LDAD 65

Chapter 65

“Before the year is over.”

The clear answer fell where his smile had just passed. At the same time, Amelia’s face became completely expressionless.

“…Before the year is over?”

It wasn’t a question. It was nothing more than Amelia muttering to herself, yet Ivan bothered to nod in confirmation.

“Rodan has left to deliver the proposal letter to Count Clarke of the borderlands. If the count doesn’t refuse, the marriage will take place as soon as possible.”

And he explained in detail. Considering that the listener didn’t particularly want the explanation, his kindness was rather useless.

“Since I’ve remained unmarried until now, I’ve heard rumors of people making foolish assumptions.”

“……”

“I’ve come to realize clearly that I need a wife and children as well.”

Their gazes collided in the air. Whatever Amelia held in her heart, it was clear she would never move according to his will.

“I see.”

Amelia murmured as she picked at a hangnail by her nail. Blood welled up beneath the torn flesh. Louis, who had been quietly observing the subtle clash between the two, rolled his eyes. He sensed that the emperor hadn’t conceded defeat—and that Amelia was deeply displeased by it.

“There’s no time limit, so I suppose I can leave now. I’ve seen enough of the child.”

Ivan, who had managed to thoroughly upset Amelia in such a short time, rose to his feet. He even gave her a teasing smile before turning to leave.

“Louis.”

Amelia, who had been staring blankly at the door through which Ivan had exited, called for Louis. Since the palace servants were standing by in plain view, Louis listened to her with utmost courtesy.

“Give Ian to me.”

Receiving Ian from Louis, Amelia placed her index finger into her son’s tiny hand. Ian beamed as if he’d just received a wonderful toy. Yet Amelia’s face, though she adored her child, showed not even a trace of a smile.

“I’ll step back for a while.”

Sensing her displeasure, Louis withdrew as far as he could. He seemed to realize that this situation would mark the beginning of a new war.

“……”

At least he could be sure of one thing: Louis had been deceived.

“The emperor has sent a proposal letter to Count Clarke’s daughter, so I hear.”

Duke Russell spoke leisurely as he sipped his wine. Aaron quietly blinked.

“No wonder he added that condition about recognizing the prince when he turns two.”

He thought Ivan would bide his time and attempt to kill Ian, not actually marry and sire children. Duke Russell clicked his tongue.

“There’s never a moment to let our guard down.”

If his opponent were an older man of similar age, things would be easier. With age, one’s way of thinking hardens; even if cowardly, such men compromise with reality and take the easy path.

“There’s no way I could ever like him.”

But Ivan was still young, vigorous, and insolent, which made fighting him a constant strain.

“We need to either hasten the day he recognizes the crown prince or find another method. What do you think, Aaron?”

That was why the duke sought Aaron’s opinion—hoping the younger man’s perspective would prove useful.

“……”

But Aaron was lost in thought, mulling over what Louis had told him.

“She said she used to like the emperor. That she even confessed, but he rejected her.”

When he thought of a woman who had clung to Ivan, believing him to be her savior as she had once thought of Aaron, his chest burned with heat.

“No wonder her thoughts run wild like a madwoman. Getting rejected must’ve hurt her pride badly.”

She’d never clung to Aaron like that—and somehow, the thought made his stomach churn with resentment.

“Aaron?”

The duke’s puzzled voice called him back.

“Ah, forgive me. I was lost in thought.”

Snapping out of his reverie, Aaron responded belatedly.

“What do you think we should do?”

“I think… we should just kill him.”

It was an unexpectedly extreme solution. Normally, Aaron disliked messy methods that were hard to clean up after. The duke raised one eyebrow.

“I’d like nothing more than that.”

“……”

“But killing an emperor inside the palace walls is next to impossible. Every drink is thoroughly tested for poison, and his guards surround him in layers.”

Besides, if Ivan—who had no heir yet—were to suddenly die, power would revert not to the duke but to the cadet branch of the imperial family. Duke Russell had no intention of wasting the chance he’d worked to secure.

“My thoughts were short-sighted.”

Aaron admitted, regretting his impulsive suggestion. The duke dismissed it with a shake of his head, seeing it as nothing more than a comment born of frustration.

“And there’s no grounds to oppose the emperor marrying now, after being single so long.”

A year and a half remained. That was more than enough time for Ivan to father a child if he hurried. Once that happened, he would surely use the legitimists to stir conflict and turn away from Ian.

But even knowing this, they couldn’t question or accuse him of ulterior motives. For an emperor to secure heirs was only natural.

“Unless he publicly rescinds his promise, we can’t invoke divine wrath either.”

The duke muttered with a frown.

“If there’s truly no other way, it would be better to kill the priestess’s child, or eliminate Count Clarke’s daughter before she becomes empress.”

“……”

“For now, we’ll just have to wait and see.”

At present, there was no better option.

The sound of a closing door was followed by approaching footsteps. Sitting in a rocking chair, Amelia looked up from the fairy tale she had been reading to Ian, her gaze fixed on the man drawing nearer.

“You’re here.”

Her tone was calm, as if she’d expected this.

“Didn’t you send a note through Lady Howard?”

Of course. As Ivan had pointed out, this time it was Amelia who had invited him.

“That’s right. There are quite a few things I wanted to ask.”

She answered readily. Even though he had walked all the way to her bedchamber in the middle of the night at her mere note, Ivan didn’t look displeased. Until he achieved his goal, he seemed to regard her as something like a companion traveling the same path.

“What sort of things?”

There was a faint hint of curiosity in his voice. Until now, Amelia’s interest had been confined to his personal matters or what lay beyond the temple walls.

“Ba!”

It was then. Ian, who had not yet fallen asleep and was staring brightly with clear eyes, reacted with delight at the sight of Ivan.

“Da-da!”

Ivan remained silent for a moment as he looked at the child’s small, plump hand stretched out toward him. It sounded like “dad,” but he hesitated to ask outright.

Showing too much interest might make him seem like a doting father obsessed with his child’s growth, or worse, a fool who bragged about his baby’s babble as genius. Ivan disliked both.

“Ian, hush.”

Amelia closed the book face-down on the table and picked Ian up, rocking him gently. The boy laughed, his soft skin and radiant smile irresistibly cute. Without realizing, Amelia found herself smiling too.

“Usually he’s asleep by now.”

Ivan’s casual remark made Amelia quickly hide her smile, as though embarrassed to have revealed it.

“Lady Howard said he napped late this afternoon. That must be why.”

She defended Ian as if Ivan had scolded the boy for staying up late. Ivan’s expression grew faintly displeased—a strange new discomfort.

“Ba! Da! Da-da!”

Ian wriggled restlessly in Amelia’s arms. Startled, she stood up to soothe him.

“What’s gotten into you all of a sudden?”

Resting his chin on her shoulder, Ian chewed at her slender shoulder with his mouth. Saliva quickly dampened her dress. Ivan grimaced as though his own shoulder had been soaked.

“…Ah.”

Amelia flinched when a dry cloth brushed against the wet spot.

“Ba!”

It was an unmistakable act of kindness. Though his displeasure outweighed any sense of courtesy, Ivan had pulled out a handkerchief and pressed it against Ian’s damp lips. Ian reached eagerly toward him with both arms.

“……”

As if asking to be held.

“Ian, no.”

Sensing the situation without even looking, Amelia quickly refused on her son’s behalf and turned her body away. She hadn’t wanted Ian to see Ivan—but instead, she herself ended up face-to-face with him, and immediately regretted it.

“He doesn’t usually act like this…”

She began to offer an awkward excuse. But before she could finish, Ian, denied the chance to be held by Ivan, began to whimper. Amelia’s expression showed her dismay. The emotion was surely rejection.

“Give him to me.”