The woman, her eyes filled with open hostility as she stared toward the altar, flashed him a provocative smile.
"Maybe next time I'll come wearing a Brishin."
Varkas's face instantly turned cold.
Brishin was a traditional eastern garment notorious for exposing most of the upper body. The mere image of her walking through the Grand Cathedral in a delicate silk dress that left her shoulders and back almost completely bare made the veins at his temples throb as though they were about to burst.
"Don't even dream of it."
His quiet reply immediately made her pout.
"I was only joking. You don't have to look so serious."
He said nothing.
Because he knew she wasn't joking.
Before injuring her leg, she had often appeared at official events in outrageously revealing attire, causing one uproar after another. The Talia before him now reminded him of the troublesome young woman she had once been.
He couldn't decide whether he should welcome the change or be wary of it.
He didn't want her to spend the rest of her life hiding inside the castle to avoid people's stares.
But neither did he want her flaunting her beauty everywhere and inviting trouble.
Above all...
She absolutely could not afford to provoke the spiritual leader of the Eastern people.
"After the ceremony, I intend to meet privately with the High Priest to discuss that monster... Khan."
To keep his voice from being drowned out by the choir's singing, he leaned close to her.
"I'll negotiate with him so he can no longer use Khan as an excuse to criticize Your Highness. So please refrain from doing anything that might provoke the Church."
"...I wasn't actually trying to cause trouble."
She suddenly looked flustered and awkwardly lowered her gaze.
"If they overlook Khan's existence, I have no reason to keep provoking that stubborn old man."
Relieved by her softened attitude, he straightened his posture.
Just then, the choir finished its hymn, and the High Priest stepped up to the pulpit.
After offering a blessing in ancient Osirian, the priest slowly surveyed the congregation before beginning his sermon in a booming voice.
"Today, I wish to speak about temptation. There are countless temptations in this world that lead mankind toward sin. We must remain ever vigilant against them."
He soon launched into a passionate discourse about the dangers of physical beauty and the corruption it invited.
Varkas, watching the High Priest's stern face with icy eyes, glanced sideways at his wife.
At first, she seemed relieved that the sermon wasn't another warning about the dangers of monsters.
Then...
Her expression slowly stiffened.
As people throughout the cathedral began casting furtive glances in her direction, she apparently realized that the High Priest's sermon was aimed squarely at her.
Varkas quietly covered the back of her hand with his own.
"Don't worry."
His voice was low.
"I'll make certain he never speaks of you like this again."
Talia parted her lips as if she wanted to say something.
In the end, she merely nodded.
Meanwhile, the High Priest's criticism grew increasingly blatant.
Swayed by his inflammatory sermon, several members of the congregation began looking at her as though she were something vile.
The moment Varkas noticed those looks, his hand tightened around the armrest.
It seemed he would have to speak with the High Priest as soon as possible.
* * *
After practically forcing his wife into the carriage despite her insistence on waiting for him, Varkas headed straight for the High Priest's residence.
As though expecting his visit, a young priest who appeared to be the High Priest's secretary immediately escorted him into the reception room.
"It has been some time, Your Grace."
Inside the neatly furnished room, the High Priest greeted him wearing a simple gray robe instead of ceremonial vestments.
Varkas returned the greeting with a slight nod before taking the seat opposite the old man.
A priest set a steaming cup of tea before him with a courteous smile.
"I've heard much about your achievements in the North. The Grand Duke's devotion to the Empire deserves our gratitude. I am certain the Lord has watched over Your Grace with great satisfaction."
"I didn't come here to hear empty compliments."