Rivienne sighed, looking out of the window. Colourful parasols, loud chuckles, and the smell of frying sweet potatoes passed, ignoring her. The carriage was not as flashy as before that led to the temple. Even though Madam Barbara was very opposed to the hairpin that her brother gifted her, she hid it inside the pocket of her pale yellow colour dress.
That way, she would not think about unnecessary things.
As the carriage slowed down, she saw a bunch of people who wore black cloaks head to toe. They looked suspicious. Hence, Rivienne leaned forward to have a better look, pondering to inform Sir Lance.
But she was sure he would brush it off just like before once she saw an assassin in her room. She was soaked in blood that night.
What a horrible night.
She stepped down from the carriage holding Sir Lance's hand as her eyes were on the way where the black people had already disappeared.
"May the light of the goddess shine upon you, crown princess. How have you been?" The only person who could soothe her heart, except for Leonard, was standing in front of her with his usual kind words.
She knew it was wrong, but what could she do when the venom was sweet only for her when the honey was scratching her insides? "Thanks to you, I am very well, high priest,"
The middle-aged man with twinkling eyes and a pleasant smile took her hand, ignoring the glare from Sir Lance. Rivienne felt the roughness in the high priest's hands, but she could not think of a reason for that.
The people who yelled at her always had soft palms.
"I was looking forward to looking at his holiness in the uniform. You look splendid, as expected." Rivienne complimented, climbing the stairs and holding his hand. That day, a special prayer was organized by the insistence of the Holy Islands, because of the constant fire in the empire. She could see how hard they worked for this, looking at the passer-by haggard priests and servants.
She hated the colourlessness, yet the white in the temple was something craved in her heart. It resembled purity and the light of the goddess. Even though the high priest could be the darkest man in the empire, according to the crown prince, she suspected all the complaints against him.
"You look lovely too, like a flower in the mid-summer. Well, then, I especially came for your Highness's sake. Please be seated. I will meet you after the prayer,"
"Oh! You must be very busy. Thank you for having me," Though she was a bit upset, she did not show it as she quietly walked into the chapel wearing the veil. Anna nodded at her, confirming their little surprise.
The white giant statues did nothing to her.
And she did not stop talking to them inwardly.
It naturally happened every time she was in front of them.
"Oh! I was looking for you, Princess," Lady Lysander, who emerged through the whispering crowd, beamed seeing Rivienne. Millicent's tied-up blond hair was adorned with various hairpins, while her silver dress could even steal a glance from the stone-hearted Sir Lance.
She presented a fancy-looking envelope with her fake bright sneer. "This is an invitation for the last opera in Madam Borge's theatre. She asked me to deliver the invitation to Her Highness personally since she is suffering from a fever,"
"Oh! Is that so? Is she gravely ill?" Rivienne asked, delighted by the gift. Her hand took the blue envelope, and she did not hand it over to Anna, who was beside her.
"Please don't worry, princess. It must be because she worked hard for the last one." Millicent put in her mighty efforts.
"I am very grateful just by the invitation, Lady Lysander. Please inform her that I will be there with his highness,"
After Millicent left, there was no one to talk to but to whisper about her. She heard half of the words they spit and wondered if they did that on purpose. As she was ready to return to the palace, suddenly, the crowd became silent.
That was abnormal to witness right after prayer, but she realized they wanted the quiet for a better show. "Greetings, Your Highness, the crown princess,"
"Saintess"
Rivienne felt uneasy.
"May the light of the goddess-"
"I see that you prepared well the prayer. I thank you for that. But I would like to return now," Rivienne said immediately as her eyes ran across the crowd to see Anna.
"Oh! I apologize if I am bothering you, princess. I just wanted to bless you with my-"
"There's no need. Thank you," Rivienne lost it as she walked fast because she could not run. Was she mocking me? Huh! The mere commoner-
"Oh! High priest! There you are!" At the correct time, the old high priest appeared from the end of the corridor.
"Dear princess. What's troubling you?" He hurried to Rivienne who was stumbling, and grabbed her.
"It's the saintess," She complained.
"My dear... she indeed is a trouble. Would you like to be seated, princess? Where is your knight?" Rivienne looked back to see the empty hallway. Finally, she had a chance to get away with her watchdog. She heaved a relaxed breath.
"Yes, very much,"
He led her to a private praying room, which was not very shabby for a princess. Rivi could understand that if someone were to find her in this state, it would be another black mark for her. She drank the water he gave her and calmed herself down.
"Thank you, high priest. You're like a father to me," She said to him. "My father..." her gaze fell on the white rose bushes out of the window in the yard. "He is busy, and my brothers... well, they don't see me as their sister. And this saintess is taking my fiancé away... I am pathetic,"
"You are not, princess. You met the pathetic earlier. I found rather a strange appearance of the saintess lately," He said, sitting on the sofa in front of Rivi. As he was permitted by Rivi's big brown eyes, he continued. "It may sound rather... strange, but she acted as if she was mimicking your Highness,"
"What? That peasant? Huh!" Rivi scoffed.
"After all, there should be only one Azalea, right princess?" The high priest smirked.
Rivi glanced at him.
"Yes, high priest,"
Or none of any Azaleas.
Back in the prayer hall, Anna and Sir Lance went mad, not seeing a single glance of yellow in the crowd. Anna was trembling like a deer, while Sir Lance was furious at everyone he met.
"Find her at any cost!" He threatened Anna and turned on his heels to find the crown prince.
But he was too late.
Just like it happened several years ago, the temple exploded.