The following few days at the estate passed in tranquility. Remesis spent most of her time in the company of her brother. Livius was caring and attentive, as if sensing that right now Remesis needed support more than ever.
They spent mornings and days playing board games and walking in the garden, and evenings in the library. Remesis felt that she had begun to breathe a little more freely, and since her arrival at the estate she truly felt lighter. She almost believed that she had actually managed to escape from everything that was tearing her apart inside.
It was hard to believe, but those days spent in the Carter duchy were indeed healing her. Nevertheless, despite the fact that now Remesis truly felt better, she still could not shake off the strange premonition and thoughts that had haunted her ever since she arrived here.
During one of the shared dinners with her brother, Remesis casually asked:
— And where are Michel and Katrina?
Livius froze for a moment, as if the sound of those names had doused him with cold water. He slowly set his glass down on the table.
— And why are you asking about them? — he asked slowly.
— You said that Father was taken away by the inspection office for investigation. But Michel and Katrina... You didn't say anything about them.
The young man flinched and lowered his gaze.
— Brother Michel and Sister Katrina?.. — Livius muttered quietly. — Well, it's true that they are no longer here. You know Brother's character, he was always very self-centered, and simply couldn't bear the fact that his reputation was now ruined. He left the estate on his own, because he no longer wanted to stay here and endure that shame. And Sister Katrina... She is married. Naturally, she is now in the house of the head of the order.
Remesis did not answer for some time, as she pondered over this.
— Is that true? — she finally asked quietly.
— Of course. I wouldn't lie to you. But isn't it good that they are no longer here?
In the end, after hesitating, Remesis nodded. But for some reason the strange feeling still did not leave her.
After that conversation the atmosphere became a little strange. Livius, though still courteous toward her, grew slightly more tense, and more often began to avoid her gaze. His smile now seemed more forced to Remesis.
Remesis also said nothing and decided not to dwell on it too much. In the end, she simply chose to take her brother at his word.
***
That night Remesis woke up from a sensation she could not even explain to herself. It simply seemed to her that someone was watching her. And in the half-dark room she really was able to make out the silhouette of a person.
More precisely, it was the face of her second brother, which unexpectedly appeared right above her.
Remesis looked at him and froze.
Blue eyes, exactly the same as hers, met her gaze.
— Brother?.. — she asked in surprise. — What are you doing here?
Livius's gaze also wavered when he saw her. It seemed that he hadn't quite expected Remesis to wake up. But now that it had happened, there was no point in stepping back. Her brother's gaze once again seemed strange to Remesis.
— Brother?.. — Remesis whispered again, as if trying to understand what was happening at all.
But Livius did not look away and only continued to stare at her.
— Sister, — his voice was strangely calm. — I have to tell you something.
— .......
Remesis still looked at him in confusion.
— You must stay here, — Livius whispered. — Divorce the Lord of the North and be with me. You can do that now, can't you?
Remesis had no idea why her brother suddenly spoke of this. She blinked in bewilderment, continuing to look at him:
— Brother, what are you...
But Livius interrupted her.
— ...Forget about the North. In that place where Father exiled you, you mustn't stay anymore. Now, when I finally managed to rise and gain power, I can finally save you. Sister, I will take you out of that hell. I'm sorry you had to wait so long.
— .....
— ...But from this moment on everything will be different. You must stay here with me. Only you and I.
Remesis could not at once understand what exactly he was talking about. Her heart pounded tensely in her chest.
— Brother, what are you even saying...? — the girl exhaled.
— You don't understand, — Livius brought his face even closer to hers. — I love you. I have always loved you. Even in childhood... I knew that there was a special bond between us. I just couldn't say it aloud.
While Remesis remained frozen in shock, Livius, as if finally casting aside all remaining boundaries, suddenly tried to kiss her. He held her hands tightly, but Remesis struggled beneath him with all her strength, and in the end she felt the accidental touch of warm lips only on her cheeks and neck.
— Livius... You've gone mad! — she cried out.
— Sister, I just love you so much... — Livius muttered, obsessively continuing to try to kiss her lips, — How can a feeling like love be a sin?
— Stop it! — Remesis resisted desperately, — I said, stop it immediately!
Finally, when the young man almost managed to achieve what he wanted and his lips were only a millimeter from hers, Remesis at last managed to break free. The next moment Remesis lunged forward sharply and struck him with all her strength with her elbow in the chest. Livius staggered above her, let out a short breath, lost his balance, and fell beside her on the bed.
Remesis took advantage of this, jumped up, tangled in her blanket, and barefoot rushed to the door. Yanking it open with force, she ran out into the corridor.
Remesis ran through the dark corridors of the estate like a mouse trapped in a snare. All the doors were locked, and in her despair the girl could not find a place to hide. Her breath came ragged, and her hands trembled. Remesis heard her brother already leaving the room after her and continuing to call to her:
— Sister, where are you running?
Remesis walked down the corridor on tiptoe, as if afraid to draw his attention with her steps. Meanwhile, Livius's voice continued to sound somewhere nearby.
— Ah, I understand. You probably want to play hide-and-seek with me?
The second son of the duke laughed with a chilling laugh.
— As you wish. I don't mind at all recalling our childhood and playing with you. In truth, I always dreamed that in childhood we could play together. Only you and I, and no one else...
At last, Remesis spotted the only possible refuge ahead. It was a wide column standing by the wall in the corner of the corridor. Perhaps, in such darkness, the young man would not be able to see her if she hid under it.
— Well then, I'll begin. One, two, three, four, five, here I come.
Livius sang this tune as if it truly were nothing more than a game to him.
Remesis hid and covered her mouth with her hand so as not to make a sound. She pressed her knees to her chest. All her insides trembled, and her body shook with fear. Most of all she was afraid that her heart, beating so loudly now, might give her away.
— Sister, where are you? — meanwhile her brother called melodiously.
After that, silence hung in the corridor for a moment. Remesis even felt relief from it.
She thought that surely the young man had gone to look for her somewhere else, and now she had a chance to get out of here. All she needed was to reach the first floor, open the main doors, and run away from here. Run, run, and run... Where? It didn't matter. The main thing was, as far away from here as possible.
But all her hopes were shattered in a single instant.
Suddenly Remesis heard the sound of someone's approach right beside her. Remesis sharply raised her head and, trembling with fear, saw directly above herself amethyst eyes filled with madness.
— Found you.