“Before the year is over.”
A clear answer fell where his smile had passed. At the same time, Amelia's face became completely expressionless.
“...before the year ends?”
It wasn't a question. It was just Amelia mumbling to herself, but Ivan nodded anyway.
“Rodan has left to deliver the marriage proposal to Count Clarke, and unless he refuses, the marriage will take place as soon as possible.”
And he explained in detail. Considering that it was an explanation that the listener did not particularly want, his good intentions were rather useless.
“I’ve heard rumors that there are quite a few people who misunderstand me because I’m still single.”
“...”
“Now I know for sure that I need a wife and children too.”
Their gazes, which had been slowly raking the air, collided. It seemed that whatever Amelia had in mind, it would never move as she wished.
"Yes."
Amelia muttered, picking at the sliver of flesh next to her fingernail. Red blood welled up beneath the deep cut. Louis, who had been watching the subtle confrontation between them, quietly rolled her eyes. She noticed that the Emperor had never declared defeat, and that Amelia was rather displeased by the fact.
“There’s no time limit, so I guess I can go now. I think the kid has seen enough.”
Ivan, who had effectively turned Amelia's stomach in a short period, stood up from his seat. He looked at Amelia and smiled once as if he was trying to cheer her up before turning around.
“Louis.”
Amelia, who had been staring blankly at the door through which Ivan had exited, called out to Louis. Since the palace servants were standing guard, Louis listened to Amelia as politely as possible.
“Give Ian to me.”
Amelia, who received Ian from Louis, put her index finger in her son's small hand with sparkling, gentle eyes. Ian smiled bashfully as if he had gotten a nice toy. However, there was not even a trace of a smile on Amelia's face, who would have died for her own child.
“I will step aside for a moment.”
Louis, who read the unpleasant feeling in her appearance, retreated as far back as possible. It seemed as if she realized that the current situation would become the prelude to a new war.
“...”
So, she could be sure that Louis had been tricked.
“It is said that the Emperor has sent a letter of proposal to the daughter of Count Clarke.”
The Duke of Russell spoke leisurely, sipping his drink. Aaron blinked quietly.
“For some reason, he gave us a clue that they would acknowledge him as the Crown Prince when he turned two.”
They thought he was going to buy time and kill Ian, but he was thinking of getting married, taking a wife, and having children. The Duke of Russell clicked his tongue lowly.
“Anyway, there’s no time to let your guard down even for a moment.”
It would have been easier to deal with a man of similar experience. As you get older, your way of thinking tends to become fixed. Even if it was cowardly, it was the same for you to compromise with reality and take the easy way out.
“Even if I try to like it, I can’t like it.”
But Ivan was still a young man, fresh and unpolished, so fights with him were always frantic.
“We need to bring forward the date of recognition as Crown Prince, or we need another method. What do you think, Aaron?”
In that case, wouldn't it be better to have a younger man's opinion? That's why the Duke of Russell asked Aaron for his opinion.
“...”
But Aaron was too busy mulling over what Louis had said when she came to see him to listen carefully to the Duke of Russell.
“They say Amelia liked the Emperor. She even confessed her love to him, but he said he didn’t like her.”
The thought of a woman who would have clung to him as the savior who would save her, just as he had saved Ian, made Amelia feel a tangible burning in her chest.
A clear answer fell where his smile had passed. At the same time, Amelia's face became completely expressionless.
“...before the year ends?”
It wasn't a question. It was just Amelia mumbling to herself, but Ivan nodded anyway.
“Rodan has left to deliver the marriage proposal to Count Clarke, and unless he refuses, the marriage will take place as soon as possible.”
And he explained in detail. Considering that it was an explanation that the listener did not particularly want, his good intentions were rather useless.
“I’ve heard rumors that there are quite a few people who misunderstand me because I’m still single.”
“...”
“Now I know for sure that I need a wife and children too.”
Their gazes, which had been slowly raking the air, collided. It seemed that whatever Amelia had in mind, it would never move as she wished.
"Yes."
Amelia muttered, picking at the sliver of flesh next to her fingernail. Red blood welled up beneath the deep cut. Louis, who had been watching the subtle confrontation between them, quietly rolled her eyes. She noticed that the Emperor had never declared defeat, and that Amelia was rather displeased by the fact.
“There’s no time limit, so I guess I can go now. I think the kid has seen enough.”
Ivan, who had effectively turned Amelia's stomach in a short period, stood up from his seat. He looked at Amelia and smiled once as if he was trying to cheer her up before turning around.
“Louis.”
Amelia, who had been staring blankly at the door through which Ivan had exited, called out to Louis. Since the palace servants were standing guard, Louis listened to Amelia as politely as possible.
“Give Ian to me.”
Amelia, who received Ian from Louis, put her index finger in her son's small hand with sparkling, gentle eyes. Ian smiled bashfully as if he had gotten a nice toy. However, there was not even a trace of a smile on Amelia's face, who would have died for her own child.
“I will step aside for a moment.”
Louis, who read the unpleasant feeling in her appearance, retreated as far back as possible. It seemed as if she realized that the current situation would become the prelude to a new war.
“...”
So, she could be sure that Louis had been tricked.
***
“It is said that the Emperor has sent a letter of proposal to the daughter of Count Clarke.”
The Duke of Russell spoke leisurely, sipping his drink. Aaron blinked quietly.
“For some reason, he gave us a clue that they would acknowledge him as the Crown Prince when he turned two.”
They thought he was going to buy time and kill Ian, but he was thinking of getting married, taking a wife, and having children. The Duke of Russell clicked his tongue lowly.
“Anyway, there’s no time to let your guard down even for a moment.”
It would have been easier to deal with a man of similar experience. As you get older, your way of thinking tends to become fixed. Even if it was cowardly, it was the same for you to compromise with reality and take the easy way out.
“Even if I try to like it, I can’t like it.”
But Ivan was still a young man, fresh and unpolished, so fights with him were always frantic.
“We need to bring forward the date of recognition as Crown Prince, or we need another method. What do you think, Aaron?”
In that case, wouldn't it be better to have a younger man's opinion? That's why the Duke of Russell asked Aaron for his opinion.
“...”
But Aaron was too busy mulling over what Louis had said when she came to see him to listen carefully to the Duke of Russell.
“They say Amelia liked the Emperor. She even confessed her love to him, but he said he didn’t like her.”
The thought of a woman who would have clung to him as the savior who would save her, just as he had saved Ian, made Amelia feel a tangible burning in her chest.
“I guess she was like a crazy woman, her thoughts racing wildly. I guess she was really hurt that her feelings were rejected.”
He's never been so hung up on before. But somehow he feels like his balls are about to explode.
“Aaron?”
The Duke of Russell called Aaron in a questioning voice.
“Oh, sorry. I just needed to think for a moment.”
Aaron, who realized his call belatedly, woke up from his thoughts.
“What should I do?”
"I am..."
Aaron slowly opened his mouth in response to the Duke of Russell's further question.
“How about just killing him?”
It was a surprisingly radical solution. Aaron usually did not like noisy and messy methods. The Duke of Russell quietly raised an eyebrow.
“The desire to do so is as strong as a chimney.”
“...”
“But it is almost impossible to suddenly kill the Emperor while he is sitting within the walls of the palace. The poison is thoroughly inspected, and his guards surround him in layers.”
Moreover, if Ivan, who had no heir at the time, were to die suddenly, his authority would not go to the Duke of Russell, but to a collateral branch of the royal family. The Duke of Russell did not want to miss the opportunity to get close to him.
“I was short-sighted.”
Aaron meekly reflected on his impulsive solution. The Duke of Russell shook his head as if to say that it was okay, thinking that he had said it out of frustration.
“There is no reason to oppose the Emperor, who has been single until now, getting married.”
There was only about a year and a half left. If everything were done quickly, there would be enough time for Ivan to have his own offspring. If that happened, Ivan would surely use the Orthodox to foment conflict and turn away from Ian.
But even knowing that, he couldn't doubt or question his intentions. It was natural for his son to succeed him.
“Unless the Emperor declares that he will change his words, there is no way to talk about the wrath of God.”
The Duke of Russell muttered with a frown.
“If there is no other way, it would be better to kill the Priestess’s child or kill Count Clarke’s daughter before she becomes Empress.”
“...”
“For now, we have no choice but to wait and see.”
But for now, there was no other solution.
***
The door closed, and footsteps were heard. Amelia, who was reading a story to Ian while sitting in the rocking chair, gradually moved her eyes toward the man who was approaching her.
“You’re here.”
Her attitude was calm, as if she had known this would happen.
“Didn’t you send a note through Mrs. Howard?”
It was only natural. As Ivan had pointed out, this time it was Amelia who had invited him first.
“That’s right. I guess there are a lot of things I want to find out about.”
Amelia answered obediently. Ivan didn't seem particularly offended by the fact that he had walked to Amelia's bedroom in the middle of the night just for a note. It seemed like he thought of them as companions walking the same path until they reached their goal.
"What?"
There was a faint question in Ivan's voice. Until now, all Amelia had been so curious about was his statue and things beyond the temple walls.
“Boo!”
It was then that Ian, whose eyes were still wide awake and sparkling, smiled brightly at Ivan.
“Dada!”
Ivan was silent for a moment as he looked at Ian's small, chubby hand reaching into the air. He thought he had said "dad," but he seemed hesitant to ask if he had said anything.
He could be seen as a father who is overly interested in his child's growth, or he could be seen as a slacker who applauds his child as a genius because he babbles without saying a word. Ivan would be reluctant to do either of these things.
“Ian, stop.”
Amelia turned the book over on the table so that the spine was visible, and rocked Ian in her arms. The excited boy laughed and laughed. His soft, innocent skin and brightly smiling face were so cute. Amelia laughed along with Ian without realizing it.
“I think you were sleeping at this hour.”
Ivan blurted out. Amelia quickly covered her smile as if she had realized too late that he was in the same room as her.
“I heard from Mrs. Howard that Ian slept in late in the afternoon, so I guess that’s why.”
And she made excuses to protect Ian. As if he had scolded the child for not sleeping in late. Ivan's face became somewhat trembling. It was an unfamiliar unpleasantness.
“Dada! Ah! Ada!”
Ian began to thrash violently. Amelia blinked in confusion, then stood up, holding Ian in her arms to comfort him.
“Why is it suddenly like that?”
Ian, who rested his chin over Amelia's shoulder, licked her dry shoulder. In an instant, he saw her shoulder soaking wet with saliva. Ivan frowned as if his own shoulder had been soaked with Ian's saliva.
"...ah."
Amelia, who was trying to comfort Ian with her back to Ivan, flinched. This was because the dry cloth touched the spot that was wet from Ian's spit.
“Bar!”
It was clearly good intentions. His displeasure was more important than any consideration. Ivan took the handkerchief out of his bosom, spread it lengthwise, and placed it on the spot where Ian's lips had touched. Ian greeted Ivan as he approached and stretched out both arms.
“...”
It seemed like he wanted to ask Ivan for a hug.
“Ian, no.”
Amelia seemed to have guessed the situation even though she couldn't see it, so she turned away after giving Ian a negative answer. It was an action she took to prevent Ian from seeing Ivan, but when she actually faced Ivan, she began to regret it a little.
“It doesn’t usually happen like this...”
It was the moment when she was about to awkwardly make excuses. Ian, who was unable to hug Ivan or show off his skills to him, began to sob. A look of frustration crossed Amelia's face. Perhaps the name of that emotion was rejection.
“Give it to me.”
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