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Chapter 40
He retrieved the Knight Order ‌coat he had set aside, brushed the ‌dust from ‌‌‌it, and draped it over his gleaming orichalcum armor. The tabard, crafted by ‌‌‌the fairy folk themselves, bore an embroidered golden chalice adorned with ancient runes and sacred flames. It had been enchanted with a special incantation to withstand powerful impacts without damage. Yet even magic seemed powerless against the wrinkles that marred its hem.
He patted the creased folds of the trailing garment to smooth them, wiped away the soil clinging to his sabatons with meticulous care, and rose to his feet.
After hastily completing his preparations and stepping out of the Barracks, a ‌‌hazy, overcast sky filled his vision. The wind had ‌‌been ‌‌unusually fierce since afternoon, and it seemed a sudden downpour was imminent.
Edrick, his brow furrowed, retrieved a cloak and made his way toward Talia's Barracks. Just then, the sound of a sacred bell rang out behind him, signaling the beginning of the ceremony.
He turned his head sharply over his shoulder and caught sight of the Crown Prince and the First Princess, their preparations complete, leading their retinues through the Temple entrance. ‌‌
He hurried across the camp. ‌‌‌Passing between massive pillars that appeared carved from stone, he stepped through the arched entrance and the interior of the Sanctuary came into view, bathed ‌‌‌‌in an ethereal blue light.
Edrick paused briefly, surveying the attendants filling the congregation hall and the knights arrayed in a long line along the walls.
The Crown Prince and the First Princess stood before ‌‌‌‌the Altar. It appeared they were receiving a blessing prayer from the High Priest before the ceremony commenced.
Edrick, shifting anxiously, spotted Count Sierchan waiting at the crossing and swiftly traversed the main aisle.
"Commander, the Second Princess should be ready shortly. ‌‌Could you wait just a moment longer?"
As he approached and spoke carefully, a composed gaze fell upon him. ‌
Edrick instinctively held his breath.
Barcas wore a black doublet instead of the Knight Order uniform, with a ‌‌breastplate bearing the Sierchan House crest, and a distinctive cloak draped over one shoulder. Even to Edrick's eyes, the sight was striking enough to ‌‌send a chill down his spine. Suddenly, he recalled the Princess's words that he was ugly. If one had grown up seeing men like this from childhood, it made sense that most men would appear unremarkable by comparison.
Lost in such peculiar thoughts, his superior, who had been quietly observing him, released a faint sigh and slowly walked toward the Altar.
"It seems the ceremony should be suspended. The Second Princess has expressed ‌her intention to attend the blessing as well."
The priest, who had been reciting prayers, looked bewildered, his gaze alternating between Barcas and Edrick, who stood in an awkward posture.
As a member of the ‌‌‌Imperial Family, Talia ‌‌‌‌had an obligation to participate in the ceremony. Had she refused, it would be one matter, but if she ‌‌had declared her intention to attend, it ‌‌‌was only proper to accommodate her. Yet ‌the ‌‌‌‌High Priest could not hastily agree and merely ‌‌watched for Gareth's reaction.
"Are you telling me to wait for that bastard?"
The Crown Prince, glaring at Barcas with a menacing gaze, spoke ‌‌‌each word as if spitting it out.
"Proceed with the ceremony at once! I have no intention ‌‌‌of wasting even a single second because of that woman!"
Edrick's face hardened. He had witnessed firsthand just how intense the Crown Prince's hostility toward the Second Princess was. He had anticipated that he might not respond favorably. But he had not expected him to ‌‌‌openly refuse in front of everyone. The Second Princess's participation in the pilgrimage ‌‌ceremony was also the will ‌of the Emperor himself.
Edrick hesitated before speaking.
"She too is a member of the Imperial Family recognized by His Majesty the Emperor. According to custom, does she not have the right to receive the blessings of the saints?"
The Crown Prince, whose eyes had been blazing, turned his gaze toward Edrick.
Edrick swallowed hard. The Crown Prince, his broad-featured face twisted into a grimace, approached like a prowling tiger.
"Do you even know who you're speaking in front of?"
"My apologies, Your Highness. I merely...."
As Edrick hastily bowed and began to ‌offer excuses, a force ‌‌‌tightened around his throat, and he drew a ragged breath. Gareth, gripping his collar, dragged him roughly forward.
Edrick ‌‌‌did his best not to wince, meeting that savage face directly. As if irritated by this, the Crown Prince, his deep green eyes flashing, growled like an enraged beast.
"How dare a mere knight presume to instruct me?"
"I, I apologize...."
Edrick ‌‌clenched his fists, refusing ‌‌‌‌to struggle ‌‌against the hand choking him, and forced out his words with difficulty.
Then ‌‌‌‌Barcas placed a hand on the Crown ‌‌Prince's shoulder.
"Your Highness."
At the softly resonant voice, Gareth's shoulders stiffened. Edrick could see a faint tension flicker across the Crown Prince's arrogant face.
Barcas spoke in a gentle tone.
"There are many watching."
A ‌‌faint flush crept up Gareth's cheeks. He seemed to feel shame at the realization that, even for a moment, he had been intimidated by Barcas.
The Crown Prince released Edrick's garment and glared at Barcas with fierce eyes.
"I warned you not to lay your hands on me again. How long do ‌‌you think I'll tolerate this?"
Gareth shook off the hand resting on his shoulder with brutal force, then thrust his face menacingly close to his brother's, his voice dripping with venom. The Knights, along with the First Princess, rushed forward to restrain the Crown Prince, whose demeanor suggested he might attack at any moment.
At that moment, a ‌‌‌‌voice as cold as an ice sphere echoed through the Sanctuary.
"Had I known such an entertaining spectacle awaited, I should have attended the last ceremony as well."
Edrick turned his head with a start and, upon spotting Talia crossing the colonnade ‌‌with ‌‌several Handmaids in tow, found himself holding his breath without realizing it.
The woman who seized every opportunity to stir up chaos was now walking toward the Altar in impeccably formal ‌‌‌attire.
Pale sunlight streaming through the windows illuminated her delicate frame draped in platinum silk with crystalline clarity—a face that ‌‌‌bore an uncanny resemblance to the Empress herself.
Edrick, who had been staring blankly at this surreal vision, suddenly ‌‌became aware that not only he but everyone seated in the gallery was captivated by her presence. His gaze shifted to assess the expressions of the Crown Prince and the First Princess.
The Crown Prince glared at his younger sister with the expression of a malevolent spirit, while the First Princess maintained a serene countenance—yet the knuckles of her tightly clasped hands had turned white with tension.
Sensing the palpable strain flowing between the three royals, Edrick quietly positioned himself beside the Second Princess. Yet no one present paid him any attention. Only Talia Roem Guerta cast a fleeting glance in his direction before her gaze returned elsewhere.
But her interest soon shifted back to Barcas and Gareth.
"Why are you standing there doing nothing? Were you planning to start a brawl?"
The Crown Prince, whose jaw clenched so hard it ‌‌‌‌‌seemed it might shatter, slowly withdrew from Count Sierchan's grasp. Then he raked his ‌‌eyes over his younger sister from head to toe, twisting his lips into a sneer.
"I don't ‌‌‌‌know who you're trying ‌to impress with that ‌‍‌‌‌display, but surely you don't believe that ‌‌‌dressing up will conceal your filthy origins?"
"Just days ago, you criticized my attire for being improper. Since you complained so much, I made a special effort today, and I'm hurt that you'd say such things."
The Princess, who had momentarily stiffened, approached him with a meaningful smile playing at her lips.
Edrick watched her ‌‌‌with eyes wide in alarm. That ‌‌she would provoke ‌‌‌‌the Crown Prince again, mere hours after suffering such brutal treatment, filled him with astonishment bordering on disbelief.
Yet the Second Princess, regardless of his bewilderment, pressed her face close to the Crown Prince's and continued softly.
"Do you have any idea how much effort I put into dressing exactly to your taste...."

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Brought to you by Valir ‌‌‌Scans! To support our team and ‌‌enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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