LADAD Chapter 12

"How dare there be one who diminishes God's authority?"

It was when Amelia opened her eyes again. People who had momentarily forgotten that this was supposed to be a solemn prayer time leaned forward slightly and whispered.

"Who could that be?"

"The north?"

"Reed?"

Aaron, who would normally have strictly managed even such small noises, simply stood still and watched everything.

"Those bastards would be capable of such a thing. Previously too..."

Everything was proceeding according to his arrangements. Aaron had said the greater the people's agitation, the better. Amelia sighed in relief. For a moment, her head spun.

"The Holy Maiden seems tired."

Aaron, who had quickly climbed onto the platform, took Amelia's arm and supported her.

"We'll have to end today's prayer time here."

Those who had been seated murmured as they stood. And they bowed their heads toward Amelia as she descended the platform supported by Aaron.

"......"

It was certainly fanatical blind faith. Walking down the carpeted central aisle, Amelia lowered her gaze to the floor, unable to bear the guilt. She couldn't bear to look at those asking her to pray for them. Whatever the reason, Amelia was deceiving them. Excuses were meaningless.

"You did well."

It was just as they exited the prayer room. Along with the sound of the door closing behind them, Aaron's praise pierced Amelia's ears. Though it was a softly whispered voice, it had no trouble making Amelia feel self-loathing.

"Let go of me now."

Amelia squirmed, trying to escape from Aaron's grasp. In truth, his touch was unbearable. She felt intense revulsion.

"Since I have something to tell you anyway and must go to your quarters, let's continue like this."

But Aaron did not let go. As their relationship had always been.

"......"

Amelia closed her mouth and walked in step with him in resignation. Aaron came all the way into the small reception room next to the bedroom, using the excuse of supporting Amelia who was exhausted and couldn't walk properly.

"Say what you have to say quickly and leave."

As soon as the door closed, Amelia defiantly knocked Aaron's hand away. As if he had already expected such behavior, Aaron calmly straightened his hand.

"The Night of Adulthood."

Then Aaron dropped a bombshell with a smiling face. Because he knew it was the story Amelia least wanted to hear. For someone in a position to torment others, perhaps the more violent the resistance, the more enjoyable it was.

"You know there isn't much time left."

Amelia bit her lips tightly and looked away from Aaron. But her trembling eyes already clearly revealed her emotional turmoil.

"One month remains."

Quick-witted Aaron couldn't fail to notice the agitation. Aaron mockingly informed Amelia of the remaining period of freedom.

"Until then, I'm thinking of allowing you a certain degree of freedom."

"......"

"If you do as you did today."

It was to give a moderate carrot, then shake it in his hand.

"You know, don't you? As a holy maiden, you have a duty to ensure the sacred legend continues for life."

At the soothing voice, Amelia turned her gaze to Aaron. He was gazing at Amelia with the face that everyone unanimously called benevolent.

"Why?"

"......"

"Why must that sacred legend necessarily continue? What's the reason it can't end here?"

His benevolent expression soon became one of pity.

"Do you still not understand that?"

His expression showed how she could still not know the reason and ask such a question.

"Because your value lies there."

"...Is that all?"

Amelia asked in a trembling voice. A smile slowly rose to Aaron's lips.

"......"

Silence was the clearest answer. Amelia froze like a statue in that spot.

"I'll be going now. Can't have any unnecessary misunderstandings."

Aaron turned away, leaving Amelia behind like that. Only after he had completely disappeared beyond the door did her senses return. Only then did Amelia notice that her hands were trembling pathetically.

"Leave, I must leave..."

Even clasping her hands together as if praying, the trembling did not subside. Aaron's story didn't simply mean fulfilling one's duty.

Bearing children meant ensuring the holy maiden's life would continue afterward. And that was the same as beginning a life with a time limit.

"Run away."

Fear consumed her mind. It was different from the fear she had felt when facing the dog. The distant despair that something would eventually devour her. Different from the realistic fear visible right before her eyes, but the anxiety of a noose slowly tightening. It was definitely the kind that would drive a person mad. Amelia knew that fact well.

Amelia's mother had also steadily gone mad as time passed. At first with contempt and anger toward those who had cruelly killed her children, and from some point on, with fear toward the moment of her own inevitable death.

"...Where did Mother go?"

She might have wished for time to stop, but time passed as quickly as Amelia grew. Thus, not long ago, Amelia's mother was disposed of for having fulfilled her purpose.

"Mother? There's no way you could have a mother."

And from that time on, Aaron treated Amelia as if she were a being that had fallen from heaven.

"When you bear a child, you die. Either that child dies, or I die. This life is determined that way."

Every few years, during the brief moments they could meet, her mother's whispered voice was faint to the point of breaking but clear. Aaron said her mother had gone mad long ago, but Amelia was certain that wasn't true.

"Run away, please..."

Her mother had wanted to go mad, but couldn't completely lose her mind. She had only suffered as if burning in fire for her entire life.

"......"

'Now I really must escape.'

Amelia's clasped hands turned white from her own grip. She knew that if she couldn't break free, she would end up in the same situation as her mother.

"One who weakens God's power is in the north."

Ivan laughed briefly upon hearing the content of the revelation. His face as he pondered the meaning looked like someone who couldn't contain his joy.

"Does that revelation mean Reed, or me?"

Rodan, who would normally not hesitate to speak directly to the Emperor, simply kept his mouth shut. Naturally, his master was not in a pleasant state at all. Rodan, who had been with Ivan for a long time, knew that fact.

"......"

Ivan looked away from Rodan, who was being cautious. He was simply annoyed by the situation, not wanting to torment his loyal retainer.

"The timing is coincidental. Just as I announce that I intend to resume diplomatic relations with Reed, a revelation comes down saying that one who goes against God's will is in the north."

Who sends down such will?

If there really is a god, it would be God's will, and if God doesn't exist, then someone impersonating God's will has moved. And Ivan's belief was in the latter.

"Bring a cigar."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

At Ivan's command, the attendant hurriedly opened the cigar case. After cutting the end, he handed it to Ivan. Ivan thought as he deeply inhaled the lit cigar.

Who believes this revelation?

"......"

The answer came to him in his exhaled breath. It was a belief that had continued for 200 years. Most Escliffians would believe and follow those words. Unless they were unbelievers like him.

In his inhaled breath, branches of thought extended. Then what effect would this revelation have on him and the Escliffe imperial family?

The revelation that God might withdraw the goodwill and blessings bestowed upon Escliffe would become fear and sway most Escliffians. That fear would effectively interfere with what Ivan was trying to do and might tie the hands and feet of the imperial family.

"Resume diplomatic relations with Reed immediately. Before rumors spread faster and become uncontrollable."

But Ivan had no intention of being swayed as those evil things desired. He had no intention of abandoning his plans according to their will.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Rodan, understanding that thought, obediently answered. And at Ivan's gesture, he withdrew from his office.

"Just. Following the will."

Alone in his office, Ivan recalled the insolent face and voice that had said she was just following the will. And the small hands that had clung to him as if he were a lifeline.

"Presumptuous..."

A twisted smile rose to Ivan's lips. Pretending to be good, pretending to be pitiful, while mocking the imperial family's honor at every turn and trying to interfere with him—it was infuriating. In truth, it was hatefully detestable. So she was absolutely a woman who couldn't be left alone.

"I'm glad I met you."

Ivan recalled the small voice that had said she was glad to meet him, and made a vow.

He would not let Amelia die peacefully. He would make her lose everything she held dear and meet a miserable death. He would make her think that what she had thought fortunate—meeting him—should never have happened.

That was the price for daring to manipulate him, and at the same time, fitting punishment for a fraud who deceived the world.