CH:25
Ivan?
Amelia momentarily lost herself, staring blankly at the man. The bright, vivid blond hair, the emerald-like blue eyes, and the face were undeniably those of the man she once loved.
“……”
Was she seeing things? Amelia’s lips trembled. She clutched the fabric over her chest and was about to barely whisper his name.
“Your Majesty!”
Footsteps echoed down the corridor as someone came running after him.
“You can’t just disappear like that…!”
“But I was right, wasn’t I? All the main characters seem to be gathered here today.”
A man appeared, wiping sweat from his forehead, scolding the impulsiveness of the one he followed. Yet his master simply gestured toward the stunned Aaron and Amelia and responded to his servant.
“Priestess, and High Priest. I sincerely apologize for the sudden visit. This is His Majesty, the Emperor of Escleef. I am Rodan, his servant.”
Rodan bowed deeply and offered a polite apology on his master’s behalf. But Amelia’s eyes trembled like a leaf in the wind upon hearing his words.
“Emperor?”
Emperor? That Ivan who was said to be a trainee priest? That Ivan who moved between the temple and outside world like the wind? That couldn’t be possible. Amelia stared at him, as if denying reality—seeking proof that he was Ivan, or perhaps differences to prove he wasn’t.
“……”
As if sensing her gaze, Ivan turned his head. Their eyes met. Those eyes, which once sparkled with mischief when they looked into hers.
“I…”
She unconsciously began to say his name.
“Well, I admit I did come suddenly, but I must say I’m a bit surprised by how unwelcome the reception is.”
It was strange. Ivan’s eyes were familiar, yet unfamiliar. Beneath the playful gleam was a chill like a midwinter wind.
“Ah, I suppose I should say it’s a pleasure to meet you first?”
“……”
“Pleasure to meet you.”
Ivan raised the corners of his lips into a smooth, polite smile. As if he were meeting her for the first time.
Three teacups were placed in front of the seated trio. Ivan was the first to reach for the steaming cup. Despite barging into the priestess’s reception room without notice, he acted as if he had nothing to be ashamed of.
“I apologize for the lack of preparation due to your sudden visit.”
“It’s quite alright. I didn’t come here expecting grand treatment anyway. Besides, you lot don’t seem to care much for the Imperial family.”
Rodan furrowed his brow awkwardly at the comment, looking as if he wanted to stop his master from talking.
“Perhaps not the Priestess, but I am bound to this land. As a citizen of Escleef, I too serve you.”
Aaron calmly bowed his head, showing no desire to oppose Ivan. He was always one to avoid unnecessary conflict, especially with anyone other than Amelia.
“However, this is still the Priestess’s residence. I fear something may be misheard or misrepresented, so may I ask what prompted your sudden visit?”
Aaron asked cautiously. Ivan took a sip of tea, savoring the aroma leisurely.
“I came to offer some support.”
He finally answered. Aaron blinked in surprise at the unexpected response.
“By support, do you mean…?”
Meanwhile, Amelia hadn’t taken her eyes off Ivan for a single moment. She still couldn’t tell if he was her Ivan or not.
“Exactly as it sounds. A donation to the temple. As a faithful servant of the gods, of course.”
Ivan replied nonchalantly.
“Ever since the late Emperor, relations with the temple have been lukewarm. Rodan has been quite worried about it.”
He used Rodan’s concern as an excuse, acting as though he had never been in opposition to the temple. His composed demeanor made him seem utterly unbothered by the matter.
“By the way, the Priestess keeps staring at me.”
As Amelia struggled to hide her confusion, Ivan pointed out her gaze.
“Is it just one of those familiar-looking faces?”
It was abrupt—too abrupt—and far too direct.
“The Priestess is unaccustomed to contact with outsiders. That may be why she seems unsettled. Please, do not take offense.”
Perhaps sensing Ivan’s tone as confrontational, Aaron quickly spoke on Amelia’s behalf. Ivan had shown up without appointment or notice—it was hard to believe his intentions were good.
“……”
That was why Amelia decided this wasn’t the Ivan she knew. The man she loved had never been this rude, never this arrogant.
“I apologize if I made you uncomfortable, Your Majesty.”
And more than anything, he had never looked at her with such disdain.
“You looked like someone I knew, and I couldn’t help but stare. Please forgive my rudeness.”
Once she saw him as a stranger, the apology came naturally. It was indeed rude to stare at someone you didn’t know. His irritation was understandable. Even his mocking tone—so similar to Ivan’s—made sense in that context.
“If you say so.”
This can’t be Ivan.
It was more than faith. It was trust—unshakable trust, like that of a believer in their god. Amelia believed in the Ivan she had known, in his actions and words. She couldn’t allow her memories to be broken.
“I accept your apology.”
Ivan graciously accepted her words. Amelia naturally turned her gaze away. She had no interest in a man who wasn’t truly Ivan.
“Thank you for your understanding, Your Majesty. Still, if it’s about support or donations, you could have passed it through Count Warf.”
A chill lingered between Amelia and Ivan. Sensing it, Aaron smoothly redirected the conversation toward Ivan to draw his attention away.
“Ah.”
Ivan let out a soft exclamation.
“Of course, I could’ve done that. But then it would’ve been harder to ask a favor of the Priestess.”
“A favor…?”
Aaron trailed off, uneasy about the direction this was going. Something about Ivan’s attitude made it hard to trust him.
“As I said, there have been many misunderstandings since the late Emperor’s time. I want to clear them up. But to do so, I need help.”
Ivan placed the cup back on its saucer. Every gesture reflected a man well-trained in courtly etiquette. He wasn’t the Ivan who used to sit on the floor or touch Amelia so freely.
“Perhaps a monthly tea time at the palace would help?”
“……”
“To show that I bear no ill will to the temple—and that the temple trusts me as well. It would make a good public statement.”
Just as Amelia was sure of her judgment again, Ivan offered the temple a strangely gentle and generous proposal.
“I understand your point, but…”
Aaron still didn’t trust Ivan’s sudden shift in tone. With a polite smile, he subtly tried to decline. Letting her out of their walls when they were struggling just to keep her in? Unthinkable.
“Wait.”
Ivan raised his hand to stop him. Aaron looked at him with puzzled eyes.
“I thought I heard a baby crying.”
Rodan muttered. For a brief moment, Aaron’s face showed a flash of panic—clear as day.
“That can’t be, Rodan. Why would a baby be crying here?”
Ivan leaned on the table, resting his chin on one hand as he spoke to Rodan—just as a shrill wail pierced their ears.
“…It doesn’t sound like your imagination.”
Rodan replied. The sound was too loud for anyone to deny.
“……”
Ivan wasted no time and rose to his feet. He strode toward the door leading to Amelia’s bedroom.
“Your Majesty! That is the Priestess’s private chambers!”
Aaron stood up hastily to block him.
“Your Majesty! That is the Priestess’s—”
But Rodan was faster. Pretending to stop Ivan, he actually blocked Aaron’s path.
“Well now. There really is a newborn here.”
Before Aaron could stop him, Ivan had already flung open the bedroom door. Inside, Louis froze in shock as their eyes met—he had been desperately trying to quiet the baby by stuffing cloth into its mouth.
“There’s no way a newborn could be a priest.”
Ivan ignored Louis and approached the child. He removed the cloth from the baby’s mouth. The child coughed and opened its eyes—as if it couldn’t wait to make itself known to the world, and to Ivan.
Golden hair that shimmered—and…
Louis’s face turned pale as he darted a panicked glance for help.
“And eyes dark as the dead of night.”
“……”
“Could it be that the Priestess has given birth?”
Ivan turned to look over his shoulder as he asked, his voice so brimming with satisfaction it sounded like a sneer.
