The Duke of Russell, a generous patron of the temple, came to visit Aaron. They greeted him politely, their faces as usual, before everyone. Nothing but piety and reverence for those who worshipped the gods were visible in the Duke of Russell.
“Please sit down.”
“The Emperor sent all the newly selected men out of the castle.”
But the moment they moved to the prayer room and the door closed, everything changed. The Duke of Russell's face showed none of the serenity or awe he had previously held. It was strange to believe that everything was nothing more than a fantasy created by his family and his own creation.
"I see. Since His Majesty forced me to accept it, it seems I've decided to respond in that way."
Considering Ivan's animosity toward the Duke of Russell and the temple, it must have been humiliating to have accepted the Duke's semi-coercive demands. His expression of discontent didn't seem all that surprising.
“At this rate, we won’t be able to do anything on the Crown Prince’s investiture day or celebration.”
Amelia must expose her relationship with Ivan and secure the imperial crown for the Duke of Russell. Ivan's newly elected commoner knights must betray him and become the driving force behind a new world. However, the puzzle pieces he currently assembles are incomplete.
“We have no choice but to either drag the existing imperial knights out or push them in.”
“How about we blow things up in the border area and bring out the knights?”
Aaron asked a question. It was simple, yet clear.
"Didn't you deploy all of the 3rd Knights to the outer castle? In the end, the ones who will be dragged out will be the private soldiers we hid."
Duke Russell frowned and muttered. He suggested they bide their time, but Ivan, far from making a move, seemed intent on leaving them in the outer wall and using them as a shield to block the swords flying towards him.
“How about we first check with Amelia to see if there’s a way to get them into the castle?”
But the problem was that there was no longer any logic to force Ivan to do more. They had already exchanged vulnerabilities. Provoking Ivan any further would do no good for the Duke of Russell.
“Even if there is a way, will the Emperor listen to it?”
Duke Russell reacted negatively to Aaron's suggestion to ask Amelia.
“I hope you don’t find it suspicious if I suddenly bring that up.”
According to Louis, who always follows Amelia, the relationship between Amelia and Ivan is becoming increasingly hostile. Every time they meet, Amelia snarls like a dog, and Ivan laughs at her, finding her pathetic.
“There may be other weaknesses of the Emperor. Or, knowing his temperament, I could exploit them.”
The Duke of Russell still had a displeased expression on his face. He seemed quite unwilling.
“Yes. Let’s do that for now.”
But there was no other way. Surprisingly, Amelia was doing surprisingly well in her role at the palace, and he could only hope that she had a surprising plan to counter the one he'd first conceived.
***
“Aaron asked to meet.”
“What did he say?”
Ivan untied his tie and placed it on the table, asking a question. As much as he disliked anything related to the temple, he was sensitive to the Duke of Russell's visit. However, his wariness was particularly heightened when it came to Aaron.
“I have something to share with him about the newly elected commoner knights.”
"Ah."
Ivan let out a brief exclamation at Amelia's words. He had a rough idea.
“Do you know what he's trying to say?”
“I know.”
Ivan answered, sitting leisurely in his chair. Amelia followed Ivan's hand, which moved as if to beckon her, and approached him.
“I guess he’s trying to say that since I'm driving all the common knights out of the palace, they can’t approach.”
Just as they were close enough to touch, Ivan grabbed Amelia's hand and waist and pulled her closer. Amelia blinked, sitting on Ivan's thigh.
“Wasn’t it your goal to bring them into the palace?”
"Because we don't know which of them are the private soldiers they sent. We needed to keep them at a distance until we figured out how to weed them out."
Ivan was right. There was no benefit in letting them into the palace before we could properly determine their true identities.
“I’ve already told Rodan to investigate those who have passed the civil knighthood, so it will be revealed soon.”
Amelia nodded obediently, thinking that what he said was valid.
“Will it take a long time to do a background check?”
“It’ll take some time. But there’s still some time until Ian’s birthday...”
“If there was a way to find out their list?”
But there seemed to be a less demanding way. Amelia met Ivan's eyes and asked.
“It would take less time and effort.”
Ivan replied, noting that her gaze was unusually round. Amelia's eyes were usually slightly upturned, giving her a slightly sensitive impression. But since she'd entrusted everything to him, her appearance had changed completely.
"...what are you doing?"
Ivan's fingertips brushed the corner of Amelia's eye. Amelia blinked, taken aback by the unexpected contact, and asked.
“It’s just that your face looks so innocent today.”
Amelia frowned slightly at Ivan's bland reply. It was a reaction akin to a rebuke, as if to say, "Is this the time to be talking about that?" But she didn't feel like scolding him. Just like the day he'd dared to call her stupid, Ivan had always been generous to Amelia recently.
Closer to a man than to an Emperor.
“Listen carefully.”
“I’m listening carefully.”
Amelia now frowned openly at Ivan. Ironically, her face was quite cute. Had Rodan seen it, he would have assumed Ivan was incomprehensible.
"You told Aaron he could come to you. If he says the common knights are too difficult to approach you and me..."
Even in the darkness, he could feel Amelia's dark eyes rolling. Ivan watched with a glad heart. With this soft, supple body in his arms and her slightly cooler body, he could relax.
“What if we asked them to hand over the list?”
Amelia asked cautiously. Ivan, who had been observing her movements as she pondered her thoughts before revealing them, responded somewhat slowly.
"Of course, things will get easier. You'll even have the luxury of pretending to do something stupid."
It wasn't enough to reveal that he was thinking of something else. That's why Ivan was more adept at controlling his facial expressions than anyone else, while Amelia was less adept at reading the true feelings of someone as clueless as Ivan.
"Then, when I meet Aaron tomorrow, I'll ask him to bring their list. If things don't go as planned, he might consider something else."
Amelia, who believed this approach would be more efficient in many ways, was the first to suggest it. Ivan didn't particularly object, but he didn't immediately agree, either.
"Why?"
Amelia looked at Ivan and asked, implying that he was unwilling to accept her proposal.
“You don’t have to try so hard.”
“What does that mean?”
Ivan spoke in a whisper. Amelia hesitated for a moment, unsure of what expression to make at Ivan's incomprehensible words.
“Even if you don’t rush like this, if things don’t go your way and you get impatient, the Duke of Russell will make the first move.”
“What if not?”
“A person with narrow vision cannot think far ahead.”
It was a confident voice.
“The smarter you are, the more confident you are in your judgment.”
“...”
"He's already chosen the means, the tools, to harm me. There are countless ways to target the throne, but he must have thought this was the most effective."
If that were the case, there would be no need to change that method. Ivan, who was of the same ilk as the Duke of Russell, was well aware of this, though he hated to admit it.
"Then we'll figure out a way to push that efficient method forward. The likelihood of finding another way is slim."
Having said that, Ivan lifted Amelia's chin with his index finger. For a brief moment, their lips connected, then parted.
“Things are going according to plan anyway, so don’t panic.”
Perhaps he wanted to reassure her. Amelia stared blankly at Ivan. As if to bring her back to her senses, Ivan flicked Amelia's round forehead with his finger.
"...it hurts."
In fact, it didn't hurt. Ivan knew that very well. So, despite Amelia's rant, Ivan didn't seem particularly sorry.
“Should I buy you a necklace as a token of my apology?”
Instead, he immediately offered material compensation.
“What kind of apple is that?”
Despite not being hurt, Amelia couldn't hide her bewilderment and furrowed her brow.
"We're enemies during daylight hours. Why are you offering me a gift?"
“If that’s the problem, then let’s just leave it alone for now.”
Ivan looked forward to a future where the political strife with the great nobles was over. He even had no doubt that Amelia would remain by his side even then. As if even their separation would be his will.
Amelia's doctor was not included in that decision.
“That’s not really necessary.”
Amelia wrapped her arms around Ivan's neck, thinking. It wasn't new. Everyone around her had a similar attitude. It was just a realization.
“...”
Aside from the lips that were touching right now, she never really shared anything with him.
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