For the first time in a long time, the snowfall stopped and the sun shone in the sky. Such sunny days were very rare in the northern region, so Remesis and Hannes Reitli decided to go for a walk together when they both had some free time.
— The weather is nice today, — remarked the knight.
— Yes, you're right. If it were always like this, the population of the North would increase a hundredfold.
— Well, that's natural when the weak are left behind. We don't need to show pity for weak people who can't withstand the cold.
— Doesn't that sound a bit cynical?
— Remember, you once told me that we should take better care of the weakest because they cannot take care of themselves.
The fortress commander sighed.
— Princess, I admit that much has changed over the years, and I have changed my point of view... If we really help everyone in need now, there will soon be no room left in the northern region.
Remesis couldn't help but smile. It was true. Over the past few years, since she and the princess had arrived in this place, it had indeed undergone many changes. In particular, the population of the north had definitely grown larger than before.
Thanks to the efforts of Remesis and her subordinates, who worked tirelessly, they managed to significantly improve the quality of life of the local residents, and the mortality rate decreased significantly.
Sometimes the knight even complained that all these changes were happening so fast that he couldn't even keep up with them. After all, too many events had indeed taken place over the past few years.
— Hannes, it seems to me that you are becoming more grumpy with each passing year.
In response to this remark, her knight only smiled faintly.
— Your Highness, it is only because I am getting older and thinking more about the past. Meanwhile, I also remember the days when you were still a child and first came here.
— When I was a child, you say? That story is long past.
Hearing the uncharacteristic nostalgia in the knight's voice, Remesis looked at him in surprise and smiled. For her, the day they first met would indeed remain forever in her memory. After all, it was the commander of the northern fortress who was the first person to show kindness and extend a helping hand to the children who had been abandoned to their fate, whom everyone else wished dead.
So, when did so much time fly by?
— Princess, don't say that. For me, all these years have flown by in an instant.
His chestnut-coloured hair was now grey, and wrinkles had formed at the corners of his eyes and lips.
For some reason, Remesis hesitated when she looked at Hannes' face now. And although she understood that one way or another they would not be able to spend the rest of their lives hand in hand with this man, because sooner or later she would leave this place anyway, Remesis still could not help but feel regret. After all, for all these years, the knight had been not only her subordinate, but also someone she considered a full-fledged member of her family.
"If I had an uncle, I would want him to be just like him." Such thoughts involuntarily arose in her mind as Remesis looked at Hannes Wrightley.
— Your Highness, is something wrong? You've been looking at me for a long time...
At one point, the knight caught her gaze and was taken aback for a second.
— Nothing, — Remesis replied, embarrassed. — I was thinking about the past, just like you.
— What do you mean?
— When I was a child, the three of us often went for walks like this. Me, you, and... Meister Luven.
The knight sighed when she mentioned that name.
— Princess, you still miss him, don't you...? — Hannes asked with concern.
— Of course, — the girl nodded, — and I will always miss him.
Suddenly, Hannes Raightley looked at her with a broad smile on his face. Under the gaze of those eyes, which seemed to know everything, Remesis felt uncomfortable.
The knight knew how hard it was for the princess to part with the few people she loved, so he said:
— Princess, even if the master of the fortress can no longer be with you, I promise that I will stay with you until the very end.
— Really?
— Yes, so let's try to live together until we are very old.
Remesis laughed and nodded to him. They continued their leisurely stroll through the northern fortress, enjoying the good weather and the atmosphere. Neither of them noticed that a pair of eyes was watching them intently from the top of the fortress.
Winter means short days and long nights. And for someone consumed by work, time was running out - darkness was creeping in faster.
Hannes Raithly lit a candle and looked out the window at the gathering darkness. After his walk with the princess, he had worked the rest of the day and was a little tired, but his thoughts were focused on something else.
The knight took a letter knife from a drawer and held it in his hand.
Pulling out an unopened envelope addressed to the Princess of the North, the knight blinked slowly. Today, he had managed to intercept it in time from the urgent messenger, who had been travelling non-stop for a week to get it to the fortress as quickly as possible.
Nevertheless, the knight had noticed him and intercepted the letter, taking care to keep the courier's arrival a secret from the lords of the castle. Without a word, he carefully opened the letter and read it, his eyes scanning the lines coldly, betraying not the slightest emotion.
When he had finished, the knight calmly put it back in the envelope. It was a letter from the stableman of the imperial palace, who was currently in prison on suspicion of murdering the crown princess. The contents of this letter must not be known to anyone else. Especially not to Princess of the North.
Lost in thought, the knight's face was expressionless. His wrinkled face was illuminated by the bright flames of the fire.
Hannes Reitli threw the letter into the fireplace. The flames quickly consumed the paper, leaving only a trail of smoke.
Crackle. Crackle.
This letter, like some others, had been burned to keep the fire going in the fireplace.
Sighing, the knight took a cigarette from his belt, lit it, took a drag, and stared silently at the flickering flames.
***
Meanwhile, Lord of the North, who had returned to her room after completing her patrol of the northern castle, removed her armour with a cold expression on her face and changed into more comfortable clothes.
Asil Nara Ashelot never resorted to the help of servants in such matters, as she did not want anyone else to touch her and dealt with such things herself. As a result, the princess never had a personal maid or aide, and she never even considered hiring one.
The princess had a moment of silence, so she sat down in her favourite place to rest.
Moonlight fell on her face, which rested peacefully against the window pane. Asil frowned, remembering the events that had taken place not so long ago. But all this remained only within her mind and never came out.
"I want blood. More blood."
An inner voice whispered, and Asil grew tired of the stream of thoughts that haunted her day after day.
"This is annoying. Why do I keep hearing these thoughts?"
Asil sat quietly, annoyed that even in moments of peace she could not be completely at ease.
"Probably because you can't escape me, can you?" the voice sneered, "Or rather, yourself."
"You're too annoying and you're always getting in my way."
Asil thought she shouldn't let the ringing voice in her head interfere with her mind. But since it was literally a part of her, she couldn't get rid of it no matter how hard she tried.
Asil casually responded to the quiet muttering of her inner voice:
"Blood? You'll get it. You'll get plenty of blood, just as I promised."
"Heh."
"So stop bothering me and just wait for it."
"You promised me. I hope you keep your word and kill them all. Just like last time. And then... We can just start all over again."
Asil laughed softly.
Ignoring all the words that followed in her head, the princess looked back at the window, where snow was falling heavily.
As soon as Asil pushed it to the back of her mind, the voice could no longer make a sound. Asil liked it better that way. When her mind was quiet, the world became peaceful.
The princess continued to watch the snowfall for a while longer. And, as usual, it was impossible to tell what she was thinking.
Finally, Asil raised her head and stared into the dark space of the room, where she was in no hurry to turn on the light. Because she liked being in the dark.
Sometimes, just like now, she stared meaninglessly into the air with a look of madness in her eyes.