CH:06
“So, what brings you here today?”
Ivan asked first, heading naturally to the head seat. He walked slowly, fully aware that Duke Russell’s eyes followed his every move.
“I asked for your precious time because I have something to tell you.”
“Sit.”
This time, even Eden didn’t try to tease him. At Eden’s nod, Duke Russell took the seat allowed to him.
“I heard you gave orders to ease border security near the northern border close to Reed. Are you thinking of resuming diplomatic ties with them?”
He asked directly without any pretense. Ivan crossed his legs and leaned comfortably against the back of the chair.
“Yes.”
Ivan answered bluntly. Duke Russell’s brow twitched at the answer he hadn’t hoped for.
“They dared insult the Priestess and disgrace Escliffe.”
The Duke recited the reason why Reed and Escliffe severed diplomatic ties, reminding Ivan of the reason they shut their borders.
“Did you come all the way here to remind me of something I clearly know? How kind of you.”
Ivan let out a short laugh and ran a hand through his hair, replying absentmindedly. It was clear he wasn’t paying serious attention to the Duke’s words.
“All they did was question the existence of the Priestess.”
“Your Majesty.”
Duke Russell opened his mouth to respond—
“Even the god who supposedly existed at the beginning came down to this world and left as a spirit. Is it so strange for someone to question how a mere representative of the divine could live eternally?”
Ivan spoke coldly. He seemed to mention the opinion of the neighboring nation Reed, but in truth, their opinion wasn’t so different from Ivan’s own.
“The Priestess is the divine representative who protects Escliffe.”
“…”
“To question her existence is to question and deny Escliffe itself.”
Reading Ivan’s heart, Duke Russell calmly stated that insulting the Priestess was the same as insulting their god—and by extension, insulting the land’s ruler, Escliffe.
“Sounds like a miracle logic.”
Ivan murmured with a faint smile, but there was nothing joyful or pleasant about it.
“More importantly, I, the ruler of the empire, do not feel insulted.”
“…”
“And Duke Russell. If God truly exists, He wouldn’t be so petty.”
Ivan denied the Duke’s claim and stood up.
“Maybe you can survive without food or water for a year, but the people of this land can’t.”
He walked toward the window and flung it open. Warm air rushed in, stirring the curtains as it poured into the room.
“Reed was built on flatlands and has vast granaries. In contrast, we have plenty of land but very little farmland. And the soil we do have is barren.”
Ivan pointed to the mountain peaks rising above the capital and highlighted Escliffe’s harsh reality. Duke Russell’s eyes slowly followed his gesture toward the mountains.
“Ten years without diplomatic ties. Every time there was a famine, countless people starved to death on the streets.”
The Duke’s gaze returned to Ivan’s face.
“It seems your family never went hungry, which is probably why you don’t care. But they say another famine is expected this year.”
Ivan smiled as he condemned the high nobility. Breaking diplomatic ties for the sake of pride had led to difficulty importing food. And countless citizens had died—chased by guards for petty thefts committed just to survive.
“Even that is the will of God.”
Duke Russell responded calmly. The false smile on Ivan’s face vanished completely.
“If you love God that much, maybe it would’ve been better if you devoted yourself entirely to religion.”
Ivan stared directly at the Duke with an expressionless face.
“Ten years is enough. Now, it’s time for gods to live like gods, and for humans to live like humans. Don’t you think?”
“That is how Your Majesty feels, then.”
Duke Russell replied softly.
“I understand. As Chairman, I merely wished to understand Your Majesty’s intentions. We can discuss this again in the council.”
Then he respectfully bowed to Ivan and exited the audience chamber. Ivan stared at the empty seat left behind.
“Call for Rodan and have everyone else leave.”
Ivan rang the bell and ordered a servant. Not long after, Rodan entered the chamber alone.
“Duke Russell already figured out we’re planning to resume diplomatic ties with Reed.”
“He already knows?”
Rodan frowned in concern. They had just barely begun opening the discussion. While they hadn’t tried too hard to hide it, it was still too early for the Duke to catch on.
“Find out where the leak came from. It has to be someone close by.”
Ivan spoke wearily, and Rodan nodded. Seeing Ivan motion him out with a wave of the hand, Rodan quickly retreated. It clearly meant “leave.”
“How can a so-called god close his eyes while those who follow him die….”
Alone in the room, brilliant sunlight poured down on Ivan’s head. Sitting on the window ledge, he stared up at the sky and muttered bitterly.
His scalp felt hot. He didn’t know if it was from the sunlight—or from the anger still burning after his conversation with the Duke.
“They don’t care about how others feel. No matter how much pain they cause….”
Amelia’s voice, claiming that it was wrong to ignore others’ feelings and hurt them, echoed in his mind.
“Like you’re any different.”
She, and the god she served, were no better. Ivan scoffed coldly. He felt the urge to drink, even though he rarely did.
He was a man who stood firmly on the side of humanity. If that was what counted as a god, then Ivan and such a god could never walk the same path.
Amelia, on her way to the prayer room, tilted her head and rubbed her ear.
“Is something wrong?”
“It’s nothing. Just a bit itchy.”
“You’re not pretending to be sick again to sneak off, are you?”
Louis asked suspiciously. Amelia shook her head.
Even so, his eyes held a faint mistrust. Amelia had often vanished after claiming she was tired, unwell, or just going to the restroom. Louis always had to clean up the aftermath.
“This time it’s really just an itch.”
She replied with mild irritation. Louis was a decent person—except that he clearly favored Aaron more. But in times like this, he could be annoying.
“Please, let me see the Priestess!”
That was when they heard a commotion carried by the wind. Amelia instinctively turned her gaze toward the source of the noise.
“Priestess!”
It was a woman holding a baby. Seeing Amelia, the woman brightened and tried to rush toward her, pushing past the temple attendants. Amelia flinched and stepped back, but two attendants restrained the woman.
“We told you, this is not allowed!”
The direction Amelia was headed and the public prayer hall used by commoners were completely different. It was surprising the woman had made it this far unnoticed.
“Priestess, please go to the prayer room….”
Louis quickly tried to usher Amelia toward the prayer room. But Amelia didn’t follow. Instead, she walked toward the source of the disturbance.
“What’s going on here?”
She asked. The attendants bowed in embarrassment.
“We apologize for the noise, Priestess. We’ll remove her immediately.”
“Priestess, please save my child.”
Despite the temple guards holding her back, the woman did not give up. She cried out, begging Amelia to save the baby, who lay limp in her arms, too weak even to cry.
“Please, I beg you, invoke the power of the gods….”
There is no god. No one knew that better than Amelia. Still, she couldn’t help but empathize with the desperate heart of a mother clinging to hope.
“Please save my baby!”
Didn’t her own mother cry out like that once too? As the memory of her mother’s scream resurfaced, Amelia reached out toward the child as if in a trance.
“Priestess.”
A soft voice made her freeze. Amelia turned her head reflexively. Aaron approached, smiling gently.
“You must not make exceptions for individuals.”
He said so, but in truth, he had already realized the child was sick. And right now, there was no one who could take Amelia’s place. If she suddenly contracted a disease and died, everything would fall apart.
“…”
Reading Aaron’s true intent, Amelia’s expression turned cold. She didn’t know why she had been born into this life, but she refused to believe it was just to live as someone else’s puppet.
“Then let’s say this exception is the will of the gods.”
She needed to say something—anything—to push back, even if it came from a childish impulse. With people watching, Aaron couldn’t object.
“Let me see the child.”
At her words, the mother trembled and unwrapped the cloth from the baby’s face. The child’s skin was covered in feverish red blotches and labored breathing.
“…”
Aaron clenched his jaw as he watched Amelia place her hand on the baby’s forehead and whisper gentle blessings. What harm could come from one insignificant life?
“Examine the baby and treat them. Since the Priestess has personally blessed the child, they’ll recover. They must.”
Aaron called one of the attendants and whispered instructions. Since Amelia had already given her blessing, the child had to survive. That was probably Amelia’s intent as well.
“…”
A challenging gaze met his in the air, as if to say, What will you do now? There she goes again, forgetting her place and doing as she pleases. Aaron gave a quiet smile.
She clearly needed to be re-educated.
