This love is like a curse (38)
In the blink of an eye, Longboat reached the carriage and literally threw it onto the seat.
Talia, rubbing the bruised area, looked at him with eyes full of rage - but immediately petrified when she saw his face. Longboat, looking at her with the expression of a man whose patience is running out, muttered through his teeth:
“I warned you, don’t make any more scenes.”
She was taken aback, but almost immediately stubbornness flashed in her gaze.
- And why should I listen to you at all? Who are you to tell me?
“More than a nominal princess, I suppose.”
A cold smile appeared on Barkas's lips.
Thalia stood up, unable to contain her anger. Hitting that arrogant face is the only way to ease the soul. But Barkas turned out to be faster. Leaning over her, he grabbed her hands and chained her to the seat. His indifferent gaze, without a shadow of pity, slid over her swollen cheek and, probably, already blue neck.
A tired sigh escaped from his chest:
“You really don’t understand what you’re doing?” No one here will protect you. If His Highness decides to kill you, no one can guarantee your safety.
- What do you care?! - Thalia shouted. “You’re the first one who will be happy if I disappear!”
- I won’t deny it.
Although she expected such words, she still felt as if a knife had been stabbed into her heart.
He continued with frightening calm:
“But I will not allow you to jeopardize the crown prince’s position.” If you want to die, do it yourself.
Thalia's eyes filled with hot tears, but she held back.
He slowly straightened up. His face, just full of cold rage, again acquired the mask of an impassive knight. In an official tone he added:
- I'll bring a healer. Rest and get yourself in order.
In response, Thalia threw the goblet that was on the floor at him. The silver vessel hit him in the chest and rolled on the ground. The longboat, glaring at her with disgust, silently left the carriage.
Thalia slammed the door behind him. The tears that she was so desperately ashamed of still rolled down her cheeks. She clamped her hand tightly to her mouth, afraid that a sob would burst out. The lump in her throat was choking her. At that moment she just wanted to disappear.
* * *
At the top of the hill stood a lonely white temple, built by Emperor Darian in honor of the independence of Osiria.
Pilgrims stopped in front of him and gazed in awe at the sparkling building. Despite the passing centuries, the temple has been preserved almost in its original form. People looked at the prayers and statues of heroes carved in stone, immersed in religious awe.
But the Crown Prince seemed to remain indifferent to the legacy of his ancestors.
Jumping from the saddle, Gareth looked around the arched entrance with indifference:
— This is the second shrine?
“That’s right, your highness,” one of the attendants answered with noticeable tension.
Everyone knew that the prince had been in an extremely bad mood since yesterday, and therefore they behaved very carefully. Only Barkas maintained his usual calm.
“They say there are no permanent ministers in the temple.” We will have to prepare the ceremony ourselves,” he said, approaching the prince.
Gareth, glaring at him with hostility, turned sharply:
“Then don’t delay and start faster.”
As soon as the order was given, the servants began to unload the carts at the temple. The retinue of the first and second princesses who arrived later joined them.
While the soldiers deftly set up the tents, the servants began to take out from the boxes everything necessary for the ceremony: incense burners, sacred bowls, silver jugs and candlesticks, and thoroughly clean everything. Once the preparations were completed, the maids began dressing the Crown Prince and First Princess.
Edric, who had been watching what was happening from a short distance, headed towards the carriage where Thalia still remained. It was time to inform her about the preparations for the ceremony. But for some reason he did not dare to speak.
He scratched the back of his head with some irritation, looking at the tightly closed door. As soon as he remembered what the second princess looked like the night before, his stomach began to twist unpleasantly again.
Edric, powerlessly lowering his hand, which he was about to knock, turned his gaze to the crown prince’s tent, set up nearby. While the servants placed a huge font in front of him, filled it with water and lit a fire, the prince himself sat imposingly in a chair, leisurely sipping wine. This careless picture left a bitter taste in my mouth.
“He beat his younger sister to such a state - and not a drop of remorse.”
He had heard rumors that the Crown Prince was raising his hand against the Second Princess, but he could not even imagine that everything was so serious. Edric clenched his fists, remembering how a fragile girl, who weighed less than a handful, struggled desperately in the hands of a man twice her size. Edric clenched his fist. It’s good that Sir Siekan was nearby - otherwise the matter could have turned into a terrible tragedy.
He looked down at his palm, covered in cold sweat, and turned around sharply. In the end, Talia Roem Girta will probably once again persist in refusing to participate in the ceremony. Why waste your energy?
With a heavy sigh, he was about to head towards the temple when a roar was heard behind him.
- Hey, you.
Edric shuddered and turned around. Thalia stood at the entrance to the carriage with her arms crossed over her chest. With the most ordinary, arrogant expression on her face, as if yesterday’s nightmare had never happened, she came down and nodded arrogantly.
- Call the maids.
- …What?
He only blinked in confusion, for which he immediately received an irritated look.
-Are you stupid and ugly, and also deaf? I said, call the maids. I need to get ready!
Edric stared at her in shock - they had never spoken to him like that before. But she quickly came to her senses and hurried to call the maids assigned to her by the empress.
Watching Thalia confidently and even boldly give orders, Edric breathed a sigh of relief. Although the healer had healed all her wounds the day before, he was worried: after such exhaustion and shock, she might not get out of bed.
“Seems okay though.”
And no wonder. Even on the verge of life and death, she found the strength to mock the crown prince - this woman will not break so easily.
With a relieved smile, Edric ordered the servants to bring water, and his subordinates to clean up. Since the second princess decided to still participate in the ceremony, he, as her knight, intended to accompany her as expected.