“Why are you here?”
Amelia blinked, her eyes hazy, momentarily unable to tell if it was a dream or reality, and reached out to Ivan. Even so, her whisper was small and fragile, as if she was determined not to let him know.
“Did you enjoy the outing?”
Ivan sat on the edge of the bed, holding Amelia's hand that was floating in the air.
“Except me?”
And then he asked. Amelia's eyelids, which were about to close, lifted, and her gaze turned to Ivan.
“I told you you couldn’t come.”
The question was, "Why was Ivan so upset when he was the one who said he couldn't come?" Ivan smiled briefly. Amelia's criticism was right.
“That’s right. But I still feel bad about you playing with the High Priest.”
Amelia blinked her eyes quickly several times and sat up.
"I wasn't hanging out with Aaron. He had something to give me, so he just gave it to me and left. You know how much I hate him..."
And she explained it clearly to Ivan. Her face, clearly wide awake, expressed her unwillingness to be misunderstood.
“I know, of course.”
“...”
“It was a joke.”
Far from being a joke, he wanted to tear Aaron's balls off for a multitude of reasons. But Ivan calmly concealed his feelings and grabbed a piece of Amelia's nightgown that had fallen below her shoulder.
“Now that the day is dawning, everything will begin and end...”
And he kissed her delicate neck, carefree and leisurely. As if branding her as his. As if sensing possessiveness in his breath, Amelia's body trembled slightly.
“I think I’ll be nervous.”
Ivan, who had whispered that, raised his head. Their eyes met. He grabbed her, as if to straighten her slipped pajamas, but all he actually did was run his thumb over her exposed skin. It was clearly a sexual gesture.
“Don’t worry. I’m fine.”
As Amelia spoke, she casually pushed Ivan's hand away. She then pulled the flowing clothes up over her shoulders. Ivan withdrew his hand without hesitation.
It was impossible to mix bodies at the crack of dawn. No, more precisely, there was no reason to. After today, there would be no reason to sneak around like a thief climbing over a widow's wall. It would only take one day, so there was no reason to resist.
“Really? Don’t you have any other thoughts?”
Ivan asked. Amelia paused for a moment, then met Ivan's gaze.
“I won’t do anything that betrays you again.”
Because she promised. Because Ian's life was at stake. Because today's revenge wasn't just Ivan's, it was Amelia's own. All of that meaning was encapsulated in a single word.
“I was asking if you weren’t scared. Because you were always anxious.”
The problem was that Ivan didn't want to ask that question.
"Ah."
Amelia sighed softly at Ivan's explanation. The face that had once displayed a firm resolve crumbled in an instant. However, she showed no shame at having stumbled.
“It’s not scary.”
“...”
“I’m scared, Ivan.”
She just quietly gave him the answer he wanted and showed a faint smile.
"But I have to do it. I'm not going to run away since I've decided to do it."
Ironically, that fragile smile seemed to Ivan to be another will. Something more intense and vivid than the mere, pointless cry of "I have to."
“Now I will be the goddess of victory, not a Priestess.”
Amelia chuckled at Ivan's praise. Meanwhile, Ivan reached out and wrapped his arms around Amelia's waist. He lifted her by her slender waist and placed her on his lap. Amelia's eyes widened in surprise.
“Kiss me.”
“...”
“You should share your energy with me, too.”
Ivan shamelessly demanded a kiss. Amelia stared at him blankly, then carefully placed both arms on his shoulders. Then she tilted her head toward his lips.
“...!”
The moment their lips touched, Ivan parted Amelia's and thrust into her. At the same time, like a prey waiting for its moment to strike, Ivan's arms tightened around Amelia's body, trying to quell any resistance.
There is no reason to rebel.
Amelia thought as she wrapped her arms around Ivan's neck. Their bodies naturally fell onto the bed, but they were so absorbed in each other that they didn't even notice the discomfort.
“No more than this...”
“I know, it won’t work.”
Ivan's lips, now detached, traced Amelia's jawline. Amelia shivered as he kissed her ear, jaw, and nape, but she didn't forget to stop him. Ivan, as if he hadn't lost his mind, whispered to Amelia several times that he knew.
“...”
Finally, Ivan broke the kiss and pulled away from Amelia's upper body. The comforting warmth and weight disappeared, leaving her with a strangely empty feeling. Amelia unconsciously grabbed Ivan's arm, as if to prevent him from moving away.
Then Ivan kissed her again. Amelia closed her eyes quietly. Just before the world went completely dark, she saw a faint ray of light cast over Ivan's shoulder.
Dawn was breaking.
"The Chancellor and the Duke of Russell have come to see you. They said they would like to see you briefly."
Not long after Ivan returned, daylight finally arrived. Amelia, nervous, pretended to wake up earlier than usual, shaking the rope to call someone, and finished getting ready early. After a while of resting, the Duke of Russell and Aaron came to visit.
“Tell them to come in.”
Amelia obediently let them in. It seemed like today was the biggest day of celebration for them all, so she needed to set the mood.
“I meet the Priestess.”
“Welcome.”
The Duke of Russell smiled at Amelia's calm greeting. He seemed to like her expression, which showed no signs of tension even before the event.
“You’re already ready. Have you had a good night’s sleep?”
“No. I’m a bit nervous, and the thought of leaving Ian behind keeps me up at night.”
“I came to see you to offer my condolences, as I thought you might be feeling that way.”
A look of genuine regret crossed the Duke of Russell's face. His ability to tell lies with sincerity in front of others was remarkable, rivaling even Ivan's. Had she known nothing about him, when Ivan demanded proof of the collusion between the temple and the nobles, he would have preferred death.
"It's only natural, since the Priestess is very affectionate. But where there are encounters, there are also partings."
The Duke of Russell shamelessly offered words of comfort to Amelia. Amelia nodded.
“It’s okay. Thinking about Ian, this is a much better thing.”
And then she picked up the teacup the maid had brought just in time. To be precise, her hand gave out just as she was about to pick it up, and she dropped it.
"Oh!"
The teacup fell to the floor with a clatter, tumoring around. Amelia covered her mouth with one hand, startled. The maid hurried away, saying she would mop the floor and bring a new teacup.
“Please sign.”
But as soon as the maid left and the door closed, Amelia stood up. She took out a piece of paper she had hidden in a drawer and placed it on the table.
“It’s a pledge to let me escape safely when the work is done.”
“You did something you weren’t supposed to do.”
The Duke of Russell looked around quietly. Where the maid had left, only Amelia, the Duke of Russell, Aaron, and the shadowy Louis remained.
“Don’t I need some kind of guarantee that you won’t try to kill me?”
Amelia looked directly at the Duke of Russell and spoke. The Duke simply raised the corners of his mouth in a relaxed manner, despite Amelia's evasive behavior.
“Yes, that could be possible.”
And he nodded, as if he understood Amelia's anxiety. Louis glanced at him in disbelief.
“Please give me a pen.”
When Amelia handed him the pen, the Duke of Russell waved his hand without hesitation and signed the pledge.
"Do you feel safe now? If you give me what I want, I won't break my promise."
It seemed as if he was going to grant her whatever she wanted, in case Amelia suddenly became upset and refused to go through with the plan. Aaron didn't bother to stop the Duke of Russell.
"Great."
Amelia replied, carefully folding the oath signed by the Duke of Russell. Just then, a knock came on the door, and a maid asked permission to enter.
“Come in.”
As soon as permission was granted, two maids came in and mopped the wet floor with mops.
"I apologize for the inconvenience caused by my mistake. Since I've decided to leave with the guests, you don't need to prepare new teacups."
Meanwhile, Amelia casually hid the folded paper in a drawer. Aaron and the Duke of Russell followed Amelia's movements. The same was true of the last drawer she reached.
“Shall we just go out?”
Amelia must have felt the gaze, but she nodded toward the door as if she hadn't noticed.
“I will serve you.”
Aaron stepped forward, leaving Duke Russell and Louis behind. Amelia stared blankly at Aaron's outstretched hand, then calmly accepted his escort, as if she harbored no ill feelings.
“Ah, Louis.”
At Amelia's call, Louis's head snapped up. She looked startled, like someone who'd been interrupted while sharing a secret.
“Don’t forget to bring wine.”
“Yes, of course.”
Amelia pretended not to know her either.
Amelia blinked, her eyes hazy, momentarily unable to tell if it was a dream or reality, and reached out to Ivan. Even so, her whisper was small and fragile, as if she was determined not to let him know.
“Did you enjoy the outing?”
Ivan sat on the edge of the bed, holding Amelia's hand that was floating in the air.
“Except me?”
And then he asked. Amelia's eyelids, which were about to close, lifted, and her gaze turned to Ivan.
“I told you you couldn’t come.”
The question was, "Why was Ivan so upset when he was the one who said he couldn't come?" Ivan smiled briefly. Amelia's criticism was right.
“That’s right. But I still feel bad about you playing with the High Priest.”
Amelia blinked her eyes quickly several times and sat up.
"I wasn't hanging out with Aaron. He had something to give me, so he just gave it to me and left. You know how much I hate him..."
And she explained it clearly to Ivan. Her face, clearly wide awake, expressed her unwillingness to be misunderstood.
“I know, of course.”
“...”
“It was a joke.”
Far from being a joke, he wanted to tear Aaron's balls off for a multitude of reasons. But Ivan calmly concealed his feelings and grabbed a piece of Amelia's nightgown that had fallen below her shoulder.
“Now that the day is dawning, everything will begin and end...”
And he kissed her delicate neck, carefree and leisurely. As if branding her as his. As if sensing possessiveness in his breath, Amelia's body trembled slightly.
“I think I’ll be nervous.”
Ivan, who had whispered that, raised his head. Their eyes met. He grabbed her, as if to straighten her slipped pajamas, but all he actually did was run his thumb over her exposed skin. It was clearly a sexual gesture.
“Don’t worry. I’m fine.”
As Amelia spoke, she casually pushed Ivan's hand away. She then pulled the flowing clothes up over her shoulders. Ivan withdrew his hand without hesitation.
It was impossible to mix bodies at the crack of dawn. No, more precisely, there was no reason to. After today, there would be no reason to sneak around like a thief climbing over a widow's wall. It would only take one day, so there was no reason to resist.
“Really? Don’t you have any other thoughts?”
Ivan asked. Amelia paused for a moment, then met Ivan's gaze.
“I won’t do anything that betrays you again.”
Because she promised. Because Ian's life was at stake. Because today's revenge wasn't just Ivan's, it was Amelia's own. All of that meaning was encapsulated in a single word.
“I was asking if you weren’t scared. Because you were always anxious.”
The problem was that Ivan didn't want to ask that question.
"Ah."
Amelia sighed softly at Ivan's explanation. The face that had once displayed a firm resolve crumbled in an instant. However, she showed no shame at having stumbled.
“It’s not scary.”
“...”
“I’m scared, Ivan.”
She just quietly gave him the answer he wanted and showed a faint smile.
"But I have to do it. I'm not going to run away since I've decided to do it."
Ironically, that fragile smile seemed to Ivan to be another will. Something more intense and vivid than the mere, pointless cry of "I have to."
“Now I will be the goddess of victory, not a Priestess.”
Amelia chuckled at Ivan's praise. Meanwhile, Ivan reached out and wrapped his arms around Amelia's waist. He lifted her by her slender waist and placed her on his lap. Amelia's eyes widened in surprise.
“Kiss me.”
“...”
“You should share your energy with me, too.”
Ivan shamelessly demanded a kiss. Amelia stared at him blankly, then carefully placed both arms on his shoulders. Then she tilted her head toward his lips.
“...!”
The moment their lips touched, Ivan parted Amelia's and thrust into her. At the same time, like a prey waiting for its moment to strike, Ivan's arms tightened around Amelia's body, trying to quell any resistance.
There is no reason to rebel.
Amelia thought as she wrapped her arms around Ivan's neck. Their bodies naturally fell onto the bed, but they were so absorbed in each other that they didn't even notice the discomfort.
“No more than this...”
“I know, it won’t work.”
Ivan's lips, now detached, traced Amelia's jawline. Amelia shivered as he kissed her ear, jaw, and nape, but she didn't forget to stop him. Ivan, as if he hadn't lost his mind, whispered to Amelia several times that he knew.
“...”
Finally, Ivan broke the kiss and pulled away from Amelia's upper body. The comforting warmth and weight disappeared, leaving her with a strangely empty feeling. Amelia unconsciously grabbed Ivan's arm, as if to prevent him from moving away.
Then Ivan kissed her again. Amelia closed her eyes quietly. Just before the world went completely dark, she saw a faint ray of light cast over Ivan's shoulder.
Dawn was breaking.
***
"The Chancellor and the Duke of Russell have come to see you. They said they would like to see you briefly."
Not long after Ivan returned, daylight finally arrived. Amelia, nervous, pretended to wake up earlier than usual, shaking the rope to call someone, and finished getting ready early. After a while of resting, the Duke of Russell and Aaron came to visit.
“Tell them to come in.”
Amelia obediently let them in. It seemed like today was the biggest day of celebration for them all, so she needed to set the mood.
“I meet the Priestess.”
“Welcome.”
The Duke of Russell smiled at Amelia's calm greeting. He seemed to like her expression, which showed no signs of tension even before the event.
“You’re already ready. Have you had a good night’s sleep?”
“No. I’m a bit nervous, and the thought of leaving Ian behind keeps me up at night.”
“I came to see you to offer my condolences, as I thought you might be feeling that way.”
A look of genuine regret crossed the Duke of Russell's face. His ability to tell lies with sincerity in front of others was remarkable, rivaling even Ivan's. Had she known nothing about him, when Ivan demanded proof of the collusion between the temple and the nobles, he would have preferred death.
"It's only natural, since the Priestess is very affectionate. But where there are encounters, there are also partings."
The Duke of Russell shamelessly offered words of comfort to Amelia. Amelia nodded.
“It’s okay. Thinking about Ian, this is a much better thing.”
And then she picked up the teacup the maid had brought just in time. To be precise, her hand gave out just as she was about to pick it up, and she dropped it.
"Oh!"
The teacup fell to the floor with a clatter, tumoring around. Amelia covered her mouth with one hand, startled. The maid hurried away, saying she would mop the floor and bring a new teacup.
“Please sign.”
But as soon as the maid left and the door closed, Amelia stood up. She took out a piece of paper she had hidden in a drawer and placed it on the table.
“It’s a pledge to let me escape safely when the work is done.”
“You did something you weren’t supposed to do.”
The Duke of Russell looked around quietly. Where the maid had left, only Amelia, the Duke of Russell, Aaron, and the shadowy Louis remained.
“Don’t I need some kind of guarantee that you won’t try to kill me?”
Amelia looked directly at the Duke of Russell and spoke. The Duke simply raised the corners of his mouth in a relaxed manner, despite Amelia's evasive behavior.
“Yes, that could be possible.”
And he nodded, as if he understood Amelia's anxiety. Louis glanced at him in disbelief.
“Please give me a pen.”
When Amelia handed him the pen, the Duke of Russell waved his hand without hesitation and signed the pledge.
"Do you feel safe now? If you give me what I want, I won't break my promise."
It seemed as if he was going to grant her whatever she wanted, in case Amelia suddenly became upset and refused to go through with the plan. Aaron didn't bother to stop the Duke of Russell.
"Great."
Amelia replied, carefully folding the oath signed by the Duke of Russell. Just then, a knock came on the door, and a maid asked permission to enter.
“Come in.”
As soon as permission was granted, two maids came in and mopped the wet floor with mops.
"I apologize for the inconvenience caused by my mistake. Since I've decided to leave with the guests, you don't need to prepare new teacups."
Meanwhile, Amelia casually hid the folded paper in a drawer. Aaron and the Duke of Russell followed Amelia's movements. The same was true of the last drawer she reached.
“Shall we just go out?”
Amelia must have felt the gaze, but she nodded toward the door as if she hadn't noticed.
“I will serve you.”
Aaron stepped forward, leaving Duke Russell and Louis behind. Amelia stared blankly at Aaron's outstretched hand, then calmly accepted his escort, as if she harbored no ill feelings.
“Ah, Louis.”
At Amelia's call, Louis's head snapped up. She looked startled, like someone who'd been interrupted while sharing a secret.
“Don’t forget to bring wine.”
“Yes, of course.”
Amelia pretended not to know her either.
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