“See the sun of Escliffe.”
Jane Clarke bowed to him. Ivan's eyes scanned Jane's attire absentmindedly. It was elegant enough, not too flashy, but not too shabby either.
“Now that you’ve said hello, please sit down.”
It was a wise move. She would be Empress, but she was not yet Empress. Besides, with a Priestess who usually dressed modestly staying in the palace, she shouldn't be overly prepared.
Jane Clarke bowed to him. Ivan's eyes scanned Jane's attire absentmindedly. It was elegant enough, not too flashy, but not too shabby either.
“Now that you’ve said hello, please sit down.”
It was a wise move. She would be Empress, but she was not yet Empress. Besides, with a Priestess who usually dressed modestly staying in the palace, she shouldn't be overly prepared.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
If that's enough, then the perception isn't bad, Ivan thought.
“Aren’t you curious as to why I chose you?”
Ivan asked. Jane's eyes widened at the question that suddenly came out of nowhere, and Rodan, who had been naturally attached to the wall like a decoration, gave Ivan a reproachful look.
“Of course, it would be a lie if I said I wasn’t curious...”
Jane smiled meekly, trailing off her words.
“I suppose His Majesty had some wish for the person who would become your concubine. Luckily, I guess I have it.”
And she answered Ivan's question wisely. She was not a bad woman either. And her appearance was not bad either, as the ivory dress suited her well.
“...”
The color resembled white, and there was a face that naturally came to mind. Ivan thought of Amelia, who had pretended not to hear the news that the woman who would soon become his wife was entering the palace, but had an indifferent expression.
But that's not all. In fact, Amelia didn't even ask what kind of person Jane Clarke was. As if she had no interest in someone else's marriage. Ivan felt very strange about that attitude.
Others. Others...
"Your Majesty?"
Jane cautiously called Ivan over, trying to get him back as he had suddenly drifted away from the conversation, lost in his own world.
“I’m sorry. I need to think about something for a moment.”
Ivan, who realized the fact late, apologized obediently. It was rude to be preoccupied with other thoughts in front of an invited guest, even if he was the Emperor. And even more so when the person was the one who would become his wife.
“You are right.”
“...”
“I wanted a family that was not hostile to me and not too ambitious. Your old-fashioned and stubborn father was the best person for that.”
The story was that Ivan didn't choose Jane because he had any feelings for her. In the first place, if he couldn't remember the person whose face he had seen several times at the royal banquet, it would be right to assume that he didn't even have a special impression of her.
“Do you like children?”
Jane nodded awkwardly and smiled at Ivan's question.
“I love children and animals.”
“That’s fortunate.”
As Ivan spoke, he lightly lifted the teacup in front of him. The fragrant scent of the tea wafted into his nose.
“I will always be careful not to become a nuisance to Your Majesty.”
As the teacup came closer to his face, the steam swayed in the air. Ivan stared blankly at the woman dimly reflected through the gap. The woman, who seemed to know what Ivan was worried about, promised that no harm would come to Ian as long as he protected him, and she was dignified and elegant.
“It’s good that we can communicate well.”
“I’m glad you said that.”
Jane smiled brightly at Ivan's compliment. In fact, if you look at her natural appearance, she has a rather flashy appearance, but strangely enough, she looks gentle. That's how well she knew how others saw her, and she was the type to manage it thoroughly.
Jane Clarke was a really nice woman, especially considering she was destined to be an Empress.
“...”
What if Amelia Escliffe had been born ordinary? He suddenly thought. She was too fragile and easily swayed by affection, so she probably wouldn't have been the right person to become an Empress.
It might have been pretty, though.
"Your Majesty."
In the first place, it was difficult to even imagine Amelia standing next to him. The moment Ivan naturally gave up his useless imagination, Rodan hurriedly approached him.
“I have something urgent to tell you.”
Ivan turned his gaze to Jane, who was sitting across from him. Jane was looking out the window as if she hadn't heard anything, pretending not to know what was going on.
“What's going on?”
Ivan asked.
“Ian is said to have suddenly suffered a seizure after eating.”
Rodan whispered softly in Ivan's ear. Ivan blinked slowly. It wasn't because he didn't immediately understand what he was saying.
“Let’s go as soon as the conversation is over.”
“If you have any urgent matter, you may go, Your Majesty. I am fine.”
When their eyes met, Jane quickly said that she was fine. If she was going to go that far, it would have been Ivan who would have stood up first. Ivan's personality was such that he could not refuse such consideration. So Rodan thought that Ivan would leave soon.
“No. My promise with you comes first.”
“...”
“Rodan. Check to see if the Imperial Doctor has heard of it, and if not, send it.”
But Ivan didn't end his tea time with Jane. It was as if he was saying that Ian could never be his top priority, no matter when or what the situation was.
***
Aaron's gaze turned to the pitiful mother who had entered the temple. The woman with aquamarine eyes was cowering, holding the child she was about to send to the orphanage in her arms.
“You don’t need to be so scared. The child’s father committed an unforgivable sin and died, but the child is innocent.”
“Ha, but...”
The woman answered, mumbling. Her face still had a hint of worry and a sense of hopelessness.
“This is a place that God has established to show mercy to His people. Anyone who dares to disobey God’s words and threaten you will be punished.”
God will love even the blood of that sinner. Everyone in this space should do the same. Aaron said, smiling brightly. The woman's face was filled with emotion, and tears welled up in her eyes.
“Oh, thank you.”
And she stammered and thanked the god and his servant who had taken her and her child in when they had nowhere to go.
“Please give me the child. Since the Priestess is away now, I will bless the child in her stead.”
The woman carefully handed the child over to Aaron because of his kind words. Aaron looked down at the child, who seemed to have been born around the same time as Ian.
“...”
The child with blue eyes blinked at Aaron as if he were curious. Judging from the fact that he didn't cry even when seeing a stranger, he was a gentle boy by nature.
“But I think he had blue eyes like this. His pupils seem to resemble his father’s.”
Aaron spoke in passing. Despite his hidden intentions, it was hard to find any sense of discomfort in his words.
“Yes, that’s right. His eyes were a particularly vivid blue.”
The woman answered with a clean face, without a single lie.
"...Yes."
He smiled. The man he had seen with his own eyes was not the apprentice priest named Ricky. Now he was certain of it.
“High Priest.”
It was the moment Aaron finished praying after giving a false blessing that a voice from behind caught Aaron's attention.
“Louis.”
Louis appeared behind the priest who brought the guest. Aaron greeted his cousin with his usual smiling face.
“I’ve been seeing you a lot lately.”
“The Priestess sent me here.”
“Let’s go in and talk.”
Aaron, who had finished his business with the woman, handed the child over and started walking first. Louis quickly followed behind him.
“So what happened?”
Aaron asked as soon as the door to his room closed. Aaron was always sensitive to news related to Amelia.
“Have you recently tried to kill a Priestess’s child without my knowledge?”
“No. Why are you asking that?”
Aaron replied immediately. Based on his current judgment, Ian was worth keeping alive, so there was no reason to kill him.
“Amelia Escliffe’s child almost died.”
Aaron frowned. The Duke of Russell had also decided to wait and see for now. There was no way he would have tried to kill Ian without telling him.
“So the Priestess asked you to come into the palace.”
“What caused the child to be in danger?”
Aaron asked.
“It is a gift from the Emperor to the child.”
"Gift?"
“These days, they make a thin porridge for him to eat, and they sent me the ingredients for it. The wet nurse made something for her while she was away because her mother had passed away, and it seems that’s what caused the trouble.”
Louis explained it carefully. At first glance, there was nothing strange about the explanation.
“So, you would like to stop by the palace for a moment.”
But the situation was suspiciously similar to how Ivan seemed to be the culprit.
“Brother?”
Aaron blinked silently for a moment. When there was no immediate answer, Louis called out to Aaron as if urging him.
“Yes, go.”
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