This love is like a curse (66)
He crossed the nave, carrying her in his arms.
Thalia moved her lips, sore from frequent biting.
Are you really going to marry me? For real?
She was about to ask, but closed her lips again.
He's right. They may have come too far to back down.
She looked down and looked around at the guests filling the nave.
In her eyes, still wet with tears, dozens of faces swarmed - close empresses, high-ranking officials and aristocrats from the most influential houses... Everyone she recognized sat in silence and watched them.
Now she understood why Barkas could not leave her and leave the ceremony. Even the heir of the Grand Duke is not able to disrupt the wedding arranged by the Emperor in the face of so many noble guests.
— The ceremony will begin soon. I ask the bride and groom to go to the waiting place,” the priest addressed them as they crossed the transcept.
Without further ado, the longboat followed to the prepared seats at the altar.
Thalia followed him, unsteady on her feet, her eyes darting around restlessly.
Through blurred vision, as if covered with a haze, she saw faces as if they were watching an interesting play. All of them, cold and ashen, looked straight at her mockingly.
- Does it hurt to walk?
Longboat, noticing her stiffness, grabbed her chin with his hand and asked.
Thalia stared at him in shock. He gently stroked the damp corner of her eye with his thumb. The touch was so gentle that for a moment it seemed to her that everything that was happening was nothing more than an illusion, inspired by a dream or herbs.
He looked her straight in the eyes and whispered in a low voice:
- Be patient a little longer. Once the ceremony is over, you can rest.
The voice was almost gentle, as if coaxing a child. Her throat tightened.
“He's just afraid that I'll make a scene in front of all these people. Just reassures me so I don’t do something stupid.”
Thalia repeated this to herself, trying to calm her wildly pounding heart, when suddenly a voice reached her ears, which she never expected to hear here.
- It's disgusting to watch. Some may think that this is a love marriage.
She shuddered, tensed her shoulders and slowly turned around.
Gareth, dressed in a scarlet doublet, crossed the hall, accompanied by five or six knights.
At that same moment, the blood in her veins seemed to freeze.
“What’s with that sad face, sister?” Your brother came to congratulate you.
He stopped right in front of her and curled his lips into a mocking grin.
Thalia stared at him in horror.
He was probably pleased to see how his always prickly stepsister suddenly turned white with fear and could not utter a word.
A sinister grin flashed across Gareth's rough face.
He leaned towards her and whispered ominously:
“You paid for the title of Duchess with your foot.” So smile wider.
Thalia stared at him with a pale face.
At another time, she would have already slapped him in the face, leaving a scratch on his cheek from a nail. But now she couldn’t even open her mouth. The already clouded consciousness was completely turned off by the unexpected appearance of Gareth.
As if faced with a living nightmare, she only trembled. And suddenly someone’s hand sharply turned her head.
“Your Highness,” Barkas said restrainedly, pressing her face to his chest. - If you are here as a guest, then behave accordingly. Do you really want to cause a scandal on your old friend's wedding day?
A heavy silence hung over them.
Thalia, pressing her forehead to his dress uniform, swallowed.
She didn't understand why Barkas was protecting her from Gareth.
Shouldn't it have been the other way around? Wasn't he supposed to protect Gareth and Isla from the unfortunate bastard?
“There’s no need to overreact,” Gareth’s icy voice came from behind. - As long as you keep your word, I keep mine.
She wanted to turn around to see the expression on his face, but the hand pressing her head did not allow her to move.
The longboat hugged her waist tighter and said coldly:
— If you intend to stay at the ceremony, take your seat.
There was a sound of gnashing of teeth, then Gareth's footsteps were heard walking away towards the seats for the guests of honor. Only then did Longboat's grip loosen slightly.
Thalia turned her head sharply, watching as Gareth sat down in his seat. As soon as he sat down, an elderly man who was nearby addressed him with some question. Узнать в старике маркиза Ористейна было несложно.
Did they really agree in advance?
Thalia narrowed her eyes, and suddenly it dawned on her: most of those gathered in the hall were conservative aristocrats who supported the crown prince. Thalia's eyes widened.
What's going on here?
Looking around with a confused expression on her face, Talia did not have time to think about anything - someone’s strong hand pulled her towards him again.
- You don't need to think about anything.
His icy eyes held her gaze tightly.
“After today you will never see them again.” Don't waste your time looking at them.
He said this with emphasis, as if driving it into her head, then, without a shadow of hesitation, he headed towards the altar.
Talia followed him as if on a leash, biting her chapped lips.
Longboat didn't seem particularly surprised by what was happening. His calmness cleared up the confused thoughts in her head a little.
Gareth probably wanted to show everyone that this marriage did not affect the relationship between him and the Siekan family.
And Barkas agreed to support this illusion.
From the very beginning, this wedding was just a performance - at the request of the emperor, out of a sense of duty... and for the sake of her revenge. He still sides with Isla and Gareth.
- His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress!
A loud voice rang out from the top staircase leading to the seats of honor.
Talia released her gaze from Longboat's grip and raised her head. The Emperor and Empress walked majestically to the thrones located on the second floor.
They looked like the true owners of this scene.
Thalia looked at the emperor, surrounded by an aura of greatness, for several seconds, and turned her gaze to Senevier, who was standing nearby.
Та, как всегда, сияла ослепительным светом. Hair the color of molten gold, refined facial features, a perfect figure - sensual, as if created for temptation.
Once upon a time, Talia believed that she could possess such beauty... Now it pricked her eyes like needles.
- Now we will begin the ceremony.
As soon as the Emperor and Empress took the throne, the High Priest came to the altar and spoke in a solemn voice.
Thalia, led by Longboat's hand, approached the priest.
Behind a serious face, dotted with wrinkles, a black sky filled with rain could be seen. The priest, with clouds behind him, began to read the sacred scriptures in the ancient language.
It all seemed like an absurd farce.
Seneviere with a mysterious face, an emperor with a hint of awkwardness, a priest muttering formal blessings, and guests watching their false ceremony with cynical smiles...
- Longboat Raedgo Siekan, do you swear to take Thalia Roem Girta as your wife and be with her until the end of your days?
Having finished the long reading of the sacred texts, the priest finally asked the main question.
Talia lightly licked her dry lips without taking her eyes off the floor.
A couple of seconds passed before he answered:
- Yes.
The answer was dry, almost indifferent.
The same question was addressed to her:
— Talia Roem Girta, do you swear to take Barkas Raedgo Siekana as your husband and be with him until the end of your days?
Thalia raised her misty gaze to the priest. She wanted to answer as indifferently as Barkas, but instead of words, only a hoarse breath came out of her throat, as if someone was squeezing her throat.
The longer Thalia remained silent, the tighter the hand on her waist tightened.
Thalia turned her head and met his eyes.
The blue gaze silently pushed her - there was neither patience nor desire to delay. Under the pressure of this firm determination, she finally squeezed out:
-...Yes.
“So, in the face of God and His Majesty the Emperor, I pronounce you husband and wife.”
In an indifferent tone, the priest concluded the ceremony and added:
“Now seal your union with a kiss.”