LADAD Chapter 38

Amelia was a fraud against the Empire. Of course, even though it wasn't by her own will, once the facts were revealed and a bloodbath ensued, could the leading lady of this charade survive?

"Well. Isn't it a connection that ought to be tidied up anyway."

Like hell. Ivan thought.

Rodan, observing Ivan like this, thought he was quite cold-blooded for someone thinking about the woman who had borne his child. But when you thought about it, Ivan's decision was correct. There was no reason Ivan needed to consider Amelia's circumstances.

Besides, Ivan was the Emperor. He was someone who had been raised from birth to treat the people around him like chess pieces.

Aaron came to visit. Amelia came out to meet him with a not particularly pleased heart at his sudden visit. At least as long as Louise was guarding her side, she couldn't pretend not to know about his contact.

"What's the matter?"

Amelia spoke first.

"Has the child found stability now?"

But Aaron only said things that were grasping at clouds. It was ridiculous that he asked about Ian's well-being when he wasn't even curious about it. In fact, wouldn't Aaron be the person who most wanted Ian to die and disappear?

"He still has difficulty at night without me."

Even so, she couldn't avoid answering Aaron's question. Amelia answered with an appropriate lie. It was true that Ian still sought Amelia every night, but she was worried that if she let Aaron know the child had calmed down, he might immediately drag her away. The fact that he had come directly meant that was the most likely possibility.

"I see. It's a big problem that the child shows such attachment to the divine maiden and won't separate."

However, unexpectedly, Aaron wasn't displeased at all. Rather, he acted like someone who was truly heartbroken and couldn't bear it. Amelia was so flustered by his unexpected attitude that she was bewildered.

"It would be difficult to bring you back quickly."

Aaron even spoke as if he would leave her here for quite a while. Amelia couldn't easily say anything and only watched Aaron's mood.

"Does that mean I can stay in the imperial palace longer?"

"If His Majesty the Emperor permits it, there's no reason it would be impossible. Since it's important for the child who will become a bridge between the imperial family and the temple to grow stably and safely."

It sounded extremely practical and sensible. That's why it was even less believable. There was definitely another ulterior motive. Amelia didn't abandon her suspicion and narrowed her eyes. Aaron, as if feeling that gaze, glanced at the maids.

"Louise. Send away the other servants around us, and Louise, you go out too."

When Amelia's order fell, Louise hurriedly drove all the servants out to the corridor. And she herself went outside and firmly closed the door. It was to watch for any listening ears from outside.

"What are you thinking?"

Amelia asked first. Aaron leisurely smiled while savoring the tea's aroma.

"Aaron."

"It's exactly as I said."

However, when Amelia's urging continued, he couldn't maintain his leisurely attitude forever. Aaron put the teacup back on the saucer without taking even a sip.

"I can stay in the imperial palace as long as I want? Is that what you mean?"

"That's right."

"Why?"

Amelia asked directly. His attitude, which had tried never to hand her over beyond the temple walls, had suddenly changed, so she had a strong intuition that he was definitely up to some scheme.

"Didn't you say you had work to do here? The child will serve as a good excuse for you to stay here. So I said you could continue to stay by the child's side."

Sure enough, Aaron revealed the heart he had been hiding. Even thinking roughly, it didn't seem like a proper and sensible matter, but Aaron, who was trying to make her do that work, had an extremely calm and shameless face.

"I had work to do? What work?"

Amelia asked like a cat bristling with wariness.

"The work of getting close to His Majesty the Emperor. Since you've been concerned about the relationship between the imperial family and the temple looking bad, take this opportunity to clearly show it to others."

"......"

"Since you have the child as common ground, it shouldn't be too difficult."

Aaron's words sounded extremely meaningful. Her heart began beating rapidly, like when they say you can't live after sinning. Amelia struggled to conceal her anxiety that Aaron might have discovered who Ian's real father was. But her restless tongue, unable to hide her discomfort, slipped out and needlessly wet her lips.

"Just don't suddenly say you want to become Empress."

"Stop speaking in riddles."

"Shall I?"

Aaron immediately changed his attitude as if he had been waiting for those words. Now that there were no listening ears anyway, it seemed not to matter.

"Seduce the Emperor and spend the night with him."

"...What?"

Amelia asked back with a bewildered face. Aaron's command was completely opposite to the life he had been forcing on Amelia. Aaron was the one who had told Amelia that it was her fate to spend nights with men with black hair and black eyes, and bear daughters to continue the divine maiden lineage.

"Make it so everyone knows that you slept with the Emperor, to the point where you can't possibly deny it."

But suddenly telling her to spend the night with Ivan? Did he mean to have children with him? Ivan was a man with luxurious golden hair like the sun. His eyes were also a sparkling green like tender leaves. He wasn't someone they would consider.

Amelia became confused by the command that fell without context.

"What are you trying to do? If I spend the night with the Emperor, what do you want to accomplish?"

Of course, Aaron's command seemed like an easy task to Amelia. Since it involved sharing a bed with the man she loved. That kind of thing didn't seem difficult.

However, separate from that, if Ivan would lose something because of it, it was definitely something to be careful about. She didn't want anything to happen that would threaten Ivan's life, or cause even the slightest problem with his position.

She had endured a year thinking she had lost him once. That was actually despair close to an abyss, and Amelia didn't want to experience similar pain again. Even though the relationship between the imperial family and the temple wasn't good, she didn't want to participate in some scheme and earn Ivan's hatred.

"The Emperor becomes a scoundrel who violated you. And the temple will wage holy war for your honor."

Aaron answered readily. At that moment, Amelia realized that was absolutely something she must not do. For Ivan's sake, the relationship between herself and Ivan had to be kept thoroughly secret as it had been.

"Do you think I'll obediently climb into the bed of a man I don't even know well?"

At Amelia's response, Aaron laughed as if he had already expected such a common-sense answer.

"You already have."

Amelia had already spent the night with a man she had no feelings for and borne a child. Since she had already done it once, twice wasn't such a big deal, was what he meant.

"Throw away your petty guilt and regret. Your child is precious to you."

It also meant that if that child was so precious, she should do whatever she was told to protect him.

"Don't think Louise is the only one watching you and the child in the imperial palace."

Aaron warned. Amelia naturally recalled the hand that had deliberately torn at her ankle bitten by a dog and the cold voice. When she remembered his face asking if he should let her child die like this too, goosebumps immediately rose all over her body.

Amelia had faith in just one thing about Aaron. Aaron was a madman who could kill even a newborn child without hesitation. Moreover, Amelia wasn't unaware of her child's position in the imperial palace. He was merely a token of peace. Whether he was killed by a beast or whatever, disguising such a thing as an accident would be nothing.

"If you do as I say, you will become free. The sacred legend will end with your generation."

"......"

"Naturally, there will be no need for daughters afterward. If necessary, I'll return your precious son to you as well."

This time Aaron changed his attitude and whispered softly. It was a voice sweet and gentle enough to be irresistible. As if it was time to offer a carrot after wielding the whip once.

Amelia unconsciously hesitated and fixed her gaze on Aaron's face. Unlike before when she couldn't even properly make eye contact with him.

"If he continues to not go as planned and you need help, tell me. Just in case, I'll prepare medicine as well."

Aaron seemed to know well that Amelia's heart was wavering as much as her shaking pupils.

"I'll see you later."

So that's why he left his seat like that, without additional persuasion or threats.