Chapter 177
## THE FORGOTTEN FIELDS (NOVEL) – Chapter 177
A harsh light leaked through his eyelids.
Varkas looked up with half-open eyes toward the resplendent glass window and then slowly sat up in bed.
For an instant, he did not clearly distinguish the place where he was, and only after a few seconds did he recall the fact of his return to Rydego Castle.
He let out a long sigh as he lowered his feet from the bed.
Thanks to the deep sleep that lasted until the sun positioned itself at the zenith, he felt a lightness in his body, which before was heavy like a block of lead; however, his head felt foggy, as if a dense mist covered it.
He got up from his place while carelessly running his fingers through his messy hair.
He seemed to have tossed and turned a lot while sleeping, as the formal garments he wore the previous day were miserably wrinkled. Varkas unbuttoned the buttons of his wrinkled shirt with one hand and rang the bell located beside the bed to call the servants.
—Prepare the water for washing and a change of clothes.
A young servant rushed to the room and immediately arranged Oriental garments adapted to the imperial style and the water for the bath.
Varkas stripped off his extremely wrinkled clothes and immersed himself in the water infused with mint leaves.
Given that he had wasted most of the morning, he had to hurry with the preparations, but he did not feel like leaving the bath easily.
After thoroughly washing his body from head to toe, he continued to delay the time until he perceived a movement of hurried footsteps outside the door; only then did he step out of the water.
—Good morning, Your Excellency the Grand Duke.
When he went out into the hallway wearing his official garments neatly, Baridon, Darin’s nephew, bowed his head with a tense face that reflected discipline.
—Did you find yourself well last night? I regret to tell you this when you still suffer from the exhaustion of work since your immediate return, but…
—Get straight to the point.
Varkas severely interrupted his words, which threatened to drag on, as he advanced down the hallway; the young man followed him bewildered and spoke in a hurried tone:
—I apologize. The ancient rite ceremony is scheduled at the Great Cathedral at twelve o’clock sharp at noon. In order to exalt the position of the high priest, it would be better to celebrate this periodic eulogy at the Great Cathedral instead of the castle chapel…
Varkas contemplated for a few moments through the window the imposing tower of the temple on the grounds of Rydego Castle, and then nodded his head.
—All right. Prepare the carriage. We will leave immediately.
—What about the food…?
—It is not necessary. The time is just enough to arrive at the appointed hour, so let us hurry.
—At your command. I will call the coachman immediately.
The man went ahead of him and ran down the stairs quickly.
Preparing the carriage would take at least ten minutes.
Thinking about concluding some official matters during that interval, he entered the office and handed the messenger the letter he wrote the previous day; then he reviewed the official documents that required an urgent signature.
When he signed the last paper and left the pen, the servant sent by Baridon informed him that everything was ready.
He handed the secretary the documents that had to be presented before the council and then left the office.
As he went down the stairs and crossed the lobby, the view of the garden under the intense sunlight opened before him.
It seemed that it was too late to arrive at the exact time.
He furrowed his brow as he looked at the sun occupying the center of the sky, when he heard a familiar voice behind his back:
—This is strange. You wake up late.
Varkas turned around dumbfounded and his eyes dilated upon finding his wife sitting near the sunshade.
Talia stood up slowly and made her way toward him guiding the enormous wolf.
—I thought my neck would break from waiting so long for you to come out.
Varkas fixed his gaze on her red lips, which uttered complaints in a low voice, and then leisurely examined her appearance.
She wore a dress of luxurious silk, the kind preferred by the ladies of the East, with a belt adorned with subtle metallic pieces, so she looked like a pagan deity.
At that precise moment, Varkas felt he could understand why many of the inhabitants of the East linked her with the spirit of the earth.
He felt heat rising to his head for some reason, and asked her coldly:
—… Were you waiting for me?
She nodded her head with a serene face.
—I heard you are heading to the Great Cathedral. I will go with you.
Varkas furrowed his brow as if listening to a foreign language. Seeing that he uttered no answer, the corner of her eyes lifted.
—Why? Am I perhaps forbidden from attending the rite ceremony? The Grand Duchess is supposed to be by your side from the beginning.
“Since when do you care about the rules.”
Varkas looked at her dumbfounded and then let out a slight sigh.
—There is no need for you to force yourself to accompany me to an uncomfortable place just out of a sense of duty. Didn’t you say you faced annoying situations at the cathedral?
—For that very reason I wish to go.
A malicious smile was drawn on her face.
—I want to see if that old man dares to deliver a sermon that attacks me in your presence.
Varkas contemplated that face in silence and then let out a subtle ironic laugh.
It seemed that this woman wished to use him as a shield to pick a fight with the high priest. It was evident that his plan to win over the high priest and resolve the conflict with the church peacefully would encounter obstacles, but in the end he agreed.
—As you wish.
A flash of relief crossed her face. Only then did he realize that deep down she feared rejection.
—Good, let us go then.
Talia extended her hand to him. While he contemplated her slender arm dumbfounded, her voice sounded with a somewhat impatient nuance:
—What are you doing? Aren’t you going to hold me?
Only at that moment did he understand that she was asking him to escort her, so he held her soft arm with caution. Then she leaned her body against him naturally. The sweet aroma she emanated caused his head, already confused as it was, to become even more disrupted.
Why was she behaving like this all of a sudden?
He could not hide his bewilderment and looked at her astonished, to which she urged him with an uneasy voice:
—What are you doing? Aren’t we leaving?
He examined her face as if trying to decipher the depth of her intentions, and then began to walk. The “giant wolf,” which remained sitting quietly, followed them as if it were the most natural thing.
He skillfully stepped between her and the wolf immediately.
—You cannot take this wolf… Khan with us.
—I know —she replied with a somewhat dry tone, and then whispered sweetly to the beast that wagged its tail—: Wait here for a moment. I will be back soon.
Then she made a sign to the maids waiting a short distance away.
—What are you doing there? Take Khan away.
As soon as she dictated her instructions, the maids surrounded the wolf.
Varkas observed the reaction of the “giant wolf” attentively. Although its eyes gleamed with displeasure at being separated from its mistress, it did not show any aggressiveness such as baring its fangs or growling.
Despite that, and ensuring the safety of the maids, he ordered the soldiers to closely guard the wolf, and then led her toward the carriage.
—Hold onto my shoulder.
Talia held onto his shoulder obediently and climbed into the carriage carefully. Varkas followed her and sat in the opposite seat, then gave the signal to the coachman.
The carriage began to cross the castle grounds.
He leaned his body against the seat, which swayed slightly, and dedicated himself to observing his wife in silence. She remained glued to the window looking outside, as if she had discovered an amazing landscape.
Although she tried not to show it, it was evident that she felt strange and uncomfortable being with him in the same space. However, he still failed to understand the true intention behind her insistence on accompanying him.
Had she perhaps realized that her position as Grand Duchess was unstable and decided to change her attitude?
But until last year, she seemed not to care at all about the title of Grand Duchess. Rather, hadn’t she tried to escape from the castle in secret two years ago?
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