CH:32
A strange carriage stopped in front of the southern gate of the imperial palace. It was the only entrance through which outsiders could enter. When the knights guarding the gate knocked on the window of the carriage, a woman revealed herself from inside.
“This carriage carries the Priestess.”
Behind the face of the woman who drew back the curtain, another woman appeared, her hair as black as ebony and neatly tied up. As her gaze slowly turned toward him, the knight immediately straightened his posture and bowed.
“Open the gate!”
With that, he ordered the palace gates to be opened. The gates—taller than two people stacked together and just as heavy—began to creak open.
“Thank you.”
With those words, Louie drew the curtains closed again. As the carriage wheels clattered and began to roll forward, Amelia quietly clasped her hands together.
“Be careful not to limp.”
At last, the carriage came to a stop. Just before the door opened, Louie cast a cold glance toward Amelia’s ankle and spoke. Amelia gave a silent nod.
Only then did Louie knock twice against the wall, signaling her intention to get off. The carriage door opened, revealing a line of servants outside. Surprise filled their faces at the unexpected arrival.
“We greet the Priestess.”
“Nice to meet you.”
Mrs. Werner, who stood at the front of the servants, was the first to regain her composure. After bowing to Amelia, she led her toward the West Palace.
“We’re planning to guide you to a different room than originally prepared. Would that be alright?”
“That’s fine. It’s my fault for coming so suddenly.”
“I’ll instruct the staff to finish cleaning the new room immediately.”
The room given to Amelia was large and tastefully luxurious. A huge window facing the garden let in plenty of sunlight, creating a warm and cozy atmosphere.
“This room is more than I deserve.”
Mrs. Werner simply smiled in response.
“The weather is pleasant today, so if you’d like to rest on the terrace while the room is cleaned, you can call for someone with the summoning bell if you need anything.”
“I’ll do that.”
Saying she’d bring out tea soon, Mrs. Werner quickly withdrew. Amelia gently opened the window leading to the terrace and stepped outside.
“……”
The warm breeze put her at ease. At least, she no longer felt like she had her neck exposed in front of Aaren, waiting to be severed. As Amelia took a deep breath, almost like a sigh—
“Ian?”
A faint baby’s cry reached her ears. There were supposedly no infants in the palace at the moment, so the sound had to be Ian’s. Forgetting her brief moment of peace, Amelia quickly left the room and half-ran toward the direction of the sound, ignoring the dull ache in her ankle.
“Excuse me, where’s the baby’s room…?”
She stopped a maid in the hallway and asked for Ian’s room. The maid kindly guided her there.
“Come in.”
After knocking twice, a voice from inside granted her entry. Amelia cautiously opened the door and stepped in.
“Who…?”
Mrs. Howard, whom Amelia assumed to be either a maid or Ian’s wet nurse, was visibly startled when she saw her.
“You must be the Priestess.”
A beautiful woman with black hair and black eyes could only be one person. Mrs. Howard immediately recognized her identity and bowed with Ian still in her arms.
“You don’t need to be so formal.”
“My name is Emma Howard. His Majesty granted me the opportunity to serve as Ian’s wet nurse.”
“I see.”
Amelia gently stepped closer to where Mrs. Howard stood upright. The baby was still fussing.
“Has Ian been crying a lot?”
“He’s been quite fussy trying to sleep.”
Mrs. Howard glanced at Amelia, who looked down at Ian with warmth like spring sunlight.
“Would you like to hold him?”
“Thank you.”
As if she could read Amelia’s heart, Mrs. Howard offered Ian to her. Amelia didn’t refuse and took Ian into her arms. The soft warmth of his tiny body immediately soothed the anxiety that had nearly driven her mad. She even felt as though she might cry.
“Ian.”
At the sound of her voice, the baby made a cooing noise. Mrs. Howard’s eyes widened in surprise as Ian—who had been crying like his life depended on it ever since arriving at the palace—suddenly smiled.
“It seems Ian truly likes you, Priestess.”
Amelia smiled and gently rubbed her cheek against Ian’s forehead. Though Ian’s golden hair contrasted sharply with her black locks, somehow, there was no sense of dissonance when they were together.
“He was always such a gentle baby when I cared for him, so I was surprised to hear he’d been troubling people.”
“His cries were so hoarse from exhaustion that His Majesty was startled, too.”
Amelia blinked at Mrs. Howard’s words. Until now, her gaze had been fixed on Ian alone since entering the room. For the first time, she looked directly at Mrs. Howard.
“His Majesty came to see Ian?”
“Of course, he did.”
Mrs. Howard answered quickly. Of course, it wasn’t because Ivan held any special affection for the child. In fact, Ivan had only visited Ian twice.
But since Ian symbolized peaceful relations between the temple and the imperial family, it was necessary to say such things regardless of the truth.
“I’m glad he cares for Ian.”
Amelia spoke softly, her voice filled with a happiness and satisfaction that came from not knowing the truth.
“I’ll watch over Ian. Mrs. Howard, you should rest a bit.”
“Oh, no. I couldn’t possibly…”
Amelia kindly insisted with a pleasant expression. Though Mrs. Howard initially refused, Amelia persisted.
“If Ian’s been fussy all night, then you must not have slept properly either. Even a short rest would help.”
Mrs. Howard could hardly continue to say no. At her age, being deprived of sleep while caring for an infant had indeed left her tired.
“Then I’ll sit and rest here.”
She sat in a chair next to the crib—still unwilling to completely abandon her duties. Amelia accepted her stubbornness with ease and began walking around the room with Ian in her arms.
In his mother’s embrace, Ian finally fell into a peaceful sleep. The gentle sound of his breathing lulled Mrs. Howard into sleep as well. Amidst the nearly sacred silence, Amelia turned her gaze to the curtain-drawn window.
“You must go to the palace.”
Aaron’s voice came to mind.
That morning, over tea in the garden, he had said those words to her.
“The palace?”
It had seemed impossible. The very people who refused to even let her step outside the walls were suddenly allowing her to visit the imperial palace?
“They say the baby won’t sleep or stop crying. It seems he misses you—someone who cared for him like a mother.”
Over something like that? Aaron was not the kind of man to act out of compassion. Neither were those behind him. Amelia had never seen them show mercy. What they did best was kill, trample, and discard.
“They say you sent the child as a symbol of peace between the temple and the palace. They can’t just let him continue like this, can they?”
Their intent had nothing to do with mercy, grace, or peace. Their god was nothing like the one who spoke of those things. Amelia couldn’t believe a word of what Aaron said.
“You should stay until the baby stabilizes.”
“…Until he stabilizes?”
Aaron took a sip of tea before quietly continuing.
“Yes. As long as no one comes looking for you in the meantime.”
It felt like he was hiding something. Amelia wanted to question him but couldn’t. Just like how she froze instinctively when facing a rabid dog, the pain in her not-yet-healed ankle would throb whenever she stood before Aaron.
“You may leave this place for a while, but never forget who owns you.”
Aaron hadn’t forgotten either. His gaze had flicked briefly to her ankle—a clear warning.
“Louie will accompany you. You needn’t worry about adjusting to the outside.”
Remember my words. If you don’t want your child to suffer for your foolish actions.
He didn’t need to say it aloud—Amelia could feel it.
She quietly nodded and left the temple under Aaron’s orders.
“……”
She still didn’t know anything. Why Aaron had suddenly allowed her to go to the palace.
Or why the man beyond the window—who had risked death multiple times to sneak into the temple—had done so while hiding his true identity.
But foolishly, she could only feel one thing now.
That it was all okay.
Simply because he was here.
