Chapter 38
Amelia was a fraudster against the Empire.
Of course, even if it had all happened regardless of her own will, could the lead actress of the play survive once the truth was revealed and a bloodstorm followed?
“Well. Wasn’t it a relationship that needed to be ended anyway?”
That can’t be true, Ivan thought.
Rodan, watching Ivan, thought it was terribly cold-hearted to speak like that about the woman who bore his child. But objectively speaking, Ivan’s decision was the right one. He had no reason to consider Amelia’s situation.
Besides, Ivan was the Emperor. He had grown up learning to use people around him like chess pieces.
Aaron had come to visit.
Amelia rose from her seat with little pleasure at his unexpected visit. At the very least, as long as Louis was by her side, she couldn’t ignore Aaron’s summons.
“What brings you here?”
Amelia was the first to speak.
“Has the child stabilized now?”
But Aaron spoke in vague riddles.
It was ridiculous to ask about Ian’s wellbeing when he probably couldn’t care less. In fact, Aaron was likely the person who most wished Ian would die and disappear.
“He still struggles at night when I’m not around.”
Even so, Amelia couldn’t avoid answering his question.
She offered a half-truth. Ian did still cry for her at night, but she didn’t want Aaron to know the child had mostly calmed down. She feared he’d try to take her away if he knew. His personal visit likely meant just that.
“I see. The child has grown quite attached to you, High Priestess. That could be a problem.”
Yet Aaron showed no displeasure. On the contrary, he looked genuinely sympathetic, like someone overwhelmed with pity.
Amelia was so caught off guard by his unexpected demeanor that she found herself at a loss.
“It seems it will be difficult to bring you back any time soon.”
Aaron even spoke as if he intended to leave her there for a while. Amelia couldn’t speak easily and just kept trying to read Aaron’s expression.
“Are you saying… it’s okay for me to stay in the Imperial Palace longer?”
“As long as His Majesty grants permission, there’s no reason it can’t be done. It is important that the child who will bridge the Imperial Family and the Temple grows up stable and safe.”
It all sounded so logical and reasonable—too much so. That made it even harder to trust.
He must have another motive, Amelia thought, narrowing her eyes in suspicion.
Aaron, sensing her gaze, looked around at the maids.
“Louis. Dismiss the others and step outside as well.”
At Amelia’s command, Louis quickly ushered the attendants into the hallway and left herself, closing the door tightly behind her. She would be keeping watch from outside in case anyone tried to eavesdrop.
“What are you planning?”
Amelia asked first. Aaron sipped his tea leisurely, smiling.
“Aaron.”
“Just as I said.”
But when Amelia pressed him, he set the teacup back on the saucer without drinking a drop.
“You said I could stay here as long as I wanted? Is that really what you meant?”
“It is.”
“Why?”
Amelia asked bluntly. His sudden change of attitude after trying so hard to keep her out of the Imperial Palace was too suspicious. Her instincts told her this was a trap.
“You said yourself that you had something to do here, didn’t you? The child gives you a perfect excuse to stay. So I’m simply saying it’s fine to remain by his side.”
As expected, Aaron revealed his hidden motive.
It was obvious from the beginning that whatever he had in mind wouldn’t be normal or reasonable—but the man suggesting it was as calm and shameless as ever.
“I said I had something to do? What exactly?”
Amelia bristled, like a cat on high alert.
“To grow closer with His Majesty. You’ve expressed concern before about the worsening relationship between the Temple and the Imperial Family. This is your chance to show people things have improved.”
“…”
“You have a child together. That’s a shared bond. It shouldn’t be so difficult.”
Aaron’s words were loaded with implication.
Like the saying, “You can’t live with guilt,” Amelia’s heart started pounding. She worried that Aaron had discovered who Ian’s real father was. She tried to hide the fear, but her tongue betrayed her and flicked across dry lips.
“Just don’t go declaring you want to become Empress.”
“Stop beating around the bush.”
“If you insist.”
Aaron, as if waiting for that cue, dropped his pretense immediately.
There was no one listening now anyway.
“Seduce the Emperor and spend the night with him.”
“…What?”
Amelia looked stunned.
Aaron’s command was the exact opposite of everything he had ever imposed on her. He had always told her it was her destiny to sleep with a black-haired, black-eyed man and bear a daughter to continue the line of priestesses.
And now he was telling her to sleep with Ivan?
To bear his child?
Ivan had golden hair like sunlight and green eyes that sparkled like tender leaves. He was never part of the plan.
The sudden command left Amelia confused.
“What are you trying to do? What happens if I sleep with the Emperor?”
Of course, Aaron’s demand might’ve seemed easy.
After all, she would be sharing a bed with a man she loved.
That wasn’t hard.
But that wasn’t the point.
If doing so would cause Ivan to lose something—his life, his position—then it was something she had to avoid.
She had already once believed she’d lost him and endured a year of that pain.
It was despair so deep it was like a bottomless pit, and she never wanted to feel that again.
Their relationship had to remain a secret—always.
“The Emperor will be seen as a brute who defiled the High Priestess. And the Temple will go to holy war to defend your honor.”
Aaron replied plainly.
In that moment, Amelia knew she must never do it.
For Ivan’s sake, their relationship had to remain buried.
“You think I’ll just climb into bed with a man I hardly know?”
Aaron smiled, as if he’d expected such a response.
“You already did.”
Amelia had already shared a bed with a man she didn’t love, had a child, all against her will.
So why not do it again?
“Set aside your guilt and pride. You care about your child, don’t you?”
It meant: If you want to protect that precious child, you’ll do as you’re told.
“Don’t think Louis is the only one watching you and the child in this palace.”
Aaron warned.
And instantly, Amelia recalled the cold voice and cruel touch that had prodded the wound on her ankle where the dog had bitten her.
“Should I make your child die like this, too?” he had said.
A chill ran down her spine.
There was one thing Amelia believed about Aaron:
He was insane enough to kill a newborn baby if it suited him.
She knew well how little her child meant to the Imperial Palace—just a token for political alliance.
Whether the baby was torn apart by beasts or killed some other way, it would be written off as an accident.
“If you do as I ask, you’ll be free. The sacred legacy will end with you.”
“…”
“And your precious daughter won’t be needed either. I’ll even return your son to you, if that’s what you want.”
This time Aaron softened his voice, almost tender.
He had wielded the whip, and now came the carrot.
Amelia, before she realized it, was looking directly at him.
Unlike before, when she couldn’t even meet his eyes.
“If things don’t go your way and you need help, just say the word. I’ll prepare medicine—just in case.”
Aaron could tell her heart was just as shaken as her eyes.
“I’ll see you again soon.”
And just like that, without further threats or persuasion, he left.
