“Oh, and I also brought some aged wine in the basket.”
It was a moment when Ian's palm almost hit his thigh. Aaron, holding onto his small but plump palm, added, as if he'd almost forgotten.
“That’s right, I asked for that too.”
"Yes."
Strange as it may sound, one of the temple's sources of income was aged wine. While members of the temple were not allowed to drink it, they were permitted to produce and sell it.
“I’ll boil some fruit and serve it to His Majesty.”
“Fruit?”
“I wanted to express my gratitude to His Majesty, since I am not actually a member of the royal family, but Ian has become the Crown Prince by the grace of God.”
Amelia calmly explained her intentions. Aaron nodded, clearly understanding.
“That’s a good idea.”
There was even a hint of praise in his eyes. That was their plan, so it was only natural.
“Ian, come here.”
Amelia calmly avoided Aaron's gaze and reached out to Ian. But Ian, accustomed to being held and comforted by everyone he met, whined as if begging for Aaron's embrace. Even Ivan had been holding Ian often lately, so he couldn't understand why Aaron, who was of similar build, was ignoring him.
“What does he want?”
“He wants you to hug him.”
At Amelia's explanation, Aaron met Ian's eyes. His eyes sparkled, translucent and tear-filled, as if he were about to burst into tears. They were bright and loving.
“That much...”
But the moment Aaron looked Ian in the eye, Amelia felt a chill run up her arm. The voice threatened, "Will you let your children die like that, too?" A chill ran down her spine, reflexively recalling the memory. Having been controlled for so long, the fear of him never fully dissipated, even with the passage of time.
“I know you’ve been very busy while I was away. Wouldn’t it be better to go and rest?”
So, she didn't want Aaron to touch Ian. She instinctively told him to leave. They'd only exchanged a few words, and it sounded like he didn't even want to touch Ian. It must have sounded so heartless that Mrs. Howard rolled her eyes, watching Aaron's reaction.
“I guess that’s what it should be.”
“Just rest for a few days. It’ll be over soon.”
But Aaron's reaction was calm. He nodded naturally at Amelia's request to endure for a few more days, simply accepting his role. He stood up, still holding onto his leg, and lifted Ian into Amelia's arms. Ian burst into tears at the unwilling action.
“Louis, I can’t leave because of Ian, so please see Aaron off.”
“Yes, my lady.”
But Aaron didn't care about the noise. He didn't pity or find Ian, who clung to him, cute. He simply bowed politely and turned away. Aaron walked along the sunlit path, Louis following him.
“Stop crying, Ian. Aaron might get angry.”
Amelia hugged Ian tightly as he struggled and cried. She kissed his forehead, soothing him, and stared blankly down the path Aaron had left.
Not much time left. Like the grass trampled underfoot, the day Aaron would disappear forever from Amelia's and Ian's lives.
Ivan steadied his wavering vision. Then, his vision cleared. Amelia, dressed in shabby attire and with disheveled hair, was walking barefoot up the stairs. Despite her attire, Amelia's movements were calm and elegant.
She must have been trained to look that way from the moment she was born. Amelia was perfect in every way, like a young lady from a noble family, except for her status as a Priestess.
But where are you going now? In such an unattractive outfit.
The moment she thought that, her surroundings began to take shape. The first thing she saw was two sturdy men holding Amelia's slender arms.
Dare.
Ivan couldn't even bear the thought of Harry, his escort, kissing the back of her hand. He instinctively opened his mouth to yell at the men who had captured Amelia.
“...”
But in the very next scene, something else appeared. A blade glowed blue at the top of the stairs Amelia was climbing. And a crowd of people gathered to witness Amelia's death.
Why?
Ivan was unusually flustered by the unexpected turn of events. It was only natural. He had resolved not to kill Amelia, and he was naturally determined to act on that resolve. He didn't want to kill Amelia.
“Kill the scammer!”
“Kill the traitor!”
The crowd roared. The men's fists, clenched in fists, shook in the air. Amelia watched it all with a blank expression. Not a shred of fear could be seen on her pale face.
“...”
She simply cast a silent glance at Ivan. Ivan found himself reflected in Amelia's pitch-black eyes, even though they were quite far away, making it impossible for him to see her.
In Amelia's eyes, Ivan was the Emperor himself. He wore a crown glittering with gold and jewels, sat on the throne, and watched Amelia's death.
“Kill the blood relatives who have deceived Escliff for hundreds of years and hold them accountable.”
Ivan was a third party in the setting, yet at the same time a participant. He didn't speak, but he spoke. His mouth moved on its own.
“Kill her!”
The crowd cheered at Ivan's clear command. The executioner forced Amelia's small body to her knees before everyone. He then secured her neck to the table. Even then, Amelia didn't protest, but quietly closed her eyes.
As if she had been waiting all along for it to happen.
Why?
Just as Ivan was about to question it, the blue-tipped blade sliced through the air and fell slowly toward the floor. More precisely, it was aimed at the neck of a woman who had no will to resist.
"...No!"
No, you can't die like that. You said you wouldn't let me die, and now you can't aid and abet me to die like this. Ivan finally let out a single scream, the words he wanted to say.
"Ha..."
Ivan woke with a scream. He was so startled that, upon opening his eyes, his vision, far from blurry, was clearly visible: the center of the ceiling, where the curtains had gathered.
It's a dream.
Yes, there was no way he would have let Amelia die. Ivan felt relieved. He placed his right arm between his forehead and his eyelids and let out a low sigh.
“I had a bad dream.”
He was belatedly overcome with anger. It was still early morning, and the sun hadn't even risen yet. It was impossible to be happy that his sleep had been disturbed by such a crappy dream.
“The two of you and Mrs. Howard went out for an outing, and the High Priest also joined them for a while.”
Was it because he heard the bad news before he went to bed? He was in a terrible mood after hearing that Aaron had interrupted Amelia and Ian's outing. And the fact that he was in a bad mood made him feel even worse.
Because he was once again, unpleasantly, made to realize that he was being swayed by Amelia's presence.
“Fuck.”
Ivan muttered, removing the arm he had placed on his forehead. It seemed more foolish to deny the truth now, or to pretend it didn't exist. Thinking this, Ivan threw back the covers and got out of bed. He picked up the lamp placed on one side of the bedroom and opened the door to the secret passage.
There was no other reason to visit Amelia's bedroom at this hour. But there was no hesitation as he walked down the path leading to the West Palace.
“...”
Come to think of it, there was no hesitation on the face of the woman walking toward the guillotine in Ivan's dream. The moment he opened the door to Amelia's bedroom, that thought suddenly occurred to him.
Why? Why did she so meekly surrender her life to Ivan, who had left her to die, without even a shred of resentment or betrayal?
As if she knew it would happen. Or as if that was what she hoped for.
“I was just swayed by a dream...”
It was a ridiculous thought. Ivan looked down at the sleeping woman's face, berating himself for coming here on a whim. He let out a low sigh. The real Amelia wouldn't have done that. The real Amelia would have cursed and cursed Ivan for abandoning her. She wouldn't have left her child behind in such a vain way.
“Hmm...”
Even in her sleep, she seemed to sense the uncomfortable gaze staring at her. Or perhaps she hadn't slept deeply enough to begin with. Amelia groaned, rubbing her face against the pillow and shifting her body.
“Ivan?”
And finally, she opened my eyes to find a man standing by her bedside, as if begging to be found. Amelia showed no sign of wariness and smiled bashfully, almost like a child. It was a smile that resembled Ian's. It was almost comical how similar it was to Ian, having thought they only shared the same dark eyes.
He suddenly realized it. That's why he'd become attached to Ian from that moment on. Because he'd erased negative emotions like anxiety and discomfort and given him peace.
Suddenly, his mind began to spin. Why wouldn't I love a woman who was so useful? Even if he was swayed for a moment, she would eventually return to her place.
It was a moment when Ian's palm almost hit his thigh. Aaron, holding onto his small but plump palm, added, as if he'd almost forgotten.
“That’s right, I asked for that too.”
"Yes."
Strange as it may sound, one of the temple's sources of income was aged wine. While members of the temple were not allowed to drink it, they were permitted to produce and sell it.
“I’ll boil some fruit and serve it to His Majesty.”
“Fruit?”
“I wanted to express my gratitude to His Majesty, since I am not actually a member of the royal family, but Ian has become the Crown Prince by the grace of God.”
Amelia calmly explained her intentions. Aaron nodded, clearly understanding.
“That’s a good idea.”
There was even a hint of praise in his eyes. That was their plan, so it was only natural.
“Ian, come here.”
Amelia calmly avoided Aaron's gaze and reached out to Ian. But Ian, accustomed to being held and comforted by everyone he met, whined as if begging for Aaron's embrace. Even Ivan had been holding Ian often lately, so he couldn't understand why Aaron, who was of similar build, was ignoring him.
“What does he want?”
“He wants you to hug him.”
At Amelia's explanation, Aaron met Ian's eyes. His eyes sparkled, translucent and tear-filled, as if he were about to burst into tears. They were bright and loving.
“That much...”
But the moment Aaron looked Ian in the eye, Amelia felt a chill run up her arm. The voice threatened, "Will you let your children die like that, too?" A chill ran down her spine, reflexively recalling the memory. Having been controlled for so long, the fear of him never fully dissipated, even with the passage of time.
“I know you’ve been very busy while I was away. Wouldn’t it be better to go and rest?”
So, she didn't want Aaron to touch Ian. She instinctively told him to leave. They'd only exchanged a few words, and it sounded like he didn't even want to touch Ian. It must have sounded so heartless that Mrs. Howard rolled her eyes, watching Aaron's reaction.
“I guess that’s what it should be.”
“Just rest for a few days. It’ll be over soon.”
But Aaron's reaction was calm. He nodded naturally at Amelia's request to endure for a few more days, simply accepting his role. He stood up, still holding onto his leg, and lifted Ian into Amelia's arms. Ian burst into tears at the unwilling action.
“Louis, I can’t leave because of Ian, so please see Aaron off.”
“Yes, my lady.”
But Aaron didn't care about the noise. He didn't pity or find Ian, who clung to him, cute. He simply bowed politely and turned away. Aaron walked along the sunlit path, Louis following him.
“Stop crying, Ian. Aaron might get angry.”
Amelia hugged Ian tightly as he struggled and cried. She kissed his forehead, soothing him, and stared blankly down the path Aaron had left.
Not much time left. Like the grass trampled underfoot, the day Aaron would disappear forever from Amelia's and Ian's lives.
***
Ivan steadied his wavering vision. Then, his vision cleared. Amelia, dressed in shabby attire and with disheveled hair, was walking barefoot up the stairs. Despite her attire, Amelia's movements were calm and elegant.
She must have been trained to look that way from the moment she was born. Amelia was perfect in every way, like a young lady from a noble family, except for her status as a Priestess.
But where are you going now? In such an unattractive outfit.
The moment she thought that, her surroundings began to take shape. The first thing she saw was two sturdy men holding Amelia's slender arms.
Dare.
Ivan couldn't even bear the thought of Harry, his escort, kissing the back of her hand. He instinctively opened his mouth to yell at the men who had captured Amelia.
“...”
But in the very next scene, something else appeared. A blade glowed blue at the top of the stairs Amelia was climbing. And a crowd of people gathered to witness Amelia's death.
Why?
Ivan was unusually flustered by the unexpected turn of events. It was only natural. He had resolved not to kill Amelia, and he was naturally determined to act on that resolve. He didn't want to kill Amelia.
“Kill the scammer!”
“Kill the traitor!”
The crowd roared. The men's fists, clenched in fists, shook in the air. Amelia watched it all with a blank expression. Not a shred of fear could be seen on her pale face.
“...”
She simply cast a silent glance at Ivan. Ivan found himself reflected in Amelia's pitch-black eyes, even though they were quite far away, making it impossible for him to see her.
In Amelia's eyes, Ivan was the Emperor himself. He wore a crown glittering with gold and jewels, sat on the throne, and watched Amelia's death.
“Kill the blood relatives who have deceived Escliff for hundreds of years and hold them accountable.”
Ivan was a third party in the setting, yet at the same time a participant. He didn't speak, but he spoke. His mouth moved on its own.
“Kill her!”
The crowd cheered at Ivan's clear command. The executioner forced Amelia's small body to her knees before everyone. He then secured her neck to the table. Even then, Amelia didn't protest, but quietly closed her eyes.
As if she had been waiting all along for it to happen.
Why?
Just as Ivan was about to question it, the blue-tipped blade sliced through the air and fell slowly toward the floor. More precisely, it was aimed at the neck of a woman who had no will to resist.
"...No!"
No, you can't die like that. You said you wouldn't let me die, and now you can't aid and abet me to die like this. Ivan finally let out a single scream, the words he wanted to say.
***
"Ha..."
Ivan woke with a scream. He was so startled that, upon opening his eyes, his vision, far from blurry, was clearly visible: the center of the ceiling, where the curtains had gathered.
It's a dream.
Yes, there was no way he would have let Amelia die. Ivan felt relieved. He placed his right arm between his forehead and his eyelids and let out a low sigh.
“I had a bad dream.”
He was belatedly overcome with anger. It was still early morning, and the sun hadn't even risen yet. It was impossible to be happy that his sleep had been disturbed by such a crappy dream.
“The two of you and Mrs. Howard went out for an outing, and the High Priest also joined them for a while.”
Was it because he heard the bad news before he went to bed? He was in a terrible mood after hearing that Aaron had interrupted Amelia and Ian's outing. And the fact that he was in a bad mood made him feel even worse.
Because he was once again, unpleasantly, made to realize that he was being swayed by Amelia's presence.
“Fuck.”
Ivan muttered, removing the arm he had placed on his forehead. It seemed more foolish to deny the truth now, or to pretend it didn't exist. Thinking this, Ivan threw back the covers and got out of bed. He picked up the lamp placed on one side of the bedroom and opened the door to the secret passage.
There was no other reason to visit Amelia's bedroom at this hour. But there was no hesitation as he walked down the path leading to the West Palace.
“...”
Come to think of it, there was no hesitation on the face of the woman walking toward the guillotine in Ivan's dream. The moment he opened the door to Amelia's bedroom, that thought suddenly occurred to him.
Why? Why did she so meekly surrender her life to Ivan, who had left her to die, without even a shred of resentment or betrayal?
As if she knew it would happen. Or as if that was what she hoped for.
“I was just swayed by a dream...”
It was a ridiculous thought. Ivan looked down at the sleeping woman's face, berating himself for coming here on a whim. He let out a low sigh. The real Amelia wouldn't have done that. The real Amelia would have cursed and cursed Ivan for abandoning her. She wouldn't have left her child behind in such a vain way.
“Hmm...”
Even in her sleep, she seemed to sense the uncomfortable gaze staring at her. Or perhaps she hadn't slept deeply enough to begin with. Amelia groaned, rubbing her face against the pillow and shifting her body.
“Ivan?”
And finally, she opened my eyes to find a man standing by her bedside, as if begging to be found. Amelia showed no sign of wariness and smiled bashfully, almost like a child. It was a smile that resembled Ian's. It was almost comical how similar it was to Ian, having thought they only shared the same dark eyes.
He suddenly realized it. That's why he'd become attached to Ian from that moment on. Because he'd erased negative emotions like anxiety and discomfort and given him peace.
Suddenly, his mind began to spin. Why wouldn't I love a woman who was so useful? Even if he was swayed for a moment, she would eventually return to her place.
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