Everything happened too suddenly.

  The next morning, when nothing foreshadowed trouble, they were supposed to leave the castle as planned and head south. Despite going to bed late, Remesis woke up in a fairly good mood. She was about to get up to give the servants orders to start preparations for departure. Until she heard wheezing next to her.

  At first, the girl thought she had misheard. But no. Turning her head, she was surprised to find that the princess, sleeping in the same bed, was breathing heavily. Her eyes were closed. Touching her hand, Remesis suddenly felt that it was very hot, although Asil's normal body temperature was quite low.

  Remesis tried to wake her herself, but nothing worked. Then there was no choice but to resort to the master's help — the only person in the castle with healing skills.

  But here, too, a surprise awaited her.

  "Your Highness, I don't even know what to say..."

  After carefully examining Asil, the master shook his head in bewilderment. Meanwhile, Remesis, who was standing by the bed waiting for his conclusion, couldn't bear it.

  "What do you mean?" she immediately asked again.

  "It's an unknown ailment," the old man shrugged helplessly. "Her Highness has a high temperature, but I haven't noticed any other symptoms, so I can only diagnose a fever. This heat is probably serious." Remesis pressed her lips together.

  "So...?" she summed up nervously.

  "Since there are no other symptoms, it would be wrong to say it's a common cold or infection. Honestly, in all my practice, this is the first time I've encountered such a case..."

  Master Luven, although not a doctor by profession, still possessed the necessary competence in this matter. And if Asil's condition baffled him, then Remesis was even more so. She was panicking.

  The girl couldn't understand at all how this could have happened. After all, just yesterday everything was fine, and at the wedding ceremony, Asil showed no signs of illness. But in the morning, she suddenly had a fever. And a strong one at that. Remesis was at a loss as to how the princess had managed to get sick. Especially at such an inopportune time.

  "...I recall you mentioned that before arriving here, Her Highness was wounded and didn't receive timely care," the old man said thoughtfully. "Perhaps that's the reason. For a child's body, such a thing is a big stress, and it could well have weakened. But since I'm not entirely sure of the diagnosis, I can't prescribe medicine at random. The best thing now is to take a regular antipyretic."

  Remesis's face paled. She sat down on a chair and stared blankly at the princess.

  "Master Luven... How serious is it?" she muttered, addressing him.

  He sighed.

  "Very. Judging by Her Highness's condition, she will have to observe bed rest for at least ten days. Her diet must be strictly limited to prevent deterioration. And, naturally, any physical exertion is forbidden."

  Listening to the master, Remesis put her hand to her temple, as if she had a headache. She shifted her gaze to Asil, who still hadn't regained consciousness. Cold sweat appeared on her forehead, sapping all her strength. Even without the master's words, it was clear that the matter was serious.

  It seemed Remesis had been too presumptuous in thinking that this time everything would be fine. Obviously, simply stopping the bleeding wasn't enough. The princess had spent weeks in the cold in that condition. And the side effects from this manifested at the most unexpected moment.

  Although she already knew the answer, she still asked:

  "So, Her Highness won't be able to go south?"

  Master Luven shook his head.

  "In this condition, she needs rest and only rest. If Her Highness goes anywhere in her current state, it will be difficult to predict complications..."

  Remesis was silent for a while. Although this situation had thrown her off, there was no time to recover. They had to go. If they didn't appear at the Council on time, the Imperial Court would have a reason to accuse them of disrespect. And then the consequences would be much worse. One way or another, someone had to go and represent the North.

  And if Asil couldn't do it, then...

  Master Luven waited, holding his breath for her final decision. Remesis closed her eyes for a second, then opened them again. The gaze of her sapphire eyes became serious.

  "So you're still going...?" he read from her expression.

  "I am the Princess Consort of the North and Her Highness's regent. I believe I am the only person in the castle who has the right to do this. It is my duty."

  The old man looked at her carefully. He also became serious.

  "Your Highness, the capital... It's not the place you imagine. And especially the Imperial Palace. Going there alone is quite dangerous. Please, allow me to accompany you!" the master volunteered.

  The girl shook her head.

  "If you leave, who will stay with Her Highness? Besides you, there's no one else to take care of her."

  The master hesitated, although he understood she was right.

  "But...!"

  "It will be alright," Remesis objected. "Hannes is also coming with me. He can protect me if something happens."

  "....."

  The old man pressed his lips together.

  "Besides, it won't be for long. The meeting lasts only three days. After that, I'll return here immediately."

  The master seemed to want to add something else, but the look of complete determination on the Princess Consort's face made him take back his words. He had forgotten that this girl was a very unusual child. Her courage could sometimes be envied by an adult.

  "Your Highness, if you're sure... Then I cannot stop you."

  Master Luven sighed. Remesis nodded to him.

  A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  "Please take care of Her Highness," she asked.

  "Of course," the old man smiled weakly. "You can rely on me for that."

  Remesis glanced at the princess once more before leaving the room. Asil's eyes were closed; she was breathing heavily. Remesis stood at the threshold for a while, holding onto the doorframe. Her heart was restless. Nevertheless, the next moment, the girl decisively cast aside all doubts and moved forward. "This little devil..." Knowing well Asil's resilience, Remesis remained confident that she would be alright.

  And she herself first and foremost needed to deal with pressing matters.

  Lively bustle reigned in the courtyard. Servants were finishing the last preparations before departure. The Princess Consort was accompanied by a small detachment consisting of only seven people. They were led by the commander of Fortress Nord. Since the castle was already short on people, Remesis preferred not to waste extra forces that might be needed here. Besides, it's not for nothing they say — that one northern warrior is worth several southerners.

  Today the girl was warmly dressed. The fur cloak with a hood looked bulky and almost covered her entirely. But external beauty during travel through the North was clearly not a priority.

  Before the soldiers who were already waiting for her, Remesis uttered only one word:

  "Let's depart."

  "Yes, sir!"

  Hannes Wrightly tugged at the reins, and the horse beneath him moved off. The hooves of the other horses clattered. The cart in which Remesis sat creaked, swaying slightly on the uneven ground. They passed under the watchtower and across the drawbridge, then went beyond the outer walls.

  All this time, Remesis kept her eyes fixed on the castle and the tower where Asil lay. And as soon as the small window was no longer visible, she finally sighed and drew the curtain. "It'll be alright..." she mentally repeated to herself like a mantra.

  Their journey, like any trip through the North, promised to be not easy.

  For several days in a row, they rode across the endless northern plains. They stopped only to rest the horses. Sometimes the guards had to take risks: fighting off wild beasts or a couple of barbarians. But, fortunately, there were no serious incidents.

  Soon they left the land of eternal ice.

  The snowfields gave way to green, revealing blue skies and breathtaking expanses. The southern valley was flooded with sunlight, which was almost impossible to find in the north. It became hot, and Remesis took off her cloak. She looked out the window with delight and noticed wildflowers and grasses along the sides of the road they were traveling.

  They passed through green lush groves, sleepy hamlets, past orchards and fields of golden wheat, a dozen sunlit streams. Remesis's heart fluttered. She was born and spent half her childhood in the South. But never... Never had she seen anything like this. More precisely, she hadn't seen anything at all. And in both that life and this one, she regretted it terribly.

  At some point, the girl even gave in to blissful daydreams.

  "If only in the future I could buy a little house in one of these villages. Then I could see this beauty every day."

  Such a life attracted her far more than all the temptations of the capital. But still, for now, they had to go there.

  In total, the journey took almost two weeks. The first meeting of the Small Council was supposed to be tomorrow, and Remesis with her escort had only just arrived at the gates of the capital. The guards meticulously checked everyone's pass before allowing them into the city. Recently, security measures had been strengthened to prevent an influx of refugees from neighboring countries. Those, in turn, were known for engaging in illegal activities within the empire.

  Because of this, a long queue had formed at the entrance to the capital. When the cavalcade of the northern delegation approached the city, Remesis couldn't even see the gates themselves. The other carts crowded the road so densely. On the girl's orders, Hannes went ahead and after a while returned with not-so-pleasant news.

  "Your Highness, I'm afraid we'll have to be delayed here for some time..."

  "How long?" Remesis simply asked.

  "There are two big queues there," the man reported. "It's impossible to count the exact number of vehicles, however... By the time it's our turn, at least two days will pass."

  Remesis was stunned by such a verdict.

  "Are you joking? We'll have to stand in line that long?" she exclaimed.

  The knight shrugged but could offer nothing else. They had been on the road for over a week and were very tired. The girl couldn't believe they now had to go through such an ordeal. Two days standing outside under the scorching sun... Especially since food and water were almost gone too.

  "Your Highness..." Hannes began uncertainly.

  "I know," Remesis sighed heavily. "We'll probably be late for the council too."

  If she had known it would be like this, they would have left a few days earlier. But what could be done now? Remesis mentally prepared herself that when they finally got into the palace, a scandal would erupt. Since the situation was doomed anyway — the girl accepted it as inevitable. She had absolutely no energy for anger or hysterics.

  With a dejected look, she stared out the window, but the queue ahead, as if on purpose, didn't move at all. Two hours passed like this. Many people camped right here and even set up tents. They would probably have to do the same. Remesis was about to give the corresponding order when sudden exclamations and the whispers of those around made her fall silent.

  From the general commotion, it was clear that some important person had arrived. But Remesis wasn't particularly interested. Until...

  "Princess Rania, it seems we meet again."

  Remesis looked out the window and was surprised to find another carriage stopped directly opposite them. And the passenger inside was already familiar to her.

  The girl involuntarily furrowed her brows.

  Unlike her, the heiress of the Astrological Order was accompanied by an impressive procession. Guards were on horses, and servants walked on foot. Above their heads, the weak southern wind fluttered a dozen blue banners embroidered with the golden coat of arms. The Triune Moon, which every inhabitant of Nadal knew almost from infancy.

  The girl herself rode in a huge two-story carriage of oil-polished wood and gilded metal. Nothing less than a house on wheels for one person. No comparison with Remesis, who had to huddle in a small, cramped cart.

  Not that Remesis was very surprised to meet her here. After all, the central astrological tower, Glensia, was located right in the capital. Moreover, Halias Alseid was also a permanent member of the Small Council. It was quite likely that they had arrived in the city for the same purpose.

  According to accepted formalities, Remesis, holding a lower status, should have gotten out of the cart and personally greeted her superiors. But those green eyes, which held a hidden mockery, irritated her just by their appearance. Besides, the girl was too tired and not in the mood for social conversations.

  Slightly bowing her head, Remesis reported as indifferently as possible:

  "Remesis Rania Ashelot greets Lady Alseid."

  Seeing this scene, Iliana Alseid laughed as usual. She still couldn't get used to the fact that a child occupying such a low position in society could be so arrogant. When even most adults bowed to her, Remesis behaved as if she were doing her a favor.

  For Iliana, all this was very, very amusing.

  "Your Highness, what brings you to the capital?" she inquired curiously.

  "Fortress Nord was honored to receive a summons from the imperial palace," Remesis replied. "Following the order of His Imperial Majesty, I have arrived to represent the North at the Small Council."

  The Supreme Astrologer's eldest daughter nodded understandingly. "It must have been a difficult journey," she suggested. "You must be tired."

  "Correct," the girl didn't deny.

  "Is the Princess of the North with you too?"

  "No... Unfortunately, my spouse fell ill on the eve of departure," Remesis answered without much enthusiasm. "Therefore, I am also here to represent the North on her behalf."

  A gleam flickered in Iliana's eyes.

  "So you came alone?" the girl clarified.

  Remesis hesitated, not understanding why the order's heiress had suddenly decided to stop in the middle of the road and talk to her. And this strange interrogation still wasn't ending. The girl regretted that she couldn't just tell her to go away.

  Iliana seemed to read her thoughts from her expression. She couldn't suppress a smirk.

  "It seems you don't particularly enjoy my company?" the noblewoman quipped.

  "I wouldn't dare, Lady Alseid," Remesis reluctantly grumbled. "I'm just tired and find this place not entirely suitable for conversation."

  The girl looked around.

  "Yes, you're right..." the girl said slowly, gazing at the huge queue ahead. "In that case, would you like to continue the conversation inside?"

  "Ah...?"

  Remesis didn't quite understand what she meant until Iliana smiled her snow-white smile. Despite seeming polite, the girl sensed some kind of trick in all this. As if an inner animal instinct warned of a hidden threat. In her eyes, the Supreme Astrologer's heiress was a very slippery character.

  But then, contrary to Remesis's expectations, the girl took something out of her uniform. Following this, she casually said:

  "Your Highness, order your people to follow us."

  "What?"

  When Remesis's eyes widened in surprise, Iliana Alseid's lips stretched into a mysterious smile. She squinted.

  "You do want to get into the city, don't you?"

  Then Remesis saw that the thing she had taken out was a golden pass.