“Prepare the funeral according to proper procedure.”
After confirming that his father's heart had completely stopped, Varkas spoke in a calm voice.
Raina, who had been clutching the old man's cold hand and sobbing, raised her head to glare at him. It seemed she resented her brother for showing no grief.
Lucas, in contrast, appeared surprisingly composed. Though his eyes were bloodshot, he seemed to have prepared himself already and quietly comforted his sister.
“Stop crying now. Father must have gone to a better place.”
But Raina's sobs refused to subside.
Eventually, Lucas wrapped an arm around her shoulders and led her outside. Only then did the waiting priests surround the bed with curtains and begin washing the dead man's body with water infused with medicinal herbs.
Talia silently watched the ritual scene for a while, but exhaustion finally overcame her, and she tugged at Varkas's coat.
“Let's go too. There's no reason for us to stay here any longer.”
Several people cast displeased looks at her, but Talia paid them no mind.
After gazing down at his father's cold face, Varkas calmly nodded.
“Let us go.”
Without another word, he stepped into the corridor.
Outside the bedchamber, servants who had gathered to witness the Grand Duke's passing stood in rows. They all removed their hats in mourning.
Talia carefully studied their expressions.
Most of them looked genuinely sorrowful. It seemed that ill-tempered old man had actually been a decent lord. He had probably been a good father to Lucas and Raina as well.
Only Varkas had been the exception.
Stealing glances at his profile, Talia cautiously spoke.
“Earlier... what was that?”
The man gave her a puzzled look.
“Your father was saying strange things.”
“That was nothing more than the ramblings of a dying old man.”
Varkas answered firmly before suddenly lifting her into his arms and ascending the stairs.
Talia eyed him suspiciously.
“Then why was he saying those things?”
After a brief silence, he answered with his usual calm expression.
“Your Highness must have heard the rumors about my family.”
“The rumors that the ancient Siorcan clan used the power of demons?”
At her blunt words, Varkas let out a dry laugh and acknowledged it calmly.
“There have indeed been members of House Siorcan who were born possessing unusual abilities. My father believed I would be one of them.”
Talia's eyes widened.
“Really?”
A mocking smile returned to his lips.
“What do you think?”
She wore an uneasy expression.
Seeing her face, the amusement vanished from Varkas's mouth.
“Regrettably, I possess no such abilities.”
By then, they had reached the bedroom.
Opening the door, Varkas strode inside.
Talia shrank her shoulders against the cold air. Seeing that, he immediately set her down on the bed and wrapped a blanket around her shoulders.
A moment later, several servants flooded into the room. They lit the fireplace and placed trays filled with food and wine nearby.
After bustling around for some time, they withdrew all at once.
Talia immediately asked again.
“You really don't have any powers?”
Varkas, who had removed his coat and hung it on the wall, turned toward her with narrowed brows.
Watching his expression carefully, Talia stubbornly continued.
“According to the rumors, Empress Bernadette could read people's minds...”
“They are all nothing but foolish rumors.”
His tone sharpened.
“Her Majesty was simply more sensitive to the emotions of others than most.”