Chapter 64
Standing next to Leia, Belfry saw his lord glaring at the high priest and muttered to himself, ‘Oh, oh. If the goddess sees this, there will be trouble,’ inwardly.
Who could be deceived by the appearance of the high priest?
With flawless skin without a single wrinkle, a sleek nose, and captivating corners of his mouth and eyes.
It’s a face that deceives even if you know, and deceives even more if you don’t.
Although the prince couldn’t take his eyes off the high priest’s face, it was clear that there was nothing but pure admiration in his gaze. But because he only looked at the innocent high priest, it made Belfry feel uneasy.
If this is how it is from the engagement ceremony, what will happen at the wedding where priests with similar appearances to the high priest will be attending?
Belfry clicked his tongue.
After the high priest solemnly recited the prayer with a voice that dripped like dew, he opened his eyes and addressed the two.
“I stand here as the representative of the goddess Nikita and her eternal companion, the holy maiden Landy.”
Nikita, a goddess who was nearly banished from the divine realm for falling in love with a human and creating a successor, cursed herself to live eternally after her human mate passed away first.
Whether it was out of pity or not, another goddess was sent down from the divine realm, and Nikita quickly fell in love with her. As a result, the first king of Heineken was born and those with traits emerged. It has been a founding myth that has been passed down since ancient times.
“Why is Landy a holy maiden and not a goddess?”
Leia asked softly.
Jed, who was standing next to Belfry, answered in his place.
“Landy was not originally a goddess, but rather a chosen human, so to speak. After ascending to the divine realm with Nikita, she was officially ordained as a goddess.”
Belfry suddenly realized that Leia’s profile closely resembled Prince Carl Lindbergh when seen up close.
“Why not portray her as a goddess, since she appeared in the founding myth? It’s not exactly a lie, is it?”
“It’s because Nikita is considered the goddess of honesty and fidelity. That’s according to the temple, at least.”
Jed concluded by saying that the temple classified her as a holy maiden, but didn’t say why. He dismissed it as not being of great importance and concluded the conversation. He then observed the two individuals exchanging vows.
When the high priest asked the prince if he would uphold this covenant, respecting and loving him until marriage, the Crown Prince loudly answered, “Yes!” Following suit, Carl Lindbergh, with sweat dripping from his forehead, answered, “Y-Yes!”
The tension in the air was palpable.
Jed couldn’t help but comment to Leia, unable to take his eyes off the scene.
“Our younger sibling is adorable, but the princess’ sibling is even more so. I’ve never envied His Highness Adrian as much as I do today.”
Though Belfry was taken aback by the potentially presumptuous comment, Leia responded calmly without batting an eyelash.
“My younger brother is quite something. I envy His Highness Adrian as well.”
Belfry was perplexed, wondering what kind of conversation this was.
“I’m tired of living in solitude [1] .”
“Misery loves company. I feel the same way.”
Though not a typical conversation for twenty-two and twenty-four-year-olds, they both shared a knowing look like wise old men.
“So, I don’t intend to miss this opportunity.”
Leia chuckled softly at Jed’s words.
“Are you referring to the banquet?”
Jed nodded in agreement.
“A number of distinguished omegas will be attending. Among them, there might be someone who could be my match as well. I hope the princess will also make an effort.”
“Well, I don’t particularly mind if they’re not an omega.”
Leia, saying so, winked at Belfry, prompting Jed to hide his younger brother in contemplation.
“Not this child.”
“Oh, why is that?”
“Belfry is a beta among betas. He prefers women and likes petite, adorable ladies.”
“Huhu, how old-fashioned.”
As Leia teased, Jed stumbled over his words and pleaded for her to please find an omega.
Feeling annoyed with the two people excluding him, Belfry shook off his brother’s arm and pressed on his stifling chest as if something was weighing heavily on him.
He had been feeling off since the morning. His chest had been heavy all day.
They had mentioned that betas could feel this way if they were exposed to pheromones for too long, especially in the presence of alphas and omegas.
“Belfry, your lips look pale.”
“Oh, you’re right. Do you want to go inside and rest?”
Belfry shook his head.
“It’s His Highness Adrian’s engagement ceremony, so it would be strange if I were absent.”
Belfry was well aware that he and the crown prince had often been the subject of scandalous rumors before Prince Carl Lindbergh arrived. How could a girl who was supposed to prophesy things say such nonsense?
Although they had hurried the engagement with the prince and put an end to all the rumors, Belfry didn’t want to create any more gossip by leaving the event.
As he rubbed his tingling fingertips and took a deep breath, a wave of pain surged through his chest, as if someone had struck him with a club.
“Anyway, if it’s His Highness Adrian, he’ll… Belfry? Belfry!”
There was an uproar around him.
At His Highness’ engagement, I shouldn’t be doing this. With that thought in mind, Belfry collapsed.
***
They were in the midst of concluding the oath and about to begin the procession.
Duke Hendrick and Grand Duke Balvenie, who were in the corner of the back garden, rushed to their youngest son.
Belfry did not even breathe.
“Bring healing magic stones! Fetch a physician!”
Although there was a high priest, unfortunately, the goddess Nikita did not bestow her healing blessings.
At that moment, Carl Lindbergh, dressed in ceremonial attire, pushed through the crowd.
Upon hearing Belfry’s name, he paused briefly, then darted forward like an arrow, eluding Adrian’s grasp.
“Belfry, Belfry Hendrick! Wake up!”
Carl placed someone’s outer garment under Belfry’s cold body and grabbed his wrist.
Cardiac arrest? No, there’s a pulse.
He placed his hand on Belfry’s carotid artery again. It’s weak, but it’s still beating.
But why isn’t he breathing?
Carl loosened Belfry’s tightly wrapped clothes and lifted his chin. And just in case, he began performing CPR.
The act of pressing the chest with overlapping hands made everyone hold their breath, but Belfry’s lips were gradually regaining color. By the time the physician arrived, he let out a small “haa” and exhaled, so those around watched in silence.
When the attendants came to move Belfry, Carl looked at Belfry’s slowly opening eyelids and asked a series of questions.
“Keep your eyes open. What’s your name?”
“…B-Belfry… Hend…rick.”
Nodding, the prince squeezed Belfry’s hand and asked again.
“Do you know where you are? What were you doing?”
What was he doing?
It was some kind of ceremony.
Was it His Highness’ birthday?
The prince’s?
No, it was with the prince.
Belfry, who was blinking his eyes slowly, opened his eyes wide in surprise.
Carl, dressed in formal attire, had his disheveled hair all over the place.
Adrian stood stiffly like a wooden statue from behind.
Belfry, who was lying on the ground, tried to get up in a hurry but fell back down due to a sharp pain.
“Does your chest hurt?”
When Carl asked, Belfry shook his head. It wasn’t his chest that hurt, but the area below it.
As he felt around his body, he noticed that his belt and vest were undone, and before he could be surprised, Belfry’s gaze met the crown prince’s, and he stiffened.
Adrian’s face showed a mix of confusion and jealousy.
What? No way. With the prince…?
Even the cloak he laid down was embedded with the emperor’s seal.
Carl, who let out a sigh, wrapped Belfry with his cloak and asked the attendants to move him inside.
“I will leave the rest to the physicians.”
The murmuring nobles soon followed the attendants’ guidance and entered the banquet hall.
- 1. Living a lonely life without a husband/wife.
A lazy cat who wants her honied indolence back.
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Ceremonia de compromiso arruinada 😒