***
At noon, the rain began pouring down in torrents.
The soldiers, who had been busily packing the luggage, hurriedly covered the baggage wagons with tar-coated cloth and pushed the horses back into the stables.
Ayla, who had been watching the scene from inside the carriage, raised her head and stared at the blackened sky.
Between the dark storm clouds pouring down heavy raindrops, flashes of light occasionally flickered, followed by a sound like growling.
At a glance, the rain did not seem likely to stop anytime soon.
“It seems we will have to stay at the monastery for one more day.”
Apparently, the departure schedule had finally been postponed, because a guard knight, who had been shut inside the knights’ quarters for quite some time, approached the carriage and pushed a waterproofed robe through the gap in the door.
Ayla accepted it and let out a small sigh.
She was not pleased that the schedule was being delayed little by little.
After all, this was already a journey with many factors for concern.
Putting on the raincoat, she kept glancing out the window.
“Where is His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince?”
“His Highness has gone to the abbot’s residence.”
Ayla, who had been pulling the hood over her head, furrowed her brow and turned to look at him.
“Has he decided to stay there again today?”
“It seems so.”
The knight trailed off ambiguously and lowered his gaze.
Ayla looked displeased at the monks gathered in one place.
When the abbot, standing beneath the roof of the cloister, gave some instruction, the monks scattered in perfect order.
She observed the sight carefully.
Quite unlike when he dealt with Gareth, the abbot looked cold and solemn.
That was probably the priest’s true self.
Ayla narrowed her eyes.
In essence, an imperial pilgrimage was a ritual meant to gain the support of each region’s citizens and influential figures.
Considering the purpose of this journey, it was not a bad thing for Gareth to build friendship with a local notable.
However, his origins bothered her.
‘If he overcame the weakness of being a mixed-blood and rose to the position of abbot, it means he either possesses remarkable political skill... or has powerful backing.’
She had only spoken with him briefly, but Ayla had quickly realized that the abbot was no ordinary person.
At first glance, he appeared to maintain a respectful attitude, but in the priest’s eyes as he observed Gareth, she had glimpsed cold calculation.
Perhaps he was someone the Empress had planted.
Had the Taren family not worked closely with mixed-blood races for generations, since the era of the Ten Kingdoms?
There was no way it was simple coincidence that a quarter-elf had risen to the high priestly office of managing a massive monastery like Mordawin.
Perhaps she had begun building a faction within the religious order that supported the Second Prince...
“Your Highness?”
Ayla, who had been lost in thought, suddenly raised her head.
Her guard knight was standing in the pouring rain, looking at her with concern.
Ayla stood up with an awkward smile.
“I have kept you standing in the rain for too long. Come, let us go to the lodging now.”
The knight took her hand and helped her step down from the carriage.
Ayla carefully stepped onto the muddy path.
Heavy raindrops struck the crown of her head and shoulders painfully.
The rain seemed to have grown even stronger.
Pulling the hood tightly over her head, Ayla busily crossed the wide courtyard where a white curtain of rain had settled and entered the cloister surrounding the garden.
Then, pretending it was coincidence, she approached the priests.
“Your Highness the Princess.”
The mixed-blood priest, who had been speaking with the deputy abbot, noticed her and quickly bowed at the waist.
Ayla wore the smile that had become habit on her lips and spoke gently.
“By coincidence, I have become indebted to you for one more day.”
“It is nothing but an honor to receive such noble guests.”
The priest replied respectfully without even thinking of straightening his bent waist.
“If there is anything you need, please tell me. If it is something the monastery can prepare, we will bring it at once.”
“Thank you for taking such care.”
Ayla paused for a moment, then continued carefully.
“Then may I ask one thing of you?”
“Please say anything.”
“Tomorrow, I would like to hold Thalia’s ceremony separately. Before we depart, would you also bestow a blessing upon that child?”
Perhaps it was an unexpected request, because the abbot’s eyes widened slightly.
Ayla watched his reaction closely.
It lasted only an instant, but she saw a hint of wariness appear and disappear over his pale violet eyes.
The priest asked in a cautious tone,
“Do you mean you wish to hold the blessing ceremony for Her Highness the Second Princess?”
“Who else would I mean?”
Ayla added gently, a faint smile on her lips.
“We are staying one more day anyway. Would it not be good for that child to undergo the ceremony as well while we are here?”
“I did not realize Your Highness cared so much for Her Highness the Second Princess.”
At the sudden voice, Ayla turned her head.
Varkas, who had walked soundlessly through the rainy garden, pushed back his dripping hood and sent her a dry gaze.
Ayla, who had been about to smile in greeting, let her expression darken.
His rain-soaked face looked colder than usual.
Seeing that coldly hardened face made her nerves sharpen.
She knew very well that his sensitive reaction to matters involving Thalia came from negative feelings accumulated over many years.
Her half-sister’s vicious behavior had been extraordinary enough to make even this numb man grow sick of it.
Since he had spent seven whole years right beside her, enduring those outrages, it was not unreasonable for him to feel disgusted.
In her head, Ayla understood all of that.
But sometimes, it was unbearably irritating that this endlessly indifferent man reacted sharply only to matters involving that child.
Ayla forgot that she had been trying to probe the abbot and responded emotionally.
“I am not worrying about that child, but about you. His Majesty personally entrusted that child to you. If he learns that the ceremony was held without Thalia, you may receive needless blame.”
“That does not mean we can drag someone who refuses before the altar.”
At the sarcastic tone, Ayla’s face hardened.
She was used to him acting so coldly at times that it made her heart chill.
But she could not tolerate him being rude to her because of Thalia Roem Ghirta.
Ayla lifted her chin stiffly.
“We should at least confirm Thalia’s wishes first. She is a fickle child, so she might change her mind again by tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow, we will depart as soon as dawn breaks. I have no intention of changing the schedule according to Her Highness the Second Princess’s whims.”
Varkas cut her off sharply.
Ayla, who had never experienced having her opinion dismissed in such a manner, flushed with anger.
She wanted to rebuke him for his rudeness at once, but she did not wish to damage his authority in front of everyone.
Ayla forced herself to hide her displeasure.
“If that is your will, Sir, then it cannot be helped.”
When she accepted it, Varkas turned his gaze toward the abbot.
The priest, who had been watching the confrontation between the two with interest, quickly lowered his eyes.
Varkas looked down at him with a cold gaze and delivered a low warning.
“I would like tonight to pass as quietly as possible. If we are to depart as soon as dawn breaks, His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince must rest well, must he not?”
It meant that he should not even think of holding a banquet or dinner party that evening.
The abbot nodded with a stiff face.
As though there was nothing more to say, Varkas turned and held out one hand toward Ayla.
“Let us go now. I will escort you to your lodging.”
Ayla swallowed a sigh and took his hand.
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