Chapter 4. Audience with the Duke

Remesis expressed her wishes to her brother in a perfectly even tone.

Michel, however, decided that her indifference was only contrived. She must be crying every night and complaining only to her maid that she couldn't be as much a part of the family.

— I'm also glad that no damned lowlife prevented me from enjoying the festivities,» the young man grinned, «By the way, the Count also once had a damned son. But he got rid of him right away. That must be why Bratsvik County is so prosperous now.

«…»

The brother and sister laughed nastily.

— Dear Sis, don't take it personally. All I mean is that the rotten weeds are better pulled out of sight so that they don't interfere with the beauty of the rest of the garden.

Not a single emotion was reflected on Remesis's face. She was only waiting for this senseless parade of humiliation to end so she could move on.

«Indeed, humiliating an eight year old girl is worthy of a duke's heir.» — Those words threatened to tumble from her lips, but Remesis held back at the last moment.

There was only a little time left to be patient. Remesis could not spoil her last days in this house with an impulsive outburst of emotion. Especially since the rude words of such a jerk couldn't really hurt her.

«Seriously… Am I, in my twenties, really supposed to take offense at the antics of some unreasonable boy?»

Every time Remesis thought like that, she found it easier to let the situation go. Pointless bickering with children was not on her agenda in any way.

— I'm tired and I want to take a bath. Colt, go get everything ready for me.

Without even glancing in the servant's direction, Michelle dropped it.

— Yes, my lord.

Colt, Michel's faithful dog, accompanied him everywhere and anywhere. The servant left first, and the young man himself stretched lazily.

Since Remesis didn't react to his attempts to hurt her, it was rather boring to mock her. Michel, as usual, quickly lost interest.

— Katrina, stop fiddling around here. It disgusts me to breathe even the same air as lepers… Let's go already.

Putting his hands behind his head, the teenager left first, and his sister followed him. Before doing so, of course, she didn't miss the opportunity to «accidentally» poke Remesis in the shoulder.

Remesis didn't move as she looked at the two of them.

The older sister probably annoyed Remesis even more than the jerk. Katrina had no opinion of her own and followed Michel around like a dog. Like the rest of the estate, she looked into the mouth of the successor of the family blessed with the Serdel star.

Envious and arrogant. She was very much like Michel, and therefore, did not inherit the duke's topaz eyes. A trait that had been passed down to the descendants of this family for generations.

In the back of her mind, Katrina felt black envy that Remesis was the one who had inherited them. A cursed child with no future. If it were her will, the girl would tear her sister's eyes out, since someone like her didn't deserve them…

The heavy aura that had arisen in the presence of these two finally evaporated.

Only Livius remained in the hallway. He and Remesis crossed their gazes in silence.

Black hair and topaz eyes. This boy, only a year older than Remesis, was the spitting image of the Duke.

Livius was the only one who didn't participate in Remesis's bullying. But at the same time, he didn't hinder them in any way. Not having as much influence as his brother and sister, he had to follow them like a shadow.

He was probably the only one in the manor who wanted to help her in any way, but he couldn't. Livius was the youngest son as it was — it took a lot of effort for him to win his father's attention. Of course, he couldn't ruin his reputation by associating with a cursed child.

«…»

Still, when they were occasionally alone like this, Remesis caught only sympathy in her brother's gaze. They walked past each other in silence as if nothing had happened.

Remesis continued walking down the corridor, thinking that the predictions of the starry horoscope made no sense. She had thought this in her past life as well.

Unlike most of the inhabitants of the Nadal Empire, Remesis did not believe in astrology.

In the few hundred years of the cult's existence, the astrological order had made as much money as the temple had made in its entire history. Not only did the dignitaries of the astrological tower rake in money with shovels, but they also had power at court. At some point, the entire empire was overrun by this organization.

People believed in all that cosmic nonsense. Remesis thought it lacked common sense. Can you determine a person's fate just by the position of the celestial bodies? It's not even magic. Moreover, Remesis had seen everything from her own family's example.

The star under which Michel was lucky enough to be born promised him wealth and success. But wasn't that obvious? Could the life of the eldest son of the Duke turn out differently? A prosperous life was given to Michel not by the stars, but by his ancestry.

The same can be said of Katrina. The daughter of a duke, and not without beauty. Under the circumstances, does one need the help of the planets to marry well? With Michael Carter's connections, he would have no trouble finding the most favorable match for his daughter.

As a matter of fact, he did. Living in the north, Remezis sometimes received news from the capital. In her first life she had learned: that Katrina had become the wife of the heir to one of the pillars of the empire. Again, this could hardly be credited to cosmic forces.

Nor did the stars have much influence on the fate of Livius. Obviously, having been born a second son, all the laurels from the very beginning went to Michel. In peasant families, the youngest children, by custom, used to wear the clothes of their elders. In noble families, the principle, of course, was a little different, but the essence remained the same.

With few exceptions, the younger children always remained in the shadows.

All these stars only spoke of the obvious and had no influence on a person's fate. However, a huge amount of the empire's resources continued to be spent on these meaningless predictions.

Like temples, astrological towers were built every year throughout the empire. Moreover, the popularity of the latter was expectedly higher. No wonder the two factions feuded.

The Church forbade its parishioners to consult astrologers. They, in turn, called the clergy heretics…

«Isn't this a circus?»

Remesis only wondered when people would finally open their eyes.

However, Remesis did agree with one prediction of the celestials. The Death Star, Asdal… When Remesis thought of this man, she shuddered involuntarily. A bright flash flashed before her eyes.

She swallowed the lump in her throat as if she had seen it all. It was only at times like this that doubt crept into Remesis's soul. To just drop everything and run away…

But the girl only shook her head, focusing on the current situation. She couldn't afford to ruin this life too just because of fear. Besides, there was no point in worrying about her own well-being right now.

Unlike her former self who could only cry and beg, the current Remesis was not like that at all. Her heart felt like it was covered in a thin crust of ice. After all that she had already experienced, was there any point in being afraid of anything?

Inside this small body was a grown up girl who had endured all sorts of hardships and more. No matter how terrible the situation was, she would not run away. At this moment, only one thought was important to Remesis.

— Father, I'm here.

Reaching the correct door, Remesis knocked.

— You may enter.

Remesis stepped into a large and bright room, the duke's study, where she had never been before. Michael Carter sat at his desk and did not immediately look at her.

— Greetings great father,» Remesis curtsied, «you wished to see me?

Remesis met her gaze with a man who looked colder than the ice on top of an iceberg. Though many years had passed, Remesis still remembered well his first reaction to her.

The very night she was born. A look full of anger and disgust.

The Duke's wife had died giving birth to her. On top of that, the newborn girl looked a lot like him. Much more so than any of his children. And he hated himself. Every time he looked into Remesis' clear topaz eyes, the man saw his reflection.

A cursed child who had brought nothing but misery to their family. Was there really anything to love him for?

But at least their antipathy for each other was at least mutual. Remesis wasn't exactly burning with joy at being born in this house and being the daughter of such a man, either.

Michael didn't feel like looking at her for long. Soon he turned away, pulling a letter from behind a drawer. When Remesis saw the Emperor's seal on it, she immediately understood everything.

— Our conversation will be short,» the man said dryly, folding his hands on the table.

«…»

— What is it, father?

Remesis couldn't even pretend to be in the least bit curious about this.

— His Majesty has made our family an engagement proposal. To you, and… Princess Nara. If everything works out, you'll be traveling to her residence in the North in a couple weeks.

Remesis was silent.

— And another thing… Professor Isoklin Hasher visited us this morning,» the Duke's voice was displeased, «He's unexpectedly interested in your abilities. He offered to be your mentor.

«…»

— …In that case, I can ask His Majesty to cancel the engagement, with a pledge that you will be able to help the imperial institute in the future. Even someone like you will have the opportunity to benefit our country.

The last words were clearly said as a favor.

It seemed to be a choice that had no room for uncertainty from the start. To be exiled to certain death in the barren northern lands, or to become the disciple of an influential scholar? A child born under an unlucky star could not dream of such a thing.

That's what Duke Carter thought. What's there to discuss? Moreover, he already had a plausible excuse for refusing the Emperor. It is unlikely that he would insist and force one of the pillars of the state.

This short conversation was just a formality to make it clear to Remesis that she had to do her best to fulfill the expectations of the institute. After all, it was he who had saved her from certain death.

But…

— It's not worth it, father,» the girl said quietly.

— Hmm?

Two pairs of topaz eyes met. There was a hint of surprise in the latter.

— I agree to go to the north and become the wife of Her Highness.

The duke's hand, which was calmly lying on the table, clenched into a fist. He clearly didn't expect such an answer.

— Why!!!

Remesis stared at her father's surprised face without blinking.

— This is His Majesty's order, after all. As a loyal subject of the empire, I have no right to disobey it.

Duke Carter frowned. Does this girl even know what she's saying? Does she even know what the north is? Even if it's an order from the emperor, not everyone would calmly accept such a fate.

— Are you serious? This is the last chance that…?

Remesis smiled widely. It was such a charming smile that anyone who looked at her wouldn't be able to believe that the rumor about her being a cursed child was true.

The duke felt strange. For some reason, he couldn't breathe freely.

— Father, I am more than certain. I want to marry Asil Nara Ashelot.