The next morning began for Remesis not quite as she had expected.
The sun had just touched the spires of the northern castle, dispersing the morning mist over the fortress walls. Remesis was sitting in her study, reviewing border reports, when the heavy oak door creaked open.
"Your Highness, you have a visitor."
Remesis looked up and involuntarily froze. In the doorway, standing in a respectful pose, was Rigori Shutgall. The man whose face she was accustomed to seeing behind the back of the previous commander of the northern fortress — Hannes Wrightly.
"Sir Shutgall," the princess's voice sounded even, although her eyebrow twitched almost imperceptibly. "What brings you here at such an early hour?"
The knight did not have time to open his mouth before Heitz Adelfo stepped out from behind his shoulder.
"Ah, Your Highness, allow me to explain the situation." Heitz bowed his head. "Sir Shutgall has recently been appointed as the new commander of the northern fortress."
"What?" the words escaped faster than Remesis could think.
She was somewhat stunned; her fingers involuntarily tightened on the quill she had just been holding.
Of course, it didn't sound so surprising. A change of commander was a normal thing, especially after recent events. And that his deputy had taken the place was logical. And yet...
Something inside gave an unpleasant pang.
"Yes, that is true," Rigori himself confirmed, taking a step forward and bowing his head even lower — so low that the gray strands at his temples became visible. "Today I came personally to greet you, my lady. I am sorry that I am only doing this now... But before I had no opportunity, because you were absent from the castle."
Remesis remained silent.
She looked at the knight's bowed figure, and thoughts, cold and prickly as the northern wind, raced through her mind one after another.
She could not say anything bad about Rigori Shutgall. Throughout his years of service, he had been an exemplary soldier. But...
He had been Hannes Wrightly's closest subordinate.
The one who had betrayed her trust.
And the shadow of doubt, thin as a razor's edge, lay between her and the man standing before her.
Remesis's gaze slowly shifted to Heitz. He, as if feeling the weight of that gaze, immediately straightened up and spoke, hurriedly and clearly, as if reading a report:
"Sir Shutgall's candidacy for this position was personally approved by the Lord! You need not worry about it, my lady!"
Approved by... Asil?
Remesis exhaled.
Yes, if Asil's will stood behind this, doubts fell away by themselves. The woman whose eyes had seen so many betrayals would hardly let another hidden enemy slip through. Asil was merciless about such things.
So Rigori Shutgall was clean.
"Well, alright," Remesis finally said, and the corners of her lips twitched in a semblance of a smile. "Congratulations on your appointment to the position, Sir Shutgall. I hope you will live up to the trust placed in you."
The knight, still not raising his head, became embarrassed. She noticed how his fingers trembled on the hilt of his sword.
"Th-thank you very much, Your Highness!" his voice faltered slightly, but then immediately gained strength. "I will serve you and the northern castle tirelessly! I swear on my honor!"
Remesis nodded.
A gust of morning wind burst through the window, stirring the heavy curtains.
The princess watched the departing knight and for the first time in a long while felt something akin to slight relief.
This man, perhaps, was one of those she could truly trust.
***
In the evening, Remesis finally dismissed her assistant and was left alone. Outside the study windows, the gloomy northern day slowly faded, giving way to purple twilight.
The princess rose from her desk, stretching her stiff neck. Her head was slightly throbbing from the papers, reports, and endless petitions. She suddenly desperately wanted silence — not the silence that reigns in an empty study, but the kind in which she could hide from other people's voices and other people's gazes.
The library.
Her feet carried her down the long corridor. The library of the northern castle was one of the few places where Remesis felt completely comfortable.
She pushed the heavy door, and it opened with a soft creak, letting her into the semi-darkness. It was a place she had known well since childhood.
Remesis walked along the shelves, running her fingers over the spines of old tomes. Her gaze fell on the familiar armchair by the fireplace — where she once sat with a book while Master Luwen lectured her.
How long ago that was.
She sank into the chair. The flames in the fireplace lazily licked the logs, casting dancing shadows on the walls.
Remesis's thoughts naturally drifted to the past.
Because of today's incident and the greeting of the new commander, she again remembered Hannes Wrightly. Even after some time, thoughts of him still continued to burn her heart painfully. This was a man whom she had regarded almost as a father. However, as it turned out, all that had been merely her useless illusions.
As Asil had told her, Hannes Wrightly had been the Emperor's spy from the very beginning, and it was due to his assistance that so many assassins had managed to infiltrate the northern castle to carry out attempts. As it turned out, it had all been a lie from the start. And Remesis did not think she would ever be able to accept this and remember it calmly.
But along with that, Remesis's memories touched not only this man.
Remesis mechanically touched the brooch on the collar of her dress with her fingers. An amber stone in an elegant precious setting. A gift once given to her for her birthday by Iliana Alseid. And Remesis did not know why she still kept something like that...
Remesis rarely wore this brooch. But today, for some reason, she had wanted to adorn her dress with it.
For a while, Remesis sat thoughtfully in the chair, touching the brooch.
And then...
"Your Highness."
The voice came so suddenly that Remesis almost flinched. A young maid stood in the doorway of the library. The girl shifted nervously from foot to foot, clearly afraid to disturb.
"What is it?" Remesis asked calmly.
"The Lord of the North..." the maid lowered her gaze. "The Lord wishes to see you. She asked that you come as soon as possible."
Remesis sighed.
The silence, as always, had been too short.
"Alright. Tell her I'm coming."
She stood up, smoothed her dress, and cast one last glance at the fireplace. The fire had almost died out, leaving behind only a handful of smoldering embers.
What could Asil possibly want to call her for?
Asil's study was located in the west wing — the farthest and most protected. Remesis walked down the corridor, each step echoing dully in the silence. The guards at the doors parted, asking no questions.
She entered.
Asil stood by the window, her back to the door. Her long silver hair cascaded over her shoulders, and in her hand glinted a crystal goblet containing something dark ruby.
"Wife, you have come," the woman's voice sounded soft, almost gentle. She turned around, and a smile blossomed on her lips — the very same one that could be seen so rarely. "Sit down, I was just wanting to discuss with you..."
Asil broke off.
The smile faded from her face. Her gaze — previously warm — suddenly became sharp as a blade.
"What is that on you?" Asil's voice changed. Steel appeared in it.
Remesis mechanically followed her gaze and understood.
The brooch.
"It's... a gift," she replied cautiously, involuntarily covering the amber stone with her palm. "From Iliana Alseid. I sometimes wear it in memory."
"In memory?" Asil slowly set the goblet down on the table. "You wear it in memory?"
She stepped forward, and the study suddenly felt cramped. Remesis felt a chill run down her spine.
"I gave you a brooch," Asil continued, poorly concealed resentment showing in her voice. "Do you remember? You promised to wear it."
The princess meant the moonstone brooch she had recently given her when they went to the festival together. But it was merely a trinket. Remesis had not expected the princess to take it so painfully that she hadn't worn it.
"I do wear it," Remesis replied. "Just today..."
"Don't make excuses," Asil interrupted. Her fingers twitched, as if she were struggling to restrain the urge to tear the other's brooch from Remesis's collar. "Take it off. Now."
Remesis took a step back.
"Your Highness..."
"I said — take it off."
The woman stepped towards her, reaching her hand out to the amber.
And just at the moment when the princess touched the ornament, intending to tear it off, something unforeseen happened.
At that moment, the world around Remesis swayed.
The floor disappeared from under her feet. Her head spun so sharply that she almost fell.
"...Wife?" Asil's voice reached her as if through thick water.
But Remesis no longer heard her.
Images suddenly flashed before her eyes — foreign and unfamiliar, yet frighteningly real.
"Do you like being Empress?"
"Your Highness, I..."
"You are mistaken. Shouldn't you now call me Your Majesty?"
Following that, another memory rushed in.
"I asked you... to cry only in my arms, wife."
"Don't hold your breath and don't endure."
"Does it hurt a lot? I'm sorry. Just a little more..."
And another one...
"Wife, are you drunk?"
"Not at... not at all."
"How sweetly you babble... then I won't even be able to touch you."
"I can't give you the first wedding night... hm. But in this life, maybe I'll hold back."
And then — a flash.
"...Remesis!"
Remesis regained consciousness as suddenly as she had lost control of herself. Someone was holding her shoulders. The study was back in place, but everything was still swimming before her eyes, as if in a fever.
"I'll call a doctor," Asil leaned over her, and there was now not anger in her voice, but rather concern.
"No."
Remesis grabbed her sleeve. Her fingers trembled, but her voice sounded firmer than she had expected.
"It's alright. There's no need to call anyone."
"You nearly fainted!" Asil looked irritated. "And you don't want me to call a physician? What's wrong with you?"
"It's just fatigue," Remesis straightened up with difficulty, pulling away from the princess. Her head was still spinning, but the visions had receded, leaving behind only a feeling of agitation. "I didn't sleep last night. Lots of work."
Asil looked at her distrustfully for some time but didn't argue. Her gaze mixed anxiety, anger, and something else — something Remesis couldn't find a name for.
"Alright," the woman finally said, stepping back. "But I insist that from now on, you take on less work. This is not up for discussion. If you lose consciousness again..."
Remesis merely nodded.
"...Alright, I understand."
She sighed and adjusted the collar of her dress.
Despite having almost fully recovered, the agitation did not subside.
What had that been?
She pressed her hand to her temple — her pulse was still racing wildly.
Visions... she had never seen them before. Nothing like that.
Was it a hallucination?
But for some reason, Remesis felt... that it was not merely her illusion.