Free Web Novel“I am always concerned for Your Highness.”
Varkas spoke in a tone so impeccably courteous that it left Gareth with no opening to pick a fight.
“Her Imperial Highness is resting comfortably. I merely wished to assure you there is no cause for concern, so please do not take offense.”
Gareth glared at Varkas irritably before striding into the vast hall. There was no point wasting his temper on a man as unyielding as a stone wall. It would only make him look ridiculous.
Clicking his tongue lightly, he crossed the hall, lavishly decorated enough to rival the banquet chambers of any great noble estate.
“Thank you for honoring us with your presence, Your Highness.”
As he approached the long table draped in immaculate white cloth, the abbot hurriedly rose to greet him.
“Please, sit here.”
Gareth seated himself where the man had stepped aside and swept his gaze across the table.
The abbot clearly had no intention whatsoever of pretending to lead a life of humble austerity. The broad dining table overflowed with silver tableware, golden goblets, and extravagant dishes rich with exotic spices.
After leisurely inspecting it all with satisfied eyes, Gareth gave a slight nod toward the dozen or so priests seated around the table.
“I appreciate such a warm welcome. Come, sit.”
No sooner had the words left his mouth than the monks all pulled out their chairs and sat down at once. Only Varkas, who had accompanied him as his guard, remained silently standing behind him like a shadow.
Curious glances flew toward the man.
Apparently, the priests had been startled by the Imperial Knight Commander’s extraordinary appearance.
Gareth faintly furrowed his brow.
Varkas had always drawn more attention than necessary. There was nothing particularly unusual about it. Even so, Gareth felt a flicker of irritation whenever people paid more attention to Varkas than to himself.
It was something he experienced endlessly whenever this man stood beside him, yet the unpleasantness never faded.
Carefully hiding his irritation, Gareth raised his goblet high.
“A toast of gratitude to the abbot for preparing such a splendid gathering.”
The priests’ attention returned to him. Savoring it for a brief moment, Gareth slowly continued.
“I hope this occasion becomes a meaningful one for everyone present......”
He was about to conclude his ceremonial speech with some suitably elegant remark when something suddenly intruded into his vision.
A golden phantom.
Gareth froze and stared blankly toward the entrance of the hall.
For a moment, he thought that nightmarish woman, Senevier, had appeared before him.
Gripping his goblet so hard it nearly bent, he slowly swept his gaze over his half-sister from head to toe.
Apparently ignorant of even the most basic decorum that demanded modest attire within a monastery, Talia Roem Gwirta had dressed in a way flashy enough to stand out even within the imperial palace banquet hall itself.
And vulgar. Painfully vulgar.
Grinding his teeth in disgust, Gareth watched as Talia approached the table at an unhurried pace, the thin fabric of her dress shamelessly revealing the fresh curves of a body not yet fully matured.
The monks looked ready to faint on the spot.
Some of them were staring openly, mouths hanging loose as if utterly bewitched. freewёbnoνel.com
Unable to contain his fury, Gareth shot to his feet.
“How dare you......! Do you even know where you are, showing up dressed like that?!”
Wine sloshed over the rim of the goblet he slammed onto the table with a bang.
Without bothering to wipe the wine soaking his hand, he pointed viciously at her.
“Did you not hear my warning to stay out of my sight?”
“Ah, of course I heard it.”
As if it were the most natural thing in the world, the woman pulled out the chair directly beside him and sat down, a seductive smile curving her lips.
“When my dear brother so desperately wished to see me, how could I possibly remain still? I simply could not ignore the earnest request of the great Crown Prince. I even took the trouble to dress myself up so carefully.”
She deliberately smoothed a hand over her skirt for him to see.
Gareth stared at his half-sister in disbelief.
“What nonsense are you spouting.......”
“Surely you do not mean to say you are unaware of my twisted temperament. Sending even the Imperial Knight Commander personally to deliver such words—wasn’t that simply your way of saying you missed your little sister so terribly you were dying to see her?”
Her pure cobalt-blue eyes narrowed wickedly.
“When the Crown Prince begs so sincerely, it is only proper for a younger sister to meet those expectations.”
Gareth had to summon every scrap of restraint he possessed to stop himself from striking her across the face.
As though deliberately provoking him further, Talia continued lazily,
“Ah, it’s so nice seeing your face like this, Brother. Are you happy as well?”
“......I was, before you showed up.”
At the words he practically ground out between clenched teeth, Talia burst into laughter.
“Then I suppose dragging my ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) exhausted body all the way here was worth it.”
Gareth clenched his jaw so hard it felt close to breaking.
Whenever the woman laughed like that, he found it almost impossible to suppress the urge to smash that grotesquely beautiful face to pieces.
His shoulders trembling violently, Gareth clenched his fists hard enough to creak and spat out each word like he was chewing shards of glass.
“How much longer do you intend to keep acting out? Are you trying to test how far my patience with you extends?”
“Oh, what a hurtful thing to say.......”
Resting an elbow on the table, the woman leaned toward him at an angle.
Chandelier light spilled across her painfully thin shoulders and sharply protruding shoulder blades. The delicate female body, as exquisite as carved ivory, drew the eyes of the monks as well.
Snake-like bitch.
Overwhelmed by fierce disgust, Gareth exhaled roughly through his teeth.
As though sensing his fury rising to its limit, the corners of Talia’s lips curled higher.
“I merely accepted an invitation. I truly don’t understand why you’re so furious over something so harmless. Don’t you think you’re being a little cruel to such a lovely youngest sister?”
She turned toward the abbot seated across from her as though asking for his agreement.
Caught off guard by the sudden question, the monk’s face stiffened awkwardly.
Apparently amused by the innocent reaction, Talia’s eyes curved in a strangely sensual manner.
The sight of her flirting like a common whore made bile rise in Gareth’s throat.
He seized her arm roughly.
“You seem to be in heat. If you need someone to warm your bed, choose one of your attendants instead of toying with monks. And if you stain the imperial family’s name with another filthy scandal...... I’ll make sure you can never carry that pretty face around again.”
At the savage threat, something flashed sharply in Talia’s eyes.
“And what exactly are you going to do?”
Tilting her head toward him as though openly picking a fight, she shot back fiercely,
“The way you talk makes me want to live up to your expectations so badly I could die.”
That was the last straw.
He reached toward her slender neck, intending to twist it with his own hands.
At that moment, a heavy hand settled onto his shoulder.
“Your Highness.”
Gareth flinched and looked up.
Varkas Laedgo Siorcan was gazing down at him with a calm expression.
It was the same emotionless face Gareth had seen countless times before, utterly devoid of any trace of feeling.
And yet, for a single moment, Gareth felt threatened by him.
Even though that should have been impossible.
“Everyone is waiting for Your Highness’s speech.”
As though warning him not to be dragged into Talia’s provocation, Varkas pressed down firmly on his shoulder.
Gareth brushed the hand away rather roughly. His fingertips trembled violently with unsatisfied violent impulses.
Concealing it by clenching his fist tightly, he glared at Talia’s enchanting face.
Talia Roem Gwirta was provoking him deliberately.
He could not allow himself to be swept up by it.
Repeating those words inwardly while suppressing the boiling rage inside him, Gareth finally released her arm as though throwing it away.
Then he picked up his goblet once more and raised his voice in an exaggerated tone, almost like an actor on stage.
“It seems we’ve wasted enough time on pointless squabbling. Come, let us begin the meal. Once again, my gratitude to the abbot for preparing such a wonderful gathering...... and may this day become a meaningful one for everyone present.”
The monks, their faces stiff with tension as they glanced back and forth between the Crown Prince, the bastard princess, and the Imperial Knight Commander standing behind them, awkwardly lifted their goblets.
Only Talia Roem Gwirta remained seated with her arms crossed, watching the scene with mocking amusement.
Just as Gareth felt his temper threatening to flare again at her rebellious attitude, Varkas bent down over Talia’s head.
“At the very least, please observe the basic courtesy expected of a guest, Your Imperial Highness.”
He gently unfolded her hand and placed a silver goblet into it.
Startled by the sudden contact, Talia stiffened before shooting him a vicious glare.
Gareth expected her to hurl the goblet at him immediately.
Perhaps because they had clashed constantly since childhood, Talia seemed particularly determined to tear Varkas apart whenever she saw him.
But contrary to his expectations, after glaring at him like an enraged cat, Talia eventually straightened herself calmly. freёweɓnovel.com
Gareth narrowed his eyes.
Retreating after such a mild warning was not like Talia Roem Gwirta at all.
She had always been a woman who rampaged wildly without knowing restraint.
Rather than obediently backing down under Varkas’s pressure, she should have foamed at the mouth and lunged at him.
That would have been like her.
‘What is she plotting?’
