#23
“Today, we gathered here at the Leserk Chapel to entrust the soul of Prince Eidel von Artina to the hands of God. We remember that day in front of you. Prince Eidel. His unwavering conviction and loyalty. And thank you very much for your courage and inspiration for your leadership. With all the faithful spirits, I wish you eternal peace… … .”
While the stained glass of the royal chapel spread a prism-like, colorful and sacred light to the corners of the chapel, a funeral mass held by a high priest in a white robe was held in a solemn atmosphere.
The crown prince’s coffin, sprinkled with holy water and burning incense, was placed in front of the altar. Around it were the royal family members of the Crown Prince.
However, everyone had their faces contorted as if depressed, and few were actually swallowing tears. That didn’t mean he was barely holding on. Except for Yuri and his parents, it is because they do not have much mourning for attending the funeral.
The sadness of the past has been gradually diluted over the course of ten years. The tears to shed have long since been shed. There were not many subjects who remembered the real honor of the Crown Prince, who remained only in portraits and statues. After all, he is a person of the past. His death had already been accepted ten years ago.
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During the biography report and the ceremony, the bereaved family members and others in attendance approached the crown prince’s coffin one by one and kissed them.
The knight in uniform, Halton, also suddenly entered the chapel and kissed the Crown Prince’s coffin briefly.
The time he stayed around the coffin was just a little longer than the other attendees.
Near the end of the procession, the gray-haired young man also approached the Crown Prince’s coffin. Soon after, he knelt down on one knee and looked at the coffin with silent eyes.
In an instant, the sunlight through the colored glass window became clearer and brighter, illuminating the hall.
His gray hair seemed to turn white. The broken and fragmented light permeated every nook and cranny of the young man’s body. Everyone in the chapel stared blankly at the sanctity at first glance.
-Now it’s your turn.
Returning to his seat immediately after, Ezio made eye contact with Rubia, who was in the next turn, and gave her a small nod.
From the moment he entered the castle, he seemed to be somewhat nervous, and he was constantly worried that he might make a mistake. It was a gesture that was made in the meaning of not worrying and just repeating what you did.
But Rubia had only come to her senses now. So I didn’t understand anything. After standing far away, he managed to pretend to be calm and took one step closer to the Crown Prince’s coffin.
Thump, thump-
It was hard to hear because of the loud drum sounds, such as the eerie sound of an orchestra resounding around. It was a sound that was never heard by other people, only to Rubia.
The drumming increased in size and intensity as Ezio gradually walked towards Rubia. Rubia’s facial muscles stiffened with tension. From a certain moment, Rubia every time she sees Ezio… .
It was around that time that I noticed the look of the neatly trimmed tie.
─Even though I told you… You can’t paint. If that’s the case, I’ll have to do it again. You don’t know how to tie a tie properly, so what are you going to do, Mr. Ezio?
Recalling what happened this morning, Rubia felt the heat in her body, which had been tense out of control, cool for a moment.
… really weird feeling. On the one hand, was it fortunate? Because this was a place where even a modest mistake would not be tolerated. Didn’t you make a promise early on not to show your frantic appearance?
If it were, I think I’ll stop making mistakes if I don’t hold on to my mental cord… … .
“… … .”
The next moment, as I recall, it was Rubia who suddenly realized where she was right now, after suddenly looking at Yuri’s shady face and sober posture, with the same face but a completely different atmosphere.
Let’s regain the composure we’ve lost for a while- The gait, which was anxious as if we were going to get twisted and tripped at any moment, gradually stabilized. And just as Ezio had just done, he prayed in his heart, hoping that his friend’s brother would have eternal rest.
As with Ezio and Stella, the eyes of the hall seemed to be subtly focused on Rubia.
─… … .
Someone was also quietly watching the figure of Rubia as a holy and benevolent saint.
#24
As the funeral ceremonies drew to a close, the clock turned to evening. While the reddish sunset slowly showed its face, the Crown Prince’s coffin left the chapel and was transported to the royal mausoleum where the tombstone would soon be erected.
A group of less than 30 people, including the bereaved family members and attendees, were seated around a deeply dug earth pit. The bereaved family was holding a candle that seemed to go out when the wind blows.
A deep earth pit was newly dug in the sacred burial site where only the royal family were buried. As the Crown Prince’s body had not been found so far, his tomb was built with only a small tombstone. Now there was an earth pit where the crown prince’s coffin would be placed under the tombstone.
In the solemn silence, the Crown Prince’s coffin, with the lid open, was laid untouched on a pile of damp dirt while the bereaved family watched.
Strangely, however, the prince’s body did not appear to have undergone any decomposition. His body was preserved so well that he ignored the laws of nature, so that there would be no objection even if he suddenly woke up with his eyes open like that… … .
“… … Now he spends his last time on this earth and bury his body in the ground. Although his body is buried in the earth, his soul will find eternal rest in eternal heaven.”
After the Crown Prince’s coffin, sprinkled with holy water, was buried deep in the pit, the High Priest of the Church of the Sun recites the final consecration service and prayer in a low voice.
“Lord, help me to remember him, who now lives forever in a place where there is no more pain and no pain. Comfort him with heavenly peace. I will never see him again – but please don’t forget his devotion and love… … .”
As he finished speaking, the High Priest opened his pupils shallowly in the wrinkled eyes. His gaze soon reached somewhere. The gray-haired young man- Ezio Cranil was in the direction he was located.
However, Ezio did not notice the gaze as he was staring at Princess Artina’s back.
Maybe it’s because I’m not used to seeing my friend in a black dress with her hair neatly untied. Probably not. It was because Ezio was looking at her inside, not the outside.
At that time, Yuri remembers the tears she saw at the scene. As such, she also knows that her sadness may not have completely gone away yet. He has such a calm-looking face, but no one knows what’s inside.
So, Ezio tried to guess what she was feeling and try to empathize.
Just like when I first entered the castle.
… … It was impossible.
There would be no need to unconditionally sympathize with the grief of the bereaved family, but Ezio did not like the feeling that the entrance itself was blocked. It was dissatisfying that he couldn’t find even a fragment of his somber emotions.
lack.
It feels like you have everything that everyone else has. It was as if he was reminded of his former self, who had no modest talent.
In fact, besides bringing Yuri back to the frontier, I came here to comfort her, who was in her heartache. It was Ezio who thought that consolation without sincerity had no meaning.
Therefore, whenever I looked at the glass, I felt a certain sense of guilt. If I had a conversation with her, I was a bit worried about what words to say first. Because of that, Ezio’s face didn’t look good all day.
However, Ezio didn’t know.
… Sometimes, the fact that there are people who can give you strength just by being by your side.
#25
“… everyone worked hard Let me go back to the royal castle.”
starting early in the morning,
Until the sun goes down in the evening.
The long funeral ceremony for the Crown Prince has come to an end.
The royal mausoleum was located very close to the royal castle. Therefore, there was no need to bring a wagon, so the bereaved family set their feet on the road toward the royal castle, leaving behind those who erected the monument.
Bump, Bump… …
Go down a small hill road. Ezio, Stella and Rubia followed them. The dignified king and the glass behind him. Yuri, who suddenly turned her head slightly and looked back, met the eyes of her friends.
Except for Ezio, everyone showed a welcome look, but it wasn’t a good atmosphere to show off right now.
… … after a while.
“Did you say that you are the princess’s close friend?”
As they were walking down the descent down the mountain road soaked in heavy silence, a sudden voice was heard in Ezio’s ears, who was walking slowly at the end of the procession.
“… … ?”
Ezio shrugged. When I turned around, I saw a mature knight with sparse white hair was talking to me with a heavy voice.
The scar on his face, like a slash on his face, and the dignity in his eyes. The ironclad posture with no gaps clearly suggested that he was a truly great warrior.
Ezio answered in a low voice.
“Oh, yes. that… Your name, obviously.”
“This is Halton Abernoss. He said that he was a close friend of His Majesty the Princess, so you can call me Halton comfortably.”
“I will respectfully decline that… … .”
Obviously, when I first introduced him, he said he was the commander of the Royal Knights. Judging by the attitudes of people who treated him even after entering the country, there must be no doubt that he was a very high-class person. There’s no way I can be rude.
Halton smiled bitterly and then suddenly said something like that.
“I’m sorry, then… … May I dare ask you what kind of relationship you have with the Princess?”
“… … Yes?”
Ezio answered the question without hesitation.
“glass… No, Princess… Didn’t you ask me if I was a friend of yours?”
“It was.”
“Yes, literally. … They are just friends.”
“Is that so.”
Halton nodded.
“I don’t remember the exact time, but Her Majesty the Princess has not allowed a man to approach in quite some time.”
“… … .”
“Physically and psychologically. He is the one who in any way refused to touch one fingertip with any man other than His Majesty the King. Even when a high-ranking male nobleman from a foreign country visited his country, he never showed his face once. I was no exception, so my role was only to keep one step away from Her Majesty and defend her surroundings.”
What Halton was trying to say, Ezio could hardly make up his mind. Then, a thought suddenly popped into my mind.
… Maybe this knight named Halton is also the type that loves Yuri as much as Yuri’s father. So, is it because Yuri is looking down on herself, the only man who has allowed access? There is nothing like selfishness. What’s more, Yuri is closer to the side that doesn’t like her. So I was thinking about how to say back that I don’t have to worry about that.
“Something has changed for the Princess, however.”
Halton continued.
“I couldn’t directly bless the princess’s birth, but from that day on, I have always been by her side. However, in the end, he could not protect the one the Princess loved the most. That bitterness and regret remain deep in my heart, and have tormented me to this day.”
When is the story? Halton was only talking about what he knew, so Ezio didn’t quite understand. However, given the flow of words, he could vaguely guess who Halton was referring to.
“If His Majesty the Princess walks the wrong path, it must be my fault for being incompetent… … I was so proud of myself.”
Halton said, turning her head, which had been facing forward, slightly toward Ezio.
“Then you appeared.”
“… … .”
“… It is no longer a coincidence that a person who resembles the Crown Prince Jeonan very much accidentally broke down the wall of the Princess and became close friends because it was a coincidence.”
said Halton, who looked far ahead again.
“It’s fate.”
There was a calm reverberation in his voice.
… next.
“Maybe you are the Princess… … .”
Immediately after, something caught Halton’s sight as he looked ahead. It was Yuri who was looking at Halton and Ezio, who were a little far away from the procession, with a strange eye. It was relatively in the front seat, so I couldn’t see the detailed expression very well, but it seemed to be a look that didn’t like it at all.
Halton paused for a moment and spoke again.
“… I will refrain from saying more than this. If His Majesty the Princess finds out that you and I have had secret conversations about these things, we may not be on good terms.”
… He was saying strange things, knowing everything that this person and Yuri were actually not that good. Anyway, Ezio shook his head and nodded. There was nothing wrong with his prophecies.
#26
“Your Majesty, Suk-chan is ready.”
“Well.”
The royal palace boasts majestic majesty like the palace where the king resides. However, compared to the strong national power—the Kingdom of Artina is famous for its mighty military power—it may seem a little sloppy. I didn’t paint the rice cakes with gold.
─Here… … .
—Yeah, that’s where Yuri lives… … .
The king was curious when he first entered the palace, but as a courtesy, he did not show much surprise, and the king overlooked them for a while as they whispered in a small voice.
“Chief.”
“Yes, my lord.”
He strokes his beard and finally opens his mouth.
“Divided the number of guests and guided them to the reception room. Jim has to go through a war for a while.”
“I will obey your orders, Your Majesty.”
“and.”
“Previous… … under?”
The last words were not the words to the chaplain.
Tock, tock-
Originally, there was no such thing as noise, but in an instant, the surroundings became cold and quiet. The king was walking towards somewhere with a solemn appearance, splitting the corridor.
Tick, Tick-
Where the king’s steps had stopped, a polite, gray-haired young man stood with a stiff face.
“Can you come with me?”