Chapter 1.2

Chapter 1.2

“The surname attached to it belongs to the Imperial Family.”

Amelia Escliffe. The woman revered as the Priestess shared the Imperial Family’s surname despite not being of royal blood.

“That name itself, you couldn’t have if you weren’t the Priestess.”

His words were true. Black eyes and black hair were merely those of an outsider in this land.

“If, as you say, you are not the Priestess,”

“……”

“Then everything about you is a lie. You don’t even deserve the name Amelia.”

Aaron spoke mockingly. By no means was this the demeanor of a priest serving the gods’ proxy.

“Isn’t that right?”

His accusatory tone, dredging up facts she tried to forget, was quite sharp. Amelia hid her trembling hands within her sleeves.

“Then who are you?”

Aaron asked. Amelia lowered her gaze in silence, unable to offer any reply.

“Are you feeling calmer now?”

Aaron keenly sensed that Amelia’s spirit had been broken. He donned his smiling face once more. The man’s smiling eyes sent shivers down her spine.

“Hurry and change your clothes, then proceed to the Prayer Room.”

Aaron commanded leisurely.

“No.”

However, Amelia’s stubbornness was equally formidable.

“Shall I have you change by force?”

Aaron’s smile vanished. Amelia’s eyes flickered slightly as she faced the man’s expressionless face.

“High Priest!”

Just then, a priest ran up, breathless, seeking Aaron.

“There’s a fire between the North Gate and the East Gate. It’s quite large…”

“We’ll go. Mobilize everyone nearby.”

Aaron, who had been confronting Amelia, hastily turned around.

“Is this why you said prayer would be difficult today? Rest.”

But just before he opened the door and took a step, he turned back to Amelia and spoke again.

It was as if she had stubbornly resisted all along because she knew such an event would occur.

“Ah, Priestess… you knew.”

“The Priestess knows everything. Let’s go.”

Aaron replied with a faint smile. He was terrifyingly skilled at manipulating public opinion. With a click, the door closed. Amelia clenched her hands, trembling with fear and indignation.

“What do I know?”

It was a ridiculous thought. If Amelia could truly hear the gods’ voices and know the future, the first thing she’d want to know was when Aaron would finally stumble.

“Ah.”

Amelia, who had been looking down, snapped her head up. She then hastily put on a hooded robe and sprinted outside.

“Mobilize everyone nearby.”

A fire had broken out between the North Gate and the East Gate. If even the guards had been mobilized due to a shortage of hands, then the North Gate, closest to her room, might be poorly guarded. That was her thought.

“Huff…”

She couldn’t scale the high City Wall, but if there were no guards at the gate… Amelia gasped for breath as she ran, a hopeful smile gracing her face.

“……”

However, her smile didn’t last long. The guards were temporarily absent, but the gate, betraying her hopes, was firmly closed. Only the faint moonlight, scattered in the air, illuminated the gate, secured even with chains.

Amelia bit her lip and looked up at the gate with resentful eyes. At that moment, she sensed a presence beyond the high wall, which offered no view of the outside.

“…What.”

As she thought something was strange, a head suddenly appeared over the City Wall. The unfamiliar figure, perched on the wall, paused when he spotted Amelia staring at the gate.

“Who are you…”

Faced with the awkward question, the man smiled uncomfortably. Even beneath the hood of his robe, that expression was clearly visible.

“The High Priest’s minion?”

Of course, the subtle arrogance of a ruler, subtly embedded even within his awkward lie, was hard to hide.

“…That’s a lie.”

Amelia, who had not met many outsiders, lacked the discernment to recognize his uniqueness. But she was astute enough to notice his lie.

“And you?”

The man brazenly asked, despite his false identity being exposed. At that moment, Amelia was plunged into a subtle confusion.

Who am I?

Amelia had never had the chance to establish her identity as she grew up. She had simply been raised under the name ‘Priestess.’

‘Everything about you is a lie.’

I am not a lie.

‘You don’t even deserve the name Amelia.’

That’s not true. Amelia tried to shake off the words floating in her mind. But it was hard to deny that, as not-the-Priestess, she had neither a surname nor a given name.

“I am…”

But still. No matter what anyone said, she was Amelia. Amelia lifted her chin with a determined face and pushed her hood back.

“I am Amelia.”

“……”

“I’ve stated my name. So, before I scream, you should also take off that hood and reveal your true identity.”

The man chuckled at Amelia’s words. Then, with a casual gesture, he swept off the hood covering his head.

“……”

Then, black eyes sparkling like embedded stars met eyes shining like the summer’s verdant green.

“Ivan. A servant of the gods.”

Hair as vivid as gold, transparent green eyes shining like fine jewels. A sharply sculpted nose and red, smooth lips. The man was a picture of perfect beauty.

The breeze rustled the delicate petals of the flowers planted in the garden. It was as if welcoming a guest to a prison adorned with blooming flowers.