Remesis expressed her wishes to her brother in an absolutely even tone.

  Michel, however, decided her indifference was only feigned. She must be crying every night and complaining only to her maid that she couldn't be a full part of the family.

  "I am also glad that no cursed spawn prevented me from enjoying the holiday," the young man sneered. "By the way, the Count also once had a cursed son. But he got rid of him immediately. That must be why the County of Bratsvik is so prosperous now."

  "…"

  Brother and sister laughed disgustingly.

  "Dear little sister, don't take it personally. I just mean that rotten weeds are better removed from sight so they don't spoil the beauty of the rest of the garden."

  Not a single emotion showed on Remesis's face. She was just waiting for this pointless parade of humiliation to end so she could move on.

  "Indeed, humiliating an eight-year-old girl is truly worthy of the Duke's heir." These words threatened to escape her lips, but Remesis held back at the last moment.

  She just had to endure a little longer. Remesis couldn't spoil her last days in this house with an impulsive outburst of emotion. Especially since the rude words of such a fool couldn't really hurt her.

  "Seriously… Should I, a twenty-year-old, be offended by the antics of some foolish boy?"

  Every time Remesis thought this way, it became easier to let the situation go. Pointless bickering with children was absolutely not part of her plans.

  "I'm tired and want to take a bath. Colt, go prepare everything for me."

  Without even glancing at the servant, Michel gave the order.

  "Yes, milord."

  Colt, Michel's loyal dog, accompanied him everywhere. The servant left first, and the young man himself stretched lazily.

  Since Remesis didn't react to his attempts to provoke her, taunting her was a rather boring activity. Michel, as usual, quickly lost interest.

  "Katrina, enough dawdling here. I find it disgusting to even breathe the same air as lepers… Let's go."

  With his hands behind his head, the teenager left first, and his sister followed him. Before that, of course, she didn't miss the opportunity to "accidentally" push Remesis in the shoulder.

  Remesis didn't move, watching them both.

  Her older sister probably annoyed Remesis even more than that fool. Katrina had no opinion of her own and followed Michel everywhere like a little dog. Like everyone else on the estate, she only looked up to the family successor, blessed by the star Serdel.

  Envious and arrogant. She looked very much like Michel, and therefore did not inherit the Duke's topaz eyes. A trait that had been passed down to the descendants of this family for generations.

  Deep down, Katrina felt a dark envy that it was Remesis who had inherited them. A cursed child with no future. If it were up to her, the girl would tear out her sister's eyes, because someone like her didn't deserve them…

  The heavy aura that had arisen in the presence of those two finally dissipated.

  Only Livius remained in the corridor. He and Remesis silently exchanged glances.

  Black hair and topaz eyes. This boy, only a year older than Remesis, was the spitting image of the Duke.

  Livius was the only one who didn't participate in bullying Remesis. But at the same time, he didn't stop them either. Lacking the influence of his older brother and sister, he was forced to only follow them like a shadow.

  He was probably the only one on the estate who wanted to help her somehow, but couldn't. Livius was already the youngest son — he had to put in a lot of effort to gain his father's attention. Of course, he couldn't ruin his reputation by associating with a cursed child.

  "…"

  Nevertheless, when they occasionally found themselves alone like this, Remesis caught only sympathy in her brother's gaze. They silently passed each other, as if nothing had happened.

  Remesis continued walking down the corridor, pondering that the predictions of the star horoscope were meaningless. She had thought so in her past life as well.

  Unlike most inhabitants of the Nadal Empire, Remesis did not believe in astrology.

  Over the several hundred years of this cult's existence, the Astrological Order had earned as much as the Temple had in its entire history. The dignitaries of the Astrological Tower not only raked in money hand over fist but also wielded power at court. At some point, the entire empire was captured by this organization.

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  People believed in all this mythical nonsense. Remesis, however, thought there was no common sense in it. Could a person's fate be determined only by the position of celestial bodies? It wasn't even magic. Moreover, Remesis saw it all in the example of her own family.

  The star under which Michel was lucky enough to be born promised him wealth and success. But isn't that obvious? Could the life of the Duke's eldest son have turned out differently? Michel's prosperous life was granted not by the stars at all, but by his ancestors.

  The same could be said for Katrina. The Duke's daughter, and moreover, not lacking in beauty. Under such circumstances, was the help of any planets needed to marry well? With his connections, Michael Carter would have no trouble finding the most advantageous match for his daughter.

  In fact, that's exactly what happened. Living in the North, Remesis sometimes received news from the capital. In her first life, she learned that Katrina became the wife of the heir of one of the empire's pillars. And again, it was hardly attributable to the merits of cosmic forces.

  The stars didn't have much influence on Livius's fate either. Obviously, being born the second son, all the laurels went to Michel from the start. In peasant families, younger children traditionally wore the hand-me-down clothes of the elders. In noble families, the principle was, of course, slightly different, but the essence remained the same.

  With rare exceptions, younger children always remained in the shadows.

  All these stars only stated the obvious and had no significant influence on a person's fate. Nevertheless, a huge amount of the empire's resources continued to be spent on these meaningless predictions.

  Like temples, astrological towers were built every year throughout the empire. Moreover, the popularity of the latter was much higher. Unsurprisingly, these two factions were at odds.

  The Church forbade its parishioners from consulting astrologers. They, in turn, called the clergymen heretics…

  "Isn't this a circus?"

  Remesis merely wondered when people would finally open their eyes.

  However, Remesis did agree with one prediction of the celestial bodies. The Star of Death, Asdal… When Remesis thought about that person, she involuntarily shuddered. A bright flash immediately flickered before her eyes.

  She swallowed the lump in her throat, as if she had just seen it all in reality. Only at such moments did doubt creep into Remesis's soul. Just drop everything and run away…

  But the girl only shook her head, focusing on the current situation. She couldn't afford to ruin this life just out of fear. Besides, there was no point in worrying about her own well-being now.

  Unlike her former self, who could only cry and beg, the current Remesis was completely different. Her heart seemed covered with a thin crust of ice. After everything she had already been through, was there any point in being afraid of anything?

  Inside this small body was an adult woman who had endured all sorts of hardships and more. No matter how terrible the situation, she would not run away again. At this moment, only one thought was important to Remesis.

  "Father, I am here."

  Reaching the right door, Remesis knocked.

  "You may enter."

  Remesis entered the large and bright room, the Duke's study, where she had never been before. Michael Carter sat at his desk and did not look at her immediately.

  "I greet you, great father," Remesis curtsied. "You wished to see me?"

  Remesis met the gaze of the man who looked colder than the ice at the top of an iceberg. Although many years had passed, Remesis still remembered well his first reaction to her.

  That very night she was born. A look full of anger and disgust.

  The Duke's wife died in childbirth. On top of that, the newborn girl resembled him very much. Much more than any of his children. And he hated himself. Every time he looked into Remesis's clear topaz eyes, the man seemed to see his own reflection.

  A cursed child who brought nothing but misfortune to their family. Was there anything to love about her?

  But, at least, their antipathy towards each other was mutual. Remesis also wasn't overjoyed at being born in this house and being the daughter of such a man.

  Michael didn't want to look at her for long. Soon he turned away, pulling a letter from behind the drawer. When Remesis saw the Emperor's seal on it, she understood everything immediately.

  "Our conversation will be short," the man said dryly, folding his hands on the table.

  "…"

  "Yes, father?"

  Remesis couldn't even pretend to be the slightest bit interested.

  "His Majesty has made a proposal of engagement to our family. To you and… Princess

  Asil. If all goes well, in a couple of weeks you will depart for her new residence in the North."

  Remesis was silent.

  "And also… This morning, Professor Isocline Hasher visited us," the Duke's voice was displeased. "He unexpectedly became interested in your abilities. Even offered to become your mentor."

  "…"

  "…In that case, I can ask His Majesty to dissolve this engagement, with the promise that you will be able to become part of the Imperial Institute in the future. Even someone like you will have the opportunity to benefit our country."

  The last words were clearly said as a favor.

  It seemed like a choice that initially had no room for uncertainty. To be exiled to certain death in the barren northern lands or to become a student of an influential scientist? A child born under an unlucky star couldn't even dream of such a thing.

  That's what Duke Carter thought too. What was there to discuss? Especially since he already had a plausible pretext to refuse the Emperor. It was unlikely he would insist and forcibly compel one of the pillars of the state.

  This short conversation was merely a formality to make Remesis understand that she should do everything possible to live up to the expectations of the professor and the Imperial Institute. After all, it was he who saved her from imminent death. However…

  "It's not worth it, father," the girl said quietly.

  "Hm?"

  Two pairs of topaz eyes met. In the latter, there was a hint of surprise.

  "I agree to go North and become Her Highness's wife."

  The Duke's hand, which had been resting calmly on the table, clenched into a fist. He clearly hadn't expected such an answer.

  "Why?!"

  Remesis stared unblinkingly at her father's surprised face.

  "After all, it is His Majesty's order. As a loyal subject of the empire, I have no right to disobey."

  Duke Carter frowned. Did this girl even understand what she was saying? Did she even know what the North was? Even if it was the Emperor's order, not everyone would calmly accept such a fate.

  "Are you serious? This is the last chance that…"

  Remesis smiled broadly. It was such a charming smile that anyone who saw it couldn't believe the rumor that she was a cursed child was true.

  The Duke felt strange. For some reason, he couldn't breathe freely.

  "Father, I am more than certain. I want to marry Asil Nara Ashelot."