Chapter 6. Who’s hiding in the shadows

In the letter, Livius Nathantine Carter expressed his desire for an early personal meeting with his sister because there was something important he needed to discuss with her in person.

'Dear Sister,

I hope you are doing well. I need you to come home as soon as possible. I really need your help. This is really important and I hope to hear back from you as soon as possible.

Please let me know when you can come.

Love,

Your big brother Livius.'

This was written in a letter from the duke's second son. Remesis received the letter and the look of confusion on her face became more and more distinct as she read it. She had not expected to receive a letter from any of her relatives, after all, it had never happened in her past life. But now, all of a sudden, she received a letter from her older brother.

Moreover, Livius was asking for her help with something, while not revealing any details, as apparently the matter was too personal to reveal the details in a letter. Remesis bit her lip, rereading those lines several times.

That Livius had asked her to return to their home after years of absence was more than unexpected. And even more unexpected that this letter had come from him specifically. She remembered her brother as a very shy child who never even dared to speak to her first. But now he was suddenly sending her a letter in person, and it gave her justifiable doubts.

The grounds for such a move must indeed be serious.

Originally Remesis had no plans to ever return to her paternal home. She was primarily focused on revenge against the Grand Duke's family, whom she could not even call her relatives. However, it could not be denied that there was still one person in that family that the girl did not hate so much.

Livius Carter, the duke's second son, who was a year older than her.

Unlike his brother and sister, the boy never bullied her, and in his gaze the girl saw genuine sympathy towards her. It showed that Livius was actually a good-hearted man, but due to circumstances he had to wear a mask at all times to prevent anyone from seeing his weaknesses. When living in the manor, Remesis understood Livius as well as he understood her.

After moving north, even though she was so busy every day, Remesis still missed her brother sometimes. She wondered how his life had turned out as the years passed. And, of course, she hadn't anticipated that they would ever meet again.

So now this letter put her in a stupor.

Remesis could have easily ignored a letter from her family, even if it had been sealed with the seal of the Grand Duke. But what made her resolve waver at a moment like this was nothing but old childhood affection. If Livius himself had asked his sister for help, it meant it was something truly important. After all, Remesis couldn't just ignore him.

'Should I go?'

The princess pondered this throughout the coming night, and the thoughts proved so exhausting that by morning the girl thought she hadn't slept at all. Nevertheless, Remesis still made her decision. Realising that she couldn't just ignore her brother's letter, the girl decided that she would do his request after all.

'It is possible that if I don't do it now, I will regret it later.'

The only thing that worried Remesis was how to communicate her decision to leave to Asil. Would she accept her decision so easily? Or would she not care about it? Remesis didn't know that yet.

For that reason, Remesis decided to leave her room for the first time in days to eat with the princess. As soon as the girl expressed her desire to attend breakfast, the maids were overjoyed. They were greatly relieved that the princess was apparently finally feeling better and recovered from her mourning.

The maids carefully combed her dark hair and dressed her in one of her finest gowns. As her thoughts continued to soar skyward, Remesis didn't pay too much attention to what the maids were doing to her, and when she finally saw her reflection in the mirror, she only sighed.

Although she found her appearance too colourful for a casual breakfast, it would have been too much of a hassle to change again anyway, so the girl decided to just leave it as it was.

Later, walking down the corridor, Remesis couldn't stop thinking about her upcoming conversation with the princess and what she would say to her. Soon, however, the wide doors leading to the dining room showed themselves, and the endless stream of thoughts drifted away on their own.

The Northern Devil was already waiting for her there.

— …Wife, you have come.

Asil rose from her seat as soon as she saw her. She was so excited that it was clearly reflected on her face. When she saw her wife for the first time in a long time, she was overwhelmed with joy, and Remesis was even embarrassed by such intense attention. The princess immediately approached her and pulled back her chair, showing her due courtesy.

Though there was no need for such etiquette, Remesis thanked the princess and sat down at the table.

— Thank you, your highness.

Asil smiled radiantly at her.

— Wife, why did you suddenly decide to eat together? — The woman asked the question that clearly interested her the most.

— I thought we hadn't spoken in a while, so I thought we should talk after such a long break.

In answering the question, Remesis looked as impassive as usual, so it was hard to tell what she was thinking.

Nevertheless, the girl proceeded to eat the soup that was right in front of her while behaving casually. The princess was also in a positive mood, as Remesis was the first to offer her a dialogue.

— Your highness, how have you been doing all these days? — Remesis asked at one point.

— Actually, it's been a difficult time for me… — She replied, hesitating.

— Was there too much to do? — Suggested the most likely Remesis, since because of the fact that she had taken a break from her duties for a while and left it all to the princess, it really could have been that.

— No, it was all about not seeing my wife for too long.

— Hmm, I see…

Remesis thought she had done something stupid, as she hadn't expected such an answer right away.

Asil paused, looking at her, and then continued, making a more concerned face.

— Wife, are you not feeling well?

Remesis, looking a little tired, looked up from the soup she was eating. She told the princess the truth in her usual tone:

— I just didn't sleep well.

And all because Livius' letter had given rise to her various thoughts that had kept her awake all night.

The Princess of the North frowned and looked at her wife. This answer did not seem to satisfy her.

— Wife, if you are not feeling well, we should call a doctor, ' she said at once.

But Remesis objected:

— That is not necessary.

— Wife, you should be more attentive to your health, ' the princess insisted.

Remesis, like most natives of the south, was not as healthy as the northerners. Therefore, if she overexerted herself, she could fall ill. Asil, who was aware of this, often worried about her condition. She kept saying that Remesis needed more rest, and official business could wait. The princess was a caring spouse in every way. Remesis, however, found such concern for her excessive.

— There's no need to worry so much, I'm quite healthy.

— I understand, but you know, I'm always worried about you.

— And why is that?

— Isn't it my responsibility?

Asil smiled embarrassedly while saying those words. Remesis took a deep breath as the familiar look of annoyance became more and more apparent on her face.

The Duchess smiled even wider, seeing the expression on her consort's face change as the girl was displeased with another of her nonsensical remarks. At this time something else flashed across her face.

— What is it? — Remesis asked, noticing with the naked eye that the princess was looking at her longer than usual.

— I think you have something to tell me, ' the Mistress of the North's assumption was surprisingly correct.

Remesis coughed. Her consort was definitely becoming more perceptive with age. Perhaps this was the right moment to start this conversation.

— Your Highness, yesterday I received a letter from my brother, ' the princess began slowly, 'he asked me to come because something had happened at home. I thought about it for a long time and decided that I should go there after all.

'.....'

Confused at the fact that the princess' face showed no reaction after her words, Remesis added a clarification:

— Can you give me one month? I'll try to sort out all the problems and return as soon as possible.

Asil's face darkened slightly at her words. Remesis didn't say anything and just silently waited to see what would happen next. There was complete silence in the dining room for a while.

— Good, ' she finally said hoarsely, 'so I should wait here for my wife?

The Princess of the North's hand gripped the cup of black tea tighter, but not so tightly that the glass shattered.

Remesis, on the other hand, was quite surprised by this point. She had thought the negotiation would require more effort, but Asil's behaviour hadn't changed a bit. She acted as if she was truly willing to let her leave just like that.

After listening to the princess' unassuming reply, Remesis clenched the spoon in her hand tighter.

— …Your Highness, do you really don't mind if I leave the north for a while? — There was a slight uncertainty in her voice.

— Would I have any reason to worry or object?

— But… — the girl stammered.

— I respect my wife's opinion. If you have made a decision and it is necessary, can I stop you? I only hope that in that case you won't leave me for too long…'' — Asil muttered the last words and looked at her longingly.

'...'

Remesis was quite puzzled by what was happening.

She thought that the princess would show some sort of violent reaction after she brought it up.

But contrary to her expectations, Asil's face remained calm. Confused by the fact that her face did not reflect the slightest hint of anger, the girl could not find the words for the first few moments. In her previous life, Remesis would not have dared to even mention it, because she knew what kind of reaction to it was to be expected.

Despite the fact that in her previous life she and the princess had been mere strangers living under the same roof, Asil still refused to show her any loyalty in this matter. Without Lord North's permission, the girl had no right to leave the castle and so the iron fortress became like a cage for her.

Was it because Asil regarded his wife as an annoying lowlife to the point of not wanting to give her even a chance at something good in her life? And wasn't it because their relationship had turned out differently in this life, and the princess's reaction was also different?

— …The only thing I am concerned about is your safety, wife,' Asil's worried voice came again, 'I will choose the most talented people to accompany you, and they will be responsible for your protection during the journey.

Remesis, on the other hand, found such precautions unnecessary. It would never occur to a normal person to target the wife of Lord North, the strongest man in the empire. Moreover, it was safe to say that no one would dare to attack Remesis given her high status at the moment. Besides…

— There was no need to bring in the castle's best soldiers because of this. They should stay and guard the castle. It's enough if Hannes comes with me.

— Hannes Raitley…? — a woman has intervened.

— Yes, I have full confidence that he can protect me, ' Remesis confirmed her words with a serious nod.

'.....'

The Duchess hesitated for only a moment because of this, but soon she was already looking at Remesis with a calm gaze. It was unclear what thoughts were wandering through her mind at this moment. Nevertheless, the pause, which was becoming increasingly tense, dragged on. Remesis felt uncomfortable as well.

— …Good. — The princess replied calmly after a while, -If it is the will of the wife, then so be it.

Remesis was ready to exhale with relief. She was glad that she had not had any difficulties during her negotiations with the princess.

— Thank you for your understanding, your highness. In that case, I intend to depart the day after tomorrow.

Asil Nara Ashelot slowly nodded to her. She smiled radiantly as the atmosphere at the breakfast table became more and more exciting. Her beautiful face shone marvellously.

Unable to bear such a sight, Remesis turned her head away. She still could hardly believe that this conversation had gone so smoothly.

— Then I will leave first, your highness. I need to start packing.

'.....'

With those words, Remesis hurried away from the dining room to begin preparations for her impending departure.

Asil watched her until the girl's silhouette disappeared behind the door. The servants, busy collecting the dishes after the meal, retreated as soon as the princess gestured for them to leave her alone. As soon as the princess was separated from her wife, an impenetrable darkness descended on the woman's face.

Asil picked up a glass of water and sipped some. Then she said in an indifferent voice, addressing the void:

— Boris.

— Yes, Mistress.

When she called that name, a man appeared in front of the princess in a flash. He was the leader of a squad that carried out the orders of the Lord of the North, whose existence was not suspected by Remesis or any of the other inhabitants of the castle.

Asil looked impassively at the warrior who dropped to one knee before her and opened her lips.

— See to it.

— As you command, Mistress.

Despite the lack of explanation, the knight already knew what his mistress needed without asking further questions. Besides, it was his duty to always be aware of his mistress' needs. The information the princess wanted was obvious to him.

— Rest assured, I will keep an eye on your wife,' he assured her.

But the woman, who heard her subordinate's words, wrinkled her nose slightly and opened her mouth:

— I'm not talking about her.