Love, As Deadly As Death - Chapter 4
Translator and Editor: Effe and Nabi
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Chapter 4
Of course, in order to avoid spreading the blasphemous rumor that a man enters the priestess’s chambers, they couldn’t send him in too often. However, unless conception occurred in one go, it was not something that could be concluded with just one attempt.
“Besides, there are quite a few cases of giving birth to a boy too.”
When the Duke gestured to the servant standing by his side, the servant took out a cigarette case and cut the end of the cigarette before handing it to him.
“Whoo…”
Duke Russell sucked in the lit cigarette. The deep, dense smell began to fill the space of the secret meeting.
“Until she bears a girl with black hair and black eyes, you have to keep using it. Men with sound minds and black hair are not so common.”
Saying so, he laughed and lightly taped his own head with his finger. Aaron, who knew what was happening in the underground of the deserted villa, didn’t ask for the reason.
“The Amelia of the current generation is an especially troublesome girl, so you have my sympathy.”
Duke Russell chuckled and passed Aaron a glass filled with an amber-colored liquid.
“Well, when you think about it, she’s been difficult from the moment she was born.”
“….”
“Twin girls.”
It was an unprecedented occurrence.
Still, it was impossible to have two priestesses under the same sky. They had struggled until the very last moment to choose a child who resembled the previous Amelia more. Besides the noticeable traits of black hair and black eyes, distinguishing the appearance of different races was not easy.
“After all, it even devoured her sanity.”
Anyway, as a result, they killed a fragile girl who was less like her mother. The previous priestess watched her child die and went insane.
“I wish this could be the last time for me as well.”
Duke Russell muttered.
“Breaking the neck and stabbing the heart every time is also getting tiresome.”
Of course, it wasn’t that he lamented the act of sacrifice. Rather, he was simply tired of giving orders to kill someone.
“Duke Russell’s absorption into the imperial family is the way for everyone to get comfortable. The young Emperor just doesn’t know that yet.”
The Duke exhaled smoke from the cigarette as he spoke.
“Isn’t there a rumor going around that she’s not a priestess but a witch?”
“….”
“Perhaps because of his young age, he is behaving as if he doesn’t know who holds the power, speaking impudently as if he rules the empire.”
His tone carried a touch of displeasure.
It wasn’t untrue that he didn’t particularly like Ivan, the current Emperor. It was because Ivan, who ascended to the throne at a young age, harbored deep animosity toward the temple and the great nobles.
“We need to give him proper education at some point.”
Duke Russell laughed and brushed his head back.
“Anyway, keep a close eye on the Amelia of this generation until then. It wouldn’t be good if things got noisy before something important.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
Aaron replied obediently. In fact, he had pledged allegiance to Duke Russell.
“See you soon.”
Perhaps pleased with that polite response, the Duke roughly tossed the used cigarette and got up from his seat.
“Clean up the bottles and glasses.”
Aaron instructed the servant to clear the cluttered table inside and opened the window to ventilate the room, still filled with the smell of cigarettes.
“High Priest.”
“Louis.”
It was then that Louis appeared from the other side of the open door.
“I found the priestess and escorted her to her room. She didn’t run away. She was in the prayer room near the North Gate.”
It was to report Amelia’s location.
After that, Louis added that Amelia seemed frustrated, which was only natural given the upcoming coming-of-age night where her duties would be forced upon her. Despite so, Louis, a girl of a similar age, felt somewhat sorry for Amelia. It was different from Duke Russell and Aaron’s attitude.
“Alright.”
Aaron was willing to let go of that level of advocacy, especially considering the conversation he had just had with Duke Russell.
“You should check her movements carefully…”
So, he opened his mouth somewhat impulsively.
“If she doesn’t seem like she’s trying to escape, let her do as she pleases.”
“Is that okay?”
Louis widened her eyes.
Even though they were of similar ages, the image of Amelia, who seemed younger and more pitiable, naturally came to mind. There must have been a time when she was cute and lovely once, Aaron thought.
“Since she’ll be broken soon anyway.”
Aaron smiled wryly. The gently curving lips and kind eyes carried a significant discrepancy from his words.
“That much freedom…”
Of course, he also felt sorry for Amelia. It was genuine, though it was slightly different from how Louis perceived it.
“It should be allowed, right?”
“Of course!”
Louis smiled happily.
“Alright then. Go back now.”
“Yes. Have a good night.”
As Louis left the room with light steps, Aaron suppressed his voice and moved to the window as he thought.
My beautiful flower. But someday, I will have to twist and kill you on my own…
A gust of wind hiding his ferocity caused the sky to sway like Amelia’s hair.
Would it happen today?
Amelia stepped into the garden leading to the North Gate. Despite pretending otherwise, glancing around made her look like a child peeking at the market stalls with curiosity.
“Not here…”
Amelia, who had been wandering around the garden for a while, murmured helplessly. She seemed disappointed, as if she couldn’t buy the item she wanted because it was sold out.
“Do you need help finding something?”
When the guards guarding the North Gate asked as if noticing her disappointment, she quickly shook her head.
“No, I was just going to the prayer room.”
As she added an excuse not to appear suspicious, the guards accepted her explanation naturally, allowing Amelia to reluctantly make her way to the prayer room.
“Liar…”
He said he would definitely come again next time. She criticized Ivan under her breath when the door to the prayer room closed.
“Who’s there?”
It was then.
Startled by the sudden voice from the side, she was so surprised that she sat on the ground.
“….”
She realized then that when one was too startled, even a scream didn’t come out. Amelia glanced up, feeling her heart pounding.
“Who…?”
Along the stained-glass windows on the dim ceiling of the prayer room, various colors illuminated the man’s face. With his mouth closed, he looked almost saintly. He seemed like an elusive masterpiece that would be difficult to obtain even with a fortune.
“Ivan.”
When Amelia called out, Ivan tilted his head without responding. As several pieces of light settled on his whole face, a smile slowly spread across his previously expressionless face, much like watercolor spreading on paper.
She stared at him as if mesmerized, finding it difficult to look away from his dream-like beauty.
“Please stand up.”
As he spoke, Ivan reached out to help her, who was still sitting on the ground.
Amelia cautiously took his hand. Her small hand was trembling slightly with unresolved emotions on the palm of Ivan’s hand.
“I didn’t expect you to be so startled.”
“What were you doing here alone?”
As he responded to her question with a low chuckle, his voice was as charming as it was alluring.
“What could an apprentice priest be doing in the prayer room?”
Ivan questioned, prompting Amelia to make an ‘ah’ sound. She realized she had asked a silly question.
“Ah, I…”
“….”
“I never thought you’d be here. You’ve been outside all this time…”
She stammered as she grabbed his hand and got up from the ground.
“Promised.”
Ivan whispered at that moment. Amelia didn’t notice that she had seamlessly let the words slip out. She blinked, still holding his hand, completely forgetting that fact.
“Yes, that’s right.”
She responded, a half-beat late.
“I’ve been waiting because I wanted to hear about the outside world.”
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