"Prepare the funeral according to the procedure."
Barkas, who confirmed that his heart had completely stopped, said in a calm voice.
Raina, who was sobbing while holding her father's cold hand, raised her head and glared at him. The brother who did not express his sadness seemed to be resentful.
In comparison, Lucas looked quite suspicious. Although the corners of his eyes were bloodshot, he seemed to be prepared and comforted his sister with a calm demeanor.
"Stop crying. My father must have gone to a good place."
However, Raina's sobbing did not subside.
Eventually, Lucas hugged her shoulders and walked outside. Only then did the waiting priests drape around the bed and begin to wash the body of the deceased with water made from herbal decoctions.
I watched the ceremonial scene in silence and then pulled at Barcas's coat with fatigue.
"Let's just go here. You don't need to stay here any longer."
A few of them gave me a disdainful look, but I didn't care.
Looking down at his father's cold face, Barcas nodded suddenly
"Let's go."
Then he went out into the hallway without delay.
Outside the sleeping quarters, some servants flocked to protect the Grand Duke on his deathbed. They all took off their hats and expressed their condolences.
I looked closely at their expressions. Judging from the fact that most of them had a gloomy face, it seemed that the eccentric old man had played the role of a pretty decent castle lord. He was probably not a bad father for Lucas or Reina. However, Barcas would have been an exception.
I, who had been peeking at his profile, opened my mouth cautiously.
"Earlier... What was it?"
The man gave me a puzzled look. I continued awkwardly.
"Your father said something strange earlier."
"It's just the nonsense of the old man who was dying."
Barcas spoke firmly, hugged me, and climbed the stairs.
I glared at him suspiciously.
"Why did you talk like that?"
The man, who had been silent for a while, opened his mouth with a calm face.
"Your Highness must have heard rumors about our family."
"Rumors that the ancient Sheerkhan clan used demonic powers?"
Barcas, who had a dry smile at my straightforward words, calmly admitted.
"In fact, among the Sheerkhan clan, people with strange powers were born. My father believed I was one of them."
My eyes widened.
"Really?"
The sarcastic smile returned.
"What do you think?"
I looked anxious.
Seeing that face, a smile came from Barcas's mouth.
"Unfortunately, I have no ability."
Before we knew it, we were in front of the bedroom door.
Pulling the doorknob, Barcas strode into the room.
I shrank my shoulders in the cold air. Seeing this, Barcas immediately put me on the bed and put a blanket over my shoulders.
After a while, three or four servants poured into the room, lit the fireplace, and brought trays of wine and food.
When the attendants who had been wandering around the room for a while withdrew all at once, I asked the question again.
"Do you really have no ability?"
Barcas, who had taken off his coat and hung it on the wall, looked back at me and narrowed his brows.
After watching him for a moment, I persistently bit and drooped.
"Rumor has it that Empress Bernadette was able to read other people's minds..."
"It's all just a rumor."
His tone became sharp.
"He was just a little more sensitive to the feelings of others than to others."
Even though I flinched at Barcas's cold gaze, I confirmed it repeatedly.
"Then really, you can't see anything?"
He stared at my face intently.
I seemed to understand why the dead old man believed that his son had some special ability.
His blue eyes, strewn with silver shards, were like living blades. Those beast-like eyes were stiffening as if dissecting my mind, and Barcas suddenly let out a sarcastic laugh.
"Are you afraid that I will look into you?"
I lowered my eyes with a hot eye.
Barcas approached the bedside, grabbed my chin, and stared into my face.
"I'm a little curious about what you've hidden in your head that makes you so excited."
"Who is excited!"
I shook his hand with a sting. It couldn't be, but I was sweating profusely, wondering if he was really looking into my inner thoughts.
Barcas, who was looking down at me with cold eyes, spat out dryly.
"Your mind is safe, so don't worry about it uselessly."
Then he turned his back as if he had no intention of continuing this topic.
"Let's start with dinner. If you want to attend the funeral tomorrow, you will need to replenish your energy today."
Barcas, who gave advice in a blunt voice, placed a tray of food next to the bed and walked to the fireplace to increase the flames.
I, who had been quietly watching his back, lowered my eyes to the tray.
Maybe it's because I have become accustomed to him feeding me for a few days, I felt a little empty when I tried to eat with my own hands. As if to shake off that emotion, I picked up a small piece of bread and forcibly cut it.
As my head went cold, my absurd suspicions were considered embarrassing. Isn't there any way he has a mind-reading technique? If he had done so, he would not have felt sympathy or responsibility for me.
If he had known how long I had been obsessed with him, he would have hated me...
***
As I had a hunch, on the day the funeral began, ice-cold rain poured down from the sky. However, from the next day, sunny days followed.
Thanks to this, the former Grand Duke Sheerkan was able to be buried in the cathedral mausoleum east of Kalmor in the dazzling sun.
After the family funeral was held in a reverent atmosphere, mourners lined up.
The envoys, who had traveled a long way, attended a grand funeral mass and stayed at the castle of Raedgo for about a week before leaving.
The funeral of the High Prince lasted as little as one month and as long as three months, during which time the castle was transformed into a meeting place for envoys to interact. And I had to go through a hard time because of it.
Dressed in traditional Eastern costumes, I leaned against the railing and looked down at the bustling hall as if I were tired of it.
Although I did not attend banquets or funeral masses under the pretext of my health, I could not avoid showing my face to the guests.
I reluctantly went down the stairs. As I entered the hall, careful not to reveal my limping gait, hundreds of pairs of eyes rushed in. My heart sank.
Although I was no longer as confused as before, I was still uncomfortable with people's eyes. The same was true even after I realized that most people didn't notice the blemishes on my body.
I barely managed to create something similar to a smile on my stiff face.
"Thank you all for coming all the way. Please stay in peace."
"Thank you for your kind welcome, Your Highness, the Grand Duchess."
The young man, who was looking up at me with ecstatic eyes, responded in an enthusiastic tone.
I tried not to show my embarrassment on the outside and naturally turned around.
At that moment, someone cleverly stood in the way.
"The guests have prepared a special gift for Your Highness, the Grand Duchess."
It was Darren Drew Sheerkan.
The man, dressed in a splendid robe, naturally led me to the banquet hall. I was about to throw a word of greeting and pull myself out of the social arena of the eastern aristocracy.
I suppressed the urge to shake off the touch on my forearm and leisurely weaved through the visitors.
As I stepped into the lavishly decorated banquet hall, I saw Lucas and Raina in mourning clothes.
It was only when I saw their gloomy faces that I could remember that this mess was a funeral event.
I swallowed my mockery and sat down at the top of the long table.
As soon as Raina, who was a little far away, saw me, her eyes flashed with thorns.
I pretended not to know it and said in a sullen tone to Darren.
"You said you prepared a gift? Where do you get it?"
The man, who smiled bitterly at my arrogant attitude, waved to the servants. Soon, a servant came with a large box.
"This is what Baron Basilar has been preparing."
Inside the box was a mysterious, colored fabric that was clearly made by the fairies.
The rare gift comparable to the value of a castle burst into laughter everywhere. The man who handed the gift was also elated.
However, I couldn't feel any Inspiration. After the scars on my body, I completely lost Interest in body decoration.
I, who was looking down at the box with a sullen expression, recited a formal greeting.
"Thank you. I'll keep it safe."
The Baron's face hardened faintly, as if embarrassed by the dry reaction.
As I was about to get up from my seat, pretending not to know it, I heard the sound of busy footsteps outside the hall. It seemed that a valuable guest had come from somewhere.
I let out a tired sigh. At that moment, the butler's breathless volce split the hall.
"Your Highness, the Grand Duchess, an envoy has arrived from the Imperial Palace."
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