LADAD Chapter 26

"...That couldn't be possible."

In the silence, Aaron barely opened his mouth. And he spoke as if driving a nail, saying that everything was Ivan's mistake.

"Recently, the Lady Saint picked up one that had been abandoned on the street."

Ivan approached the child who was looking up with tear-moistened eyes. And he lightly touched the soft nose with his fingertip. Although the baby had burst into tears as if asking for recognition of its existence, the child didn't cry at Ivan's touch.

"Then should I consider it an adoption of the heart?"

Rather, it nibbled on Ivan's index finger that had come down from its nose to its lips. Ivan paused at the soft and moist sensation.

"Is that right, High Priest?"

Ivan lightly withdrew his hand. Then he turned halfway around to look back at Amelia and Aaron, who hadn't crossed the bedroom threshold.

"I suppose we should see it that way."

Aaron answered. His face clearly showed discomfort at having to provide the answer Ivan wanted. Of course, it was such a subtle difference that only Amelia, who always observed Aaron, could detect.

At that moment, some realization struck through Amelia's head. Even Aaron, who would rarely suffer discomfort, was in a position where he had to bow that stiff neck of his before the emperor as an Escliffian.

Then...

"Take that child."

This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to save Ian's life. Her mind worked incredibly fast. Amelia stepped forward and made the proposal.

"Lady Saint, what are you suddenly saying...!"

"I want to speak with His Majesty the Emperor without interruption, Aaron."

Since they were in front of outsiders, Aaron couldn't force Amelia as he would when they were alone, knowing this.

"Is there a reason I must do that?"

Ivan looked at Amelia with surprise, raising one eyebrow crookedly. It was natural since Amelia had sat quietly like a doll with her mouth shut throughout Aaron and Ivan's conversation.

"Your Majesty said you wanted to prove that there are no problems between the imperial family and the temple."

Amelia met Ivan's eyes with a clear gaze. Like that day when she had once begged him to save her.

"It might be difficult for me to visit the palace every month."

It would be impossible anyway since Aaron had no intention of letting Amelia slip away beyond these walls.

Even when Amelia stayed at the villa they had prepared in advance for childbirth, Aaron didn't let his guard down. Even then, the guards thoroughly controlled entry and exit so that Amelia couldn't meet anyone or go outside.

"If we use that child, who is like my own, as evidence of the alliance between the temple and the imperial family, that itself would prove a close relationship."

Amelia calmly made her excuse. Naturally, so it wouldn't look like an excuse. So she wouldn't appear too desperate.

"......"

Ivan didn't answer easily. He just stared intently at Amelia as if pondering something, or wanting to probe deeper.

Not knowing the emperor's will naturally made her throat parched. Amelia anxiously bit her lip inward, then consciously pushed it out. She simply clasped her hands together beneath her dress sleeves, concealing any trembling from sight.

"The meaning of your existence and that child's existence are different. That child has no power to represent the temple, and would only be dangerous to the imperial family."

"Dangerous?"

Amelia asked back, not understanding what Ivan meant. Ivan wasn't particularly angry or frustrated.

"I don't know how much you love that child. It might just be that you're trying to push off a child you picked up because it's troublesome. Then when things don't go well, when something happens to the child, won't you blame me?"

Rather, he explained calmly and matter-of-factly, which only made Amelia more anxious.

"Lady Saint, since His Majesty says so, please stop..."

"That will absolutely never happen. I swear."

"......"

"I swear on God, on God!"

When he remained silent even after mentioning an oath, Amelia finally swore on God. In truth, swearing on a god she didn't even believe in was no more substantial than just making a promise, but she thought he would trust the god-swearing version more.

"Even if the child gets hurt, I won't hold the imperial family responsible for that fact. It would be a better life than dying on the street."

She forgot that she should hide her desperation. She was afraid that the emperor might turn away from Ian and leave like this.

"Fine. But write a pledge."

Finally, Ivan gave the answer Amelia wanted. Color returned to Amelia's face.

"High Priest. Would you prepare paper and pen?"

"Your Majesty. If you don't want to, there's no need to take the child. It's not so difficult for the temple to take in one more pitiful child."

Aaron tried to stop Amelia until the very end. As if he couldn't tolerate both Amelia and the child trying to escape from his grasp.

"Didn't they say the Lady Saint's will is God's will? The current situation looks like the High Priest is opposing God's will."

The emperor also seemed to feel a strange sense of discord, tilting his head slightly as he looked at Aaron. Aaron realized he had overstepped and took a step back.

"I'll have paper and pen brought."

Before long, a servant came with paper and pen.

"Everyone leave."

Ivan, who received the items from the servant, calmly commanded. His attitude was as confident as if Amelia's bedroom were his own.

"Your Majesty. This is the Lady Saint's bedroom. The two of you cannot stay alone."

"Fine. Then let's move to the reception room. Will that work?"

At Ivan's question, Aaron reluctantly nodded. This time he openly showed his unwillingness, but Ivan coolly ignored Aaron's true intentions and moved to the reception room.

"Leave."

Ivan looked at Aaron and said coldly. It was like saying that since they had done everything he wanted, it was time to withdraw.

"You too."

Louise, who had been trying not to leave by claiming to be Amelia's maid, was also driven out.

"Sit."

Ivan said to Amelia, who was standing blankly. His gaze was directed toward the seat where Amelia had originally been sitting.

There was no reason not to listen to the emperor, who was like a lifesaver. Amelia immediately moved and sat facing Ivan.

"I'm suspicious by nature, so I can't trust oaths made only with words."

Ivan carelessly pushed the teacup on the table to one side. Even in that trivial action, subtle elegance emanated. It was mysterious.

"Leave your oath in the pledge. Then I'll take the child back in your place. I'll take care of the child so it grows up safely, and I'll keep my promise to support the temple, so don't worry."

Support didn't matter either way. However, if it was what he wanted in order to save Ian, she wanted to grant anything. Amelia hurriedly took up the quill pen. And she wrote down exactly what the emperor had promised and the oath she had made to him.

"Should I write that if the temple doesn't keep its oath, we'll return all the support money received?"

Amelia asked. As if it were an unexpected question, Ivan laughed briefly. For a moment, Amelia felt strange. Seeing the emperor's smiling face brought back memories of Ivan.

"Money doesn't matter at all."

"Then..."

"Offer yourself to me."

At the unexpected words, Amelia hesitated.

"What does that mean?"

At Amelia's question, Ivan smiled slightly. As if it were nothing.

"Only if you stake yourself can the temple avoid doing foolish things, don't you think?"

He said it was only because he didn't trust the temple, and Amelia.

"What benefit would it be to Your Majesty to have me?"

Amelia asked directly.

"Wouldn't it be helpful either way?"

Ivan answered, leaning back against his chair leisurely. His gaze scanning Amelia held multiple meanings.

"Politically and socially."

But it wouldn't be only that. Amelia sensed this intuitively. His gaze that flowed from her head down to her chest was not simply evaluating her by such values.

"Whatever you desire."

However, Amelia was calm. She was well-accustomed to being pushed around and used at will from here and there. Rather than being pushed around without any gain, it was much better if she could at least protect her child. Moreover, if she staked her position as Lady Saint as the emperor said, Aaron wouldn't dare harm Ian.

"You really act like a mother who gave birth to a child."

It was when Amelia was writing that she would even endure offering herself. Ivan spoke as if in admiration.

"It is my child."

It was clearly the truth, but an ambiguous answer that wouldn't sound like the truth. At Amelia's answer, Ivan smiled with an expression that was hard to read.

"Yes. What tremendous affection."

It was a smile that seemed both relieved and satisfied. Whichever side his smile leaned toward, it was a type that Amelia couldn't understand the meaning of.