"Why did you do it?" Iliana Alseid's voice sounded incredibly even.

  Not much time had passed since the northern princess's departure, and the tense atmosphere dissipated. After the physician's examination, the Emperor felt better and finally took his throne. The banquet continued as if nothing had happened. Only... One person could not just leave this situation.

  The young lady, only fourteen years old, fixed a heavy gaze on the man much older than herself. He, in turn, smirked crookedly.

  "What did I do wrong?" the archivist asked a counter-question, as if he really didn't understand the essence of her complaint.

  Iliana's hand continued to grip the glass. It seemed that a little more, and it would shatter right in her palm.

  "You humiliated a child in front of everyone. How else would you describe it?"

  "'Humiliated'? Don't talk as if I'm some kind of villain. I was merely concerned about His Majesty's well-being."

  This justification seemed absurd to the girl.

  "I don't think so. In my opinion, you simply wanted to do it."

  Padalio Xian furrowed his brows.

  He held a respected position in the order. Even His Eminence listened to him and occasionally heeded his advice. Therefore, he could not simply turn a blind eye to such a young girl addressing him in such a disrespectful tone.

  "Your Honor, although you undoubtedly hold a special position, you are not yet the head. So do not forget the bounds of what is permitted."

  When the old man dryly stated this fact in her presence, Iliana Alseid laughed coldly.

  "Thank you for kindly reminding me. You are right. You have no reason to answer to me."

  The archivist also smiled thinly.

  "I'm glad you understand me."

  From the outside, the conversation between these two seemed quite friendly. Only no one suspected that their gazes were actually crackling with lightning.

  "By the way, Your Honor..." the archivist leisurely fingered the rosary on his chest. "Now is not your time to worry about others."

  The archivist quite directly hinted at the recent incident, and the girl's smile grew even wider.

  "Of course. You need not worry about that. I will certainly be punished upon returning to the estate."

  That night, when they met on the night porch, their conversation had not remained without consequences. Padalio had indeed told the head of the order about what had happened and her dubious connection with the newly appointed northern princess. When Halias Alseid learned of this, he was, to put it mildly, displeased.

  Needless to say, such connections were simply unacceptable for the cult's heiress. In the empire, people like that girl were despised. So how could Iliana, with her position, spend time with her? Even an ordinary, run-of-the-mill astrologer could lose his position because of this. And here...

  The next day, Halias Alseid called his eldest daughter for a serious conversation.

  "Do you understand that people are watching us? What will they say if you start associating with such spawn?" the man did not mince words. "Do you want to tarnish my reputation?"

  "Yours?"

  The girl knelt and was not allowed to raise her head.

  "You are my heiress," he interrupted. "Of course, all your actions will reflect on me. How do you intend to leave this without consequences?"

  Iliana Alseid remained silent, looking at the floor while her father scolded her. This was the first time in many, many years. If not the only time in her life. Never before had the Supreme Astrologer been so displeased with his eldest daughter. He couldn't believe that Iliana could actually make such a mistake.

  "Kkh-kkh..."

  From an excess of emotion, the head of the order coughed and grabbed his cane.

  "Father, your health!" Iliana wanted to rush to him, but the man gestured for her to stay put.

  Halias Alseid had an old leg injury, which forced him to constantly lean on a cane. But now he suddenly threw it away like trash.

  Stolen novel; please report.

  Steel glinted in his emerald eyes.

  "Remember what I told you today. Only because this was a one-time occurrence will you not be severely punished. But you will receive additional work for a month and will perform it under house arrest. It will give you time to reflect on your behavior."

  Iliana nodded restrainedly in response to her father's order.

  The rumors about the Supreme Astrologer's severe discipline and harsh upbringing methods were not false. Just because his daughter helped a princess get to the city and once walked with her, she was already being punished. And what would have happened if she had gone a little further...?

  Testing such a man's patience was dangerous. Iliana had to swear that it would not happen again.

  Deep down, she felt a slight sadness.

  The short time spent with the princess of the north was pleasant and somewhat akin to a dream. But every dream ends sooner or later.

  For the common good, she should be the first to step back.

  As a farewell gift, Iliana had prepared a dress for her. However, Remesis never wore it. Which led the girl to conclude that the princess also wanted nothing more to do with her.

  But…

  Although Iliana had decided to keep her distance, today's incident could not leave her indifferent. Seeing the tears glistening in the corners of the girl's eyes, something stirred deep in her heart.

  Getting into a squabble right in the banquet hall was stupid, pointless, and clearly would lead to nothing good. Iliana had to resign herself to letting this vile situation pass just like that. And yet, she couldn't help but do at least something.

  Finishing her conversation with the archivist on a "friendly" note, she suddenly got ready to go somewhere.

  "Where are you going?" the archivist deemed it necessary to inquire. "The banquet isn't over yet."

  "Excuse me," the girl smiled kindly. "I have important matters. I'll be back soon."

  "This..." as if realizing something, the old man frowned. "You're not going to...?"

  "If you meet my father, you can tell him whatever you want."

  In any case, she was already punished. So what did she have to lose?

  The archivist didn't have time to add anything else, as the girl had already disappeared from his field of vision.

  Iliana left the banquet hall with her usual gait, and then swiftly ran down the stairs. Her long strides took her to the main exit of the central palace in a matter of minutes.

  Finding herself in the front courtyard, the order's heiress sighed with relief.

  Fortunately, Remesis hadn't gone far enough, and her small figure could be discerned in the semi-darkness by the light of the lanterns. She only had a few more steps to take to leave the garden.

  Iliana quickly caught up with her.

  "What... What are you doing?!"

  Remesis panicked when a stranger's hand suddenly grabbed her wrist. She started screaming.

  "Let go. Let go of me!"

  "Princess."

  Iliana Alseid's voice was calm.

  The girl shuddered because she recognized it. Before her eyes appeared sparkling emerald eyes and soft features shimmering in the faint lantern light. The night breeze blew her long chestnut locks.

  When Remesis realized who was before her, she calmed down a bit.

  The next moment, fear gave way to anger.

  "What do you want?" she resolutely exclaimed. "I don't want to talk to you!"

  Iliana noticed that the girl was trying her best to suppress tears. However, she was not very successful. At this sight, the cult heiress's heart clenched.

  She tried to say it as gently as possible:

  "Shh, calm down. It's alright now."

  "I don't need your support!"

  To confirm her words, the princess sniffled, quickly recovering. She brought her hand to her eyes and wiped away the tears. All she wanted was to go home. She didn't wish to stay here a second longer.

  Besides, she had no strength to see this girl right now.

  "Just leave me alone."

  Spitting out these words, Remesis sharply turned away from her.

  She tried to walk past but was stopped.

  "Are you sure you can make it on your own in this state?"

  "I asked you to leave me alone!" right now, Remesis wasn't controlling her emotions and screamed across the entire garden, forgetting the rules of propriety.

  Iliana silently looked at her and pressed her lips tightly together.

  "Then at least take this."

  Without releasing the girl's hand, the order's heiress took something from her breast pocket and held it out to her.

  It was a white handkerchief with a beautiful pattern.

  Remesis examined it for exactly one moment. Her first impulse, of course, was to throw it on the ground. But, as if anticipating her intentions, the girl decisively placed the handkerchief in her palm. Even if Remesis had wanted to, she wouldn't have had the strength to break free.

  "…"

  The girl remained silent when, after a short resistance, she was forced to accept the handkerchief.

  Iliana was still looking at her.

  "Princess, may I ask you a question? But you must answer honestly."

  "…"

  "Do you hate me?"

  "Yes," Remesis answered without hesitation. The girl smiled ruefully.

  "I thought so. Well, you have your reasons."

  "And now what?" the little lady frowned. "I don't think you care about my feelings. You just came to mock me, didn't you?"

  "No," the girl's unexpectedly firm answer made Remesis tense.

  "Then..."

  Iliana sighed heavily.

  "From the outside, it may seem that I have a lot of power, that I can do whatever I want.

  But that's not true. Right now, I am very... Very helpless."

  Since she was still being held, the girl had to listen to her, although she didn't understand where this was going.

  "I... I just want to say that I don't feel negatively towards you."

  "It doesn't matter to me."

  "I know," Iliana smiled weakly. "And yet I thought you should know."

  A short pause followed. In the night garden of the Imperial Palace, it was unusually quiet.

  After a while, as if having mentally made some decision, Iliana Alseid continued speaking. She carefully chose her words:

  "Before, I wasn't sure, but now... Your Highness, I ask you to believe me just once."

  "What?"

  Remesis frowned.

  "Wait for me."

  "Huh?"

  Remesis stared at her uncomprehendingly. "Wait? What am I supposed to wait for?"

  Meanwhile, Iliana's intent gaze made her tense. Her agitated face was illuminated by the moonlight. It seemed that some words remained unspoken deep in her soul. "I mean to say that one day I will become stronger than I am now."

  "…"

  "Just wait and see."

  A faint smile touched the corners of her lips. For a moment, Remesis couldn't tear her eyes away from this sight.

  They looked at each other just like that evening at the festival.

  Although the northern princess didn't quite understand what these words meant, it seemed the answer was already hidden deep in her consciousness.