“I will take care of it myself.”
Amelia had just closed the bedroom door and left. Rodan, who had been waiting in the hallway, handed Amelia a robe to cover herself. Amelia quickly put it on and tied the string under her chin.
“I'm going.”
Amelia had just closed the bedroom door and left. Rodan, who had been waiting in the hallway, handed Amelia a robe to cover herself. Amelia quickly put it on and tied the string under her chin.
“I'm going.”
At Amelia's words, Rodan nodded once and began to lead the way. Amelia briefly glanced around the still-dark hallway, devoid of any servants, before following Rodan.
"You'll leave with those found underground. Even one person with black hair and black eyes might arouse suspicion."
Even before dawn, the palace was still immersed in a deep sleep. Aside from the guards, no servants passed by, so there was no need to be concerned.
"They..."
“It’s already arrived.”
As Rodan spoke, he opened the door of a plain carriage with no markings on one side. It seemed he had chosen this method to avoid being noticed, as he couldn't possibly carry Amelia on horseback.
“I know it might be uncomfortable, but please bear with me for a moment. I need to make it appear to the outside world that I'm the one riding.”
As Amelia climbed into the carriage, Rodan followed. Amelia nodded in response.
“Your Majesty, have you not been caught?”
As the carriage wheels began to rattle and roll, Rodan asked a question.
“He didn't hold on.”
Amelia answered calmly. It was the truth. Ivan never once asked Amelia if she could stay.
“That’s because you’re so sincere.”
Rodan explained, as if to make sure Ivan didn't misunderstand his sincerity. If he truly didn't love her, he wouldn't have let her go like this. So, don't feel betrayed by the fact that he didn't hold on to her.
“I know that too.”
Rodan nodded with an embarrassed expression at Amelia's answer. Amelia was kind to Ivan, but not so gentle to Rodan.
“When will Miss Jane Clarke and Ivan get married?”
It was just beginning to dawn. Amelia opened the black curtains beyond the window and stared blankly at the crimson light seeping in.
“Well, it’s really difficult for me to answer that question, because it’s not something I’m qualified to answer...”
Rodan answered with a sigh.
“If I could answer not as a mere subject, but as someone I have known for a long time.”
“...”
“He will not get married.”
There was not a trace of falsehood in Rodan's gaze as he gazed at Amelia. He, like Ivan, was not accustomed to telling lies.
“Even if I leave?”
"As you know, His Majesty is a man who likes what he likes and dislikes what he dislikes. Now that he knows his own heart, he will not be able to make a decision that goes against it."
In any case, Ian had already been declared the heir. Those who had hidden their heads like turtles, fearing Ivan's sword might be pointed at them, had no reason to pressure or threaten Ivan. In such circumstances, Ivan had no need to bring in an Empress to see his children.
“I’m sure he doesn’t want His Highness the Crown Prince’s safety to be compromised.”
Rodan calmly explained Ivan's feelings. His explanation was so detailed, as if he had glimpsed into his own mind.
“We’ve arrived.”
Rodan muttered as he looked out the window. He could see the port, now approaching.
“But even so, I can’t become his wife.”
Just as he was preparing to disembark, Amelia's small voice caught Rodan's attention.
“I’ve already become a sinner, and the best thing to do now is to just run away.”
“...”
"Staying by his side won't change anything, so I can't say I'll stay. It'll only tarnish the royal family's barely restored honor."
The whispering voice was all right.
"You're right."
So Rodan didn't deny Amelia's words. He didn't want to give her false hope as he was leaving. A look of hurt flashed across Amelia's pitch-black eyes.
“Please get off.”
The carriage stopped. Rodan got out first and extended his hand to Amelia. Amelia stepped onto the pedestal and placed her feet on the floor.
“...”
Lure Chandler, hanging from the bow, lifted the black cloth. Then, a statue depicting the royal seal gleamed brilliantly in the dawn light.
“The sun will rise soon. Come aboard.”
Rodan suggested. Amelia followed his guidance and stepped onto the bridge connecting the ship and the land.
“Please take good care of Ian.”
“...”
"Ivan will probably take good care of him, but I hope you'll keep an eye on him so he doesn't get hurt. He's a man who uses his body recklessly."
After taking a couple of steps, Amelia turned and spoke to Rodan. Rodan paused at the unexpected words.
“His Majesty did not intervene either, so I dare not speak further.”
"The troubles you experienced in the carriage are for His Majesty to consider and endure. There's no need for them to be your pain."
Rodan wasn't sure if telling Amelia was the right thing to do, but the thought that Ivan would want it made Rodan's mouth move.
"Above all, when you return, everything will be different. As of today, the name Amelia Escliffe will be completely erased from this land."
“...”
“When you return, you will no longer be Amelia Escliff, so nothing will matter.”
***
She couldn't tell how much time had passed. Amelia opened her eyes and gazed out at the vast horizon. She always looked at the sea like that when she was deep in thought.
“You can leave tomorrow morning.”
Every time she recalls the voice of the man who told her to leave on that last night. Every time she thinks of Ian sleeping soundly. And every time Rodan's last words disturb her mind.
As he told Rodan, Ivan never caught Amelia.
“Aren’t you planning on catching me?”
Instead, Amelia asked him a question. Ivan remained silent for a moment, gazing out at the night-frozen sky above the sunset.
"I."
Ivan finally opened his mouth after a long moment. His expressionless face was contrasted with his somewhat subdued voice.
“If I tell you not to go, you won’t go?”
It was a voice barely scraped together, unable to form words. That alone was enough to read his mind. It wasn't because he didn't care whether Amelia left or not.
“Yeah. You haven’t taken revenge on me yet.”
Rather than seeing her die and never see her again, or seeing her suffer for the rest of her life, he'd rather be certain she's living peacefully somewhere. That's what the forced smile on his face said.
“Do you really love me?”
Still, Amelia couldn't believe it. This man had deceived her countless times. The moments when he had deceived and deceived her were deeply ingrained in Amelia's heart, like a deep scar.
“Since when?”
“Probably from the beginning.”
Then Ivan took hold of one of Amelia's hands, kissed the tip of her finger, and answered.
“The moment we first met, the moment I saw these eyes.”
"I went to kill you, but I couldn't because I was captivated by you at that moment," Ivan said. His blue eyes, staring directly at Amelia, held no wavering.
“Should I not go?”
"Huh."
"No."
"Yes."
Even when Amelia teasingly changed her tone, Ivan remained calm. As if he was content to make Amelia feel at ease and at least a little more comfortable. As if he wanted her to know that the affection she had given him in the past wasn't something wasted and worthless.
“Then why don’t you wait your whole life?”
"Huh."
So Amelia said that. She hadn't even said she would return, but Ivan smiled as if he were saying yes.
And then, after staying up late, she finally realized he had fallen asleep. Amelia, who hadn't been able to sleep at all, felt his presence.
Fearing that she wouldn't be able to leave if she met Ivan's eyes, she decided to leave while he was asleep. Amelia stared at his weary face for a long time. After days of resentment and tears, she found comfort in his arms. She knew it was the best apology he could convey within the allotted time.
She remembers touching Ivan's face just before leaving. From his thick eyebrows to his prominent forehead and nose, to his sharp jawline. He was a handsome man, but his masculine features were distinctly different from those of a woman. Thanks to this, it was easy to imagine what Ian would look like when he grew up. Amelia smiled a little.
She couldn't deny it. Even though she said she hated Ivan, she liked how much Ian resembled him.
"I love you."
In any case, he was a man who ultimately acknowledged and humbly accepted his love for her. He was also someone who chose to let her go rather than force her to death. That's why Amelia decided to believe Ivan's confession of love.
That was the difference between Ivan and Aaron. Aaron would destroy her forever if he couldn't have her, but Ivan chose to let her go for the sake of Amelia's life, even if he couldn't have her.
“...”
She left that man behind. She knew from the moment he said he would let her go that his heart was filled with love.
“I can see the land!”
The sun seemed to peek over the horizon, and soon the sky began to brighten. A gentle breeze gently swayed her hair and the hem of her clothes. Amelia made up her mind the moment she saw the land revealed beneath the sun's rays.
“When you return, you will no longer be Amelia Escliff, so nothing will matter.”
Let's go back. To the man I can't abandon.
And to the one I love.
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