was impossible to hide the hair color or gender. All she could do was raise him in hiding.
“Shall we die together like this before our lives are played with?”
“...”
“Even if I had that thought, I couldn’t help but think that it was the last trace you left on the world.”
There was still a trace of pain in Amelia's muttering voice. It was a kind of emotion that Ivan could never understand, and never will.
“How could I do that?”
“...”
“It’s no different from me killing you, so how can I kill ny own child?”
It was all just a misunderstanding created by Ivan. Ivan was alive and well. Wasn't he still here in front of her? But even knowing that, she couldn't stop the tears from flowing.
“Amelia.”
The pain of that time was still vivid, and she closed her eyes tightly. Ivan reached out and called Amelia's name softly. His long fingers gently stroked her cheek, wiping away her tears.
“It’s in the past. We’re all alive now.”
Ivan and Ian are both alive. Amelia's suffering was real, but everything that happened in the past is a lie.
“Ian won’t be in danger again, right?”
Amelia asked, holding Ivan's hand to her face. Ivan did not answer hastily. The Emperor's promise was an oath. He should not make promises he could not keep. Instead, he stared into Amelia's tearful eyes.
Her eyes, which were shiny like pebbles rolling around in the shallow waters of a lake, were filled with a variety of emotions. Fear, hope, despair, anticipation. Things like that.
“What did the High Priest say?”
In response to Ivan's question, Amelia grabbed Ivan's hand with both of her own. She had withdrawn all of the hands that had been comforting Ian.
“Are you going to kill the child?”
“If I don’t do what I'm told.”
Ivan's guess was half right. If they didn't follow through on their orders, Aaron would kill Ian first as a warning to Amelia.
“I seduced you and made you spend the night with me. So that everyone would know and you wouldn’t be able to deny it.”
And she clung to Ivan. It was her only chance at freedom, at peace. That was what Amelia thought.
“But if I follow their words, they plan to build a temple just like that. If I don’t, they plan to harm Ian.”
“...”
“Ivan, when will you accept Ian as your son?”
So, she began to beg earnestly. It seemed that if Ivan would just accept Ian as his son, everything would go smoothly.
“If something really happens like this...”
Ivan's gaze moved slowly from Amelia to Ian over her shoulder.
“Amelia, you don’t have to worry about Ian’s safety. He’s at my house.”
A soft voice caught Amelia's anxious mind. Amelia rested her cheek on Ivan's palm like an animal rubbing its face on the palm of its trusted master. Her attitude showed no sign of wariness.
“However, Ian’s work... is not something I can control.”
It wouldn't be easy for anyone to say no to that face, but Ivan was a man who could do it.
“For that to happen, it has to be revealed that Ian is my bloodline, and you have to be a woman I can marry normally.”
“...”
“But that can’t be done now.”
Ivan was right. Now that no facts had been revealed, Amelia was still a Priestess. It was impossible to marry a common man, so becoming an Empress was out of the question. In the meantime, if Amelia and Ivan had revealed that they had a child, everyone would criticize them.
“I’m sorry. If I promise now, it would be a lie.”
As Ivan spoke, he lifted Amelia's chin with both hands. As his lips touched softly, Amelia lifted both arms and wrapped them around Ivan's neck.
"...yes."
And she barely managed to answer in a low voice.
“Sleep more. I’ll be right here with you.”
“Aren’t you going to sleep well?”
“I have to go back soon. I can’t let it be known that I was with you because of their hidden intentions.”
Finally, Ivan kissed her briefly and lay her down on the bed. He then covered her shoulders with the blanket. He was still sitting on the edge of the bed.
“Ivan.”
Amelia called Ivan. Ivan looked at the dried porridge on the table for a moment, then turned his gaze to Amelia.
“Can’t you just lie down next to me for a bit and then go? Even if you have to go, you can go. Yes?”
Now that she was a parent, Amelia acted as if she were trying to squeeze her parents' body temperature. Ivan laughed for a moment, then pretended to lose and lay down, hugging Amelia from behind.
Only after being embraced by the familiar body temperature did she feel secure. Amelia felt the strong arm that stretched beyond her waist, and slid her hand under it. Then she grabbed Ivan’s hand and lifted it up. Ivan didn’t respond much, as if he wanted to see what she was doing.
“...”
Amelia led Ivan's hand to Ian's chest. Ivan stared at his large hand spread out on Ian's chest, which was the size of a palm, with an unfamiliar look.
“I don’t think Ian has ever been comforted before.”
Ivan did not deny it, as if his premonition was not wrong. However, just like Amelia had done earlier, he simply patted the child's chest. It was an extremely awkward and cautious action.
It's still unfamiliar, and he's still worried.
Amelia watched the scene and smiled.
“Ivan.”
“...”
“Isn’t that because you’re not ready yet? I just have to wait, right?”
Ivan silently kissed Amelia near the temple. Amelia decided to believe that was his answer.
Ivan asked. His voice was slightly lowered, and there was a hint of playfulness in it. It was obvious that he had noticed why Amelia was hiding her breasts.
“Stop looking.”
Because her slightly flushed cheeks and her voice, mixed with a whine, were showing her embarrassment. Ivan crossed his arms leisurely and stared at Ian's head more persistently. Amelia was the only one who didn't know what to do, since it was impossible to take the mouth of a child who was sucking milk away.
“Ugh...”
As if he had noticed his mother’s embarrassment, Ian opened his mouth. His eyes were closed, as if he had fallen asleep while eating. Amelia quickly put on her clothes and held Ian in her arms, patting his back.
“...”
Meanwhile, Ivan's eyes were fixed on the hat, which was full of a sense of kinship, for that kind of bond was something Ivan had not had even a little with Ian.
Of course, he didn't feel sad or uncomfortable about it. In the first place, he only saw Ian in person a handful of times. It was rare for him to even touch him once. If there were any warm affection or feelings between the two, that would have been even stranger.
His child. Clearly his child, but still a stranger to even his very existence...
That was the extent of Ivan's feelings for Ian.
“Ugh.”
Finally, Ian burped softly. Only then did Amelia lay the child back down on the bed.
“You look familiar. Have you been breastfeeding like that all along?”
While she was patting his chubby belly to make sure that the sudden drop in body temperature was not unfamiliar, Ivan suddenly asked a question. It seemed strange that Amelia was handling the child so familiarly.
“If not me, who would have done it?”
Amelia answered with a smile, as if raising her own child was a natural thing. It was a strange answer for Ivan, who had only ever seen children being raised by nannies.
“If I hadn’t raised this child in my arms, he would have died as soon as he was born.”
“...”
“Ian was able to live because I hid it from everyone and never showed it to anyone, and you came to save him on the day the whole truth was revealed.”
At Amelia’s words, Ivan’s eyes sank into a somewhat dark light. Was it surprising that if he had been just a little bit later, that bloody lump would have been erased forever without even leaving a record of its birth in the world?
“Did I ever tell you about my sister?”
Amelia asked softly. It was an impulsive decision, but she thought it was okay to know. Ivan shook his head without saying anything.
“I was the first twin born in the Priestess’ generation. My sister was born later than I and was born with a weak body.”
“...”
“She died when we were three. Two girls with black hair and black eyes, because I grew up well without any illness.”
A person who knows a secret should write it down. Aaron lived by that saying. So he kept his word.
“They are the kind of people who would kill a girl who has the conditions they want. What good would it do to raise a useless boy?”
Amelia muttered self-deprecatingly. Her gaze was fixed on the small life form under her palm. It was so cute to see him sleeping soundly, unaware that he had once been in danger.
“I wanted to protect Ian somehow, but I felt miserable every time I realized my helplessness.”
In fact, it might have been best to send him away secretly in the hands of a midwife. But that was something she realized after she was blinded by the child, and the midwife left. There was no place to hide the child. It was impossible to hide the hair color or gender. All she could do was raise him in hiding.
“Shall we die together like this before our lives are played with?”
“...”
“Even if I had that thought, I couldn’t help but think that it was the last trace you left on the world.”
There was still a trace of pain in Amelia's muttering voice. It was a kind of emotion that Ivan could never understand, and never will.
“How could I do that?”
“...”
“It’s no different from me killing you, so how can I kill ny own child?”
It was all just a misunderstanding created by Ivan. Ivan was alive and well. Wasn't he still here in front of her? But even knowing that, she couldn't stop the tears from flowing.
“Amelia.”
The pain of that time was still vivid, and she closed her eyes tightly. Ivan reached out and called Amelia's name softly. His long fingers gently stroked her cheek, wiping away her tears.
“It’s in the past. We’re all alive now.”
Ivan and Ian are both alive. Amelia's suffering was real, but everything that happened in the past is a lie.
“Ian won’t be in danger again, right?”
Amelia asked, holding Ivan's hand to her face. Ivan did not answer hastily. The Emperor's promise was an oath. He should not make promises he could not keep. Instead, he stared into Amelia's tearful eyes.
Her eyes, which were shiny like pebbles rolling around in the shallow waters of a lake, were filled with a variety of emotions. Fear, hope, despair, anticipation. Things like that.
“What did the High Priest say?”
In response to Ivan's question, Amelia grabbed Ivan's hand with both of her own. She had withdrawn all of the hands that had been comforting Ian.
“Are you going to kill the child?”
“If I don’t do what I'm told.”
Ivan's guess was half right. If they didn't follow through on their orders, Aaron would kill Ian first as a warning to Amelia.
“I seduced you and made you spend the night with me. So that everyone would know and you wouldn’t be able to deny it.”
And she clung to Ivan. It was her only chance at freedom, at peace. That was what Amelia thought.
“But if I follow their words, they plan to build a temple just like that. If I don’t, they plan to harm Ian.”
“...”
“Ivan, when will you accept Ian as your son?”
So, she began to beg earnestly. It seemed that if Ivan would just accept Ian as his son, everything would go smoothly.
“If something really happens like this...”
Ivan's gaze moved slowly from Amelia to Ian over her shoulder.
“Amelia, you don’t have to worry about Ian’s safety. He’s at my house.”
A soft voice caught Amelia's anxious mind. Amelia rested her cheek on Ivan's palm like an animal rubbing its face on the palm of its trusted master. Her attitude showed no sign of wariness.
“However, Ian’s work... is not something I can control.”
It wouldn't be easy for anyone to say no to that face, but Ivan was a man who could do it.
“For that to happen, it has to be revealed that Ian is my bloodline, and you have to be a woman I can marry normally.”
“...”
“But that can’t be done now.”
Ivan was right. Now that no facts had been revealed, Amelia was still a Priestess. It was impossible to marry a common man, so becoming an Empress was out of the question. In the meantime, if Amelia and Ivan had revealed that they had a child, everyone would criticize them.
“I’m sorry. If I promise now, it would be a lie.”
As Ivan spoke, he lifted Amelia's chin with both hands. As his lips touched softly, Amelia lifted both arms and wrapped them around Ivan's neck.
"...yes."
And she barely managed to answer in a low voice.
“Sleep more. I’ll be right here with you.”
“Aren’t you going to sleep well?”
“I have to go back soon. I can’t let it be known that I was with you because of their hidden intentions.”
Finally, Ivan kissed her briefly and lay her down on the bed. He then covered her shoulders with the blanket. He was still sitting on the edge of the bed.
“Ivan.”
Amelia called Ivan. Ivan looked at the dried porridge on the table for a moment, then turned his gaze to Amelia.
“Can’t you just lie down next to me for a bit and then go? Even if you have to go, you can go. Yes?”
Now that she was a parent, Amelia acted as if she were trying to squeeze her parents' body temperature. Ivan laughed for a moment, then pretended to lose and lay down, hugging Amelia from behind.
Only after being embraced by the familiar body temperature did she feel secure. Amelia felt the strong arm that stretched beyond her waist, and slid her hand under it. Then she grabbed Ivan’s hand and lifted it up. Ivan didn’t respond much, as if he wanted to see what she was doing.
“...”
Amelia led Ivan's hand to Ian's chest. Ivan stared at his large hand spread out on Ian's chest, which was the size of a palm, with an unfamiliar look.
“I don’t think Ian has ever been comforted before.”
Ivan did not deny it, as if his premonition was not wrong. However, just like Amelia had done earlier, he simply patted the child's chest. It was an extremely awkward and cautious action.
It's still unfamiliar, and he's still worried.
Amelia watched the scene and smiled.
“Ivan.”
“...”
“Isn’t that because you’re not ready yet? I just have to wait, right?”
Ivan silently kissed Amelia near the temple. Amelia decided to believe that was his answer.
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