Chapter 102: The Funeral (03)
In the royal carriage with Signia of a flag that had flute of Luna etched in gold, sat two people facing each other.
They were a couple. A royal couple.
The man wore deep black suit with faints of red etched in his vest, his hair were dark blue in colour, almost like the hue of midnight, and his iris were red enough to gleam in the shadow of carriage’s ceiling.
He was Marcellus Celestie, the fourth Prince of the Lunar Kingdom.
Opposite to him was his wife, a woman with distinct light blue hair, and eyes that could drown any man in her presence. She wore a black long gown paired with shining silver ribbons tied tight on her waist to exaggerate her curves.
She was Eisi of Lunar, Princess of the Lunar Kingdom, and wife of the fourth Prince.
"I understand you don’t like being anywhere near funeral. But this is something we cannot ignore..." Marcellus spoke as he leaned forward, and held Eisi’s hands.
"We’ll leave as early as possible," he said.
"..." Eisi nodded closing her eyes shut.
She was not fond of funerals from a young age, that’s why attending this wasn’t an easy choice for her.
She held Marcellus’s hands tight, and opened her eyes as the carriage came to a halt.
"I understand."
*Click*
The gates of the carriage were opened by the knights standing guard in the main path of Sanctum of Ascended.
Marcellus stepped out of the carriage, and every knight stomped their feet in unison.
He extended his hand for Eisi, and helped her step out gently.
The moment she came in sight, every holy knight’s composure faltered the way it would falter when they look at their Saintess.
Eisi of Lunar was known to be one of the most beautiful women in the Kingdom of Lunar. To a point where her looks were compared to Violet of Lunar.
Walking down the long black carpet laid on the stone floor of the Sanctum, the couple entered through the main gates, and were greeted at the sight of marvelous structure of dome, with intricate designs of Luna’s mythology etched within walls that gleamed of continuous divine hue.
The lanterns on the wall burned of purple flames that illuminated the dome along with tinted windows that reached the ceiling.
This was just the entrance to the Sanctum, the hall of Ascended, where funeral is being currently held was beyond the main entrance’s dome.
As they walked across the vacant halls of entrance with hands intertwined, Eisi admired the structure, especially at the height of the ceiling.
But she stopped noticing Marcellus slowing down, looking at the gates that lead to the main hall.
"Brother?" Marcellus looked at the man wearing an all black suit with no tie, deep black hair and eyes so red that someone could mistake him for a bloodsucker.
Eisi noted the man’s presence too, and bowed holding her gown in elegance.
"Your highness," she said.
"You don’t need to do that, my lady. If I remember it correctly, I believe you’re a few years older than me, I am your younger brother," Ymir said acknowledging her greeting and then looked at Marcellus.
"May I have a few of your moments, brother?" he asked.
"Why not," Marcellus nodded.
"Alone." Ymir said, looking at Eisi.
"Apologies Princess, but could you wait for some moment within the main halls, your Prince will be there the moment our little conversation comes to an end," Ymir said.
"Uh...Yes," Eisi was reluctant. For her entering the main halls of funeral without Marcellus to support her was slightly difficult.
"Don’t worry, I’ll be there shortly," Marcellus said, placing his hand on her back.
"You make me feel the guilt, Princess. But do not worry, I certainly don’t doubt my future wife’s ability to protect you of any spiritual harm," Ymir said, and Eisi nodded at that.
"I trust our holiness, Your Highness," she bowed slightly and moved ahead.
Eisi took a long breath and heaved a sigh before opening the gates of the main halls and entering.
"Shall we?" Ymir gestured towards a corridor at the corner of entrance hall. "I believe what I’m about to say needs some more privacy."
"After you," Marcellus replied.
Ymir and Marcellus walked in the corner corridor, and entered a spare room with barrels of flower petals plucked from the courtyard of Saintess’s Sanctum’s outercourtyard.
These barrels were extremely expensive, and one of the trades that Covenant runs.
"I suppose you did not bring me to experience the scent of these holy flowers, brother?" Marcellus asked, leaning on a wooden barrel of flower petals.
"You might know I’m not fond of roundabout conversations brother, so I’ll get straight to the point," Ymir spoke, and leaned on the barrel opposite to Marcellus.
"I’d love that, in fact," Marcellus replied.
"Do you know how ferrey died, brother?" Ymir asked.
"I heard it was an assassination attempt in order to shake the covenant, that’s why the Covenant has taken grave measures and is now expanding its influence even more aggressively," Marcellus replied.
"You’re wrong about the first part, Ferrey was not assassinated." Ymir said.
"What do you mean?" Marcellus tilted his head, and crossed his arms.
"Ferrey died on his own, brother. He was being interrogated by the Covenant under the orders of Violet because she sensed foreign power within him. And it turned out that Ferrey had made a contract with a demon, unable to keep his mouth shut from the torture, he tried to reveal information, but the contract backfired, that is why, when you will go into the main halls, you will not see the body of Ferrey laid in the coffin, instead the coffin would be shut close," Ymir explained Marcellus the real reason of the funeral.
"That is unfortunate...to have a high priest succumbed into pleasure of power, it really is something Covenant would cover at all costs," Marcellus nodded, assessing the new information.
"I understand, but what’s your reason of telling me this?" Marcellus asked.
Information was crucial, but it was crucial for someone who was running for throne, Marcellus was not after the throne.
He was not a man driven by greed, he believed what he has is enough for him to live a life of no worries.
"It’s because Violet told me something else along with this fact," Ymir said, placing his hands in the pockets of his pants.
Marcellus looked at Ymir with complete attention.
"When she was in the banquet of Marcus Rile, she sensed the same power that she sensed from Ferrey, but and the direction where that power reverbed from was where the Second and First Prince stood," at those words Marcellus’s eyes displayed genuine mixture of shock and worries alike.
"Do you mean that...?" Marcellus muttered under his breath.
"Yes. Out of the first, Cassian Celestie, and the second, Cymbal Celestie, one is demonic human." Ymir said.
"This...can’t be," Marcellus said.
"I have no reason to lie brother. I am not revealing this information to you because I think you could use it...no, I’m just warning you. Don’t place your trust in those two until things are settled, and stay safe." Ymir patted Marcellus’s shoulders and opened the gates of the room, leaving him to ponder for a moment.