🔊 TTS Settings
~Chapter 15~
Your Majesty, There Are Many Eyes Watching
“Do you want a loud, fancy wedding?”
“Of course not.”
Regina thought it was better if fewer people knew her face.
A formal royal wedding was a huge event in Fredericks, where she would have to show herself to everyone in the empire.
In Permang, Regina had never attended such events.
No one in Fredericks would recognize her, but if she ever went back to Permang, it could be a problem.
Regina worried about this and thought carefully.
‘For now, I guess I can hide my face with a veil, so maybe it’s okay.’
But someone might still recognize her. Not having to deal with that risk was a big relief for Regina.
“Let’s go, then.”
Conrad stood up brightly, grabbed Regina’s hand, and led her out of the office.
Regina, following behind, was surprised by Conrad’s actions and stopped.
He was holding the door himself, waiting for her to come out.
“Your Majesty, there are a lot of eyes watching…”
“Who cares if they’re watching?”
There were many servants and nobles in the hallway, but Conrad boldly acted like they didn’t exist.
They lowered their heads and hurried by, not wanting to meet his gaze.
Limutan followed them, holding a small silver tray with a document, but no one noticed.
Everyone just wanted to get out of Conrad’s sight, afraid the strict emperor would remember their faces.
The palace servants, always careful between the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, watched closely.
“There are still many who haven’t learned their place.”
As Conrad’s low voice echoed in the hall, the servants walked even faster.
When only the three of them were left, Conrad smiled, looking satisfied like a well-fed lion.
“Can I ask why you’re in such a hurry?”
Regina finally asked what she’d been curious about, whispering so close that her lips brushed Conrad’s ear.
Her warm breath made Conrad pause. He felt the tension as he gently rubbed her palm with his thumb.
“There’s never been a marriage that’s gone this far before, so it’s better to finish it quickly.”
Regina rolled her eyes after hearing his quiet voice.
‘Does he mean he can’t leave the empress’s seat empty for long?’
From what Regina had seen, Fredericks didn’t seem unstable.
Conrad was a strong emperor, and Chloe didn’t seem like a big threat.
So why did it feel so rushed?
Regina kept thinking about this, not even noticing the empty hallway as they walked to the temple.
Because Conrad wasn’t very religious, there were usually few people in the corridor between the palace and the temple.
With the knights blocking access, no one could get in their way.
“Greetings, Your Majesty.”
A high priest greeted them with a smile at the entrance of the temple.
“It’s been a while, High Priest.”
“With good news for the empire, I had to come myself.”
“Is that so?”
Conrad’s eyes were sharp as he looked the high priest up and down, then let out a snort.
“You didn’t hear anything different from the Empress Dowager, did you?”
Conrad’s face turned cold as he mentioned Chloe, but the high priest kept smiling as he approached.
“You don’t have to check, Your Majesty. The temple always serves you loyally.”
“You never know.”
“Please, come in.”
The high priest moved aside, making room for Conrad and Regina to enter.
He took the document from Limutan and gave Conrad a look.
Only those allowed could enter the temple’s holy light.
As the high priest went ahead, the bright light swallowed Conrad and Regina.
The scenery changed. Inside the white space, Regina felt a strange power flowing into her.
‘What is this…!’
Light appeared at her collarbone, then stopped.
The burning pain made Regina stumble, and Conrad quickly held her waist.
Suddenly, blood rose up inside her.
“Are you all right?”
“There was a sudden rush of magic…”
Regina coughed and tried to catch her breath.
Conrad frowned and held her close, blocking the high priest’s view.
If she’d had her original magic, nothing would have happened.
But with her magic sealed, the magical hallway reacted to her.
Mages with sealed magic were always seen as impure.
“What’s wrong?”
Conrad answered before the high priest could get suspicious.
“It’s nothing. Rena just felt a little dizzy, so don’t worry about it.”
He hurriedly took out a handkerchief and handed it to Regina.
When she wiped her lips, there was red on the white cloth.
“…I can handle it.”
Regina cleaned her mouth and tried to calm her breathing.
‘A temple hallway made with magic, not holy power?’
This was strange.
A magic-made passage would be normal in Permang, but not in Fredericks, the land of knights.
She quickly checked the structure before the door behind the high priest closed.
By instinct, she knew—it was similar to the style of Permang’s palace.
‘Someone leaked Permang’s technology…’
But how?
Only a mage could build such a passage.
Yet here it was, connecting the temple in Fredericks.
Regina tightened her grip on the handkerchief.
Conrad saw this and covered her hand with his own.
“This way.”
The high priest, leading, stopped at the altar.
The white temple had no other priests, just the high priest.
“Please sign the marriage contract.”
He placed the contract on the glowing white altar and took out a feather pen, which also shone with a soft light.
Conrad took it first and signed without hesitation, his handwriting sharp and elegant.
He handed the pen to Regina.
As she took the cold pen, she suddenly hesitated.
‘You have to use your real name on the contract.’
Otherwise, the wedding wouldn’t count.
Both Fredericks and Permang managed marriage contracts at the temple.
They believed no one could lie in such a holy place.
Not knowing Conrad’s true intentions, Regina hesitated. Writing her real name was as good as revealing her true identity.
“It doesn’t matter. Just write it.”
Conrad seemed to understand her worry and whispered,
“Even the high priest can’t check a marriage contract offered to God.”
He nodded at her gently.
With a trembling hand, Regina signed.
As soon as she finished, bright light covered her name.
Before she could wonder, light shot from the high priest’s hand too.
“…Ugh!”
Something completely different from the magic in the hallway wrapped around Regina.
It was holy power.
Conrad was wrapped in the light, too.
When Regina opened her eyes again, the marriage contract fluttered up to the temple’s ceiling.
The golden contract landed in a drawer that appeared in the air, then disappeared.
“Now, the two of you are truly husband and wife.”
The high priest’s voice echoed all around the temple. Regina immediately knew he’d used magic to make his voice louder.
But there was no time to wonder.
Through their tightly held hands, Regina and Conrad quietly shared a gentle flow of magic.
