Ugly things are mocked and trampled for no reason.
Senevier's voice echoed in her ears.
She wanted to # Nоvеlight # run out of the cathedral immediately.
But if she did, she would surely collapse in front of everyone.
And laughter would pour down upon her like a torrential rain.
Bastard.
Cripple.
The worst bride.
“Your Highness, your complexion doesn't look well. Shall I summon a priest?”
The knight approached with concern written across his face.
Talia shook her head.
“No.”
“At least some healing magic—”
“Are you deaf? I said no.”
At her sharp retort, the man fell silent.
But he still wouldn't stop looking at her.
His very presence was becoming unbearable.
Every gaze directed at her felt disgusting.
Anxiously, she stared at the place where Varkas had disappeared.
‘Just when is he coming back?’
What conversation could possibly take this long?
Suddenly, Aila's voice echoed in her mind.
You'll regret it.
Perhaps that woman had encouraged her grandfather to interfere.
Yes.
That had to be it.
A marriage between Varkas and herself had been absurd from the beginning.
Perhaps the entire thing had been a play meant to humiliate her.
Varkas had already left the cathedral.
And she—
She would become not only a bastard and a cripple, but a miserable bride abandoned at the altar.
“I want to go home.”
The knight looked at her in confusion.
Talia pulled off the coat Varkas had draped over her shoulders and threw it to the floor.
Then, staggering to her feet, she headed toward a small side door at the end of the wing, desperate to escape those hateful eyes.
The knight, watching in alarm, hurriedly blocked her path.
“Where are you going? The ceremony is about to—”
“Move!”
She reached out to shove him aside.
But no knight clad in armor would be pushed back by her feeble strength.
She glared at him with hostility.
“Didn't you hear me? Move!”
She stretched out her arm again, but her legs gave way and her body tilted to one side.
Instinctively, Talia grabbed his arm.
She felt his body stiffen.
But she felt the same horror.
Touching a man disgusted her.
That large body, impossible for her to control, made her skin crawl.
The only person she could bear to touch was Varkas.
But he had abandoned her here.
Suddenly, tears spilled out.
“Let go!”
She violently shook off the hand trying to support her shoulders.
Then—
Her body suddenly rose into the air.
Talia widened her eyes and turned around.
Varkas's cold eyes met hers.
He stared at her face as though he wanted to tear something apart, before shifting his gaze toward his subordinate.
The knight's face turned scarlet, and he immediately bowed his head.
Varkas watched him silently for a long moment before turning around with an arm wrapped firmly around Talia's waist.
“All of the guests have arrived. The ceremony is about to begin.”
His icy voice rang clearly above her head.
“It is too late to turn back.”