A sharp light pierced through his eyelids.
Barcas, who was looking up at the brightly shining glass window with narrowed eyes, slowly sat up.
For a moment, he couldn't clearly perceive the space he was in. It was only after a few seconds that he finally remembered he was back in Raedgo Castle.
He let out a deep breath and lowered his feet to the bed. Perhaps it was the long, slumbering sleep that lasted until the sun rose that made his once lead-like body feel light. However, his mind was still clouded, as if a thick fog had settled over him.
He stood up, roughly running his fingers through his messy hair.
He must have tossed and turned violently in his sleep, for his formal attire from the previous day was rumpled. Barcas unbuttoned his wrinkled shirt with one hand and rang the bell next to his bed to summon the servants.
"Bring water to wash and a change of clothes."
A young servant rushed into the room and immediately prepared eastern robes and bath water in imperial style.
Barcas threw off his heavily wrinkled clothes and immersed himself in the mint-leaf water.
He had blown most of the morning, so he had to hurry to get ready, but he couldn't bring himself to get out of the bathtub.
He wasted no time, even after obsessively washing himself from head to toe. He only came out of the bathroom when he felt the sound of anxious footsteps outside the door.
"Good morning, Your Excellency, the Grand Duke."
As she went out into the hallway, dressed in his formal attire, Daren's nephew, Baredon, bowed his head with a face that was as sharp as a corporate one.
"Did you feel well last night? I know you must be very tired from your official duties since returning, so I am sorry to have to tell you this..."
"Just the main point."
As Barcas cut off his words that were about to become long-winded and walked down the hallway, the young man who had followed him in a hurry continued speaking in a slurred tone.
"I apologize. The sacrament will be held in the main sanctuary at 6:00 PM today. To honor the dignity of the High Priesthood, this regular service will be held in the main sanctuary, not in the main chapel."
Barcas looked out the window at the towering temple of Seongbap within the castle grounds, then nodded.
"Yes. Let's get the carriage ready. We'll leave right away."
"What about the meal..."
"No need. We'll be pressed for time, so let's hurry."
"Yes. Then I will call the groom right away."
The man ran down the stairs ahead of him.
It would take at least ten minutes for the carriage to be ready. Thinking he could handle some official business in the meantime, Barcas stopped by the office, handed the letter he had written to the messenger, and checked the documents that needed urgent signatures.
As Barcas signed the last document and put down the pen, a servant sent by Baredon came to tell him that everything was ready.
He handed his secretary the documents he needed to submit to Congress and then left the office.
As I descended the stairs and crossed the hall, a garden bathed in intense sunlight unfolded before my eyes. It seemed I was not on time.
As he frowned at the sun that had already risen above the horizon, Barcas heard a familiar voice behind him.
"Oh no, you overslept."
Barcas turned his head slightly and opened his eyes wide when he saw his wife sitting near the pavilion.
Thalia slowly got up and walked towards him, leading a huge wolf.
"I thought my neck was going to fall out waiting for you to come out."
Barcas, who had been looking at her red lips that were muttering softly, slowly scanned her attire.
Wearing a sash of elaborate metalwork dangling from her waist over a sumptuous silk dress favored by Eastern noblewomen, she looked like a pagan goddess.
At that moment, Barcas seemed to understand why so many Easterners had looked at her and thought of the spirits of the earth.
For some reason, he felt something opening up in his head and asked stiffly.
"...You were waiting for me?"
She nodded with a calm face.
"You said you were going to the Great Temple? I'll go with you."
Barcas furrowed his brow as if listening to an alien salmon.
When he didn't answer, the corners of her eyes went up.
"Why? Can't I attend sacramental events? Isn't it the rule that the Grand Duchess should be present?"
Since when have you cared about things like principles?
Barcas, who was looking down at her as if he found it absurd, let out a small sigh.
"There's no need to force yourself into an uncomfortable position out of a sense of duty. Didn't you say you had an unpleasant experience at the Great Temple?"
“That’s why I’m going.”
She gave a grumpy smile.
"I'll see if that old man can deliver a sermon criticizing me in my presence."
Barcas, who had been looking down at that face, burst out laughing.
It seemed this woman wanted to use herself to provoke the high priest. It was clear that this would disrupt his plan to amicably resolve the conflict with the sect by appeasing the high priest, but Barcas ultimately agreed.
"Do as you wish."
A look of relief crossed her face. Only then did he realize that she had been secretly afraid of rejection.
"Yes, then let's go."
Thalia extended a hand toward him. As he stared blankly down at the slender forearm, a somewhat nervous voice rang out.
"What are you doing?"
Only then did he realize she was asking for an escort, and he carefully wrapped his arms around her soft forearms. Then, she leaned in naturally. The sweet scent wafting in made his already turbulent mind even more tangled.
Why is this happening all of a sudden?
Barcas couldn't hide his agitation and looked down with trembling eyes, and she urged him in an anxious voice.
"What are you doing instead of going?"
Barcas, who had been studying her face as if trying to discern her thoughts, quickly moved on. The dire wolf, who had been sitting quietly on its haunches, followed suit as if it were a given.
He immediately and cleverly stood between the wolf and her.
"I can't take that wolf with me."
"I know that much too."
She responded somewhat sheepishly and whispered gently to the beast that was wagging its tail.
"Just wait a moment, I'll be back soon."
Then she nodded to the maids waiting a little distance away.
"What are you doing without taking care of Khan?"
As soon as her command was given, the maids surrounded the wolf.
Barcas observed the dire wolf's reaction carefully. Its eyes gleamed, as if displeased at being separated from its master, but it showed no signs of aggression, such as baring its teeth or snarling.
Still, he instructed the soldiers to keep a close eye on the wolf for the maids' safety, and then walked to the carriage with her.
"Hold my shoulder."
Thalia obediently grasped his shoulder and cautiously climbed onto the carriage. Following her, Barcas, sitting on the seat opposite, signaled to the coachman.
Soon, the carriage began to cross the castle.
He stared blankly at his wife, his body buried in the slightly swaying sheets. She was leaning against the window, looking out as if she had discovered something remarkable.
She seemed to be trying hard not to show it, but it was terribly awkward and uncomfortable to be in the same space as him. And yet, he couldn't quite figure out why she insisted on accompanying him.
Did she realize that her position as Grand Duchess was precarious and decide to change her attitude?
But until last year, she seemed to have no lingering attachment to the status of Grand Duchess.
Didn't you even manage to escape from the Castle two years ago?
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