No. All thoughts that come to mind late at night are useless.
Amelia threw back the blanket, got up from bed, and put on her slippers. She didn’t think she would be able to sleep anyway, and she was worried about leaving the child alone. Her heart was racing, wondering if something might happen again.
Amelia, wearing a shawl, walked carefully down the hallway. She intended to stay by Ian's side even if it meant taking a nap in a chair.
“...”
When Amelia was almost to Ian's room, she opened the door to Ian's and saw a long figure disappearing. It was a familiar figure. How could she forget the man who appeared in the shadows on a dark night?
Why did you come?
Amelia's eyes flashed with brief confusion, anxiety, and fear, wondering if he had come to harm Ian.
"No way..."
Amelia hurried over, and before the guards could stop her, she hurled the door open. The thin canopy near the crib fluttered as the door swung open.
When the door suddenly opened, Mrs. Howard stared at Amelia with a surprised face. The man who had been looking down at the child with his hands on the wooden frame surrounding the bed also quietly turned around.
“...”
Amelia faced him without averting her gaze, as if warning him that if he was trying to hurt Ian, he couldn't do it in front of her.
“I don’t know what you came here for, but...”
The voice that had been warning Ivan stopped. Her gaze was fixed on Ivan's right hand, which was hanging inside the wooden frame.
“Do you think I was trying to kill him?”
Ivan's index finger was caught in Ian's small hand. Even though it was only at this point that he came to see him, he seemed to be desperately trying to avoid being left behind.
That was all. Ivan did not harm the child in any way. He just watched Ian holding his finger. Like someone who came to check on the child's safety.
“There are so many ways to kill silently within the walls where I live, yet it’s so sloppy.”
What on earth do you think I am? The omitted words were clear. Ivan laughed softly as if he found it ridiculous. Then he took his fingers out of Ian’s hand. Through the gap between the skin on the edge of the wooden bed, she could see Ian's face crumpled and sobbing.
“The maid is dead.”
“...”
“Since there is no evidence, it has become difficult to punish.”
But Ivan only looked away for a moment, and calmly walked away even after seeing Ian crying. Then he passed Amelia and left the room.
“It’s okay, Ian.”
Amelia, who had gone to bed before she could even think, hugged Ian tightly as he cried. Then she looked back at the door while comforting Ian.
It was now cleanly organized, but even after Ivan left, the filthy moisture lingered for a while. It was similar to Amelia's stubborn, stubborn longing.
Something that doesn't disappear even after it's gone. Maybe she also had feelings that she couldn't shake off, no matter how hard she tried.
That kind of feeling.
...the last expectation.
Amelia also heard that the maid who tried to kill Ian died from poison, but Ivan did not even forgive her death.
Opinions circulated like air in the palace, saying that it was a natural punishment to harm a precious body, and that it was too cruel. However, Ivan, of course, did not care about such evaluations even a little. He was not naturally interested in others.
“Your Ladyship, please at least enjoy your meal.”
"It's okay."
“Here, why don’t you just lay it down where it’s visible?”
Mrs. Howard tried to persuade Amelia with a troubled face. Amelia could not let Ian out of her arms even for a moment, not even when eating. Amelia never set foot in a restaurant again, and even when she was eating, she always made sure that Ian was within her sight.
“Your Ladyship, please do as Mrs. Howard says.”
Louis took Mrs. Howard's side every time, which only made Amelia more suspicious.
“If this continues, a false rumor will spread that the Priestess has given birth to a child.”
Louis spoke the truth calmly. Of course, the others had no idea that Amelia had given birth to a child, so they seemed to guess that she was not happy about any possible misunderstanding.
“Ian is like my son.”
Amelia declared. A subtle expression of emotion appeared on the faces of Mrs. Howard and the other servants. Only Louis gave a momentary, displeased sneer.
“Mrs. Howard, I’ll take Ian to bed today.”
Mrs. Howard nodded, unable to object. It wasn't intentional, but she had committed a sin, so there was nothing she could do.
With Mrs. Howard's permission, Amelia returned to her bedroom with Ian as soon as dinner was over. In fact, there was nothing else to do with Ian but stay in the bedroom.
“Even if you just sit and watch like this, time flies.”
Ian was a gentle baby, much to the admiration of Mrs. Howard. Unlike when he first came to the palace and upset Mrs. Howard and his wet nurse, Karen, once he had adapted to his surroundings and was attached to Amelia, became completely calm. After that, he became gentle as if he had never caused such a fuss.
"Right?"
Amelia tapped Ian's chubby cheek with her finger. Ian mumbled, opened his mouth wide, and swung his arms and legs wildly. He seemed to be in a good mood. Amelia, who was watching him, couldn't help but smile.
“We can’t keep you indoors like this forever.”
Amelia also wanted to show Ian the garden and let him enjoy the lazy sunshine. She wanted to let him watch the people passing by and the cat that sometimes wandered off while walking in the garden.
“...”
But the reality was that even the sound of a cat crying was enough to make her flinch. In the bedroom where darkness had already fallen, Amelia couldn't relax even while Ian, who was lying on the bed, was babbling and playing.
The sound of guards walking down the hallway on patrol, the cry of a cat in heat that sounds like a baby's cry, the mournful cry of a bird, or even the sound of the wind blowing outside the window.
“I told you to get rid of that useless thing, Louis.”
As she began to vaguely realize that Ivan had not intended to hurt Ian, the first thing that came to her was anxiety.
Aaron had always wanted to erase Ian from the world. If Aaron and the Duke of Russell really wanted to kill Ian, they would come back at any moment.
Taking advantage of a gap in surveillance, or when Amelia was alone, or by making it seem like a beast had sneaked into the palace and harmed a child. But Amelia didn't know how to stop them. Other than by taking Ivan's side and killing them.
Without Ivan's protection, Ian could be exposed to danger at any time. If she were left to her own devices in Ivan's carelessness as she is now, that would certainly happen.
“I’m sorry, Ian.”
Whenever she thought about that, she couldn't sleep. She was afraid that someone might sneak Ian away while she was asleep.
“I’m so weak and stupid...”
Amelia hated herself for just opening her eyes and staring blankly at Ian, feeling so anxious and not knowing what to do.
Whenever she felt helpless, unable to protect even one child, she did not think of the god she did not believe in. All that came to mind in those moments of fear and longing was the cold face of the man who had been looking back at her coldly.
The Emperor of Escliffe. Ivan Wade Escliffe. Ivan. Ian's father. The man who was Amelia Escliffe's lover, albeit in a false sense.
Would it have been better if she had just closed her eyes to Ivan's lies? Wouldn't it have ended up like this? Every time Amelia thought about it, she felt miserable. It felt like her foolish impulse had ruined the situation that could have saved Ian's life.
“...”
Even now, she felt like clinging to Ivan. She didn't want to feel resentment or hatred in front of her child's life.
In any case, Ivan, despite his sensitive nature to cleanliness, jumped into the dirty water to save Ian and even tried to check on the child's safety. He clearly cared about Ian. So he wouldn't want the child to die at the hands of people like the Duke of Russell or Aaron, who were practically his enemies.
Amelia finally made up her mind. Let's make a deal, or beg. The child is not at fault. She will do anything, but just keep his promise to Ian as he did at first. Then, Ivan will at least take care of his own child.
“Mrs. Warner, has His Majesty accepted my request?”
As soon as it was light, she told Mrs. Warner that she wanted to see Ivan. Mrs. Warner went straight to Ivan and told him what Amelia had said.
“His Majesty has declined your request for an audience.”
But what came back was his cold rejection and Mrs. Warner's equally embarrassed face. A day later, two days later, and three days later, Ivan did not accept Amelia's request.
Meanwhile, the second oracle began to eat people again. People who drank the water vomited blood, twisted their bodies, and died. It was a small village, so not many people lived there, but it was not a small matter since most of the villagers died.
And then the third oracle was given: the river that runs through Escliff would dry up.
Amelia threw back the blanket, got up from bed, and put on her slippers. She didn’t think she would be able to sleep anyway, and she was worried about leaving the child alone. Her heart was racing, wondering if something might happen again.
Amelia, wearing a shawl, walked carefully down the hallway. She intended to stay by Ian's side even if it meant taking a nap in a chair.
“...”
When Amelia was almost to Ian's room, she opened the door to Ian's and saw a long figure disappearing. It was a familiar figure. How could she forget the man who appeared in the shadows on a dark night?
Why did you come?
Amelia's eyes flashed with brief confusion, anxiety, and fear, wondering if he had come to harm Ian.
"No way..."
Amelia hurried over, and before the guards could stop her, she hurled the door open. The thin canopy near the crib fluttered as the door swung open.
When the door suddenly opened, Mrs. Howard stared at Amelia with a surprised face. The man who had been looking down at the child with his hands on the wooden frame surrounding the bed also quietly turned around.
“...”
Amelia faced him without averting her gaze, as if warning him that if he was trying to hurt Ian, he couldn't do it in front of her.
“I don’t know what you came here for, but...”
The voice that had been warning Ivan stopped. Her gaze was fixed on Ivan's right hand, which was hanging inside the wooden frame.
“Do you think I was trying to kill him?”
Ivan's index finger was caught in Ian's small hand. Even though it was only at this point that he came to see him, he seemed to be desperately trying to avoid being left behind.
That was all. Ivan did not harm the child in any way. He just watched Ian holding his finger. Like someone who came to check on the child's safety.
“There are so many ways to kill silently within the walls where I live, yet it’s so sloppy.”
What on earth do you think I am? The omitted words were clear. Ivan laughed softly as if he found it ridiculous. Then he took his fingers out of Ian’s hand. Through the gap between the skin on the edge of the wooden bed, she could see Ian's face crumpled and sobbing.
“The maid is dead.”
“...”
“Since there is no evidence, it has become difficult to punish.”
But Ivan only looked away for a moment, and calmly walked away even after seeing Ian crying. Then he passed Amelia and left the room.
“It’s okay, Ian.”
Amelia, who had gone to bed before she could even think, hugged Ian tightly as he cried. Then she looked back at the door while comforting Ian.
It was now cleanly organized, but even after Ivan left, the filthy moisture lingered for a while. It was similar to Amelia's stubborn, stubborn longing.
Something that doesn't disappear even after it's gone. Maybe she also had feelings that she couldn't shake off, no matter how hard she tried.
That kind of feeling.
...the last expectation.
***
Amelia also heard that the maid who tried to kill Ian died from poison, but Ivan did not even forgive her death.
Opinions circulated like air in the palace, saying that it was a natural punishment to harm a precious body, and that it was too cruel. However, Ivan, of course, did not care about such evaluations even a little. He was not naturally interested in others.
“Your Ladyship, please at least enjoy your meal.”
"It's okay."
“Here, why don’t you just lay it down where it’s visible?”
Mrs. Howard tried to persuade Amelia with a troubled face. Amelia could not let Ian out of her arms even for a moment, not even when eating. Amelia never set foot in a restaurant again, and even when she was eating, she always made sure that Ian was within her sight.
“Your Ladyship, please do as Mrs. Howard says.”
Louis took Mrs. Howard's side every time, which only made Amelia more suspicious.
“If this continues, a false rumor will spread that the Priestess has given birth to a child.”
Louis spoke the truth calmly. Of course, the others had no idea that Amelia had given birth to a child, so they seemed to guess that she was not happy about any possible misunderstanding.
“Ian is like my son.”
Amelia declared. A subtle expression of emotion appeared on the faces of Mrs. Howard and the other servants. Only Louis gave a momentary, displeased sneer.
“Mrs. Howard, I’ll take Ian to bed today.”
Mrs. Howard nodded, unable to object. It wasn't intentional, but she had committed a sin, so there was nothing she could do.
With Mrs. Howard's permission, Amelia returned to her bedroom with Ian as soon as dinner was over. In fact, there was nothing else to do with Ian but stay in the bedroom.
“Even if you just sit and watch like this, time flies.”
Ian was a gentle baby, much to the admiration of Mrs. Howard. Unlike when he first came to the palace and upset Mrs. Howard and his wet nurse, Karen, once he had adapted to his surroundings and was attached to Amelia, became completely calm. After that, he became gentle as if he had never caused such a fuss.
"Right?"
Amelia tapped Ian's chubby cheek with her finger. Ian mumbled, opened his mouth wide, and swung his arms and legs wildly. He seemed to be in a good mood. Amelia, who was watching him, couldn't help but smile.
“We can’t keep you indoors like this forever.”
Amelia also wanted to show Ian the garden and let him enjoy the lazy sunshine. She wanted to let him watch the people passing by and the cat that sometimes wandered off while walking in the garden.
“...”
But the reality was that even the sound of a cat crying was enough to make her flinch. In the bedroom where darkness had already fallen, Amelia couldn't relax even while Ian, who was lying on the bed, was babbling and playing.
The sound of guards walking down the hallway on patrol, the cry of a cat in heat that sounds like a baby's cry, the mournful cry of a bird, or even the sound of the wind blowing outside the window.
“I told you to get rid of that useless thing, Louis.”
As she began to vaguely realize that Ivan had not intended to hurt Ian, the first thing that came to her was anxiety.
Aaron had always wanted to erase Ian from the world. If Aaron and the Duke of Russell really wanted to kill Ian, they would come back at any moment.
Taking advantage of a gap in surveillance, or when Amelia was alone, or by making it seem like a beast had sneaked into the palace and harmed a child. But Amelia didn't know how to stop them. Other than by taking Ivan's side and killing them.
Without Ivan's protection, Ian could be exposed to danger at any time. If she were left to her own devices in Ivan's carelessness as she is now, that would certainly happen.
“I’m sorry, Ian.”
Whenever she thought about that, she couldn't sleep. She was afraid that someone might sneak Ian away while she was asleep.
“I’m so weak and stupid...”
Amelia hated herself for just opening her eyes and staring blankly at Ian, feeling so anxious and not knowing what to do.
Whenever she felt helpless, unable to protect even one child, she did not think of the god she did not believe in. All that came to mind in those moments of fear and longing was the cold face of the man who had been looking back at her coldly.
The Emperor of Escliffe. Ivan Wade Escliffe. Ivan. Ian's father. The man who was Amelia Escliffe's lover, albeit in a false sense.
Would it have been better if she had just closed her eyes to Ivan's lies? Wouldn't it have ended up like this? Every time Amelia thought about it, she felt miserable. It felt like her foolish impulse had ruined the situation that could have saved Ian's life.
“...”
Even now, she felt like clinging to Ivan. She didn't want to feel resentment or hatred in front of her child's life.
In any case, Ivan, despite his sensitive nature to cleanliness, jumped into the dirty water to save Ian and even tried to check on the child's safety. He clearly cared about Ian. So he wouldn't want the child to die at the hands of people like the Duke of Russell or Aaron, who were practically his enemies.
Amelia finally made up her mind. Let's make a deal, or beg. The child is not at fault. She will do anything, but just keep his promise to Ian as he did at first. Then, Ivan will at least take care of his own child.
***
“Mrs. Warner, has His Majesty accepted my request?”
As soon as it was light, she told Mrs. Warner that she wanted to see Ivan. Mrs. Warner went straight to Ivan and told him what Amelia had said.
“His Majesty has declined your request for an audience.”
But what came back was his cold rejection and Mrs. Warner's equally embarrassed face. A day later, two days later, and three days later, Ivan did not accept Amelia's request.
Meanwhile, the second oracle began to eat people again. People who drank the water vomited blood, twisted their bodies, and died. It was a small village, so not many people lived there, but it was not a small matter since most of the villagers died.
And then the third oracle was given: the river that runs through Escliff would dry up.
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