Chapter 97: A Funeral
The grey sky above that hung above the North reflected the mood below.
Snow slowly drifted to the ground and to the shoulders of the residents of the North, all dressed in black.
Their moods were heavy, weighed down by a grief that even the biting cold of the North could not numb.
At the center of it all stood a raised platform of pure ice, crafted with such care that it looked more like a piece of art than a resting place.
And upon it, lay the Grand Duchess.
Her expression was far too calm for someone who had met such an end. It almost looked as if she had simply fallen asleep, untouched by the chaos that had taken her life.
Not far from the platform stood the Grand Duke himself.
Boreas.
He said nothing, he hadn’t said a single word since the ceremony began, but his presence alone was enough to keep the entire gathering in check.
The cold aura around him heavier than ever before, pressing down on everything around him.
But their was only a single emotion greater than his grief right now, guilt.
He blamed himself more than anyone, after all, he was the one that suggested they visited the castle.
If he hadn’t, none of this would’ve happened, she would’ve been with them right now, instead of laying there without a single breath.
Beside him stood Renelle.
Dressed in black, her white hair tied loosely behind her, strands falling over her face as her blue eyes remained fixed on the ice platform before her.
Empty.
That was the only way to describe them.
There was no sign of grief or guilt in them, they were just completely hollow as they be held her mother’s calm face.
Around them, the final rites continued.
Elders of the North stepped forward one after the other, placing fragments of ice at the base of the platform.
Each piece carried a trace of mana, a final farewell.
The Grand Duke’s turn finally reached and he slowly walked towards the platform. Standing there for a second, he looked at her face before giving a smile that wasn’t truly one.
"You really did hate the snow, didn’t you," Boreas said as he gently wiped off the snow that had settled on her cheek before chuckling, "you’ll probably be mad that we were all standing here without any warm clothing."
He turned silent for a while, just looking at her face.
"I’m sorry," the grand duke finally said, "I should’ve been there to protect you two but I wasn’t."
"I failed you."
Boreas stood there for a second longer, before opening his palm and above it, formed a rose made entirely of transparent ice.
Slowly, she placed it on her hands that were laying on her chest, before he finally stepped back.
"Renelle?" The Grand Duke called out the moment he was by her side again.
Renelle didn’t reply, instead, she just stood there looking at the corpse with blank eyes.
"Renelle, it’s time to say farewell," she finally looked towards her father before moving towards the corpse.
She stopped a short distance away before extending her trembling hand towards the body.
Renelle
"I thought if I did things differently... if I was stronger... if I stayed ahead of everything, that I could change things," she took a short pause, "I guess I was getting too comfortable."
Slowly, she moved her hand away from her mother’s before stepping back, "but never again."
A small ice sculpture was formed in her palm, one of her mother before she gently placed it beside her.
"I will not lose anyone else," with that, she turned away from the platform and started walking away.
Behind her, the elders began the final rite.
Layers of ice slowly formed over the Grand Duchess, encasing her completely, preserving that calm, distant expression for eternity.
The platform was sealed and the ritual ended.
Renelle stepped past her father without stopping, speaking or acknowledging anyone.
The snow crunched softly beneath her feet as she walked away from the gathering.
The Grand Duke watched her leave without saying anything, after all, he understood exactly how his daughter felt at this moment.
No, he couldn’t claim he did, after all, the Grand Duchess had died in her hands.
***
Renelle, meanwhile, moved away from the back of the Ardent Estate, her steps steady despite the way the snow dragged at her feet.
Her shadow seemed to suddenly displace and the next second, a presence appeared behind her.
But she was neither worried nor surprised by it, after all, she was used to Adrian appearing next to her like that.
"We’ll return to the academy in a few days," She spoke up calmly, "is there anything that you need to get done before then?"
"No," Adrian answered.
"Good," Renelle nodded before stopping and turning to him, "are you sure you’re fine?"
It had been over a week since the attack on the academy and his death, so she was right to worry about his condition.
After all, she had watched his heart get ripped out and the life fade from his eyes.
"I’m fine, my lady," Adrian muttered before looking at her and asking, "are you?"
Renelle was silent for a while as they reached inside the estate before stopping in her tracks and turning to him.
Her eyes were still hollow, and Adrian hated that.
Although [Cease] had erased most of the cult’s worshippers and bases from all around Avera, but those were only the locations he was aware of.
The rats were still in hiding, but he’d ensure that he destroyed them all, if that’s what it took to restore his lady’s smile.
"No," Renelle shook her head, "but that’s just because I’ve been reminded of how much weaker I am."
"I see," Adrian nodded and walked towards her, stopping a small distance away from her, "then let’s get strong enough to not lose anyone."
Renelle looked at him for a while, if anyone could get her stronger, it was her butler, but at the same time, she didn’t want him in danger.
Still, she answered,
"Yes."