[CHAPTER 91]
As midnight approached, the banquet came to an end.
Only one sequence remained now.
The dawn prayer ceremony.
Mayna headed toward the annex of the Kasadin Grand Cathedral she had been guided to in advance, together with Biterion Parker.
Along the narrow forest path, pale yellow lamps were placed here and there.
“Be careful. The path is dark.”
Biterion Parker, who was walking about half a step ahead, looked back and spoke.
Watching closely to make sure Mayna would not bump into anything or trip, he suddenly curved his lips into a small smile.
“Still, it is an honor to be able to work alongside such a sacred lady.”
“Your Highness!”
Mayna’s cheeks instantly flushed.
“Please go on. Sacred Lady Winslet.”
Biterion Parker narrowed his eyes playfully.
Mayna looked at him with a hint of grievance and mumbled.
“Please stop teasing me. I’m already embarrassed enough……”
The moment when a heavily drunk Curden barged onto the stage flashed through her mind.
It had been a truly shocking scene.
Being suddenly called by name and instinctively trying to leave the banquet hall.
Then being shouted at by Curden not to run away, her name bellowed at the top of his lungs.
The more she replayed it, the more mortifying it became.
Seeing Mayna shudder, Biterion Parker burst into laughter, then spoke more seriously.
“Both you and I should become more accustomed to receiving attention from people we don’t even know.”
In truth, it was something they had both felt throughout the day’s events.
“Yes.”
Mayna bit her lip lightly and nodded.
The dressing room of the Kasadin Grand Cathedral that the head priest had told them about was located on the second floor of the annex.
Though called a dressing room, it was a very narrow and modest space.
The moment she pushed open the wooden door, silence descended.
Curden, Adonis, Pippin Perepena, and even Caliph were already there.
They were members of Lenox Castle who had arrived first.
The commander and attendants from the Grand Cathedral who would assist with preparations were there as well.
“Welcome, Your Highness. And Lady Winslet.”
The butler stepped up to the doorway, bowed politely, and smiled at Mayna.
“This way, Lady Winslet.”
He pointed to a chair near the door.
Behind the chair, two women were already waiting with various cosmetics and garments prepared.
However, Mayna could not bring herself to move.
Caliph was seated in the chair immediately to her left.
The moment she entered the dressing room, his gaze had briefly been on the door, but it was now fixed straight ahead.
Sensing the situation, Adonis approached with a bright smile, as if he had read Mayna’s thoughts.
“It’s been a long time, aide… no, Lady.”
A bitter smile flickered briefly across Adonis’s face.
Pretending not to see his true feelings, Mayna chose to accept only the warmth and goodwill he expressed.
Mayna extended her hand first.
“Have you been well, Sir Hiaron?”
Adonis clasped her hand and nodded.
Then he gently pulled Mayna into an embrace.
The two remained in that hug for quite some time.
Caliph tilted his head slightly, then quickly withdrew his gaze.
Returning to his seat, he simply lowered his eyelids as if exhausted.
Curden and Adonis watched him with deeply troubled expressions.
Mayna sat down in the chair she had been guided to.
“I will wait here.”
Biterion Parker said as he stepped back.
As always, he smiled, but he could not completely hide his discomfort.
It was the first time the three of them had faced each other since what happened in the bathroom at the Kyrib Estate.
Being in the same space as Caliph, and even this relationship itself, felt deeply unsettling to Biterion Parker.
The head maid of the Kasadin Grand Cathedral approached from behind, introducing herself as she did so.
As she brushed Mayna’s hair down, she spoke in a clear voice.
“None of the five grand cathedrals across the Empire have mirrors.”
Mayna nodded.
“I’ve heard. It’s a teaching meant to make one focus more on others than on oneself.”
Smiling with satisfaction, the maid replied.
“Yes. Instead, one reflects upon oneself using flowing or gently pooled water.”
She gestured toward a small holy font at the back of the dressing room.
Clear water trickled gently, like a stream.
“You are perfect as you are, so we will not do any special adornment.”
The maid patted Mayna’s shoulder lightly and helped her stand.
Then she led her toward the clothing rack.
The sacred robe and veil to be worn over the dress hung side by side.
As she dressed Mayna in the dark bluish robe, so thin it resembled a translucent cloak, the maid let out a small sigh of admiration.
“You are beautiful, my lady.”
Mayna smiled awkwardly and looked down at herself.
Until now, she had only watched Caliph don the sacred robe and prepare himself beside her.
This was her first time standing in that role herself.
Caliph had always served the holy water together with Sera.
Once every seven times, it had been with the Empress, chosen as the most sacred woman, instead of Sera.
“By the way, the two of you resemble each other in a curious way.”
The maid said, gesturing toward Biterion Parker.
He was standing far away, careful not to brush against anyone.
“Your Highness. Please come closer.”
Mayna called to him.
After a moment’s hesitation, Biterion Parker stepped closer and stood beside her.
The maid gently took Mayna’s shoulders and turned her toward him.
“Just like a statue of the goddess, wouldn’t you say?”
He smiled silently and replied.
“Yes. She is beautiful.”
At that moment, the sound of a chair scraping echoed.
Turning to the left, Mayna saw that Caliph had stood up, apparently finished with his preparations.
Taking his own sacred robe and veil from the rack, he crossed the dressing room.
“Ah— Sir Renox! You’re not finished yet—”
The head butler who had been assisting him looked toward the door in alarm.
Like everyone else in the room, Mayna watched Caliph leave in surprise, then suddenly froze.
What…?
A pure white light flickered faintly near his heart.
She blinked several times, but it was no illusion.
It was a fragile yet unmistakable light.
When Caliph stepped outside, the light vanished with him.
Biterion Parker called out to Mayna worriedly.
“Ah, I’m sorry.”
As Mayna apologized to Biterion Parker and the maid, the smile quickly faded from her face.
I must have seen it wrong.
Feeling the maid’s hands adjusting the sacred robe, Mayna tightly shut her eyes.
* * *
3:40 a.m., the central plaza of Kasadin.
The minute hand of the clock tower announced the darkest hour of the day.
At last, the dawn prayer ceremony began.
Over a hundred holy maidens gathered from across the Empire lowered dark blue veils over their faces and began chanting the prayer in unison.
“O holy god Bizan. We, your faithful, have gathered at the darkest hour, on a midsummer day when the breath of life moves the earth.”
“We have gathered, O god Bizan.”
Thousands of citizens joined in the prayer.
In the silence that followed, the Grand Saintess stepped forward.
The moment Mayna and Caliph, clad in the sacred and pure robes of the Bizan faith, knelt side by side before her.
Uwoong. Uwooong…….
A wind blowing from the vast Thales Mountain Range let out an eerie sound as it whipped through the crowd, disturbing their garments.
The translucent veil draped over Mayna’s face fluttered violently in the wind.
Despite it being midsummer in August, the wind was unbearably cold and fierce.
An ominous sense of unease spread through the gathered people like wildfire.
