Varkas approached and spoke beside the Crown Prince.
Gareth glared at him with strange hostility before abruptly turning away.
“Then stop wasting time and hurry up.”
The moment the order was given, the attendants immediately began parking the carriages near the temple and unloading supplies.
The retainers of the First and Second Imperial Princesses, who had arrived later, joined the activity as well.
While the soldiers efficiently erected tents, the servants pulled ceremonial incense burners, sacred trays, silver pitchers, and candlesticks from heavy chests and polished them until they gleamed.
Once the preparations were mostly complete, the maids immediately began assisting the Crown Prince and the First Imperial Princess with their appearance.
Watching the scene from a short distance away, Edrick slowly approached the carriage where Talia remained shut inside.
If she intended to participate in the ceremony, it was about time to ask her to prepare herself as well.
And yet, strangely, he could not bring himself to speak.
Staring at the tightly closed door, Edrick scratched the back of his head roughly.
The image of the Second Imperial Princess from the previous night resurfaced in his mind, twisting his stomach unpleasantly.
The arm he had raised to knock gradually fell back to his side.
Instead, Edrick looked toward the Crown Prince’s tent erected nearby.
Servants were filling a large bath with hot water outside while building a fire beneath it, yet Gareth merely lounged in a chair, leisurely sipping wine.
The sight left a bitter taste in Edrick’s mouth.
‘After beating his own sister into that state, he doesn’t seem to feel even the slightest shred of guilt.’
He had heard rumors that the Crown Prince struck the Second Imperial Princess, but he had never imagined it was that severe.
Remembering the sight of that tiny, fragile woman being punched across the face and strangled by a man built like a mountain, Edrick slowly clenched his fist.
Thankfully Sir Varkas had been nearby.
Otherwise, a horrifying tragedy might truly have occurred.
Edrick stared down at his cold, sweat-covered palm before finally turning away.
In any case, Talia Roem Gwirta would almost certainly refuse to participate in the ceremony.
There was no reason to waste energy on it.
Swallowing a heavy sigh, he started toward the temple—
Then suddenly, a rattling sound came from behind him.
“Hey. You.”
Startled, Edrick turned around.
His eyes widened at the sight of Talia standing at the entrance of the carriage with her arms crossed.
As though absolutely nothing had happened, the woman stepped down from the carriage wearing her usual arrogant expression and tilted her chin.
“Go bring the maids.”
“...What?”
Talia shot him an irritated look as he merely blinked stupidly at her.
“Are you ugly, stupid, and deaf {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} too? I said bring the maids immediately. I’m going to prepare myself.”
Edrick stared blankly, utterly dumbfounded by the verbal abuse he had just received for the first time in his life.
Then he hurried off to summon the attendants assigned to her by the Empress.
For some reason, seeing Talia viciously running her mouth again made relief spill from him in the form of a quiet sigh.
The healing mage had completely treated her injuries last night, but after barely eating all day and suffering through such brutality, he had honestly worried she might collapse bedridden.
‘Thankfully, she seems fine.’
Then again, this was a woman who had mocked the Crown Prince without a shred of fear immediately after barely escaping death.
There was no way someone like her would break so easily.
Letting out a hollow laugh, Edrick immediately ordered the servants to bring water while instructing the guards beneath him to straighten their uniforms properly.
The Second Imperial Princess had finally decided to participate in an imperial ritual for once.
As an imperial guard knight, he intended to attend to her properly.