This love is like a curse (39)
He pulled out the cloak of the knightly order that had been put aside, shook off the dust and threw it over his orichalcum armor, which shimmered with gold. The tabard [1], made by the elves themselves, was decorated with an embroidered coat of arms with ancient writings and a golden cup engulfed in flames. A special spell was cast on him that protected him from damage even from strong blows. Alas, even magic could not cope with the crumpled fabric.
Having smoothed out the folds in the hems of his clothes and thoroughly cleaned his sabatons [2] of dust, he rose to his feet. Having put himself in order, Edric left the tent, and his gaze rested on the gloomy, cloud-covered sky. A strong wind had been blowing since the morning, and now it looked like it was going to rain.
Edric, frowning, took the cloak and headed towards Thalia's tent. But then a dull ringing was heard behind him - the sacred bell announced the beginning of the ceremony.
Looking over his shoulder, he saw the Crown Prince and the First Princess with their entourage already entering the temple - apparently all preparations had been completed.
He hurriedly crossed the camp. Walking past columns carved from stone and passing an arch, he found himself inside the sanctuary, flooded with a soft bluish light.
Pausing briefly, Edric looked around at the retinue filling the benches for the congregation and the knights lining the walls.
The prince and first princess were at the altar. It seems that before the ceremony they received a blessing from the chief priest.
Edric, shifting restlessly from foot to foot, noticed Sir Siekan waiting in the transept [3], and in the blink of an eye crossed the nave [4].
“Commander, Her Highness the second princess will be ready soon.” Could you wait a little longer?
Approaching closer, he spoke carefully and received a calm but penetrating look in response.
Edric involuntarily held his breath.
Instead of the armor of the order, Barkas wore a black doublet [5] with the coat of arms of the house of Siekan on the breastplate, and an unusually cut cloak was thrown over his shoulder. Even in the eyes of a man, he looked intimidatingly magnificent. The princess's mockery flashed through Edric's head - ugly and stupid. If since childhood she had seen only such men, then it is not surprising that others seemed wretched to her.
Immersed in these stupid thoughts, he did not immediately notice how his boss sighed quietly and, without uttering a word, headed towards the altar.
— The ceremony will have to be suspended. “Her Highness the Second Princess also wishes to take part in the consecration,” he said.
The priest, who was reading the prayers, looked confusedly from Longboat to the awkwardly frozen Edric.
Thalia, as a member of the imperial family, had the right to participate in the ceremony. If she had refused, there would have been no questions asked. But since she expressed her desire to attend, refusal would be unacceptable. However, the priest did not dare to make a decision and only glanced at Prince Gareth.
“Are you saying that I should wait for this rootless scum?” — the prince growled, piercing Barkas with his gaze and spitting out every word like poison. - Start the ceremony immediately! I won't tolerate another second of delay because of this creature!
Edric pursed his lips. He himself knew how strong the crown prince’s dislike was for Thalia, and did not expect that he would so openly refuse her participation in front of everyone. And this despite the fact that the participation of the second princess in the pilgrimage was the will of the emperor himself.
With difficulty, but he decided to speak:
“Her Highness is also recognized by His Majesty as a full member of the imperial family.” According to tradition, she is entitled to the blessings of the saints.
The prince, who had previously glared at Longboat, sharply turned to him.
Edric swallowed. Gareth, distorting his rough face into a crooked grin, approached him like a predatory animal.
“Do you even understand who you’re opening your mouth to?”
- I'm sorry, Your Highness, I just...
He tried to bow and explain something, but at the same moment he felt a heavy hand fall on his neck. Gareth grabbed him sharply by the collar and pulled him towards him.
Trying not to wince in pain, Edric stubbornly looked the crown prince in the face. Apparently, this angered him even more - his dark green eyes flashed, and he hissed like an animal:
- Some pathetic knight dares to lecture me?
- About... I beg your pardon...
Edric, barely holding back his trembling, squeezed out an apology, clenching his fists with all his might so as not to lose his temper.
And then Longboat put his hand on the crown prince’s shoulder.
“Your Highness,” he said quietly but clearly.
Gareth froze. Edric noticed how a shadow of tension ran across the prince's face.
In a soft but confident voice, Barkas said:
- They're looking at you.
A blush appeared on the prince’s cheeks, either from anger or from humiliation. He seemed to feel ashamed for faltering in front of him for a moment.
With a hiss, he pushed Edric away, and he stared at Longkas with a burning gaze.
“I warned you not to dare touch me again without permission.” Do you expect me to endure this forever?
Gareth abruptly dropped his hand from his shoulder, moved closer to Longboat so close that his face was almost touching him, and hissed furiously. He looked as if he was about to rush at him - from this tension, even the knights and the first princess hurried to approach to calm the crown prince.
And then an icy voice, clear as a crystal ball, spread through the hall:
“If I had known that there was such a performance here, I would have come to the ceremony last time too.”
Edric shuddered and turned around. His gaze fell on Thalia, who was slowly crossing the nave, accompanied by several ladies-in-waiting. He involuntarily held his breath.
This woman, always ready to cause a scandal at the first opportunity, now walked to the altar with an impeccable appearance.
Soft light streamed through the stained glass windows, shading a face exactly like the face of the empress, and a graceful figure dressed in a blio made of white gold-colored fabric.
Edric blinked, as if trying to make sure that what was happening was not an illusion. He noticed that everyone in the temple was looking at her in fascination. The knight stole a glance at the crown prince and first princess to see their reaction.
The prince looked at his younger sister with an expression as if he saw a demon in front of him. The First Princess remained calm, but her clasped fingers turned white with anxiety.
Sensing the tension emanating from the three members of the imperial family, Edric silently walked up to the second princess and stood next to her. However, no one paid attention to him. Only Thalia Roem Girtha glanced at him with her eyes and immediately turned her gaze back to Longkas and Gareth.
- Why did you stand up like an idol? Do you want to fight?
The Crown Prince, clenching his teeth until they crunched, slowly pulled away from Sir Siekan. He looked at his sister with a mocking glance from head to toe and smiled wryly:
“I don’t know who you dressed up like that for, but if you think that an outfit can hide your vile origin, then you are stupider than you seem.”
“But just a few days ago you reproached me for not dressing modestly enough,” the princess responded with a carefree grin. “I worked especially hard for you today.” But again you are unhappy.
After hesitating for a second, she, without hiding a sly smile, came close to him.
Edric looked at her in horror. He was not just shocked, he was shocked to the core - after all, she again, as if nothing had happened, provoked His Highness, despite yesterday's incident.
But the second princess, as if not noticing his confusion, brought her face closer to her elder brother and softly added:
“I tried so hard... I chose everything specifically to suit your taste, brother.”
Notes:
1. A tabard is an element of medieval clothing, which is a loose cape or sleeveless cloak with slits for the arms, worn over armor.
2 Sabaton - an element of plate armor that protected the knight's foot.
3. A transept is the “transverse part” of a temple or cathedral.
4. Nave - the central longitudinal passage in the temple.
If you imagine a church in the shape of a cross:
The long part (from the entrance to the altar) is the nave.
The short "bar" (perpendicular to the nave) is the transept.
5. A doublet is men's outerwear, something between a jacket, vest and short camisole.