Rumors began to spread within the palace that Ivan, who had been teetering on the brink of death, had finally shaken himself awake. It was Rodan who spread the rumor, seeing that Ivan, unable to bear lying in bed like an invalid, seemed poised to storm out of his bedroom.
“It is fortunate that His Majesty is in good health.”
“That’s right, what would have happened if His Majesty had died according to that witch’s will?”
That little baby would become the Crown Prince, and the Duke of Russell would rise to power like an Emperor. The whispering grew louder. In the past, they had been wary of the Duke of Russell's influence, but now that he was imprisoned, they no longer had to worry about his mood.
“Oh, that woman...”
"Why is she out here? Look how much better she is. She just got out of prison, and she looks so shabby."
“Aren’t you going to do something like an interrogation?”
“But why did they bring her out?”
The maids huddled in a corner were wondering if such things were only done in prison.
“Come to think of it, what will happen to that baby?”
Then, they began to speculate about the safety of Ian, who had already become Crown Prince. Amelia pretended not to hear them and passed them by.
“I need an interrogation, so bring Amelia Escliff.”
Ivan had summoned Amelia under the pretext of a newspaper. Now, as per their agreement, it was time to tell the whole truth. The moment of regaining their freedom, however briefly, was approaching.
“Your Majesty, I have brought you a criminal.”
“Come in.”
Beyond the wide door, Ivan's voice was heard. As soon as he gave permission, the door opened from the inside.
“...”
Ivan watched Amelia enter. Her jawline seemed sharper than before, as if she had been truly ill.
“Sit down.”
Or maybe it was just his sensitivity. Either way, the guess seemed right. Amelia sat down in the chair she'd prepared and looked at Ivan.
“If you confess everything, I promise to make it as convenient as possible for you.”
“...”
“It will be taken into consideration in the trial as well.”
Ivan immediately proposed. It was as if he were desperate to somehow show Amelia some favor, since she would tell him the truth anyway. His intentions were so obvious that it was hard to ignore him.
“I will be honest with you all.”
It seemed he wanted to give her a peaceful life before she died. With that thought in mind, Amelia accepted Ivan's offer.
“Actually, I’m not Amelia Escliffe. I’m certainly not a Priestess with divine powers.”
“What does that mean?”
“I am telling you that all the sacred legends are fake.”
And she was the first to reveal that she was a fraud who had deceived the country.
"I had a mother when I was born, but she passed away when I was about sixteen. And that's how all the 'Amelias' we have today were born and then disappeared."
Amelia said calmly, "Perhaps they all died not of natural causes but of murder." A look of unconcealed contempt crossed Rodan's face as he recorded the entire story. It was directed at the Duke of Russell and the temple. It was also a kind of admiration for how, while they were discussing the world's most sublime values, they had done so many other things that were simply rubbish.
“What’s worse than that is...”
“...”
“It is something that Amelia is forced to do to continue that sacred legend.”
But throughout the grim tale, Amelia didn't seem particularly distressed. It was as if she'd been mulling it over for so long that it didn't even feel fresh.
"I, born Amelia, have a duty. To mate with a man I don't even know, to bear children, and to bring into the world children who look just like me."
It's said that at first, they covered their faces, but later, there was no need to hide them. The Escliffites didn't really recognize the Amelias, even though they looked slightly different. They simply recognized their black hair and dark eyes. They simply assumed that if they were Priestesses, they were Priestesses.
“The Russell family was using that to deceive the country with their own bloodline.”
Amelia stated that this incredibly sloppy play has endured for centuries for precisely this reason.
“Is there any evidence?”
Now, Rodan couldn't hide his disgust. The feeling he'd had when he'd just casually heard about Ivan was completely different from the one he'd felt when he'd witnessed the abuse inflicted on Amelia.
“The Duke of Russell and the High Priest say you are crazy and talking nonsense.”
“There is evidence.”
“...”
"The Duke of Russell is the true owner of the cursed land. And some are raised like livestock underground in the cursed land. If you don't believe me, just look there."
Amelia calmly mentioned the cursed land. Ivan ordered Rodan to send someone there.
“And I also have the diary left by the second Amelia. It also contains the oath in which the Duke of Russell promised to escape if she kept her word.”
Amelia said, "If he didn't care, he wouldn't have signed such a pledge."
“Aaron gave me the wine I offered to His Majesty.”
“...”
“Ordering to kill His Majesty.”
It seemed as if she could not stand to see those involved in this matter try to escape the charges they had created.
The prison had changed. It was a stark contrast to the filthy, cramped, and damp place Amelia had spent the past few days in. Amelia quietly surveyed the dazzling prison.
“You have told me everything honestly, so I will provide you with the convenience I promised.”
She just assumed she'd be treated better, not that they'd give her her old bedroom. They say the room is surrounded by layers of knights under the guise of surveillance, but this isn't just a convenience.
“Useless.”
Amelia let out a low sigh. Clean clothes were placed on the table in front of the bathroom, as if to tell her to change. Except for the apron, they were plain, like the kind worn by maids, but for Amelia, they were enough. That was probably the extent of what Ivan could offer without worrying about what others thought.
Amelia entered the bathroom, carrying a change of clothes. She took off her clothes, soiled by the dust and humidity of the prison, and soaked in the prepared bathtub. The sound of "room" followed. Sitting comfortably in the solitary space for a while, she felt tired, even though she knew it wasn't the right time.
Amelia paused as she rubbed her body, pouring warm water over her shoulders, until she heard the sound of a child's laughter outside the window.
“...”
The only child's laughter heard in the palace was Ian's. Amelia instinctively remembered this fact and jumped out of the bathtub. She quickly dried herself with a dry towel, hurriedly changed clothes, and left the bathroom.
And she looked outside, clinging to the window where the noise had come from. Ian was squirming in Mrs. Howard's arms, perhaps out for a walk.
“You must be excited. You’re cute too.”
Mrs. Howard patted Ian's cheek and kissed him. Ian smiled, satisfied with the affection shown by Mrs. Howard, who was as old as his grandmother.
“...”
Mrs. Howard raised her head. Unable to avoid it, their eyes met. It seemed she already knew Amelia was headed that way. She smiled and nodded toward Amelia.
Amelia also quietly bowed to Mrs. Howard. Then, as if to show off to Amelia, she observed Ian enjoying a picnic under the tree. Watching her son, who seemed to have grown so much in just a few days, filled her with a pang of affection.
“...Ivan.”
That was until a gloomy man appeared in the window. Amelia wasn't surprised by the silent appearance of the man. Ivan had already mentioned that secret passages stretched everywhere, so she had assumed he might appear here as well. He must have given her a room connected to the other room.
“Rodan said your life was strange.”
Ivan's face, reflected through the window, was slightly blurred, but Amelia didn't turn toward him.
“Other people will think so too.”
In fact, Amelia didn't have the energy to read his expression right now. She just wanted to see Ian's face one more time, feeling fine with everything. That was all.
"If you change your mind even now, I'll be more than happy to help. I just need to fan the flames a little."
Ivan took a step closer and spoke. It seemed as if she had left Ian to suffer for several days, only to show her playing outside the building, to convince Amelia at that very moment.
“It’s hard.”
It was true that her body was tired from staying in that hard, dirty space. She wasn't used to it.
“It’s okay. You don’t have to do that.”
But it wasn't something that was unbearable.
“Is it because I didn’t promise you the position of Empress?”
What was truly unbearable was the moment when Ivan said something she didn't understand.
"What's the point of talking about something like that if you're not even going to give it to me? Even if I do take it, I'll probably be accused of stealing something that belongs to someone else."
Amelia looked away from the child in front of her, turned to Ivan, and whispered gently.
"I'm finally free. I love this moment, free from other people's names, free from fake roles, and free from a name, existing solely as myself."
He is the creator who built her own new life,
“And, Ivan I...”
“...”
“I love you, but I hate the times I suffered because of you.”
At the same time, he is a destroyer who destroys souls.
"I don't want to be a shadow again. I don't want to be tormented by you, who makes me feel insignificant and insecure every moment."
That this separation must be inevitable.
“It is fortunate that His Majesty is in good health.”
“That’s right, what would have happened if His Majesty had died according to that witch’s will?”
That little baby would become the Crown Prince, and the Duke of Russell would rise to power like an Emperor. The whispering grew louder. In the past, they had been wary of the Duke of Russell's influence, but now that he was imprisoned, they no longer had to worry about his mood.
“Oh, that woman...”
"Why is she out here? Look how much better she is. She just got out of prison, and she looks so shabby."
“Aren’t you going to do something like an interrogation?”
“But why did they bring her out?”
The maids huddled in a corner were wondering if such things were only done in prison.
“Come to think of it, what will happen to that baby?”
Then, they began to speculate about the safety of Ian, who had already become Crown Prince. Amelia pretended not to hear them and passed them by.
“I need an interrogation, so bring Amelia Escliff.”
Ivan had summoned Amelia under the pretext of a newspaper. Now, as per their agreement, it was time to tell the whole truth. The moment of regaining their freedom, however briefly, was approaching.
“Your Majesty, I have brought you a criminal.”
“Come in.”
Beyond the wide door, Ivan's voice was heard. As soon as he gave permission, the door opened from the inside.
“...”
Ivan watched Amelia enter. Her jawline seemed sharper than before, as if she had been truly ill.
“Sit down.”
Or maybe it was just his sensitivity. Either way, the guess seemed right. Amelia sat down in the chair she'd prepared and looked at Ivan.
“If you confess everything, I promise to make it as convenient as possible for you.”
“...”
“It will be taken into consideration in the trial as well.”
Ivan immediately proposed. It was as if he were desperate to somehow show Amelia some favor, since she would tell him the truth anyway. His intentions were so obvious that it was hard to ignore him.
“I will be honest with you all.”
It seemed he wanted to give her a peaceful life before she died. With that thought in mind, Amelia accepted Ivan's offer.
“Actually, I’m not Amelia Escliffe. I’m certainly not a Priestess with divine powers.”
“What does that mean?”
“I am telling you that all the sacred legends are fake.”
And she was the first to reveal that she was a fraud who had deceived the country.
"I had a mother when I was born, but she passed away when I was about sixteen. And that's how all the 'Amelias' we have today were born and then disappeared."
Amelia said calmly, "Perhaps they all died not of natural causes but of murder." A look of unconcealed contempt crossed Rodan's face as he recorded the entire story. It was directed at the Duke of Russell and the temple. It was also a kind of admiration for how, while they were discussing the world's most sublime values, they had done so many other things that were simply rubbish.
“What’s worse than that is...”
“...”
“It is something that Amelia is forced to do to continue that sacred legend.”
But throughout the grim tale, Amelia didn't seem particularly distressed. It was as if she'd been mulling it over for so long that it didn't even feel fresh.
"I, born Amelia, have a duty. To mate with a man I don't even know, to bear children, and to bring into the world children who look just like me."
It's said that at first, they covered their faces, but later, there was no need to hide them. The Escliffites didn't really recognize the Amelias, even though they looked slightly different. They simply recognized their black hair and dark eyes. They simply assumed that if they were Priestesses, they were Priestesses.
“The Russell family was using that to deceive the country with their own bloodline.”
Amelia stated that this incredibly sloppy play has endured for centuries for precisely this reason.
“Is there any evidence?”
Now, Rodan couldn't hide his disgust. The feeling he'd had when he'd just casually heard about Ivan was completely different from the one he'd felt when he'd witnessed the abuse inflicted on Amelia.
“The Duke of Russell and the High Priest say you are crazy and talking nonsense.”
“There is evidence.”
“...”
"The Duke of Russell is the true owner of the cursed land. And some are raised like livestock underground in the cursed land. If you don't believe me, just look there."
Amelia calmly mentioned the cursed land. Ivan ordered Rodan to send someone there.
“And I also have the diary left by the second Amelia. It also contains the oath in which the Duke of Russell promised to escape if she kept her word.”
Amelia said, "If he didn't care, he wouldn't have signed such a pledge."
“Aaron gave me the wine I offered to His Majesty.”
“...”
“Ordering to kill His Majesty.”
It seemed as if she could not stand to see those involved in this matter try to escape the charges they had created.
***
The prison had changed. It was a stark contrast to the filthy, cramped, and damp place Amelia had spent the past few days in. Amelia quietly surveyed the dazzling prison.
“You have told me everything honestly, so I will provide you with the convenience I promised.”
She just assumed she'd be treated better, not that they'd give her her old bedroom. They say the room is surrounded by layers of knights under the guise of surveillance, but this isn't just a convenience.
“Useless.”
Amelia let out a low sigh. Clean clothes were placed on the table in front of the bathroom, as if to tell her to change. Except for the apron, they were plain, like the kind worn by maids, but for Amelia, they were enough. That was probably the extent of what Ivan could offer without worrying about what others thought.
Amelia entered the bathroom, carrying a change of clothes. She took off her clothes, soiled by the dust and humidity of the prison, and soaked in the prepared bathtub. The sound of "room" followed. Sitting comfortably in the solitary space for a while, she felt tired, even though she knew it wasn't the right time.
Amelia paused as she rubbed her body, pouring warm water over her shoulders, until she heard the sound of a child's laughter outside the window.
“...”
The only child's laughter heard in the palace was Ian's. Amelia instinctively remembered this fact and jumped out of the bathtub. She quickly dried herself with a dry towel, hurriedly changed clothes, and left the bathroom.
And she looked outside, clinging to the window where the noise had come from. Ian was squirming in Mrs. Howard's arms, perhaps out for a walk.
“You must be excited. You’re cute too.”
Mrs. Howard patted Ian's cheek and kissed him. Ian smiled, satisfied with the affection shown by Mrs. Howard, who was as old as his grandmother.
“...”
Mrs. Howard raised her head. Unable to avoid it, their eyes met. It seemed she already knew Amelia was headed that way. She smiled and nodded toward Amelia.
Amelia also quietly bowed to Mrs. Howard. Then, as if to show off to Amelia, she observed Ian enjoying a picnic under the tree. Watching her son, who seemed to have grown so much in just a few days, filled her with a pang of affection.
“...Ivan.”
That was until a gloomy man appeared in the window. Amelia wasn't surprised by the silent appearance of the man. Ivan had already mentioned that secret passages stretched everywhere, so she had assumed he might appear here as well. He must have given her a room connected to the other room.
“Rodan said your life was strange.”
Ivan's face, reflected through the window, was slightly blurred, but Amelia didn't turn toward him.
“Other people will think so too.”
In fact, Amelia didn't have the energy to read his expression right now. She just wanted to see Ian's face one more time, feeling fine with everything. That was all.
"If you change your mind even now, I'll be more than happy to help. I just need to fan the flames a little."
Ivan took a step closer and spoke. It seemed as if she had left Ian to suffer for several days, only to show her playing outside the building, to convince Amelia at that very moment.
“It’s hard.”
It was true that her body was tired from staying in that hard, dirty space. She wasn't used to it.
“It’s okay. You don’t have to do that.”
But it wasn't something that was unbearable.
“Is it because I didn’t promise you the position of Empress?”
What was truly unbearable was the moment when Ivan said something she didn't understand.
"What's the point of talking about something like that if you're not even going to give it to me? Even if I do take it, I'll probably be accused of stealing something that belongs to someone else."
Amelia looked away from the child in front of her, turned to Ivan, and whispered gently.
"I'm finally free. I love this moment, free from other people's names, free from fake roles, and free from a name, existing solely as myself."
He is the creator who built her own new life,
“And, Ivan I...”
“...”
“I love you, but I hate the times I suffered because of you.”
At the same time, he is a destroyer who destroys souls.
"I don't want to be a shadow again. I don't want to be tormented by you, who makes me feel insignificant and insecure every moment."
That this separation must be inevitable.
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