He practically carried her in his arms as he crossed the side aisle.
Talia moved her stinging lips, raw from biting them so much.
Are you really planning to marry me like this? Truly?
She almost asked, but closed her mouth again.
He was right. Perhaps they had already gone too far to turn back.
Lowering her gaze, she looked over the guests filling the nave.
Countless faces reflected in eyes whose tears had not yet fully dried. The Empress's close aides, high-ranking officials, and nobles from numerous distinguished houses... influential figures whose status even she recognized were watching the two of them in silence.
Now she thought she understood why Varkas had not simply abandoned her and left the wedding hall.
No matter that he was the heir to a grand ducal house, he could hardly destroy a wedding hosted by the Emperor before the eyes of so many nobles.
“The ceremony will begin shortly. Bride and groom, please proceed to the waiting seats.”
When they reached the crossing, a waiting priest carefully approached and spoke.
Varkas immediately followed the priest toward the seats prepared beside the altar.
Staggering after him, Talia rolled her eyes restlessly.
Beyond her hazy vision, faces drifted by as though they were watching an entertaining play. Those cold, ash-colored expressions all seemed to be mocking her in unison.
“Does your leg hurt?”
Noticing her body stiffening, Varkas asked while cupping her chin with one hand.
Talia stared blankly at him.
Varkas gently rubbed the damp corners of her eyes with his thumb. His touch was so soft that she almost wondered if this entire thing was merely an illusion born from sleeping grass.
Looking quietly into her eyes, he whispered in a low voice.
“Endure just a little longer. Once the ceremony is over, I'll let you rest.”
The tone with which he spoke, as though soothing a child, made her throat tighten painfully.
He's only doing this because he's worried °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° I'll cause a scene in front of all these people.
He's only trying to calm me down in case I throw a tantrum.
She desperately tried to quiet her frenzied heart by repeating that to herself when a voice she never expected to hear here echoed beside her ear.
“This is unbearable to watch. Anyone seeing this would think you're marrying for love.”
Startled, Talia stiffened and slowly turned her head.
Dressed in a crimson doublet, Gareth was approaching through the pews with five or six Imperial Guards at his back.
For a moment, it felt as though all the blood in her body had frozen.
“Why the funeral face? Your brother came to congratulate you.”
Stopping before her, Gareth twisted his lips into a mocking smile.
Talia looked up at him with frightened eyes.
Perhaps seeing the half-sister who always scratched at his nerves pale and unable to utter a word delighted him.
A strange smile passed over Gareth's rough features.
Leaning down toward her, he whispered eerily.
“You've gained the position of Grand Duchess for the price of one leg. You should be smiling.”
Talia glared at him with a rigid expression.
Normally, she would have clawed that slick face of his with her nails. But at that moment, she could not even part her lips. Her already clouded mind seemed to have completely stopped functioning at his unexpected appearance.
She merely stood there, her eyelids trembling like someone facing a nightmare, when suddenly her head was turned sharply away.
“Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
Pulling her head against his chest and forcing her face into his breast, Varkas spoke in a warning tone.
“If you have come as a guest, then please behave with the dignity appropriate to one. Must you truly cause discord on the wedding day of an old friend?”
Heavy silence pressed down upon her head.
Burying her forehead in his ceremonial attire, Talia swallowed dryly.
She could not understand why Varkas was protecting her from Gareth.
It was supposed to be the opposite. Was it not his role to protect Gareth and Aila from the vicious bastard daughter?
“No need to bare your fangs. As long as you keep your promise, I'll keep mine as well.”
Gareth's cold voice came from behind them.
She wanted to turn and see his expression, but the hand pressing down on her head left her unable to move.
Putting strength into the arm wrapped around her waist, Varkas coldly recited,
“If you intend to observe the ceremony, then please take your seat.”