The wedding party of the eighth prince and the Grand Duke began immediately afterwards. The newlyweds stood beside the Emperor and Consort, watching the nobles crowd to spread further gossip.
Those two always seemed to have their names in the mouth of the people. Unbelief now increased along with the joy of believers. The news spread like fire in the straw, which made the Throne Room of the Palace of the Sun become noisy.
"A Saint! We were blessed by a Saint!"
"And from Imperial Family!"
"But can we really trust that? What if this is some kind of plan by the Emperor to increase his political power?"
The Emperor heard every whisper and received each look in a mixture of curiosity and mistrust. Still, he sat on his throne, imposing with the icy gaze upon everyone, as if silently challenging someone to say aloud what they really thought.
Clearly no one dared.
"This is surprising" sighed Magnus, crossing his arms "I seem to have married a Saint now."
"Not even I expected anything like that" Lucian muttered looking around the hall "I hope Priest Skyler can explain this and clear up the misunderstanding. I am not a devotee of the goddess to be considered a Saint."
"To be a Saint it is not necessary to be a devotee, but to be special in Her eyes" Cassander also muttered, looking at Lucian and smiling sweetly "You are a special man just by being here."
Cassander's words resonate in Lucian's heart, and for a second he thought that maybe that statue just reacted to him because of his soul. Because he was Luciano and not Lucian. An outsider who did not belong to that world and had changed the fate of some characters.
However, if the statue reacted to him only for this reason, then being a Saint brought a bitter taste.
He did not deserve to be seen with such glory.
Not when he was just trying to find a way to leave.
"Enjoy your party. Staying up here with these faces will make the guests even more suspicious."
Magnus seemed to agree with the Emperor, as he reached out to Lucian.
They went down the stairs and into the center of the Throne Room, where they danced together as soon as Magnus signaled to the musicians. They were the only ones to dance, which was tradition at a wedding party. However, Magnus took the opportunity to whisper in Lucian's ear.
"Is there something you haven't told me?"
Raising his head, Lucian tried to keep a neutral countenance, although there was some confusion in his gaze.
"What do you mean?"
"The way you reacted when that stupid dove announced you as a saint, it seemed like you didn't want that."
"Haa... I really can't hide anything from you, can I?"
Magnus raised a smirk at the tip of his lips, an obvious answer. Lucian then told him about the relic he found in the temple and how it reacted to his touch. Just remembering the way Skyler looked at him as his eyes shone gave the prince shivers of fear.
Of course, the two managed to keep their little conversation quiet as they whirled on the dance floor. Magnus guided Lucian to keep them away from all ears that could try to spy on them, especially when they saw the other brothers of Lucian watching them so closely. Pack of vultures about to attack.
"See the future and now be seen as Saint... It seems that more and more reasons are emerging to protect you."
"I admit that I am lost and confused. It was not my intention to draw temple's attention."
"Well, we just lose them, then."
When the music stopped, the two greeted each other and were cheered by their guests. The party began, with people having fun for what would be the wedding that would go down in history. The wedding party was held in the Throne Room of the Palace of the Sun, soon after they were blessed by the temple and one of the groom appointed as a Saint.
Ah, what a beautiful wedding.
Lucian and Magnus greeted the noble guests, met new heads of families and even swallowed — or in the case of Magnus, retorquir — hostilities. Nothing new under the sun when you are a noble. Still, it was suffocating to be the target of so many eyes full of hostility. Being the Saint was against any role that Lucian would want to fulfill, because it drew more attention.
And he still needed to run away from the real villain.
Looking around, Lucian saw himself searching for that person. Surely the villain would be watching him from somewhere in that Throne Room. Among the guests, probably making connections to stay safe, and trying to figure out some way to get their hands on Lucian.
Just thinking about it, Lucian's chest tightened.
"I'll have something to drink, I need some air."
Magnus stared at him silently, noticing his slightly pale face since they left the temple. Still, the prince kept his composure and gentle smile to bear the guests.
"Go to the balcony, I'll catch up."
The prince only agreed silently and walked away. The balconies were always used for rest... or secret meetings. The doors completely covered by curtains were those already occupied, hiding the shame of intimacy. Lucian passed them looking for a free porch.
And he found an empty one whose doors were open. It was there that he went out and could breathe deeply as he felt the icy breeze against his face. Lucian leaned his arms on the balcony and watched the garden of the Palace of the Sun lit by lamps.
When did he get used to the sound of horse hooves? He barely remembered what modern-day car horns sounded like. When he returned home, would Lucian miss the silence of that huge Palace?
By the way, would he be able to come home?
Now that Lucian has been announced as a Saint...
"Haa... this is crazy. What do I do?" Lucian rubbed his fingers on the bridge of his nose, trying to get rid of the storm of thoughts "Having the temple with me won't disturb Magnus? Haa... he needs to stay safe from the villain."
"Lucian."
Turning on his shoulder, the prince saw Raven standing at the door. Beautiful as always, wearing a beautiful expensive dress with laces and sparkles that matched her aura mature and elegant. However, there was something in it like a slight tremor and signs of hesitation.
"Did something happen?"
"No, of course not" She forced a smile and went out to the balcony stopping next to her younger brother "Aren't you having fun at your wedding party?"
"But of course I am. I just went out to breathe a little, inside is very stuffy. But what about you?"
She laughed when getting a loose mecha of your bun.
"Yeah. I danced a lot now, but I also needed some air."
Innocence and kindness were adjectives that accompanied Raven. A beautiful and radiant woman who now conveyed something more. A nuisance.
"What happened? Has someone been bothering you?"
"Pressures of the day to day. Some nobles are pressuring me to marry and get the throne, you know how it is."
It was to be expected. Raven was the first princess and an omega. Of the living children, the only omega. By tradition she would be the one to receive the throne and rule Roveaven. However, that was not all.
"I thought you'd be having fun with the twins, you're always around them."
Raven hesitated and clenched her fingers on the wall. The peach eyes rose trembling to Lucian, who stared at her cold and tedious. The prince rested his face on the palm of his hand and watched his sister carefully.
"Lucian... what do you mean? I just like to spend time with my brothers. But you and Cadec always stay apart."
Danger surrounded him. Lucian remembered Skyler's words when he had that vision.
"I saw the scythe of the Goddess pointed at your neck, a distorted soul inside your body...".
Yes, he was struggling to survive in that world where originally the eighth prince was supposed to be dead. Death has not released his hand yet.
"Have you been threatened?"
The princess squeezed her fingers and stared at him looking lost for a few seconds. Lucian knew very well that he was being cold and distant with her at that moment, so he reached out to touch her head softly. A contrast to give her some security. Like a younger brother who cares about his older sister.
"Actually... there is someone who insists on having your support, Lucian."
Lucian's heart accelerated in despair. His feet turned to lead making it impossible for him to move. It was hard for Lucian not to let his fingers close on Raven's head, needing to keep a light weight so as not to bother her.
Forcing his mouth to speak and his vocal cords to work, he questioned.
"Someone? What do you mean?"
"I'm afraid, Lucian. someone inside this castle wants to force you to support one of us, your brothers. And I'm afraid you'll be attacked again. I can only say don't trust anyone, not even me. Stay safe."
The words that Raven let loose in the wind continued to speed up Lucian's heart. It was as if he felt the sickle cutting his skin in a sweet threat.
The demon of the villain watched him closely.