TAPGB - Chapter 39
The Abandoned Prince's Ghost Bride
"...Lucian, my face is going to be pierced."
Dio opened his closed eyes and glanced to the side. Then Lucian was startled and turned his gaze elsewhere.
"If you talk too much, your mom will scold you. So she stays quiet."
"I didn't say anything..."
"Even if you don't say anything, your gaze stings, your gaze."
"Honey! Quiet!"
The two people who were bickering fell silent at the words of Dio's mother, Nina.
Currently, they were worshiping at the main temple in the capital. Nina is a faithful believer, so she attends worship services every Saturday from breakfast to lunch.
This was Lucian's first service as it was his first time coming to the village on a weekend and so early in the day before lunch.
"I got scolded because of you."
"Dio made noise first."
The two were quiet for a while, then started whispering again and blaming each other. As the sound grew louder, Nina next to them opened her eyes.
"Didn't I tell you to be quiet?"
When Nina, who was always kind, came out scared, Lucian covered his mouth with both hands.
Nina sighed when she saw that and whispered to the two people.
"There is about an hour left until the service ends, so go out and rest."
"Oh, really?"
"Okay. If I stay here any longer, you'll just be a nuisance to other people. Don't go too far, stay inside the temple. Got it?"
"Huh! Okay! Lucian, let's go!"
Dio's mom was always nagging him that he had to listen to the entire 3-hour service, but it seems like she gave in because Lucian was there.
"Can't you come out at this time every week? Because you're here, that old witch won't scold me."
"Didn't she tell me just now? She was very scary..."
"It's because you couldn't see my mother's true face. My dad can't move from mom either."
It was unimaginable that the huge Bill could not move from Nina.
Lucian, who had been following Dio's lead, gradually slowed down and kept looking around. Dio felt that and turned around.
"What are you doing if you're not coming?"
"Can I just take a look?"
"What?"
"This is my first time coming to the temple. Let's take a look. huh?"
"Is there anything to see..."
Dio grunted but quickly came to Lucian's side. Contrary to what Dio said, there was a lot to see and do, befitting the name of the temple.
It has a huge architectural style decorated with pure white marble, a priest who gives enlightenment to believers, and a neat and elegant garden.
However, there was one thing that stood out, and that was the stained glass windows placed one after another in the long hallway.
Each window seemed to have a story, with various pictures incorporated into the stained glass. Lucian looked at a man with golden eyes shining among the stained glass windows.
"He is the first emperor."
At that time, an unfamiliar voice was heard right behind him. Lucian reflexively put his hat on. A priest stood behind him.
"Your Majesty, the first Emperor?"
"Yes, this place contains the full story of how the first Emperor founded the Empire."
“Ah, somehow...”
Even though it was Lucian's first time seeing the painting, it felt familiar. As he realized that he was the first emperor, he was automatically reminded of a children's book called 'The King, the Dragon, and the Witch'.
At first, it was a familiar story, but as it reached the end, the image of the Emperor confronting the witch became more apparent.
The Emperor was riding on the back of a red dragon and fighting a witch.
"But what about the people down here?"
Dio, who was next to him, asked.
What Dio pointed to was the part where the witch was sealed. Below the witch being sealed, the Emperor, the red dragon, and people dressed in pure white were lined up.
"They are the first priests who built our temple. The first priest contributed greatly to sealing the witch along with His Majesty the First Emperor."
"Huh? This is my first time hearing this."
When Dio said that he had not heard such a story in a children's book, the priest smiled kindly.
"It's a story that only comes down to our temple. It's not something we're hiding, but believers know."
"I see."
"..."
Unlike Dio, who shook his head, Lucian could not take his eyes off the picture of a witch with her eyes closed. But after silence, Lucian asked the priest.
"Then, the temple was built since the time of Your Majesty the First Emperor?"
"Yes, that's right. When peace came to the world by sealing the witch, God, who was impressed, gave special abilities to the priest and the first Emperor and told them to spread God's teachings. So the priests built a great temple here. This main shrine is also a building with a long history, built in the 7th year of the imperial calendar."
"Has it been that long?"
"Hehe, it is not known in the tales, but the priests are people who contributed greatly to establishing the empire. In some ways, you can see him as a founding contributor."
"... Lie."
"Yes? What did you say?"
"It's nothing."
Lucian put his hat on more tightly and calmed his anger that was threatening to burst out.
'It's all a lie.'
In the fairy tale book that Leah showed, the witch Aria and the Emperor are allies, not enemies. He even contributed the most to her defeating the villains.
However, incorrect information shouldn't have been spread in this way.
'Why do I feel so bad?'
It's just a story from a long time ago, and the priest was probably just saying what he heard, so why am he angry as if it was him?
"Dio, I saw everything. Let's go somewhere else."
"Good! If you go over there, there's a swing. Let's ride that one."
Lucian and Dio bowed to the priest and ran to another place. The priest looked at this with a smile and went on his way. The priest was still only a trainee priest. But after the ceremony tonight, he will become a full-fledged priest.
Is it because the day he's been waiting for so long has arrived?
He spoke kindly to children passing by and explained about stained glass. The trainee priest twitched his lips as he remembered the two children who called him a priest.
"Javier, you're here."
The trainee priest turned his head when he heard the voice calling him.
"The Bishop is calling."
"Yes? Me?"
"Yes, an important guest from the imperial family has arrived, so you will have to treat them well."
Just the mention of Bishop makes his heart flutter, but the imperial family. As he was about to be officially ordained as a priest, he wondered what this was all about.
But Javier came to his senses and followed behind him. When they arrived, there were four knights and a child trapped in a corner.
At first, it was someone else, but Javier quickly lowered his head when he saw the flashing golden eyes.
"A lowly servant meets the second sun."
"Is this person the one who will receive the ordinance tomorrow?"
"That's right, Your Highness. Everyone has arrived."
Crown Prince, Leopold Odelion.
The Bishop could not move in front of him. That's why Javier became even more nervous and couldn't raise his head.
"Hey, everyone relax. I just came to convey His Majesty's words."
Unlike the others who were nervous, Leopold read the Emperor's edict with a bright smile. It was a message of hope that tomorrow's ceremony would proceed safely and congratulations on becoming an official priest in advance.
The rest, including Javier, were deeply moved by the fact that a trainee priest could only become a full priest and receive a royal decree from the Emperor.
"This is what His Majesty said."
"Your Majesty's deepest words. I will listen carefully."
"Yes, yes. I came out for a short outing, so I'll just leave."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Ah! If His Majesty asks what I did, I have to tell him that I faithfully attended the service. Got it?"
"Yes, of course. I will tell him well."
"Good, good."
Leopold was so excited to play that he jumped up and down. Only after Leopold had left the room did one of the knights behind him whisper to the Bishop.
"His Majesty has ordered us to proceed with business tonight. You just have to do what I told you last time."
"We will proceed without a hitch."
After exchanging meaningful glances with the Bishop, the knight hurriedly followed Leopold.
"Gather here again at 11 o'clock tonight. I have a very important task for you."
The Bishop left with those words. He disappeared and Javier raised his head.
"Whoa, I never thought I would see His Royal Highness the Crown Prince right in front of me."
Javier was more excited about seeing the Crown Prince than about the Bishop's words.
Javier looked at Leopold's back with an uplifted heart. At that time, Leopold said something to the knight and turned back.
When Javier saw that, he felt a moment of déjà vu.
"What?"
"What's the matter?"
When one of the trainee priests next to him tapped, Javier, who was dazed, smiled awkwardly.
“Ahaha...Nothing.”
The trainee priest left and Javier could not take his eyes off Leopold, who was still moving away.
"...Do he look like that kid?"
It was only then that Javier realized that the boy wearing the hat pulled down tightly and Leopold looked exactly alike.If it wasn't for his plain brown hair and eyes, he could have been mistaken for Leopold.
But Javier couldn't see it clearly because that boy was wearing his hat so tightly...
"Hey, maybe I was mistaken."
Javier just looked forward to what would happen tonight with a light heart.
***
"Where did you go and are you back now?"
The knight who was escorting Leopold scolded him for leaving the room late.
"Sorry. I have to see you for a moment."
"It is the safety of His Highness the Crown Prince. Stop chatting."
The knight commander who commanded them warned them. Then the two immediately became quiet.
"Hey, this much is okay. Yordi must have had something to do, too, right?"
"Thank you for your understanding, Your Highness."
Leopold grinned and turned his head forward. The knights followed him.
"I'll just pray once before I go."
"Will it bite people?"
"It's okay. I'm just going to leave for a moment."
Leopold stood in front of the statue of God, quietly folded his hands, and prayed.
'Please let father and Mother live long and strong, let grandfather and father reconcile, and finally, please give me a cute younger sibling.'
The longing for his younger brother, which started two years ago, grew stronger day by day. There were times when he would cry and beg to have a younger sibling, but now he knows that it won't happen just because he wishes for it.
A child is something that God gives you. That is why Leopold sought God even though he did not believe in God.
Leopold, who had prayed several times for a younger sibling, opened his eyes when he thought it was enough.
"That's enough. Let's go."
Leopold thought that someday God would respond to his prayers and grant his wish.
Ahahaha-!
At that time, Leopold heard the laughter of children his age. When he turned his head, Leopold saw several children playing happily in the small playground provided by the temple.
'It's gonna be fun."
But if he says he wants to hang out there, They won't let him, right?
Leopold sighed, remembering the strict knight commander behind him. Soon, he looked at two boys his age who were pushing each other on the swing with lingering eyes.
"I can't do it. I have to go to Lilith."
"Shall we go to Duke Sevans House?"
"Huh! It's been a while since I went to see my fiancee. Oh, should I buy her a gift?"
"Then why don't you stop by the toy store for a moment before heading to the Dukedom."
"Good!"
Leopold left the temple to meet Lilith, who became engaged to him a few days ago.
Comments
Post a Comment