Chapter: 24
“You said we’re going to your house—so why are we going to the Imperial Palace?”
As the devil approached, Lohas’s face stiffened.
Without realizing it, he clutched his long beard that reached down to his chest.
The priests around Lohas stepped forward to block Edwin.
“Only those with prior appointments may meet the High Priest.”
At their clear signal to stop causing trouble and leave, Edwin smiled.
“Is that so?”
His gaze shifted toward the High Priest.
“I have something important to say…”
“……”
“Just between the two of us.”
Lohas swallowed the fear rising up to his throat.
He couldn’t show tears in front of the priests.
One of the priests beside him shouted at Edwin.
“A private meeting with the High Priest? Do you think you’re royalty or something?”
No, stop… don’t provoke him…
Lohas coughed awkwardly and stepped in.
“It’s fine. This person is—”
“How incredibly rude!”
The priest snapped, unable to hold back.
Edwin’s calm expression irritated him for some reason.
Lohas spoke again.
“I said I’m fine. That’s enough—”
“How dare someone like you try to meet—”
“Enough!”
The usually dignified High Priest shouted, shocking everyone.
“High… Priest…?”
Seeing his desperate expression, the priest examined Lohas.
“What is wrong? You look like a monkey being chased by a beast!”
“…That’s enough. This person is His Highness, the Third Prince.”
“…What?”
The priest blinked blankly, looking back and forth between Edwin and Lohas’s beard.
The Third Prince who burned the High Priest’s beard…?
The surrounding priests hurriedly bowed to Edwin in confusion.
After confirming that Dana couldn’t see this scene from behind a large pillar, Edwin casually accepted their greetings.
“We greet Your Highness, the Third Prince.”
“What brings you here…?”
Their attitude suddenly became servile, as if they would offer him anything.
Edwin suppressed a scoff.
He walked straight toward Lohas, who stood at the end.
The other priests split into two lines, making way for him.
Their faces were filled with fear, worried he might harm them.
Edwin gave Lohas a gentle smile.
“It’s been a while.”
“Yes… it has been a while.”
Lohas trembled slightly and gathered his beard tightly in both hands.
This time, I’ll protect it…
Unbothered, Edwin continued.
“I came because I have a request.”
“W-what is it?”
“I need a priest to certify my marriage.”
Marriage? So suddenly?
And from a royal, no less.
Lohas blinked in confusion.
Unfortunately, Edwin had little patience.
His long eyes curved slightly.
“I want to get married right now. For that, I need a priest.”
In short: “Get me a priest.”
Lohas forced a smile.
“That would be difficult right now. We would need a chapel, a golden chalice for holy water, and—”
Haah.
Edwin let out a short sigh.
He hated repeating himself more than anything.
“A marriage certificate. That’s what I need.”
“But even so, you are royalty…”
“The ceremony, rings, guests—we can handle those later. As extravagant as we want.”
“…So you mean you want to register the marriage first.”
Just what kind of unfortunate woman had caught the Third Prince’s eye?
Lohas’s conscience, which was supposed to bless the couple, pricked at him.
“But there are no available prayer rooms right now.”
“There’s the main chapel, isn’t there?”
Unlike small personal prayer rooms, the chapel was large enough to hold over a thousand people.
It was only used for official events and required the Emperor’s permission to open.
There was no way the Third Prince didn’t know that.
He simply didn’t fear even his own father, the Emperor.
Lohas spoke with a dark expression.
“…I will prepare a simple ceremony. Along with a brief blessing, I will give you the marriage certificate.”
Even so, the other party was royalty.
He couldn’t just hand over a piece of paper and be done with it.
At the mention of preparing a ceremony immediately, Edwin smiled in satisfaction.
“As long as it’s a blessing for the bride, I’ll accept anything.”
“Yes… understood.”
“Oh, and…”
Edwin’s smile deepened.
Lohas realized for the first time that such a bright smile could feel so chilling.
“The bride doesn’t know I’m royalty. Be careful.”
With that, Edwin left the temple.
He walked toward the delicate woman sitting in the garden.
After exchanging a few words, the Third Prince escorted her.
His touch was careful, as if handling a fragile glass doll.
The priests stared blankly.
What is happening right now?
The first to regain his senses was Lohas.
“Prepare the altar immediately.”
* * *
What is going on…?
This was definitely not what Dana had expected.
The doors of the chapel—where only royalty and nobles approved by royalty could enter—opened.
“Edwin, why are we here…?”
“There were no prayer rooms available right now.”
“I would’ve been fine doing it in the garden like before…”
“No.”
Edwin smiled brightly.
“I told you, I’ll only give you the best.”
It was so overwhelming it almost felt suffocating.
And what was that golden altar shining so brightly?
The priests busily decorated it, preparing the ceremony.
Two cups embedded with precious jewels were placed on either side.
Why are the proud palace priests acting like this?
Dana tilted her head.
She whispered to Edwin.
“Did the High Priest really agree to help with the marriage?”
“Of course.”
“How?”
“Before God, we are all equal.”
Edwin answered smoothly.
Soon, as the altar was completed, a priest approached them.
“Everything is ready. The certificate will be given afterward.”
His tone was excessively humble.
He even avoided making eye contact with Dana.
“Let’s go, sunbae.”
Edwin held Dana’s hand and led her to the altar.
Step by step, a smile naturally formed on his face.
Seeing Dana holding his hand and walking with him like this felt incredibly lovely.
As they reached the altar, High Priest Lohas appeared.
Dana’s eyes widened.
A wedding officiated personally by the High Priest only happened when both the bride and groom were royalty.
This is way too much…!
Unable to hold back, Dana asked Lohas,
“Thank you for blessing our marriage. But may I ask why you are personally officiating?”
“……”
Fortunately, Lohas’s experience overcame his panic.
Instead of answering, he glanced at Edwin.
But Edwin’s eyes were calm, as if saying, “What are you doing? Answer her.”
In the end, Lohas had no choice but to lie.
“Ahem, before God, all humans are equal. I have a duty to bless everyone.”
Ha… ha ha…
Lohas forced out laughter.
Dana asked again,
“Then are there other weddings you’ve blessed personally? Not involving royalty?”
“…I plan to start.”
“Since when did you change your mind?”
“…Starting today.”
How strange.
Dana whispered to Edwin.
“We’re lucky today, aren’t we?”
“Seems like it. To change his mind so suddenly.”
The two smiled warmly at each other.
Meanwhile, Lohas felt like crying.
His honest and upright life had never included lies.
Which meant from now on, he would have to bless many more weddings.
Suppressing his complicated feelings, Lohas forced a smile.
Soon, he began the blessing.
“I pray to God for the union of these two…”
The speech was very short.
He didn’t know what might happen otherwise.
A priest carefully approached and opened the marriage certificate.
Dana signed first.
The name Dana Hartwin was written clearly.
Next, Lohas signed as the High Priest.
Then it was Edwin’s turn.
After writing Edwin, he spoke to Dana.
“The High Priest will give you a separate blessing.”
“To me?”
Dana looked at Lohas in surprise.
Lohas caught on to Edwin’s intention and sighed.
Then, with a deeply sympathetic look, he said,
“…May you always be healthy and filled with God’s blessings.”
In that moment, Edwin swiftly completed his signature.
Not as the Edwin Lambert Dana knew—
but as Edwin Hedron
The ruler of the Hedron Empire, and a noble name carrying the blood of dragons.
