She smiled, nodded, and wanted to pass by, but suddenly, without knowing why, I gently grabbed her elbow. Andrada immediately looked up at me in surprise.

– Court etiquette does not insist that magicians should be present at the memorial days, but I would like to see you in the church, – I said, scrutinizing the delicate graceful features of Andrada's face. This woman was not only beautiful and intelligent, but also had a unique charm. She was cold, but that was what attracted me, and I knew that not one but many men in the palace desired her or were even in love with her. But this proud daughter of Emmerlend never paid attention to the effect she was having on the hearts of these poor men.

– If you wish it, Your Majesty," Andrada nodded and gently released herself from my soft but insistent grip. – But you must hurry: the carriage and your subjects are waiting for you. Your mother and your daughters have already gone to the church, and Princess Hedda is already there.

– Let's go now. Enough talk," Vit rumbled, touching my black leather boot with his big paw.

– I'll meet you there, Andrada," I said, and continued on my way.

The snow leopard trotted along beside me.

Mark was waiting for me in the palace hall. He helped me into a wide black fur cloak, placed a heavy gold crown on my head, begged me in vain to put on fur gloves, and then walked me to the carriage. Wit jumped into the cushioned seat, I sat down beside him, and the carriage started toward the church where Sylvia and I had been married. It was there that every year a solemn mass was held in memory of the deceased king, and every year Hedda knelt before the altar, all the while the mass lasted several hours. This gave me a certain admiration and respect for Hedda, for I myself almost fell asleep sitting on the first bench from the altar. The monotonous chants and the Cardinal's nasal voice were like a lullaby to me. Fortunately, Alva and Villa kept me awake during the mass.

The square outside the church, full of smoke from the burning torches held by thousands of townspeople and peasants, was noisy, but when the door of my carriage opened and I appeared before the crowd, the royal horn blared and there was perfect silence. My arrival marked the beginning of mass, during which it was forbidden to speak even in whispers, which, however, was often broken.

Wit had disappeared.

As I entered the church and made my way to my pew, where my mother and daughters were already seated, I saw Hedda, and her mournful look made me cringe at the thought that I was a full quarter of an hour late. But Hedda did not seem to hold a grudge against me; when she saw me, she smiled softly and held out to me the palm of her hand, which was covered with a velvet black glove.

– I'm glad you're with us today, my king," she whispered to me, breaking the rules.

– Please forgive my tardiness. It won't happen again," I replied in the same whisper and took my seat.

Hedda walked down the aisle and knelt down.

The organ played loudly and pitifully.

"She would have been a splendid queen if I had not taken her father's throne," I thought involuntarily, looking at the kneeling princess.

Dressed in a black gown and with a translucent veil covering her snow-white hair, this girl represented an angel of sorrow. Her long white eyelashes, so unusual, gave Hedda the appearance of an ice maiden from the ancient legends of Kaldwind. Hedda was popular and beloved by the people, unlike me, but she had no interest in affairs of state; she had ceded the throne to me entirely willingly. Perhaps I should have befriended her, been more loyal to her, for she, besides loving and caring for my daughters, never showed any aggression or anger toward me, the usurper, as she might have called me.

– Papa, if Sylvia doesn't come back, why don't you marry Hedda? – Alva suddenly asked me.

I knew that she and the princess had a very warm friendship, but this question made me surprised: no, what are you making up!

– God forbid! – I laughed softly. – But enough talk, or we'll be kicked out of the church!

– You would be a good couple," Alva laughed at me again.

– You're wrong. And we won't broach the subject again," I said a little sternly, and Alva crossed her arms resentfully.

– Can I sleep? The sound of the organ makes me sad," I heard Vit's voice suddenly appear at my feet.

– Sleep, my friend. I don't think you'll be interested in listening to the scriptures," I said, barely audibly.

– Hmm…" my familiar hummed and curled up in a ball.

The mass was long and boring. Vilja shook her legs impatiently, Alva rubbed the laces of her cloak with a detached look, Vit was asleep, I was in a half-sleep, and only my mother listened attentively to every word the Cardinal said, repeating now and then: "Amen!".

Suddenly I felt a severe pain in my right temple and was surprised to find myself lying face up on the stone floor. Above me, my girls and Hedda were screaming with their mouths open, but not uttering a sound.

– What… What am I doing on the floor? – Touching the wound, I asked.

– You had a seizure, Your Majesty," Andrada's voice answered me, and I saw her standing beside me, towering over me, Hedda, and my daughters.

– A seizure? What the hell does that mean? It's never happened to me before," I asked, covering my eyes.

– It means that now my potion has no effect on you, and if your consort doesn't show up soon, soon Kaldwind will lose his king," Andrada answered me quietly.

"You are dying, my friend. I see a shadow beside you. It is the silhouette of Death, and it is patiently waiting for its time to take you to its halls," I heard Vit's voice full of longing in my mind.

POV Derek

A muffled rumble of voices mixed with wailing and sobs invaded my sleep. The creepy, icy laughter and whispers accusing me of usurping the throne, the same invisible tormentor who came to me every night with the same nightmare, grew quieter and quieter, while the wailing and rumbling grew louder and louder, and soon my head was ready to burst from this unbearably loud noise, like the ringing of a huge church bell above my ear.

I realized that I was in my chambers, in my bed, surrounded by my entourage, but I could not open my eyes. My eyelids were so heavy that no matter how hard I tried, I could not get them open, and this suddenly frightened me. I wanted to wake up, I tried to wake up, but I couldn't. "Help me! Wake me up!" – I shouted to myself, but I think I was the only one who heard the shouts.

"Whit! If you can hear me! Hit me in the face! Make me wake up!" – I pleaded, hoping that at least my faithful familiar could hear my mute screams.

"Are you sure? What if I break your neck?" – Vit answered me, and his voice brought me such joy that I'd be ready to kiss his furry face after I woke up.

"Hit me I can't wake up… Something is holding me, something is keeping me from coming back to reality!" – I said insistently, and immediately felt a searing pain on my face. My eyes opened wide and, covered in cold sweat, I threw the blanket away from me and jumped out of bed.

– You're bleeding, Daddy! You've been bitten by a demon! – Alva squealed, hiding behind her grandmother's back.

– Daddy! Don't die! Why are you scaring us like this? – Willa screamed at the same time, jumping on Hedda's neck.

– What the hell-" I involuntarily touched my face, felt something wet under my fingers, and looked at them and was surprised to find blood on them.

"You asked me to hit you. As you can see, I tried, and I didn't even spare my claws," Vit said in an apologetic tone.