He took out the knight order cloak he had set aside and shook the dust from it before draping it over his gleaming golden orichalcon armor. The tabard, crafted by the elves themselves, bore the embroidered emblem of a golden chalice filled with ancient script and sacred flame. Special enchantments had been woven into it so that even powerful impacts would not damage it. Even magic, however, seemed unable to do anything about wrinkles.
After smoothing out the crumpled folds of the long garment with several sharp pats, he carefully wiped the dirt from his sabatons and rose to his feet.
Having finished tidying his appearance, he stepped out of the tent and found his vision filled by a sky that had turned pale and overcast. The wind had been unusually fierce since midday, and it looked as though a sudden shower was on its way.
Frowning, Edrick grabbed a rain cloak and headed toward Talia's tent.
Just then, the sacred bell announcing the beginning of the ceremony rang out behind him.
Turning sharply over his shoulder, he saw that the Crown Prince and the First Imperial Princess had already completed their preparations and were entering the temple entrance with their attendants in tow.
Edrick hurried across the camp.
Passing between enormous pillars that looked as though they had been carved from solid stone, he entered the arched gateway. At once, the interior of the sanctuary, bathed in a bluish radiance, spread before his eyes.
Stopping briefly, Edrick swept his gaze over the attendants filling the congregation seats and the long rows of knights lined along the walls.
The Crown Prince and the First Imperial Princess stood before the altar.
It seemed they were receiving a consecration prayer from the high priest before the ceremony began.
Tapping his foot anxiously, Edrick finally spotted Sir Varkas waiting near the transept and crossed the central aisle at once.
“Commander, Her Highness the Second Imperial Princess will be ready shortly. Could you please wait just a little longer?”
As he cautiously approached and spoke, a calm gaze settled upon him.
Edrick unconsciously held his breath.
Instead of his knight order uniform, Varkas wore a black doublet beneath a breastplate engraved with the crest of House Siorcan. A uniquely styled cloak hung from one shoulder. Even to Edrick, another man, the sight was unnervingly impressive.
Suddenly, he remembered the princess calling him ugly.
If she had grown up looking at a man like this since childhood, then most men would probably seem unimpressive by comparison.
While he was lost in such ridiculous thoughts, his superior silently studying him let out a faint sigh before slowly walking toward the altar.
“It appears the ceremony must be delayed. Her Highness the Second Imperial Princess has expressed her intention to attend the consecration as well.”
The priest, who had been reciting prayers, looked back and forth between Varkas and the awkwardly standing Edrick in confusion.
Talia was also a member of the imperial family and therefore obligated to participate in the ceremony. Had she refused, it would have been another matter. But if she had declared her willingness to attend, she had every right to do so.
The high priest, however, could not answer immediately. Instead, he looked nervously toward Gareth.
“You're telling me to wait for that bastard child?”
Staring at Varkas with a dangerous glare, the Crown Prince spoke each word as though grinding it between his teeth.
“Begin the ceremony immediately! I have no intention of wasting even a single second because of that bitch!”
Edrick's face hardened.
He had already witnessed firsthand just how extreme the Crown Prince's hostility toward the Second Imperial Princess was. He had expected resistance.
But he had not expected such an open refusal in front of everyone.
After all, the Second Imperial Princess's participation in the pilgrimage had been the Emperor's will as well.
After hesitating, Edrick spoke.
“She is also a member of the imperial family recognized by His Majesty the Emperor. By tradition, does she not possess the same right to receive the saints' blessings?”
The Crown Prince, who had been glaring at Varkas, slowly turned his gaze toward him.
Edrick swallowed.
With his strong-featured face twisting crookedly, Gareth approached him like a prowling tiger.
“Do you even know who you're speaking to?”
“My apologies, Your Highness. I merely—”
Edrick hurriedly lowered his head, intending to explain himself.
Instead, he sucked in a harsh breath as powerful fingers tightened around his collar.
Gareth seized him by the throat of his clothing and yanked him forward.
Edrick did his utmost not to grimace as he met that savage face directly.
Apparently finding that offensive, the Crown Prince's dark green eyes flashed.
“An insignificant # Nоvеlight # knight dares lecture me?”
“M-My apologies...”
Clenching his fists tightly to stop himself from striking away the hand choking him, Edrick forced out the words.
Then Varkas placed a hand on the Crown Prince's shoulder.
“Your Highness.”
The quietly spoken voice echoed through the sanctuary.
Gareth's shoulders immediately stiffened.
For a brief moment, Edrick saw something akin to tension flicker across the arrogant face of the Crown Prince.
Varkas spoke in a calm tone.
“There are many eyes watching.”
A faint flush rose to Gareth's cheeks.
It seemed he felt ashamed that, even for an instant, he had been affected by Varkas's intervention.
Releasing Edrick's collar, the Crown Prince turned a furious glare on Varkas.
“I warned you never to put your hands on me again, didn't I? Do you think I'll tolerate you forever?”
Gareth violently knocked the hand from his shoulder and shoved his face close to Varkas's, breathing heavily through his nose.
His posture was so aggressive that it looked as though he might attack at any moment.
Not only the knights but even the First Imperial Princess hurried forward to restrain him.
Then a cold, crystalline voice rang through the cathedral.
“If I'd known such an entertaining spectacle was waiting for me, I would've attended the last ceremony too.”
Startled, Edrick turned his head.
There he saw Talia slowly crossing the central aisle with three or four maids following behind her.
His breath stopped.
The woman who constantly seemed desperate to create trouble whenever an opportunity presented itself was now approaching the altar in flawless ceremonial attire.
Pale sunlight streamed through the windows, illuminating a face that looked exactly like the Empress's and the delicate figure wrapped in a platinum-colored bliaut.
The sight seemed unreal.
Blinking blankly, Edrick gradually realized that it was not only him.
Everyone seated in the congregation was staring at her in complete silence.
Instinctively, he glanced toward the Crown Prince and the First Imperial Princess.
The Crown Prince was glaring at his sister with the expression of a demon.
The First Imperial Princess maintained a serene face, but the fingers clasped together before her had turned white from the force of her grip.
Sensing the taut tension stretching between the three imperial siblings, Edrick quietly moved to stand beside the Second Imperial Princess.
Yet no one present paid him any attention.
Only Talia Roem Gwirta briefly flicked her eyes toward him.
Even her interest, however, soon returned to Varkas and Gareth.
“What are you standing around for? Weren't you about to start fighting?”
Grinding his teeth so hard it looked as though his jaw might shatter, the Crown Prince slowly stepped away from Varkas.
Then he looked Talia up and down from head to toe and twisted his lips into a mocking smile.
“I don't know who you're trying to impress dressed up like that, but surely you don't think it hides your filthy origins.”
The princess froze briefly.
Then a meaningful smile curved her lips as she stepped toward him.
“A few days ago, weren't you the one complaining that my attire wasn't proper enough? You criticized me so much that I made a special effort today. It's rather disappointing to hear you say that.”
Edrick stared at her in horror.
Just yesterday she had suffered terribly because of the Crown Prince, yet here she was provoking him again.
The sheer recklessness of it left him beyond shocked.
Whether he was horrified or not, Talia paid him no attention.
She stepped directly into the Crown Prince's space and gently added,
“Do you know how hard I worked to dress exactly according to your tastes, dear brother...?”
