The Camellia Tattoo - Chapter 76
‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.
this book is completely translated on luna kofi (advanced chapters for the website will follow)
The North had to be vigilant, especially to prevent any leak of military intelligence.
“Stay close to Sir Raphael. They will show great interest in you, Madam, and will undoubtedly behave incredibly rudely in some manner or another.”
“Of course, they’d do that when Igmeyer isn’t around.”
“Yes. But with Sir Raphael nearby, it should be somewhat manageable.”
Amber nodded to Jean and stared ahead, ready for the prince’s arrival. An early morning herald had announced the prince’s soon arrival.
Amber, appropriately dressed, waited at the castle gates. There was no need to meet them at the walls and wait, but she couldn’t just sit inside leisurely as the prince arrived.
“The spring sun is unusually harsh today.”
Igmeyer shaded Amber’s forehead with his hand, clicking his tongue in apparent dissatisfaction.
The Frost Giant Knights around them shuffled their feet in agreement to his evident displeasure.
Then, from a distance, the sound of a robust horn announced their arrival, followed by the sight of a dazzling carriage, glittering as if it were adorned with jewels.
“Oh, perfect prey for a Garuda,” Sir Gallard whistled.
It was not out of mockery but stating a fact, as the winged monster Garudas were indeed attracted to shiny objects.
“It’s more like it’s begging to be eaten by the snowworm with that flashiness.”
“Which one will get to it first, I wonder?”
The knights chuckled but quickly composed themselves as the carriage approached. The Frost Giant Knights were skilled in concealing their hostility.
Shortly after, imperial knights lined up and lifted their insignia. The Frost Giant Knights had to stifle their laughter even harder at the seemingly useless protocol.
“Is this Nilfheim Castle?”
They had to struggle harder to suppress their laughter when the prince emerged.
He had just become an adult so he was noticeably shorter and less physically imposing than anticipated. Moreover his slim shoulders and narrow back indicated a lack of physical training.
The attempt to look imposing with a purple cloak draped over one shoulder only ended up looking rather silly.
“Compared to the imperial palace, this is nothing. I was expecting something grand and majestic.”
But any semblance of ridicule vanished with just those two sentences from his mouth.
‘There are indeed many ways to become unlikeable.’
Amber could physically feel the shift in attitude from the Frost Giant Knights and Igmeyer, who had become significantly more hostile.
Then, those lilac eyes reminiscent of hydrangeas turned her way. Under the sunlight, the prince’s curly purple locks reminded her of sheep she used to tend in Shadroch.
Sheep, though physically fragile, carry an indomitable stubbornness. Once they get upset, they’ll run in the wrong direction.
And Prince Loki Asgarden seemed just like a young one at the awkward stage of growing its horns.
“Welcome… to the North.”
“We’ve been expecting you, Your Highness.”
Both Igmeyer and Amber delivered their prepared greetings, though Igmeyer noticeably dragged on the ‘welcome’ part. However, the prince seemed oblivious to the subtlety.
Just as he appeared about to utter another thoughtless remark while staring straight at Amber, the High Priest who followed him out of the carriage interrupted.
“We’re grateful for such a warm welcome. May God bless both of you.”
At this, the prince looked displeased at the High Priest but said nothing. It revealed to Amber the prince’s rank was indeed below that of the High Priest. Clearly, the central figure of this visit was the High Priest.
“Thanks to that, I’ve found a wonderful husband.”
“You both seem to go along with each other well.”
“Let’s not linger here. Shall we go inside?”
At Amber’s cue, the servants began to escort the imperial knights individually.
The prince’s bedroom had been personally prepared by her, while the High Priest’s quarters were to be shown by the butler, a fitting arrangement for their respective statuses.
“There isn’t a single piece of art here? How utterly barren.”
It was a relief Igmeyer didn’t hear such remarks.
There was no need for the Duke to personally attend the guest reception. That would be sufficiently addressed at the banquet later.
Thus, Amber had intentionally minimized his role in the welcoming party.
“In the North, the sunset over the fields is considered art. It’s an opportunity to witness God’s brushstrokes up close, so I hope you look forward to it.”
Amber replied with a smile, deftly handling the situation. However, the prince quickly found something else to complain about.
“It’s also quite cold. Can’t the hallways be warmed up?”
“Your Highness’ bedroom has been adequately heated. The castle is built of stone to fortify against the invasions that come with the gates opening. That does make it feel a bit cooler.”
“Ugh, you think I didn’t know that?”
A child.
The prince could be summed up in just that one word.
He was far from being material for the next emperor. That’s probably why he had little to no support among the nobles in the imperial court. It’s likely he didn’t have any faction to call his own.
