Raina, who was swaying as if she was about to confront him, clenched her fists and bit her lip. After listening to it further, she seemed afraid that her tyrannical brother would turn her marriage upside down.
The girl, who was staring at him with bloodshot eyes, immediately turned around and slammed the door shut.
As if nothing had happened, Barcas picked up the parchment document again and scrambled his signature.
"I plan to keep Raina's engagement ceremony as simple as possible. Only nobles from powerful families who will be witnesses should be invited as guests."
"Your Excellency, isn't Miss Raina the only Princess of the Grand Duke's family? The humble ceremony tarnished the reputation of the Sheerkan family..."
"The war is not over yet. It's too early to hold a lavish event."
Barcas, who had cut the butler's words with a single knife, held out the signed document and added.
"Instead, I plan to hold a grand wedding. If there is anyone among the vassals who is dissatisfied, let them say so."
The butler could not continue speaking any longer and kept his mouth shut
Barkas checked all the remaining official documents, put on his coat, and went outside.
Thalia was nowhere to be seen, as if she had already finished her walk and moved to another place.
Standing in the middle of the garden, staring at the flowers she was looking at, Barcas soon turned to the stable. He was planning to visit the estate for the first time in a long time.
He gently comforted Tork, who was enjoying a short rest, and led him out of the castle.
As they crossed the moat and descended into the square, the scenery of the thriving city filled the view. The city, which had been suffering from the aftermath of the Zramits plundering and heresy hunting for a while, was soaked in an air of peace as if nothing had happened.
After touring the streets crowded with merchants, Barcas immediately drove his horse to the north gate. As he passed through the arched gate, a vast meadow poured towards him.
Barcas quickly crossed the vast pasture and stopped his horse at the top of the hill.
The endless sky, the windy fields, and the pale birch forest filled his retina.
Barcas looked around the scenery along the ridge of the hill and soon turned his horse in the direction of the ranch.
At that time, a violent gust of wind swept through the earth.
Hearing the cry of the beast amidst the screams of the roaring trees, Barcas turned around.
The trees covered in white bark were intertwined and howling. Feeling a strange sense of incongruity as if something was staring at him, Barkas grabbed the handle of his sword.
However, the spirit that made the backbone chill disappeared in an instant.
Standing on the hill and looking at the swaying forest, Barcas soon spurred his horse.
***
A few weeks later, Raina's engagement ceremony was held in the chapel of Raedgo Castle.
The halls were filled with the Count of Scart and other high-ranking nobles who would be witnesses to the ceremony, and the synagogue was filled with lawyers who would represent the interests of both families, priests who would perform the ceremony, and vassals of the Grand Duke.
The ceremony was held in an infinitely solemn atmosphere.
As Raina, with a sullen face, and the groom-to-be, with a nervous expression, stood facing each other across the altar, the representatives of both families exchanged engagement certificates and stamped the family seal. After handing it to the lawyer, a gift exchange ceremony was held.
As luxurious boxes wrapped in velvet came and went nonstop, the scribes wrote down a list of exchanged gifts on parchment paper. Among them was a ring crafted by a dwarven craftsman.
When the groom-to-be picked up the ring first and put it on the bride-to-be's hand, Raina also put the ring on the hand of the groom she chose.
The high priest, who was watching this, walked out to the altar and announced in a reverent voice that the engagement of the two families had been concluded.
Finally, when all the procedures were over, the guests left the chapel and headed for the banquet hall.
In the richly decorated hall, long dining tables filled with mountain and sea delicacies were lined up. The servants waiting at the door guided the guests to their assigned seats, and Barcas, who raised his glass high, announced the beginning of the celebration. At the same time, the suppressed chatter of the guests erupted like water.
Barcas brought his glass to his mouth and looked around the banquet hall with admiration.
He saw Raina with a sullen expression, stomping her feet up the stairs. On the other hand, the groom-to-be looked busy receiving congratulations from the guests with a huge grin on his face.
A brief sarcasm crossed the corner of Barcas's mouth as he looked down at the hesitant figure.
It doesn't seem like he cares about the feelings of the woman who will be his wife in the future. Well, it was worth it. Since this marriage has led to a huge amount of wealth and estate, can you see the bride being picky?
Barcas let out a sigh and soon sat down at the end of the long table. Seeing this, Count Scart called out to him as if he had been waiting.
The topic that started with a casual conversation led to a discussion about the future situation.
Barcas, who had been responding to the conversation with a glass of wine, felt his body getting heavier and heavier, and stood up.
"I'm sorry, but I'll step back first. I'm not feeling well."
"Oh, I heard that you were injured. It seems that you haven't fully recovered yet."
Count Scart, who was talking with enthusiasm, looked at him with a worried look and said.
Barcas had a formal smile.
"It's not something to worry about. But my stamina is not the same as before."
"Then you should go and rest."
The man said in a boring tone, as if to match his insincerity.
"Even though your injury has not healed. I am grateful that you personally presided over the engagement ceremony."
"I've already exchanged greetings. It is a matter concerning my only sister's marriage, so it is only natural that I take care of it myself."
Barcas, who spat out the words without blinking an eye, immediately left the hall.
As he climbed the stairs, he saw the slanting sunlight outside the window dyeing the walls red. He stared at it for a moment, then turned his gaze to the annex on one side of the patronage.
Thalia was absent from the engagement ceremony on the pretext of not feeling well. It was a problematic act for a Grand Duchess, but he did not dare to force her to attend.
The rumors surrounding her had not yet subsided. At best, he did not want to expose the woman who had regained stability to the gaze of the nobles. Above all, he was worried that Raina would cause a commotion.
After taking a long breath, Barcas immediately entered his room. Then he sat down on the edge of the bed. Perhaps because he hadn't slept properly for the past few days, his limbs were tired, and his head was heavy.
He pressed his blurred eyelids as if they were frosted, and then picked up a glass of wine from the shelf.
It was really dangerous if he didn't sleep quickly.
Barcas gulped down the strong wine, opened the chest of drawers, and took out the scented candles he had received from the healer in advance. When he put it in the brazier and lit it, his eyelids gradually became heavier, and his mind, which seemed to be pierced with a sharp object, became hazy like a fog.
He closed his eyes, resting his head on the pillow.
How long did he do that? As the momentary interruption of consciousness returned, the scenery inside the bedroom, surrounded by dim lights, was captured by the retina.
After frowning for a moment, Barcas noticed a small shadow hanging in front of the fireplace and jumped to his feet.
Thalia, her thick hair braided into one and draped over her shoulders, was staring at him with serene eyes.
After a moment of freezing in the illusory appearance, he lowered his leg under the bed.
"What's going on here?"
It sounded overly aggressive to his ears.
He seemed to have sounded even colder, and a faint tension appeared on her calm face.
"I'm sorry for rushing in. I have something I want to ask of you..."
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