“Have you been burning incense again?”
Staring directly into her unfocused eyes, Varkas spoke in a tone of reproach.
Heat instantly flooded her cheeks.
She had merely used medicine because she was in pain.
She hadn't done anything wrong, so why did it feel as though she was being scolded?
Avoiding his gaze, she lowered her eyes, only for a dry sigh to brush across her forehead.
“...Perhaps this is for the best.”
Muttering bitterly, Varkas dropped one knee to the floor and wrapped an arm around her back.
Talia looked up at the sharp line of his jaw, now right before her eyes, in bewilderment.
He slipped his other arm beneath her legs and slowly rose to his feet.
Instinctively, Talia clutched the skirt of her dress tightly. A chill ran down her spine at the thought that it might ride up.
“I-I can walk on my own.”
“Then simply remain drunk on your medicine.”
Stepping down from the carriage, Varkas spoke dryly.
“That will make enduring today much easier.”
Talia shrank into herself as she caught the sarcasm hidden within his voice.
To him, today seemed to be something that simply had to be endured.
Lowering her head dejectedly, she heard an unfamiliar voice nearby.
“Commander, His Majesty appears to be delayed.”
Talia flinched and buried herself deeper in his arms.
Varkas spread his coat over her body and gave instructions to the man in a curt tone.
“Inform the High Priest.”
Then he strode toward the archway carved from marble.
Unconsciously, Talia clutched his shirt tightly.
Beyond the thin coat carrying the scent of mint, she could see the heavily clouded sky.
The gloomy gray hue, as though foretelling her dark future, cast eerie shadows upon the faces of the saints carved into the pillars and stone walls.
As those faces drew closer, the fear pooled inside her stomach slowly crawled up her throat.
Impulsively, she spoke.
“The weather is too gloomy today.”
Blue eyes flecked with silver dropped onto her forehead.
Avoiding that gaze, she stammered,
“No one gets married on days like this.”
So let's stop. She was about to say that, but his lips parted first.
“Then we'll be the first.”
His voice sounded as though he were soothing her.
Talia swallowed the words rising to her throat.
He was already accustomed to her whims.
Those words were only meant to placate her.
She tried to convince herself of that, but her shameless heart beat wildly on its own.
Lowering her head to hide her burning face, she remained silent.
Before long, the enormous mouth of the Grand Cathedral swallowed them whole.
Cold, heavy air pressed down upon the body wrapped in a thin dress.
Hunching her shoulders, Talia peeked outside through the opening in Varkas's coat.
Hundreds of people filled the corridors.
The sheer number of guests made her mouth go dry.
They had not gathered to celebrate this marriage.
They were here only because they feared Senevier.
Or perhaps...
They had come to see what had become of the bastard princess.
Lowering her gaze, she checked whether her leg was properly concealed beneath her dress.