Chapter 3. Beauty (11)
After instructing his aide to handle affairs, Grand Duke Canis finished his preparations and immediately departed from the duchy. The carriage carrying him didn’t travel all the way to the Papal Court, but stopped in Duran in the Antonello territory.
That place too was packed with people on every street, all mourners flocking there. The sight of everyone heading in one direction with somber faces created an eerie atmosphere. Those with delicate sensibilities burst into tears even before having an audience with His Holiness.
The Grand Duke emerged from the alley and walked toward the building visible before him, lifting his head. Perhaps sensing the unusual atmosphere, Ronen stood at the window with both hands pressed against it, gazing into the distance. Even from a distance, his attire seemed somewhat peculiar, so when the Grand Duke strode up the stairs and opened the door to the room where he was staying, he found Ronen wearing only half of a white nightgown, exposing one shoulder and chest completely, staring at him with wide-open eyes.
“What’s with that outfit? Did you prepare it in advance knowing your master would come?”
Though embroidery adorned the neckline and sleeves, the overall white and neat nightgown was extremely thin, so even the faint sunlight made the inside glow subtly through it. Ronen’s slender and elongated body lines were completely revealed beneath the garment that covered nothing.
Having been too busy to see him for a while, and now being greeted in such attire, blood naturally rushed to his lower body. He could vividly feel it swelling stiffly, but since now wasn’t the time for that, he could only click his tongue in regret.
“Ah. It must have been the day that fellow was coming. Canui, was it? The painter whose tongue was actually cut off after he dared to seduce the Duchess of the Kingdom of Yespe with his silver tongue. Still, his skill is worth acknowledging, which is why I brought him here.”
The Grand Duke slowly examined the canvas that had been prepared in advance as if appreciating it. He didn’t like the expression full of worry and the somehow gloomy atmosphere, but the figure was drawn quite similarly. On the day he saw this man’s painting in the Kingdom of Yespe, he had thought that with such observational skills and delicacy, he might be able to capture Ronen on canvas, and it was as expected.
“But does he come on scheduled days? I don’t remember it being like that.”
“Ah, that’s… Ronen saw him coming with Lady Cornelia this morning. But he suddenly turned around and disappeared back into the alley, so he thought maybe he had forgotten something. So we’ve been waiting with everything prepared, but there’s been no word until this hour. I wonder if something happened?”
The Grand Duke felt he understood well enough what had occurred. He probably learned of the Pope’s death on his way here. Given that he wasn’t the type to enjoy meeting people, it was likely he found out late. He must have either headed straight to the cathedral where the Pope lay in state, or thought today wasn’t a day for painting and returned home.
The Grand Duke ordered his attendant to clear everything away, then commanded the maid he’d brought to change Ronen’s clothes. The maid carried simple clothing in her arms.
“Where are you taking me again?”
Recently he’d been allowing walks, so Ronen wondered where he’d be taken this time. The Grand Duke sat in a chair with a stern face that showed not a trace of affection, as if telling him to just get dressed without questions. This seemed to burden the maid greatly, as her fingertips trembled.
This time it wasn’t a dress, but daily wear made of high-quality silk in a dark color that, while less flashy than evening wear, exuded refinement. However, when putting it on, the clothes were too big. Quite significantly so. The Grand Duke’s dissatisfied voice burdened the maid.
“I knew it would be big, but this is excessive. Can’t you do something about it?”
“I-I’ll try my very best, Your Grace!”
The maid folded the sleeves inward and secured them, and hurriedly took in the wide chest area as well, making every effort as she said. Thanks to this, the reflection in the mirror didn’t look like that of a lowly man wearing ill-fitting clothes. If someone said he was the bastard son of some rural lord, people would probably believe it.
As Ronen, who seemed to be wearing proper men’s clothing for the first time, paced in front of the mirror, the Grand Duke, who had also been observing his appearance, nodded as if reasonably satisfied.
“We should go before it gets any later.”
Thinking it would be useless to ask where they were going, Ronen closed his mouth and quietly followed. He briefly wondered why no shackles were put on him, but realizing there would be no chance to escape anyway with several soldiers following behind, he moved his heavy steps.
As they emerged from the alley, a shocking sight met his eyes that was enough to momentarily erase the word “escape” from his mind. Could there be a war happening? Perhaps the defeated nation was invading the empire. With people heading in one direction like refugees, it was understandable to misinterpret the situation.
When Ronen looked around with a bewildered face, the Grand Duke pulled his arm and put him in the carriage. The carriage moved slowly due to the crowds. Thanks to this, Ronen could observe the outside throughout the journey and deduce the situation somewhat, as people were constantly praying and mourning, begging God to watch over the empire.
“…His Holiness has been called to God.”
“That’s right.”
“I saw him once, from a distance. It was a day when the procession of knights and soldiers departing for the kingdom stretched endlessly, and he was standing on the road praying for them.”
Ronen’s brow furrowed as if trying to recall the hazy memory more clearly. However, unfortunately, the Pope’s appearance didn’t become any clearer beyond that. Only the procession of knights filled his mind.
Among the blurry and chaotic procession heading to the battlefield, blue eyes that had looked directly at him came vividly to mind. The dry hand that had reached out to him as well.
Why had Eckart tried to grasp his hand then? Ronen belatedly wondered. Had his inner desire to flee somehow been conveyed? Or had his wish to follow that man reached him?
At the time, Ronen had wanted to disappear somewhere amid the confusion, even if it meant going to a battlefield.
That day was when his first night had been auctioned off.
Even after several years had passed, the memory and emotions remained vivid. The regret he’d felt then rose again, causing Ronen to clench his hands tightly. It was as if he were trying to grasp the hand he hadn’t been able to catch, even now.
While Ronen struggled to shake off the terrible memories of that day, the carriage slowly continued toward its destination. The Grand Duke, who had remained silent until they approached the cathedral, finally spoke.
“Since someone close to your master has died, naturally you must mourn too. Your master’s family would be like another master to you.”
At the word “family,” Ronen made an expression wanting to hear more, but the Grand Duke got out as soon as the carriage stopped. Ronen, following behind, nearly got swept away by the crowd but managed to keep pace with the Grand Duke by being caught by his arm.
Having never entered a cathedral before, Ronen’s gaze moved busily. He took in the high ceiling, murals depicting biblical scenes, brightly shining stained glass, and statues carved on each pillar as he entered the chapel. The chapel wasn’t much different, except for a giant statue of God hanging on the central wall.
People lined up to pay their respects to the Pope. Eventually it was the Grand Duke and Ronen’s turn. The Pope lying in the coffin looked visibly cold. His blue lips and skin that had lost all color and turned plaster-white were particularly striking.
The Grand Duke quietly looked down at the one who had helped and cared for him greatly. Before becoming Pope, he had borne the surname Harun. He was the uncle and father figure who had filled the void after his father’s departure. Thanks to him, the House of Harun had been able to profit tremendously from the war with the kingdom. This was ongoing and would continue for a long time to come.
To achieve what he had so longed for, only to have to leave without even enjoying it for a while. What could have been so urgent that God called him back so quickly?
“We’ve seen enough.”
The two were about to leave the chapel after finishing their mourning. What hadn’t been visible when entering due to the walls blocking the view was that Holy Knights were stationed throughout the chapel, prepared for any contingency. Among them was Eckart.
Ronen also spotted him and cautiously glanced his way until just before exiting. It was then that Eckart, who had been standing guard straight as a statue of a pious knight, coincidentally turned his eyes. Soon Ronen left the chapel, and for some reason Eckart couldn’t take his gaze away from that spot.
He had seen a man with thin, bright platinum hair among the crowd. It was only a back view, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that he’d seen him somewhere before. Soon it was forgotten due to an elderly woman who clung to the coffin wailing, but still.
As they were about to board the carriage after leaving the cathedral, Hakan and Ardwino intercepted them, having either just arrived or been on their way back. Since Hakan said he had something to discuss separately and pulled the Grand Duke away to talk at a distance, Ronen was left with Ardwino.
“Your appearance is different today. You’re not even covering your face. I fully understand why the Grand Duke always tried so hard to keep your face hidden.”
Indeed, people around them were already increasing in number, stealing glances at Ronen. He had a magnetism that drew people in. It wasn’t that there were no beauties of this caliber, yet despite not having a particularly bright expression, an exceptionally good figure, flashy clothes, or eloquent speech, just standing there expressionlessly was enough to capture the attention of both women and men alike.
He guessed it was because of his distinctive sacred atmosphere. Perfect nobility that seemed to have stepped out of a cathedral mural, like one of the statues had suddenly come to life and begun breathing. An angel descending to the world to deliver God’s word might look just like this. Even if he had been a noble lady’s lover, he would have received much love.
Ronen only nodded his head in response. Somehow, his eyes held an anxious light.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
