Love, As Deadly As Death - Chapter 2
Translator and Editor: Effe and Nabi
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Chapter 2
Amelia clenched her lips, casting a resentful look at the door.
At that moment, beyond the tall wall that blocked her view of the outside, she sensed a presence.
“What…”
As she was thinking it was strange, a head suddenly appeared over the wall. The unfamiliar figure, sitting on the wall, paused when he saw the woman glaring at the door.
“Who are you…”
In response to the awkward question, the man grinned with a puzzled face. Even beneath his hooded robe, his appearance was distinct.
“A High Priest’s agent?”
Of course, even within his awkward lie, the subtle arrogance of a ruler was hard to conceal.
“…Lies”
Amelia, who had rarely met people from outside, couldn’t discern his uniqueness. She could only sense that he was lying.
“And you?”
The moment the man boldly asked the question after being exposed as an imposter, she was engulfed in a subtle confusion.
…Who am I?
There had been nothing for her to establish as her identity while growing up… She had simply grown up with the name ‘priestess.’
‘Everything about you is a lie.’
… I’m not lying.
‘You don’t even qualify to have the name Amelia.’
That wasn’t true…
Despite the fact that she struggled to dispel the words floating in her mind, denying that she had no identity other than the priestess was difficult.
“I am…”
Nevertheless, no matter what anyone said, she was still Amelia. With a determined expression, Amelia raised her chin and pushed back her hood.
“I am Amelia.”
“….”
“Now that I’ve revealed my name, before I shout, take off that hood and reveal your true identity as well.”
The man chuckled at her words, then reached up with a dry hand and pulled down the hood that had covered his head.
“….”
In that moment, their eyes met.
His eyes sparkled like stars, with deep black pupils that shone as bright as summer greens.
“Ivan. A servant of God.”
Blonde hair as clear as pure gold, translucent green eyes that resembled high-quality gemstones, finely sculpted nose, and red, smooth lips.
The man was a perfect beauty.
The gentle breeze caused the delicate flower petals in the garden to sway. It was as if the welcoming hands of the garden embraced the guest who had entered this prison filled with flowers.
“Now, are you satisfied, Priestess?”
The only one in this land with black hair and black eyes. While she had abandoned the last name of Escliff, she had only one name, Amelia. Even if Ivan had little interest in the temple, it wasn’t difficult to recognize the woman in front of him as Amelia and the priestess.
“How…”
However, Amelia, surprised that her true identity had been exposed, took a step back.
Was it really so shocking, considering it was such a straightforward matter? Perhaps it was because she had lived sheltered in the temple, though she had a naive side to her.
“The name Amelia is granted to you alone.”
Ivan replied, and Amelia let out a short exclamation of realization.
“That’s right…”
Amelia trailed off at the end of her sentence.
In the meanwhile, Ivan carefully scrutinized the face of the woman, who somehow appeared sad. At the same time, he sharpened his senses to detect any presence nearby or any sign of approaching figures.
No one was there.
As that conviction settled in, Ivan swiftly leaped down from the wall.
“Oh, my.”
Amelia’s red lips parted in astonishment. Even though the wall was taller than her, even taller than Ivan, unbelievably, his landing was as graceful as a cat’s.
“Why are you so wary of me?”
She paused, realizing that she had unconsciously prepared to step back.
“I am God’s servant, just as I am your servant. You have nothing to fear.”
It was a lie. Ivan, with a smiling face, gradually approached her. His hand casually touched the handle of the hidden dagger in his robe.
“Not being cautious, but…”
If he were to stab a knife into the heart of this seemingly fragile woman, he might be able to tell whether she would truly die or not. Of course, it would be even better if she did die.
Such were his thoughts.
“It’s because I was surprised.”
When he was about two or three steps forward so he could swing the knife in the distance, Amelia spoke with a soft smile. It was a smile so tender that it made her look like a child.
“….”
As he unknowingly halted his steps towards her, the aggression he had been building up so sharply crumbled in an instant.
“Did you go outside the temple today, then?”
As if she sensed it, Amelia spoke in a relaxed tone devoid of tension or fear.
“Yes.”
His response made her eyes sparkle, and this time, she confidently walked towards him. It was a spontaneous decision for her to stand in close proximity to him.
Ivan consciously restrained himself from making any sudden movements.
“How was it outside?”
Amelia’s pupils sparkled. They were as dark as blackberries, but in the anticipation, they shone like jewels. There were no gems as deep and enchanting in the world.
“It was the same as usual.”
Ivan was unable to hide his fascination with those shining eyes. It wasn’t as if he had become captivated.
“What’s it usually like out there? Are there many people? Did you wander around any night markets? What were they talking about?”
When she bombarded him with questions upon hearing his response, Ivan was somewhat taken aback and remained silent. The priestess was the most revered woman in Escliff. She received even more special treatment than the Empress.
So, he hadn’t expected her to be curious about such ordinary matters.
“I went to a tavern.”
Amelia’s eyes widened at his confession.
“A tavern?”
“….”
“A tavern, you say?”
Then, she chuckled softly.
Ivan blinked, not quite understanding what was so odd about his response.
“You’ve completely lost your mind.”
It was only then that he realized the puzzled expression on her face.
A member of the temple going to a tavern was indeed strange. It was clear evidence of a lapse in judgment. He hadn’t even considered that taking down a novice priest and stripping them of their identity badge in the tavern was strange.
“Ah, that…”
He was about to explain when she spoke again.
“It’s fine. It’s something I can keep a secret. So, that’s why you jumped over the wall?”
Amelia replied with an indifferent expression, making it clear that she didn’t consider it a big deal. Her attitude was truly nonchalant. Thanks to that, any tension he had felt quickly dissipated.
“So, how was it?”
She subtly prodded him for details about his time outside.
“Priestess!”
A voice calling for Amelia could be heard.
As she widened her eyes in surprise, the sound of footsteps on the grass came closer and closer, and Ivan hastily flipped his hood back over his head.
“Come this way.”
At that moment, Amelia urgently grabbed Ivan’s hand and led him into a secluded prayer room.
“This area is close to my quarters, and hardly anyone comes here except when I use it. Even if I go to the prayer room today, I’ll be using the main hall, so no one will come here.”
She swiftly began speaking rapidly.
“Priestess! Where are you?”
The voice calling for Amelia grew nearer.
“The guards will be back soon. I’ll take the maid and return directly to our room, so slip away quietly and head back to your dorm, understand?”
“….”
“Do you understand me?”
At her words, Ivan nodded silently. Amelia then smiled as if to reassure him before she closed the door to the prayer room with a heavy thud.
“Oh, by the way…”
However, shortly after that, the door opened just a little, and her black pupils reappeared.
“Next time, tell me about the outside world that I didn’t get to hear today. I’m curious about many things. Around midnight, the guards change shifts, and there’s a brief moment when they look away. That would be a good time.”
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