79. Royal Banquet (5)
"Eli!"
Mona lost her poise as soon as she saw her friend sitting on the lounge inside the room that they went in. She ran to her and hugged her, thinking that she would get pushed aside, she prepared herself to be.
But surprisingly, her modest friend hugged her back, shocking the hell out of her.
Astonished, she immediately pulled herself a bit and held her by the shoulder, "Are you really Eli?"
Her attention was caught by someone's stifled laughter. She looked aside and found the second highest priest looking at them fondly.
"She was too worried when you fell into slumber." His gentle voice echoed within the room.
"Really?" She turned her head to the Saintess again, and was greeted with a blank stare, "I knew there's kindness left within you, my friend."
"She is the Saintess, what do you expect," Kyden commented, but there was a clear amusement in his eyes.
"I expected her to push me and tell me I'm choking her."
"Indeed. You almost choked me." Eli replied and fixed her robe. She stood and put her both arms in her front, then bowed slightly, "Greetings, Grand Duke Adri."
"I greet the Saintess and the second highest priest as well." Kyden bowed his head towards the two.
"Please, take a seat first, Mona." Second Highest Priest Deuxen gestured the seat across them. He was still as friendly as she remembered.
She followed, but when she noticed the Grand Duke remained standing, she questioned him with her eyes.
"I will attend to the emperor for now. Saintess Elizabeth and Second Highest Priest Deuxen will stay with you in the meantime." He answered while taking her shawl hung on his shoulders and putting it in her lap. Before going, he whispered, "I'll see you outside, Lady Mona."
"So that shawl belongs to you," Eli said after the Grand Duke was gone.
"You thought it was his?" She asked her incredulously.
"Yeah. It matches his attire, so I thought like that."
Mona laughed lightly, "I thought so, too. But I wasn't expecting to see you here, actually."
"The emperor had asked for Eli specifically." Second Highest Priest Deuxen responded, "We thought it was only to show the other countries their close connection to the Holy Nation, but they mentioned you."
"I was used, then." She replied bitterly.
It was true that there was no need for the Saintess to personally perform the rites. A high-ranking priest is enough to deliver a satisfactory performance. But if the ceremony was to be led by a significant image in the land of the divine, then it would surely benefit the empire in many ways.
Not only the empire's citizens will rejoice at the thought that the imperial family has close relationships with the holy land, but it will also create opportunities to connect with other countries. Since the Holy Nation is a detached and independent land that rarely involves themselves with outsiders.
"It's more likely an equivalent exchange." She turned her head to Eli who was looking at her, "The price for letting you stay here and giving you a new identity, also helping you to clear any problems that may come your way because of that."
"Eli's right. The moment you stepped back here, the emperor must have weighed your worth and what you can give in this empire."
The second highest priest's voice isn't complaining or blaming her, but it brought her an unpleasant memory that shook her heart once...
"That was out of my duty to the empire. Surely, the Grand Duke would also choose his pledge over blood relations. That is something royal knights should do."
"Exactly why I am here. You're hiding a person His Majesty personally asked me to handle."
She wasn't doubting the Grand Duke. No. She would never doubt him. But just the mere thought of those words is enough to strike fear in her heart.
"So I was really beyond grateful that it was Grand Duke Adri who had sheltered and taken care of you."
Those words he added brought peace to her, "It wasn't unknown to all how the former Grand Duke Adri almost betrayed the former emperor for his wife."
"…betrayed?"
The sound of knocking interrupted their conversation. It seems that the emperor's opening speech had finished. Now is the time to proceed with the blessing.
When Mona answered, the door opened.
The emperor's attendant, Gideon Gallier, bowed and spoke, "The preparations for the blessing ceremony will be done soon, Your Holiness. Please get ready."
The three of them stood and prepared themselves. She wrapped the furry shawl behind her, both ends tucked in each arm and hung loosely on her back. While the two who were wearing their respectable robes folded their arms on their front and began to walk with utmost dignity and honor.
She followed behind, feeling a bit nervous. When the door opened that leads to the banquet hall, everyone's gazes turned in their direction. The wide shoulders of Second Highest Priest Deuxen were covering her, while Eli slowed her pace and walked beside her.
She looked at her and gave her a grateful smile before looking ahead again. There was no need to hide. Luna was innocent too, although few people were aware of that. She should not feel frightened by those people who don't know her.
When the second highest priest stepped forward, the gap between them widened, leaving room for someone to properly take a look at her.
"Kya!"
A glass broke and it shattered on the floor. The noises began to erupt from that single scream.
"Oh, my goodness!" A woman shouted in shock.
"Is that perhaps the accursed lady of Vandross Marquessate?" A man asked in bewilderment.
"My god, she's alive?!" A younger woman yelled and pointed at the said lady, "How is it possible? Doesn't His Majesty already proclaim her death?!"
"Your Majesty! Please, explain this to us!"
"How dare an evil woman step inside the palace?"
"She should die!"
One nobleman stepped forward, holding a glass of wine in his hand, and threw it in Mona's direction. But before the content splashed on her face, a golden magic circle shielded her. The red liquid evaporated before it even touched the floor before the golden circle disappeared.
The magic came from the woman standing on her other side, the Great Saintess.
Everyone was left astounded. The noises died down, and all gasped at the scene. Their gazes fell on the Saintess, who was looking ahead without sparing them any glance.
"Why would—
"Silence!"
That deep and firm voice echoed in the entire banquet hall. It was filled with anger yet his face showed no emotion. There was only cold, yet his eyes felt like its burning in rage.
"May I remind you that you all are in the presence of His Eminence the Second Highest Priest Deuxen and Her Holiness the Great Saintess? How dare you humiliate his Majesty?!" The Grand Duke added.
His jaw tightened and his hands were clenched into fists, as if suppressing himself from freezing the entire hall.
The crowd went silent in his uproar.
"Let us proceed on the ceremony first. Our honorable delegates from the Holy Nation had come personally to bestow us this blessing. The young lady came with them. Let us hear the explanation after the rite has been performed." The emperor announced and stepped down from his seat.
Gideon took the crown and scepter placed it on the long table in the front, and another minister held the imperial seal which was inside a box; while the emperor proceeded to kneel in the middle.
Second Highest Priest Deuxen came forward, "The Semarian Empire was founded in the fall upon the victory of the Great Emperor, Ignis Semaria. For centuries, his descendants had protected his land with their own blood, where no evil surmounts, and with their eternal fire that burns all wicked."
Mona saw Eli take the crown and scepter to the attendant; she handed the crown to the Second Highest Priest and held the scepter. She looked back and urged her to come closer. Before she could ask, the imperial seal was already handed to her.
As soon as the cold feeling of the golden box containing the seal penetrated her palm, she was slapped with reality and was overcome with tension. The imperial seal was on her hand, one absolute symbol of the throne.
Anyone who has it can give any orders and get anything they want.