Moonlight Ball - Chapter 188

“If it pleases you, Lady Iris Elaine, I would like to ask for your protection for the knights.”

As soon as she said that, the four caskets started to shake and levitate in the air. People’s gasps could be heard everywhere. Sidrain, inside the red helmet, looked up at the floating caskets. The caskets were precariously swaying over Iris’s head. He was ready to spring into action in case anything went wrong.

“Rest in peace. Sleep peacefully. For a long time, no one will disturb you as you become part of the earth. I promise in the name of Iris Elaine.”

Iris began to recite an incantation in earnest. It required a significant amount of magic power, as it needed a protective barrier for an extended period. She willingly poured out her magic power. Some might argue that doing this for the dead is meaningless. Even her master, Elaine, might think that way. However, Iris wanted to do it. She wanted to protect those who had already protected her. Even if it was a selfish act, even if it was considered futile,. Nevertheless.

She just didn’t want to let them go.

“Ruthna, please protect these knights. In the name of Iris Elaine, your worshipper, I beseech you.”

A blue curtain began to descend over the four caskets. Small groans could be heard from the people. This was a blessing that descended only on the royal family. Only high-level mages could cast it, and it required powerful magic, making it nearly impossible for anyone other than royalty to receive it. Yet here, a mere group of knights was receiving it.

“Ruthna, your worshipper, Iris Elaine, requests the protection of these four individuals.”

The floating caskets began to be covered with a blue veil. People made hushed sounds of amazement. Iris kneeled and bowed to the massive statue of Ruthna, her head touching the ground. When she first saw the statue of Lusna, she found it absurd. However, now she seemed to understand why people gave a form to the formless Ruthna. In moments like this, when you need someone to address, that’s when these moments come.

Iris finished her prayer and returned to her seat. Elaine’s gaze was icy. The accusation echoed, questioning why she would do such a thing when she knew it was idolatry.

“You begged for it to happen.”

As Iris sat down and spoke, Elaine replied from the adjacent seat, “I’m not blaming you for the protective barrier, but for calling it Ruthna  when it’s not Ruthna. How can that giant woman be Ruthna?”

“I wish it were Ruthna.”

Iris murmured. She hoped that Ruthna  would warmly watch over the departing journey of these four knights. She called upon Lusna’s name for that reason.

“You’ve gotten weaker, Iris.”

Elaine patted Iris’s shoulder. Iris smiled faintly and leaned on Elaine. Even though she deeply felt that Elaine was a mage, she found comfort. No one in this world is perfect. And Elaine was perfect as Elaine. He was a perfect father and a perfect friend. There was no rule that said he had to be a perfect person.

“By the way, Margaret’s curse was quite significant. Was the price okay?”

“Yes, the conditions were quite easy.”

“What were the conditions?”

“Sorry, it was to say ‘I’m sorry,’ Master.”

Regardless of who it was, just once. Sincerely. Saying ‘I’m sorry’ would lift the curse. Even if someone stepped on her foot and said, ‘Sorry’ the curse would be lifted, or if she bumped into someone and just said sorry’ it would be lifted. As long as she said sorry’ to someone. But Margaret never said sorry until she died.

Iris had hoped that Margaret would say sorry, even if it was just for a moment. Even if it wasn’t directed at her or Rosaline, she just wanted Margaret to say it to someone. But Margaret never did, and she died that way.

Until the end of the funeral, Iris only thought about the four knights. She didn’t sympathize with Margaret, who never apologized until her death. Why sympathize? With those knights who had suffered so horribly to protect her, why should she sympathize with someone like Margaret?

As the procession followed, burying the coffins in the ground, Iris couldn’t hold back her tears. She cried in the arms of a red knight, and the knight tried to comfort her throughout.

“They should have lived; they should have…!” She wailed, and the knight’s voice became softer.

“It’s okay, it’s okay.”

Despite hearing it, the voice did not sound like a woman’s. However, people pretended not to notice. They pretended not to notice that among the female knights, the one with a bigger stature was a man, as if looking away, as if he were the commander, as if he were the lord. If the king wanted to act like a female knight?

Well, it was the duty of the subordinates to follow suit.