Chapter 10

Our brief moment of weakness was interrupted by loud screams, and in my mind, only one thought raced: someone had been killed, and at a most inopportune time. We immediately left the scene, and with fear, we noticed the gruesome sight. Karl. Who would have thought they'd kill him? Curse my tongue. He could have lived a bit longer. Although maybe it's better that he died. But his blood, it will take a long time to wash it away. I just wanted to kiss Adrian like a normal person and then feel embarrassed and lose consciousness like any respectable aristocrat.

I surveyed all those present, observing their eyes and auras. I had learned to see this. I turned my eyes, and everything returned to its place, except for one thing. With a start, I grabbed Adrian's hand and cautiously pointed to the Empress in the distance. Her eyes were red. And in a moment, she simply disappeared.

Blood was smeared on the columns, and a strange pattern formed beneath the body. Teleportation! That's right. They killed him and teleported him here just like that. But this, magic was involved in this. Demonic teleportation leaves no trace. This is bad. We need to find the power artifact that binds demons to their bodies, depriving them of the ability to take control.

-His throat was cut. The blood has already coagulated. And he was killed somewhere else. There's barely half a liter of blood here, - I said, wiping my chin and calmly delivering this fact.

-How do you know this? - the woman beside me exclaimed in surprise, looking at me.

-Practice has taught me a lot, - I replied, rolling my eyes, - especially doing certain very bad things.

Well, they still don't know about my knowledge of poisons. Two people had already collapsed in a stupor. Symbols. And where did he come from? But they locked him up in prison. And what he did doesn't seem like him. He's not as dumb as they thought. Everyone said I was lucky because I was a woman. But the dean is a great idiot. This is a ritual killing, but the Empress wasn't here at the right time.

All this commotion caused everyone to disperse earlier. I spent the next day relaxing. It's strange, why do they do this at night? I'll be a sleepyhead. The book... Oh right, I didn't return it. Opening the book to a new page, I saw a beautiful illustration of the same balcony, and both of us were kissing. At the bottom, there was a lovely phrase that spoke of love blooming where no one expected it and where you could pray for forgiveness.

-Miss Constance, would you like me to come in? - the girl said after knocking softly on the door.

-Yes, - I replied, getting up and stretching my body, - What time is it?

-2:00 PM, Miss. Shall I bring you something to eat? - she asked.

-Please, - I said, -What's the news?

-Your fiancé asks you to come later to discuss the wedding details, - she said.

-Wedding? - I said in surprise, - So soon?

-You didn't know? After the engagement, no one waits for more than two weeks, - she said.

-Two weeks? - I said, astonished. The black mountains opened up before me, and how to prepare in just 2 weeks? - And everything else, how to hurry up?

-It would have been easier to wake up next to someone else's wife and be done with it. Without all this. White dress, a crowd of people, and an empty side for the bride. At least with Kay in a pink dress, the bridesmaids would laugh, - I said, and I thought she would look like a corpse, it would definitely be fun.

-She'd look better in black, - the girl replied, tightening my corset.

-Well then, I'd be envious, - I said, laughing at the thought.

The piercing, bright sun gradually inclined towards the horizon. The black branches of the winter forest ominously enveloped the entire estate, leaving only a thin corridor of open field. My food quickly disappeared from my plate as I seemed to float in the clouds. I couldn't stop my thoughts. All of this evoked a feeling of melancholy in me. Snow began to fall again. It happened too often here. As if it were connected to Adrian. If only he could control his power in moments like this. But he never told me about it.

Kay sat there, nervously tapping her foot on the floor. She was very worried. In our world, losing a husband rarely ended well. Her father had already started looking for a new husband for her. So she had two options: stage her own death and seek refuge in a foreign country to find a better husband than the one her father would choose, or quickly find herself a fiancé, which would make everything much simpler.

One of the rooms. A special atmosphere permeated all the necromancers, even around this petite woman. Her aura was dark and impenetrable, and her scent was reminiscent of damp earth. But the Empress smelled of something else—blood. My friend's aura radiated calmness, and amidst her dark energy, I saw no threat. Two dark, lifeless eyes briefly focused on the glint of an object. Her black hair was tightly tied in a bun, highlighting her high cheekbones and casting a shadow on her pale face.

-What ideas? - she asked, taking a sip of tea.

-I have one idea. Why not outwit your daddy and find someone better for yourself than the scoundrel he'll choose for you? Take control of your destiny. Don't hand it over to your daddy like a toy, - I said, because he could always find a worse scoundrel than the late Karl.

-And who should I choose? I don't know who would be good for me, - she replied.

-I think the Duke of Iveski would be a good choice. He has a daughter, his wife passed away, and they had no warm relationship. But he loves his daughter very much. You've always wanted a daughter, and he wants a good wife. It's a match, - I said, shrugging and pursing my lips.

-How do you know this? - Kay asked, surprised, looking at me.

-Nora told me a lot, - I said with a sly tone, - because as soon as you return to the family estate, he'll marry you off.

-I know. When I was of marrying age, he wanted to marry me off immediately, - she said, taking a nervous sip of tea, - Why do you always think several steps ahead?

-I'm used to it. The best way to come out on top is to be prepared for anything, - I said.

I left her to contemplate, and I cautiously entered the study. I walked up to the table and sat in the chair. He wasn't there yet. Sketches of yesterday's murder lay on the table. The weather was beautiful—trees swayed, the sky was cloudless. Just recently, there had been a snowfall, and black clouds had covered the sky, but now the sun was shining, and the estate's cats came out to bask in the sun. He hadn't prepared himself much for my arrival. He sat down in front of me.

-I know what you want to talk about, - Adrian said, running his hand over my shoulder.

-I have a few questions, and I consider them important, - I said calmly and emotionlessly, tearing the silence.

-What are they? Dress color, choose any color except black. We're already considered abnormal to them, - he said.

-It's not about that. I'm curious why the rush? - I asked him.

-Because there's a reason behind my decision. If my suspicions are correct, it's best to do this as soon as possible, - he said calmly.

-Between us. Especially on that balcony, - I whispered, lowering my eyes.

-I don't know. But I'm curious about it. And I really like it, - he said in a strange tone.

Wanting to express my tired feelings, I thought, "How much I want to sleep." The battle against exhaustion leads to my eyes soon closing. Inside me, a dangerous signal appears when, on one side, my ears perceive approaching footsteps. In a distant moment, I realize that something bad is happening. It seems that, without doing anything, I suddenly start falling from my chair. At this very moment, someone might be grabbing me, keeping me safe, but I find myself in such a state that I can't do anything to avoid the fall.

Returning to my room, I decided to relax during dinner and headed to the bathroom before sleep, hoping for a peaceful rest. But the dream that followed left me anxious. My eyes immediately saw a dark forest, and in front of me appeared a man with guards, dressed in a long hooded cloak that concealed his face. Behind him was a group of protectors. They moved toward a small caravan that had found refuge here. Their steps led them to one person – a witch.

The witch I saw in my dream struck me with her sunburned skin, as if scorched by the sun. Her eyes were deep and black as pitch, and they seemed to penetrate the soul with a mysterious power. Black hair cascaded around her, creating an impression of a magical aura. She wore a vibrant skirt that seemed to be woven from fire itself. It flickered with various shades of red, like a bonfire, and captivated with its magnetic allure. Golden ornaments adorned her body, shimmering and radiating a mysterious energy, accentuating her magical essence.

-Looking for the princess. Gild your hand, and I'll tell you everything, - the woman said, gesturing for them to join her in a portable gazebo.

-We'll pay well, - replied the unknown man, beckoning his guards to follow.

-You will find her. Look closely at the red-haired witches at the balls. One of them is your daughter, Emperor. And don't worry, I won't reveal your secret for free. A little extra coin, and my lips will remain sealed, - the woman said, laughing loudly.

Everything around me began to disintegrate, disappearing from view involuntarily. Only I and this enigmatic woman remained in a white room. With the next instant transition, I found myself inside another room. It was filled with dark wooden walls, floors, and ceilings. In the center of the room was a table around which I sat, surrounded by green herbs hanging on the walls, giving the room a natural atmosphere. In front of me stood a quartz sphere emitting a mysterious light. The woman sat opposite me, her eyes fixed on my hands.

-A beautiful ring, young wanderer, - she said, looking at the adornment on my ring finger.

-Real or delusional? - I asked, and my eyes sharply focused on the fire.

-I am real, you are real, and the rest is delusional. So what do you want to know, Mistress of Iceholl? - she said, and with a wave of her hand, turned the fire into ice.

-What were my parents' names? - I asked, taking a drag from my pipe.

-Heh, heh. You have to find that out for yourself. The game with evil has begun, - she said as the illusion dissolved, and I woke up.

Well, how could she do that? Intruding into others' visions, playing with them in the end. I'm not a fragile weakling. I just needed to dig deeper. And now the game has begun. And, unfortunately for my opponents, I'm not accustomed to losing. Everyone should know this, especially you, Empress. Maybe I'm not the lost princess, but my duty is vengeance. That's my mission.

-Nora, what time is it? - I said, getting up from the bed.

-It's seven, Miss. Shall I bring you breakfast? - the girl asked, guiding me to a small table and pulling out a chair.

-Yes, as soon as possible. I want to set off on a journey to Lady Loran, - I said, yawning. I really needed more sleep.

-Very well, - she replied and brought me food a few minutes later.

Yes, the journey will take two hours, and we will reach the city and their estate. Her husband is absent right now, which is good. It will be easier to negotiate with her. They are supporters of the Crown Prince, and I think they will be on my side. I feel that the Emperor's will has long been broken, as all decisions are made by his wife. I dressed in a traveling gown, gathered my hair into a bun, and put on a small hat. I also wore gloves and pearl jewelry. Sometimes it seems like my wardrobe is growing at an incredible rate, although I rarely buy anything. After descending with Nora to the carriage, we quickly decided to set off on the journey.

-It's so boring here. Maybe we should summon some ghosts. I think it's a great idea, - I said quietly.

-But the master might object, - she replied with trepidation.

-Oh, come on. It's just a childish game. Did you ever play 'Young lady is dead' or 'Bloody Meri,' 'Queen of spades,' or 'Blue baby'? - I asked her.

-No, it's against our beliefs, - she whispered.

-I'm a witch. Well, I've played ''Queen of spades" at least, or in "A drunk gnome, or the red-nosed one', - I asked her.

-What are those games? - she asked me in a delicate voice.

-The first one is a game to enrich your vocabulary. There's a special rhyme in my grimoire. The second one is taught at the academy. I just adore it. But it seems like everyone's tired of it there, - I said, and with a nonchalant shrug and a feigned expression of ignorance, I continued, - Well, you know, I just don't want to seem too boring.

Over time, after a long journey, we finally arrived at their magnificent mansion. Along the way, I couldn't help but be captivated by the view outside the window. Slowly passing by the landscapes, I almost drifted to sleep from the gentle hum of the carriage wheels. But each time, Nora, my reliable companion, snapped me out of my reverie.

The surroundings of the mansion were vast territories enclosed by a mighty stone wall. The streets of the town were very neat and clean, and the houses seemed like small architectural masterpieces. Their vibrant facades were almost untouched by snow, indicating regular maintenance. Smoke gracefully and warmly rose from the chimneys, creating a unique atmosphere of comfort and warmth.

We ascended a small hill, on top of which stood a massive castle. Its elegant towers and walls were visible from afar. The castle impressed with its static grandeur and unwavering pride. It transcended time and appeared as a guardian of the city. Also, during my time in the city, I noticed that the local nobility was not particularly particular about their dwellings. Wealth and luxury had won their hearts, while modesty and simplicity were foreign concepts. They preached a lavish life, reflected in their opulent homes.

-Miss Calabrio, - a man spoke, bowing before me, - Lady Loran is already waiting for you.

Exiting the carriage, we entered a large foyer where a welcoming fire danced in the corner. Patricia, the mansion's owner, sat by it, her expressive eyes barely flickering from the flames. The foyer had dim gray walls framed by beautiful candles on an enormous antique chandelier. This soft, welcoming light blended with the fireplace's fire, creating a special atmosphere.

Patricia gestured for me to sit beside her. She signaled her maid to leave the room, and I turned to the chambermaid with a nod. Soon, the woman handed me a glass of red wine that glistened alluringly in the clear glass.

-Costance, do you know why you're here? - the woman asked, surveying me.

-Perfectly, you suspect a possible swift demise of the emperor and wish to prevent his wife from usurping power, - I replied, - There wouldn't be another reason for my presence here.

-Your suspicions are correct, Costanza. But I know one of your secrets, - Lady Loran said.

-What is it? - I asked her, my heart freezing along with my breath.

-Perhaps you are the lost princess... - she whispered.