Chapter 100: Chapter 100

“I guarantee the engagement of the two in the blessing of the nine gods on the name of Aslan’s 35th Cardinal, Roshan’s High Priest Helena.”

Finally, Helena smiled lovingly and finished their engagement service.

Timed with her declaration of the end of the service, the Renato pattern engraved on her forehead and his golden eyes, shining like a mirror of the gods, sparked like jewels.

“May the great and brilliant Roshan’s blessing be with you forever!”

Her final congratulatory prayer was as cheerful and crisp as the summer sunshine. Her face was bright as if she saw an auspicious sign.

As the ceremony was formally over, the emperor’s group at the temple was again ready for a long journey. Roshan’s support unit was due to arrive early the next morning. Considering the distance back and forth, it would be better for them to take a day off before leaving, but Eckart insisted on leaving the next day.

Even though the sun set later in the day as it was early summer, the sun went down earlier in the mountains than expected. After the engagement, they enjoyed a more lavish lunch than usual, and the members of his entourage re-packed their baggage, although they had just recovered from their injuries. It looked like they were determined to finish packing their stuff before evening. In fact, they were in the mountainous region, and their location was the great temple. After dark, it was difficult for them to walk one or two steps without lamps, and nobody dared to break the serenity of the quiet temple.

Above all, there was another final procedure of the engagement ceremony at night.

“Your Majesty, you really won’t eat anything at all?”

“No.”

Eckart replied casually, leaning on the sofa in a comfortable dressing gown. There was a nice dinner for two on the table next door, but it was only Marianne who was interested in the good-smelling food.

“I heard that you didn’t have much for lunch.”

“… Who said that nonsense?”

“Well…a loyal vassal who is very concerned about your safety.”

Marianne replied playfully and pushed the meal table in front of him. Silverware extraordinarily sparkled by the light of the lamps on the table.

However, he only pulled the glass instead of picking up the dishes.

“As you won’t be able to sleep early anyway, please have your fill. Why don’t we eat together?”

“I don’t feel up to it. Please eat my share.”

“Don’t you have any appetite?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Why? Are you nervous because you are spending the night with me?”

Cough, cough.

At that moment, Eckart coughed wildly just like he did right after opening his eyes at the tributaries of Benoit Falls. As the muscles of his upper body were strained, not only his arms, but also his back felt painful. Marianne rushed to his side and took the glass of water down.

She stroked his upper back gently, which was not injured.

“Your Majesty, are you okay? I’m sorry. I was kidding…”

At her remarks, Eckart’s nape turned more red.

What Marianne meant by “spend the long night together” was the last of the engagement ceremonies, which was called “The Night of Anthea.”

It was intended to honor the myth that Anthea’s beloved daughter Kader resurrected from the dead. It was also a ritual in which the new king and his wife spent the night together to overcome disaster. That was why the lamps filled with unquenchable torches and silver glasses filled with holy water from the waterfall were placed side by side on the table.

“I’m alright. So, go back to your seat…”

Eckart barely stopped coughing. He pushed Marianne gently who was touching his back, with his left arm without any hesitation.

He knew that he didn’t mean it, but he reacted sensitively to her actions, which made him ashamed of himself. As it was so difficult for him to keep calm, he wanted to get away from her as soon as possible.

“Oh, sure, will do.”

But Marianne did not get up after hearing what he just told her.

Instead, she sat sideways slightly, holding the hem of her white muslin dress.

“…”

Eckart glanced at the new gap between her and himself which was less than a half span.

In no time, he asked her rather bluntly, “Mariannne, I asked you to go back to your place. Didn’t you hear?”

“Yes, I heard well. ”

“Then, why are you still…”

“Because this is my place,” she answered decisively.

Eckart frowned at that.

He was a thoughtful man by nature. Like a prince who grew up in the capital where they attacked their opponents with indirect and elegant jibes, he had the habit of always seeking hidden meaning from somebody’s words. His ability to distinguish between true and false, and discern the intent of somebody’s lies was as good as veteran politicians.

As the ruler of an empire, his skills were quite helpful in his ruling. However, when it came to his personal and special relationship with somebody that didn’t necessarily require him to discern the other party’s language, he should have taken a different approach.

She said it was her place to be around him.

Eckart pondered deeply over the implications of her remarks with some reasonable conjectures.

Naturally, her volunteering to stand beside him had a political meaning. In fact, most of the time he experienced such a life.

It became even clearer when he thought of what she recently obtained. She established her place as the emperor’s closest aide to discuss politics and plot, his wife-to-be who vowed her marriage with him before God and the empress-to-be.

So, when she told him it was her place to be around him, wasn’t it something like declaration of war to him, because she got what she wanted? There was little possibility that she approached him with such a purpose, but he couldn’t rule out the possibility that she was a spy trained by Ober to approach him with love.

“Come to think of it, your arms are uncomfortable, so I think I need to help you as you can’t bring in any attendants.”

Of course, Marianne didn’t think of what he just assumed.

Eckart clenched his fists with a blank look.

When he looked at her clear eyes, he felt even shameful about what he always suspected as legitimate. He was aware that she couldn’t find out what he had been thinking up until now, but he just felt ashamed of himself.

“Oh, that’s not what I mean…Wait a moment. I don’t feel like eating now…”

Marianne was now losing patience. Eckart shut his lips tight, facing her green eyes that couldn’t hide her great regret.

“…Are you sure you don’t want to eat?”

Marian asked back droopily like a wounded herbivore.

“I thought you could eat a little bit with me…We had lunch separately…It’s our first meal together after the ceremony… If you go back to the capital, you won’t have much time to eat with me.. ”

Murmuring feebly, she touched the edges of the tableware sadly. The dishes smelled very delicious as if to tease her.

“I’m sorry. I think I’ve made you uncomfortable because of my unnecessary greed. Let me have them put away the table.”

She stood up with a sullen expression and flopped down on the sofa again.

The cushion was so soft that her hips didn’t hurt, but she turned back when she was suddenly pulled by him.

“Okay, let’s eat now,” Eckart replied, catching her wrist. His reply was plain and short, but strangely urgent.

“No. It’s okay. You don’t have to eat unwillingly.”

Marianne smiled faintly, shaking her head. Her uncomfortable smile made him more nervous.

In fact, he was annoyed by the idea that he misunderstood her favor. His reaction was very fleeting, which she didn’t notice. He also showed such reaction instinctively, but he felt like he trampled on her trust in him.

His turnaround was amazing. He was restless like a kid caught doing something wrong, and his mouth went so dry that he felt even thirsty.

First of all, he really didn’t want to see any depression on her face. She even skipped her meals to make him feel better. As someone who failed to meet many people’s expectations and hopes, he really couldn’t stand one thing: he didn’t want to disappoint her.

“Marianne, as I told you back then, I have never done anything for you against my will.”

Marianne slowly blinked her green eyes. As she didn’t respond immediately, he added, “I’m really hungry. I hardly had lunch as you said, and I couldn’t eat properly for the past few days because of the pain.”

He narrated a list of facts that would bring about human compassion. It was kind of a counteroffensive move by a politician who had to use his weakness as a weapon.

“Didn’t you tell me you would like to help me? As you can see, my arms are…”

Then he finished his words by showing her his injured arm.

Marianne hesitated for a moment and let out a short sigh.

Though she was offended and depressed a little while ago, she now changed her mood and smiled at him gently.

“Got it. Let me help you.”

While Eckart barely caught his breath, Marianne pulled his dishes in front of her and began to take some food on the plates.