Chapter 89
“There’s nothing for you to apologize for, High Priest.”
They weren’t meeting for the first time. The Empress had introduced Ephinia to the High Priest at that ball, and afterward, when he saw Ephinia leave the ballroom, he had felt sorry for her, and he had also felt guilty that he hadn’t been able to do anything to help.
“This is a real wedding. Once it’s held, it can’t be undone. Divorce is especially difficult for an imperial marriage. Do you both understand this?”
This was meant for Ephinia, not Kasselard. If the Princess of the Nabel Empire, who was due to enter the capital now, had a high match rate with the Crown Prince, then the one who would be put in an awkward position would be her.
“There won’t be any divorce, High Priest. Don’t say anything unpleasant.”
Kasselard said it as he pulled Ephinia into his arms. Ephinia answered in a calm voice as well.
“I feel the same, High Priest. Please officiate our marriage.”
Seeing, unexpectedly, that Baroness Linier’s will was firm, the High Priest looked at her with pity. The Crown Prince was someone who wouldn’t bend his stubbornness, so people would harass the Crown Princess, who seemed relatively weaker, to try to change the Crown Prince.
And the Crown Prince’s personality itself was somewhat strange. He was only that handsome. The moment something went wrong, he was the kind of person who would seize someone as if crushing them.
Ghileste, if it were up to his heart, wanted to pull Ephinia aside and tell her to think again a hundred, a thousand times, but…
‘His Highness’s gaze is burning. My face is going to get pierced.’
“Ahem. If that truly is both of your will, then I will begin the ceremony. Let us go to the venue.”
Feeling the Crown Prince’s sharp gaze prick at him, Ghileste headed to the garden. The quick-witted attendants opened the doors, so he was able to get out to the garden without having to slow his steps.
Ghileste avoided the path of white silk that the two of them had to walk and stepped to the dais, behind the altar. At the end of the silk path strewn with pale pink petals, he could see Crown Prince Kasselard walking in, holding Baroness Linier’s hand.
‘Good grief… honestly.’
Whatever the situation, the two of them couldn’t look more perfectly matched, like a painting. The meticulous Crown Prince must have even called a court painter, because there was even someone in an inconspicuous corner drawing.
Ghileste held back a pleased smile with a cough as he received them. Kasselard shot him a sharp look.
‘That look means hurry up.’
He had no intention of dragging things out now. It didn’t look like anyone would come and help him, either. And if the Crown Prince with that damn temper actually harmed the Nabel Empire’s Crown Prince as he had warned… then the problem would become enormous.
Surely it had only been a threat, but…
He was someone who did things that couldn’t be understood by an ordinary person’s common sense. An SS-Class Transcendent, and at that, a magus swordsman, was a truly troublesome existence.
Ghileste gave up and began to recite the officiant’s words. Befitting an Crown Prince’s wedding, it was suitably solemn, yet greatly condensed.
“…By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss.”
At last, the wedding ended, and he could see the palace attendants scattering flower petals over their heads. Kasselard, without paying him any mind, was absorbed in the kiss.
“…KASSELARD!”
Somewhere, the Emperor’s roaring voice rang out, and some palace attendants flinched, but not the Crown Prince. With a cold face, he glanced in that direction, then finished the kiss. Kasselard’s gaze as it landed on the bride was sweet as spring wind.
“Th, this… how foolish!”
He had clearly rushed over as soon as he heard the news. Kasselard, thinking about where the information had leaked from, hid Ephinia behind him. From behind the Emperor, an elegant voice spoke.
“Your Majesty, it’s already done.”
The Emperor hadn’t come alone. He didn’t know whether the Empress had been with him when he heard, but Empress Yekaterina was also entering behind the Emperor.
Even under Anox’s furious gaze, Kasselard stood firm. The Emperor seemed enraged, but he knew his son’s standing within the Empire.
“Everything was for your sake, Kasselard!”
“This is the choice that’s for my sake, Your Majesty.”
Kasselard answered, and when Ephinia looked like she was about to step forward, he tightened the arm around her.
It was true that Ephinia had asked for this, but he had not the slightest intention of letting her be blamed.
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