Chapter 3: Pray Fast and Sing Faster

Cecile was utterly bewildered, her mind consumed by astonishment. Never before had she entertained the thought that the emperor would possess such striking handsomeness.

"Why did I assume the emperor would be repulsive?" she wondered, her thoughts swirling. No one had ever spoken of his hideous appearance, so why had she held such a misguided belief? It didn't take long for Cecile to realize the cause.

"To begin with, there was no portrait of him," she pondered.

On every occasion, the nobles would leave behind stacks upon stacks of portraits, capturing their essence in various poses, commemorating events and milestones. The sheer abundance was so great that a separate mansion had to be erected solely to store them all. If the nobles were this lavish with their self-portraits, how much grander would the portraits of royals, or even emperors, be? And yet, Cecile had never heard a whisper of someone who had actually laid eyes on the emperor's likeness.

"Come to think of it, it is customary to send a portrait along with a marriage proposal," Cecile mused.

The king of Navitan had never shown her any such depiction. In other words, it simply did not exist. Otherwise, he surely would have exclaimed with excitement, "Behold! Does he not appear magnificent?" Although, of course, Cecile would have vehemently retorted, "Undoubtedly a fraud!"

Secondly, no one ever spoke of the emperor's appearance. As Cecile combed through her memories, searching for any fragment related to his looks, all she found were descriptions like "the fearsome demon of the battlefield" and "the incarnation of a war god."

"But the god of war is not known for his beauty," she murmured..

According to mythology, the god of war was said to be marred by every imaginable scar. Considering that people compared the emperor to the god of war, how could one ever fathom him as anything other than unsightly?

"Though it is partly my fault for not inquiring," Cecile admitted.

To begin with, she had no interest whatsoever in the emperor as an individual. That was precisely why she had never bothered to ask about the color of his hair or his physical appearance, right up until the very day of their wedding.

"But still, shouldn't someone have given me a hint if he possessed such striking looks?" Cecile silently wiped away the drool that nearly escaped her mouth as she stole another glance at the emperor. Undeniably handsome. So captivating, in fact, that if it weren't for her present circumstances and his exalted status as emperor, she would have been strongly tempted to invite him to sit beside her, inquire about his name and address, and accidentally brush his hand with hers.

"Really? A man of this allure is the empire's most tyrannical ruler?" Cecile couldn't help but feel a disconcerting disparity. The man seemed more fitting for the theater stage than the battlefield.

While Cecile was captivated by the emperor's presence, momentarily forgetting the perilous situation she was in, he began to speak. "The tutors who taught you..."

Cecile's mind faltered. What about them?

"I should eliminate every one of them," he continued nonchalantly.

Cecile felt as though icy water had been abruptly poured over her at his calm words. For a moment, her attention wavered, fixating on his face. But the man standing before her was none other than Emperor Estian himself—the very emperor who intended to end her life.

"W-why would you..." she stammered, on the cusp of asking why he planned to execute the tutors.

However, before she could utter the question, the emperor took a step forward, leaning into the carriage. He reached out and seized Cecile's arm, forcefully pulling her towards him. Caught off guard, Cecile had no time to scream as she stumbled forward, propelled by his formidable strength. Instinctively, she squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for impact, but instead, she felt her body suspended in mid-air, as if caught in a mesmerizing whirl.

"Eh?" When she dared to open her eyes, Cecile found herself cradled in the emperor's arms. "What are you doing?" she uttered, incredulity overtaking her surprise. A princess being carried so suddenly?

"Didn't you say this is a custom of Navitan? I am merely fulfilling your wishes. What's so peculiar about it?" he replied.

"You won't kill me?" she ventured, her voice filled with disbelief.

"Why would I?" he responded, his tone laced with genuine confusion.

"I was simply brought here to bear an heir for the emperor, selected by mere chance from a minor country. I foolishly spouted nonsense about having the emperor personally come to fetch me, escort me inside, and even change the colors of the flowers."

The emperor fixated his gaze upon Cecile, taking a moment before responding, "I made my selection by casting dice, not by drawing lots. Ah, it wasn't determined by numbers alone. The country where the dice came to a halt was the one I chose."

Cecile found herself rendered speechless by his explanation. Regardless of the circumstances, his choice lacked any semblance of tact, did it not?

Before Cecile could gather her thoughts, still feeling dazed, the emperor swept her up and carried her into the grand cathedral. She turned her head, surveying the interior.

I had a feeling.

The intensity with which the people outside looked at her was notable, but the piercing glares from these gentlemen, who clearly appeared to be ministers of the empire, were akin to daggers. The sharpness of their gazes sent shivers down her spine.

I expected the emperor to exhibit such a reaction. What could be happening here?

Despite the ominous atmosphere, the emperor strode directly towards the altar. There, he inquired of Cecile, "In Navitan, is it customary to accompany the bride throughout the wedding?"

"...No."

To begin with, there was no such tradition in Navitan that involved the escorting and carrying of brides into the church. It was merely a custom portrayed in one of the romance novels she had read some time ago with the maidservants at her royal villa.

Things are taking an unexpected turn.

And ten hours later...

Things are taking an unexpected turn.

Cecile pondered the situation as she observed Estian climbing over her and undressing.

* * *

The wedding concluded in the blink of an eye.

"Wrap up all the ceremonies within 10 minutes."

"That's inconceivable, Your Majesty!" The pontiff blurted out, his face on the brink of tears upon Estian's command. How could a wedding be completed in 10 minutes?

"Even if we streamline the proceedings to the bare minimum, prayers must be recited and hymns sung, so how..."

"All you need to do is pray swiftly and sing even swifter."

"..."

Are you incapable of even that? The emperor's gaze conveyed the question, leaving the pontiff gaping in response.

"Why? Can you not accomplish it?" Estian inquired, then shifted his gaze from the pontiff to the high priest standing behind him. "You, sir, strike me as a man capable of offering swift prayers and singing at an accelerated pace."

"Yes?"

"And you also appear to possess the ability to pray swiftly and sing even swifter."

"...Ye-yes?"

"You shall henceforth assume the role of the pontiff. Well, why do you stand there? Both of you, exchange your garments."

Thus, the pontiff was replaced in an instant, and the newly appointed priest performed the miracle of reciting all the necessary prayers and singing hymns in a mere nine minutes. Although, of course, he promptly collapsed afterward due to his lack of breath throughout the ordeal.

The wedding concluded in such a manner, and 30 minutes later, Estian found himself seated in his office. The imperial palace, visible through the windows, was still adorned with exquisite decorations from the wedding. Yet, the groom-turned-husband felt no stirring in his heart.

So it begins.

Publicly, it was known that he had entered into this marriage to appease the officials who persistently bothered him about it. However, Estian had a premonition that this union would bring about an even greater disturbance. His duties had always been the same—attending to state affairs for the most part and occasionally engaging in minor conflicts. Since his ascension to the throne, his daily routine had consisted solely of these two aspects. But today marked the first change.

Cecile, was it?

He had overheard one of his officials murmuring her name incessantly. Estian retrieved a document from the edge of his expansive desk and began perusing its contents. It was at that moment that a knock resounded from the door. "Enter."

The door swung open, revealing a formidable knight with fiery red hair striding in. It was none other than Kane, the esteemed imperial knight commander and Estian's trusted right-hand man.

"Regarding the order you gave some time ago..." Kane began.

"Which one?" Estian inquired.

"The one concerning the tutors responsible for educating the empress."

"Ah, have you already returned after dealing with them? Were they situated so close by?"

Estian had commanded Kane to eliminate all those who oversaw Cecile's education. From the moment they first met, Cecile had remarked on his handsome appearance, indicating that these so-called tutors had failed to educate her about his disdain for discussions on his looks.

It wasn't an oversight on their part; it was a deliberate omission intended to ensure Cecile's demise.

"No, Your Majesty. I was about to take action when I received word. I was informed that they all took their own lives using poison."

Estian nodded without a hint of emotion in response to Kane's words, as if he had anticipated this outcome. Keeping them alive would have exposed the mastermind behind them. They were either trained to take their own lives or compelled to do so.

"Unsurprisingly, it seems a group of schemers has made their move."

"Wasn't everything according to your plan?"

"Why do you think so?"

"Because otherwise, you would have been meticulously monitoring every detail. But it appears you were indifferent to the wedding proceedings. This allowed the enemy to seize the opportunity, despite harboring suspicions. What an audacious move from the very beginning. By the way, how did the empress fare? Did she display any prowess with a sword? Or perhaps an affinity for poisons?" Kane inquired, his curiosity piqued.

Estian recollected Cecile's image upon hearing Kane's question.

Proficient with a sword? It would be impressive if Cecile could even lift one with her slender arms, let alone wield it with skill. Poison? Perhaps, but he did not sense the dark aura that typically accompanied those who dabbled in toxic substances. In fact, he felt that a mere touch of poison would render her incapacitated.

"I cannot say. She simply appeared beautiful."

"Pardon?"

Estian's words left Kane dumbfounded. However, Estian paid no attention to Kane's expression as he resumed perusing the document before him. It contained a report detailing Cecile's status as a princess, her lifestyle, and the individuals she encountered upon arriving in the empire.

"Not surprising," he murmured.

Whether it was the tutors who educated her upon her arrival or the maids who frequented her residence, there wasn't a single person who wasn't suspect.

"It's all so suspicious that one could even consider her the mastermind behind all of this."

How else could one explain her being surrounded by nothing but dubious individuals? Estian easily discerned that it was all part of a scheme. The circumstances had been arranged in a way that would implicate Cecile and the Kingdom of Navitan should anything go wrong.

Estian placed the papers down and closed his eyes. For some inexplicable reason, the memory of a certain woman saying, "Hello, beautiful?" without a trace of fear disrupted the order in his mind. An unfamiliar sensation of irritation washed over him.

"The plan was to bring in a suitable woman and expose them... It would have been even better if they brought about their own downfall."

However, what he ended up with was not a suitable woman, but something peculiar.

"To hell with it." Estian leaned back in his chair, muttering to himself. "Regardless, I will do what needs to be done today."

"What does your schedule entail for the day?"

"I am getting married."

"That means...!"

Annoyance crept across Estian's face. "Yes, uninvited guests will come knocking."

Kane faltered, his face tense.

"Well then, if you have finished reporting, you may leave. Today, you are responsible for the security of the empress' palace. It may get tumultuous after dark, but feign ignorance. Tonight promises to be an extraordinary affair."

"U-understood." Kane stuttered, his face rigid, as he departed.

Estian then opened the drawer of his desk. Inside, dozens of daggers were meticulously arranged. He selected the sharpest one and placed it on his desk. If events unfolded as he predicted, tonight would be an incredibly intense night.