At noon, the rain began to pour down in torrents.
The soldiers, who had been busily packing their luggage, hurriedly covered the wagon with a tarpaulin and pushed the horses back into the stable.
Ayla, who had been watching the scene from inside the carriage, raised her head and stared at the darkened sky.
Between the dark clouds that were pouring down heavy raindrops, flashes of light occasionally appeared, and a roaring sound echoed. At first glance, it didn't look like the rain would stop any time soon.
"I think I'll have to stay at the monastery one more day."
Eventually, it was decided to postpone the departure schedule, and a guard knight who had been staying in the knights' quarters for a long time approached the carriage and pushed a waterproof robe through the crack in the door.
Ayla took it and let out a small sigh. She didn't like the fact that the schedule was being delayed little by little. It was a journey that had many uncertainties.
She kept glancing out the window, wearing a raincoat.
"Where is His Highness the Crown Prince?"
"His Highness has gone to the abbot's residence."
Ayla, who had been pulling her hood over her head, looked back at him with a frown.
"Is he planning to stay there today too?"
"I think so."
The knight lowered his gaze, trailing off vaguely.
Ayla looked at the monks gathered in one place with displeasure.
As the abbot, standing under the cloister roof, gave some instructions, the monks dispersed in unison. She watched the scene closely.
The abbot seemed cold and solemn, quite different from when he had met Gareth. Perhaps that was the abbot's true nature.
Ayla narrowed her eyes. Originally, the royal family's pilgrimage was a ritual to gain support from the citizens and influential people of each region.
Considering the purpose of this journey, it was not a bad thing for Gareth to become friendly with the local leaders. However, his origins were a concern.
'If he was able to overcome his weakness as a different race and become the abbot, then he must have great political power... or... he must have a strong supporter.'
Although they only spoke briefly, Ayla could quickly sense that the abbot was no ordinary person. At first glance, he seemed polite, but in the abbot's eyes, as he examined Gareth, there was a cold calculation. It occurred to her that perhaps it was the Empress's intention.
Hasn't the Taren family worked closely with other races since the Age of Nations? It couldn't have been a mere coincidence that a half-elf was appointed as a high priest to manage a large monastery like Mordawin.
Perhaps, they may have started to build a force within the religious order to support the Second Prince...
"Your Highness?"
Ayla, who had been lost in thought, suddenly raised her head. Her knight guard was looking at her with worried eyes as the rain poured down.
Ayla sat up with an awkward smile.
"You've left it out in the rain for too long. Yes, let's go back to the hotel."
The knight took her hand and helped her out of the carriage.
Ayla walked cautiously along the muddy dirt road.
Heavy raindrops stung her head and shoulders. The rain seemed to have gotten heavier in the meantime.
Pulling her hood tightly over her head, Ayla hurriedly crossed the wide courtyard covered in a white curtain of rain and entered the corridor surrounding the garden. Then, as if by chance, she approached the abbot.
"Your Highness, the Princess."
An abbot from another race who was talking to the vice-chief of the temple noticed her and quickly bowed down.
Ayla spoke gently, a smile hardening into a habit.
"It just so happens that I've been in your care for another day."
"It is an honor to be able to serve such distinguished guests."
The abbot answered politely, without even bothering to straighten his hunched back.
"If there is anything you need, please let me know. If there is anything the monastery can prepare, I will prepare it for you immediately."
"Thank you for your concern."
Ayla, who had been silent for a moment, continued speaking carefully.
"Then can I ask you one favor?"
"Just tell me anything."
"Tomorrow, I would like to conduct Thalia's ceremony separately. Before we leave, would you please bless the child as well?"
The abbot's eyes opened slightly wide, perhaps because it was an unexpected request.
Ayla watched his reaction closely.
For only a moment, she saw a look of caution appear and disappear across his pale purple eyes.
The abbot asked in a cautious tone.
"Are you saying that you would like to hold a congratulatory ceremony for Her Highness the Second Princess?"
"Who else is there?"
Ayla added softly, a faint smile on her lips.
"We're going to stay another day anyway. Wouldn't it be better to have that child undergo a ceremony while we're at it?"
"I didn't know that Your Highness thought so much of the Second Princess."
Ayla turned her head at the sudden voice.
Barcas, who had been walking silently through the rainy garden, pulled back his dripping hood and sent him a dry look.
Ayla, who had a pleasant smile on her lips, had a clouded expression.
His face, soaked in rain, had a colder look than usual. When she saw that cold, frozen face, her nerves became tense.
He knew that his sensitive reaction to Thalia's work was due to negative emotions accumulated over many years. Her half-sister's wickedness was so great that even this insensitive man could not help but be angry.
It was no wonder that he was shivering after having to endure that tyranny right next to him for seven whole years.
Ayla understood all these facts in her head, but sometimes it was unbearable to see this indifferent man react so sharply only to the child.
Ayla forgot that she had intended to leave the abbot and responded emotionally.
"I'm worried about you, not her. Her Majesty entrusted her to you personally. If she finds out we performed the ceremony without Thalia, you might get a bad reproach."
"But it's not like you can drag someone who doesn't like it to the altar, right?"
Ayla's face hardened at the tone that seemed to be complaining.
She's used to him being so cold-hearted that it makes her heart flutter now and then. But she can't stand it when he treats her rudely because of Thalia Roem Guirta.
Ayla raised her head stiffly.
"First, we need to check with Thalia. She's a temperamental child, so there's no way she'll change her mind tomorrow."
"Tomorrow, we will leave as soon as the sun rises. We have no intention of changing our schedule based on the whims of Her Highness the Second Princess."
Barcas cut her off with a single stroke.
Ayla, who had never experienced her opinions being ignored in that way, blushed with anger. She wanted to reprimand him for his rudeness right away, but she did not want to undermine his authority in front of everyone.
Ayla tried hard to hide her displeasure.
"If that is your will, then there is no other way."
When she nodded, Barcas turned his gaze to the abbot.
The abbot, who had been watching the confrontation between the two with interest, quickly lowered his eyes. Barcas looked down at him with cold eyes and gave a soft warning.
"I would like to spend tonight as quietly as possible. If we are to leave at daybreak, shouldn't His Highness the Crown Prince also get some rest?"
It meant that there was no need to plan on having a banquet or dinner party tonight. The abbot nodded with a stern face.
Barcas turned around as if he had nothing more to say and extended a hand toward Ayla.
"You may go now. I will take you to your accommodation."
Ayla swallowed a sigh and took his hand.
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