The sudden collapse of the Emperor sent a chilling shiver through the banquet hall. No one dared even ask the common question of what was happening. They simply assumed Ivan was drunk. After all, a Priestess wouldn't harm the Emperor in front of everyone.
In fact, it would be more accurate to say that they had hoped for that. The Emperor's assassination, for example, would complicate matters and throw the country into chaos, a terrible thing for everyone.
"...Your Majesty?"
But the moment Rodan noticed the Duke of Russell's sinister smile, he seemed to sense that Ivan wasn't simply drunk and unable to control himself. As Rodan approached Ivan, Amelia turned to face the others, who were staring at her with confused eyes.
“It was God’s true will to kill the Emperor.”
And then she declared. The room froze completely. Amelia had practically declared herself the one who had killed him.
"He always disobeyed God's will and treated Ian with disdain. He welcomed his wife, saw his children, and was filled with thoughts of driving Ian out."
It was said that Ivan had angered God with his false faith and false obedience and was thus punished. As God's agent, she conveyed His will to the world and punished unbelievers.
"God said He cannot be with such a wicked man. Decide here whether you will stand with God or dare to turn your back on him."
The face that said, "You only get one chance," was smiling charmingly.
"There's no need to worry about status or lineage. Ian, the new Crown Prince of Escliffe, is the Emperor's..."
She wanted to make it seem like the face of a woman who had previously shown all her goodness and elegance was seething with destructive desire and joy.
“What are you doing! You’re not killing the witch who claims to be God’s agent and plots to assassinate the Emperor and plot against the people!”
“How dare you call me a witch! What do you know!”
Everyone was rolling their eyes in confusion when the furious voice of Count Clark shook the banquet hall. Amelia sharply retorted. Several knights in the hall drew their swords and pointed them at the wicked witch.
“Anyway, Ian is the Emperor’s only biological son!”
“Whoa!”
But all he met from the knights who raised their swords for Ivan was a blade slashing across his back. The imperial knights are turning their backs on the Emperor. Blood flowed helplessly before the unbelievable betrayal of his comrades. Amelia curled her fingers into her sweaty palms.
Unable to bear the sight of the scene, Count Clark snatched the fallen knight's sword and grasped it in his hand. Without a moment's hesitation, he strode briskly toward Amelia. Amelia, involuntarily, flinched and took a step back.
“Stop Count Clark!”
Upon discovering this, Duke Russell shouted, as if in a scolding tone. He seemed to be saying that since Amelia hadn't finished speaking yet, he couldn't let her be captured. His judgment was correct. The truth about Ian being Ivan's biological son hadn't yet been revealed. Nor had there been a confession that she'd lost her divine powers while being forced by Ivan to give birth to his child.
That is the only justification for this rebellion.
Amelia had no intention of bringing up the topic of abdication or anything like that to the Duke of Russell, but it was an impossible task for him. The Duke of Russell, his face flushed with blood, ordered again. Those who pretended to be royal knights, but were in fact mere private soldiers, hurried to block Margrave Clarke's path.
“Bring the royal doctor! Arrest all the traitors and put them in prison!”
Rodan, half-hugging Ivan, who was now listless, hurled a glass at the wall and shouted. "Bang!" The glass Rodan had thrown hit the wall, bounced off, and rolled across the floor with a clatter. As if on cue, the side door burst open and people poured in.
“Purchase the private soldiers of the nobles disguised as knights!”
They were the Emperor's knights. With their numerical superiority, they quickly subdued the rebellious commoners and forced them to their knees. They then gradually drew closer, their swords pointed at the Duke of Russell and Aaron. Everything was seamlessly prepared, as if they had anticipated such rebellion.
“...Amelia.”
If he hadn't known everything in advance, he wouldn't have been blocked like this with no way out.
Aaron, who belatedly realized this, turned his gaze to Amelia. Amelia didn't run away, even though she felt his gaze. She didn't say anything about a misunderstanding or that she'd done it at the Duke of Russell's behest. She simply remained silent and stood her ground. She simply hoped someone would come and clean up this mess and drag her off to prison.
“...”
Aaron didn't miss even that fleeting glimpse of her true nature. As expected from a pervert who'd spent his entire life closely observing Amelia's every move, he could tell what she was thinking just by looking at her expressionless face.
“Du, the Duke of Russell, ordered it!”
If you look at me like that, do you think I'll be so scared I won't know what to do? Do you think I'll just tuck my tail in and run away like a terrified dog?
Amelia, hiding behind her escort Harry, her expression instantly changed to one of fright. Then, she began to retreat, her steps hesitant, as if fleeing. Her eyes, wet with tears, were pitiful, like those of a woman, frightened and helpless.
“He said if I killed the Emperor, he would give me freedom!”
Before she knew it, Amelia was practically on the floor, clutching Harry's cloak. She knew better than anyone that such a feeble act of defiance would never escape the knights' clutches, but she knew that this level of pretense would suffice.
“I’ve been locked up my whole life! If I don’t pretend to be a Priestess, he’ll kill me...!”
Amelia's current intention wasn't to truly kill Ivan. Nor was it to immediately decapitate the Duke of Russell and Aaron. She wanted to shift the blame to them and expose their truth. She was faking it, holding fast to the ground.
How dare you? Aaron, watching the absurd performance, twisted his lips into a smile.
“Duke Russell and Aaron said they were going to kill me!”
Since when had she been holding hands with the Emperor? Could the Emperor, who now appears unconscious, really be dead? Was she planning to defeat him and become the Emperor's mate?
The thoughts he spoke were so good, as if the voices of his heart were visible to his eyes. And Aaron felt a pang of anger just thinking about them. He could tell by the forceful bulge in his chin.
He helped Amelia only to help her get revenge, not to help her love.
“Kill her.”
Aaron seemed consumed by unbearable rage and the humiliation of being manipulated by Amelia. He ordered Harry, who met his gaze, to kill Amelia. He ordered him to destroy that object immediately. Amelia, who watched Aaron being dragged away by the knight's hands, saw it too.
“..”
Amelia quietly raised her head and stared at Harry. Harry, who had been spreading his arms wide to protect her, rolled his eyes in confusion before looking down at Amelia, who had collapsed on the floor. Their eyes met.
A delicate body that could kill with a single swing of an arm. What could be so difficult about killing her? Besides, Harry's true master wasn't Amelia. Harry raised his hand with a blank expression. The blade flew towards Amelia's neck. There was no hesitation.
“Whoa!”
Amelia screamed, clutching her head with both arms. At the same time, the sword aimed at her was pushed back with such force that it tumbled to the ground. The expressionless knight plunged the sharp tip of his sword into Harry's shoulder. His fluid, flowing movements showed no hesitation or mercy.
“Catch and lock up this interest.”
Amelia stared blankly at Harry's sword as it fell to the floor, then at the face of the one who had saved her. He was the Emperor's knight. Ivan must have given him other orders. Otherwise, he wouldn't have tried to protect Amelia, even if she died a violent death.
“I will take this woman away.”
Ivan had saved Amelia's life as ordered, but that was all. Even so, Amelia was merely a murderer who had threatened Ivan's life. Therefore, he decided that further punishment would be left to Ivan, and he pulled Amelia to her feet with one hand.
Amelia, staggering to her feet under the force, followed him with a blank expression. She glanced around. Inside the banquet hall, a mess of broken objects and blood, the nobles huddled in a corner, their eyes fixed on the forces of treason, being swiftly swept away like livestock.
“...”
Amelia herself was being dragged along like livestock, so speaking as if she were a third party felt somewhat comical. Amelia smiled quietly and looked up at Ivan.
“How is His Majesty?”
Clark, who had rushed through the confusion, asked about Ivan's health.
“His Majesty...”
Rodan's eyes moved quietly toward Amelia. Though she couldn't hear his voice, his calmness alone told her Ivan was safe.
The play was a complete success.
Amelia turned her head, thinking that. Perhaps because the atmosphere was so tense, Ian, who hadn't cried the entire time, finally burst into tears.
In fact, it would be more accurate to say that they had hoped for that. The Emperor's assassination, for example, would complicate matters and throw the country into chaos, a terrible thing for everyone.
"...Your Majesty?"
But the moment Rodan noticed the Duke of Russell's sinister smile, he seemed to sense that Ivan wasn't simply drunk and unable to control himself. As Rodan approached Ivan, Amelia turned to face the others, who were staring at her with confused eyes.
“It was God’s true will to kill the Emperor.”
And then she declared. The room froze completely. Amelia had practically declared herself the one who had killed him.
"He always disobeyed God's will and treated Ian with disdain. He welcomed his wife, saw his children, and was filled with thoughts of driving Ian out."
It was said that Ivan had angered God with his false faith and false obedience and was thus punished. As God's agent, she conveyed His will to the world and punished unbelievers.
"God said He cannot be with such a wicked man. Decide here whether you will stand with God or dare to turn your back on him."
The face that said, "You only get one chance," was smiling charmingly.
"There's no need to worry about status or lineage. Ian, the new Crown Prince of Escliffe, is the Emperor's..."
She wanted to make it seem like the face of a woman who had previously shown all her goodness and elegance was seething with destructive desire and joy.
“What are you doing! You’re not killing the witch who claims to be God’s agent and plots to assassinate the Emperor and plot against the people!”
“How dare you call me a witch! What do you know!”
Everyone was rolling their eyes in confusion when the furious voice of Count Clark shook the banquet hall. Amelia sharply retorted. Several knights in the hall drew their swords and pointed them at the wicked witch.
“Anyway, Ian is the Emperor’s only biological son!”
“Whoa!”
But all he met from the knights who raised their swords for Ivan was a blade slashing across his back. The imperial knights are turning their backs on the Emperor. Blood flowed helplessly before the unbelievable betrayal of his comrades. Amelia curled her fingers into her sweaty palms.
Unable to bear the sight of the scene, Count Clark snatched the fallen knight's sword and grasped it in his hand. Without a moment's hesitation, he strode briskly toward Amelia. Amelia, involuntarily, flinched and took a step back.
“Stop Count Clark!”
Upon discovering this, Duke Russell shouted, as if in a scolding tone. He seemed to be saying that since Amelia hadn't finished speaking yet, he couldn't let her be captured. His judgment was correct. The truth about Ian being Ivan's biological son hadn't yet been revealed. Nor had there been a confession that she'd lost her divine powers while being forced by Ivan to give birth to his child.
That is the only justification for this rebellion.
Amelia had no intention of bringing up the topic of abdication or anything like that to the Duke of Russell, but it was an impossible task for him. The Duke of Russell, his face flushed with blood, ordered again. Those who pretended to be royal knights, but were in fact mere private soldiers, hurried to block Margrave Clarke's path.
“Bring the royal doctor! Arrest all the traitors and put them in prison!”
Rodan, half-hugging Ivan, who was now listless, hurled a glass at the wall and shouted. "Bang!" The glass Rodan had thrown hit the wall, bounced off, and rolled across the floor with a clatter. As if on cue, the side door burst open and people poured in.
“Purchase the private soldiers of the nobles disguised as knights!”
They were the Emperor's knights. With their numerical superiority, they quickly subdued the rebellious commoners and forced them to their knees. They then gradually drew closer, their swords pointed at the Duke of Russell and Aaron. Everything was seamlessly prepared, as if they had anticipated such rebellion.
“...Amelia.”
If he hadn't known everything in advance, he wouldn't have been blocked like this with no way out.
Aaron, who belatedly realized this, turned his gaze to Amelia. Amelia didn't run away, even though she felt his gaze. She didn't say anything about a misunderstanding or that she'd done it at the Duke of Russell's behest. She simply remained silent and stood her ground. She simply hoped someone would come and clean up this mess and drag her off to prison.
“...”
Aaron didn't miss even that fleeting glimpse of her true nature. As expected from a pervert who'd spent his entire life closely observing Amelia's every move, he could tell what she was thinking just by looking at her expressionless face.
“Du, the Duke of Russell, ordered it!”
If you look at me like that, do you think I'll be so scared I won't know what to do? Do you think I'll just tuck my tail in and run away like a terrified dog?
Amelia, hiding behind her escort Harry, her expression instantly changed to one of fright. Then, she began to retreat, her steps hesitant, as if fleeing. Her eyes, wet with tears, were pitiful, like those of a woman, frightened and helpless.
“He said if I killed the Emperor, he would give me freedom!”
Before she knew it, Amelia was practically on the floor, clutching Harry's cloak. She knew better than anyone that such a feeble act of defiance would never escape the knights' clutches, but she knew that this level of pretense would suffice.
“I’ve been locked up my whole life! If I don’t pretend to be a Priestess, he’ll kill me...!”
Amelia's current intention wasn't to truly kill Ivan. Nor was it to immediately decapitate the Duke of Russell and Aaron. She wanted to shift the blame to them and expose their truth. She was faking it, holding fast to the ground.
How dare you? Aaron, watching the absurd performance, twisted his lips into a smile.
“Duke Russell and Aaron said they were going to kill me!”
Since when had she been holding hands with the Emperor? Could the Emperor, who now appears unconscious, really be dead? Was she planning to defeat him and become the Emperor's mate?
The thoughts he spoke were so good, as if the voices of his heart were visible to his eyes. And Aaron felt a pang of anger just thinking about them. He could tell by the forceful bulge in his chin.
He helped Amelia only to help her get revenge, not to help her love.
“Kill her.”
Aaron seemed consumed by unbearable rage and the humiliation of being manipulated by Amelia. He ordered Harry, who met his gaze, to kill Amelia. He ordered him to destroy that object immediately. Amelia, who watched Aaron being dragged away by the knight's hands, saw it too.
“..”
Amelia quietly raised her head and stared at Harry. Harry, who had been spreading his arms wide to protect her, rolled his eyes in confusion before looking down at Amelia, who had collapsed on the floor. Their eyes met.
A delicate body that could kill with a single swing of an arm. What could be so difficult about killing her? Besides, Harry's true master wasn't Amelia. Harry raised his hand with a blank expression. The blade flew towards Amelia's neck. There was no hesitation.
“Whoa!”
Amelia screamed, clutching her head with both arms. At the same time, the sword aimed at her was pushed back with such force that it tumbled to the ground. The expressionless knight plunged the sharp tip of his sword into Harry's shoulder. His fluid, flowing movements showed no hesitation or mercy.
“Catch and lock up this interest.”
Amelia stared blankly at Harry's sword as it fell to the floor, then at the face of the one who had saved her. He was the Emperor's knight. Ivan must have given him other orders. Otherwise, he wouldn't have tried to protect Amelia, even if she died a violent death.
“I will take this woman away.”
Ivan had saved Amelia's life as ordered, but that was all. Even so, Amelia was merely a murderer who had threatened Ivan's life. Therefore, he decided that further punishment would be left to Ivan, and he pulled Amelia to her feet with one hand.
Amelia, staggering to her feet under the force, followed him with a blank expression. She glanced around. Inside the banquet hall, a mess of broken objects and blood, the nobles huddled in a corner, their eyes fixed on the forces of treason, being swiftly swept away like livestock.
“...”
Amelia herself was being dragged along like livestock, so speaking as if she were a third party felt somewhat comical. Amelia smiled quietly and looked up at Ivan.
“How is His Majesty?”
Clark, who had rushed through the confusion, asked about Ivan's health.
“His Majesty...”
Rodan's eyes moved quietly toward Amelia. Though she couldn't hear his voice, his calmness alone told her Ivan was safe.
The play was a complete success.
Amelia turned her head, thinking that. Perhaps because the atmosphere was so tense, Ian, who hadn't cried the entire time, finally burst into tears.
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