Chapter 68
“I greet the Sun of Escliffe.”
Jane Clarke bowed to him. Ivan’s gaze swept indifferently over Jane’s attire. She was dressed neither too extravagantly nor so plainly as to appear shabby—gracefully elegant in moderation.
“The greeting is done, so be seated.”
It was a wise move. She would become the Empress, but was not yet Empress. And with the priestess—who usually wore austere garments—residing in the palace, it would not do to draw too stark a contrast.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
She had a decent sense of propriety. Ivan thought so.
“Are you not curious why I chose you?”
Ivan asked. The sudden, blunt question made Jane’s eyes widen, while Rodan—standing against the wall like an ornament—shot Ivan a reproachful glance.
“Of course, it would be a lie to say I’m not curious…”
Jane trailed off with a gentle smile.
“I imagine Your Majesty desired certain qualities in the one who would become your consort. By fortune, perhaps I happened to possess them.”
It was a wise answer to Ivan’s probing question. She was a woman of some intelligence. And her ivory-tinted dress suited her appearance well enough.
“……”
That color, so akin to white, naturally evoked another face. Ivan thought of Amelia—who, though she was now to have his wife enter the palace, had merely feigned indifference, keeping her expression aloof.
More than that, Amelia hadn’t even asked what kind of person Jane Clarke was. As if it were someone else’s marriage—none of her concern. And that attitude left Ivan with a strange feeling.
“Someone else. A stranger…”
“Your Majesty?”
Jane cautiously called him back, pulling him out of the private world he had drifted into.
“My apologies. A matter crossed my mind.”
Realizing his lapse, Ivan offered a straightforward apology. To invite a guest only to fall into distraction—no matter that he was Emperor—was discourteous. All the more so when the guest was to be his consort.
“You were right in what you said.”
“……”
“I wanted a family neither hostile toward me, nor overly ambitious. Your father—rigid and unyielding—was the most suitable for that.”
So it was not affection that made him choose Jane. If Ivan couldn’t even recall her face from the court banquets where they must have met several times, then she had left no impression at all.
“Do you like children?”
Ivan asked. Jane gave an awkward laugh and nodded.
“I like children and animals.”
“That’s fortunate.”
Lifting his teacup, Ivan let the fragrant steam drift up to his nose.
“I will take care never to bring shame upon Your Majesty.”
As the cup neared his lips, the steam wavered in the air. Through that veil he gazed at the woman across from him. With confident grace, she declared her promise—as though she understood his concerns—that as long as she stood by him, even Ian would never come to harm.
“It is pleasant to converse with someone so well-spoken.”
“Your words delight me.”
At his praise, Jane’s smile bloomed brightly. Though her features were naturally striking, she somehow gave the impression of gentleness—no doubt because she knew precisely how she was seen, and carefully managed that image.
Jane Clarke was indeed an admirable woman. All the more so, considering she was to become Empress.
“……”
What if Amelia Escliffe had been born an ordinary woman? Ivan wondered. Her heart was too fragile, too easily swept by affection—hardly fit to be an empress.
Pretty, perhaps. But—
“Your Majesty.”
It was impossible to picture Amelia at his side. As Ivan dismissed the futile thought, Rodan hurried forward.
“There is urgent news.”
Ivan turned to Jane. She kept her gaze fixed politely on the window, feigning ignorance of what she surely had overheard.
“What is it?”
Ivan asked.
“Lord Ian suffered a sudden seizure after his meal.”
Rodan whispered into Ivan’s ear. Ivan blinked slowly—not out of disbelief, but to take in the meaning.
“I will go once this conversation is finished.”
“If it is urgent, you should go at once, Your Majesty. I’ll be fine.”
Meeting his eyes, Jane quickly assured him. Under such circumstances, Ivan would normally rise without hesitation—his nature was not to refuse such consideration. Rodan certainly expected him to leave.
“No. My promise to you comes first.”
“……”
“Rodan. Check if the palace physician has been summoned. If not, send for him immediately.”
Yet Ivan did not end the tea time with Jane. As though to declare that Ian could never be his foremost priority.
Aaron’s gaze fell upon the pitiful mother and child who had come into the temple. The woman, with eyes as blue as water, held her child close in fear.
“There is no need to be so frightened. Though the child’s father committed an unforgivable sin and met his death, the child bears no guilt.”
“B-but…”
She faltered, still unable to shake her anxiety.
“This is a place our God has established to bestow mercy upon His people. Any who dare to defy His word and threaten you here will rightly face punishment.”
Even the offspring of a sinner would be loved by God. And within these walls, all must abide by that truth. Aaron spoke with a gentle smile. Tears welled in the woman’s eyes, moved by his words.
“Th-thank you.”
She stammered her gratitude to God and His servant who had taken in her and her child.
“Give me the child. The priestess is absent at the moment, so I shall bless the child in her stead.”
At his kind words, the woman carefully handed over her baby. Aaron gazed down at the infant—about the same age as Ian.
“……”
The baby, with strikingly blue eyes, blinked curiously at him. Not crying even at the sight of a stranger—clearly a naturally mild child.
“I recall his eyes were this blue as well. The child must have inherited them from his father.”
Aaron’s words slipped out casually, though they carried a hidden intent. Still, nothing about them sounded amiss.
“Yes, that’s right. His eyes were an especially vivid blue.”
The woman affirmed, without a trace of falsehood.
“…I see.”
Aaron smiled faintly. He could now be certain—the man he had seen was no mere apprentice priest named “Ricky.”
“High Priest.”
Just as Aaron completed his false blessing and prayer, a voice called from behind.
“Louis.”
Behind the acolyte who had escorted the visitor, Louis appeared. Aaron welcomed his cousin with his usual pleasant expression.
“We’ve been seeing much of each other lately.”
“The priestess sent me.”
“Let’s talk inside.”
Having finished with the woman, Aaron returned the baby to her and walked ahead. Louis quickly followed.
“So, what is it?”
As soon as his chamber door closed, Aaron asked. Anything concerning Amelia always drew his sharp attention.
“Did you recently try to kill the priestess’s child without telling me?”
“No. Why would you ask that?”
Aaron answered at once. For now, Ian was worth keeping alive; he had no reason to kill him.
“Amelia Escliffe’s child nearly died.”
Aaron frowned. Even Duke Russell had agreed to wait and watch. None would have attempted Ian’s death without his word.
“That’s why the priestess asked you to come to the palace.”
“What endangered the child?”
“The Emperor’s gift.”
“A gift?”
“They’ve begun feeding him thin gruel, and the Emperor sent ingredients for it. While the wet nurse was away mourning her mother, someone prepared a meal—and that seems to have been the cause.”
Louis explained steadily. On the surface, it sounded plausible enough.
“So the priestess wishes you to visit the palace.”
Yet it was almost too suspicious—too much as if Ivan were the culprit.
“…Brother?”
Aaron blinked silently. When he gave no answer, Louis pressed him again.
“Yes, I will go.”
