Chapter 76

76.

***

The final day of the grand festival in the capital city of Palamtiar had arrived.

The atmosphere on the final day was no different from the previous day. The residents of the capital and visiting tourists stretched their sluggish bodies to greet the early morning sun.

With dazzling spectacles, plentiful and diverse food, and the various stories spun by wandering storytellers, the joyful time that pushed aside repetitive daily routines and future worries was coming to an end today.

Most taverns had extinguished the lights that had burned into the late night, tidying up the scattered tables outside.

The owners of eateries saw that several items scattered outside had been broken, but sighed lightly and shrugged it off. They had made enough money that it didn’t matter.

The guards woke those who had fallen asleep on the streets since the early night and busily patrolled the streets to check the security.

There had occasionally been squabbles between those heavily drunk the previous night, but none dared to make a big deal out of it. Instead, temporary arenas had been set up on the spot, turning such scuffles into additional entertainment as fists met fists.

Moreover, the travelers who had visited the capital slowly rose and began preparing to leave.

They exchanged information, purchased food and daily necessities, and confirmed their travel routes, casually walking around the streets to shake off their lingering nostalgia for the festival as they prepared for their new journeys.

In this way, everyone in the capital busily moved about to calmly return to their daily routines. Though it was regrettable to see the joyful festival come to an end, they still had to live for the days ahead.

However, amidst their regret, everyone harbored one small expectation.

Today was the last day of the grand festival.

As had been announced from the Altain Imperial Palace, this was the day the mistress of the empire and her husband would formally become a married couple.

One could say this was the most important day of all.

It might seem irrelevant to care about someone else’s marriage, but weddings are naturally events that deserve celebration, and rejoicing for someone’s good fortune knows no hierarchy.

It was also a rare occasion for the marriage of the supreme ruler, and rumor had it that the Holy Maiden of the Church would personally bestow her blessings. Once their tasks were done, people began to make their way one by one to the grand plaza in the west.

The main body organizing the event, the Imperial Palace, was also bustling even from the early morning.

The Foreign Palace was engaged in busy discussions, preparing for any unforeseen emergencies, while the Inner Palace was rushing around checking the final arrangements for the wedding ceremony, moving like their feet were on fire as they circumvented the Outer Wall.

Various organizations, including Huimoon Palace, were also on high alert at their respective positions in preparation for the wedding, since this was a matter directly involving the Empress. The Imperial Palace couldn’t help but move extra cautiously.

However…

Contrasting with the busy preparations in the somewhat loud yet peaceful palace, Iris was calm.

Cain’s preparations had relatively finished swiftly, and using the slightly spare time, he headed to the Outer Wall first to encourage the Royal Knights.

Meanwhile, Iris had no time to move.

“We’ll present the highest beauty!”

“With pride as the maid of the Imperial Palace!”

As the main character of the wedding, all the palace maids were busy surrounding her.

Everyone from the foreign envoys to all who attended would be watching. It was a situation where she had to uphold her dignity as the ruler of the empire and show extreme beauty. It was also a test of the palace maids’ skills.

First, her usual black ceremonial robes were set aside, replaced by a pristine white dress adorned with lavish decorations and frills.

Elsewhere, the dress was checked dozens of times for wrinkles or stains while others carefully pondered how to apply makeup to accentuate her beauty.

After much deliberation, they reached a surprising conclusion.

No makeup.

On the contrary, makeup would detract from Iris’s natural appearance. Since her looks were already revered as the incarnation of the Founding Goddess, they decided to skip the makeup entirely.

For jewelry, they chose simple rather than lavish pieces, carefully selecting the smallest kinds to lower attention to the accessories. After all, the jewelry’s role was to enhance Iris, and it would be awkward if they stole the spotlight.

Her long silver hair was tied up high, and with the pairing of her serene expression, it gave off an aura of elegant dignity and composure.

The maids couldn’t help but exclaim in awe.

“Wow…”

“Truly beautiful, Your Majesty.”

Who could look at this sight and call her a grotesque monster? The maids continued their careful work, complimenting the empress as they prepared.

Amidst all the bustling preparations, Iris blankly stared at her reflection in the mirror.

She had already completed the wedding rehearsal long ago, memorizing the procedures.

Most of the preparations were left to the maids and the entire palace, leaving her to simply head to the Grand Plaza when the time came.

She had nothing special to prepare.

Compared to the bustling surroundings, Iris’s inner world was calm. She even felt a bit bored, so it was perhaps natural for her to get lost in deep thoughts.

“Marriage…”

Iris mulled over the word that tickled her heart strangely.

Though she had taken it as a natural process without much consideration before, as the day and the dress approached, reality hit her harder.

After the wedding ceremony, they would officially become a married couple.

The late Emperor Oswell and Empress Piette.

Just like her father and mother, who had returned to the arms of the gods early, she too would now have a family of her own.

Iris felt a lump in her throat as memories of their deaths resurfaced unexpectedly.

She had many family-related memories, but the most vivid one was their death. No matter how hard she tried to bury it deep in her heart, she couldn’t stop these sudden recollections.

Time may heal all wounds, but even now, thinking about her parents still brought back the emotions she had felt then, making her chest tight.

With her body entrusted to the busy hands of the maids, Iris quietly closed her eyes.

“Today is a good day…”

It was not polite to proceed with the ceremony in a disturbed state. To steady her heart, she recalled happy memories.

Her father’s and mother’s affectionate moments.

She would soon become a family like them with Cain.

Cain had rushed out in the morning, checking on the Royal Knights, leaving only a hasty greeting. Recalling his retreating figure flying towards the training grounds, she naturally remembered the situation from yesterday.

Firm and warm.

Though she embraced Cain on impulse, it felt good. It had calmed her restless heart.

Knock, knock.

“Your Majesty, the preparations are complete.”

Alberto’s voice knocking on the door snapped Iris out of her thoughts.

The palace was fairly quiet.

Everyone had already moved to the grand plaza in the west to witness the wedding. Iris led Alberto and the maids, crossing the silent palace.

As they approached the west gate of the inner defenses, Cain was waiting in front of the tightly closed massive doors, his head turning at the sound of their approach.

Out of joy, Iris tried to lift her hand in greeting, but she found herself looking at him curiously instead.

Cain stood there dumbfounded, staring blankly with his mouth slightly ajar.

While finding his expression quite adorable in her heart, she drew closer, and he snapped out of his trance, smiling nervously and speaking.

“You look beautiful.”

“Thank you.”

The light conversation ended there, and neither of them spoke again for a while.

They usually conversed often, but now there was an awkwardness.

“Your Eminences, it’s time. Prepare to leave.”

Alberto’s pleased voice broke the silence, and Cain carefully extended his hand.

Iris lightly placed her hand in his rough, calloused palm and turned her head towards the gate.

As instructed by the officer, the tightly closed gates began to slowly open.

Once the gate opened, all they had to do was follow the trail leading to the Grand Plaza. There, they would receive the Holy Maiden’s blessings and prayers and express their marriage vows and oaths, signifying the end of the wedding ceremony.

Iris glanced at Cain.

He looked unusually nervous.

So it wasn’t just her. A faint sense of pleasure arose as she watched the heavy doors slowly open, gazing beyond toward the distance.

Boom.

The wide avenue stretching through the western district unfolded.

The red carpet led straight to the Grand Plaza, flanked on both sides by the impressive Royal Knights in gleaming armor. Numerous imperial flags fluttered strongly across various spots.

And many people were watching eagerly with glittering eyes.

Iris met Cain’s gaze and nodded lightly.

Step.

Side by side, they slowly stepped onto the carpet.

People gasped in amazement, and children peering from the second-story windows enthusiastically threw flower petals from their baskets.

Looking around, the atmosphere was filled with radiant warmth.

As if thinking it was all a dream, Iris continued her steps.

‘When did it start?’

Warmth entered the chilly Audience Chamber.

The sharp Imperial Palace began to take on a softer atmosphere.

There were many people on the streets smiling brightly.

The life, once painted in monochrome, started to take on bright shades at some point.

One step. Another.

Passing through the dream-like path, they soon arrived at the Grand Plaza, ascending the prepared stairs to the tall podium in the center.

Before Iris could settle her dazed mind, the wedding ceremony began.

Iris barely remembered how the ceremony flowed.

“Will you swear?”

“… Yes, I swear.”

Answering the Holy Maiden and nodding her head.

She followed the rehearsed lines, unsure if she had spoken them properly.

In the whirlwind, the ceremony quickly passed, reaching the end.

“…May the two’s journey together lead to a radiant path.”

Pwoosh!

Bright light erupted from the Holy Maiden’s body, and streams of light slowly descended.

The final moment of the wedding.

Iris turned to Cain upon recovering from the Holy Maiden’s blessing.

It was clear—their eyes met.

Cain also shared the same sentiment, his dark gaze locking with hers.

As she looked at his tense lips, Iris slowly lifted her foot and firmly clasped Cain’s body.

“I remember what you once told me,”

“You wanted to see that view together in the future.”

“And I feel the same way.”

“Please take care of me from now on.”

Taking a moment to observe his face, growing closer by the second, Iris closed her eyes.

Soon, their lips touched.

And amidst the cheers and applause of countless people, the Royal couple’s wedding ceremony came to a grand conclusion.

*

A dimly lit basement with nothing but a small lantern.

In this space filled with a faint scent of blood, a man bound helplessly sat.

Clunk. Drop.

In front of the man tied to a chair, someone emerged carrying an empty chair.

Under the faint light, the man’s appearance became visible.

Black hair cropped short and dark eyes.

Wearing a light shirt, the man, feeling hot perhaps, had rolled up his sleeves stained with blood.

Sitting down on the empty chair, he spoke.

“Andre.”

Huuuuk!

Water flew from the darkness, drenching the tied man.

“Ugh… ughh…”

The man, hit by the icy water, shrank back, groaning.

His eyes refused to open.

Observing the man closely, Cain calmly spoke.

“Max Kendler. Open your eyes.”

“…”

With no response, an arm reached out from the shadows, roughly grabbing Max by the head to lift it up.

“Guh…”

Facing the contorted expression of the man who had forcibly opened his eyes, Cain spoke again.

“Quietly reveal the location of the confidential storage. It’d be best if you want an easy exit. Of course, it doesn’t matter if you keep your mouth shut.”

Cain, standing up from the chair, approached Max.

Swoosh!

A dagger plunged into his thigh, and a horrifying scream echoed throughout.