Chapter 189 (1/2)
Chapter 189: Chapter 189
As Duke Lars descended down the platform, instead of the High Priest stepped forward to the altar, dragging his long hair on the floor. The symbol of Vita, embroidered on a green cloak, danced splendidly in accordance with his movement.
“May the end of life and the blessing of rest be with you! Father of Life, God Vitasi, May comfort and rest for Mircan Lu Shana Castina who took care of your children … ”
While the High Priest recited the prayers of rest for the late emperor and blessings for the new emperor, I looked at the new emperor with my hands resting on my chest. I couldn’t take my eyes off him who looked very sad.
“… May the late emperor rest in peace, and the blessing of Vita be bestowed on the new emperor! ”
When the High Priest was done praying, a requiem rang through the temple again. The royal knights who approached the altar carried the coffin on their shoulders. The procession passed out of the huge hall following the High Priest holding the symbol of Vita in one hand, and the top priests. The new emperor and nobles followed.
How long did I walk? All arrived at the imperial cemetery in the basement of Sanctus Vita.
When the late emperor was enshrined in the ornately decorated stone coffin, and the High Priest and the top priests sprinkled holy water and chanted prayers, the state funeral process was all over.
After showing due manners to the new emperor who remained silent all along, all the nobles, including me, stepped out of the cemetery, leaving him alone.
I hesitated alone among the nobles who climbed the stairs, whispering among themselves. I didn’t feel good because I was bothered by the new emperor.
“Oh, you are here, Tia.”
“…Daddy.”
Hesitating to climb the stairs for a long time, I came to my senses at my father’s voice.
His dark blue subdued eyes looked at me anxiously.
“I’ve been looking for you as I did n’t know where you were. Do you have anything to do here?”
“Oh, no.”
“Then let’s go back.”
“Yes, Daddy.”
I climbed the stairs, looking back. As I stepped on the last staircase, I suddenly recalled the crown prince when he ordered a funeral preparation on the day of the emperor’s death.
That day, none of the people who came to see the emperor for the last time might have noticed his emptiness. When I, who isn’t tied directly to the late emperor by blood, am so sad, how hard it is for him now! Because of his status as the new emperor, he wouldn’t be able to express his sadness openly, so he would be sitting alone and swallowing up sadness. The ruler is supposed to be like that by nature.
The moment I recalled his navy blue eyes, I found myself walking back downstairs.
After saying I was sorry to my father, who called me with a surprised voice, I ran down, grabbing the hem of my skirt.
Some royal knights stood at the entrance of the Imperial Cemetery, but they gave me a pass without stopping me. Thanks to this, I could step inside relatively easily.
When I looked around, gasping for breath, I saw a young man sitting in front of the sarcophagus of the late emperor and looking at it.
“Your Majesty!”
“…”
“Your Majesty!”
“… Aristia? ”
He was not a man who responded slowly, but this time he turned around slowly after I called him twice. At that moment, my heart sank.
His navy blue eyes were empty as expected.
“Why did you come here? Why don’t you go back and take a rest?”
“Your Majesty.”
“Oh, look at your dress. Your hat is about to fall off.”
When he said that lightly, unlike the old him who always buried his feelings, I felt heartbroken. Obviously, he was so stricken by the sorrow of losing his father that he forgot the imperial etiquette deeply embedded in his mind. He was a man who knew how to control his words all the time. As he was in a position to take responsibility for each of his trifling words and actions, he always refined his thoughts and expressed them in well-refined words when he talked about something. He was such a man.
“Your Majesty, you called me, but you didn’t… Please come to your senses!”
Although I knew I was rude, I spoke to him loudly for the first time. But there were no feelings like surprise or anger in his navy blue eyes, which were still empty and lonely.
He looked more serious than I thought, which tore my heart out. I took a deep breath and knelt down on the floor. Then I hesitated for a moment before reaching out to him.
Was it because of my memories of him in the past? I found myself still reluctant to contact him unconsciously. It was okay for me to hold his hand for an escort or dance at official events, but I felt uneasy about contacting him physically in private places.
However, I wanted to comfort him for some reason now. I couldn’t let him crumble like this.