LADAD Chapter 34

Amelia's gaze turned to the cutlery neatly placed on the table. The imperial palace servants had polished and cleaned them so diligently that her face was clearly reflected on the knife.

"You must have been flustered by the sudden dinner invitation."

Ivan's voice made Amelia, who had been blankly staring at her own face reflected in the utensils, lift her head.

"I didn't expect the Sacred Maiden to come here personally, so the hospitality was surely inadequate. As the host, I felt I should apologize."

Ivan's voice was leisurely. As if to say that if this apology didn't appease any anger, well, that couldn't be helped.

Come to think of it, Ivan had always carried himself this way. On the day they first met, and in the times after, and even today. The occasional unfamiliar demeanor she caught glimpses of from him must have been his true nature that he hadn't quite managed to conceal. Thinking of it this way, Ivan struck her as somewhat unfamiliar.

"Bring in the food."

When Ivan commanded the servant standing nearby, food began to be arranged on the table.

"I don't know if it will suit your taste."

Ivan recommended the food with appropriate courtesy. Meanwhile, the servants filled the three people's glasses with beverages.

"I shall partake gratefully."

Before eating, Amelia first lifted her glass to her lips and tilted it. Though it appeared transparent, the taste was different from water. Amelia, who had naturally thought it would be water, turned her gaze to Ivan with wide eyes.

"..."

Their eyes met. Ivan, who was likewise holding his glass, seemed to have expected such a reaction, naturally covering his mouth with his glass. He was clearly smiling. He must have remembered when Amelia had once comically spat out alcohol.

"What's wrong?"

Louise carefully questioned Amelia, who was pursing her lips as if something was strange.

"Nothing."

Amelia shook her head while swallowing the liquid she had been holding in her mouth down her throat. This time, fortunately, she didn't spit it out without thinking. She couldn't behave so carelessly in a place with many watching eyes.

"But is there a particular reason the Sacred Maiden came personally?"

Ivan naturally moistened his throat with alcohol while asking. He didn't seem very interested in the smoked duck and salad.

"Ah..."

"I heard His Majesty found someone to look after the child. That baby has been tenderly cherished and cared for in the Sacred Maiden's embrace ever since she took him in from the streets."

While Amelia wavered over her contrived response, Louise swiftly cut in.

"So she wanted to come see the child this time by any means necessary."

"Ah, I see..."

Ivan accepted Louise's answer without showing any displeasure. The Skipper family was a representative great noble house that stood with the temple, and Ivan couldn't possibly not know that Louise was the daughter of Count Skipper, yet he behaved this way.

"I'm sorry for summoning you here just because the child I had been entrusted with was crying."

"No, it's perfectly fine."

Ivan readily apologized. The servants who knew his usual arrogant attitude quietly exchanged glances among themselves, silently conversing.

"Since it's come to this, if you think of it as an opportunity to rest comfortably, my heart would be a bit more at ease too. I hear temple life is rather strict."

Ivan gestured toward the glass in front of Louise. Sensing his gaze, Louise hurriedly lifted that glass.

"Today's events will remain secret."

"Thank you."

And she offered her thanks. Since what was in her glass was alcohol, what was in Louise's glass must be the same. However, Louise accompanied her meal with alcohol without resistance.

Amelia also sipped the alcohol bit by bit while reading the mood. However, with just those few sips, a subtle warm energy circulated through her skin, so she couldn't continue drinking while pretending not to notice.

"Don't you get tired of living in just one place for so long?"

The moment Amelia set down her glass, Ivan posed his question. Her gaze met directly with Ivan's as he cocked his head slightly. His seemingly transparent eyes glittered beautifully like fine emeralds in the light cast by the chandelier. It was hard to tear her gaze away from such eyes.

"Since you first came to this land, you stayed with the Russell ducal family, and since then you've only remained at the temple. I wondered if it might be boring."

"It's somewhat like that, I suppose."

At Amelia's answer, Ivan laughed shortly out loud. He seemed pleased with her honest response.

"Then how about moving your residence to the imperial palace? I think we could build facilities no less than the temple."

"That's not allowed!"

It was before Amelia could even respond. Louise abruptly burst into the conversation and expressed her objection. The gaze that had been locked onto Ivan as if magnetized swiveled toward Louise. Both her cheeks were flushed red against her pale skin.

And rightly so. A servant who drifted over like a shadow had been refilling Louise's glass each time she drained it. Louise was already on her fourth cup.

"The daughter of Count Skipper seems to be drunk."

Whether she didn't want to look vulnerable before the composed Ivan, or whether she had some other intention, was impossible to tell, but she was certainly intoxicated. The focus was starting to slip from Louise's eyes. Ivan didn't let the chance pass to point out this fact.

"No, no."

Louise hastily made excuses.

"I'm, I'm perfectly fine."

As excuses went, it was quite useless. The hiccup that followed further lowered the credibility of Louise's excuse.

"It would be better to end this gathering now."

"..."

"What do you think?"

Ivan asked. Since he had long since stopped paying attention to the hiccupping Louise, the target of his question was obvious.

"Ah..."

Amelia hesitated without answering. Her mind knew she should answer immediately, but her mouth wouldn't open. This time Ivan had personally invited her, so she had been able to see his face, but she didn't know what would happen afterwards. At least the Emperor's position wouldn't be one of idleness.

"Excuse me."

At that moment, Ivan's arm casually knocked over Amelia's utensils that had been on the table.

Ivan and Amelia simultaneously bent at the waist and stretched out their hands. Both their hands touched at once on the knife that was spinning clang clang across the marble floor.

"..."

Amelia lifted her gaze slightly from the knife she had been staring at in shock. The instant her half-concealed eyes rose, Ivan inclined his body a bit further forward. His breath grazed her nape. Amelia felt goosebumps rippling across her neck and unconsciously parted her lips.

"Tonight."

"..."

"I'll come find you."

Ivan whispered low beside Amelia's ear. It was a voice as alluring as the temptation of something sinful. Amelia unconsciously curled her fingers inward as if to hide them. Because of that, her hand slipped away from the knife. Ivan didn't let the opening pass and seized the knife that had dropped to the floor.

"Did I startle you? I apologize."

And he naturally straightened his torso. It had surely felt like several minutes to Amelia, but it must have been only a brief moment in reality. Louise was still swaying in a daze, and the face of the servant taking the knife from Ivan remained blank. They seemed to detect nothing unusual about the two of them.

"No, no. It's fine."

Amelia stammered her answer. Since they were pretending not to know each other, she hoped no one would find her strange, but her voice trembled helplessly.

"I'll take my leave now."

"Very well."

Amelia hurriedly rose from her seat and took care of Louise, who was trying hard to keep her eyes open properly. Louise leaned half against Amelia and took her steps.

"..."

Just before finally leaving the banquet hall, Amelia unconsciously looked back a little.

Ivan's face wasn't visible. But clearly, he didn't seem to be smiling.

Louise, intoxicated by alcohol, had completely passed out in her bedroom. Amelia watched the imperial palace maids tend to Louise, undressing her and wiping her face with a damp cloth, then quietly slipped away to her own chamber.

Amelia walked past the bed and pushed open the terrace window with effort. Her gaze fixed on the path that led from the main palace gardens to the west palace. Since Ivan had said he would come. She innocently assumed he would naturally pass through the west palace entrance.

When would Ivan arrive?

Just as she was wondering this, someone suddenly seized Amelia's waist from behind and drew her back. Amelia disappeared in an instant as if dissolving into the shadows. Before she could cry out in alarm, the terrace window shut with a sharp thud.

"Mmph..."

Similarly, before she could ask who it was, the man who had grasped her chin and tilted it upward claimed her lips. Her back pressed against the glass was bitterly cold, while the arms that encircled her waist to prevent escape and the chest beneath her palm were as firm as chains, as hot as its intensity.