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  [ 39th Aquanis 1749 | Fardin | 12:32 | Academy Inner Park ]

  Perhaps the entire Veytra of Aquanis was meant to pass quietly, but on the 39th, as Catherine and I were walking toward the dormitory buildings where Lilian lived, Nova caught up with us. Her gray and habitually cold eyes were red today, and her usually perfectly pressed uniform was slightly crumpled. Her appearance was disheveled, and it was obvious that she had recently been crying, which meant only one thing. Catherine also noticed her anxious state and looked at her nervously, waiting for her to deliver the news that seemed to already be hanging in the air.

  “Arta, Cat… Something terrible has happened,” she said in a slightly trembling voice, and another tear rolled from her eye. “My uncle, Konrad Cross, died early this morning.”

  “What?! How did that happen?!” Catherine asked sharply, and then, as if apologizing, added, “My condolences, Nova!” She extended her hands to Nova and took her limp palm in her impromptu embrace.

  “My condolences…” I answered shortly. Unlike them, I knew perfectly well that death is the development of the soul, a new body, a new path, but circumstances forced me to play a social role.

  Before continuing, Nova removed her hand from Catherine’s grasp and, gathering her strength, continued.

  “It was nothing… like that.” Nova paused to hold back another flood of tears. “Just his age…” She closed her eyes, and a few tears, as if on command, flowed from them again.

  “Nova, can we help you with anything?” Catherine inquired in an undertone.

  Nova shook her head in the negative and looked at me.

  “Arta… let’s go to Evelina. She wants to talk…” Nova said in a slightly firmer voice, and the remnants of her tears seemed to have finally dried in her eyes.

  “Alright, let’s go. Can Catherine come with us?” I clarified before we set off.

  “No. Evelina does not want to involve Catherine and Ren in this matter,” Nova cut in firmly, not even looking at Catherine during this speech. Evelina’s order was always her top priority, and for its sake, she was ready to forget about everything else.

  Catherine nodded silently, and a certain disappointment flickered in her eyes. Despite the fact that she was my official assistant, Evelina almost never initiated her into political matters personally and left that prerogative to me, which corresponded to the hierarchical ladder of the future queen.

  Before leaving, I addressed Catherine, “Then please go to Lilian without me. It seems the conversation may not be a short one.”

  “Alright, Arta, agreed,” Catherine nodded, and a strained smile appeared on her face.

  I nodded back to her, and Nova and I set off for Evelina’s chambers, while Catherine watched us go, alone.

  As we walked, Nova addressed me on a matter that seemed irrelevant, but it was apparently her sincere interest.

  “Arta, I don’t often take an interest in others, but tell me, how is Lilian feeling?” She paused awkwardly. “You two have been spending so much time together lately that I sometimes feel awkward interrupting you.”

  I took a breath, feigning that the question had caught me in some confusion, and then, deliberately clenching my fists, feigning a struggle with my emotions, I replied, “Lilian…” I paused deliberately. “She is in a deep state of stress right now, and Catherine and I are the only ones supporting her in the current circumstances.”

  “I see.” Nova looked me in the eye. “You know, Arta, I wish I were as brave as you… You are never afraid to act quickly and take risks. I admire that so much…” She said the last phrase with unconcealed reverence.

  “Sometimes a person’s character is not only revealed in such situations. There are also calmer situations where a decision is also required,” I said as vaguely as possible, hinting at her connection with Ren.

  Nova said nothing, just smirked tragically.

  When we had almost reached Evelina’s chambers, Nova stopped and looked at me again.

  “Arta, you know, you are so smart, so calm… Sometimes I think, what a pity we did not meet sooner. I would like to change many things in my life, and I think you could have helped me with that.” She smiled sincerely, and her eyes, reddened from her recent tears, shone slightly.

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  “I understand you,” I replied with the utmost warmth in my voice. “You know, we all regret something, but the events we have lived through make us who we are. Sometimes you need to look forward, not backward, thinking about how your life could have turned out.” I smiled at her deliberately to show my sincerity.

  Nova nodded and continued walking, and soon we were standing next to our familiar royal guard, who let us into Evelina’s chambers without any fuss.

  Evelina was sitting in an armchair, looking at a bronze statuette of the twin queens on the coffee table in front of her. When she saw Nova and me standing together, she registered our presence with a brief smile. From her state, it was difficult to tell whether she was in mourning or just deep in thought, as Konrad Cross was her father.

  “Arta, has Nova already told you the sad news?” was the first thing she asked in a voice devoid of emotion.

  “Yes, please accept my condolences. This is a great tragedy,” I reported, trying to be as polite as possible in this matter, which was meaningless to me.

  Nova stood beside me, her hands trembling at the mere mention of her uncle’s death.

  Evelina noticed this but made no comment and instead gestured for us to sit in the chairs opposite her.

  Nova and I sat in the indicated chairs, thus forming a kind of triangle with the table in the center, and only then did Evelina speak again.

  “My father was a strong man. He supported my mother in all her affairs and was always by her side, maintaining the order established by the rule of the twin queens.” Evelina adjusted a stray strand of dark hair, then continued. “I will always remember him, but age takes its toll. Unfortunately, that is something we cannot resolve. It is a pity he did not live to see his jubilee.”

  Listening to Evelina’s speech, tears once again flowed involuntarily from Nova’s eyes, and she clenched her fists.

  Evelina looked at her cousin. In her gaze was a barely perceptible note of sympathy, but she again said nothing, trying to separate herself from the display of emotion, although I knew perfectly well that she was much worse at hiding the emotions associated with her own life than anything else.

  “Unfortunately, my father’s death is not taking place in a state of political calm, and as much as I would simply like to mourn his death, I am forced to be on my guard.” Evelina paused and placed her hands on the knees of her day dress. “Arta, Nova, you will accompany me to the capital.” Evelina turned to her cousin. “I know you would have gone anyway, but believe me, we need to stick together, otherwise Frederik…” Evelina fell silent, and then someone knocked on the door.

  A royal guard entered the room. “Your Highness, Gloria Alrane requests an audience.”

  “Let her in,” Evelina nodded, and the guard silently went out the door, letting Gloria into the room.

  “Your Highness, I thought you were alone…” Gloria crossed her arms awkwardly, which indicated that she clearly had not paid attention in her etiquette lessons.

  “Are you surprised, Gloria? Or do you think my time is always free?” Evelina asked, not hiding the slight notes of sarcasm.

  “I… I just came to express my condolences on the death of your father,” Gloria said, still holding her arms crossed.

  “Condolences accepted,” Evelina said in an undertone. “But allow me to inquire, how do you know this news?”

  Confusion appeared on Gloria’s face.

  “Well… I…” She swallowed nervously. “The thing is, my father works in Sumerenn and…” She paused again, as if assessing whether it was worth talking about it. “As you know, he is the Bishop of the Church of ‘Life,’ and…” She paused again, “well, you know that it is the main church of Valtheim, and they have been tasked with officiating your father’s funeral.” Gloria stopped, and her eyes began to dart from Evelina to me and Nova.

  “Oh, Gloria, you are transparent as glass…” Evelina sighed. “You give away all your secrets so easily that I even feel sorry for you.” Evelina smiled slightly, and her honey-colored eyes narrowed, observing Gloria’s reaction.

  Gloria immediately blushed; Evelina’s comment had clearly struck a deep chord.

  “But!..” Gloria tried to protest. “I just came to express my condolences!”

  Evelina smiled more broadly.

  “That is why, Gloria, you should keep this information to yourself. Some things should not be discussed before they are officially announced.” Evelina shook her head slightly and then added, “And now, excuse me, Gloria, I have a conversation with Artalis and Nova.”

  Gloria lowered her eyes.

  “I cannot stay, can I?” There was a hint of hidden hope in her question.

  “Yes, Gloria, it is strange that you did not understand that from the first time.” Evelina shook her head again. “That is why I cannot include you in my personal squad, and until you learn to act in my interests, I will not change my decision.”

  Gloria lowered her head and said sadly, “I understand. Then I will go.”

  Evelina nodded in approval, but before Gloria touched the doorknob, she added, “And regarding your request about fencing with Artalis, until the issue with my father’s funeral is resolved, I must refuse you.”

  Gloria nodded in understanding and left the room.

  Evelina looked at the closed door for some time and only a minute later did she return to me and Nova.

  “So, get ready, you are going with me to Sumerenn. We depart this evening. Prepare yourselves and take only what is necessary.”

  Nova nodded, and I preferred to clarify some details:

  “I did understand correctly that the visit to Sumerenn will not be limited to just the funeral ceremony? Are there any other important issues that have not yet been voiced?”

  “Artalis, you are as perceptive as ever,” she smirked. “Yes, there are such issues, and if you are worried that our trip may take more time than necessary, then that may indeed happen.”

  I nodded silently, understanding that further questions would be superfluous, as I was probably being drawn into something political again.

  “And now go and get ready. The trip will be difficult.”

  Nova and I stood up from our chairs and, after saying goodbye, left Evelina’s room.

  Before heading up to her floor, Nova smiled, as if hinting that in Sumerenn, she and I would have plenty of time to talk, as perhaps that was what she wanted.