This love is like a curse (65)
— Did you burn incense again? - Longboat, looking intently into her unfocused eyes, said reproachfully.
His cheeks immediately flushed with heat.
Thalia just took the medicine because it hurt.
She hadn't done anything wrong, but for some reason she felt as if she had been reprimanded for something wrong.
She lowered her gaze, avoiding his eyes, and a dry sigh touched her forehead.
“...Perhaps it’s even better,” Barkas muttered bitterly, dropping to one knee and hugging her back.
Thalia stared in confusion at the sharp lines of his chin, which was right in front of her face.
He slipped his other hand under her knees and slowly stood up.
Thalia instinctively grabbed the hem of her dress - what if it pulled up? — a chill ran down my spine.
- I... I can go on my own.
“You’d better stay under the influence of the herbs,” Barkas said dryly, getting out of the carriage. - This will make it easier for you to cope with today.
There was a mockery in his voice that made Thalia cringe.
For him, this day was clearly just a test that needed to be endured.
Thalia sadly lowered her head... and then an unfamiliar voice was heard very close by:
“Commander, His Majesty will be a little late.”
Thalia shuddered and instinctively pressed herself against his chest.
Longboat opened his cloak and covered her, then ordered in an even tone:
- Report this to the high priest.
After which he resolutely walked towards the marble arch.
Thalia unconsciously grabbed onto his shirt.
Through the thin fabric of the cloak, which smelled of mint, a gray, cloudy sky could be seen.
A dull gray light, as if foreshadowing her gloomy future, ominously illuminated the faces of saints carved on stone columns.
As these faces approached, the fear that had been building up in my stomach crawled up my throat.
Thalia suddenly exhaled:
- Today... it's too cloudy.
Blue eyes, cold as silver shards, fixed on her.
Avoiding his gaze, Thalia continued hesitantly:
- On days like these... no one gets married.
So...we better stop.
Talia wanted to say this, but he beat her to it:
- So we will be the first.
His soothing tone made her swallow her words.
He knew how fickle Talia was. These words are just another ploy to calm her down.
Talia tried to convince herself of this... but her heart, which did not know pride, did not listen and began to beat wildly.
To hide her burning face, Thalia lowered her head sharply.
Soon the huge gates of the cathedral swallowed them up. Cold, heavy air pressed on the body, wrapped in a thin dress.
Thalia shrank and, hiding behind the edge of his cloak, began to look around furtively.
A crowd appeared before my eyes: hundreds of people filled the hall.
The unexpected number of guests left my mouth dry.
They clearly did not gather here to congratulate us.
Everyone is here only because of Senevier.
Or maybe they came to see what the illegitimate princess had become.
Thalia lowered her eyes and checked that her legs were well hidden under her dress.
Even after making sure that the fabric completely covered them to the very tips of her fingers, she did not calm down.
With her palms damp from sweat, she pulled the hem down, looking around to see if anyone was peeking. And I saw hundreds of wide open eyes.
Do I really look that terrible?
Icy chills ran down my spine.
But the dark cloak blocked the view.
“It looks like we will have to wait until His Majesty arrives.”
The voice was surprisingly soft.
He turned into a relatively empty side nave and added:
“Until then, you can at least take a nap.”
Talia looked at him with a confused look. Today he says especially strange things. Where have you seen a bride sleep at her own wedding?
She was about to say this when suddenly a familiar voice was heard behind her.
- Sir Siekan.
Thalia looked over his shoulder. The knight, who had been following Barkas all the time, ran forward.
“Marquis Oristein wishes to speak with you.” He wants to discuss something before the ceremony.
Marquess Oristein was the maternal grandfather of Gareth and Isla. Why did he come to the ceremony?
Thalia raised her head with confused eyes and saw Longboat's face tense slightly.
He paused, as if thinking about something, and then sat her down on the choir bench. Taking off his cloak, he threw it over her shoulders and said:
-Wait here a little. I'll be back soon.
Talia reached out her hand to hold it, but quickly pulled it back. He's just following the emperor's orders - he forcibly took her upon himself. We must not forget about this.
“Take care of her,” Longboat said to the knight and gracefully left the nave.
Talia bit her lip anxiously as she followed him with her gaze.
Marquis Oristein must have come to stop this wedding. How will he try to convince Barkas?
While she was thinking about this absentmindedly, she suddenly felt a burning gaze on her cheek.
Turning her head sharply, Talia shuddered.
She met dark eyes that were studying her intently. The knight shuddered and turned away. A cold sweat ran down Thalia's back.
Why is he looking at her like that?
Maybe it’s not just the leg, but also its appearance—what if there’s something wrong with the rest?
She looked down at her body, wrapped in light fabrics. It seemed to her that the curved line of her twisted leg could be seen through the fabric.
“Would you like me to get you something to drink while you wait?” — the knight asked awkwardly, clearing his throat.
Trying to hide her anxiety, Talia answered deliberately arrogantly:
- N-don't.
But due to the action of the herbs, her tongue did not listen well to her.
She licked her dry lips and looked around.
Priests and servants stood along the wall of the wing, probably waiting for the ceremony to begin.
All of them, like the guests in the main hall, glanced at her furtively. Those sticky looks were annoying.
She bit her lip. I wanted to shout: “Why are you staring at me like that?!”
Senevier’s words sounded in my head that ugliness would always be a subject of ridicule and humiliation.
She wanted to jump up and run out of the hall. But if she does this, she will probably fall shamefully right in front of everyone. And then laughter will fall on her like pouring rain.
Bastard. Cripple. Worst bride.
“Your Highness, you look pale.” Call the priest? — the knight came closer with alarm.
Thalia shook her head.
- No need.
“Even a simple restoration spell could help...
- Are you deaf? I said - no need! - She cut him off sharply and silenced him.
But the strange look never disappeared.
His presence irritated her. These intrusive glances were disgusting. With alarm, she again looked to where Longboat had gone.
When will he return?
What can they talk about for so long?
Suddenly, Ayla’s words popped into my head: “You’ll regret this.”
Maybe it was Ayla who persuaded her grandfather to influence Barkas and make him change his mind? Yes, that's probably true. Their marriage was absurd from the very beginning.
What if this is all a show to humiliate me?
Longboat may have already left the hall. And now she is not only a bastard and a cripple, but also a shamefully abandoned bride.
- I'm leaving.
These sudden words caused the knight to look surprised.
Talia pulled off the cloak that Longboat had put on her and stood up, staggering. She stepped towards the small side door at the end of the wing, avoiding anyone's gaze.
The knight hastily stood in her way.
-Where are you going? The ceremony is about to begin...
- Get out of the way!
She stretched out her hand to push him away, but how could a weak girl move a man in armor?
Talia glared at him.
-Are you deaf? I said go away!
She tried to push him away again, but then she lost her balance and instinctively grabbed his hand.
The knight's body tensed, but she herself was no less terrified.
The touch of men was disgusting to her. This big, strong body scared her out of her wits.
The only one whose touch did not cause disgust was Longboat. But he left her and left. Tears suddenly appeared in my eyes.
- Let me go!
She abruptly dropped the hand that was supporting her shoulders - and suddenly felt her body fly into the air.
With a shocked face, Talia turned around - the cold eyes of Longboat were in front of her.
He peered into her face for a long time, as if he was furious, then turned to his subordinate. The knight lowered his head, his face flushed with shame.
Longboat looked at him silently, then turned around, hugging Talia tightly to him.
— All the guests have arrived. The ceremony is about to begin.
His voice sounded clearly in her head.
- It's too late to turn back.