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Chapter 24
The closer the demon drew, the stiffer Rohas’s face became.
Without realizing it, he clutched the beard he had grown down to his chest as if it were precious.
The priests surrounding Rohas stepped forward to block Edwin.
“Only those who have made prior arrangements may have an audience with the High Priest.”
At the look that clearly said don’t try anything foolish and step back, Edwin smiled.
“Is that so?”
His gaze shifted to the High Priest.
“There’s something I urgently need to say……”
“……”
“Just the two of us.”
Rohas swallowed the fear rising to his throat.
He couldn’t show tears in front of the priests.
One of the priests beside him shouted at Edwin.
“A private audience with the High Priest! Do you think you’re royalty or something?”
No, stop it…… Don’t provoke him…….
Rohas cleared his throat and stopped the priest.
“I’m fine. This person is actually—”
“How utterly insolent!”
The priest didn’t stop, snapping sharply.
Edwin’s calm expression somehow made him even angrier.
Rohas opened his mouth again.
“I really am fine. Please sto—”
“How dare someone like you presume to meet—”
“Stop it!”
When the usually dignified High Priest raised his voice, the priest stared at him in shock.
“High Priest…… sir……?”
Seeing the strangely desperate look on his face, the priest examined Rohas.
“What is going on? You look like a monkey being chased by a wild beast!”
“……That’s enough. This gentleman is His Highness, the Third Prince.”
“……Pardon?”
The priest alternated between staring blankly at Edwin and at Rohas’s beard.
The Third Prince who had burned the High Priest’s beard……?
The priests nearby, flustered and unsure what to do, hurriedly bowed to Edwin.
After confirming that Dana, hidden behind a large pillar, couldn’t see the scene, Edwin accepted the greetings casually.
“We greet His Highness the Third Prince.”
“What brings you here……?”
At the groveling attitude that looked as though they would offer him everything at once, Edwin swallowed a sneer.
He strode toward Rohas, who stood at the far end.
The remaining priests split into two lines, making a path for him—
their faces filled with fear, as if he might do them harm.
Edwin gave Rohas a gentle smile.
“It’s been a while.”
“Yes, it has been…… a while.”
Rohas trembled slightly as he gathered his beard in both hands.
This time, I’ll protect it…….
Regardless, Edwin continued.
“I’ve come because I have a request.”
“W-What might that be?”
“I need a priest who will certify my marriage.”
Marriage? So suddenly?
And from a member of the imperial family, no less.
Rohas blinked, his face clearly unable to comprehend it.
Unfortunately, Edwin had little patience.
His long eyes curved.
“I want to get married immediately. For that, I need a priest.”
In other words: Go find me a priest.
Rohas forced a smile as he replied.
“That would be difficult at the moment. We need a chapel, a golden chalice to hold holy water, and—”
Haah. Edwin let out a short sigh.
He hated repeating himself more than anything.
“A marriage certificate. That’s what I need.”
“But even so, you are of the imperial family—”
“The wedding, the rings, the guests—those can all be handled later. As lavishly as you like, to the point of excess.”
“……So you mean you wish to file the marriage registration first.”
Just what kind of unfortunate woman had caught the Third Prince’s eye?
Rohas’s conscience, which was supposed to bless the couple, pricked at him sharply.
“But there are no vacant prayer rooms at the moment.”
“There is the chapel, isn’t there?”
Unlike the small prayer rooms meant for individual use, the chapel was a vast space that could accommodate over a thousand people.
It was used only for official events and could be opened only with the Emperor’s permission.
There was no way the Third Prince didn’t know that.
He was a man who didn’t even fear his own father, the Emperor.
Rohas spoke with a darkened expression.
“……I will prepare a simple ceremony. I will give you a marriage certificate along with a brief blessing.”
No matter what, the other party was royalty.
He couldn’t just send them off with a piece of paper.
At the words that the ceremony would be prepared immediately, Edwin smiled in satisfaction.
“I’ll gladly accept any blessing meant for the bride.”
“Yes, understood.”
“Oh, and…….”
Edwin’s smile deepened.
It was the first time Rohas realized that such a radiant smile could feel so chilling.
“The bride doesn’t know that I’m royalty. Please be careful.”
With those words, Edwin left the temple.
He then headed toward a slender woman sitting in the garden.
After exchanging a few words, the Third Prince escorted her.
His touch was careful, as if handling a precious glass doll.
The priests stared at him in a daze.
What on earth is happening right now?
The first to come to his senses was Rohas.
“Hurry and prepare the dais.”
What is this situation……?
Dana had never wanted things to go this far.
The doors of the chapel—where only royalty and nobles permitted by royalty were allowed to enter—opened.
“Edwin, why are we here……?”
“There isn’t a prayer room we can use right now.”
“I’d be fine with just doing it in the garden like before……”
“No.”
Edwin smiled brightly.
“I told you I’d only give you good things, senior.”
It felt less like something good and more like she might suffocate.
And what was that golden, gleaming dais supposed to be?
The priests busily decorated the platform and prepared the ceremony.
Two cups, clearly set with precious jewels, were placed on either side.
Why were those normally so proud palace priests acting like this?
Dana tilted her head in confusion.
She whispered to Edwin.
“The High Priest agreed so readily to help with the marriage?”
“Of course.”
“How?”
“Before God, we are all equal.”
Edwin answered smoothly.
Soon, once the dais was complete, a priest approached the two.
“The preparations are complete. The certificate will be provided afterward.”
His tone was excessively humble.
He even avoided making eye contact with Dana.
“Let’s go, senior.”
Edwin took Dana’s hand and led her to the dais.
With each step forward, a smile naturally spread across his face.
The sight of Dana holding his hand and preparing to go through the ceremony was irresistibly lovely.
When the two reached the dais, High Priest Rohas appeared.
Dana’s eyes widened when she saw him.
A wedding officiated personally by the High Priest only happened when the bride and groom were royalty.
Isn’t this way too much……!
Unable to hold back, Dana asked Rohas,
“Thank you for blessing our marriage. But may I ask why the High Priest himself is presiding?”
“……”
Fortunately, the High Priest’s experience overcame his moment of fluster.
Instead of answering, Rohas glanced sideways at Edwin.
But Edwin’s eyes were calm.
As if to say, What are you doing? Why aren’t you answering?
In the end, Rohas had no choice but to lie.
“Ho ho, before God, all humans are equal. I, too, have a duty to bless everyone.”
Ho ho…… ho ho ho ho…….
Rohas kept laughing, pretending to be at ease.
Dana asked again.
“Then does that mean you’ve blessed weddings other than ours as well? Not involving royalty?”
“……I plan to do so in the future.”
“Since when did you change your mind?”
“……As of today.”
That’s strange.
Dana whispered to Edwin.
“We’re lucky today, aren’t we?”
“Indeed. To think he’d change his mind so suddenly.”
The two exchanged warm smiles, looking at each other fondly.
Meanwhile, Rohas wanted to cry.
There should be no lies in his honest, upright life.
Which meant that from now on, he would have to bless many weddings.
Swallowing his complicated feelings, Rohas forced the corners of his mouth upward.
Soon, his blessing began.
“For the sacred union of these two, we offer our words to God…….”
The benediction was very short.
After all, there was no telling what might happen otherwise.
A priest carefully approached and unfolded the marriage certificate.
Dana signed first.
The name “Dana Hartwin” was written clearly and neatly.
Next, Rohas signed as the High Priest.
Then it was Edwin’s turn to sign.
After writing “Edwin,” he said to Dana,
“I hear the High Priest will give you a separate blessing.”
“To me?”
Surprised, Dana looked at Rohas.
Realizing Edwin’s intention, Rohas swallowed a sigh.
Then, looking at Dana with deeply sympathetic eyes, he said,
“……May you always be healthy, and may God’s blessings be with you in abundance.”
In that brief moment, Edwin signed with a swift motion.
Not as “Edwin Lambert,” the Edwin Dana knew—
but as “Edwin Hedron.”
The noble surname that signified the ruler of the Hedron Empire,
and the bloodline of dragons.
