The elder brother looked at Remesis with an indeterminate grimace on his face.

  It was a mixed expression, composed of anger, surprise, and disgust. Remesis, in turn, took this meeting quite calmly. It wouldn't be right to say she hadn't been prepared for it in advance.

  Many influential persons invited to the council brought their successors with them. It was a common practice among young nobles to delve into affairs from an early age and prepare for their future role. And the Carter family, of course, was no exception.

  Michel, as the main heir to the duchy, was obliged to be present.

  Remesis greeted her elder brother according to etiquette, but he didn't answer. He just silently continued to stand there and stare at her. The girl caught an unkind gleam in his gaze.

  Perhaps if there weren't so many people here, he would have done something by now.

  But with so many representatives of high society simultaneously gathered for a walk watching them, the boy couldn't afford to tarnish his reputation with rowdy behavior.

  All he could do was restrain himself.

  Remesis noticed how his fists clenched. She smiled.

  "If you have nothing to say to me, I'll be going."

  "…"

  "See you soon, brother Michel."

  The boy's eyes widened as she began to leave. His mouth opened slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but Remesis heard nothing. She was already far ahead. The girl didn't look back until the chamberlain led her into the palace. Only then did she sigh.

  Only four months had passed since Remesis left the Carter family. But why did it seem like so much more time had gone by? Meeting her brother now, his features seemed completely unrecognizable to her. Although, obviously, Michel couldn't have changed that much in a couple of months.

  Remesis retreated into herself, pondering this. Perhaps it was because she had experienced too much in such a short period of time in the north. And because of that, it seemed like a lot of time had passed. Although in reality, it wasn't so.

  One way or another, when the servant led her to the right door, all previous casual thoughts dissipated.

  The chamberlain knocked softly.

  "Your Imperial Majesty, Princess Rania has arrived."

  There was no answer from the other side for quite a while. The girl heard some noise. It sounded like a broken bottle.

  After standing for some time, the chamberlain finally addressed her:

  "You may enter."

  "What?" she was surprised. "But His Majesty..."

  "It's alright. If His Majesty didn't chase you away, it means he allowed it. Just greet him and leave."

  The chamberlain's idea sounded dubious, but apparently, he knew what he was doing. Remesis decided not to argue and simply do as he said.

  "Alright."

  Remesis was a bit nervous before entering the room. Usually, things like greeting the Emperor were supposed to be done in the throne room, or at least in an official setting. The fact that the girl was offered to meet the Emperor right in his chambers was an unusual occurrence. The chamberlain gave as a reason only that His Majesty was feeling unwell, so the meeting was arranged hastily.

  As soon as she entered, the chamberlain quietly closed the door behind her, and Remesis looked around. She didn't see the Emperor immediately. It seemed the richly furnished chambers were completely empty.

  "Your Majesty?" Remesis hesitantly asked into the void. "Are you here?"

  Although she had clearly heard the noise. So someone definitely had to be here.

  She walked further until she finally saw His Imperial Majesty lying on the bed. His silver hair was tangled and scattered on the pillow. His face, tired and puffy, gave the ruler an unhealthy look. And overall, lying in expensive clothes on a red velvet blanket, he looked unkempt.

  Hearing steps nearby, the man's golden pupils opened and looked at her.

  Remesis froze for a moment. For the first time in her life, she was meeting the Emperor in person. The man who had offered her a deal in exchange for killing his own daughter. The girl had always involuntarily imagined him as a very majestic person. She never thought she would find him in such a state.

  Alexis Cezar Ashelot seemed to take a moment to collect himself, after which he immediately flew into a rage.

  "You... How dare you intrude into my room... I'll call the guards!!!"

  Remesis quietly cleared her throat.

  "Remesis Rania Ashelot greets His Imperial Majesty," the girl bowed low, paying respects to the sovereign himself. "I have come at your command. I wish to express my respects on behalf of the North."

  Only then did the man's face clear slightly. His gaze slid over her face.

  "So you're that girl?" he finally muttered.

  "I am the wife of Her Highness, Princess Nara," Remesis explained.

  The ruler of the Nadal Empire was silent. He slowly rose from the pillows.

  "Where is she? Where is that spawn...?" the Emperor rasped, looking around the room as if someone else was there.

  Remesis paid no attention to the unflattering remarks in his tone.

  "I answer His Imperial Majesty. Her Highness has fallen ill. The physician said it could be dangerous, so she was forced to remain in the castle."

  He exhaled, disappointment showing on his face.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  "So she's still alive?" the Emperor irritably addressed himself more than anyone else, and Remesis didn't know if she should answer this question or not.

  The news that his daughter was still walking the earth clearly did not please the sovereign. Given how many assassination attempts had been made on his part, the fact that they all remained unsuccessful could not but vex him. And Remesis, knowing how many times this man had endangered her and Asil, wondered how he could remain so unruffled in her presence.

  "So she's not here?" the Emperor concluded. "It seems that after leaving the palace, this pestilence has completely forgotten where she came from. Or do you think everyone can just ignore me like that?"

  There was a threat in the Emperor's voice.

  Remesis hesitated.

  "Your Imperial Majesty, but Her Highness's condition truly was severe. I believe irreparable consequences could have occurred if she had come..."

  Alexis was irritated, but at the same time too tired to raise a fuss. Sweat-damp hair clung to his face, and the girl couldn't tell whether it was from alcohol or indeed some ailment.

  Remesis noted that although father and daughter had much in common in appearance, they were still different. Compared to the princess, the Emperor's amber eyes were much duller. And his hair lacked that lunar glow that made the girl's hair resemble silver threads. Rather, it looked like wire.

  The man muttered something else in his stupor for a while before his gaze again fixed on Remesis.

  "Get out. Don't disturb my rest."

  The Emperor waved her away as if she were some insect. Remesis noticed with the naked eye that the man was clearly relieved that his daughter hadn't come. Perhaps that was why he didn't make a big scene.

  "In that case, I shall take my leave. Please excuse me, Your Imperial Majesty."

  When the girl had already stepped back and was heading for the door, the man left behind her suddenly asked a question:

  "How is it for you?"

  "I beg your pardon...?"

  Remesis stopped in the middle of the room.

  "How is life in the North for you, girl?" Alexis sneered darkly. "Do you miss your home?"

  Remesis was a bit puzzled. She didn't know how to behave in such a situation. After all, any question from an aristocrat, especially the Emperor, could not be a simple question.

  Such were the unspoken rules of high society, where everything was always hidden and veiled.

  But Remesis, not having much experience communicating with aristocrats, couldn't come up with a suitable answer immediately. In the end, she decided to answer in a way Alexis least expected.

  "It's not," the girl said. "Her Highness is a good person and takes care of me, so I like my life in the castle."

  "…"

  He fell silent, staring at her.

  "I suppose it's because you raised her properly," she decided to add a rather risky thought.

  She slowly backed away, observing etiquette, not turning her back to the Emperor until she reached the door.

  When Remesis closed the door behind her, she heard the Emperor laugh loudly.

  ***

  The next morning, a servant came to escort Remesis to the meeting hall. Only now did the girl realize she was a bit nervous. Gloomily surveying her modest clothing, she came to the obvious conclusion that she was completely unprepared.

  Among aristocrats who loved to flaunt new fashionable outfits on any occasion, she would stand out like a white crow.

  "So what? What do I care what others think?"

  Finally burying her anxiety under such reasoning, Remesis put on a simple blue dress with the only gold embroidery she had and headed to the palace. Despite the session starting only at nine, everyone was already assembled.

  The hall where the meeting took place was luxuriously furnished. The girl even noticed a pair of polished golden lions at the entrance. As soon as Remesis appeared in the doorway, many eyes fell silent and turned to her. This accompanied her everywhere in the palace. Snickers, reproachful glances, contemptuous whispers.

  Remesis just tried to pretend she didn't notice.

  The girl entered the hall and took a seat at the round table. Among those present, she recognized the head of the Marquisate, known for his fiery red hair. The empire's chief military official had arrived with his son. To their right, next to the Emperor's throne, the Supreme Astrologer and his daughter occupied seats. Iliana smiled at her, but Remesis preferred to pretend she hadn't noticed.

  On the other side sat the director of the Imperial Institute, the current head of the

  Hasher family. In the adjacent chair, the chubby banker who managed the Crown Bank, Nadal's main financial institution. And finally, the only ones among all these highranking persons whom Remesis knew in advance.

  The Grand Duke of the Nadal Empire and his eldest son.

  Seeing her father, Remesis nodded slightly to him as a greeting. Michael Carter stared intently at her. Michel moved his lips angrily, as if wanting to spit out some curse. Be that as it may, both were interrupted by the Emperor's chamberlain, who unexpectedly arrived with important news:

  "Great lords, please accept our apologies for the unforeseen changes. His Imperial

  Majesty is feeling unwell, so today's session will be led by the Chancellor."

  The Emperor's right hand and head of the chancellery swiftly entered the room, and all present rose to greet him. Remesis also stood and bowed her head.

  Gregory Ardelio's gaze lingered on her for a moment. He seemed not to expect that someone from the north would actually come. Then the man, as if nothing had happened, turned away from her and took the seat where the Emperor usually sat.

  "To our greatest regret, although our most illustrious sovereign will not be able to grace us with his presence, he has kindly entrusted this honorable duty to me. Please do not hesitate to express your wishes and thoughts to me regarding today's matters. I will certainly convey them to His Imperial Majesty."

  After everyone had taken their places, the first session of the Small Council officially began.

  "So, today we will discuss military unrest on the borders of our empire," the Chancellor's voice was loud and carried through the hall. "As you know, the Marsel Empire is currently in decline. Due to conflicts between internal power structures, unrest and chaos have long prevailed in the country. The first attempted coup d'état, led by the younger Prince Roden III, was suppressed several years ago. However, not long ago, a second attempt was made, led by allied noble forces, which continues to this day. Because of this, Marsel is currently extremely turbulent, which could also affect neighboring states..."

  Those present began to whisper animatedly, and few now cared about the cursed girl who had somehow ended up among the council members.

  Remesis breathed a sigh of relief when attention finally shifted from her to another topic.

  "Gentlemen, I believe now is not the time to interfere in the internal affairs of another country..." suggested the bank manager.

  "Sir Ballirio, you forget that the Marsel border runs very close to Nadal. And that means the fire could spread to us at any moment," the head of the Marquisate remarked dryly.

  "Supporting the allied forces in Marsel could be a beneficial solution. But only if it's an equal exchange, not a waste of resources," Halias Alseid opined. "The Red Sea, the largest on the continent, is located precisely on Marsel's territory. And how many mines with deposits of gold and valuable metal are there? While the country is in turmoil, many will try to profit from this."

  "In other words, you're suggesting we take a risk and secure Marsel's cooperation in exchange for their resources?"

  "Sir, I believe you know better than I that business thrives best when a country is prosperous, and also when it's in decline..." Halias eloquently stated to the head of the bank, stroking his beard.

  Remesis listened to these boring conversations of adults, grasping only half the essence of what was happening. Fortunately, no one asked her opinion regarding the situation, and she could simply occupy herself with something like examining the pattern on the carpet. Of course, who could seriously think that an eight-year-old girl could understand anything about war and politics?

  Two hours of heated discussion dragged on very slowly.

  For Remesis, who had never shown interest in politics, all this information meant nothing. She just tried to maintain a somewhat composed appearance.

  Although in reality, she dreamed of getting out of there as soon as possible.

  Due to the summer heat, the meeting hall was very stuffy. To cheer herself up a bit, the girl decided to get some fresh air. During the noisy discussion, she modestly asked if she could go to the restroom, but no one paid attention to her request. In the end, considering that she had at least asked permission, Remesis quietly rose from her chair and left.

  Walking through the semi-empty corridors, which were unusually quiet now, the girl finally felt free. Since there was nothing to do anyway, and few would notice her absence, Remesis decided why not take a walk around the grounds. Perhaps this would be the last time she could visit the Imperial Palace.

  "Come to think of it, it's been a long time. Maybe I should write a letter to Master Luven and ask how Asil is?" the girl mused as she walked along the path. "I hope they haven't quarreled at least..."

  Stopping in the garden, the little lady crouched down, inhaling deeply the delightful scent of fresh buds. However, her solitude was not destined to last long. Focusing all her attention on the flowers, Remesis didn't immediately notice the presence of a stranger.

  "Hey, you."