Chapter 59
But it was too late for regrets. There was no turning back now.
“I’ll do it. Just as you say.”
Amelia finally spoke. Her words, though barely uttered, were neither soaked with tears nor trembling. Extreme sorrow and despair had numbed her emotions completely.
“But promise me one thing.”
Amelia raised her head and met Ivan’s gaze directly. His jewel-like eyes still shone with merciless beauty.
She now hated those eyes. And the man who owned them, just as much. For a moment, she wished the Duke of Russell and Ivan would fight and kill each other.
But for Ian’s sake, she couldn’t allow that. If she sided with Aaron and the Duke of Russell for revenge, both she and Ian would become expendable dolls, killed the moment they outlived their usefulness.
On the other hand, if she gave Ivan what he wanted, perhaps she could at least spare Ian’s life after her own death. Ivan wouldn’t kill a powerless child who posed no threat. The moment she put Ian’s safety above all else, the scales tipped—so far that one side slammed to the ground.
“Promise that they won’t try to kill Ian, that they’ll acknowledge him as crown prince. That they’ll protect him.”
Amelia demanded. Ivan merely looked down at her in silence, as if expecting her to say more.
“And if he ever becomes a danger in the future… then even if you have to fake his death and send him to another country, you’ll never actually kill him.”
If she had to stake her life on something, then she had to protect Ian. She couldn’t throw away her life just to buy him a few extra days.
“And when I ask for help, tell me exactly what to do and how. Don’t just say I’ll figure it out myself.”
She hated Ivan for deceiving her, hated the temple that had toyed with her her whole life. She wanted to use them both and discard them when it suited her—but she didn’t have that kind of power. She still couldn’t see far ahead, couldn’t grasp the complicated ties between people.
“I’m only clinging to you because I don’t know how to move.”
If she had the strength to break free of her shell and destroy her enemies, she wouldn’t have to lower herself like this. Both she and Ivan knew that.
“…Fine.”
Ivan saw the resolute determination and the deep, dark resentment in Amelia’s black eyes and thought:
“Good.”
He had once regretted not killing Amelia when they first met. Especially after realizing she didn’t know much and could only expose what had happened to her. Or when she overturned a royal banquet with a false prophecy in front of foreign envoys.
“I swear it. On my life.”
But now, he was satisfied with his decision back then. Ivan smiled slightly, pleased.
“Leave me proof.”
Even if her face now held nothing but distrust and contempt.
“I won’t believe your words alone anymore.”
As Ivan studied the emotions on Amelia’s face, he released the delicate chin he had been holding.
“All right.”
He turned and rang the bell on his desk.
“You summoned me, Your Majesty?”
The door opened and the chamberlain stepped in. He seemed startled to find Amelia still kneeling, but quickly recovered and averted his eyes.
“Bring in Madam Howard. Rodan too.”
The chamberlain bowed and quickly exited.
“I forgot to tell you to stand.”
Ivan seemed to only just now notice Amelia was still kneeling. Without a word, Amelia pushed herself up. She already knew his words were lies.
“How am I supposed to trust the two of them?”
“If it’s Rodan, he’ll take my side no matter what. As for Madam Howard, she’s the most upright person I know.”
Ivan answered coolly.
“Normally, I’d leave this to the temple. But neither of us wants that, do we?”
He was right. Sadly, Amelia had no one trustworthy enough to hand over a vow of this magnitude. But she couldn’t let the secret slip to just anyone either.
“Your Majesty, I’ve brought Madam Howard and Sir Rodan.”
“Send them in.”
Soon, Madam Howard entered holding Ian, followed by Rodan. Amelia’s eyes searched Ian’s face with desperate affection.
“I’ve called you both to witness a vow.”
Ivan glanced briefly at Amelia before speaking. Madam Howard’s face twitched with confusion at his unexpected words.
“Rodan. Write down exactly what I say.”
Rodan quickly moved to a desk in the corner, not far from Ivan’s.
“If Amelia Escliffe brings proof of collusion between the temple and rebellious noble houses, and helps dismantle their power—”
“……”
“I, Ivan Wade Escliffe, vow to recognize Ian as crown prince and not kill him. In unavoidable circumstances, I will support his exile to a foreign nation. I swear this on the honor of the imperial family and my own life.”
Rodan, who had been quietly recording, looked up in shock.
“The witnesses to this vow shall be Mary Howard of House Howard and Rodan Howard. If I break my promise, they are obligated to reveal this oath.”
But Ivan continued without pause, and Rodan—ever the loyal servant—continued to write.
“If Amelia Escliffe breaks her end of the bargain, the oath shall likewise be revealed, and Ian executed.”
“Your Majesty, this is…”
Though Rodan had written everything as ordered, he clearly wished to object. But Ivan didn’t even let him speak. He snatched the paper and stamped it with the imperial seal.
“Is this enough to put you at ease?”
The large seal of the empire stood out boldly—impossible to deny or forge. Amelia gave a small nod.
“Remember this. The moment you try to abandon the ship we’re both on—you’ll lose everything.”
She couldn’t look away from his blade-like, icy blue eyes. A vow sealed with her child’s life. There was no escape. And that was exactly what Ivan wanted.
“Your Majesty.”
Madam Howard and Amelia had left. Rodan’s stiff voice brought Ivan back to the moment.
“Why did you make such a promise? You said you wouldn’t even acknowledge the child as your own.”
His disbelief was clear. And understandable. Ivan hadn’t needed to go this far.
“That’s the only way to make Amelia Escliffe do as she’s told.”
Ivan replied calmly. Everything had gone off course ever since he met Amelia. That’s how Rodan saw it.
“Besides, if the temple kills Ian now, it puts us in a difficult position. I’d be the one suspected.”
“……”
“I can’t let a child who hasn’t even learned to speak become a pawn in toppling the imperial family. Especially when there’s no defect on my part. Better to give her what she wants and buy time while the boy grows.”
Rodan might have nodded in agreement in the past. But now he wanted to argue.
“But to name him crown prince?”
Ivan’s plans had often gone awry. Like the day Amelia fabricated a prophecy. Rodan had kept silent to avoid angering him, but in hindsight, it was Ivan’s mistake.
“The crown prince is the highest honor in Escliffe. You of all people know that.”
If Ivan had only said he would acknowledge Ian as a prince, Rodan might have accepted it with some resentment. But naming him the heir? That was reckless, especially with Ian’s hidden origin. It was dangerous.
“Rodan.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“I will destroy the temple. And to do that, I need Amelia Escliffe under my control.”
Ivan spoke with ease, even while lifting his wineglass. His arrogance made Rodan grit his teeth.
“If the temple falls, everyone will know that the priestess and her prophecies were lies.”
Rodan sighed. That would strip Ian of any legitimacy. The only thing left would be his imperial blood—but that would never be revealed. Which meant Ian would naturally lose his position as crown prince.
“No one will want to kill him then. As long as we ensure he lives quietly, everything will be fine.”
Besides, Ivan had only promised not to kill Ian and to name him crown prince. He never promised to keep him on the throne or help him become emperor. Rodan couldn’t argue with that logic.
“…Understood.”
He bowed and stepped back.
“……”
Ivan hadn’t said it outright, but Rodan could tell—there was a trace of personal rejection in his attitude toward the boy who shared his blood. Madam Howard likely sensed it too.
“Are you heading in?”
“Yes. It’s getting late.”
The chamberlain greeted Rodan. Without a word, Rodan folded the oath with the imperial seal and threw it onto the fireplace, where it landed atop the burning logs.
All that remained of the vow was a pile of black ash.
