"Why has this little northern devil been acting so strangely lately?"

  Remesis had grown accustomed to Asil always being near her. Despite not having lived in the castle for very long, she had begun to perceive this as something natural. Just like a chick never straying a step from its mother hen.

  Asil was still wary of those around her and engaged in contact only out of necessity. But she invariably smiled every morning when Remesis, helping her dress, would push her arm through a sleeve turned inside out. When she patiently removed one fishbone after another so the girl wouldn't accidentally choke. Asil resolutely rejected others' care.

  Wherever Remesis went, the princess followed her everywhere like a shadow.

  But for the last two weeks, there had been neither hide nor hair of her.

  "Why, though?"

  Trying to find an answer to this question, the girl encountered certain difficulties. Asking Asil directly was useless. Remesis also couldn't follow her without being noticed. So she had no choice but to turn to those closest to her for help.

  "Hannes, do you know what Her Highness has been up to lately?" The first to "fall into her hands" was the commander of Fortress Nord.

  The knight, hearing the Princess Consort's question, coughed.

  "W-what are you… How would I, a simple warrior, know about the princess's affairs…" he muttered uncertainly.

  "But you're the commandant, not a simple soldier," the girl objected. "Maybe you've seen something? Did Her Highness say anything to you?"

  "N-no! Nothing of the sort!" the knight hastily denied.

  Since Hannes, being a man of simple and honest nature, was completely unable to lie, Remesis immediately understood this. His face even reddened as he began to make excuses. However, if the knight was trying so hard not to tell her, there must be a reason. Remesis frowned because she disliked any kind of secrets. Especially from her. But what could she do?

  In the end, resigning herself to her state of ignorance, Remesis stopped asking.

  Since this "something" didn't concern her, there was no need to dwell on it.

  "As if I don't have enough worries of my own!" she concluded.

  The Small Council session was traditionally held at the end of November, meaning less than a month remained.

  The journey from the northern region to the southern would take about a week. Another few days would be needed to reach the empire's capital — Astaea. Thus, the northern delegation had only two weeks left for preparatory gatherings. Remesis was annoyed that they would have to spend so much time and resources on a essentially useless trip. But there was no other choice.

  She had to push herself to finish the household affairs in the remaining time. Everything else she intended to entrust to Luven, who would stand in for her during their absence. After all, Remesis hoped that nothing serious would happen during this time.

  Remesis had never been to the capital before, let alone dreamed of visiting the Imperial Palace. It was merely an unrealizable fantasy for a little girl locked in her room. But now it was unexpectedly about to come true. Yet Remesis no longer felt any excitement about it. The alluring vaults of the palace and the bustling city streets no longer attracted her so strongly. Quite the opposite.

  She just wanted this performance to be over quickly so they could return home.

  The couple of weeks flew by unnoticed. Tomorrow they were supposed to set off.

  However, on the eve of departure, when almost everything was packed, something happened that Remesis hadn't quite expected. Hannes unexpectedly came and informed her:

  "Your Highness, allow me to escort you to the temple. The princess is waiting for you."

  "What…?" Remesis, who had to interrupt her document sorting, stared at him in surprise.

  "Her Highness has a surprise for you," the knight explained with a smile.

  This one sentence alone stupefied Remesis with its unpredictability. "A gift from Asil? At the temple? For me?"

  Now that really was a surprise.

  ***

  The spacious and luxurious study was brightly lit by the midday sun. The silence in the room was broken only by the scratching of a pen and the ticking of a clock. When this happened, the clock would strike a new hour, and silence would reign again in the room.

  The mistress of the study was bent over her desk and had not raised her head for quite some time.

  She frowned slightly, holding a pen in her hand, and very concentratedly compiled an astrological forecast. On a sheet of special parchment, the main symbols denoting the Zodiac signs and planets were arranged. They went from the center of the chart to its edge, and the girl carefully checked the resulting data.

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  The young noblewoman was beautiful, yet at the same time seemed detached. Her thin lips were tightly compressed, and from the side, her expression even appeared cold.

  This made the maid, who had pushed the door and was about to enter the study, unconsciously slow down.

  Standing for a while at the edge of the room, she saw that her mistress still hadn't noticed her. She coughed softly and said, "Milady."

  "Hm?" Iliana carefully raised her chin, but her hand movements didn't cease, and her eyes were still fixed on the forecast.

  "His Eminence instructed me to remind you that in two weeks the Small Council will take place at the palace," the girl said modestly. "You are also going. So… The master told you to clear your schedule for that time in advance."

  "Yes, I know."

  Iliana answered without even glancing at the maid.

  "The list of Council members has also been prepared. You can familiarize yourself with it in advance so you know who you'll be addressing."

  "Alright… Put it over here."

  Only then did Iliana Alseid finally pause. She took the sheet and casually ran her eyes over it. There were about fifteen names on the list. Among them were both the Council members themselves and those accompanying them. Usually, heads of families would bring their closest subordinates or heirs so they could gain experience and prepare for independent participation in such events. As in Iliana's case.

  But then she reached the last surname. The corners of the girl's almond-shaped emerald eyes slightly narrowed.

  "Is the Lord of the North really invited to the palace too?" she muttered, looking at the list.

  A pause ensued, during which the maid didn't know what to do and awkwardly shifted from foot to foot. Her mistress had suddenly become distracted and completely forgotten about her presence. She had already opened her mouth to call out to her, but then the order head's daughter came to her senses.

  "You may be free," Iliana slowly uttered, casting a brief glance at her. "Tell my father that

  I have received his instructions."

  "Yes, milady!"

  Left alone, Iliana took off her glasses and leaned back in her chair. She didn't have any particular vision problems, but to avoid straining her eyes, the doctor had advised her to wear glasses while reading or writing. Her younger sister even said they made her look even more charismatic.

  Iliana looked at the sheet again, and a smile flitted across her lips.

  "I wonder… Will that little one come too?"

  But her further reflections were interrupted by a knock at the door. Indeed, speak of someone, and they will appear. Without waiting for an answer, the click of a door handle sounded, and the patter of little feet broke the preceding silence. A little girl resembling an angel ran inside.

  As soon as she appeared in the room, the previous unremarkable expression on Iliana's face dissolved into a smile.

  She was somewhat surprised by the sudden visit but immediately opened her arms for a wide embrace. The little one threw herself onto her neck. The elder sister caught her and laughed.

  "Sister Iliana!"

  The seven-year-old girl beamed with happiness. She had shiny chestnut hair and lively emerald eyes. The girl's lips resembled cherry blossoms, and her cheeks were rosy and charming. She was dressed in a pale blue dress and a cashmere blouse, making her look like a doll.

  "Don't run like that," Iliana scolded her playfully and stroked her hair. "What if you hurt yourself? Father will scold me."

  The order head's youngest daughter released her neck and looked at her sister with her big eyes. This charm couldn't be compared even to a kitten. Her soft, plump cheeks just begged to be squeezed. Even a cold-blooded person without a heart couldn't resist such charm.

  "I… I juss wanted to see you!" Gardenia excused herself. "It's not fair! We spend so liddle time together. If Father gets angwy, I'll scold him too."

  Iliana smiled tiredly, watching the girl charmingly puff out her cheeks. The look she gave her younger sister was calm and tender.

  "What happened? Did you come for something?" the Astrological Order heiress inquired in the meantime.

  "Well…" Gardenia, sitting on her lap, began to play with a strand of her silky hair. "Ssoon there'll be a lantern festival in the city. Everyone's going. And I want to go too!"

  Iliana hesitated.

  "You can go with the servants. Or with friends," she suggested.

  "But I don't want to!" the head's youngest daughter lamented. "All my fwiends are going with their families. And I want to too… But Father is always busy. What about you?"

  The younger sister looked at her hopefully. Iliana sighed. She knew Gardenia had long wanted to go to this festival. Especially since it was held only once a year. But unfortunately, she had to disappoint her.

  "I'm sorry…" the girl said guiltily. "But this month the Small Council is also taking place, and I have to accompany Father."

  Gardenia's lower lip drooped sadly, and her gaze trembled as if she were about to burst into tears.

  "Sister, pwease! Just one day…!" she whined.

  "Let's go next year," Iliana tried to persuade her. "Then I'll definitely be free."

  "Nooo! I want to go now!"

  Iliana Alseid furrowed her brows, trying not to give in to her younger sister's caprices. And the expression on her face was such that if you refused, you'd look at least like a heartless devil.

  "Gardenia, you're a big girl now. Don't cry…" Iliana's next words were buried under the child's hysterics.

  "Waaaaaah!"

  Iliana gently stroked her head and calmed her down.

  "If you stop crying, I'll treat you to something tasty, okay?" she promised.

  "R-really?"

  Gardenia momentarily stopped rubbing her eyes with her little fists and looked at her.

  "Yes," the girl smiled. "But only if you promise to behave well."

  Gardenia nodded her head in agreement.

  Iliana smirked and rang the bell. After a couple of minutes, a maid entered the room and brought snacks.

  "Cookies!"

  Gardenia saw cookies with all sorts of fillings on the plate, and her mouth immediately watered. Usually, her father didn't allow her to eat many sweets because he worried about her teeth. Such things were allowed only on holidays. But her elder sister always had something saved for her.

  Iliana watched as Gardenia grabbed a cookie with her little hands and took one herself. The child's even white teeth bit into the treat.

  "Sister, this is weally tasty!"

  "I'm glad you like it."

  Fortunately, little children had rather short memories. And as soon as they got distracted by something, they immediately forgot about the previous thing. So, it could be said, Iliana was "lucky" this time.

  Deep down, the girl felt a slight bitterness. "I'm so sorry… Because of my busyness, I can't be a good enough sister to you."

  But she was glad that, unlike her, her younger sister could lead a carefree existence. Gardenia was the one destined to walk the flower path all her life. To live life without worrying about problems, because those around her would always come to her aid.

  While the girl finished off the remaining cookies, Iliana absently stroked her hair and smiled. She squeaked like a little squirrel and reached for another.

  Iliana also took a bite of a cookie. She tried to distract herself from her thoughts.

  After the snack, Gardenia settled on her sister's lap and snuggled up to her. The girl decided to take a short break from work and read her a collection of children's stories.

  "Sister, don't go away today, otay?" the slightly sleepy little one muttered this as she rubbed her cheek against her shoulder.

  "Don't worry. I'll stay until you fall asleep," Iliana whispered near her ear.

  She was scanning the letters of the book with her eyes and telling the story with her mouth, but her head continued to think about something else.

  For some reason, she remembered those beautiful sapphire-like blue eyes.