– Do none of you see that your future queen needs help?
– Of course, Your Majesty! You're so tired of carrying all this junk! – Bergil, who had suddenly appeared beside her, said with a sneer in his voice. – Though I dare ask… Has not my king made it clear to you that he does not wish to see these rags? Or are you trying your luck, future queen? – The grin on his face was more like a grin.
– I don't think I asked for your opinion. You're very wrong if you think I can't wear what I like. Those dresses…" Sylvia cut her off icily, but the sound of approaching footsteps behind her silenced her.
– Yes, you can't! – When she turned around, she saw Derek, and from his face she realized that he was clearly unhappy with her behavior.
– Perhaps you have forgotten, Your Majesty, that I am not a servant, but a princess, heir to the throne and your fiancée! And this scoundrel does not dare to mock me! – Sylvia flared up and pointed her finger at Bergil like a child.
The king's face turned crimson. In an instant he was seized with a real rage: his best friend and his demoness fiancée had put him in an awkward position, and his answer would determine how he would be treated by his warriors and his people.
"Couldn't that bear Bergil hold back? He would have laughed at her when no one could see! No, he should have done it in front of everyone! Will that brat of hell ever shut up? Her reminders that I'll have to marry her are getting in my throat!" – he thought.
The king remained silent and shifted his contemptuous gaze from Sylvia to Bergil and back again. There were already enough curious onlookers around them to anticipate that their lord would deal with the arrogance and insolence of this red-eyed demoness in a harsh and dignified manner.
– Remember forever, Sylvia: you have no right to behave like a capricious princess, because you still bear your title only because of my mercy. As for you, Bergil, aren't you the one who should be enforcing discipline? You've both disappointed me. Terribly disappointed. – The ice in Derek's voice made both the demoness and the head of the guard grow cold.
– I beg you, Your Majesty, let me take at least one chest with my belongings and at least one of my maids," she asked quietly but insistently, but Derek didn't seem to hear her:
– It's time to go: it's a long way home! – he announced loudly to his warriors. – King Lamar has provided us with a royal carriage and twenty of Flammehav's best horses. In addition, numerous wagons with provisions, water and wine are traveling with us! Well, anything else you wish to take away with you: jewelry, fabrics, and who knows what else, you will have to carry on your own, as the newly acquired horses already have one important task!
"Excellent! I'm sure he'll make me shake on the horse's back the whole way! – Sylvia thought wryly as she listened to her fiancé's speeches, and only now noticed that the once glittering walls of the palace were disfigured by deep holes, and all the gold threads decorating them had disappeared. – Looters! How greedy are these monsters that they would not squander even so little!"
But she did not know that all of her parents' jewelry had also been looted and, hidden in dirty black pouches attached to the belts of dozens of human thieves, were ready to go to a foreign land. Sylvia's jewelry was unharmed only by the will of Derek, who had forbidden even to touch it.
– Soldiers of Kaldwind! Are you ready to march? To go home? – Derek asked loudly.
– Ready! Home at last! Oh, we'll get rich! – That was his answer.
– Then let's go! – Derek shouted triumphantly.
– Hooray! Home! – With joyous shouts, the warriors, homesick for their families and homes, streamed toward the stairs. Armor clinked, swords rattled, and men laughed loudly.
Satisfied with the general joy, the king of men grinned and, coming even closer to Sylvia and Bergil, said quietly:
– Bergil, see to discipline. I don't want the army to suddenly become chaotic.
– As you say, Your Majesty. – Bergil bowed to the king and left: he realized that the king was angry at his prank, and decided to silently retreat.
– And you, Sylvia, will ride in the carriage…" Derek turned to his bride.
– I'm glad you haven't forgotten about honor… – the flattered demoness began.
– In a carriage for my servants, – the king finished his thought.
– But… – The princess tried to object, but was stopped by a quick wave of her hand
– One more word and you will walk to Kaldwind. – Derek unceremoniously grabbed Sylvia's arm and led her down the stairs. – Didn't you have a more modest dress in your rag-stuffed closet?
– Please, let me say goodbye to my parents! – the princess begged.
– You have had plenty of time," her fiancé replied sternly.
Derek immediately let go of the girl's hand as if it was burning his skin.
– What's that… There on the wagons? – Sylvia frowned when she saw the king's horses drawn in wagons loaded with rather large chests.
– This is your dowry," the groom announced with a wry grin. – And your father's payment for peace. Now get into the carriage! – He walked to the huge, luxurious carriage that belonged to Sylvia's father and climbed in, remembering to slam the door loudly.
One of the maids, who had come with the king from Kaldwind, timidly put her arm around Sylvia's shoulders and hurriedly led her towards the sturdily-built, but rather uncomfortable carriage for the servants who always followed their lord on his military campaigns. The princess took a seat by the window and turned her back to the glass so that people would not see her tears. Sylvia wanted to weep with bitterness: this cruel usurper wouldn't even let her say goodbye to her parents! After all, it wouldn't have taken long! She was ready to bear all the trials and humiliations, even traveling in the same carriage with her fiancé's servants, but not this… And hatred for her fiancé took hold of her heart even more.
Bergil jumped up on his horse and jerked the reins angrily. The horse galloped obediently to the end of the line.
The whole ride to Kaldwind was silent for Sylvia. But the army, returning home from war and with victory in their hands, jingled their armor and talked loudly, sharing with their friends what they would do with the King's reward and the loot from Flammehav. Derek sat alone in the comfortable carriage, studying the papers he had accumulated during the campaign and trying not to think about the conflict. Usually the king led his army on horseback, but this time the urgency and importance of the papers did not allow him to put on his armor again and be like everyone else. Also Derek did not want to scandalize his fiancée and especially not to offend his friend. Everyone in Kaldwind's army and palace had long been accustomed to Bergil's special status, and he was allowed more than the others, and here he was being punished because of some red-eyed girl! Derek hated demons as much as Bergil did, so he understood his anger and desire to humiliate Sylvia, but now the demoness was on her way to his kingdom as his future wife, and he didn't want her to be humiliated by anyone. She was, after all, his future queen. The mother of his heir. Bergil could mock her in private all he wanted, but he had to keep his mouth shut in front of witnesses. Be that as it may, Sylvia was the king's choice, and no one in Kaldwind, not even Bergil, dared challenge that choice.
For the night, the army would make a huge camp wherever darkness overtook them. A large royal tent was set up for Derek, but there was no room for his bride. Sylvia, the future queen of Kaldwind, slept in the same tent with the servants, but not a word of complaint came out of her mouth. Besides, she realized that Derek Merkswerd would hardly be interested in her complaints. During the daytime, the princess huddled in a corner of the carriage and, looking sadly at the ruins of cities and dead trees killed by fire, thought about what awaited her in a foreign kingdom. The girl had never been naive, so she knew that every inhabitant of Kaldwind was ready to tear her to pieces, to pelt her with stones and rotten vegetables, every one of them longed for her execution, every one of them wanted to be her executioner. She was the demon everyone hated. And just how would Derek get his people to accept his choice?
