In front of the magnificent tower, built of dark stone, whose top rose high into the sky, the family carriage of the Dehsin family came to a halt. This was a significant and most honourable place in the Nadial Empire, the central astrological tower of Glensia.
A woman with long chestnut hair styled in an updo adjusted her dark blue uniform and stepped out of the carriage. Her steps toward the entrance were full of genuine dignity, and her face was frozen in a cold expression. Her entire appearance seemed to speak of grandeur and power.
The main gates of the magnificent building opened cautiously before her, and Liana Dexsin entered.
As she walked down the elegant corridor lined with dark blue carpets, another astrologer in a similar robe appeared behind her.
— Lady Dexsin, you're back?
— Yes.
— I'm sorry, but could you explain what is going on? You left without a word...
Liana answered the questions asked by her subordinate who was following her briefly. The successor to the order walked swiftly down the corridor, while the man almost ran after her.
— Lady Dexsin, why did you suddenly gather your things and leave for the north? You didn't even inform His Holiness!
— Business trip.
— What?! What kind of business trip? — asked the astrologer with a puzzled expression, but Liana, instead of answering, stopped abruptly and leaned her face towards him.
— I don't have time, — the woman said coldly. — Just tell me if anything urgent came up while I was away.
— What? Yes... of course. You haven't attended the astrological tower meetings for almost a month. Many were concerned about your absence, especially considering that your appointment ceremony is coming up soon...
Liana pursed her lips, considering his words. Finally, she sighed.
— I see.
The only wrinkle on her forehead smoothed out, replaced by smooth, flawless skin. The subordinate looked distractedly at his mistress, watching her mood change rapidly.
— In that case, I will go to the assembly hall immediately, — she said after a moment's hesitation.
— Yes, as you say!
After that, without saying a word, Liana turned and walked purposefully forward. All her thoughts were now focused on one thing, and her subordinate, who was trying unsuccessfully to follow her, could not understand them.
Liana Dehsin's ceremony to be appointed the next chief astrologer was scheduled to take place next month. It was a very important event that the entire astrological tower of Glensia was eagerly awaiting.
***
The ancestral estate located in the territory of Dehsin. This place was surrounded by a solemn and majestic atmosphere, as it was home to the family of the supreme astrologer.
— What? That can't be! — However, a shrill female voice rang out unexpectedly, completely out of harmony with the atmosphere of the estate.
Katrina Eloen Dehsin, who had just received this urgent news, was extremely confused.
— Are you sure you didn't get it wrong? — she asked immediately.
The maid who had brought her the news was just as confused and hastily replied to her mistress:
— Madam, how could I be mistaken? I definitely heard that the lady returned to the capital four days ago.
— What? Is that really true?
The woman's brown eyes narrowed.
— And you mean to tell me that she hasn't sent me a single letter in all this time? — Katrina inquired.
— No, madam.
As she answered her mistress, the maid became more and more despondent.
"Hah."
Finally, upon hearing this news, Katrina leaned back on the expensive sofa in the room she was in and laughed softly. It was truly absurd. How could her husband demonstrate his feelings so clearly?
A month ago, after the funeral of the youngest lady of the Dehsin family, her wife had suddenly left for somewhere. She had taken almost nothing with her and left the estate at night, so Katrina had no idea she had left. Thus, Katrina only found out about it the next morning.
In other words, she had simply abandoned her without a word.
Katrina clenched the velvet upholstery of the sofa on which she was sitting.
"Do I really deserve this treatment?"
The eldest daughter of Duke Carter, who had grown up in the spotlight and surrounded by love since childhood, now felt that her immense pride had been wounded. In the end, no matter how hard she clung to her spouse, it was all in vain.
And even now. Despite the fact that Liana had finally returned to the capital and had been here for four days, she had not deigned to come home during that time. Not only that, she hadn't even sent Katrina a single letter explaining the reason for her behaviour in a few words!
Katrina, who had continued to feel very lonely after the wedding, was now on the verge of despair.
At least before, Liana had visited the family estate at least a couple of times a week because her younger sister also lived there and Liana wanted to see her. That way, Katrina could also see her spouse. But now that the younger Lady Dehsin was no longer there... Would she even come here sometimes?
Katrina was both angry and upset with Liana. Angry because she had proven time and time again that she did not respect her feelings in the slightest. And upset because deep down she still loved her and hoped for her love in return.
Finally, at the thought of having to continue her miserable existence in this huge estate in agonising loneliness, as she had done all these days, the girl was ready to go mad. And so she made a decision.
"Fine. Then, if she doesn't want to see me, I'll visit her myself!"
As soon as Katrina made this decision and announced it loudly, the servants around her looked visibly agitated.
— Madam... Are you sure about this? — her maid asked cautiously. It was the same maid who had earlier told her the news of Liana's return to the capital.
— What's the matter? Do you think I shouldn't do this? — Katrina asked sharply.
— N-no, I'm just worried because you're usually very busy when you're in the central tower... And if you arrive unannounced, you might have made the whole trip for nothing.
Katrina pressed her lips together.
It annoyed her that even ordinary servants knew too much about the state of affairs in this house. Although the maid did not dare to say it directly, Katrina understood perfectly well what she meant. This annoyed her even more.
— You talk too much for a mere servant, — Katrina remarked irritably. — You'd better go and prepare everything for my trip instead of bothering me.
— Yes, madam.
After all, no one could disobey the orders of the current mistress of the house. Following Katrina's instructions, the carriage was prepared very quickly.
— The carriage has arrived, madam.
Katrina already knew this and immediately went out into the street.
— Tell His Excellency that I have left the mansion, should he happen to arrive...
Although this was unlikely, given that the chief astrologer was as much of a workaholic as his eldest daughter and hardly ever appeared at home, Katrina nevertheless considered it necessary to inform him of her departure, just in case.
— Yes, madam. Have a safe journey.
After giving her last instructions to the butler, Katrina approached the black carriage. The coachman bowed to her and opened the door.
Making sure that the lady was comfortably seated inside, the coachman closed the door, and soon the carriage slowly set off. The Dexhin family's carriages were so comfortable that they could not be compared to those of other noble families. It moved so smoothly that Katrina did not even feel the wheels turning. These were truly the most luxurious trips she had ever taken since joining this family.
After a long but comfortable journey, Katrina finally arrived at the central astrological tower of Glensia. However, an unpleasant surprise awaited her there. As if to spite her, all her maid's fears were confirmed.
— Madam, I'm sorry, but you cannot see the young head at this time.
The guard at the entrance bowed his head in confusion.
— Why not? — Katrina asked sharply.
— The head is currently attending an order meeting, — he stammered. — It will last at least four hours... Please don't wait here in vain.
"......."
Katrina was extremely annoyed to hear this. Nevertheless, she did not want to cause a scene in the middle of the street and possibly make her situation even worse in her wife's eyes. So she had to back down.
— All right. I understand.
Katrina pursed her lips as she had to return empty-handed.
It was a truly awful day, and even the weather was simply disgusting. A cold wind was blowing, and the air was damp because it had recently rained in the capital. The girl was angry that her new shoes, which she had worn today, might get dirty.
— Why is the weather so awful today?
Katrina sighed angrily, wrapping herself more tightly in her warm shawl.
— Madam, please return to the carriage. It would be terrible if you caught a cold!
The maid who had accompanied her on this trip bustled around Katrina. She was eager to try to impress her mistress.
— Indeed. I may fall ill before I attend the banquet at the Selby estate.
The maid followed the grumpy lady, who was about to get back into the carriage. However, at that moment, something unusual caught Katrina's attention.
To be more precise, she saw her younger brother, Livius.
The young man with dark hair and amethyst-coloured eyes was definitely her brother, whom she recognised immediately. Katrina happened to see him coming out of a building across the street and not noticing her. Then Livius got into a carriage, which drove off somewhere.
However, that was not what caught Katrina's attention first. She was most puzzled by the fact that her brother had, for some reason, got into a modest and unremarkable carriage that did not belong to the Carter family. Not only that, but the carriage was also heading in a strange direction.
While still living at the Carter estate, Katrina knew that her brother's daily routine was not very varied. He did not usually visit any places other than the Imperial Institute, where he was currently studying. However, this carriage was definitely not heading towards the Imperial Institute, nor was it heading towards the Carter estate.
Then where could he have gone?
Katrina, who was somewhat puzzled by this, frowned. Finally, she was about to get into the carriage. The coachman rose from his seat and bowed deeply, enough to break his back.
— Madam, shall we return to the estate? — he asked.
— No, follow that carriage, — Katrina ordered unexpectedly.
— What? Pardon me?
— Just do as I say.
Without further ado, the servant obeyed his mistress's order.
Eventually, the carriage quietly pulled away and followed the inconspicuous carriage at a distance that made it difficult to notice. Katrina, who had no idea what was going on, simply wanted to find out what her brother was up to.
Finally, after a short drive, the carriage stopped at an unexpected place. Livius got out and immediately headed for the building.
Katrina looked at the huge central temple. She had seen this building many times when passing by, but had never gone inside.
And now she was completely confused, as she couldn't even imagine that Livius could have come here.
Katrina involuntarily clung to the back of the velvet seat and looked out the window. She couldn't understand one thing.
What could her younger brother be doing in a place like this?