Amelia's gaze turned to the cutlery neatly placed on the table. The palace servants had washed and polished them so diligently that the faces reflected on the cutlery were clearly visible.
“You must have been taken aback by the sudden dinner invitation.”
Ivan's voice made Amelia raise her head, who was staring blankly at her face reflected in the glass.
“I didn’t know the Priestess would come all the way here, so I feel like I should apologize as the host for my poor hospitality.”
Ivan's voice was relaxed. It was as if he knew that if this apology didn't appease her, then there was nothing he could do.
When she thinks about it, Ivan has always been like that. From the day they first met to after that, and even today. The strange attitude she sometimes saw from him was probably his true self that he couldn't hide. When she thought about it like that, Ivan seemed a little strange.
“Bring in the food.”
As Ivan gave orders to the servant who was standing by his side, food began to be served on the table.
“I don’t know if it will suit your taste.”
Ivan offered them food with appropriate courtesy. Meanwhile, the servants filled the three men's glasses with drinks.
“I would be grateful.”
Before eating, Amelia first lifted the glass and tilted it to her lips. It looked clear, but it tasted different from water. Amelia, who naturally thought it was water, opened her eyes wide and looked at Ivan.
“...”
Ivan met her gaze. Ivan, who was also holding a glass, naturally covered his mouth with the glass as if he had expected such a reaction. It was clearly a smile. He must have remembered the funny way Amelia had once spit out her drink.
“Why are you like that?”
Louis asked Amelia cautiously, her lips pursed as if she found it strange.
"No."
Amelia shook her head, letting the liquid in her mouth drain down her throat. This time, she was glad she didn’t spit it out without thinking. She couldn’t act so recklessly in front of so many eyes.
“But why did the Priestess come in person?”
Ivan asked, casually sipping his drink. He didn't seem particularly interested in things like smoked duck and salad.
"Ah..."
“I heard that Your Majesty has been looking for someone to look after the child. The baby has been lovingly cared for by the Priestess since he was picked up on the street.”
While Amelia hesitated to give a false answer, Louis quickly intervened.
“So, somehow, she wanted to visit and see the child this time.”
“Oh, yes....”
Ivan accepted Louis' answer without showing any sign of displeasure. The Count Skippers were a representative noble family that sided with the temple, and Ivan could not have been unaware that Louis was the daughter of the Count Skippers.
“I’m sorry for calling you in just because the child you left in my care is crying.”
“No, it’s okay.”
Ivan apologized coolly. The servants, who knew of his usual arrogant attitude, exchanged glances and talked silently among themselves.
“If you think of it as a chance to take a break, I think I’ll feel a little better. I heard that temple life is a bit tough.”
Ivan nodded at the glass in front of Louis. As if sensing his gaze, Louis quickly picked up the glass.
“What happens today will be a secret.”
"Thank you."
And she expressed her gratitude. Since the wine in her glass was the same, what was in Louis’ glass must have been equally spicy. However, Louis drank the wine without any hesitation while eating.
Amelia also took a sip of her drink, keeping an eye on things. However, just a few sips made her skin feel warm, so she couldn’t pretend not to notice and continue drinking.
“Don’t you get tired of living in one place for a long time?”
The moment Amelia put down her glass, Ivan asked a question. Ivan tilted his head slightly, and their eyes met. The transparent pupils sparkled beautifully like high-quality emeralds in the light reflecting off the chandelier. It was difficult to take her eyes off those pupils.
“When you first came to this land, you took refuge with the Russell family, and since then, you have only stayed in the temple. I thought it would be boring.”
“I guess that’s a little bit true.”
Ivan laughed briefly at Amelia's answer. It seemed he liked her honest answer.
“Then, how about moving to the palace? I think we can build a building that is just as good as a temple.”
“No!”
Before Amelia could answer, Louis suddenly interrupted the conversation and expressed her objection. The gaze that had been fixed on Ivan the whole time turned to Louis. Her cheeks flushed against her white skin.
It was as if she had been. The servant, who had come like a shadow, filled Louis' glass every time she emptied it. Louis was already on her fourth glass.
“It seems like the young lady of the Skipper family is drunk.”
It was unclear whether she did not want to appear weak in front of Ivan, who was almost static, or whether she had other thoughts, but it was clear that she was drunk. The strength in Louis' eyes began to fade. Ivan did not miss the fact and pointed it out.
“Oh, no.”
Louis quickly made an excuse.
“I, I am fine.”
It was a pretty useless excuse. The hiccups that followed further diminished the credibility of Louis's excuse.
“I think it would be best to leave now.”
“...”
“What are your thoughts?”
Ivan asked. It had been a long time since he had paid attention to Louis while she was hiccuping, so the target of his question was obvious.
"Ah..."
Amelia hesitated and couldn't answer. She knew in her head that she had to answer right away, but her mouth wouldn't open. This time, Ivan had invited her personally, so she could see his face, but she didn't know what would happen after that. At least the emperor's position wouldn't be something that was just for fun.
“Excuse me.”
At that moment, Ivan's arm gently knocked Amelia's cutlery off the table.
Ivan and Amelia bent down at the same time and reached out. Their hands touched the knife spinning on the marble floor with a loud noise.
“...”
Amelia was startled and lifted her gaze slightly from the knife. The moment her half-hidden eyes opened, Ivan leaned forward slightly. His breath tickled the back of her neck. Amelia felt goosebumps spread across her neck and opened her mouth slightly.
“At night.”
“...”
“I'll find you.”
Ivan whispered softly in Amelia's ear. It was a charming voice, like the seduction of something evil. Amelia unconsciously covered her hand as if she were trying to hide it. Thanks to that, her hand dropped from the knife. Ivan did not miss the gap and grabbed the knife that had fallen to the floor.
“Did I startle you? I apologize.”
And naturally, he raised his upper body. It must have felt like a few minutes to Amelia, but it was actually a short time. Louis was still sulking, and the servant who took the knife that fell from Ivan had a blank expression on his face. It seemed like he didn't sense anything strange about them.
“No, no. It’s okay.”
Amelia answered hesitantly. She hoped that no one would think she was strange since they were pretending not to know each other, but her voice ended up shaking helplessly.
“I’ll go now.”
"Yes."
Amelia quickly got up from her seat and took care of Louis, who was trying to keep her eyes straight. Louis started walking, half leaning on Amelia.
“...”
Before finally leaving the banquet hall, Amelia unconsciously looked back a little.
Ivan's face was not visible, but it was clear that he was not smiling.
Louis, drunk, passed out in her bedroom. Amelia watched the palace maids take care of Louis, undressing her and wiping her face with a wet towel, then quietly went back to her bedroom.
Amelia, who had passed the bed, opened the window of the terrace with her hand. Her gaze was on the path from the garden of the main palace to the west palace. Since Ivan had said he was coming, she naively assumed that the only place he would pass through would be the entrance to the west palace.
When will Ivan come?
It was at that moment that she was thinking that. Suddenly, someone grabbed Amelia’s waist from behind and pulled her. Amelia disappeared in an instant as if she had disappeared into the darkness. Before she could scream in surprise, the terrace window closed with a bang.
"Ugh..."
Likewise, before she could ask who he was, Amelia was caught in the kiss of a man who had grabbed her chin and lifted her up. Her back, which had been touched by the glass window, was incredibly cold, but the arms that had been wrapped around Amelia’s waist to prevent her from running away, and the chest that had been touched by her palms, were as strong and hot as a chain.
“You must have been taken aback by the sudden dinner invitation.”
Ivan's voice made Amelia raise her head, who was staring blankly at her face reflected in the glass.
“I didn’t know the Priestess would come all the way here, so I feel like I should apologize as the host for my poor hospitality.”
Ivan's voice was relaxed. It was as if he knew that if this apology didn't appease her, then there was nothing he could do.
When she thinks about it, Ivan has always been like that. From the day they first met to after that, and even today. The strange attitude she sometimes saw from him was probably his true self that he couldn't hide. When she thought about it like that, Ivan seemed a little strange.
“Bring in the food.”
As Ivan gave orders to the servant who was standing by his side, food began to be served on the table.
“I don’t know if it will suit your taste.”
Ivan offered them food with appropriate courtesy. Meanwhile, the servants filled the three men's glasses with drinks.
“I would be grateful.”
Before eating, Amelia first lifted the glass and tilted it to her lips. It looked clear, but it tasted different from water. Amelia, who naturally thought it was water, opened her eyes wide and looked at Ivan.
“...”
Ivan met her gaze. Ivan, who was also holding a glass, naturally covered his mouth with the glass as if he had expected such a reaction. It was clearly a smile. He must have remembered the funny way Amelia had once spit out her drink.
“Why are you like that?”
Louis asked Amelia cautiously, her lips pursed as if she found it strange.
"No."
Amelia shook her head, letting the liquid in her mouth drain down her throat. This time, she was glad she didn’t spit it out without thinking. She couldn’t act so recklessly in front of so many eyes.
“But why did the Priestess come in person?”
Ivan asked, casually sipping his drink. He didn't seem particularly interested in things like smoked duck and salad.
"Ah..."
“I heard that Your Majesty has been looking for someone to look after the child. The baby has been lovingly cared for by the Priestess since he was picked up on the street.”
While Amelia hesitated to give a false answer, Louis quickly intervened.
“So, somehow, she wanted to visit and see the child this time.”
“Oh, yes....”
Ivan accepted Louis' answer without showing any sign of displeasure. The Count Skippers were a representative noble family that sided with the temple, and Ivan could not have been unaware that Louis was the daughter of the Count Skippers.
“I’m sorry for calling you in just because the child you left in my care is crying.”
“No, it’s okay.”
Ivan apologized coolly. The servants, who knew of his usual arrogant attitude, exchanged glances and talked silently among themselves.
“If you think of it as a chance to take a break, I think I’ll feel a little better. I heard that temple life is a bit tough.”
Ivan nodded at the glass in front of Louis. As if sensing his gaze, Louis quickly picked up the glass.
“What happens today will be a secret.”
"Thank you."
And she expressed her gratitude. Since the wine in her glass was the same, what was in Louis’ glass must have been equally spicy. However, Louis drank the wine without any hesitation while eating.
Amelia also took a sip of her drink, keeping an eye on things. However, just a few sips made her skin feel warm, so she couldn’t pretend not to notice and continue drinking.
“Don’t you get tired of living in one place for a long time?”
The moment Amelia put down her glass, Ivan asked a question. Ivan tilted his head slightly, and their eyes met. The transparent pupils sparkled beautifully like high-quality emeralds in the light reflecting off the chandelier. It was difficult to take her eyes off those pupils.
“When you first came to this land, you took refuge with the Russell family, and since then, you have only stayed in the temple. I thought it would be boring.”
“I guess that’s a little bit true.”
Ivan laughed briefly at Amelia's answer. It seemed he liked her honest answer.
“Then, how about moving to the palace? I think we can build a building that is just as good as a temple.”
“No!”
Before Amelia could answer, Louis suddenly interrupted the conversation and expressed her objection. The gaze that had been fixed on Ivan the whole time turned to Louis. Her cheeks flushed against her white skin.
It was as if she had been. The servant, who had come like a shadow, filled Louis' glass every time she emptied it. Louis was already on her fourth glass.
“It seems like the young lady of the Skipper family is drunk.”
It was unclear whether she did not want to appear weak in front of Ivan, who was almost static, or whether she had other thoughts, but it was clear that she was drunk. The strength in Louis' eyes began to fade. Ivan did not miss the fact and pointed it out.
“Oh, no.”
Louis quickly made an excuse.
“I, I am fine.”
It was a pretty useless excuse. The hiccups that followed further diminished the credibility of Louis's excuse.
“I think it would be best to leave now.”
“...”
“What are your thoughts?”
Ivan asked. It had been a long time since he had paid attention to Louis while she was hiccuping, so the target of his question was obvious.
"Ah..."
Amelia hesitated and couldn't answer. She knew in her head that she had to answer right away, but her mouth wouldn't open. This time, Ivan had invited her personally, so she could see his face, but she didn't know what would happen after that. At least the emperor's position wouldn't be something that was just for fun.
“Excuse me.”
At that moment, Ivan's arm gently knocked Amelia's cutlery off the table.
Ivan and Amelia bent down at the same time and reached out. Their hands touched the knife spinning on the marble floor with a loud noise.
“...”
Amelia was startled and lifted her gaze slightly from the knife. The moment her half-hidden eyes opened, Ivan leaned forward slightly. His breath tickled the back of her neck. Amelia felt goosebumps spread across her neck and opened her mouth slightly.
“At night.”
“...”
“I'll find you.”
Ivan whispered softly in Amelia's ear. It was a charming voice, like the seduction of something evil. Amelia unconsciously covered her hand as if she were trying to hide it. Thanks to that, her hand dropped from the knife. Ivan did not miss the gap and grabbed the knife that had fallen to the floor.
“Did I startle you? I apologize.”
And naturally, he raised his upper body. It must have felt like a few minutes to Amelia, but it was actually a short time. Louis was still sulking, and the servant who took the knife that fell from Ivan had a blank expression on his face. It seemed like he didn't sense anything strange about them.
“No, no. It’s okay.”
Amelia answered hesitantly. She hoped that no one would think she was strange since they were pretending not to know each other, but her voice ended up shaking helplessly.
“I’ll go now.”
"Yes."
Amelia quickly got up from her seat and took care of Louis, who was trying to keep her eyes straight. Louis started walking, half leaning on Amelia.
“...”
Before finally leaving the banquet hall, Amelia unconsciously looked back a little.
Ivan's face was not visible, but it was clear that he was not smiling.
***
Louis, drunk, passed out in her bedroom. Amelia watched the palace maids take care of Louis, undressing her and wiping her face with a wet towel, then quietly went back to her bedroom.
Amelia, who had passed the bed, opened the window of the terrace with her hand. Her gaze was on the path from the garden of the main palace to the west palace. Since Ivan had said he was coming, she naively assumed that the only place he would pass through would be the entrance to the west palace.
When will Ivan come?
It was at that moment that she was thinking that. Suddenly, someone grabbed Amelia’s waist from behind and pulled her. Amelia disappeared in an instant as if she had disappeared into the darkness. Before she could scream in surprise, the terrace window closed with a bang.
"Ugh..."
Likewise, before she could ask who he was, Amelia was caught in the kiss of a man who had grabbed her chin and lifted her up. Her back, which had been touched by the glass window, was incredibly cold, but the arms that had been wrapped around Amelia’s waist to prevent her from running away, and the chest that had been touched by her palms, were as strong and hot as a chain.
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