Will he be here today?
Amelia stepped into the garden that led to the North Gate. Though she feigned indifference, the way her eyes darted about was exactly like a child craning to peek at stalls in a marketplace.
“He’s not here….”
Having surveyed the garden for some time, Amelia muttered listlessly. Her disappointment was palpable, as if an item she’d come to buy had sold out.
“Are you looking for something?”
The guards stationed at the North Gate had even asked. Amelia shook her head hurriedly.
“No, I was just on my way to the chapel.”
And she added an excuse so she wouldn’t look suspicious. The guards accepted Amelia’s excuse without a second thought. Thanks to that, Amelia had to take reluctant steps toward the chapel.
“Liar….”
They had promised to meet again next time. The moment the chapel door closed, Amelia reproached Ivan like a sigh.
“Who?”
It was then. Startled by the voice that suddenly came from beside her, Amelia jumped out of her skin and sank to the floor.
“……!”
She learned then that when one is too surprised, even a scream won’t come out. Feeling her heart drop, Amelia raised her head.
“Who….”
Following the stained glass of the dim chapel ceiling, colorful light draped the side of the man’s face. With his mouth closed, he looked almost holy. Like a masterpiece that could not be obtained even for a fortune.
“Ivan.”
At Amelia’s call, Ivan tilted his head without answering. The moment fragments of colored light descended upon his entire face, a hint of a smile gradually spread across Ivan’s previously expressionless countenance. Like watercolor paint spreading across paper.
Amelia stared at him as if bewitched. He was beautiful, like something glimpsed in a dream, and she couldn’t tear her eyes away.
“Get up.”
Ivan extended a hand toward Amelia, who was sitting on the floor. Amelia carefully lifted her hand. The small hand placed atop Ivan’s palm trembled slightly with emotions she could not contain.
“I didn’t know you’d be this surprised.”
“What were you doing here alone?”
Ivan laughed lowly at Amelia’s question. It was a sound as captivating as his voice.
“What would an apprentice priest be doing in a chapel?”
At his question, Amelia let out an “Ah.” She realized she’d asked a foolish question.
“Ah, I just…”
“…….”
“I never thought you’d be here. I kept waiting outside….”
Clutching Ivan’s hand, Amelia stood up and answered haltingly.
“Because I promised.”
At that moment, Ivan spoke like a whisper. Amelia didn’t notice how naturally he’d dropped formal speech. And having forgotten that she was still holding his hand, she merely blinked.
“Right, you did.”
Thanks to that, her reply came half a beat late.
“I kept waiting because I wanted to hear stories from outside.”
Strength entered Amelia’s hand. Still clutching Ivan’s large hand, she pulled him toward the dais where a statue stood.
“Sit down and talk to me.”
And sitting down, she pulled him close. She didn’t seem to consider at all that it was a place dirtied by many people’s feet. To Ivan, it was an unexpected side of her.
“You went out again?”
It was just as Ivan sat down beside her. Amelia turned her head, eyes sparkling. Their gazes met.
Eyes.
“…….”
Those eyes.
Human irises that, aside from their unusual color, were utterly ordinary. But definitely something was different. Ivan turned his head, meeting Amelia’s eyes, and thought.
“Hmm?”
When Ivan didn’t answer, Amelia pressed again for a response. Ivan nodded belatedly.
“Where did you go? A tavern again? Did you drink?”
“I did.”
Amelia exclaimed and clapped her hands. It was a childlike attitude.
“What does alcohol taste like?”
Indeed, Amelia was as curious as a foal. As if she had never once stepped beyond the temple walls in her entire life.
“It depends on the type.”
“…….”
“Some smell and taste incredibly bitter, and some are made from fruit, so their scent is sweet.”
Alcohol was strictly forbidden in the temple. Even in this hollow temple, which cared nothing for the true existence of god. It was only natural. The moment they showed their debauchery, the people of Esclip would begin to doubt.
“Does it make you feel good?”
Ivan pondered briefly.
“If you drink in moderation.”
“What if you drink a lot?”
“You lose control of your body, or your emotions. I suppose you might feel good.”
Disdain for such behavior seeped through Ivan’s answer. Amelia naturally realized that Ivan did not like the act of getting drunk.
“I’ve never tasted it even once, so I was curious. Whether it really makes you feel better.”
Amelia changed the subject as if savoring the idea.
“What do people talk about when they gather?”
Amelia’s body leaned toward Ivan.
“They just talk about life. Whether the harvest is good this year, or bad. That someone next door had a baby. Sometimes they talk about dogs having puppies.”
Ivan answered naturally.
“Sometimes they pick fights. Over losing money while gambling with cards.”
“Wow…. Isn’t that bad?”
“What’s so bad about seeking amusement?”
Ivan’s answer was indifferent. Already convinced that Ivan was a deviant priest, Amelia didn’t bother trying to reform him.
“Sometimes they even make bets over a woman.”
“Bets?”
“Over who can seduce her first.”
At his words, Amelia blinked, her lips parting slightly.
“Because they want to become lovers?”
“I don’t think it’s usually seen as wanting to become lovers.”
Ivan laughed briefly at the innocent question. As if dealing with a young lady who knew nothing of the world.
“Just a night’s pleasure?”
“That… that’s really awful.”
Amelia furrowed her brow.
“They’re not thinking about the other person’s feelings at all. No matter what kind of wound they inflict….”
“Don’t trouble yourself over it. It’s none of your concern, anyway.”
Ivan cut Amelia off, saying there was no need to concern herself with unrelated matters. In truth, more than half the stories that came out of taverns were trivial talk not worth listening to carefully, so it was only natural. Yet his words sounded somehow cold and chilling. Like his true nature hidden deep within.
“They talk about you sometimes, too.”
At the words Ivan added as if changing the subject, Amelia flinched. Her eyes, which had been drifting slowly through empty air, turned back to him.
“What do they say about me?”
“Whether you truly possess an immortal body. Whether you truly never age. Whether you are truly the agent of God.”
Ivan answered composedly to Amelia’s question.
“Is it really true?”
Ivan asked, looking straight into Amelia’s eyes. It wasn’t a question of great consequence, but strangely, Amelia felt her heart sink.
“Hmm….”
Amelia smiled awkwardly. She could easily reveal to Aaron that she was not the Oracle, but doing so with Ivan was difficult. Because Amelia knew that her usefulness lay in that role. The reason she asked people to call her by name, yet never claimed she wasn’t the Oracle, was because of this.
Because she did not wish to die once her usefulness had run out.
Ivan’s innocent question felt like a sharp attack, probably due to her conscience. Amelia lowered her eyes halfway to hide her trembling gaze.
“What a strange question I asked.”
“…….”
“It should be obvious.”
He added an excuse, as if he had not doubted Amelia’s existence. Her heart hammered wildly. Amelia felt a faint sense of guilt toward him.
“You said earlier you were curious about the taste of alcohol. Shall I bring some?”
Watching her, Ivan naturally changed the subject. Amelia forgot the guilt she’d felt moments before and opened her eyes wide in surprise.
“Can you bring it into the temple?”
“What can’t be hidden if you try?”
Ivan answered brazenly. Since he had already hidden his very existence to sneak into the temple, something like alcohol could hardly be a big deal.
“No. What if you get punished for nothing?”
But Amelia shook her head, thinking the risk too great. Smuggling forbidden items, and alcohol no less, was a different matter from secretly talking like this. She knew full well what punishment awaited those who broke the rules.
“Just, instead of that….”
Amelia hesitated to speak. Honestly, she didn’t yet trust Ivan enough to lay bare all the truth and ask for help. It was only their second meeting, after all.
“Next time, too.”
But within this prison wearing the mask of a temple, she liked Ivan, who was the only one to treat her comfortably. Because he could tell her stories of the world she didn’t know—things that everyone hid from her alone.
“Please come to see me again next time.”
Amelia whispered as she clutched Ivan’s sleeve. It was closer to a plea than a suggestion. Ivan stared at his priestly robe sleeve, precariously caught in her grasp. Her slender fingers trembled slightly, as if afraid of being refused.
“…As much as you’d like.”
Clouds drifted over the stained glass of the ceiling. The light dimmed into darkness. The lopsided smile at the corner of Ivan’s lips was hidden within that gloom.