บท 12: Chapter 12. Silver hair that looks like mist
Remesis had worked so hard since her rebirth, not only to survive in the North, but largely to be useful to Asil.
In order to make a deal, one must have something of equal value, right?
Since Remesis had no money or position, she could only offer the princess herself. In exchange for Asil's agreement to help avenge her family in the future, the girl decided to become her trusted right hand. Such a person Asil had never had before.
A hard childhood full of betrayals and assassination attempts had left an imprint on her entire future life. Even if the princess pretended to trust the people around her, in reality it was not so.
The woman could laugh and socialize with her subordinates, but at the same time always keep her sword at the ready. Remesis remembered well an incident that had happened a few years after they had settled in Castle Nord.
Asil had killed her commander-in-chief. A man who was loyal to her to the core. All because he was accused of trying to take over the North without any proof… However, that was enough for Asil. She ruthlessly executed the one who had followed her all these years without question.
Asil's suspiciousness was on the verge of being paranoid.
It didn't matter how sincere the person standing in front of her was. As she matured, Asil became like a stone that could not be «sharpened» in any way. It is extremely difficult to influence an already mature personality. Therefore, the only way to gain her trust was to do it as a child.
Although on paper Remesis was Asil's wife, in fact she was going to fulfill the role of her regent. The right hand that the princess would finally be able to rely on. Housekeeping, bookkeeping, receiving guests — Remesis would take on all the duties of Princess Severa that she had not done in the past.
Still, when Asil doesn't have to deal with the affairs of the castle, it will be easier for her to focus on the main task at hand. The coup d'état.
When Asil becomes Empress, she'll have no trouble stripping the Carter family of everything they have. Money, position, status. Even though it was her own family, Remesis looked forward to their downfall. When the people whose love she had sought so hard in her past life would now be on their knees before her.
I wonder what the look on her father's face will be like?
After all this happened, Remesis would drop the Carter surname. She wanted nothing to do with one of the four great families. After the destruction of her family and divorce, the girl wanted to buy herself an estate in the south of the empire and live a quiet life.
She didn't want wealth or luxury.
A peaceful life without worries that Remesis had always dreamed of. After so many years living in a series of war and bloodshed, the girl only wanted to wake up one morning without the sounds of fighting and gunshots outside her window. To finally know what a normal human life is.
For the sake of these long-awaited days Remesis was ready to give up her status as Empress. When Asil ascends the throne and this marriage is no longer profitable for them, they will divorce peacefully. The princess would revel in the limitless power she dreamed of, and quite possibly continue to cause bloodshed.
Remesis will grow hydrangeas in his garden and watch the sunrise every morning in his cozy home. At the thought of such a measured life, which had seemed impossible to her before, the girl's heart warmed.
If everything went according to plan, it would work out just fine for the two of them. Remesis believed that more than anything else.
That handshake was the beginning of their long term partnership. As they parted their hands, Remesis was confronted with her gaze. Asil had been watching her constantly, and Remezis made it clear that there was no catch in her behavior.
There was a brief pause. Remesis smiled to do something to lighten the slightly awkward atmosphere.
— Well… Since I promised to help you, let's get you cleaned up first.
Asil stared at her.
— You're not… You're not going to keep walking around like this, are you?
In fact, they both looked terrible right now. But compared to Remesis, Asil's appearance was definitely worse. In order for them to stop being perceived as the offspring of a barbarian tribe, something had to be done about it.
— I'll have a bath prepared for us. I hope you won't mind.
Asil was silent at first, then mumbled something. When Remesis' broken tongue again made her not understand what she said, the girl decided that her speech would have to be worked on first. At any rate, it sounded like agreement.
Probably.
The tavern owner boiled hot water and filled the bathroom for them. It was up to her to do the rest. When Asil finally realized what Remesis was going to do to her, she looked like a scaredy-cat. She would have escaped if Remesis hadn't locked the door with a key.
Rrrip!
The sound of tearing fabric echoed loudly through the bathroom. In the ensuing scramble, Remesis tried to pull her clothes off. The princess struggled violently out of Remesis' arms, hissing and kicking away. The girl thought: there was no way she didn't realize how ridiculous she looked in those bloody and tattered rags.
Finally, after struggling for a while, she succeeded. It was then that Remesis was able to see exactly how Asil had 'treated' her wounds… Remesis stared at her clumsily wrapped stomach in bewilderment. That part of her body looked like a mummy.
The girl struggled to hold back from laughing. It really did look horrible. But thankfully, the bleeding had been stopped after all.
Remesis tried to lower the princess into the warm water, but she wouldn't listen. Despite her thinness, the twelve-year-old's strength was immense, and Remesis knew it well. She couldn't move it even with all her strength.
After some thought, the girl decided to compromise:
— Your Highness, after your bath, how about dinner? I'll ask the hostess for lots and lots of bread.
«Bread»… This word had a magical effect on her. The princess finally calmed down and allowed herself to be washed. Remesis mentally chuckled. «Turns out it was so simple…»
Asil twitched for a moment as the hot water touched her. Her wounds were healing, but she was still in a lot of pain from the water hitting the area. Seeing the painful grimace on her face, Remesis tried to proceed more carefully.
She took the laundry soap and began to rub it intensely into the girl's hair. Her movements were clumsy and rough, for Remesis had never had to wash another person before. But Asil didn't make a sound and was surprisingly obedient.
Considering how quickly the water had blackened, Remesis didn't even bother to ask her when the last time she'd had a bath. Obviously, if even the servants were neglecting her nutrition, there was no talking about the rest of her equally important needs.
As she washed, Remesis discovered that her body was rife with a multitude of wounds. Old bruises and scars, the longest of which stretched almost all the way to her ribs. They were clear signs of someone's abuse.
Remesis sighed heavily. If she had been treated like this since she was a child, it was no wonder that Asil didn't trust people at all… Anyone in her place would have shut down and built a solid wall around herself.
In the girl's eyes, the princess was still a ruthless monster. But at times like this, she felt even a little sorry for her.
After finishing washing Asil, Remesis treated her wounds more thoroughly. Compared to the other scars on her body, the two small puncture wounds didn't seem that serious… As unfortunate as that sounded.
Remesis dampened absorbent cotton with alcohol and began to gently apply it to the wounds. Asil gritted her teeth in pain, but didn't brush off her touch or strike. Apparently she realized that the girl wasn't going to hurt her.
When Remesis finished treating her wounds, she applied a bandage with an extra solution of healing herbs. It was an effective medicine in the South. All the soldiers in the armies used it because any kind of wound healed twice as fast.
Remesis stepped back and looked appraisingly at the result of the work she had done. In front of her was a girl with a much neater appearance. She had also changed into different clothes that the tavern owner had kindly provided them.
Even after finishing her inspection, Remesis' gaze involuntarily continued to slide over her. She had considered Asil very beautiful before. But now it was as if it was even more obvious. Her attractive, sharp facial features were a perfect match for her cold temperament. Though the most notable feature of her appearance was her hair.
In fact, it wasn't just mud that had blackened the water. It was the old dye that had held onto her hair all this time. Now that the princess stood before her, her hair was as silvery as mist on a rainy day. A pair of shrewd amber eyes shone beneath them.
Ash-blonde hair. A hallmark 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 of her father's line, had certainly inherited it. The girl had all the makings of an ideal candidate for the throne. If not for the curse of an unlucky star, she would have lived quite comfortably as one of the most respected noble children.
Furthermore, her younger sister Asil, who became the Crown Princess in her place, did not inherit this trait. She was more like her mother than her father. Because of this, the emperor forbade the eldest daughter from appearing in the palace with her native hair color.
All to avoid the ridiculousness of the picture from the outside. While the child with silver hair sits locked up and not allowed to leave the servants' annex, another child with few similarities to the emperor takes the throne. Despite Asil's curse, the visual contradiction was obvious.
Servants had been recoloring the deposed princess for years. Only black dye of dubious origin could cover her natural hair color. However, now that it had been washed away, the girl's hair was still in surprisingly perfect condition. Her long hair was like silver threads.
It was indeed very beautiful. Under Remesis' gaze, Asil even felt awkward.
— Hmm…
Remesis hesitated for a moment.
Actually, she had found out about it completely by accident. After all, even when Asil became an adult, she had continued to stick to her black hair color on her own initiative. All because she despised the connection to the imperial family and didn't want to be like the emperor.
Remesis only once happened to see a silver strand that contrasted brightly against her black hair. Then the princess had returned to the castle from another protracted war, where she obviously had no time to attend to her appearance. The black paint had washed off a bit. That's when the girl figured it all out.
However, she kept the secret and didn't tell anyone. Of course, Remesis didn't want any trouble from it. Although the girl didn't understand what was so wrong with this fact that it should have been hidden.
— Your Highness, don't dye your hair anymore,» Remesis suddenly said, «It suits you as it is.
«…»
Asil stared at her stupidly.
— And-and-it does?
— You have a beautiful hair color. You don't need to hide it.
Remesis was sincere. Asil's natural color was indeed prettier. Much better than that ridiculous black hair that looked like straw. She hoped the princess would heed her advice.
Especially when Asil took the throne, it would be even more beneficial. According to old customs, people would be more willing to bow their heads to a man with silver hair. Even if it was a bloody coup, it would be easier for a girl to establish herself on the throne if her appearance completely matched that of a member of the imperial family.
After finishing looking at Asil, Remesis thought for a moment and went back to her business. The princess seemed to be able to exhale for the first time in all this time.
Remesis cleaned herself up as well. She washed and brushed her hair, which had previously been in a complete mess. She then changed into the change of clothes she had brought with her. Asil stayed by her side the whole time, though Remesis repeatedly told her she could leave.
But the princess stubbornly refused to leave the bathroom. Though until recently she had been scratching and biting just to get away from here.....
When all the procedures were finished, they returned to the room, where a hot dinner was already waiting for them. Remesis' stomach rumbled contentedly. She pounced on the simple chowder and wheat bread as if she were a refugee who had been starving for days.
Although, that was essentially what it was…
There wasn't much to eat, and as she quickly finished her portion, she felt a pleasant warmth inside. At last her stomach was filled with something. A wave of drowsiness came over her. Slowly sinking into sleep, Remesis couldn't even find the strength to make it to the bed.
She dropped her head on the table and fell asleep.
***
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