Chapter 4. The Secret

The frosty winter wind blew mercilessly. The air was chilly, and the cold wind seemed to pierce through. As unimportant as the weather outside was, the princess's entire insides grew cold. Remesis ran through the corridors of the northern castle as fast as she could.

Her breathing was hitching, and she didn't even have time to tidy up after her sleep, running out of her room as soon as she received the news. Many servants looked back at the girl in surprise, not even taking the time to greet her properly.

— Ugh, ugh, ugh, ugh…

The stairs leading to the wing of the tower where the maester's room was located were just around the next corner. Without giving herself time to pause, Remesis also quickly ran up the stairs. However, at that very moment, she suddenly saw a person she had not expected to meet here in any way.

— What are you doing here?

— …Wife.

Remesis could not have guessed that Asil would actually come here. The woman stood by the door and seemed to be waiting for Remesis because she knew she would come here. After hesitating for a moment, Remesis stepped closer.

— I heard that the Maester is not well, ' said the Princess of the northern fortress, 'I should have visited him when I returned. И… I also knew you would be here.

Despite those words, Remesis remained silent for a while.

— Your highness, you…

— It's alright. Let's just go there together.

Although Remesis didn't expect anyone to keep her company during her visit to the maester, and certainly not Asil, there was no extra time to think about it now. First and foremost, the girl needed to check on his condition. Remesis' heart was still pounding anxiously.

— Good… — After hesitating, the princess nodded.

Soon the closed door swung open and the sight before Remesis made her heart clench even tighter.

Luwen Ither looked even thinner and more haggard than he had a month ago. The old man's wrinkled face looked tired. His long white beard and the wisps of grey hair on his temples were even sparser. The man's eyes were closed and he seemed to be sound asleep. But as soon as the faint noise of the guests reached the old man, his grey eyes opened.

— Your highness, you have come.

Remesis took a step forward. Her face turned pale with worry. Her blue eyes automatically stopped on the face of the old man, who, despite all the pain he was now in, still smiled softly at her as he always did.

The Princess of the North involuntarily swallowed the lump in her throat.

Asil remained standing behind her, stepping aside and leaning her back against the wall. Remesis was the first to approach the Maester's bed and stopped beside it. Then, unable to stand, her legs gave out and she fell to her knees, taking the maester's weakened palm in her own.

— My health is failing, ' the old man said.

— Maester…

Luwen shook his head.

— Your Highness, I think… That I really am going to die soon.

— No, you're not, ' Remesis said as if she were begging the old man to refute her own words.

The Maester of the northern castle stared at her, forcing out a smile:

— You must not grieve, child. Everyone dies sooner or later.

— Everyone, but not you.

— I'm not young anymore. That day had to come sooner or later.

Luwen spoke of his death as if he had accepted it long ago. But Remesis continued to deny it, even though the truth was right in front of her eyes. Today the maester had been visited again by the best healer she could find in the northern lands. His prognosis was far from comforting. Luwen could no longer eat or swallow on his own. In addition, for the past month the maester had been in extreme heat to the point where he sometimes vomited blood.

Of course, with his condition, it was clear that the old man wouldn't be able to last much longer. In fact, it was a miracle that Luwen Iter's body was still alive.

— I'm sorry to show you what you don't want to see, Princess. The medicine doesn't help me, and I don't sleep well at night. That's why I can't even look at you properly.

— If the medicine can't work properly on you, I'll keep looking for another one until I eventually find one.

Luwen Iter sighed. His chest heaved up and down heavily.

— Would it be worth it?

— Maester… — Remesis called out to him desperately and gripped his bony pale palm tighter.

— Your Highness. I know as well as anyone how much this body can endure.

— …

The Maester of the northern castle will die soon. It was so obvious that all the healers Remesis had invited to the castle one by one over the past six months had told her the same thing. None of them could help Luwen. All they could do was ease his pain with medication. But lately, even they had stopped helping. Nevertheless, Remesis continued to fight hard, even when there seemed to be no more hope.

In the end, just like in his previous life, it all happened again.

'Is this what's called fate that you just have to accept?'

In her past life, Remesis had suffered greatly over the loss of someone dear to her. She blamed herself for not paying proper attention to Maester Luven's condition, and because of that, she lost him. So in this life, even knowing that she was far from omnipotent, the girl tried her best to do everything she could to prevent it.

Remesis insisted that the old man check his health regularly as soon as they had the chance. Remesis also made sure that the maester didn't spend too much time amongst the cold north winds and mostly stayed in the castle. Remesis was really doing her best to avoid the Maester's possible illness.

At the very least, she hoped that she could prolong his life for at least a few more years. But ironically, all her efforts were in vain.

Luwen Ither, as a rather free-spirited man, could not bear the long confinement within the castle walls. It seemed to him that Remesis worried too much about his condition, and her worries were in vain.

So one day, without warning anyone about it, Luwen left the castle to take a little walk in the neighbourhood. The old man just wanted to get some fresh air. But the result… As one might expect, the maester's short walk ended with a cold.

It was a common ailment caused by hypothermia, which any other person would have easily coped with on their own. But because of Luwen's advanced age, even this trifling ailment was not without consequences.

Luwen Iter's disease progressed rather quickly and spread to his lungs, and with each passing month the old man's condition worsened. Nevertheless, despite his illness, the old man stubbornly refused to adhere to bed rest and continued to work for the good of Castle Nord to the very limit.

Eventually, in the last few months, he was no longer able to fulfil his duties as before and found himself bedridden. Remesis was busy with her position as mistress of the castle, but despite that, she found every spare moment to visit Maester Luven. And now, looking at him, her heart was torn to pieces.

— Princess. Haven't we known each other for over ten years?

— Yes. Time flies by so fast.

— Actually, I was really worried. Knowing that sooner or later I would be the first to leave, I was afraid that I would have to leave you here alone. But… Now, seeing that you have a solid support even after my death, I remain calm.

The gaze of the old man's faded grey eyes moved behind Remesis' back. A faint smile flashed across his lips. Luwen was greatly relieved: at least the girl he had come to regard as his own granddaughter would still have solid ground under her feet with someone like the princess by her side. When their gazes met, Asil said nothing, while Remesis continued to sniff her nose.

— Calm? — How can you be calm if you still haven't fulfilled your promise to me? You said that when you were better, we would go south together, to the homeland of your ancestors. I'm still waiting for that, by the way.

— Oh, that.

The girl's words took Luwin by surprise.

— Was the Maester of Fortress Nord going to retract his own words?

Hearing her accusation, Luwen Iter smiled and shook his head.

— No, of course, I will definitely keep my word.

— Then are you going to fulfil that promise? — Remesis inquired.

— …

Luwen Iter, looking at the princess of the castle, remained silent for a while. There was an uncertain expression on his face. Finally, the old man said:

— …Alright. I will do my best to keep that promise to you, Your Highness.

— You must remember well what you just said here.

Immersed in the silence that reigned in the room for a while, Remesis tried to contain her emotions and not cry. At this time…

— Wife.

Hearing a quiet call, Remesis looked round.

Standing behind her, Asil gently slipped her hand between her armpits and supported her to help her up.

— You've been standing like that for quite some time now. Your knees must be hurting.

— No, I'm fine…

Remesis shook her head.

— Wife, 'the princess' voice sounded more firm, 'Stand up for now.

— …

After hesitating for a moment, Remesis still listened to her and slowly straightened up. Her blue eyes were still hazy. She couldn't think straight even after meeting the princess' gaze. Asil was still supporting Remesis' back with both hands, as if afraid that her legs might not be able to hold her up.

Asil whispered quietly in her ear:

— Wife. Go rest for a while. I'll stay with the maester in your place.

— …What?

Remesis let go of the hand holding the princess and looked up. The girl's eyes blinked confusedly when she heard that.

— You can trust me with this.

— …Your Highness.

Remesis hesitated and at that moment shifted her gaze to Maester Luven. She had conflicting emotions about leaving the two of them alone. But Luwen Iter also told her:

— I'm tired. I think I need to rest.

Thanks to the maester's firm remark, Remesis didn't ask any more questions. Finally, she hesitantly nodded.

Clutching the old man's palm firmly, she bid him farewell. Remesis could no longer bother the sick man.

— I will return tomorrow. Please rest, maester.

Instead of answering, Luven Ither only smiled at those words. Remesis stared at him anxiously and then took a step back, walking away. In the end, Remesis had no choice but to leave the room. The door closed behind her with a muffled creak. The sound of Remesis' footsteps began to fade into silence.

The princess and the maester of the northern fortress were left alone in the bedchamber. Clearing his throat, the old man said:

— Your Highness, unfortunately I will not be able to greet you properly as I cannot even sit up right now. Please forgive me for my impoliteness.

— What kind of politeness can I expect from a sick person?

Asil chuckled softly. She pulled up a chair against the wall and sat down beside the old man's bed, in the very spot where Remesis had been kneeling until recently.

— Your Highness, I am grateful to you for coming to see this servant in person.

— You and I may not be close, but are you not the Maester of this castle? Besides, you are my wife's confidant. It's only natural that I should visit you when you're in such a state.

— …That's how it is.

Luwen faintly smiled at those words.

— The moment I saw you… I understood everything.

Instead of finishing the sentence, Luwen Iter exhaled heavily. Red blood rushed from his mouth along with a dry cough. Asil watched silently and did not rush to offer her help to the old man.

— …You do resemble the previous emperor. Every time I look at you, I remember him, ' the old man said as soon as he finished coughing after a while.

'…'

Luwen was taken aback. It was because of the princess who suddenly laughed. Asil was laughing. She laughed loudly, as if she had heard something ridiculous. Meister had never seen a northern devil laugh like that before. In some ways, it was even like being possessed.

— In fact, I've been thinking about it for a long time.

— What?

— You're probably the only person I can tell about it. And since you're on death's doorstep right now… — the woman muttered, turning her gaze to the old man's face. The man, even though he was exhausted, still flinched because of that look.

— Maester, I… will tell you a secret.

— A secret?

— Yes. If the Maester will allow it.

In the end, Luwen had no choice but to nod hesitantly.

Asil leaned forward. Then she slowly whispered something in the man's ear.

— …

The gazes of a pair of dazed grey eyes and extraordinary amber eyes collided in the room. In the next instant, Maester Luwen clutched at his chest, which was suddenly even heavier than it had been before. He felt like he was suffocating as the unbearable pain continued to intensify. The face of the princess, who continued to stare at the dying old man, did not reflect much emotion.

As his last wish, Luwen Iter had been about to ask the princess to take care of Remesis after his passing. But now those very words suddenly became completely meaningless and stuck in his throat.

At this very moment, the maester of the northern castle regretted so much for the first time that he had only a short time left. If he had known who he was leaving his granddaughter to, he would have continued to cling to his miserable life with all his might, but unfortunately, the gods had not given him a single chance.

The man desperately grabbed for air with his hand, but it was all to no avail.

— K-khaa…!

The end.

Luwen Iter collapsed on his bed and didn't move anymore. His hand, which had been reaching upwards all this time, fell helplessly. The Maester looked as if he were sound asleep.

Asil Nara Asheloth quietly approached him and covered the old man's wide-open eyelids with her palm.