By the time Amelia had really decided to push Ivan away, the sun was setting. It had been at least a few hours, but Ian still hadn't woken up. That was a relief.
Ivan felt Amelia's shoulder and collarbone with his hand. She didn't have the energy to tell him not to touch her. Amelia lay there, leaning against Ivan's firm body as a cushion, blinking listlessly. Her mind was already halfway submerged in unconsciousness.
“Are you really curious about nothing?”
But the moment Ivan asked that question, she couldn't just fall asleep. Amelia put strength into Ivan's waist, which was leaning against her body, and lifted herself up. Ivan instinctively grabbed Amelia's waist with his hand and supported her.
“Why were Lady Clarke and Ian together?”
“She said she wanted to see the child once.”
"No."
Amelia expressed her opinion firmly. Ivan watched her stubborn face for a moment and then quietly raised the corners of his lips.
“Keep that in mind.”
And they promised that the three would never meet again.
"Ah..."
Ivan's answer was quick and cool. However, Amelia still seemed to have more to say. Ivan did not rush her and waited for Amelia to continue.
“Don’t let me enter the palace until you get married.”
After a moment of hesitation, that was all she could say. It was just a simple wish that she should not see her face in the palace until they were married.
"Yes."
But the request was based on a base emotion called jealousy. Ivan was very satisfied with this fact. That was why he kissed Amelia on the lips again.
Strangely, when he looked at Amelia, his body moved. It was an impulse and desire that he had never felt before, even when he saw a woman rushing at him, so it was somewhat unfamiliar to Ivan. However, he did not feel bad. It just felt more foolish that he had not held this body for so long.
"Stop..."
The kiss that had been short and brief became deeper. Ivan's hand naturally hid under the hem of her skirt. Amelia held on to the hand that had already reached her thigh and held on. Ivan had been giving pleasure to Amelia on the bed, but it was too much. She had already exhausted her energy for today.
“You got some rest.”
Then Ivan opened his eyes and whispered seductively, as if it were rare to be able to stay together like this without being aware of what was going on around them. That was true.
Ian burst into tears as if he had sensed his mother's distress. Amelia slid off Ivan's body and hurriedly threw her feet out of the bed. Ivan also stood on the floor. Amelia turned around to hurry out of the room.
“I will go.”
At that moment, Ivan's long arms wrapped around Amelia's waist. Amelia stopped walking, taking a breath in surprise.
“Go and organize your clothes some more.”
A light kiss followed on the nape of her neck. Ivan, dressed neatly as before, with only a slight wrinkle in his shirt, went out first. Not long after he left, the bell began to ring.
Amelia took a deep breath after checking her appearance once and went outside. Ivan was standing in front of the crib, holding Ian in his arms.
“Ian, are you awake?”
Mrs. Howard came into Ian's bedroom as if she had been waiting for him, and held out her hand to give Ian to her.
“Oh my, you were here...”
“Ian wasn’t here, so I waited, and then I got tired, so I took a nap in the next room, and time passed like this.”
It was around the same time that Amelia was discovered coming out of the side room. Mrs. Howard looked at Amelia with a surprised face at first, but soon nodded at her clumsy excuse. Amelia and Ivan even had a child. It would not have been so strange if they had only talked about Ian or had a physical conversation.
“I brought you some water, Mrs. Howard.”
There was a silence that none of the three could bear to ignore. As if to break the silence, a maid carrying a water bottle came in.
“Put it over there.”
“I’m going to go now.”
Ivan, who had left a message saying that he would go, took the first step. The maid placed a jug of water on the table and quickly opened the door so that Ivan could leave. Ivan naturally slipped through the open door.
“...”
Ivan turned his head and looked back one last time before leaving. Then he cast a final glance at Amelia and then looked forward again. The series of actions that took place in the short time before the door closed was brief and natural, yet secretive.
As if to prove that their relationship was only that level, Amelia tried hard to ignore the emotions that were pounding in her chest.
It was a relationship that wouldn't last long anyway. Even though she thought that, she couldn't help but feel a little depressed.
A day later, Aaron sent a letter, saying that he simply wanted to meet her, without any further explanation. Amelia readily agreed to meet him, despite such a casual request. They had something to talk about when they met.
Amelia stared indifferently at Aaron, who had not taken his eyes off her since he opened the door and came in. She knew that he was trying to read her mind.
“With the Duke of Russell?”
“I tried to persuade him, but he said it was too risky and he didn’t need to take the risk.”
The maid put down her teacup and left. Amelia had ordered everyone to leave earlier, so there was no one else there. It was much easier for Amelia and Aaron to have a frank conversation.
"Why?"
“The Emperor will not keep his promise anyway, after about a year and a half. If we wait, the opportunity will come naturally.”
But why should we rush things and take such great risks? Aaron's eyes were asking that question. In fact, it was probably Duke Russell's intention rather than Aaron's.
“I thought what he said was right, so I said nothing more.”
Amelia glared at Aaron quietly. It was a useless accusation. Aaron had not changed one bit, even after being caught liking Amelia. He had not been swayed by Amelia. He was a great man in many ways.
“By the way, I heard some rather strange news. I heard that Ian’s biological father was blond and had green eyes.”
Meanwhile, Aaron leisurely picked up his teacup and brought up Ian's biological father as a passing topic.
“But a woman who gave birth to the child of the apprentice priest named Ricky came to the temple and said that he was blond and had blue eyes.”
Amelia's eyes shook unsteadily for a moment. What should I do? She never thought that the conversation she would have with Aaron today would be like this.
"...Yes?"
That was all she could say. As if she didn't know that either. Then Aaron stared into Amelia's eyes. Even though she was already hiding her embarrassment and pretending to have a blank expression, he seemed to be trying to find out the truth hidden inside.
“I have a question.”
Aaron didn't say anything, but he could tell. Already, from the traces that were scattered incompletely, Aaron could guess that there was something between Amelia and Ivan.
“Please speak.”
“If I hold the big cards, will the Duke move?”
In that case, why not take advantage of this opportunity? That's what she thought. After all, didn't Ivan say that Amelia had no way of proving that he was the one who had spent the night with her?
Aaron never lost his pace. Even when Amelia laughed, cried, suffered, or despaired, he seemed to be delighted in being entangled in all the emotions Amelia felt.
“It depends on how great a hand you have.”
But there were certainly moments when his pretended peace was shattered. The moment he found out that Amelia had slept with another man and had a child. And the moment he found out that Amelia loved Ivan. The moment she said she would even endure the self she despised so much to get revenge on him.
And so the moment comes when he clearly realizes that he does not have Amelia.
“You said the name Ricky was a lie?”
“...”
“I know why it’s a lie, and I know who he really is.”
At Amelia's words, Aaron's hand gripped the handle of the teacup with strength. Amelia saw clearly that his fingertips were pressed hard and turned pale. Amelia thought that her judgment was right.
“You may not believe it either.”
“...”
“Ian is the Emperor’s son. I didn’t know it at first. He was trying to use me to find out the truth about the temple.”
Silence hung in the air. Amelia knew the name of that silence. It was a rage so intense it made her vision blur.
“I can’t forgive him for abandoning me and my child, Ian, to start a new life happily.”
All doubts and questions were resolved, but Amelia realized that the person she had been longing for so desperately was none other than Ivan.
“...”
Aaron's blue eyes were surging like waves. The moment she saw that, Amelia felt like laughing. But the next moment, it wasn't laughter, it was tears.
“I hate him, Aaron, for telling me that no one will believe me because I have no evidence.”
“...”
“I want to kill him...”
Ironically, it was the first time she was able to reveal the despair and betrayal she once felt, but couldn't express to anyone.
“Help me, please..."
Tears fell and soaked the cloth. Amelia's face twisted as she whispered to Aaron to take her side. Aaron stared at the mangled woman with an inscrutable expression.
"Yes."
And finally answered.
“As you wish.”
It was what Amelia had been hoping for.
Ivan felt Amelia's shoulder and collarbone with his hand. She didn't have the energy to tell him not to touch her. Amelia lay there, leaning against Ivan's firm body as a cushion, blinking listlessly. Her mind was already halfway submerged in unconsciousness.
“Are you really curious about nothing?”
But the moment Ivan asked that question, she couldn't just fall asleep. Amelia put strength into Ivan's waist, which was leaning against her body, and lifted herself up. Ivan instinctively grabbed Amelia's waist with his hand and supported her.
“Why were Lady Clarke and Ian together?”
“She said she wanted to see the child once.”
"No."
Amelia expressed her opinion firmly. Ivan watched her stubborn face for a moment and then quietly raised the corners of his lips.
“Keep that in mind.”
And they promised that the three would never meet again.
"Ah..."
Ivan's answer was quick and cool. However, Amelia still seemed to have more to say. Ivan did not rush her and waited for Amelia to continue.
“Don’t let me enter the palace until you get married.”
After a moment of hesitation, that was all she could say. It was just a simple wish that she should not see her face in the palace until they were married.
"Yes."
But the request was based on a base emotion called jealousy. Ivan was very satisfied with this fact. That was why he kissed Amelia on the lips again.
Strangely, when he looked at Amelia, his body moved. It was an impulse and desire that he had never felt before, even when he saw a woman rushing at him, so it was somewhat unfamiliar to Ivan. However, he did not feel bad. It just felt more foolish that he had not held this body for so long.
"Stop..."
The kiss that had been short and brief became deeper. Ivan's hand naturally hid under the hem of her skirt. Amelia held on to the hand that had already reached her thigh and held on. Ivan had been giving pleasure to Amelia on the bed, but it was too much. She had already exhausted her energy for today.
“You got some rest.”
Then Ivan opened his eyes and whispered seductively, as if it were rare to be able to stay together like this without being aware of what was going on around them. That was true.
Ian burst into tears as if he had sensed his mother's distress. Amelia slid off Ivan's body and hurriedly threw her feet out of the bed. Ivan also stood on the floor. Amelia turned around to hurry out of the room.
“I will go.”
At that moment, Ivan's long arms wrapped around Amelia's waist. Amelia stopped walking, taking a breath in surprise.
“Go and organize your clothes some more.”
A light kiss followed on the nape of her neck. Ivan, dressed neatly as before, with only a slight wrinkle in his shirt, went out first. Not long after he left, the bell began to ring.
Amelia took a deep breath after checking her appearance once and went outside. Ivan was standing in front of the crib, holding Ian in his arms.
“Ian, are you awake?”
Mrs. Howard came into Ian's bedroom as if she had been waiting for him, and held out her hand to give Ian to her.
“Oh my, you were here...”
“Ian wasn’t here, so I waited, and then I got tired, so I took a nap in the next room, and time passed like this.”
It was around the same time that Amelia was discovered coming out of the side room. Mrs. Howard looked at Amelia with a surprised face at first, but soon nodded at her clumsy excuse. Amelia and Ivan even had a child. It would not have been so strange if they had only talked about Ian or had a physical conversation.
“I brought you some water, Mrs. Howard.”
There was a silence that none of the three could bear to ignore. As if to break the silence, a maid carrying a water bottle came in.
“Put it over there.”
“I’m going to go now.”
Ivan, who had left a message saying that he would go, took the first step. The maid placed a jug of water on the table and quickly opened the door so that Ivan could leave. Ivan naturally slipped through the open door.
“...”
Ivan turned his head and looked back one last time before leaving. Then he cast a final glance at Amelia and then looked forward again. The series of actions that took place in the short time before the door closed was brief and natural, yet secretive.
As if to prove that their relationship was only that level, Amelia tried hard to ignore the emotions that were pounding in her chest.
It was a relationship that wouldn't last long anyway. Even though she thought that, she couldn't help but feel a little depressed.
***
A day later, Aaron sent a letter, saying that he simply wanted to meet her, without any further explanation. Amelia readily agreed to meet him, despite such a casual request. They had something to talk about when they met.
Amelia stared indifferently at Aaron, who had not taken his eyes off her since he opened the door and came in. She knew that he was trying to read her mind.
“With the Duke of Russell?”
“I tried to persuade him, but he said it was too risky and he didn’t need to take the risk.”
The maid put down her teacup and left. Amelia had ordered everyone to leave earlier, so there was no one else there. It was much easier for Amelia and Aaron to have a frank conversation.
"Why?"
“The Emperor will not keep his promise anyway, after about a year and a half. If we wait, the opportunity will come naturally.”
But why should we rush things and take such great risks? Aaron's eyes were asking that question. In fact, it was probably Duke Russell's intention rather than Aaron's.
“I thought what he said was right, so I said nothing more.”
Amelia glared at Aaron quietly. It was a useless accusation. Aaron had not changed one bit, even after being caught liking Amelia. He had not been swayed by Amelia. He was a great man in many ways.
“By the way, I heard some rather strange news. I heard that Ian’s biological father was blond and had green eyes.”
Meanwhile, Aaron leisurely picked up his teacup and brought up Ian's biological father as a passing topic.
“But a woman who gave birth to the child of the apprentice priest named Ricky came to the temple and said that he was blond and had blue eyes.”
Amelia's eyes shook unsteadily for a moment. What should I do? She never thought that the conversation she would have with Aaron today would be like this.
"...Yes?"
That was all she could say. As if she didn't know that either. Then Aaron stared into Amelia's eyes. Even though she was already hiding her embarrassment and pretending to have a blank expression, he seemed to be trying to find out the truth hidden inside.
“I have a question.”
Aaron didn't say anything, but he could tell. Already, from the traces that were scattered incompletely, Aaron could guess that there was something between Amelia and Ivan.
“Please speak.”
“If I hold the big cards, will the Duke move?”
In that case, why not take advantage of this opportunity? That's what she thought. After all, didn't Ivan say that Amelia had no way of proving that he was the one who had spent the night with her?
Aaron never lost his pace. Even when Amelia laughed, cried, suffered, or despaired, he seemed to be delighted in being entangled in all the emotions Amelia felt.
“It depends on how great a hand you have.”
But there were certainly moments when his pretended peace was shattered. The moment he found out that Amelia had slept with another man and had a child. And the moment he found out that Amelia loved Ivan. The moment she said she would even endure the self she despised so much to get revenge on him.
And so the moment comes when he clearly realizes that he does not have Amelia.
“You said the name Ricky was a lie?”
“...”
“I know why it’s a lie, and I know who he really is.”
At Amelia's words, Aaron's hand gripped the handle of the teacup with strength. Amelia saw clearly that his fingertips were pressed hard and turned pale. Amelia thought that her judgment was right.
“You may not believe it either.”
“...”
“Ian is the Emperor’s son. I didn’t know it at first. He was trying to use me to find out the truth about the temple.”
Silence hung in the air. Amelia knew the name of that silence. It was a rage so intense it made her vision blur.
“I can’t forgive him for abandoning me and my child, Ian, to start a new life happily.”
All doubts and questions were resolved, but Amelia realized that the person she had been longing for so desperately was none other than Ivan.
“...”
Aaron's blue eyes were surging like waves. The moment she saw that, Amelia felt like laughing. But the next moment, it wasn't laughter, it was tears.
“I hate him, Aaron, for telling me that no one will believe me because I have no evidence.”
“...”
“I want to kill him...”
Ironically, it was the first time she was able to reveal the despair and betrayal she once felt, but couldn't express to anyone.
“Help me, please..."
Tears fell and soaked the cloth. Amelia's face twisted as she whispered to Aaron to take her side. Aaron stared at the mangled woman with an inscrutable expression.
"Yes."
And finally answered.
“As you wish.”
It was what Amelia had been hoping for.
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