Chapter 5

Chapter 5

“Shall we set a date for our next meeting?”

Ivan suggested first. Amelia, captivated, fixed her gaze on the radiant man now revealed in the light. He looked like a handsome youth, a priest no less, as if trying to charm someone.

“Every Friday night, around eleven. Here.”

Amelia nodded at Ivan’s proposal.

“Good. For now, let’s part ways tonight.”

She wasn’t sure why, but recently, Louis and the maids’ surveillance had somewhat loosened. It was rare for them to stick to her side every moment, as they used to. So spending about thirty minutes in the Prayer Room under the pretense of prayer didn’t seem like it would cause much trouble.

“If I’m gone too long, they’ll come looking for me.”

Despite saying so, Amelia couldn’t easily rise from her seat, as if some lingering reluctance held her back. Naturally, she hadn’t let go of Ivan’s sleeve either.

“You said you had to go.”

Amelia chuckled awkwardly at Ivan’s words. It didn’t seem like she would get up on her own. Ivan reached out his free hand and gently detached Amelia’s. His hand, having encircled her slender wrist, was now beneath hers.

“We’ll meet again.”

Ivan whispered soothingly. Amelia’s gaze went to her hand, held captive by Ivan’s.

“…Okay.”

A lingering reluctance, impossible to hide, still remained deep within her dark eyes, but her reply was submissive.

“You should go first.”

Amelia nodded at Ivan’s words and rose from her seat. Ivan’s hand gradually pulled away. The tips of his long, firm fingers brushed over her palm before letting go.

“Hey.”

Amelia, who had just reached the Prayer Room door, turned back. Ivan, still seated on the dais, directed a languid gaze at her.

“What is it?”

Ivan asked. His tone was neither formal nor informal; it was just casual and relaxed, like someone speaking to a close friend. She swore to the heavens, Ivan was unlike anyone Amelia had ever met.

Perhaps that was why. Strangely, Amelia felt comfortable with him. She didn’t know why, but she just found him likable. She even liked the fact that he lacked enough faith in the gods to choose a deviation.

“Could you… call me by my name?”

And she had a strange hunch that Ivan would accept that liking.

“My name is…”

“I know your name.”

Ivan cut her off. Just as disappointment began to rise in her heart, thinking he wouldn’t call her by it after all.

“Amelia.”

Ivan called her name. A name that existed, yet hadn’t existed.

“……”

The moment Ivan spoke her name, Amelia felt a shiver run through her body. It was as if she had been reborn. As if she had wandered the world as a ghost, and now, for the first time, stepped onto solid ground.

“See you again.”

Ivan smiled and waved a hand. Above him, radiant moonlight poured down in fractured pieces. Amelia, unable to say anything, gripped the handle of the Prayer Room door.

“…Okay.”

Amelia managed a choked reply, opened the door, and exited, leaving Ivan behind. As the door closed behind her, the world grew quiet.

No. In fact, the temple at deep night was always this quiet. She had simply been too distracted by Ivan to notice.

“……”

It was when she had passed through the garden, then the hallway, and finally reached her bedroom. Her mute maid, sensing her presence, woke up and rubbed her eyes.

“Go back to sleep. I’m going to sleep too.”

Amelia whispered, climbing onto the bed. The maid lay back down and closed her eyes.

“I know your name.”

Amelia lay on the bed without even pulling up the covers, recalling his gentle voice. Beyond the open window, the curtains fluttered, and crickets sang their deep night music.

“Amelia.”

Amelia. Amelia Escliffe. My name is…

Amelia, repeating her name to herself several times, closed her eyes and curled up like a baby. A blush, impossible to hide, spread across her soft cheeks.

–

“Your Majesty.”

Ivan, walking down the corridor to the audience chamber, came to an abrupt halt. Rodan appeared at the end of the corridor. A dark shadow, half-obscuring his face, looked rather eerie.

“You look like a ghost standing there.”

But Ivan’s reply was cheerful. There wasn’t even a hint of surprise in him.

“Did you truly visit the temple again yesterday?”

“I told you to make use of the identification badge once you took it.”

Ivan replied indifferently and began striding forward again.

“I was merely asking if there was any need to acquire an identification badge if you were going to climb over the wall anyway.”

Rodan sighed softly as he spoke.

“That’s why yesterday I didn’t climb the wall. I passed through the temple gate pretending to be that apprentice priest. Even if I couldn’t kill the Priestess.”

“What if you get caught?”

“I’ll make sure I don’t get caught.”

Ivan answered slyly. He knew it wasn’t something he could control. Rodan alone was burdened with the headache of dealing with his impulsive sovereign.

“Whether you climbed over the wall or used an identification badge to pass through the main gate, it was still a stealthy infiltration. If you were discovered, the temple would not stand idly by.”

Rodan tried hard to persuade Ivan.

“I’ve already arranged to meet the woman periodically.”

“You’re planning to go to the temple again? If something happens, an identification badge won’t be a complete excuse… You’re not listening, are you?”

But Ivan clearly let it go in one ear and out the other. He was always like that. It was his nature to be indifferent to anything that didn’t pique his interest.

“Still, I can buy enough time to lie and escape, pretending to be a lost priest. You want to unravel the Divine Legend too, don’t you?”

“I do not wish for it to be at the cost of the Emperor’s life.”

Rodan denied it, as if he had no desire to gamble with Ivan’s life. That was his true feeling. The Imperial Family’s power had already weakened from a long-standing confrontation with the divine authority. Ivan was like the last card for those who supported the Imperial Family. If something happened to him, the Escliffe Imperial Family would no longer remain a glorious name.

“Next time you meet her, you must kill her.”

Rodan said. Ivan made a sound like “Hmm” and avoided Rodan’s gaze.

“Your Majesty.”

“Yes, someday.”

When Rodan pressed for an answer, Ivan replied. His attitude wasn’t unwilling. It was just not right now; he too was thinking of killing Amelia someday.

“The more often you go to the temple, the more dangerous it becomes.”

At Rodan’s words, Ivan stopped walking. It was a reasonable concern. He understood Rodan’s apprehension. But he hadn’t been able to kill her yet.

“But isn’t it a bit of a waste to just kill someone who might be useful?”

It wasn’t his nature to regret past actions. Unless he thought about what came next. If he couldn’t kill the woman, he just had to find a reason to keep her alive.

“Rodan.”

“Yes.”

“That woman is starved for attention and affection. And she knows everything that goes on inside there.”

Ivan smiled faintly and looked back at Rodan, who stood a step behind him.

“She already trusts me as her friend.”

“……”

“Anyway, she’s a woman I can kill anytime I meet her. She doesn’t bring any attendants with her. So isn’t this an opportunity too good to miss?”

Whether to keep her alive or kill her, every moment Ivan faced Amelia was an opportunity.

“Why do you ask if you’re not going to listen to me anyway?”

Rodan shook his head. He had already given up on persuading his reckless sovereign. He didn’t have the power to break Ivan’s stubbornness. And ironically, Ivan’s recklessness had indeed created the first opportunity to contact the Priestess.

“Because I don’t think this opportunity will come twice.”

All the spies the Imperial Family had sent to the temple had failed to reach Amelia. Men who weren’t priests found it difficult to approach the Priestess, who rarely left the temple.

The same was true for women. They only did menial tasks in the kitchen or stables. Except for Louis, the lady-in-waiting, the maid who observed Amelia most closely was mute. Naturally, she couldn’t write either. A plausible reason was given that she could impersonate the will of the gods by picking up stories overheard while guarding the Priestess.

“Do as you wish.”

Rodan replied with a sigh. It was a disrespectful attitude, but Ivan didn’t point it out. Instead, his face looked relieved.

“Leave it. I’ll open it.”

Ivan, who had reached the audience chamber door, stopped the guards’ movements and opened the door himself.

“Duke Russell.”

“Greetings to the Sun of Escliffe.”

Duke Russell, who had been waiting on a sofa, rose and bowed to him. Ivan, without replying to his greeting or granting permission to straighten his back, gazed at the rounded back of Duke Russell’s head.

“I’ve recently injured my back and am in pain. Please forgive me for raising my head without permission, Your Majesty.”

Soon after, Duke Russell flexibly straightened his back and smiled, meeting Ivan’s gaze. Naturally, the Emperor’s permission had not yet been given. Moreover, Duke Russell did not look like someone in pain to anyone.

“Of course, I understand, Duke.”

You insolent bastard.

Ivan thought.

“Thank you for your understanding.”

Duke Russell, having read his mind, replied leisurely. He was feigning gratitude while disregarding the Emperor’s authority.

“It’s time for you to start thinking about passing on your title to your son.”

Ivan, unable to tolerate such behavior, continued speaking. A faint line creased Duke Russell’s gently curved lips.

You arrogant brat.

Duke Russell thought. Ivan, who had brazenly exposed his old age, read his mind and smiled faintly.