Talia picked at a hangnail beside her fingernail.
A bead of sweat on her forehead slowly trickled down along her temple.
Varkas placed his hands on her shoulders and slowly turned her around. She felt his long, firm fingers cup one side of her face.
Unable to meet his eyes, Talia fixed her gaze on the tip of his chin.
Then Varkas lowered his face.
Warm, soft lips touched the corner of her mouth for a brief instant before parting.
It was a kiss as light as a spring breeze. Nothing more than the minimum contact required by custom.
That fleeting touch, so brief it could hardly even be called a kiss, seemed to slice her heart into tiny pieces.
“With this, I announce that all rites have been completed.”
At the priest's final declaration, formal applause spread through the chapel.
Talia looked up at him with trembling eyes.
His expressionless face, impossible to read, was quietly studying her.
Just what was he looking at so intently?
After thoroughly searching her with that persistent gaze, Varkas turned toward the guests.
Only then did Talia release the breath she had been holding.
Keeping an arm around her waist, he crossed through the crowd.
Ghostly faces passed by between their slow steps.
Gareth, whose eyes gleamed ominously. The troubled-looking Emperor. Senevier, wearing a satisfied smile...
Countless shadows flowed past like a river, and then the dark sky, scattering rain, came into view.
“Bring me my coat.”
Stopping at the entrance of the chapel, Varkas spoke to the knight waiting there.
The knight immediately handed over the outer garment draped over his arm.
After placing it over her shoulders, Varkas bent slightly and effortlessly lifted her with one arm.
Startled, Talia hurriedly wrapped her arms around his neck to avoid falling backward.
Soft hair carrying the pleasant scent of soap brushed her nose.
Lightly supporting her back with one hand, he began walking through the rain at an unhurried pace.
Talia watched the gentle silver raindrops blanket his face in white before turning her eyes toward the garden below, where sinister shadows had settled.
“...Where are we going?”
“I've prepared a temporary residence outside the Imperial Palace.”
He answered leisurely as he walked.
“We'll stay there until we depart for the East.”
Talia looked bewildered.
Was this really how weddings ended?
Senevier had surely prepared a grand wedding banquet. Hadn't the entire palace been in an uproar for days over decorating the hall and preparing the food?
There must have been guests who had come specifically to see him.
Could they really abandon all of that and simply leave like this?
“We've done enough. There's no reason to remain as entertainment any longer.”
His cold voice pulled her thoughts back to reality.
He was right.
This marriage was nothing but vulgar gossip.
The crippled bastard princess. The exchanged bride. The pitiful groom who had gone overnight from being an object of envy to an object of sympathy...
She didn't even need to hear what people would say about them.
There was no reason for Varkas to endure such humiliation.
No matter that it was the Emperor, even he could not demand that much sacrifice from the man who would someday rule the East.
Passing along a muddy road, he stopped before a carriage bearing House Siorcan's crest.
The attendant sitting on the driver's seat hurried over and opened the door.
Varkas stepped inside and gently lowered her onto the cushioned seat.
Talia stared at him strangely.
In that short time, Varkas had become completely drenched.
Sitting opposite her, he loosened the tight ceremonial collar around his neck and released a long sigh heavy with fatigue.