"Sometimes, we become puppets in the hands of far more influential players. And if you yield to these manipulations, you are doomed to a slow decay."
When I opened my eyes, Evelina was breathing peacefully in her royal bed. All that remained for me was to don the mantle of the mage-guardian and await her awakening.
I walked unhurriedly into the wardrobe where my things lay and changed, carefully folding the gifted nightgown on the edge of the dresser.
After fastening the breastplate, I left the chambers and stood like an eternal shadow at the entrance to the princess's suite. I might have stood there for some time longer, had the door to the adjacent chambers not opened, and from it, Prince Frederik himself, in a blue formal uniform that seemed forged from the very claim to the throne, did not gracefully emerge with his companion…
Her slender figure was clad in a dress the color of a night storm, embroidered with dark lace. A venomous smile played on her lips, and her coal-red eyes seemed to look through any structure. On her neck was a tattoo: a zigzag and three intertwined circles. It was an ancient symbol of chaos, a precise mirror of the Creator's seal in X'Therium. There was no doubt. It was her—Chaotic-Darkness.
They moved slowly down the corridor toward me and stopped a few steps away.
"What are you called, girl?" Frederik threw out casually. "I've seen you somewhere. The Academy of Duality?"
"Good morning, Your Highness. That is correct," I replied calmly, despite his rudeness. "Artalis Feda Nox. A foreigner from Tarvar and, concurrently, your sister's mage-guardian."
Chaotic-Darkness familiarly approached me and ran a finger along the line of my neck, then sharply pulled her hand back as if shocked by an electric current.
"She's an interesting one," the woman turned to the prince.
"They are all 'interesting' in Tarvar," Frederik responded indifferently.
CD moved closer to Frederik and wrapped her arm around his, as if they were husband and wife.
"Perhaps we should take her into our service? She seems very promising to me," she whispered in his ear, in a cunning tone loud enough for me to hear everything.
Frederik shook his head.
"I am sorry, Vespera, but be that as it may, I cannot take a mage-guardian from my sister. After all, it is such an important title." Finishing his words, Frederik laughed.
Vespera elegantly shrugged.
"My apologies, Artalis, it seems we will not be friends." She smiled and, taking Frederik's arm, headed toward the stairwells.
I knew she had recognized me. She needed the tactile contact to understand who I was, for we both originated from the same primordial Darkness. Natura communis, fatum oppositum. I merely shook my head. The less I involved myself in their political constructs, the lower the probability that I would affect my primary objective. I am an architect, not a player, and I must follow this simple rule.
Several more hours passed before Evelina, fragrant with energy in a gown the color of gold, fluttered out of her chambers, surrounded by two maids whom I had let pass a little over an hour ago.
"Artalis, have you washed yet?" she asked, looking into my eyes.
"I have not had the opportunity to leave my post," I answered calmly. "By the way, I met your brother and his companion. A very interesting individual."
Evelina's expression darkened instantly.
"You mean Vespera?"
"Yes, precisely. She walks so sweetly on Frederik's arm, as if she were already his wife," I remarked ironically.
"She cannot become his wife; my mother would never bless such a union! Do not speak foolishness, Artalis!" Evelina threw back coldly. My question had clearly hit its mark. "Come, let's go with me, freshen up, and then we will head to the council, which begins in exactly one hour."
I nodded obediently, and we made our way toward the bathrooms, where I was finally able to wash my face with cool water.
***
The path to the council hall led down staircases to the opposite part of the castle. By a large, arched, double-leafed door, Frederik and Vespera stood smiling, quietly conversing about something.
As we approached, Frederik spoke with a faint arrogance, "Sister," he smiled with the corners of his lips. "You are late. The council is already in session. It began thirty minutes early today."
"A council without the heiress is merely the babbling of old men," Evelina retorted, not even looking at him. But her gaze involuntarily fell upon his companion, and she was forced to turn her head back to her brother. "And you, brother, as always, have chosen exquisite company."
Vespera smiled crookedly. "Princess Evelina, your charisma… is admirable. I suppose it is time for us all to attend this wonderful event, to shake up the old men here."
Frederik, with a smirk, entered the Hall of Mirrors, where a man, shriveled with age, was just finishing his report on affairs at the southern border of the empire.
When we entered, the old man froze and looked at Queen Margaret with a pleading expression. She sat on one of two identical thrones against the wall, above which hung a fresco depicting the queens' journey to Sumerenn.
The queen merely nodded silently in response.
"I hope we did not interrupt?" Frederik asked loudly, his voice echoing through the hall.
"No," the queen replied. "Please, take your seats."
I followed Evelina and sat beside her, while opposite, closer to the center of the hall, Vespera settled in with the prince.
When everyone was seated, the old man continued in a hoarse voice, "Lately, the risk of rebellions against the crown has increased on the southern border."
"Rebellions are a pus that must be cut out," Frederik interrupted him.
"Pus appears where the body poisons itself," Evelina countered. "And if you cauterize the wound without cleansing it, the entire body will die."
"It depends on the wound…" Vespera whispered, barely audible.
Queen Margaret, listening to the disagreements in the council, ran a hand through her gray hair, her fingers tightly gripping the edge of the throne. She said nothing, only looked at the map and addressed the speaker, "We will suppress them. As before. These Krauvs and the House of Nine bring stable problems to Valtheim, but we cannot get rid of them completely. They occupy too large a shadow market, and the crown is currently unable to fill that niche. And as you all know, a sacred place is never empty."
Margaret looked at the map again, then at her advisors.
"It is something else entirely that worries me personally." She shook her head almost imperceptibly. "The Anix Empire—those are our true enemies."
Vespera rose from her seat, offering a shallow bow.
"Your Majesty, I beg your pardon for my ignorance. Your wisdom is boundless, but perhaps you could enlighten us... how, precisely, does severing ties with the Anix Empire strengthen our kingdom by depriving it of vital goods? Is there some grander strategy I am failing to see?" Her voice was sweet as honey, but laced with venom.
Queen Margaret's gaze hardened, the fury she fought to contain smoldering just beneath the surface.
"Lady Tenemhbright, your feigned ignorance is unwelcome here. You will not interrupt this council again, or I will have you removed from the Hall of Mirrors." Her voice was sharp, a command that permitted no argument.
Vespera lowered her eyes and took her seat. Then the advisor continued, "Ships at the northern border. Without flags. Diplomats under immunity. The ports are silent, but the shadows are growing. They are getting closer."
"And what does Duke Alry say?" Margaret asked angrily.
"He says that everything is under control," the old man in the red mantle with a long beard replied.
"Is that so? Tomorrow, write him a letter to immediately prepare for a visit to the capital," Margaret said coldly.
"Your Highness, I apologize again for offering my solution," Vespera intervened. "Perhaps it would be better for us to start with diplomacy? We could send reliable diplomats and resolve the issue with Anix peacefully."
I watched her. She was not suggesting this because she wanted peace. She was suggesting a pause, a long, corrosive one. She was playing a card that looked like a compromise but smelled of poison. And when I realized this, she turned to me. Not sharply, but precisely, as if she understood that I had seen through her. Her gaze was as warm as the blade of a dagger heated in one's palm. A violet flash in her eyes. She said nothing. It was not necessary. She was merely marking the boundaries I was not to cross.
I did not react. There was no need. Not yet.
When the council ended, Evelina led me away from the palace, past the royal guard carrying out their silent duty. And only when we were a sufficient distance away did she speak.
"Did you feel that flash?" she asked. Her voice was lower than usual; it was laced with a fear uncharacteristic of her confidence.
"Yes, I saw everything perfectly. She is very powerful and dangerous," I replied calmly.
"And what are you going to do about it?" she asked, as if expecting me to finish Vespera off.
"Nothing. Haste, in this case, is the worst weapon."
She shook her head.
"Artalis… that is not the answer I was hoping for," she said, her voice tight with frustration.
"I do not give expected answers," I replied calmly. "Only precise ones."
"Are you joking, Artalis?!" she asked, her voice now angry. "I don't know what to expect from her!"
"Your Highness, she is a very powerful mage. We must be extremely cautious with her. This is no joke," I hurried to answer, remembering that she held the keys to my current life. "We need to watch her and gather information. I believe that will be the optimal course of action."
Evelina exhaled.
"Very well."
Evelina had barely relaxed when strange people in white robes and hoods appeared on the square.
A tall woman, her face hidden, shouted loudly, "In the twilight hour, two stars shine over Sumerenn! They still await him! And they will not leave until he returns to them!"
Evelina looked at the guards standing in the distance, and they, with swift steps, drawing their swords, ran to disperse the robed people.
"Meet the madmen who tell stories about the husband of the twin queens," she said in a half-whisper.
"I suppose they have their own unique position," I parried her statement.
"Only in madness," Evelina said. "Come, I will show you to the Valtheim family gallery. I assure you, there is much to see there."
Evelina nodded for me to follow her, and soon we were back in the Palace of the Two-Faced.
***
Climbing to the second floor of the palace and passing through several corridors, we found ourselves in a large hall where many paintings hung. By one of them stood a tall, stately man with gray sideburns and a lush mustache. He silently looked at the portraits of Ildri and Aelind, as if not noticing our presence.
Evelina silently approached him, and I followed.
"Father!" Evelina said in a clear voice.
Konrad Cross turned slightly and raised an eyebrow, as if not expecting to see his own daughter here. After an awkward pause, he hurried to embrace her.
"Hello, little daughter," he said, friendly but with a strictness in his voice. "You have not been here for a long time."
"I know, I am studying at the academy, after all, but I have come on business. With me is Artalis Nox, my mage-guardian," she said with pride, once again calling me her property.
"Mage-guardian? That position is outdated in our kingdom," Konrad objected.
"Outdated position?" Evelina shook her head. "It is an ancient tradition that Aelind's daughter, Vega, began, making her sister Alurel a mage-guardian."
"Daughter, do you remember what happened after that?" Konrad Cross asked with a slight sigh.
Evelina's expression darkened noticeably.
"I remember, of course. Ildri's daughter went in search of her father."
"And?" Konrad asked sternly.
"She disappeared without a trace," Evelina replied with a sigh.
"Did she?" Konrad shook his head in disappointment. "If you are afraid to say it in front of your mage-guardian, I will say it myself." Konrad looked at me. "Come closer, girl." He beckoned me with his hand.
I slowly approached Konrad and politely bowed my head.
"What are you called, girl?" he asked politely. "My name is Konrad Albert Cross—a representative of one of the 'ancient houses' of Valtheim."
"My name is Artalis Feda Nox, a student of the Academy of Duality, from the Tarvarian Empire."
"Nox… a familiar name…" He scratched his chin. "What a pity that we do not get younger with age."
"The Nox family is quite well-known in Tarvar. My father, Fed, and grandfather, Kir, were generals of the Ice Guard. Perhaps you met them at the court of Gregor IV or Ignis II."
"I am sorry, Artalis, I truly do not remember the circumstances under which I met your family. Perhaps I will remember next time. Or perhaps your relatives will tell you something. I was in Tarvar only once, back when Emperor Ignis was living out his final years," Konrad smiled. "Then I was full of strength and ambition… not like now." Konrad sighed.
"Do not worry, you look excellent," I decided to encourage him, hoping he would tell me something useful.
"Ah…" he sighed. "Live as long as I have, and perhaps then you will understand what I mean, Artalis."
This was another foolish human criterion—to measure everyone by the age of their body. With an immortal soul, experience is measured by the number of reincarnations, not the age of a particular body. What a pity I could not tell him my real age; the reaction would be too predictable.
"Of course. I apologize for raising the issue." I smiled softly on purpose.
"It is nothing, follow me." He moved to the side of the window, leaving Evelina alone.
Before I went, I looked at the princess, and she gave me a slight nod and crossed her arms. After which, I approached Konrad.
"Look, Artalis. This is the first king of Valtheim—Greyvan, the Gatherer of Lands." He pointed a finger at a painting of a man with a thick gray beard, without a mustache. In ordinary paintings, the first king of Valthetheim was depicted as younger.
"And here is his wife—Omela." He pointed to a painting of a young, fair-haired girl. "As you probably know, she died giving birth to her daughters."
"And these are our heroines—Ildri and Aelind Greyvan." He moved his finger to a group portrait of the twin queens, who, with complex snow-white hairstyles, looked at everyone with their green eyes from the painting, as if they were still alive. "I will not tell you about them; you already know."
"And this," he pointed to an empty space on the wall, where only a frame and a dark male silhouette hung, "is Cross." Konrad sighed deeply.
"And why was his portrait not preserved?" I asked out of politeness.
"Most likely, it is the work of the Gods of Dreams, that is their signature," Konrad shook his head. "All information about him disappeared in one day, even from people's minds. Only some remembered that he existed, but everything else was as if in a fog."
"Father, do not tell Artalis nonsense, or else everyone in Tarvar will think we are mad," Evelina said with displeasure.
Konrad waved his hand almost imperceptibly.
"The Gods of Dreams are definitely involved here," Konrad said in a half-whisper, as if trying to frighten me.
"Artalis, we are leaving," Evelina said indignantly, coming very close.
"Wait, daughter," Konrad Cross shook his head. "I still wanted to tell you about the ancient houses."
Evelina took my arm.
"What is there to tell—the ancient houses are those whose men were the husbands of the queens of Valtheim."
"Yes, and the Cross house is the most significant," Konrad nodded. "And there are three other ancient houses: Greyhant, Uranod, and Silvereyn."
"Yes, yes, father," Evelina nodded. "Artalis and I will go; we still have many things to do."
Konrad just shrugged.
"As you wish, daughter."
After which, I nodded to him in farewell, and Evelina dragged me to her chambers, at the entrance of which we met Vespera.
"Your Highness Evelina," she began, "you are as beautiful as ever." She smiled slyly. "I have long wanted to speak with you personally, but it never worked out."
"We have nothing to talk about, Tenemhbright," Evelina retorted coldly.
"Don't we?" she smiled. "It seems to me I have some information about your dear friend, or whatever her name is… Ice Snake? Or do you think I do not know that you," she nodded carelessly in my direction, "have made a blood pact, forbidden in the capital?"
"I said I will not speak with you."
Vespera smirked.
"In that case, I will speak with Frederik. Or do you think I do not know that your friend is a Greyhant?" she said in a venomous voice.
"I do not care what you know. You can talk to my brother as much as you like."
Evelina sharply opened the door to her chambers and went inside.
Vespera held my gaze, smiled almost sincerely, and went toward Frederik's chambers, obviously a little disappointed by her ruined plans.
I was about to enter the chambers, but Evelina sharply stopped me.
"Stay by the door, Artalis. Do not let anyone in without my consent. I need to think," she said angrily.
I just nodded. The next few hours promised me the ungrateful role of a palace guard…