LADAD Chapter 11

"Where have you been?"

It was just as the bell was tolling midnight. Amelia had been crossing the threshold of her bedroom when she was startled by an unexpected voice. It was Louise.

"Just to the prayer room for a moment. I told you I was going."

Louise gazed at Amelia with suspicious eyes. Amelia avoided Louise's narrowly opened eyes and approached the bed as naturally as possible.

"You really went to the prayer room?"

"I don't lie about things like that. And if I were trying to escape, I wouldn't have come back here on my own feet."

It wasn't a lie, so there was no need to feel any pangs of conscience.

"......"

Louise watched Amelia calmly pull back the covers, then soon gave up her questioning. After all, hadn't Aaron said it would be fine to give Amelia some freedom for a while?

"I understand. Sleep well. There's a main hall prayer service tomorrow morning, so don't forget. I'll come to escort you."

Amelia nodded and yawned. It meant she was tired of talking and wanted Louise to leave. Louise departed, inwardly criticizing Amelia's indifference as she did every day.

"See you again next week."

Amelia grinned as she recalled Ivan's parting words. This time, Ivan had truly made a promise. Until now, Amelia had known that Ivan had reluctantly gone along with her suggestions. But this time, Ivan had made the promise first, of his own will. Whether that feeling was pity, curiosity, or anything else.

"I think we've become friends."

Amelia murmured. She knew it was still a premature assumption, but it felt like Ivan had opened his heart to her.

"And..."

Amelia's lips twitched slightly before she pressed them firmly shut. Her mind was chewing over the way of life she had learned all this time.

The world is not very kind to people without value. In fact, it's not just unkind—it's cruel. The previous Amelias who had died after fulfilling their purpose were proof of that.

"......"

But today Ivan had been kind to Amelia. So to Ivan, Amelia Escliffe was a meaningful person in some way. Considering that Amelia had nothing to give Ivan, the meaning Amelia held for Ivan was likely romantic love.

In truth, it was thinking she had forced to fit in order to reach the conclusion that Ivan might have romantic feelings for her. Amelia lay in bed and buried her face in the blanket clutched tightly in her hands. Like a child who thinks hiding just their head means hiding everything when embarrassed.

But the expectation that had taken hold of a corner of her heart could neither be put away nor hidden.

The quarters had been in an uproar since morning. It was natural, since there would be a theatrical performance of pretending to receive an oracle during prayer.

"How pitiful."

Amelia murmured as she stared into the mirror. Today alone, she felt sorry for the fools who believed in the sacred legend.

They had dressed her in an ivory dress with almost no lace decoration to appear modest, yet hung transparent jewels all over her neck, ears, and arms. In fact, even this dress that pretended to look modest was made of the finest silk. It was all to make Amelia stand out most when she received light in the prayer room.

"I wasn't talking about you."

The servant who had heard Amelia's murmur tilted her head. Amelia waved her hand a couple of times, explaining that it had been a meaningless remark.

"Holy Maiden, are you ready?"

The servants who had been making final checks of Amelia's attire hurriedly bowed their heads. It was Aaron.

"......"

Amelia only stared directly at him without answering.

"She's ready."

Then Louise, who had been reading the situation nearby, answered instead. Louise couldn't understand Amelia's hatred toward Aaron. In fact, both Aaron and Louise were equally responsible for monitoring and pressuring Amelia's every move. However, Amelia showed Aaron—and only Aaron—aggression and hatred that she didn't hide, unlike what she showed Louise.

"I've come to escort you."

And her cousin, who just smiled even when treated this way, was even more incomprehensible. Louise quietly frowned.

"Why? Afraid I might run away somewhere along the way?"

At the same time, Amelia shot back at Aaron with a defiant tone.

"Where would you go?"

Aaron asked as if he were genuinely puzzled.

"For you to leave Escliffe would mean withdrawing the blessing that God has bestowed."

"......"

"Have you received some revelation?"

Amelia clenched her fists under her sleeves. The disgusting acting—eyes smiling softly while the mouth didn't smile at all—was revolting. She wished she could slap him across the face.

"No. I meant I could go by myself."

Amelia replied curtly. She meant there had been no need to stick that face she couldn't stand looking at right in front of her.

"But since you said there would be something special today, I should naturally accompany you."

Aaron couldn't have failed to understand what she meant. He calmly fabricated words that Amelia had never said.

"I suppose I did say that."

"Yes."

With several pairs of eyes watching, it was difficult to deny those words. That wasn't simply because of her own usefulness. The moment she revealed to everyone that she wasn't a real holy maiden, it wouldn't be her who would die, but the people who had been by her side.

"I'm getting old and my memory isn't what it used to be."

Aaron laughed aloud as if he had heard an amusing joke. Naturally, it wasn't a genuinely amused expression. His eyes showed that joking around in this situation would be bothersome and annoying.

"Let's go. The preparations are finished."

"I'll lead the way."

No matter how many other people were nearby, there was nothing good about provoking him. She had recently defied Aaron and received a harsh education.

"......"

It had been terrible. Amelia's face briefly turned pale as she recalled the face and sharp teeth of the dog that had rushed at her.

"We greet the Holy Maiden."

All the way to the main hall prayer room, everyone bowed their heads toward Amelia. Amelia, educated as a holy maiden should be, only gave them eye greetings without bowing her head as she passed.

"The Holy Maiden has arrived."

The guards standing at the prayer room entrance bowed their heads toward Amelia and opened both doors wide. At a glance, the prayer room was packed. It was natural. The prayer room where commoners gathered was a place where Amelia very rarely encountered them.

"We believe!"

"We greet the Holy Maiden!"

The commoners who had been keeping their places to meet Amelia rose in unison and offered greetings toward her. As Amelia walked down the central aisle, fanatical prayers and greetings poured out from every spot she passed.

"......"

Amelia, who received such worship, was ultimately one of those deceiving them. As she recalled that fact, her mouth felt bitter as wormwood.

"In the name of the Representative, I express gratitude to all of you who have come to this place today."

However, it was something beyond her own will. She was just doing what she was told to do because she too didn't want to die. It was the only rationalization Amelia could make.

"I hope that your countless prayers today may reach God."

Having said that much, Amelia turned her back on the believers below the altar who were still looking up at her adoringly. She couldn't face their bright, shining expectations.

"Lord Merif."

Amelia knelt before the statue with her eyes tightly shut.

"Bless all those gathered in this place."

And she folded her hands together and prayed for blessings to be bestowed upon those gathered here. Among all the prayers directed toward a god whose existence was uncertain, this was the only sincere one.

"And please tell me what I can do for this land."

Amelia spoke like a faithful servant of God.

"Oh..."

Suddenly, light poured down from the ceiling of the prayer room. As if God were responding to that prayer. Someone made a sound of surprise. Aaron, who would normally have commanded them to control themselves, did not stop that exclamation.

So it was natural that gazes would be drawn to Amelia, who was praying at the center of the altar. People looked up admiringly at the woman who shone like a jewel because she was wrapped in jewels.

"God has sent down a revelation."

At that moment, Amelia's eyes snapped open. She rose from her position and turned toward the believers who were behaving with blind faith as if they would lick her very feet.

"God said that His power is weakening."

Everyone's eyes widened at Amelia's words. For the power of the god protecting Escliffe to weaken—that was like saying the country was doomed.

"The one who betrayed Him and stole the flame of life is in the north."

At Amelia's words, sighs and anguished cries flowed through the prayer room.

"When conveying God's revelation, say that God's power is weakening."

"......"

"And that the one who stole His life force of faithfulness is in the north."

As if asking whether that was enough, Amelia cast her gaze toward Aaron, who stood guarding the side door. He smiled as if she had done well. Amelia closed her eyes with a small sigh, shutting him out. Only relief that she wouldn't receive retaliation or be accused of being useless dominated Amelia.

So she had no capacity to realize that what lay to the north of the temple was the imperial palace.