But it was too late to regret. There was no turning back now.
“I will do whatever you say.”
Amelia spoke with difficulty. The words she spoke with difficulty were neither wet nor trembling. Extreme sadness and despair soon completely paralyzed Amelia's emotions.
“Swear to me instead.”
Amelia raised her head and met Ivan’s eyes clearly. Her jewel-like eyes still shone with merciless beauty.
Now she hated those eyes. The owner of those eyes was the same. For a moment, she wished that the Duke of Russell and he would fight and die.
But she couldn't do that for Ian's safety. If she sided with Aaron and the Duke of Russell and took revenge on Ivan, Ian, and her would live as puppets and die when they had exhausted their usefulness.
On the contrary, if he gave Ivan what he wanted, he would be able to save Ian's life even after her death. Ivan would not be able to kill his young child, who was not even a threat. The moment he put Ian above all else, the scales tipped steeply, and one side completely touched the bottom.
“You will acknowledge Ian as the Crown Prince so that they will not have the heart to kill him. And I will protect him.”
Amelia demanded. Ivan simply looked down at her and did not answer. He seemed to know that more would be said.
“If that child becomes a threat in the future, you will never kill him, even if you make him pretend to be dead and send him to another country.”
If it was going to be a matter of risking her life anyway, she had to protect Ian. She couldn't risk her life and cling to Ivan just to keep him alive for a few more days.
“And when I ask for help, tell me exactly what to do and how to do it. Don’t tell me to figure it out myself.”
She hates Ivan, who deceived her, and she hates the temple that has been playing with her all her life. She would like to use both sides appropriately and then throw them away after achieving her goal, but she can't do that. It's still difficult for Amelia to see far ahead in a situation or to understand the relationships between people.
“I don’t know how to move, so I’m hanging on to you now.”
If she could have just broken out of her shell and killed the person who threatened her, shr wouldn't have had to bend down to Ivan for help. Amelia and Ivan knew that.
"...Yes."
Ivan thought, noticing the determination and dark resentment directed at him, clearly revealed in Amelia's dark eyes.
"Good."
There was a time when he regretted not killing Amelia when they first met. When he realized that Amelia knew less than he thought, and that the only things she could reveal were things that had happened to her. And when she turned the banquet upside down with fake oracles at the welcoming party attended by the delegation.
“I swear on my life.”
But the decision back then was the right one. Ivan smiled brightly. That was very satisfying.
“Please leave evidence.”
Even though the face carries ugly emotions like wariness and contempt.
“I won’t just believe your words anymore.”
Ivan, who had been observing the emotions on Amelia's face, let go of the hand that was holding her slender chin.
"Good."
Then he turned around and rang the bell on the desk.
“Did you call, Your Majesty?”
The door opened, and the chamberlain came in. He looked surprised for a moment to find Amelia still kneeling, but he continued talking as naturally as possible and looked away from Amelia.
“Bring Mrs. Howard. And Rodan, too.”
At Ivan's command, the chamberlain bowed and hurriedly left the room.
“I forgot to tell you to stand up.”
Ivan added, as if he had just realized that Amelia was still kneeling. Amelia stood up without saying a word, putting strength into her legs. She could tell that Ivan was lying.
“How can I trust those two?”
“Rodan would take my side no matter what, but Mrs. Howard is the most old-fashioned person I know.”
Ivan answered Amelia's question calmly.
“Normally, in cases like this, I would leave it in the temple, but isn’t leaving it in the temple something that neither you nor I would want to do?”
Ivan was right. Sadly, Amelia had no one to trust and hand over the oath to. But she couldn't just leave the secret to anyone and let it spread outside.
“Your Majesty, I have brought Lady Howard and Lord Rodan.”
“Come in.”
Soon, Mrs. Howard and Rodan appeared, holding Ian. Amelia's longing gaze traced Ian's face in Mrs. Howard's arms.
“I have called you two to be witnesses to this oath.”
Ivan watched Amelia like that for a moment and then opened his mouth. A question flashed across Mrs. Howard's face at the unexpected words.
“Rodan. Write the pledge as I say.”
Rodan hurried to his desk on one side of the room, not far from Ivan's desk.
“If Amelia Escliffe brings in subversive evidence of the families allied with the Temple, and helps to dismantle their power.”
“...”
“I, Ivan Wade Escliffe, acknowledge Ian as the Crown Prince and promise not to kill him with my own hands. In case of necessity, I will support his exile to another country, and I swear this on the honor of the royal family and my life.”
Rodan, who had been obediently writing down the contents, looked at Ivan with a surprised face.
“The witnesses to this oath are Mary Howard and Rodan Howard of the House of Howard, and if I fail to keep my promise, they are obliged to make this oath public.”
But Ivan did not stop talking. Therefore, Rodan's hands did not stop either. He was a servant who faithfully followed his master's orders.
“Conversely, if Amelia Escliffe breaks her promise, the same thing will happen, and Ian will be executed after the oath is made public.”
“Your Majesty, this is...”
Rodan wrote down everything Ivan said as he was told, but it seemed like he wanted to refute him. However, Ivan did not even think about hearing his opinion, and snatched the paper away and stamped it with the imperial seal.
“Can you feel safe now?”
The large, clear imperial emblem was clearly visible. No one could tell that it was a forgery. Amelia nodded quietly.
“Remember, what you and I will lose the moment you decide to step off this ship together.”
She couldn't avoid the eyes that were as blue as a blade. It was a vow that risked her child's life. She couldn't run away. That must have been what Ivan had hoped for.
"Your Majesty."
Mrs. Howard and Amelia left. Rodan's hard voice brought Ivan back to his senses.
“Why did you make such a promise? You clearly said that you wouldn’t even acknowledge him as your child.”
It was a voice that seemed to say that he couldn't believe it. It was natural for Rodan to have doubts. Ivan didn't have to do that.
“Then wouldn’t you do as Amelia Escliffe says?”
Ivan spoke calmly. It was a case of the clothes being torn apart. Ever since he first met Amelia, everything had been going abnormally. Rodan thought so.
“Besides, if we kill that kid in the temple, Ian, it’ll be our turn to be in trouble. I’ll be the one suspected.”
“...”
“I can’t use a child who can’t even speak yet to overthrow the royal family. Especially if I have no disqualifications. So it’s better to give her what she wants and buy time while he grows up.”
If it were before, Rodan would have nodded his head in agreement with Ivan's words, but now he wanted to raise the flag from the beginning.
“Even so, the Crown Prince?”
Didn't Ivan's most confident things go wrong? The day Amelia gave him the fake oracle was the same. He kept his mouth shut so as not to upset Ivan, but when he thought about it, it was also Ivan's fault for making a wrong judgment.
“The position of Crown Prince is held by the most noble person in Escliff. Doesn’t Your Majesty know that better than anyone else?”
If he had just acknowledged Ian as the Prince, Rodan would have felt dissatisfied, but thought that there was nothing he could do. However, Ivan said that he would acknowledge Ian as the Crown Prince. How could that make sense? Considering the secret of Ian's birth, it was more dangerous.
“Rodan.”
"Yes."
“I will destroy the temple. That is why I have Amelia Escliffe in my grasp.”
Ivan opened his mouth leisurely. Even the way he lifted the glass to his lips was annoying. Rodan kept his mouth shut, fearing that the words might leak out.
“The fall of the temple would mean that everyone would know that the existence of the Priestess was false and that the oracle was also false.”
Ah, Rodan sighed. If that were the case, Ian would have no legitimacy left. The only legitimacy he had was his bloodline with Ivan, but that would never be made public. If that were the case, Ian would naturally be stripped of his position as Crown Prince.
“There will be no one to try to kill him, so if you just look after him so he can live a healthy life, everything will be fine.”
Moreover, Ivan had promised to make Ian the Crown Prince and not kill him, but he had not promised to let Ian remain the Crown Prince without any trouble, or even make him the Emperor. Ivan was right. It was difficult to refute his claim on this point. Rodan eventually stopped criticizing Ivan's claim.
"All right."
Then he bowed low and withdrew.
“..."
Although Ivan didn't say it out loud, he could guess that there was some degree of denial toward his own child. He couldn't just sit by and watch that happen. Mrs. Howard would feel the same way.
“Are you going in now?”
“I should go. It’s getting late.”
The chamberlain found Rodan and greeted him cheerfully. Rodan folded the oath with the royal seal and threw it on the firewood that had been lit to keep warm late at night, and leisurely walked down the hallway.
All that remained as proof of the oath was a pile of ashes.
“I will do whatever you say.”
Amelia spoke with difficulty. The words she spoke with difficulty were neither wet nor trembling. Extreme sadness and despair soon completely paralyzed Amelia's emotions.
“Swear to me instead.”
Amelia raised her head and met Ivan’s eyes clearly. Her jewel-like eyes still shone with merciless beauty.
Now she hated those eyes. The owner of those eyes was the same. For a moment, she wished that the Duke of Russell and he would fight and die.
But she couldn't do that for Ian's safety. If she sided with Aaron and the Duke of Russell and took revenge on Ivan, Ian, and her would live as puppets and die when they had exhausted their usefulness.
On the contrary, if he gave Ivan what he wanted, he would be able to save Ian's life even after her death. Ivan would not be able to kill his young child, who was not even a threat. The moment he put Ian above all else, the scales tipped steeply, and one side completely touched the bottom.
“You will acknowledge Ian as the Crown Prince so that they will not have the heart to kill him. And I will protect him.”
Amelia demanded. Ivan simply looked down at her and did not answer. He seemed to know that more would be said.
“If that child becomes a threat in the future, you will never kill him, even if you make him pretend to be dead and send him to another country.”
If it was going to be a matter of risking her life anyway, she had to protect Ian. She couldn't risk her life and cling to Ivan just to keep him alive for a few more days.
“And when I ask for help, tell me exactly what to do and how to do it. Don’t tell me to figure it out myself.”
She hates Ivan, who deceived her, and she hates the temple that has been playing with her all her life. She would like to use both sides appropriately and then throw them away after achieving her goal, but she can't do that. It's still difficult for Amelia to see far ahead in a situation or to understand the relationships between people.
“I don’t know how to move, so I’m hanging on to you now.”
If she could have just broken out of her shell and killed the person who threatened her, shr wouldn't have had to bend down to Ivan for help. Amelia and Ivan knew that.
"...Yes."
Ivan thought, noticing the determination and dark resentment directed at him, clearly revealed in Amelia's dark eyes.
"Good."
There was a time when he regretted not killing Amelia when they first met. When he realized that Amelia knew less than he thought, and that the only things she could reveal were things that had happened to her. And when she turned the banquet upside down with fake oracles at the welcoming party attended by the delegation.
“I swear on my life.”
But the decision back then was the right one. Ivan smiled brightly. That was very satisfying.
“Please leave evidence.”
Even though the face carries ugly emotions like wariness and contempt.
“I won’t just believe your words anymore.”
Ivan, who had been observing the emotions on Amelia's face, let go of the hand that was holding her slender chin.
"Good."
Then he turned around and rang the bell on the desk.
“Did you call, Your Majesty?”
The door opened, and the chamberlain came in. He looked surprised for a moment to find Amelia still kneeling, but he continued talking as naturally as possible and looked away from Amelia.
“Bring Mrs. Howard. And Rodan, too.”
At Ivan's command, the chamberlain bowed and hurriedly left the room.
“I forgot to tell you to stand up.”
Ivan added, as if he had just realized that Amelia was still kneeling. Amelia stood up without saying a word, putting strength into her legs. She could tell that Ivan was lying.
“How can I trust those two?”
“Rodan would take my side no matter what, but Mrs. Howard is the most old-fashioned person I know.”
Ivan answered Amelia's question calmly.
“Normally, in cases like this, I would leave it in the temple, but isn’t leaving it in the temple something that neither you nor I would want to do?”
Ivan was right. Sadly, Amelia had no one to trust and hand over the oath to. But she couldn't just leave the secret to anyone and let it spread outside.
“Your Majesty, I have brought Lady Howard and Lord Rodan.”
“Come in.”
Soon, Mrs. Howard and Rodan appeared, holding Ian. Amelia's longing gaze traced Ian's face in Mrs. Howard's arms.
“I have called you two to be witnesses to this oath.”
Ivan watched Amelia like that for a moment and then opened his mouth. A question flashed across Mrs. Howard's face at the unexpected words.
“Rodan. Write the pledge as I say.”
Rodan hurried to his desk on one side of the room, not far from Ivan's desk.
“If Amelia Escliffe brings in subversive evidence of the families allied with the Temple, and helps to dismantle their power.”
“...”
“I, Ivan Wade Escliffe, acknowledge Ian as the Crown Prince and promise not to kill him with my own hands. In case of necessity, I will support his exile to another country, and I swear this on the honor of the royal family and my life.”
Rodan, who had been obediently writing down the contents, looked at Ivan with a surprised face.
“The witnesses to this oath are Mary Howard and Rodan Howard of the House of Howard, and if I fail to keep my promise, they are obliged to make this oath public.”
But Ivan did not stop talking. Therefore, Rodan's hands did not stop either. He was a servant who faithfully followed his master's orders.
“Conversely, if Amelia Escliffe breaks her promise, the same thing will happen, and Ian will be executed after the oath is made public.”
“Your Majesty, this is...”
Rodan wrote down everything Ivan said as he was told, but it seemed like he wanted to refute him. However, Ivan did not even think about hearing his opinion, and snatched the paper away and stamped it with the imperial seal.
“Can you feel safe now?”
The large, clear imperial emblem was clearly visible. No one could tell that it was a forgery. Amelia nodded quietly.
“Remember, what you and I will lose the moment you decide to step off this ship together.”
She couldn't avoid the eyes that were as blue as a blade. It was a vow that risked her child's life. She couldn't run away. That must have been what Ivan had hoped for.
***
"Your Majesty."
Mrs. Howard and Amelia left. Rodan's hard voice brought Ivan back to his senses.
“Why did you make such a promise? You clearly said that you wouldn’t even acknowledge him as your child.”
It was a voice that seemed to say that he couldn't believe it. It was natural for Rodan to have doubts. Ivan didn't have to do that.
“Then wouldn’t you do as Amelia Escliffe says?”
Ivan spoke calmly. It was a case of the clothes being torn apart. Ever since he first met Amelia, everything had been going abnormally. Rodan thought so.
“Besides, if we kill that kid in the temple, Ian, it’ll be our turn to be in trouble. I’ll be the one suspected.”
“...”
“I can’t use a child who can’t even speak yet to overthrow the royal family. Especially if I have no disqualifications. So it’s better to give her what she wants and buy time while he grows up.”
If it were before, Rodan would have nodded his head in agreement with Ivan's words, but now he wanted to raise the flag from the beginning.
“Even so, the Crown Prince?”
Didn't Ivan's most confident things go wrong? The day Amelia gave him the fake oracle was the same. He kept his mouth shut so as not to upset Ivan, but when he thought about it, it was also Ivan's fault for making a wrong judgment.
“The position of Crown Prince is held by the most noble person in Escliff. Doesn’t Your Majesty know that better than anyone else?”
If he had just acknowledged Ian as the Prince, Rodan would have felt dissatisfied, but thought that there was nothing he could do. However, Ivan said that he would acknowledge Ian as the Crown Prince. How could that make sense? Considering the secret of Ian's birth, it was more dangerous.
“Rodan.”
"Yes."
“I will destroy the temple. That is why I have Amelia Escliffe in my grasp.”
Ivan opened his mouth leisurely. Even the way he lifted the glass to his lips was annoying. Rodan kept his mouth shut, fearing that the words might leak out.
“The fall of the temple would mean that everyone would know that the existence of the Priestess was false and that the oracle was also false.”
Ah, Rodan sighed. If that were the case, Ian would have no legitimacy left. The only legitimacy he had was his bloodline with Ivan, but that would never be made public. If that were the case, Ian would naturally be stripped of his position as Crown Prince.
“There will be no one to try to kill him, so if you just look after him so he can live a healthy life, everything will be fine.”
Moreover, Ivan had promised to make Ian the Crown Prince and not kill him, but he had not promised to let Ian remain the Crown Prince without any trouble, or even make him the Emperor. Ivan was right. It was difficult to refute his claim on this point. Rodan eventually stopped criticizing Ivan's claim.
"All right."
Then he bowed low and withdrew.
“..."
Although Ivan didn't say it out loud, he could guess that there was some degree of denial toward his own child. He couldn't just sit by and watch that happen. Mrs. Howard would feel the same way.
“Are you going in now?”
“I should go. It’s getting late.”
The chamberlain found Rodan and greeted him cheerfully. Rodan folded the oath with the royal seal and threw it on the firewood that had been lit to keep warm late at night, and leisurely walked down the hallway.
All that remained as proof of the oath was a pile of ashes.
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