This love is like a curse (40)
The veins on the crown prince's thick neck bulged. It seemed that just a moment later he would use his fists. Edric stood close to Thalia. But it seems that he was not the only one who sensed the danger: Longboat, who had previously been standing in the shadows, silently stood between them.
“The ceremony was already very late. I suggest you start.
The second princess froze for a moment, then turned her gaze to Sir Siekana.
It lasted only a split second, but Edric, who was intently watching her every movement, noticed how her body tensed. It seems that even this obstinate girl knew: if Barkas gets serious, it’s better not to contradict her.
She pressed her lips tightly together and turned away. The Crown Prince, who had just been seething with rage, also gritted his teeth and returned to his place in front of the altar.
When it became clear that the tension had subsided, the abbot - previously cowered like a turtle in its shell - cleared his throat and resumed the ceremony.
Edric stepped back a little and watched from the side as the three members of the imperial family took turns receiving the blessing.
The Crown Prince was the first to approach the altar and bowed his head. The abbot raised a silver goblet, poured holy water into it and pronounced a blessing in the ancient language.
Then the first princess and her groom, Sir Siekan, approached. And finally, Thalia bowed before the priest.
Edric watched her as if a complete stranger was in front of him. Hundreds of candles cast light that fell on her copper-gold hair and pale skin, giving her an unearthly glow. At that moment, she seemed like a creature from another world.
He continued to watch, fascinated, when suddenly the priest poured holy water on her head.
Transparent drops rolled down the silky strands, leaving wet trails on the high forehead, sharp cheekbones and even nose before falling from the chin.
The priest laid his hands on her, pouring out sacred energy:
- May God's grace be with you forever...
The prayer seemed to last forever. But then the silver bell sounded, and the crown prince was the first to rise and head across the hall. The first princess and Sir Siekan followed him.
And only then did Talia Roem Girta slowly straighten up. She walked through the rows of spectators with her chin held high and her graceful posture.
No one could take their eyes off her.
It seemed at that moment that they realized for the first time: this woman, who was considered the embodiment of discord, strange and sinister, was in fact the princess of the empire.
* * *
The air, which had recently been scorching, became cooler, perhaps due to a sharp change in altitude.
Taking a breath of dry, fresh air, Thalia looked out the window at the sky, where the sun was setting. The deep blue of night was approaching from the east. Another day has come to an end, and it seems to have passed without incident.
Her throat burned as if she had swallowed a fireball.
Opening a box built into the corner of the carriage, Talia took out a small silver knife, captured in the monastery. The blade, pale as moonlight, seemed to have been waiting for it and now itself spoke to her.
Hiding the knife in the folds of her dress, she carefully walked out. In front of her lay a noisy camp.
Pulling up the hood sewn to her cape, Thalia looked around. It seems that a feast was held to ease Gareth's gloomy mood. Servants scurried between the tents, delivering food and wine. Some soldiers were already tipsy.
Talia pursed her dry lips as she stroked the knife in her pocket.
She was pleased with such a noisy atmosphere. This made the task easier. She moved carefully through the camp.
At that moment, one of the knights noticed her and joyfully rushed towards her.
- Your Highness!
Thalia frowned.
Why is this man hovering around her so annoyingly? His obsessive friendliness caused her not just irritation, but almost disgust.
Staring at him with an icy gaze, she snorted sharply and silently walked past. But even this did not stop him.
-You must have been very upset, right? Please, let's go through. The servants are already preparing the meal. If you personally monitor, you will be sure of safety.
She ignored his chatter and walked towards where the music was coming from.
She soon discovered Gareth, lounging in front of a brightly lit tent, eating a gourmet dinner.
Thalia stopped a short distance away. The retinue did their best to improve the mood of the gloomy prince, who gloomily drained his glasses. Jesters in stupid costumes performed tricks with daggers, musicians played sugary tunes that suited his tastes, and maids, feigning concern, diligently flirted.
Thalia watched the scene with amusement until a knight blocked her path.
- It's better for you to go the other way.
She silently looked up at his tense face. He had the same expression in the temple - as if he really intended to protect her from danger.
She chuckled to herself.
“Does he really think that I will believe that he cares?”
- Mind your own business.
Dropping it coldly, she turned towards the row of tents that stood closer to the river. From the very beginning, Talia's target was not Gareth. She, trying to look as casual as possible, looked around for Ayla's camp. She soon noticed her stepsister enjoying a meal with her ladies-in-waiting.
Thalia hesitated.
Ayla was guarded by many knights. For them, she is a dangerous person, and at the slightest attempt to approach her, they will immediately stop her.
She bit her lip anxiously.
How to approach without arousing suspicion?
While she was racking her brains, her annoying guard suddenly fell silent.
Thalia glanced at him out of the corner of her eye - he was looking at her with suspicion. Apparently, he noticed that she was behaving somehow differently.
Pretending to be calm, Thalia sat down at a nearby table. To distract him, she suddenly said:
- I'm hungry. Bring me something to eat.
The guard's face immediately lit up with joy. A ridiculously naive man.
- Of course, your highness! I'll bring everything now!
As soon as the annoying guard left, Thalia, without raising her head from under her tightly pulled hood, began to watch Ayla again. She burst into laughter in response to the jokes of her maids.
“Will I... really cut her throat?”
My mouth is dry. She might be caught before she does anything. And then everything will turn out not as a punishment for a stupid prank, but as an execution.
She fingered the blade in her pocket, wondering if this idea was worth her life.
Even if Ayla disappears from the face of the earth, Talia will still not receive Longboat. He will live his life as before. And she will disappear like dew at the place of execution. All that can follow from this stupid act is a miserable death.
“And yet...”
Is watching Barkas become Ayla's husband better than death?
While Ayla, having become the Duchess of Siekan, will give birth to his heirs, Thalia will slowly wither away in pain.
Maybe she will be forcibly married to a man whom Senevier chooses. Then she will have to endure the dirty touches of some disgusting husband... and she will not be able to stand it. She will probably take her own life.
One way or another, it will all end in death. Then why not end it all today by taking Ayla with you?
Having made her final decision, Thalia stood up. She moved towards Ayla, trying to look natural...
And then, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a familiar figure.
"This woman..."