1 month ago,
The trip took an insane amount of time and Viola finally got to sleep for the first time in forever. By the time she woke up, nearly a full day has passed.
By the time she woke up, she figured that she finally left the border and close to their destination unnoticed. Luckily Lisa left behind subtle trails that she noted that rookie mercenaries often leave but refuse to tell her what they are.
Viola is spooked due the sudden temperature shock the moment she felt it and knew exactly where they are headed. Hekaton; the coldest nation in the world. She and Lisa knew they were heading northwest but didn't know how far west they would be going.
By the time they made their next stop, Viola is already freezing even though it isn't winter yet.
"Jeez, she's cold. She really is sensitive, isn't she?" the leader says as he generously handed her several blankets. "Warm yourself before you freeze to death."
She snatched the blankets without a word and wrapped herself comfortably in them. She isn't near the cold tundra yet and she could already feel the freezing temperatures. And with the end of Summer, comes her next nightmare for an unspecified amount of time.
She and Lisa continue to communicate through tracing words on their palms when they are at hearing range. As the only female among the mercenaries, she is also the only one who tends to her and sees her often. She refuses to disclose the full plan as it is clear that Lisa is a terrible actor and would give away their plan quickly and gain someone's suspicions.
Lisa knew that Viola is planning something hence why she rarely moves from the corner that she always sat on. If not, she always covers it up with a pillow or blanket.
Viola heard a tap on the carriage. The rhythm indicates that they have arrived at their destination. Viola closed her eyes at the bright light coming in the carriage when it opened. When her eyes finally adjust, there was a woman with orange hair examining her.
"It's her. Bring her inside."
Lisa quickly brought Viola out while she is still wrapped in thick blankets. The woman paid the head mercenary and silently usher her to be brought inside the building.
A villa?
There is only one building in sight. It looks like a metal mansion, lacking any warmth or hospitality. She could no longer feel any presence of life outside; she hasn't for a while. The mansion resembles a fortress than a villa especially one so far and remote. But after getting inside, the warmth of the building made her finally relax. She wants a hot bath and soft bed as soon as possible but she cannot expect such a luxury when she is a prisoner. She could sense the magic. It has a weak presence, but it has lasting effects. It makes the building and the inhabitants invisible to any magical tracking meaning that anyone looking for her would not be able to find her. Next, it would nullify most spells as long as the magic user is not weaker than the person.
"Please follow me, miss."
Lisa continues to help Viola up as Viola made the woman think that the trip made her legs weak as the carriage has very little room for maneuver.
"We traveled too far of a distance to reach the capital Pohjola meaning we are further north." Lisa says.
Viola knew exactly how much trouble she is in now. The greater the distance from the capital, the more of a problem escaping would become.
After stopping in front of a large door, the woman entered it.
"Your Highness, Solin's Saintess is here."
"Bring her in now!" a raspy voice calls out.
Viola and Lisa were taken aback how excited yet sickly that sounds. It seems they know the reason why Viola is brought here.
When they walk inside, Viola paled at the sight while Lisa, poorly masking her reaction, looked away in fear of offending the powerful person in front of them.
The woman has large lesions on every visible part of her body, patches of her hair are missing from her head, her nose is missing and what is left of it is an indent of what should have been there, her skin that isn't covered in rashes are a sickly gray color and as if her deteriorating state isn't bad enough, her raspy breathing and expression look like she is at death's door. No one could picture what she is like before this illness changed her appearance. Viola thought that she would be meeting an old woman. Clearly not.
"Syphilis" Lisa whispered, barely enough for the afflicted or her maid to hear but enough where Viola could hear it.
Syphilis is a sexual transmitted disease. Viola knew about the disease but not enough to know how severe the disease could get. So, this is quite the eyeopener for her. But this is confusing because this disease already has a cure. This person seems powerful enough to cure herself of it so it may not be as simple as a disease.
"Who are you?" Lisa asked.
The orange haired woman stares at them hostile and angry, "How dare you! A mercenary like you has no right to ask for her saintly name!"
"No," Viola answered, "I can see why you had me kidnapped. You want me to cure you."
Viola examined her. It has the same symptoms and side effects of the disease, but it isn't syphilis. It's a result of a curse. A deadly one.
"Why would you go so much trouble for me? Wouldn't a curse breaker be able to fix this?" Viola asked much to that woman's displeasure.
Lisa's eyes widened at this.
"I wouldn't have a choice if you weren't my last hope," the princess hissed, "The curse has started eating me alive slowly and painfully and I'm dying if that isn't obvious!"
"I can remove the curse," Viola says calmly, "but I can't cure you. The effects it had on you isn't something I can fixed. I'm not a healer."
The woman doesn't look amused but is undeterred by it.
The woman tilts her head at the window. "I heard you are a powerful purification user. At the age of fourteen, you achieved a range and power at a scale that hasn't even been seen in the last user's era." She says then grabbed a pill to her mouth. After swallowing it, she continues, "The man barely succeeded in purifying more of the icy land to expand to make a positive difference in his lifetime. People here are beginning to call you Hekaton's reincarnation based on your achievement. I admit that it won't be long before someone would figure out the motive for your kidnapping. I studied your power hoping that I would one day inherit it as the seers predicted but... that never came." She was silent for a bit before staring at her sternly, "I will make you a deal that you cannot refuse. In exchange for healing me and the land, you will receive one of my country's most prized possessions."
*
After observing her for a bit, Viola asks, "Are you Princess Georgina?"
After a bit of silence, the ill person hesitantly nodded.
Viola could guess because of the state of this place. Nobles who wish to hide could hide in their own homes, but this one could be hiding from her own family. And a building like this is big enough to be a castle especially in a place remote like this and close to the border which is more habitable and easier to live in this cold hellscape. Also, this woman gives off the same vibe as the deceased prince Alphonso. She cannot explain it but she could tell they are related somewhat. Princess Georgina was her first guess because Queen Marguarite doesn't seem like the person to sleep around while in the meantime, the princess herself remains unmarried even though she is past marriageable age.
"You think it's syphilis, isn't it?" the woman snapped.