Chapter 3.2

Chapter 3.2

Duke Russell gestured to a servant standing nearby, and the servant, accustomed to his master’s habits, smoothly produced a cigar case. He clipped the end of a cigar and offered it.

“Hmph…”

Duke Russell drew on the lit cigar. A deep, heavy scent began to fill the private meeting room.

“We’ll have to use him until she gives birth to a girl with black hair and black eyes. There aren’t many black-haired men with sound minds.”

Duke Russell laughed, tapping his temple with his index finger. Aaron, who knew what transpired in the basement of the remote villa, didn’t ask why.

“This generation’s Amelia is a particularly stubborn mare, so you’ve had a difficult time.”

Duke Russell laughed and swallowed another glass of amber liquid.

“Indeed, now that I think about it, she was troublesome from birth.”

“…”

“A Female Twin, imagine that.”

It was unprecedented. But there could not be two Priestesses under heaven. They had tried, until the very last moment, to select the child who more closely resembled the previous Amelia. Aside from the striking features of black hair and black eyes, distinguishing the appearances of different races was not easy.

“And in the end, it even consumed her mother’s mind, didn’t it?”

In any case, the outcome was the death of the weaker girl, who resembled her mother less. The previous Priestess watched her child die and went mad.

“I wish this would be the last time, too.”

Duke Russell murmured.

“It’s tiresome to always order someone’s neck to be broken and heart to be pierced.”

Of course, it wasn’t out of pity for needless sacrifice. He was simply tired of giving orders to kill.

“The Duke Russell family absorbing the Imperial Family is the path to everyone’s peace. But the young Emperor still doesn’t realize that.”

Duke Russell exhaled cigar smoke.

“He keeps subtly spreading rumors that the Priestess is a witch, not a priestess.”

“…”

“Perhaps because he’s still young, he doesn’t understand who holds the upper hand in power, and he acts terribly impertinent.”

His tone was clearly displeased. Indeed, he was quite dissatisfied with Ivan, the current Emperor. Ivan, who ascended the throne at a young age, harbored deep resentment toward the temple and the Great Nobles.

“One of these days, I’ll have to properly educate him.”

Duke Russell laughed and swept his hair back.

“In any case, until then, keep a close watch on this generation’s Amelia. There’s no good in things getting noisy before an important event.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

Aaron replied compliantly. In truth, he was a man who had sworn loyalty to Duke Russell.

“We’ll see each other again soon.”

Pleased with the docile answer, Duke Russell carelessly tossed aside his cigar and rose from his seat.

“Clear the liquor bottles and the used glasses.”

Aaron called a servant into the room, instructing them to tidy the cluttered table. Then he opened a window, ventilating the room where the cigar smoke lingered.

“High Priest.”

“Louis.”

It was then. Louis appeared through the open door.

“I found the Priestess and escorted her to her room. She wasn’t trying to escape; she was in the Prayer Room near the North Gate.”

She was reporting Amelia’s whereabouts. Louis then added that Amelia seemed to be feeling stifled. Considering the coming night when her duty would be forced upon her, it was natural for her to feel so.

Despite everything, Louis, being a similar age and also a woman, felt a touch of pity for Amelia. This was different from the attitudes of Duke Russell or Aaron.

“I see.”

Aaron was willing to overlook that much advocacy. Even more so when he considered his recent conversation with Duke Russell.

“While you should meticulously check her movements…”

So he spoke, rather impulsively.

“If there’s no sign of her trying to escape, let her do as she wishes for a while.”

“Are you sure that’s alright?”

Louis’s eyes widened. Amelia’s face, which she perceived as younger and more pitiful despite their similar age, naturally came to mind.

There was certainly a time when she was so cute and lovely. Aaron thought.

“She’ll be broken soon anyway.”

Aaron said with a faint smile. The gentle curve of his lips and kind eyes presented a stark contrast to his words.

“That much freedom…”

Of course, Aaron also pitied Amelia. That was genuine, even if it was a little different from how Louis felt.

“… can be given.”

“Yes, of course!”

Louis’s face lit up.

“Alright. You may return now.”

“Yes. Have a good night.”

Louis left his room with light steps. Aaron moved silently to the window. And he thought:

My beautiful flower. Yet, one day, I must twist and kill with my own hands, my…

The wind, hiding its ferocity, churned like Amelia’s jet-black hair in the night sky.