Chapter 251 - The Blessing Of The Holy Empress

Simon sat on the couch in silence staring at Seri's peaceful sleeping face. He finally stood up and walked over to her side. He peered down at her face that had a goofy expression while she slept. The corners of his lips turned upwards.

He bent down and kissed her defenseless lips tenderly. He lifted his head to see her grumble in her sleep with her eyebrows pinched together. Then she reached out and slapped his face.

The force was so great it knocked him to the side. 

He chuckled as he stood up rubbing his reddened cheek. He looked at her sleeping face with a smirk, "I fear that little shadow of yours may have been right."

______

I felt someone nudging my body. I grumbled and smacked the hand off. I turned to the side and nuzzled deeper into the blankets and pillows. I felt the person shake me even more, "Seri. Get up."

I opened my eyes and felt my head pound from the brightness in the room. I looked up to see Simon standing over me with a smile. I immediately sat up, nearly smacking my forehead into his.

"What happened? Where am I?!" I looked around the room and noticed I was still in my clothes from the previous night. I rubbed my forehead, "Oh… That's right."

Simon smirked, "You remembered?"

I rubbed my forehead which had a bump from when I smacked it into a wall, "But how did I get back in here?"

"Your little shadow friend climbed up the side of the palace to bring you home. You really are lucky to have a friend like that."

I scowled, "You bastard. You didn't do anything to her, did you?!"

He chuckled, "I did try to drug her, but I didn't think she was so resilient to sedatives."

I rubbed my eyes relieved that Millie was alright, "She's a master of concoctions. You should never try to challenge her on the potency for drugs. When I was stabbed by one of your men with the poison blade, she was the one who discovered the antidote and saved me before I died."

"Wait. You were the one who was stabbed!?" His hand grabbed me so quickly I didn't even see it move. He pulled me close to him and began to inspect my hand closely, "How did you not die?! That poison has no known cure. Could there be any side effects?!"

I pulled my hand out of his grip, "There was some side effects, but I am okay. Just a bit of permanent numbness is all."

Simon's voice sounded relieved, "That's good."

I pinched my eyebrows together from his strange behavior, "Did you sound concerned just now?"

He smirked and reached out to tussle my hair, "Of course I am concerned. You are my precious fiancé after all."

I smacked off his hand, "Oh, shut it. I'm too hungover for this crap."

He stood up, "Try to be less hungover. We must visit the Church of the Holy Empress today to receive a blessing."

"The Church of the Holy Empress?"

He gave a nod, "Yes. It is a requirement in order to get married. We must light incense and pray to our ancestors. You can't get out of it either. My father will be attending so we must act convincingly. Shall we start practicing now?"

Simon pulled me close to him and leaned forward to kiss me. I turned my head to avoid it, "No! Get off!"

He chuckled, "Then shall I at least help you get dressed?" 

I felt his hand pull up my shirt revealing my midsection. I squealed and quickly slapped off his hands, "No need! I can do it myself!"

He stopped and instead embraced me. I started struggling in his hug. 

What the hell has gotten into him?

I shouted, "What the hell Simon?! Why are you acting so clingy?"

He spoke charmingly, "What's wrong with this? Shouldn't I act like this since I am your future fiancé?"

I pushed him off in a huff, "For the last time! I'm not your future fiancé!"

He kissed the top of my head and stood up, "We will see. However, don't forget that you must act like you are my darling fiancé around other people. I wouldn't want my father to cut off your head."

I grabbed my throat, "You don't need to remind me. Now just leave so I can get changed!"

He finally left and the maids came in to help me get changed. Once I was finished, I was brought down to where Simon was waiting. He took my hand and led me to a carriage. Before I could sit down across from him, he grabbed me and pulled me onto his lap. My mouth dropped as I turned to look at his gloating face.

The maids outside giggled. I heard one whispered, "They really are such a good pair!"

The door was shut, and I immediately started pounding his chest with my fists, "A good pair?! Who the hell is a good pair!?"

Simon let me hit him as he smiled calmly, "I think we make a good pair as well."

I wanted to argue with him, but the carriage started moving. My body seized up and I leaned forward trying not to puke. He took advantage of my weakened state to hug me closer and pat my back. He handed me a bucket from under the seat.

"I had a feeling you would get sick. So I brought this just in case. Try not to get puke on myself your yourself or else my father will be very upset."

I wanted to climb off of him, however I had no strength to do so. After drinking all night and eating spicy food during the day, my stomach demanded to be relieved. I could only hold the bucket as I vomited.

Once we arrived at the church, I groaned as I forced my head up from the bucket. Now I understand why Millie thought I wasn't eating enough. I feel like the wind itself will knock me over. 

As I looked out the window and saw the large church come into view, I was suddenly reminded of something important that I had forgotten. Something that only a church would have.

Nuns.

Simon chuckled as he helped me out, "Why do you look so pale?"

My voice quivered, "I'm always this pale."

"Paler than usual."

I swallowed the lump in my throat, "A-Are there nuns here?"

"…"

Simon studied my face closely, "… Are you actually afraid of nuns?"

I forced on a brave face, "Huuuh? Afraid of nuns? Psshhh who? Me? Nah…"

Simon smirked, "Oh, that's good. Because there are definitely nuns here."

My body reacted automatically, digging my nails into his hand. My face remained calm, but I felt like each one of my muscles were tensed up. Simon raised an eyebrow and tried to pull his hand away but found that I refused to let go.

He chuckled, "Oh? So you really aren't afraid?"

I responded calmly, "Not one bit."

Simon glanced behind me, "Oh~ Here comes one now."

"EEK!" I jumped on him prepared to use him as a human shield. He burst out into laughter as I gripped him tightly. I quickly realized that he had deceived me. "Oi! You tricked me?!"

Simon smiled as if he had discovered an important secret, "I didn't think I would ever see you afraid of a thing. To think you were actually afraid of nuns this entire time… I had thought you were joking about that previously, but now I see you were telling the truth."

I jumped off of him and fought off the urge to smack his face off. However, there was far too many people around. I clenched my fists and forced a smile, "I will get you back for this."

"Mm. Sure you will. Now come on, the head priest is waiting."

I shivered as we walked into the building. I was expecting to see many nuns and priests, but was surprised to see one lone priest standing at the end of the hall. Beside him were two young children who barely looked old enough to speak. 

The head priest bowed to us and the children followed suit, "Greetings to your highness and the future princess of the Sanki Kingdom."

My face twitched at this address. Simon glanced over at me with a smirk and I was tempted to smack it off his face.

The head priest raised his head, "The King and the others have already retired to the ceremonial hall to worship the ancestors. If his highness could go there now, I will show the future princess to the wing of the Holy Empress to start the ceremony."

"Wait? We are being split up?" I accidentally said without thinking.

Simon smiled, "Yes, my darling fiancé. It's part of the procedure. The men drink to their ancestors in the side room while the future bride must walk the halls belonging to the Holy Empress while carrying a sacred candle. Then she must light the incense and pay tribute to the Gods."

The Head Priest nodded, "Precisely. Fear not future princess, I will ensure to answer all of your questions."