Chapter 32. Whatever you say, wife

The sepulchral silence that prevailed in the small room at that moment seemed insurmountable.

'...'

Remesis, who was the first to regain the gift of speech, interjected in a hoarse voice:

— Your Highness... What are you doing here!!!

Didn't the princess tell her earlier that she had some business that would cause them to spend time together today? So why is she here now? Furthermore... How did Asil find herself in this place in the first place?!

However, despite the puzzled looks directed at her from all sides, the woman didn't raise an eyebrow. With her usual smile, she stepped closer to Remesis, and with each step she took in the space, the tension in the room continued to rise.

— Wife, I managed to free myself early, and I was just about to return to you, ' the princess cooed, 'But then I happened to notice that you were acting unusually. I thought you were up to something interesting, so I decided to follow you.

'Interesting?!'

In other words, did this woman mean to say that she had been following her all this time to eventually come to this place, just for the sake of interest? Although it could be called in the spirit of her wife's windy nature, Remesis still felt indignant. Even more so when strong arms wrapped around her from the back at this moment, attempting to pull her against her. The princess of the north, as usual, escaped the embrace, getting out of the princess's arms like quicksand.

— Your Highness, you must observe decorum!

— Decency? — Asil questioned in a puzzled manner.

— We are not alone here, by the way.

— Ah... That's right.

At this moment, the Lord of the North's gaze smoothly shifted from her wife to the other people who were also here. It seemed like this was the first time she had paid attention to them. As soon as the gaze of the princess's golden eyes stopped on the silver-haired child, it was as if the elder princess and her consort had come to their senses at this moment. The eldest princess let out an involuntary sigh, and Jilia rushed forward and blocked her path with her hand, standing up to defend her family.

— I won't let you come any closer! — The female knight exclaimed coldly.

'.....'

Asil assessed her actions without much interest.

— There is no need for that. I've only come to retrieve my wife.

— What...? — Jilia asked back in a puzzled manner.

— If it's about this child, ' Asil's gaze lingered on him for just a moment, 'Then it's of no consequence to me.

'.....'

Contrary to the fears of Princess Castrea and her consort, but Asil didn't seem to care about the little prince. Even though it was her own nephew whom she was meeting for the first time, but Asil had absolutely no interest in him.

— What does that mean? — Jilia questioned warily, - Do you really have no intention of harming Orion?

Although this apprehension might have been hasty, it was a well-founded one. In an imperial family where most of the family members were each other's rivals in the fight for the throne, blood ties were losing their significance. Thus, Asil could also, like the empress, have a desire to get rid of this child despite the fact that he was her nephew.

All because the little prince's mere existence already posed a threat in the battle for the throne. Even if it was only a minor one. However, despite the obvious wariness in her direction, Asil only hummed.

— That's not serious.

— Your highness, are you speaking sincerely now? — Remesis involuntarily turned to her at this moment.

The princess turned to her with a slightly disappointed expression.

— Wife, who do you think I am? — She asked with annoyance. — Do you think I have time to waste hunting this boy? I'd rather spend it on a date with you. Other than that... That kid is no threat to me anyway.

Unconsciously, but Remesis was equally relieved at this moment along with the others as well. From the looks of it, but Asil's intentions on this matter were indeed true. Indeed. For someone who put even the emperor himself at nothing, it would be foolish to fear a small child. Or, which was just as likely, the princess simply wasn't interested in the whole political struggle at all...

In any case, the princess of the north relaxed after being convinced that the princess really wasn't going to cause any bloodshed here.

Among other things, the princess was primarily interested in something else right now.

— Wife... Aren't you done here yet? — Asil complained, ''I wanted to walk around the garden with you before it gets dark. Let's hurry up and go.

Remesis sighed quietly as the princess, like a child, continued to tug impatiently at her sleeve. Actually, that was what she was going to do originally, not intending to stay here for long.

But at that moment, Princess Castreja suddenly turned to her:

— Can we have a little dialogue?

It was meant that this dialogue was to take place in private. Remesis was somewhat confused at first, but soon nodded affirmatively.

— Your Highness, wait a moment. I will talk to the eldest princess a bit more.

Asil's face showed a displeased expression, which then softened.

— But only for a short while, ' the woman grumbled grumpily.

— ...All right.

— Wife, I will wait for you outside.

With that, Asil left the room. Following her, they were also left behind by the female knight and the little prince who followed his mother. Remesis was then left alone with the eldest princess. A short indefinite pause hung in the air.

— Your Highness, what did you want to tell me? — Remesis was the first to speak.

Princess Castreja looked at her a little strangely at this moment and smiled faintly afterwards.

— Sister-in-law, I can call you that, can't I? — She asked with a faint smile, ''Please come a little closer here.

— ...Yes, Your Highness.

Remesis did as the elder princess commanded. And when they were close enough to each other, the woman quietly said something. Although it was only a few words, but the pupils of the princess of the north dilated shockingly.

— Is it true? — Stunned, she interrogated afterwards, ''Are you absolutely sure about it?

A mysterious spark flashed in the silver-haired woman's eyes.

— You can be sure. I of all people can know that, ' the Emperor's younger sister grinned bitterly.

Remesis was definitely shaken at this point, and for a few moments she couldn't find the words.

— Just remember what I told you today, ' the princess said, 'I hope it will come in handy someday. And... Don't forget the fee.

'.....'

— ...I won't forget, ' Remesis hesitated, and soon nodded and promised her firmly.

Remesis stared into the eyes of the elder princess for a few more seconds, and during that time the atmosphere in the room seemed to be stretched like a spring. She thought about how she could never forget this meeting, and what she had heard from Princess Castrea today. Still, this trip to the imperial palace was definitely not for nothing.

Afterwards, after leaving the elder princess's palace, she and Asil would return back the same way.

Although both of them definitely had something to say, but still, for most of the journey, neither the princess of the north nor her consort spoke a single word. Each of them seemed to be thinking about something else.

And then, when silence remained between them for a long time, Remesis finally parted her lips, intending to be the first to break the silence:

— Your Highness... I think it's time for us to head back.

'.....'

The princess's eyes reflected slight surprise at first, as Remesis had stated this completely out of the blue. But nevertheless, Asil soon gave her a familiar smile.

— As you say, wife.