Don’t tell the stars

«Why has that little northern devil been acting so strange lately?»

Remesis had gotten used to the princess being around her all the time. It had begun to be taken for granted. Although Asil still avoided contact with other people and was wary of them, this did not apply to Remesis. Quite the opposite, in fact. Their relationship was like a chicken and a mother hen.

Asil obeyed her in everything and resolutely rejected other people's care. Wherever Remesis went, the princess followed her tail everywhere she went. It quickly became so familiar that Remesis never imagined it could be any other way. But now, lately, the princess was suddenly pulling away from her and disappearing somewhere. This left Remesis confused.

«Why is that?»

Trying to find an answer to this question, the girl faced certain difficulties. Asking Asil directly was useless. Remesis was also unable to follow her while remaining unnoticed. Therefore, there was nothing left for her but to seek help from her immediate surroundings.

— Hannes, do you know what Her Highness has been up to lately? — The first person who came to her attention was the commander of the Nord Fortress.

The knight, hearing the princess's question, coughed.

— How could I, a simple soldier, know about the princess's affairs?» he mumbled uncertainly.

— But you're a commandant, not a simple soldier,» the girl objected, «Maybe you saw something? Did Her Highness say anything to you?

— N-no! Nothing of the sort! — The knight hastily denied it.

Since Hannes, being a man of simple and honest nature, was completely unable to lie, Remesis immediately realized it. All his emotions were clearly written on his face. The knight even blushed as he tried to justify himself. Watching his terrible acting, Remesis sighed heavily. Since the knight didn't want to tell her so badly, the girl wasn't going to insist. It seemed to be something that didn't concern her.

Remesis didn't like secrets. Especially from her. But what could she do? Eventually coming to terms with her position of ignorance, Remesis pretended that she didn't really care much about it herself either.

«Oh, come on. As if I don't have enough worries of my own!» — she summarized.

The meeting of the Small Council was traditionally held in late fall. That is, there was very little time left for preparatory gatherings. No matter how one looked at it, it was more important than trying to unravel the thoughts of some Asil.

Remesis was completely immersed in her duties, and it took her mind off her worries about the princess.

She had to work hard to finish the remaining household chores in the time allotted. Everything else she was going to delegate to Luwen, who was to fill 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, much less dreamed of visiting the Imperial Palace. It was only a pipe dream of a little girl locked in her room. However, now she was unexpectedly about to come true. But Remesis no longer felt excited about it. The alluring vaults of the palace and the busy city streets no longer attracted her so strongly. Quite the opposite.

She only wished that the spectacle would end so they could return home.

A few weeks flew by. Tomorrow they were supposed to be on their way. But on the eve of their departure, when almost everything was packed, something happened that Remesis had not quite expected. Hannes came unexpectedly and informed her:

— Your Highness, allow me to escort you to the temple. The princess is expecting you.

— What…? — Remesis, who had to be interrupted in the midst of sorting things, stared at him in surprise.

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

That sentence alone threw Remesis into a stupor with its unpredictability. «A gift from Asil? At the temple? For me?»

What a surprise indeed.

***

The spacious and luxurious study was brightly lit by the midday sun. The silence in the room was interrupted only by the creak of a quill and the ticking of a clock. When it did, the clock struck a new hour, and the room was silent again.

The lady of the room was leaning over her desk and had not raised her head for quite some time.

She was frowning slightly, holding a quill in her hand, and was very concentrated in composing an astrological forecast. On a sheet of special parchment were arranged the basic symbols representing the signs of the Zodiac and the planets. They went from the center of the map to its edge and the girl carefully checked the resulting data.

The young noblewoman was beautiful, but at the same time seemed aloof. Her thin lips were tightly compressed, and from the outside her expression seemed even cold.

This caused the maid who pushed open the door and was about to enter the study to unconsciously hesitate.

After standing for a moment at the edge of the room, she saw that the mistress still had not noticed her. She coughed softly and said: «My lady.»

— Hm? — Liana lifted her chin gently, but the movements of her hands had not stopped, and her eyes were still fixed on the forecast.

— His Eminence ordered to remind you that the Small Council will be held in the palace in two weeks' time,» the girl said modestly, «You'll be going too. So… His Eminence told you to clear your schedule for that time in advance.

— Yes, I know.

Liana replied without even looking 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.

— Good… Put it here.

Only then did Liana Daehsin finally pause. She took the sheet and carelessly ran her gaze over it. There were about fifteen names on the list. Among them were the council members themselves as well as those who accompanied them. Usually, the heads of families took their closest subordinates or heirs with them to gain experience and prepare for their own participation in such events. Such was the case with Liana.

But here she'd reached the last surname. The corners of the girl's almond-shaped emerald eyes squinted slightly.

— Was Lord Severa also invited to the palace? — She muttered as she looked at the list.

There was a pause, during which the maid did not know what to do and shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot. Her mistress was suddenly distracted and oblivious to her presence. She opened her mouth to call out to her, but the daughter of the head of the Order came to her senses.

— You may be dismissed,» Liana said slowly, giving her a brief glance, «Tell your father I have his orders.

— Yes, my lady!

Left alone, Liana took off her glasses and leaned back in her chair. She didn't have much trouble seeing, but to avoid straining her eyes, her family doctor had advised her to wear her glasses when reading or writing. Besides, they fit perfectly with her noble and understated image.

Liana took another look at the sheet, and a smile flashed across her lips.

«I wonder… is that funny little girl coming too?»

But her further musings were interrupted by a knock on the door. Without waiting for an answer, the doorknob clicked and the stomping of little feet broke the preceding silence. A little girl who looked like an angel ran inside.

As soon as she entered the room, Liana's previously unassuming expression dissipated into a smile.

She was a little surprised at the sudden visit, but immediately opened her arms for a wide embrace. The little girl threw herself around her neck. Her older sister caught her and laughed.

— Sister Lina!

The little girl was glowing with happiness. She had shiny brown hair and lively emerald eyes. The girl's lips resembled cherry blossom petals, and her cheeks were ruddy and charming. She was dressed in a soft blue dress and a cashmere sweater that made her look like a doll.

— Don't run around like that,» Liana reprimanded her non-seriously and stroked her hair, «What if you hurt yourself? My father will scold me.

The youngest daughter of the head of the order let go of her neck and looked at her sister with her large eyes. It was a charm that couldn't even be compared to a kitten. The soft chubby cheeks were begging to be squeezed. Even a cold-blooded person without a heart couldn't resist such a charm.

— I… I just wanted to see you! — Gardenia excused herself, «It's not fair! We have so little time together. If my father comes to see me, I'll go after him, too.

Liana smiled tiredly as she watched the girl's cheeks puff up adorably. The gaze she looked at her little sister was calm and gentle.

— What's wrong? Did you come for something? — The heiress of the astrological order inquired.

— Well… — Gardenia, sitting on her lap, began to go through a strand of her silky hair, — Skovo is having a lantern festival in Govod. Everyone will go to it. I want to go too!

Liana hesitated.

— You could go with the servants. Or with your friends, she suggested.

— But I don't want to! — All my two friends will go with their families. And I want to go too… But my father is always busy. And you?

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

— I'm sorry…» the girl said guiltily, «But the Small Council will be held this month, and I have to accompany my father.

Gardenia's lower lip sank sadly and her eyes trembled as if she were about to cry.

— Sis, please! Just one day…! — she whimpered.

— Let's go next year, — Liana tried to persuade her, — I'll be free then.

— No! I want to go now!

Liana Daehsin shifted her eyebrows, trying not to fall for her younger sister's whims. And the look on her face was such that if you refused, you'd look like a heartless devil at the very least.

— Gardenia, you're a big girl. Don't cry-» Liana's next words were buried under a childish tantrum.

— Waaaaaaaaaaaah!

Liana gently stroked her head and calmed her down.

— If you stop crying, I'll give you something nice to eat, okay? — she promised.

— Really?

Gardenia stopped rubbing her eyes with her fists for a moment and looked at her.

— Yes,' the girl smiled, 'but only if you promise to behave.

Gardenia nodded her head in agreement.

Liana grinned and pulled the bell. A couple minutes later, a maid entered the room and brought snacks.

— Cookies!

Gardenia saw the cookies with all sorts of toppings on the plate, and she immediately drooled. She knew her older sister always had something for her.

Liana watched as Gardenia grabbed the cookies with her small hands and took one herself. The child's smooth white teeth bit into the treat.

— Sister, it's delicious!

— I'm glad you like it.

Fortunately, little children had short memories. And once they were distracted by something, they forgot about it. So, you could say that this time Liana was «lucky» to get off easy.

In the back of her mind, the girl experienced some bitterness. «I'm sorry… Because of my busyness, I can't be a good enough sister for you.»

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

While the girl was straightening up the rest of the cookies, Liana absent-mindedly stroked her hair and smiled. She squeaked like a squirrel and reached for another one.

Liana took a bite of the cookie as well. She tried to distract herself from her thoughts.

After her snack, Gardenia settled on her sister's lap and snuggled up to her. The girl decided to take her mind off work for a while and read her a collection of children's stories.

— Sis, don't go out today, well? — The slightly sleepy little girl mumbled this as she rubbed her cheek against her shoulder.

— Don't worry. I'll stay until you fall asleep,'' Liana whispered next to her ear.

She looked through the letters of the book with her eyes and told the tale with her lips, but her head kept thinking of other things.

For some reason she remembered the beautiful blue eyes that looked like sapphires.