CH:03
“You weren’t standing there because you were thinking of running away again, were you?”
Louis asked suspiciously. Amelia quietly shook her head.
“If I were trying to escape, why would I be in the prayer room? I should’ve been picking the chains off the locked door.”
For once, she made a sound argument. Louis’s suspicious look faded, and she finally nodded.
“I was just startled when you weren’t in your room.”
“My apologies.”
Amelia replied while looking at Louis, her face showing not even a hint of remorse. Sensing her insincerity, Louis didn’t jump or refute it either.
“Then, get some rest.”
“You too, Louis.”
As Amelia stepped into her bedroom, the door shut behind her. This version of Amelia was especially lacking in warmth or social grace. She was fortunate to keep it hidden—had her true nature been known, she would’ve caused trouble hundreds of times over. Louis sighed and turned away.
“……”
Only after she could no longer hear the sound of footsteps fading did Amelia walk toward her bed. She absentmindedly took off her pearl earrings and placed them on the side table.
“Of all times, why did she come then?”
She was not in a good mood. Failing to escape was one thing—but she hadn’t even gotten to hear about the world outside the fortress wall.
“I had so many questions…”
She was deeply curious about the world beyond the wall. How lively the market was, what kind of clothes people wore, what homes they lived in, how they spent their free time, and how they fell in love.
“And…”
And how ordinary people built families and lived their lives.
“……”
When it came to that, Amelia was practically a blank slate. She had spent her whole life in confinement. The only people she had encountered were her deceased mother, Aaron, a few familiar faces among the high nobility, Louis, and a string of ever-changing handmaids.
Oh, there was one more. A girl even smaller and more fragile than herself. Amelia, who had been born a twin, had a sister without a name. The name “Amelia” was given only to the one destined to succeed.
“No, please. No! I’ll do everything you say…”
“There’s no precedent for twin girls.”
Despite her mother’s pleading, the child hadn’t lived past age three. Amelia shut her eyes tightly, recalling the moment a knife pierced her sister’s heart. It had happened so long ago, when she was very young, yet the horrific memory clung to her mind and refused to leave.
“Kill me instead!”
Her mother’s scream echoed in her ears, and her hand slipped. As she reached to steady herself on the side table, her palm accidentally swept the earrings into her hand. She clenched her fist—and the sharp pin of the earring pricked her skin.
“…Ah.”
That brought her back to her senses. With a short sigh, Amelia let go of the earring. Blood welled up from the small puncture wound in her palm. It wasn’t a big deal. There were already multiple old scars on her hand that bore silent testimony.
“I don’t want to die.”
She didn’t want to die like that. In Amelia’s black eyes, clear defiance and hostility arose.
Before the night came—the night when she’d be forced to fulfill her “duty”—she had to escape no matter what. If she couldn’t do it alone, then she’d use whatever means she had to.
“Not much time left before she fulfills her duty, is there?”
The head of the noble houses, Duke Russell, said as he lifted his wine glass. Aaron, seated across from him, gave a quiet nod.
“She’s already twenty this cycle.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Duke Russell chuckled softly and downed his drink in one gulp.
“Won’t you have a drink? You’re not a real priest anyway.”
He extended the bottle toward Aaron. Aaron gave a sheepish smile and shook his head. Whether or not he truly was one, outwardly he bore the title of priest.
“I’m not really in the mood.”
“Suit yourself.”
Duke Russell relented easily. He’d always seen Aaron as a rigid man, but he didn’t particularly care whether he drank or not.
“The man’s already been prepared.”
Aaron, who had been fiddling with his empty glass, froze momentarily. It was only for the briefest moment—barely noticeable.
“Is he a one-time use?”
To that, Duke Russell let out a low laugh.
“Of course not. It’s rare for a woman to get pregnant from just one attempt.”
After all, to avoid the disgrace of a man entering the High Priestess’s bedchamber, they couldn’t send someone in too often. But unless she became pregnant right away, it couldn’t be done in just one try.
“And there’s also the chance it’ll be a boy.”
Duke Russell gestured to a servant nearby, who deftly pulled out a cigar case. He clipped the end and handed it to him.
“Hoo…”
As Duke Russell inhaled the cigar, a deep, heavy aroma filled the private meeting room.
“Until she gives birth to a girl with black hair and black eyes, we’ll have to keep using her. There aren’t many black-haired men with all their wits intact.”
Duke Russell tapped his temple with his finger and smirked. Aaron didn’t ask what went on in that isolated villa’s underground level—he already knew.
“This cycle’s Amelia is particularly wild, so you must have your hands full.”
Duke Russell chuckled as he took another sip of amber liquid.
“Then again, she was trouble from the start.”
“……”
“Twin girls, of all things.”
It was unheard of. Under the heavens, there could be only one High Priestess. Until the very last moment, they had struggled to choose the child who resembled the previous Amelia more. Aside from the striking features of black hair and eyes, distinguishing between races was no simple task.
“In the end, it even drove her mother insane.”
Ultimately, the weaker girl, who resembled the mother less, was killed. The previous High Priestess lost her mind watching her own child die.
“I hope this is the last time.”
Duke Russell muttered.
“I’m tired of ordering necks snapped and hearts stabbed.”
Not because he pitied the sacrifices. He was simply bored of giving the same orders over and over.
“If House Russell absorbs the imperial family, everyone will find peace. But the young emperor hasn’t realized that yet.”
He blew out a puff of cigar smoke.
“He goes around whispering that the High Priestess is a witch.”
“……”
“He’s still young. Doesn’t understand who truly holds power. Arrogant brat.”
His displeasure was palpable. It was no secret—he detested the current emperor, Ivan. The boy had ascended the throne young and harbored deep resentment toward both the temple and the nobility.
“I’ll have to teach him a lesson soon.”
Duke Russell swept his hair back with a grin.
“Anyway, until then, keep a close eye on this Amelia. We don’t want any noise before the big event.”
“I understand.”
Aaron replied obediently. In truth, he was a man who had pledged loyalty to Duke Russell.
“I’m sure we’ll meet again soon.”
Satisfied with the answer, Duke Russell tossed his half-finished cigar and stood.
“Clear the bottles and used glasses.”
Aaron called in a servant to tidy the messy table. Then, he opened the window to air out the room from the lingering cigar smell.
“High Priest.”
“Louis.”
Just then, Louis appeared from beyond the open door.
“I found the High Priestess and escorted her back. She wasn’t running away—she was near the northern gate, in the prayer room.”
She had come to report Amelia’s location. Then she added that Amelia seemed to be feeling stifled lately. It was understandable, given the looming approach of her “duty” on her coming-of-age night.
Despite everything, Louis, being close in age and also a woman, felt a sliver of pity for Amelia. It was a far cry from how Duke Russell or Aaron regarded her.
“I see.”
Aaron didn’t mind such small sympathies. Especially after the conversation he had just had with Duke Russell.
“Keep a close eye on her movements…”
And then, almost impulsively, he added:
“But unless she shows signs of trying to escape, let her do as she pleases for a while.”
“Is that really okay?”
Louis’s eyes widened. Amelia’s face, so young and pitiful despite being the same age, came to mind.
She really had been lovely once. Aaron thought.
“She’ll be broken soon enough.”
He said with a soft smile. His gentle expression didn’t match the cruelty of his words.
“That much freedom…”
In truth, Aaron also pitied Amelia. That part was sincere—though it was a different kind of pity than Louis’s.
“…should be fine.”
“Of course!”
Louis responded brightly.
“All right. Off you go, then.”
“Yes. Good night, sir.”
Louis departed with light steps. Aaron silently walked to the window. Then he thought:
My beautiful flower. And one day, the flower I must personally crush…
The sky stirred like Amelia’s jet-black hair, swept up in a wind hiding fury.
