Chapter 188 (2/2)

On the streets where everyone was silent, only the sound of cries, horse hoofs, and rolling wheels were heard.

When the procession went around the capital’s streets and reached the border between the noble and commoner districts, the pure white temple under the blue sky came into view.

Today, hymns were resonating through Sanctus Vita, which was shining brightly with the bright sunlight. After the process arrived at the entrance of the temple through the huge arched gate, the High Priest and the top priests wearing green ceremonial cloaks over white vests greeted them.

“May the blessings of lasting peace with him!”

People followed the priests spraying holy water, climbed the six stairs, which symbolized perfection, and went into the great hall.

The pillars towering under the tall ceiling were colored golden, and the colorful stained glass was shining beautifully in the sunlight. The altar installed on the six steps was covered with pure white fabric embroidered with geometric patterns in gold thread, and the wall above the altar was elaborately carved with various shapes of wood branches.

When the orchestra played, the lower priests, who were wearing yellow-green and green priest suits, began to sing a requiem. As the nobles lined up on both sides bowed their heads, the High Priest leading the procession walked toward the altar slowly, dragging his long white hair followed by the royal knights carrying the emperor’s coffin and the top priests.

The late emperor’s coffin was placed on the altar covered with pure white fabric, and the new emperor in a black dress stepped forward. After receiving a wreath made of white flowers from an apprentice knight, he slowly approached the altar.

When I looked at him staring at the coffin without any movement, I felt worried.

‘Is he okay?’

I heard that he handled state affairs without any agitation on the day the emperor died, and I also heard lots of people whispering that he had no close relationship with the emperor as father and son, but I was still worried. He was a human before the emperor. Could he stay indifferent when his only family member was held in Vita’s arms?

“Please lay the wreath.”

When the protocol priest said that, all the nobles, starting with Duke Lars, approached the altar and laid down the flowers under the coffin. While silently looking at the crest of a roaring lion embroidered on the cloth covering the coffin, I also laid down a white flower and said goodbye to him. The area underneath the altar began to be covered with white flowers gradually.

How long had the ceremony been going on?

As the last person finished laying the wreath, the sea of flowers spread around the coffin.

The requiem grandly echoing throughout the temple and the delicate floral scent wafted around the temple.

A man with red hair, dressed in a black uniform, stepped to the altar. He was Duke Lars, the Sword of the Empire and No.1 in the noble hierarchy. He looked around the participants and slowly opened his mouth. It was the start of the memorial service mourning the death of the emperor.

“Glory to the Castina Empire! Emperor Mircan Lu Shana Castina, the Sun of the great empire and the master of the honorable empire. He was the great emperor who ruled the millennium empire and the 20 million people. He was truly the father of all of us …”

Only Duke Lars’s voice echoed in the large hall. While everyone was silent, the memorial service continued, praising the late emperor’s achievements, starting from his ascension to death.

Was it because of the floral scent that gently tickled the tip of my nose? Suddenly, I remembered his kind smile one day when I walked along the Imperial Palace garden. I also recalled his kind voice when he looked at the silver flower trees and showed me one by one before my return. After my return, he kept some distance from me but took care of lots of things for me.

I was thirsty.

“… The Sun of the glorious Castina Empire, please rest in the arms of Vita! ”

I also said goodbye to him deep down, timed with Duke Lars’s last words.

‘Your Majesty, the people have regained the hope of living during your rule. Before my return, you said that it was your dream to create a world where the royal family members and the noble family members would conduct themselves according to their titles. You said that since everything we enjoyed was from the people, we should know how to take responsibility for it, and that it was our duty as the ruler of the empire. Although I can’t be the new emperor’s wife as you wished, I will do my best to create the empire you were longing for.’

When I raised my head, wiping my tears, I saw the new emperor staring into the air.

He was standing blankly in a black robe without any agitation. Lots of people misunderstood from his lack of sorrow that he was displeased with this ceremony, but his empty eyes clearly told the truth. His navy blue eyes looking up at the sky were empty.