LADAD Chapter 4

'Will it be today?'

Amelia stepped into the garden leading to the north gate. Even while pretending otherwise, her behavior of looking around was exactly like a child peering at street stalls in a marketplace.

"Not there...."

After looking around the garden for a long time, Amelia muttered weakly. Her disappointment was evident, like someone who couldn't buy what they wanted because it was sold out.

"Are you looking for something?"

Even the guards stationed at the north gate asked. Amelia hastily shook her head.

"No, I was just heading to the prayer room."

And she added an excuse to avoid looking suspicious. The guards naturally accepted Amelia's excuse. Thanks to that, Amelia had to take reluctant steps toward the prayer room.

"Liar...."

'He said we'd definitely meet again next time.' As the prayer room door closed, Amelia sighed out her blame toward Ivan.

"Who?"

It was then. At the voice that suddenly popped out from beside her, Amelia was so startled she collapsed to the floor.

"......!"

She learned then that when you're too surprised, you can't even scream. Amelia felt her heart drop as she looked up.

"Who...."

Following the stained glass of the prayer room ceiling, colorful light fell beside the man's face. With his mouth closed, he looked almost sacred. He could have been a priceless masterpiece that no amount of money could buy.

"Ivan."

At Amelia's call, Ivan tilted his head to the side without answering. The moment several fragments of light fell upon his complete face, a smile began to slowly spread across Ivan's expressionless features. Like watercolor paint dropping onto paper.

Amelia gazed at Ivan as if spellbound. It was dreamlike and beautiful, making it hard to look away.

"Please stand up."

Then Ivan extended his hand toward Amelia who was sitting on the floor. Amelia carefully raised her hand. The small hand resting on Ivan's palm was trembling slightly with emotions she couldn't control.

"I didn't expect you to be this startled."

"What were you doing here alone?"

At Amelia's question, Ivan laughed lowly. It was a sound that rang as attractively as his voice.

"What would a novice priest be doing in a prayer room?"

At Ivan's question, Amelia made an "ah" sound. She realized she had asked a foolish question.

"Ah, I...."

"......"

"I never thought you'd be here. I kept looking only outside...."

Amelia, who had grabbed Ivan's hand and stood up, answered haltingly.

"Because I promised."

At that moment, Ivan spoke as if whispering. Amelia didn't notice that he naturally spoke informally from time to time. And she just blinked, forgetting that she was still holding hands with him.

"Right, you did."

Thanks to that, her response was half a beat late.

"I wanted to hear stories about the outside, so I kept waiting."

Strength entered Amelia's hand. Still holding Ivan's large hand, Amelia pulled him toward the platform where the statue stood.

"Sit down and tell me stories."

And sitting down herself, she pulled Ivan down. She didn't seem to consider at all that the spot where many people's feet had touched might be dirty. To Ivan's eyes, it was an unexpected aspect of her.

"Did you go out again?"

It was just as Ivan sat down next to Amelia. Amelia turned her head with sparkling eyes. Their eyes met.

Eyes.

"......"

Those eyes.

Ordinary human pupils, nothing different except for their color. But definitely something different. Ivan thought as he turned his head sideways, meeting Amelia's gaze.

"Hmm?"

When Ivan didn't respond, Amelia pressed him again for an answer. Ivan belatedly nodded.

"Where did you go? A tavern again this time? Did you drink too?"

"I did."

Amelia exclaimed and clapped her hands. It was a childlike attitude.

"What does alcohol taste like?"

Indeed, Amelia was as curious as a wild horse. As if she had never stepped beyond the temple walls in her entire life.

"It depends on the type."

"......"

"Some smell and taste all bitter, others are made from fruit so they have a sweet fragrance."

Alcohol was strictly forbidden in the temple. Even in this temple that was just a facade, with no real interest in the existence of God. It was only natural. The moment they showed their debauchery, the people of Escliffe would become suspicious.

"Does it make you feel good when you drink it?"

At Amelia's question, Ivan pondered his answer for a moment.

"If you drink in moderation."

"What if you drink a lot?"

"You can't control your body, or you lose emotional control. You might feel good though."

Ivan's answer carried contempt for such behavior. Amelia naturally picked up that Ivan didn't like the act of getting drunk.

"I've never tasted it, so I was curious. Whether it really makes you feel good."

Amelia changed the subject as if savoring the thought.

"What do people talk about when they gather?"

Amelia's body leaned toward Ivan.

"Just talk about life. Whether this year is a good harvest or a bad one. That someone next door had a baby. Sometimes they talk about a dog having puppies too."

Ivan responded naturally.

"Sometimes they get into fights too. Over losing money at cards."

"Wow.... Isn't that bad?"

"There's nothing wrong with seeking entertainment."

Ivan's response was indifferent. Already convinced that Ivan was a wayward priest, Amelia didn't bother trying to reform him.

"Sometimes they make bets over one woman too."

"Bets?"

"Who can seduce the woman first."

At Ivan's words, Amelia blinked with her mouth slightly open.

"Because they want to become lovers?"

"Usually, that kind of thing would be hard to consider wanting to become lovers."

Ivan laughed briefly at the innocent question. As if dealing with a young lady who didn't know the ways of the world.

"Just for one night's pleasure?"

"That's, that's really bad."

Amelia frowned.

"You're not taking the other person's feelings seriously. No matter what wounds they might suffer..."

"Don't worry about it. It has nothing to do with you anyway."

Ivan cut off Amelia's words, saying there was no need to worry about unrelated matters. Indeed, more than half the stories from taverns were trivial talk that didn't need careful listening. However, his words sounded somehow cold and detached. Like his true nature hidden deep inside.

"Sometimes they talk about you too."

At Ivan's additional words that seemed to change the subject, Amelia hesitated. Her eyes, which had been slowly rolling while searching through empty space, turned toward Ivan again.

"What do they say about me?"

"Whether you really have an immortal body. Whether you really don't age. Whether you're really God's representative."

Ivan answered matter-of-factly to Amelia's question.

"Are you really?"

Ivan asked, looking directly into Amelia's eyes. It wasn't even a particularly impressive question, but strangely, Amelia felt her heart sink.

"Um...."

Amelia smiled awkwardly. While she could easily reveal to Aaron that she wasn't a sacred maiden, it was difficult to do so with Ivan. Amelia also knew that her usefulness lay in that role. That's why she might ask people to call her by name in public, but she wouldn't claim she wasn't a sacred maiden.

Because she didn't want to die for having outlived her usefulness.

Ivan's innocent question felt like a sharp attack, probably because of her conscience. Amelia half-lowered her eyes to hide her wavering gaze.

"That's a strange question."

"......"

"When it's obvious."

Ivan added an excuse as if he hadn't doubted Amelia's existence. Her heart pounded wildly. Amelia felt a fragile sense of guilt toward him.

"You said you were curious about the taste of alcohol earlier. Shall I bring some?"

Watching her, Ivan naturally changed the subject. Amelia forgot the guilt she'd felt just moments before and widened her eyes in surprise.

"Can you bring it into the temple?"

"If you hide it secretly, what couldn't you bring?"

Ivan answered shamelessly. Since his own existence had been secretly hidden and brought into the temple, alcohol wouldn't be a big deal.

"No. What if you get punished for no reason?"

However, Amelia shook her head, thinking it was too risky a problem. Bringing in forbidden items, especially alcohol, was different from secretly conversing like this. Amelia was not unaware of what punishments those who broke the rules received.

"Instead of that, just..."

Amelia opened her mouth hesitantly. To be honest, she didn't trust Ivan enough yet to reveal all the truth and ask for help. This was only their second meeting.

"Next time too."

But she liked Ivan, who was the only one in this prison disguised as a temple who treated her comfortably. Because he could tell her stories of the world that everyone else hid from her, stories she didn't know.

"Come meet me next time too."

Amelia whispered, grasping Ivan's sleeve. It was closer to a plea than a suggestion. Ivan silently looked down at his priest's robe sleeve that was precariously held in Amelia's grasp. Her slender fingers trembled slightly, worried she might be rejected.

"...As much as you want."

Clouds passed over the stained glass ceiling. The light dimmed. Ivan's crooked smile was hidden in that darkness.