The queen's response to the incident between the two High Priests was simple and direct. She invited the delegation from Dawn to participate in a service at the Ruby Dragon's temple.

"I had intended to set aside the thorny issue of religion for the time being," she had said. "But since that seems impossible, I hope that discovering our rituals will make them less strange or less unsettling to your eyes. No progress toward peace will be possible if we do not make this effort of understanding."

As Jasper prepared to head to the temple, he pondered while critically examining himself in the large mirror of his room. He could only commend the queen's initiative to defuse the tension that could have arisen from the confrontation between the two priests, but every fiber of his being dreaded witnessing the glorification of the Ruby Dragon, the executioner of the Mighty Golden Dragon. He adjusted for the umpteenth time the shoulder strap of his belt that didn't need readjusting. What lies would they hear? Would attending make them complicit in this distortion of reality? Would seeing his fiancée participate change the way he viewed her? He would have preferred that the question of religion never came up before his scheduled conversion. And afterward, the question would have been moot.

He left his chambers with a certain unease. The two guards stationed at his door immediately took charge of him. As he joined the other members of the delegation, he noticed they were all escorted. It wasn't the first time he had noted the significance of the military presence in the palace, and it worried him.

The royal palace had its own temple, rising at the end of a wing. Its crimson dome topped with a stone dragon statue glistened in the sun. It was in front of its esplanade that the Dawnians had been guided.

As soon as Jasper caught sight of the broad shoulders of the captain of the guards in his military uniform, he headed towards him.

"Captain, what do you think of the security deployment in the palace?" he whispered.

The captain returned a concerned look.

"I've been pondering the same, Your Highness. I find the guard presence rather high, but I am unsure of their habits in this matter. In doubt, I'll send Sandon and Irons as reinforcements to to stand guard in your corridor. With a handful of others. I'm unsure if the precautions of the Duskians are based on real fears, but it's better to be cautious."

Jasper thanked him before walking away. Another of his compatriots had caught his attention. Surrounded by his usual religious entourage, the High Priest of the Golden Dragon glared furiously around him.

"I would like to understand the meaning of this mockery," he uttered as soon as he saw Jasper.

The prince felt anger rise in his chest, his fist clenching involuntarily.

"This mockery, as you put it, is the result of your shameful conduct yesterday," he replied curtly. "I would have hoped that your presence would signify support and guidance, not shame and dishonor."

The prelate was taken aback. His nostrils flared, and his mouth tightened.

"Since you speak of honor, what honorable man would let his faith be trampled before him without raising his voice?" he said in a stiff tone.

"The voice isn't the only thing you've raised, if memory serves me right. Faith shouldn't be an excuse to justify unacceptable behavior.'

The High Priest opened his mouth to retort, but Jasper didn't give him the chance.

"If I ever hear you express your displeasure or disagreement during the ceremony, I will immediately send you back to Albàn with a letter detailing your attitude to my father."

"You don't have the power to decide that!"

"If I order my guards to forcibly load you into a carriage and escort you to the capital, do you think they'll heed your protests more than my orders?"

And Jasper turned on his heels, leaving the man choking on indignation behind him. His head spun, and his lips trembled. Opposing such an authority figure required an incredible amount of energy, besides forcing him to go against all the respect instilled in him. A cool hand on his arm pulled him from his suppressed fury.

"What's wrong, brother?" Beryl asked, her forehead creased with concern."You have a big vein pulsating on your forehead, it's usually not a good sign."

Jasper took a deep breath to calm himself.

"It's nothing, Beryl, don't worry about it. I was just making sure the service goes smoothly."

"Ah, that's good," she murmured, a relieved hand on her chest.

The queen soon arrived, followed by her family. She greeted her guests cheerfully, but her face was serious. She invited them to follow her into the temple. Jasper led the way, somewhat intimidated. He adjusted his cap on his head and checked that his sister was bareheaded. With a quick glance around, he made sure the other members of the delegation were similarly modestly dressed; it wasn't the time to make mistakes. He moved towards the pillars that supported the entrance when he felt himself held back by the back of his jacket.

"What are you doing?" a furious voice hissed behind him.

He turned to see Acacia glaring at him, hands on her hips.

"Take off your hat, come on!" she demanded, tapping the top of his head. "And give it to your sister."

Jasper blushed. Standing bareheaded in a temple? That was very improper! Acacia herself wore a light veil over her hair, like her mother. Willow, on the other hand, was bareheaded; he had even let his hair loose on his shoulders. The young man gave him a mocking smile. It seemed their two peoples didn't have the same definition of modesty.

The word quickly spread among his compatriots. In a panic, the men discarded their headgear onto the heads of the women, sometimes resulting in the most innovative combinations. Jasper scrutinized his compatriots critically.

"Wait, that won't do at all," he said, approaching Miss Agate.

The young woman stiffened, not understanding. Jasper grabbed the tricorne she was now wearing and exchanged it with the red velvet cap worn by Lady Spinel.

"There, that's much better suited to the color of your dresses and hair," he announced with satisfaction.

"Th... thank you," stammered Agate, sinking into a deep curtsy.

Finally dressed in attire that the Ruby Dragon's morality did not disapprove of, Jasper crossed the threshold and suddenly found himself in a cool darkness. His sister's hand grabbed his sleeve. The short colonnade that marked the entrance immediately plunged them into a vast circular room, the heart of the temple. Its center was occupied by a high platform on which an altar covered in red brocade sat. Above it, suspended from the vault, a majestic statue of the Ruby Dragon offered itself for the adoration of its followers. Stained-glass windows pierced the walls and let in light tinged with scarlet. Scattered in the room, crackling braziers cast moving shadows on the walls. A faint smell of incense wafted. Rows of benches surrounded the platform on all sides.

Jasper and Beryl took their places to the right of the queen. Jasper let his gaze roam the walls, unwittingly admiring the murals glorifying the Ruby Dragon. He noticed, in a few places, the silhouette of the Mighty Golden Dragon, overturned and defeated. His hands clenched involuntarily on his knees.

Acacia was seated to the left of her father. She seemed very solemn. In her eyes, there was no trace of the enthusiasm she had shown in the gardens.

Impressed, Beryl huddled closer to him. The benches gradually filled in a reverent silence, only disturbed by faint murmurs and shuffling feet. When everyone was settled, a gong sounded, startling the Dawnians. A procession of priests and priestesses slowly advanced between two rows of benches, the High Priest at the forefront. All wore white robes covered with scarlet surplices. They came to surround the altar. The High Priest positioned himself in front of the queen and her august guests. Around his neck hung a multifaceted ruby that looked quite heavy. If he had used it as a weapon the day before, the dawnian High Priest would probably not have emerged unscathed. With a booming voice that resonated throughout the temple, he welcomed them. His tone was formal, as if reciting a well-learned lesson, and Jasper felt anything but welcome.

Then the High Priest turned towards the statue of the Ruby Dragon and raised his hands towards it. He intoned a long prayer in its honor, which the faithful echoed in unison.

To escape the discomfort that the scene inspired in him, Jasper looked away. On the side of the altar, he saw two priests whispering before moving away.

While the High Priest thanked the Ruby Dragon for saving them from the terrible famine of the previous century, two priestesses came to take items from the altar and present them for the congregation's adoration. There was an enormous claw of immaculate white, encased in a reliquary adorned with rubies, a fragment of horn on a velvet cushion, and scales larger than a hand entwined in a mesh of gold. Jasper had to admit he was impressed.

The ceremony continued, alternating chants, sacred texts, and prayers, very similar in that regard to the services of the Mighty Golden Dragon. During this time, four clay vases had been placed on the altar. They were about four palms high with elegant handles. They were painted in red, of course. Each of them bore a different symbol. Their presence intrigued Jasper to the highest degree.

Finally, the High Priest reached the end of an endless homily, and Jasper's curiosity could be satisfied.

"Today, we honor the Virtues taught to us by the Wise Ruby Dragon," announced the prelate with a sweeping gesture towards the altar. "Choose the one from which you seek inspiration."

"Instruction!" he announced.

"Harmony!"

"Honesty!"

At each announcement, a priest or priestess came to take one of the vases and moved down from the platform to stand before one of the four aisles radiating through the rows of benches.

"Protection of the weak!"

He seized himself the last vase and stood before the seats occupied by the members of the royal family. They stood up and urged their guests to follow suit. Jasper did, intrigued. Obviously, they were not allowed to choose their Virtue.

While the priests remained around the altar chanting words he didn't understand, the faithful organized into lines in the four main aisles of the temple. First, Queen Orchid stepped forward, dipping the tips of her fingers into the vase presented by the High Priest, then she respectfully touched her forehead, mouth, and chest. Her husband was second, followed by Willow, then Acacia. In turn, Jasper took a step forward. With both hands around the sacred vessel, the High Priest fixed him with intensity, as if he were on the lookout for any misstep. Dignifiedly, Jasper reached out and touched the cold surface of the water. Then he heard a faint screech.

The vase slowly cracked.

The High Priest let out a muffled exclamation as it slipped from his grasp. It fell and shattered on the ground. The crash broke the religious silence. The alarmed cries of the faithful echoed around them.

Tensed, Jasper stepped back and trod on his sister's feet behind him. The High Priest stared at him with an expression of horror mixed with disgust.

"I didn't do anything, I assure you!" Jasper protested, horrified.

The prelate didn't listen, he turned on his heels, climbed the platform, and fell to his knees before the statue of the Ruby Dragon.

A hand grabbed Jasper's arm.

"Sit back down," the prince-consort said urgently. "Let's not turn a simple accident into a diplomatic incident."

Jasper complied. The buzz in the temple grew as witnesses of the scene hastened to inform their neighbors. He felt Beryl's worried gaze on him, but with a lump in his throat, he was unable to find the words to reassure her. The voice of the High Priest then rose with vigor, offering the faithful a foothold in the turmoil.

"Oh Wise Ruby Dragon, you who see all things, you who read into hearts, forgive the clumsiness of your humble servant. Let this unfortunate gesture not darken this day of unity. Do not let us stray onto paths you have not chosen. You alone are the master of the omens you deign to send us. Be patient if we struggle to interpret them and know that we always remain attentive to signs of your displeasure as much as your contentment."

The prayer brought calm back to the temple. Everyone resumed their places in silence, and the service was able to conclude peacefully. Yet an insidious unease had taken hold of Jasper. The words of the High Priest's prayer sounded strangely in his ears. They seemed soothing but pushed the faithful to consider ominous signs while defending themselves against them. Or perhaps it was the pressure making him see innuendos where there were none? That would be the last thing to do.

His duty was to relax, lest he become an execrable fiancé. After all, despite the stakes, this trip was a pleasure trip. He had to try to fill his mind with pleasant thoughts. Like the idea of visiting the stables with Acacia, for example.

As the service ended, the crowd of worshipers slowly flowed out of the temple. The vase's breakage was on everyone's lips. Jasper decided to ignore it. He pushed through the throng around him to catch up with Acacia. She walked beside her brother, and both were conversing in hushed tones. He hailed her by seizing her arm. She jumped, and he felt her tense. He let go immediately.

"Forgive me for being so abrupt," he said. "But could I speak with you for a moment?"

She seemed surprised and glanced briefly at the royal couple moving away.

"Of course," she replied. "Come."