Chapter 40
He took out his discarded knight’s cloak and shook off the dust before draping it over his gleaming golden orihalcon armor. The tabard, crafted by the elves themselves, was embroidered with ancient script and the crest of a golden chalice wreathed in flames. It had been enchanted with a special spell to ensure it remained undamaged even under powerful impact. However, it seemed even magic could do nothing about wrinkles.
After patting down the crumpled parts of the trailing hem and wiping the dust clean from his sabatons, he stood up.
Having finished his grooming, he stepped out of the tent to find the hazy, overcast sky filling his vision. The wind had been blowing unusually hard since noon, and it looked as though a sudden shower was imminent.
Frowning, Edric grabbed a rain cloak and made his way toward Talia’s tent. Just then, the sound of the Holy Bell, signaling the start of the ceremony, echoed from behind him.
He hurriedly looked over his shoulder and saw the Crown Prince and the First Princess, having finished their preparations, entering the temple entrance followed by their attendants.
He dashed across the camp. Passing between massive pillars that looked as if they had been carved from solid stone, he entered the arched entrance, and the interior of the temple, bathed in a bluish light, came into full view.
Pausing for a moment, Edric scanned the attendants filling the nave and the knights lined up along the walls.
The Crown Prince and the First Princess stood before the altar. It appeared they were receiving a prayer of consecration from the head priest before the ritual began.
Tapping his foot anxiously, Edric spotted Lord Siekan waiting at the transept and hurried across the nave in a single breath.
“Commander, the Second Princess will be ready shortly. Could you please wait just a moment?”
As he approached and spoke cautiously, a calm gaze turned toward him.
Edric reflexively held his breath.
Instead of his knight’s uniform, Barkas wore a black doublet with a breastplate engraved with the Siekan family crest, a unique cloak draped over one shoulder. Even to Edric’s male eyes, he looked chillingly handsome. Suddenly, he recalled the Princess’s comment about him being ugly. If she had grown up looking at a man like this since childhood, it was no wonder most men would seem plain by comparison.
While he was lost in such stray thoughts, his superior, who had been quietly looking down at him, let out a faint sigh and walked slowly toward the altar.
“I believe the ceremony must be paused. Her Highness the Second Princess intends to attend the consecration as well.”
The priest, who had been chanting a prayer, looked back and forth between Barkas and the awkwardly standing Edric with a flustered expression.
As a member of the imperial family, Talia also had an obligation to participate in the ritual. Had she refused, it would be one thing, but since she had expressed her intent to attend, it was only right to accommodate her. However, the head priest could not bring himself to answer readily and only glanced at Gares’s face.
“Are you telling me to wait for that bastard right now?”
The Crown Prince spat out each word, glaring at Barkas with a menacing look in his eyes.
“Proceed with the ritual immediately! I have no intention of wasting a single second because of that girl!”
Edric’s face hardened. He had seen with his own eyes just how extreme the Crown Prince’s hostility toward the Second Princess was. He had expected that Gares might not agree willingly. However, he hadn’t imagined the Prince would openly voice his refusal while everyone was watching. Was not the Second Princess’s participation in the pilgrimage also the will of His Majesty the Emperor?
Edric hesitated before speaking up.
“She is also a member of the imperial family recognized by His Majesty. According to custom, she also has the right to receive the blessing of the saints.”
The Crown Prince, who had been glaring at Barkas with burning eyes, shifted his gaze toward him.
Edric swallowed hard. The Crown Prince, his bold features twisted into a sneer, approached him like a prowling tiger.
“Do you even realize who you are talking to right now?”
“I apologize, Your Highness. I only meant…”
Edric, hurriedly bowing his head to offer an excuse, gasped for air as a force tightened around his throat. Gares had grabbed him by the collar and jerked him forward.
Edric did his best not to grimace as he looked directly into that bloodthirsty face. Perhaps finding that annoying, the Crown Prince’s dark green eyes flashed as he growled like an enraged beast.
“A mere knight dares to try and lecture me?”
“I-I am sorr—”
Edric clenched his fists tight to keep himself from shaking off the hand choking him, struggling to force the words out.
Just then, Barkas placed a hand on the Crown Prince’s shoulder.
“Your Highness.”
At the low, echoing voice, Gares’s shoulders went stiff. Edric could see a faint flicker of tension cross the Crown Prince’s arrogant face.
Barkas spoke in a soft tone.
“There are many eyes watching.”
A faint heat rose to Gares’s cheeks. It seemed he felt humiliated by the fact that he had been intimidated by him, even for a split second.
The Crown Prince released Edric’s clothes and glared at Barkas with a fierce look.
“Didn’t I warn you never to lay a hand on me again? Do you think I’ll keep tolerating you forever?”
Gares roughly brushed the hand off his shoulder and hissed, bringing his face threateningly close to Barkas’s. Seeing him looking as if he might strike at any moment, the knights and even the First Princess hurried over to restrain him.
At that moment, a cold, clear voice like ice beads echoed through the main hall.
“If I had known such an entertaining spectacle was waiting for me, I should have attended the last ritual as well.”
Startled, Edric turned his head and caught sight of Talia slowly making her way across the nave, followed by three or four maids. He found himself holding his breath.
The woman who had been so eager to stir up trouble at every opportunity was walking toward the altar, perfectly dressed in formal attire.
The pale sunlight streaming through the windows vividly illuminated her face, which bore a striking resemblance to the Empress, and her delicate frame wrapped in a platinum-colored bliaut.
Blinking blankly at the surreal sight, Edric realized that not only him, but everyone lined up in the nave was staring at her, mesmerized. He quickly checked the expressions of the Crown Prince and the First Princess.
The Crown Prince was glaring at his half-sister with a demonic expression, while the First Princess maintained a calm face, though her knuckles were white from how tightly she was clasping her hands.
Sensing the taut tension flowing between the three royals, Edric slipped over to stand beside the Second Princess. However, no one there paid him any mind. Only Talia Roem Guirta rolled her eyes and gave him a brief glance.
But her interest quickly returned to Barkas and Gares.
“What are you doing just standing there? Weren’t you about to start a brawl?”
The Crown Prince, grinding his teeth hard enough to break his jaw, slowly backed away from Lord Siekan. He then looked his sister up and down from head to toe and curled his lip in a cynical sneer.
“I don’t know who you’re trying to impress by dressing up like that, but surely you don’t think that will hide your filthy origins?”
“Didn’t you scold me a few days ago for my attire not being modest enough? You nagged so much that I took special care today, so it’s disappointing to hear you say that.”
After a brief pause, the Princess approached him with a cryptic smile playing on her lips.
Edric watched her with terrified eyes. He felt beyond shocked—even stunned—by her behavior, provoking the Crown Prince again after being treated so harshly just yesterday.
But regardless of his alarm, the Second Princess thrust her face close to the Crown Prince’s and added softly.
“I went to such trouble to dress exactly to your taste, brother…”
