TDATD

XLlV

☆ ★ ✮ ★𖡼𖤣𖥧𖡼𓋼𖤣𖥧𓋼𓍊☆ ★ ✮ ★
ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ 44

Translator: Ursomone.

Count Doton, a man with a long beard, came up to shake Derrick’s hand. However, the Duke only looked down at him instead. His expression seemed very distant and cold.

Judith retreated from the huge crowd and psychological pressure from all sides, but she did it so unsuccessfully that she dislocated her leg. At that moment, no one was standing by to help her. Her small, thin body flew down, but did not touch the floor. Derrick, like a stone wall, stood next to him and without hesitation abandoned the whole crowd that was eager to talk to him.

" Are you okay? "

There was excitement in his voice.

" Yes…"

Now the couple’s bodies were in close proximity, which made Judith even hear Derrick’s heartbeat, despite the murmur around.

It was only at this moment that the Duchess realized how this picture looks from the outside: she is in the arms of her husband, who asks her how she feels. Recently – especially after the tea party – the social world has been divided into two camps. The former believed in the couple’s love and friendship, while the others denied it.

Soon, when Judith regained consciousness, people «flocked» to the spouses, like sparrows asking for bread. They talked and talked, each about his own. Glancing at Derrick, who was still holding her in his arms, the Duchess noticed irritation. It seemed that his purple eyes were about to turn red.

The demon could not hide his identity only in two cases: when there is a strong rush of using magical energy, but Judith did not think that this was the case, or Derrick felt an impulse of forces.

But whatever the reason, now the Duchess could only accept and pull herself together. Now, looking at this place, she saw that it was not a holy place at all. And nothing else connected with it can be perceived as a good sign.

The girl pulled Derrick by the hand, after which he looked at her with a gloomy look.

" Judith?"  The familiar voice of Vincent, who arrived in a blue robe over a uniform, was heard.

The brother immediately noticed the embarrassing atmosphere and, of course, to defuse the situation, addressed the crowd. Only now he was being friendly–shaking everyone’s hand, unlike Derrick. Saying that the consecration ceremony was about to begin, Vincent dispersed everyone.

Judith could not even think: her own brother was so good at such things. Earlier, of course, he helped her in many ways in high circles, but the Duchess could not think that this would continue after marriage. In fact, she was a little disappointed.

Suddenly the bell of the temple rang, announcing the opening of the ceremony. After a while, the second one rang, after which all three went straight to the baptistery, surrounded by columns. The emperor stood face to face with the high priest who was in charge of the temple.

At each of the events, the Emperor appeared at the very end – officially entering the hall when everyone had already gathered. However, the consecration ceremony was completely different. The first blessing, which has the greatest power, should be received by the most revered person in the country. That is why the Emperor was the first, and only after him other nobles could approach the priest.

The emperor, having received the blessing from the priestess, turned his head and found the spouses with his gaze, after which he immediately went to them. Vincent was also nearby–and one of them could be Hannibal. Judith felt every part of her body tremble with excitement, and her fingertips felt as if a current was beating.