Chapter 100: The Funeral
The news about the death of Ferrey had spread not just across the Dukedoms, but the two major Kingdoms themselves.
That is the scale of respect Covenant gives to its clergy. For all their branches throughout the world are made aware of the tragedy.
It’s not just about respect, but a declaration, that Covenant has now recognized the presence of a foe, and they’ll do anything to get to them.
"Your Highness, forgive me, but I get a frosty feeling about our situation," Graves spoke as he sat opposite to Ymir in the Royal Carriage of Celestie, with a Signia of Rain Lion’s Head.
Ymir wore his usual black suit, no tie, or vest, a golden chain ornament hung in the heart pocket of his coat.
He was just constantly tapping his index finger against the window frame in a constant rhythm of music.
’I really wish to have some rock music blasted in my ears...’ he thought.
Its been a long time since he heard a beautiful melody, and in his sense, a beautiful melody is a music that just shakes his brain in rhythmic chaos.
"Your highness..." Graves spoke again, but slowly this time.
"I’m listening," Ymir replied.
"Attending the funeral of a man you killed to pay your respects...it’s a macabre situation," Graves said.
"You don’t really need to worry about anything, we did not kill him. Mudhead died on his own," Ymir said.
’Your answer does not ease my worries...’ Graves thought.
Sanctum of the ascended. The covenant’s holiest interior space, used only for the deaths of its highest clergy.
The royals, the nobles, the highest powers of the covenant, all in one single place. Everyone is supposed to attend. They’re either supposed to be present, or send a proxy, and if sending a proxy, there needs to be a valid reason that Covenant Accepts.
What worries Graves is not the attendance of Ymir Celestie himself, but the fact that someone like him, who could just burn the invitation, and turn against the Covenant, is arriving early in the schedule.
Someone who avoids all such gatherings, is going to attend the funeral ahead of time.
He never seems to know what his Prince is thinking, but he still places his trust in him, despite being in questionable situation.
Their carriage came to a halt after travelling a significant distance within the Covenant.
The Knights turned in attention, and stomped their feet, while Graves opened the door, and got out first.
"Close the door," Ymir said, still sitting inside the carriage.
"Huh?" Graves was confused. "You’re not...coming, Your Highness?"
"I’ll be there in a while, be my proxy for now," Ymir said, and flared up a slight and fine amount of his black and white aura hue to take the control of the gate, and shut it, leaving Graves standing outside the carriage.
Ymir then knocked the ceiling of the carriage, and it began moving again, leaving Graves standing in the centre of the path at the main entrance of Sanctum, guarded by holy knights who were eyeing him for the fact that the fifth Prince did not even step out to pay his respects.
Graves looked at the faces of Knights and scratched the back of his head.
"Uhm...where’s the way leading to sanctum?" He asked feeling awkward.
"..." The knights looked at him in even more disappointment.
"There’s only one way," One of the Knight spoke, pointing at the gate in front of Graves.
"Oh...apologies, it was just this unexpected or should I say unprecedented situation that left me hanging here," he said.
"We understand," The Knight spoke with pity. He genuinely understood what it felt dealing with nobles.
Graves bowed once, and entered the Sanctum, as a Proxy of Fifth Prince. And the only Proxy without having the letter of reason, because the Prince was still in Covenant.
While Ymir was headed towards the Silver Cloister, the Sanctum of Saintess.
Getting out of the carriage, he walked through the gates that led to the outer courtyard of the Sanctum.
Last time he arrived the outercoutyard had green plants all over the space, but now they’ve all sprouted into orchids.
Walking down the path he met the two Knights he met when he first arrived here a long time ago.
But this time, none of them blocked the gates, in fact, they opened the gates for him.
There had been clear orders that besides the attendants and sisters of the Saintess, only the fifth Prince is allowed.
"This is quite different from the first time we met," He spoke as he walked past the Holy Knights in complete armour.
"..." They remained silent, however.
The inner courtyard was no different, there were countless orchids and the same statues of reverence.
The same Sanctum Hall with Chandelier of candles, tall tinted windows that reached the ceiling, and the scent of strong incense.
However, in front of the inner gate in the corner of the Sanctum Hall, Violet’s Room, were two sisters standing with their eyes closed and heads hung low.
Noticing that Ymir made deliberate sound of his footsteps that reverberated throughout the hall as his boots clanked against the glistening stone tiles beneath.
The sisters opened their eyes wide and looked at Ymir who was already standing beside them by the time they turned their heads.
"Morning!" he said.
"YOUR HIGHNESS!" They said in unison, even though they held their throats from screaming, their tone was of urgency.
"Why’re you standing outside?" he asked.
"Uh...Our Holiness is in the process of donning ceremonial attire." They said.
There was silence for a moment as they looked at Ymir, expecting him to back off.
"Even better," Ymir said walking past them.
"No...nononono, please don’t..." They held each of his arm as he tried to reach for the door, and he did not resist.
"If you go through that door...We will face divine punishment!" They pleaded.
"..."
"Are you serious?" he asked.
"ABSOLUTE SERIOUS!" They said.
"Sounds spooky," he said.
"Isn’t that right Violet?" he asked looking back at the centre of Sanctum.
"Huh?" the sisters turned around, they couldn’t understand how their Saintess who was inside the room could be standing in the prayer halls.
*Thud*
And by the time they looked for their Saintess in the halls, Ymir was gone.
"Ahhhh! He entered the room!"
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A/N: HUNDRED ChapterS!
THANK YOU FOR STAYING WITH ME UNTIL THIS POINT, I HOPE YOU’RE LOVING THE STORY!
LOVE YOU ALL! (no homo)