Remesis had studied so diligently since her rebirth not only to survive in the North, but largely to be useful to Asil.

  To make a deal, you need to have something of equal value, right?

  Since Remesis had neither money nor position, she could only offer herself to the princess. In exchange for Asil's agreement to help avenge her family in the future, the girl decided to become her reliable right hand. Such a person Asil had never had.

  A difficult childhood, full of betrayals and assassination attempts, left its mark on her entire subsequent life. Even if the princess pretended to trust the people around her, in reality it wasn't so.

  The woman could laugh and communicate with subordinates, but at the same time always keep her sword at the ready… Remesis well remembered an incident that occurred a few years after they settled in Fortress Nord.

  Asil killed her commander-in-chief. A man who was loyal to her to the core. And all because he was accused of attempting to seize power in the North without any evidence… However, for Asil, that was enough. She ruthlessly executed the one who had followed her unquestioningly all those years.

  Asil's suspiciousness bordered on paranoia.

  No matter how sincere the person standing before her was. Growing up, Asil became like a stone that couldn't be "sharpened" in any way. Influencing an already mature personality is extremely difficult. Therefore, the only way to gain her trust was to do it in childhood.

  Although on paper Remesis was Asil's wife, in fact she intended to act as her regent. A right hand that the princess could finally rely on. Housekeeping, accounting, receiving guests — Remesis would take on all the duties of the Princess of the North that she hadn't performed in the past.

  After all, when Asil didn't have to deal with castle affairs, it would be easier for her to focus on the main task. The coup d'état.

  When Asil became empress, it wouldn't be difficult for her to deprive the Carter family of everything they had. Money, position, status. Despite it being her own family, Remesis eagerly awaited their downfall. When the people whose love she had so persistently sought in her past life would now kneel before her.

  She wondered what expression would be on her father's face?

  After all this happened, Remesis would renounce the Carter surname. She wanted nothing to do with one of the four great families. After the destruction of her family and the divorce, the girl wanted to buy herself an estate in the south of the empire and live peacefully.

  She desired neither wealth nor luxury.

  A peaceful life without worries, which Remesis had always dreamed of. After so many years lived in a series of war and bloodshed, the girl only wanted to wake up one morning — without the sounds of fighting and gunfire outside the window. To finally know what a normal human life was like.

  For the sake of these long-awaited days, Remesis was willing to give up the status of empress. When Asil ascended the throne and this marriage ceased to be beneficial for them, they would peacefully divorce. The princess would revel in unlimited power and, quite possibly, start new wars.

  Remesis, meanwhile, would grow hydrangeas in her garden and greet the dawn every morning in her cozy home. At the mere thought of such a peaceful life — which had previously seemed impossible to her — the girl's heart warmed.

  If everything went according to plan, it would work out as well as possible for the two of them. Remesis believed in this more than anything else.

  This handshake marked the beginning of their long-term cooperation. When they released each other's hands, Remesis met her intent gaze. Asil constantly watched her, and Remesis made it clear there was no trick in her behavior.

  A short pause ensued. Remesis smiled to somehow defuse the slightly awkward atmosphere.

  "Well… Since I promised to help you, let's first get you cleaned up."

  Asil stared at her.

  "You're not… You're not going to continue walking around like this, are you?"

  Actually, right now they both looked terrible. But compared to Remesis, Asil's appearance was definitely worse. To stop being perceived as offspring of a barbarian tribe, something needed to be done about it.

  "I'll ask for a bath to be prepared for us. I hope you don't mind."

  Asil was silent at first, then muttered something. When, due to her broken language, Remesis again didn't understand what she said, the girl decided that first and foremost she would need to work on her speech. In any case, it sounded like agreement.

  Probably.

  The tavern owner boiled hot water and filled the bath for them. After that, everything had to be done herself. When Asil finally understood what Remesis intended to do with her, she became like a frightened cat. She would have run away if Remesis hadn't locked the door.

  Rrrip!

  The sound of tearing fabric echoed loudly through the bathroom. In the ensuing struggle, Remesis tried to pull off her clothes. The princess furiously struggled in Remesis's arms, hissing and pushing away. The girl thought: surely she must realize how ridiculous she looked in those bloodied and torn rags.

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  Finally, after some time of struggling, she succeeded. It was then that Remesis was able to see exactly how Asil had "treated" her wounds… Remesis stared in bewilderment at her clumsily bandaged stomach. This part of her body resembled a mummy.

  The girl restrained herself with all her might from laughing. It really looked terrible… But, fortunately, the bleeding had been stopped.

  Remesis tried to lower the princess into the warm water, but she wouldn't obey. Despite her thinness, the strength of the twelve-year-old child was enormous, and Remesis knew this well. She couldn't move her even using all her strength.

  After some thought, the girl decided to compromise:

  "Your Highness, after the bath, how about dinner? I'll ask the hostess for lots and lots of bread."

  "Bread"… This word affected her magically. The princess finally calmed down and allowed herself to be washed. Remesis smirked inwardly. "It turns out it was all so simple…"

  Asil flinched for a moment when the hot water touched her. The wounds were healing, but it was still very painful for her due to water getting into that area. Seeing how painfully her face contorted, Remesis tried to act more carefully.

  She took the laundry soap and began vigorously rubbing it into the girl's hair. Her movements were clumsy and rough, since Remesis had never washed other people before. But Asil didn't make a sound and behaved surprisingly obediently.

  Considering how quickly the water turned black, Remesis didn't even ask when she last took a bath. Obviously, if even the servants neglected her meals, the other equally important needs were not even worth mentioning.

  During the washing process, Remesis discovered that her body was covered with many wounds. Old bruises and scars, the longest of which stretched almost to her ribs. These were clear traces of someone's violence.

  Remesis sighed heavily. If she had been treated like this since childhood, it was no wonder Asil didn't trust people at all… Anyone in her place would have withdrawn and built a strong wall around themselves.

  In the girl's eyes, the princess was still a ruthless monster. But at moments like this, she even felt a little sorry for her.

  Having finished washing Asil, Remesis more thoroughly treated her wounds. Compared to the other scars on her body, the two small stab wounds didn't seem that serious… As unfortunate as that sounded.

  Remesis moistened cotton wool with alcohol and began carefully applying it to the wounds. Asil clenched her teeth in pain but didn't pull away from her touch or hit her. Apparently, she understood that the girl didn't intend to harm her.

  When Remesis finished treating the wounds, she applied a bandage with an additional solution of healing herbs. This was an effective remedy in the South. All soldiers in the armies used it because any kind of wound heals twice as fast.

  Remesis stepped back and appraisingly surveyed the result of her work. Before her stood a girl with a much neater appearance. She had also changed into other clothes, kindly provided by the tavern owner.

  Even after finishing her inspection, Remesis's gaze involuntarily continued to slide over her. She had always thought Asil was very beautiful. But now it seemed even more obvious. Attractive, sharp features perfectly matched her cold temperament. Although the most remarkable feature of her appearance was her hair.

  In fact, the water had turned black not only from dirt. It was old dye that had been on her hair all this time. Now, with the princess standing before her, her hair was silver, like mist on a rainy day. Beneath it shone a pair of perceptive amber eyes.

  Ash-blonde hair. A distinctive mark of belonging to the imperial family.

  They had been passed down to the heirs of the ruling Nadal dynasty for generations.

  And Asil, as a direct descendant through her father's line, had certainly inherited them. The girl possessed all the makings of an ideal candidate for the throne. If not for the curse of the unlucky star, she would have lived quite comfortably as one of the most respected noble children.

  Moreover, Asil's younger sister, who had become crown princess in her place, had not inherited this trait. She resembled her mother more than her father. Because of this, the Emperor had forbidden his eldest daughter to appear in the palace with her natural hair color.

  All to avoid the absurdity of the picture. While a child with silver hair sat locked away, not allowed to leave the servants' outbuilding, another child, who had few features resembling the Emperor, occupied the throne. Despite Asil's curse, the visual contradiction was obvious.

  The servants had dyed the deposed princess's hair for many years. Only black dye of dubious origin could cover her natural hair color. However, now that it had been washed out, the girl's hair remained surprisingly in perfect condition. Her long hair was like silver threads.

  It was truly very beautiful. Under Remesis's intent gaze, Asil even felt awkward.

  "Hmm…"

  Remesis thought.

  Actually, she had found out about this completely by accident. Because even when Asil became an adult, she continued to keep her hair black on her own initiative. All because she despised the connection with the imperial family and didn't want to resemble the Emperor.

  Remesis had only once happened to see a silver strand that contrasted brightly against the black hair. The princess had then returned to the castle from another prolonged war, where, obviously, she had no time to attend to her appearance. The black dye had washed off a bit. That's when the girl figured it out.

  However, she kept this secret and told no one. Of course, Remesis didn't want any trouble from it. Although the girl didn't understand what was so special about this fact that it needed to be hidden.

  "Your Highness, don't dye your hair anymore," Remesis suddenly said. "It suits you as it is."

  "…"

  Asil stared at her blankly.

  "Sss… suits?"

  "You have a beautiful hair color. You don't need to hide it."

  Remesis was sincere. Asil's natural color really was more beautiful. Much better than those absurd black straw-like hairs. She hoped the princess would heed her advice.

  Especially when Asil took the throne, it would be even more advantageous. According to old customs, people would more willingly bow their heads before a person with silver hair. Even if it was a bloody coup, it would be easier for the girl to establish herself on the throne if her appearance fully matched that of an imperial family member.

  Having finished examining Asil, Remesis thought for a moment and returned to her own business. The princess, it seemed, was able to breathe a sigh of relief for the first time in all this while.

  Remesis also tidied herself up. She washed and combed her hair, which had been in complete disarray. Then she changed into the spare clothes she had brought with her. Asil stayed near her the whole time, although Remesis repeatedly told her she could leave.

  But the princess stubbornly refused to leave the bathroom. Although until recently, she had scratched and bitten just to get away from here…

  When all the procedures were completed, they returned to the room, where a hot dinner already awaited them. Remesis's stomach growled contentedly. She attacked the simple soup and wheat bread as if she were a refugee who had starved for days.

  Although, essentially, that was the case…

  There wasn't much food, and having quickly finished her portion, the girl felt a pleasant warmth spread inside her. Finally, her stomach was full. Following this, a wave of drowsiness washed over her. Gradually sinking into sleep, Remesis didn't even find the strength to get to bed.

  She dropped her head on the table and fell asleep.