Ivan slowly stepped into Ian's room. The surroundings were chaotic. The maids who had come running from their meal were hurriedly preparing warm water to wash Ian, and Mrs. Howard, with a face that seemed unable to wake up, staggered and sat down in her seat.
“Are you okay, Mrs. Howard?”
“Why is my body like this...”
The maid cautiously approached Mrs. Howard, who had fallen from her chair while looking around, and helped her up. Mrs. Howard barely managed to get up and leaned against the maid.
Ivan, who was watching the scene, decided not to reprimand Mrs. Howard. He seemed to know roughly how Ian was separated from Mrs. Howard.
“There are no external injuries, and it seems like he drank some water, so pat him on the back to help him drink it without vomiting. It doesn’t seem like water got inside his ears, so you can just wipe it with a dry cloth.”
The palace doctor finished examining Ian and gave a detailed explanation. Amelia roughly wiped her wet cheek with her hand and nodded, listening to his words.
“...”
Meanwhile, Ivan quietly looked around. The maid who had been sticking close to Amelia as if something bad would happen if she were to leave her even a little bit was gone. Even though she was the kind of woman who would stick to her unless Ivan gave her a special order.
“Where did your maid go?”
Ivan asked. Amelia, who was thanking the palace maid as she left Ian's room, finally felt Ivan's presence and turned to look at him.
“Louis’s whereabouts are of no concern to Your Majesty.”
And she spoke coldly. It was funny how she acted as if he were the one who had dipped Ivan in the pond. Ivan laughed for a moment.
“Please get out.”
Amelia asked insolently. In fact, the servants around her were somewhat surprised by her sharp voice, but surprisingly, Ivan did not scold her for her rudeness.
“Of course, it doesn’t matter to me whether that woman is your maid or your servant. It’s none of my business even if she falls down and dies somewhere.”
However, he only laughed at Louis' existence with a sharp voice, as if Louis were truly less than a speck of dust in this world.
“Isn’t it funny that you think you can do anything by just putting up thorns without even knowing how to protect yourself?”
“...”
“Thanks to your foolish decisions, the child is now like that.”
Ivan stroked his wet hair and winked at the child, who was panting and crying so hard that she could only hear his chest pounding. The guard and anger that had been on Amelia's face towards Ivan slightly dissipated.
“Who do you think saved that baby just now?”
Amelia looked breathless at Ivan's question. Her hands were also shaking.
“...”
Of course, as Amelia said, it was none of Ivan's business. Saving a child was not something to be celebrated. Ivan turned his body somewhat nervously and grabbed the doorknob. As if he could feel the discord between his parents, Ian burst into tears again.
“Your Majesty, I have brought you a change of clothes.”
The chamberlain who was waiting in front of the door hurriedly suggested that Ivan change into his clothes. Even that was annoying. Ivan made a vague gesture and shook the chamberlain off, and started walking toward the main palace.
"... Your Majesty?"
But suddenly his steps stopped. The chamb, who was following Ivan hurriedly on short legs, looked up at him with a puzzled face. Ivan was looking back at the West Palace.
Ian's throat was sore, so he couldn't even make a loud noise anymore, and his thin sobs seemed to be scratching at his ears.
“...”
Ivan looked down at the corpse of the maid inside the dungeon bars with a cold face. He had only given her a moment to relax because Rodan and the chamberlain were always insisting on drying his body and changing his wet clothes.
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty!”
The guards apologized, their foreheads pressed against the damp floor. He could almost see the beads of sweat running down their backs as they apologised in an almost screaming manner.
Instead of yelling at the guards for their failure to do their job properly, Ivan stared at the corpse: the blue-tinged skin, the still-blood-flowing mouth, the purple-tinged fingernails.
“It’s poison.”
The body was clearly indicating the cause of death. Ivan turned around after coming to a conclusion. There was nothing to ask or wonder about the body that was already dead.
“Your Majesty, what should we do with that body?”
Rodan asked. There was no way he could let a useless dead body rot in prison. But it was also not the case that Rodan could make his own decisions without Ivan's approval. After all, she was a criminal brought by Ivan.
"Well."
Ivan, who was walking briskly up the stairs, answered calmly. At first glance, his voice sounded like he wasn't very interested.
“What did I suggest earlier?”
Ivan stopped, one step above the other and one step below.
“Oh, I remember.”
“...”
“Beheading, burning at the stake, burial.”
And then, as if he remembered, he let out a short exclamation. It was a type of execution so terrifying that everyone's body trembled.
“I asked her what she liked, but she didn’t answer. So I decided to do it my way.”
Ivan smiled briefly. Although he could not see it, Rodan could guess the situation. If the dead sinner had been able to answer, Ivan would have decided to dispose of it as he pleased.
“Behead her, hang her head on the city walls, and burn her body on firewood in the streets until it turns to ashes.”
“..."
“Water is innocent, so why let it become dirty?”
Ivan replied and stood with both feet firmly on the ground. His face looked rather merciful, considering that he was dealing with the woman who had tried to harm his son.
“But, Your Majesty, why did you save that child?”
It was while they were walking as if they were taking a night stroll to return to the main palace that Rodan suddenly asked a question. As if he didn't care for his son enough to risk his life to save him. Ivan didn't answer.
“...”
He couldn't do anything about it since he didn't know about it.
Ian almost died. Amelia never let go of Ian, who was barely sleeping, and only returned to her bedroom just before he fell asleep.
“I have sinned and deserved death.”
But even as she lay in bed, her head was spinning furiously. She was mechanically thinking back on what had happened to Ian and what had happened afterwards.
“The maid said there was still some time left before the others returned from their meals and took their shifts, so I shared some cookies as a snack, and I ate a couple.”
Mrs. Howard, who had regained consciousness, quickly guessed why she had been sleeping alone in Ian's room. Then, after hearing what had happened while she was asleep, she apologized with her head down on the floor.
Amelia knew what she meant. It wasn't just a simple apology for not taking care of Ian. Ian wasn't just a baby living within the walls of the palace. If this had caused any repercussions for Ivan, it would have been terrible.
“I know it’s not your fault, Mrs. Howard.”
Whatever the case, Amelia also knew that this incident was not Mrs. Howard's fault. She had simply been caught up in someone else's plan. Furthermore, it was not Mrs. Howard's intention that Ian's room be left empty, leaving Mrs. Howard alone.
“I just want to eat in my room.”
“It’s the servant’s job to bring it to the room.”
And if Amelia was at fault, it was only that she trusted Louis even a little. Amelia, who did not trust Ivan, told Louis that she would eat alone in her room. However, Louis insisted on dragging Amelia into the dining room.
“...”
She thought it would be okay because it was only for a short while. She had already told Louis several times to keep someone around Ian so that he wouldn't be alone. Louis had clearly said that she understood each time. And hadn't the Duke of Russell also said that he would keep more eyes and ears around her and the child?
“Your Ladyship.”
So, there had to be someone by the child's side.
“Why wasn’t anyone there with Ian?”
But there was no one.
“I don’t know either. I clearly gave orders not to leave Mrs. Howard and the child alone.”
Even though Ian almost died like this, and before Ivan personally saved the child, no one should have known, and the surroundings should have been cleaned up so cleanly. That's just proof that they were planning to kill Ian.
“Could it be that the Emperor is organizing the surroundings to harm the baby? The only one who benefits from harming the baby now is the Emperor.”
“He saved Ian himself.”
“It could be acting. Wouldn’t it be more reasonable to view it as a threat that could kill you at any time?”
But it was hard to understand. She really thought that Ivan was just putting on a good show in front of her. After all, he already had a history of deceiving her.
“Thanks to your foolish decisions, the child is now like that.”
But intuition was screaming that it wasn't true. The pitiful look in Ivan's eyes and the cold voice were saying the same thing.
“Are you okay, Mrs. Howard?”
“Why is my body like this...”
The maid cautiously approached Mrs. Howard, who had fallen from her chair while looking around, and helped her up. Mrs. Howard barely managed to get up and leaned against the maid.
Ivan, who was watching the scene, decided not to reprimand Mrs. Howard. He seemed to know roughly how Ian was separated from Mrs. Howard.
“There are no external injuries, and it seems like he drank some water, so pat him on the back to help him drink it without vomiting. It doesn’t seem like water got inside his ears, so you can just wipe it with a dry cloth.”
The palace doctor finished examining Ian and gave a detailed explanation. Amelia roughly wiped her wet cheek with her hand and nodded, listening to his words.
“...”
Meanwhile, Ivan quietly looked around. The maid who had been sticking close to Amelia as if something bad would happen if she were to leave her even a little bit was gone. Even though she was the kind of woman who would stick to her unless Ivan gave her a special order.
“Where did your maid go?”
Ivan asked. Amelia, who was thanking the palace maid as she left Ian's room, finally felt Ivan's presence and turned to look at him.
“Louis’s whereabouts are of no concern to Your Majesty.”
And she spoke coldly. It was funny how she acted as if he were the one who had dipped Ivan in the pond. Ivan laughed for a moment.
“Please get out.”
Amelia asked insolently. In fact, the servants around her were somewhat surprised by her sharp voice, but surprisingly, Ivan did not scold her for her rudeness.
“Of course, it doesn’t matter to me whether that woman is your maid or your servant. It’s none of my business even if she falls down and dies somewhere.”
However, he only laughed at Louis' existence with a sharp voice, as if Louis were truly less than a speck of dust in this world.
“Isn’t it funny that you think you can do anything by just putting up thorns without even knowing how to protect yourself?”
“...”
“Thanks to your foolish decisions, the child is now like that.”
Ivan stroked his wet hair and winked at the child, who was panting and crying so hard that she could only hear his chest pounding. The guard and anger that had been on Amelia's face towards Ivan slightly dissipated.
“Who do you think saved that baby just now?”
Amelia looked breathless at Ivan's question. Her hands were also shaking.
“...”
Of course, as Amelia said, it was none of Ivan's business. Saving a child was not something to be celebrated. Ivan turned his body somewhat nervously and grabbed the doorknob. As if he could feel the discord between his parents, Ian burst into tears again.
“Your Majesty, I have brought you a change of clothes.”
The chamberlain who was waiting in front of the door hurriedly suggested that Ivan change into his clothes. Even that was annoying. Ivan made a vague gesture and shook the chamberlain off, and started walking toward the main palace.
"... Your Majesty?"
But suddenly his steps stopped. The chamb, who was following Ivan hurriedly on short legs, looked up at him with a puzzled face. Ivan was looking back at the West Palace.
Ian's throat was sore, so he couldn't even make a loud noise anymore, and his thin sobs seemed to be scratching at his ears.
***
“...”
Ivan looked down at the corpse of the maid inside the dungeon bars with a cold face. He had only given her a moment to relax because Rodan and the chamberlain were always insisting on drying his body and changing his wet clothes.
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty!”
The guards apologized, their foreheads pressed against the damp floor. He could almost see the beads of sweat running down their backs as they apologised in an almost screaming manner.
Instead of yelling at the guards for their failure to do their job properly, Ivan stared at the corpse: the blue-tinged skin, the still-blood-flowing mouth, the purple-tinged fingernails.
“It’s poison.”
The body was clearly indicating the cause of death. Ivan turned around after coming to a conclusion. There was nothing to ask or wonder about the body that was already dead.
“Your Majesty, what should we do with that body?”
Rodan asked. There was no way he could let a useless dead body rot in prison. But it was also not the case that Rodan could make his own decisions without Ivan's approval. After all, she was a criminal brought by Ivan.
"Well."
Ivan, who was walking briskly up the stairs, answered calmly. At first glance, his voice sounded like he wasn't very interested.
“What did I suggest earlier?”
Ivan stopped, one step above the other and one step below.
“Oh, I remember.”
“...”
“Beheading, burning at the stake, burial.”
And then, as if he remembered, he let out a short exclamation. It was a type of execution so terrifying that everyone's body trembled.
“I asked her what she liked, but she didn’t answer. So I decided to do it my way.”
Ivan smiled briefly. Although he could not see it, Rodan could guess the situation. If the dead sinner had been able to answer, Ivan would have decided to dispose of it as he pleased.
“Behead her, hang her head on the city walls, and burn her body on firewood in the streets until it turns to ashes.”
“..."
“Water is innocent, so why let it become dirty?”
Ivan replied and stood with both feet firmly on the ground. His face looked rather merciful, considering that he was dealing with the woman who had tried to harm his son.
“But, Your Majesty, why did you save that child?”
It was while they were walking as if they were taking a night stroll to return to the main palace that Rodan suddenly asked a question. As if he didn't care for his son enough to risk his life to save him. Ivan didn't answer.
“...”
He couldn't do anything about it since he didn't know about it.
***
Ian almost died. Amelia never let go of Ian, who was barely sleeping, and only returned to her bedroom just before he fell asleep.
“I have sinned and deserved death.”
But even as she lay in bed, her head was spinning furiously. She was mechanically thinking back on what had happened to Ian and what had happened afterwards.
“The maid said there was still some time left before the others returned from their meals and took their shifts, so I shared some cookies as a snack, and I ate a couple.”
Mrs. Howard, who had regained consciousness, quickly guessed why she had been sleeping alone in Ian's room. Then, after hearing what had happened while she was asleep, she apologized with her head down on the floor.
Amelia knew what she meant. It wasn't just a simple apology for not taking care of Ian. Ian wasn't just a baby living within the walls of the palace. If this had caused any repercussions for Ivan, it would have been terrible.
“I know it’s not your fault, Mrs. Howard.”
Whatever the case, Amelia also knew that this incident was not Mrs. Howard's fault. She had simply been caught up in someone else's plan. Furthermore, it was not Mrs. Howard's intention that Ian's room be left empty, leaving Mrs. Howard alone.
“I just want to eat in my room.”
“It’s the servant’s job to bring it to the room.”
And if Amelia was at fault, it was only that she trusted Louis even a little. Amelia, who did not trust Ivan, told Louis that she would eat alone in her room. However, Louis insisted on dragging Amelia into the dining room.
“...”
She thought it would be okay because it was only for a short while. She had already told Louis several times to keep someone around Ian so that he wouldn't be alone. Louis had clearly said that she understood each time. And hadn't the Duke of Russell also said that he would keep more eyes and ears around her and the child?
“Your Ladyship.”
So, there had to be someone by the child's side.
“Why wasn’t anyone there with Ian?”
But there was no one.
“I don’t know either. I clearly gave orders not to leave Mrs. Howard and the child alone.”
Even though Ian almost died like this, and before Ivan personally saved the child, no one should have known, and the surroundings should have been cleaned up so cleanly. That's just proof that they were planning to kill Ian.
“Could it be that the Emperor is organizing the surroundings to harm the baby? The only one who benefits from harming the baby now is the Emperor.”
“He saved Ian himself.”
“It could be acting. Wouldn’t it be more reasonable to view it as a threat that could kill you at any time?”
But it was hard to understand. She really thought that Ivan was just putting on a good show in front of her. After all, he already had a history of deceiving her.
“Thanks to your foolish decisions, the child is now like that.”
But intuition was screaming that it wasn't true. The pitiful look in Ivan's eyes and the cold voice were saying the same thing.
She knew it well because she had played Ivan's acting herself. Ivan was a man who could act affectionate and gentle. However, on the other hand, he was not a person suitable for acting harshly critical. Coldness, harshness, and ruthlessness. That was just the basis of him.
But Ivan saved Ian. He told her that he would kill the child who was a threat to him, but when faced with danger, he did not hesitate to throw his precious body into the pond water to save Ian.
Perhaps.
That's what she thought.
But Ivan saved Ian. He told her that he would kill the child who was a threat to him, but when faced with danger, he did not hesitate to throw his precious body into the pond water to save Ian.
Perhaps.
That's what she thought.
Support Novellate!
Comments
Post a Comment