The next day, they indeed set off with the hostess's brother. Remesis paid him fifty shillings for the journey.

  Shillings, small copper coins, were used in everyday life by commoners. They were considered the lowest monetary unit, and were therefore used primarily by the poor stratum of the population. One hundred shillings equaled one silver coin, a shekel. And ten silver coins equaled one gold thaler.

  Aristocrats usually didn't use shillings, as they were nicknamed "beggar's money," and it was considered shameful for members of the upper class to pay with them. Even Remesis, living in the Duke Carter's mansion, had never seen a single copper coin. She first held a shilling in her hands when she specifically asked Seila to exchange her silver for them.

  Of course, bringing real silver and gold to the crime-ridden North was extremely reckless. Remesis didn't want to aggravate her problems and become a target for local bandit gangs. So she kept only one gold thaler and a few shekels for emergencies, and exchanged everything else for coppers.

  This way it was much safer to pay in the North.

  As a result, her few gold coins and couple of dozen silver coins, accumulated over all these years, turned into a whole bag of coppers. Remesis kept them carefully with her and still observed certain safety measures — such as never showing money in crowded places.

  For the trip to the capital, the carter asked them for only fifty shillings. Honestly, that was quite little. Remesis had expected him to ask for at least one silver coin, as the journey was indeed not short. But apparently in the North, people already surviving on the brink of poverty would grab any work. Therefore, afraid of losing rare clients, they set the lowest prices.

  Remesis wouldn't have minded paying the carter more, especially for the two of them.

  But if she had insisted on raising the price, it would have been even more suspicious. Besides, this man was a stranger to her. Who knows how a hungry Northerner would act upon learning that his little passengers had money. The girl didn't want to take risks, as their own safety was more important.

  In the end, "getting off" with fifty shillings, they set off.

  It wasn't even a carriage, but an open-top cart pulled by two shaggy horses. In one day they traveled about a hundred versts, and the entire journey was not without adventures. As a rule, due to the dangers of the northern lands, any kind of vehicle would necessarily be accompanied by guards.

  However, ordinary residents of poor villages couldn't afford to hire guards. So for their travels, they used separate paths considered safe. Supposedly, fewer monsters and other creatures were encountered there. However, "safety" in the North was, of course, a relative concept...

  Fortunately, they were lucky not to encounter barbarians. But almost every day Asil had to deal with monsters — which flocked to the scent of human flesh like flies to honey. The carter just watched with his jaw dropped and eyes bulging as a child half his size cold-bloodedly dispatched the creatures.

  Remesis, honestly, was no less stunned.

  Monsters terrorized the North alongside the barbarians. However, contrary to their frightening appearance, killing them wasn't that difficult if you knew the location of their weak points. However, due to lack of experience fighting them, few knew about this. Except perhaps seasoned warriors or barbarians who had been fighting in the North for years.

  Remesis, like Asil, hadn't been in the North long. Before this, they had only dealt with wolves they encountered while living in caves. So Remesis involuntarily marveled at Asil's quick-wittedness. Perhaps, since she herself resembled an animal, she simply sensed it...?

  Remesis tensed a bit, thinking about this. In any case, she decided not to interfere in matters she didn't understand. Especially in such an incomprehensible and unexplored place as Asil's mind. After all, the main thing was that they were alive, right?

  After ten days of a prolonged and, undoubtedly, difficult journey, they approached the city. Remesis couldn't tear her eyes away from the long-awaited sight of iron towers as their days of wandering finally came to an end. In her previous life, she had only seen this view after six months of wandering, more like hell.

  Massive, iron-bound gates appeared before them. A watchman standing on the wall noticed them and reported something to the rest of the guard. Soon the drawbridge creaked, lowering. Oiled chains rattled, pulling the portcullis up. Guards emerged from the gates.

  The northern guardsmen were clad in steel from head to toe. A sturdy collar protected their throats, and on their heads were helmets with visors adorned with a white wolf.

  The emblem of Fortress Nord and the North.

  Several guards peered intently at the faces of the unknown travelers. Although they recognized the carter immediately, the passengers themselves seemed suspicious to them. In the North, strangers were treated with extreme wariness.

  A man stepped forward, apparently their leader. Tall and burly, he towered over the others like a boulder. In some ways, he even resembled a barbarian. A beard, coarse and black as iron wire, covered his cheeks. The guardsman said threateningly:

  "Your identification? If you don't present it, we'll consider you from a barbarian tribe and won't allow you into the city."

  Remesis took Asil's hand and led her along. The princess didn't resist as the girl brought her to the guards and declared:

  "We have arrived from the capital. This is Princess Asil Nara Ashelot, the new Lord of the

  North. I, her wife Remesis Rania Ashelot, am accompanying her."

  Remesis showed them the Northern Lord's ring, which was on Asil's finger. The man, initially startled, slid his wary gaze over it.

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  Then, recognizing it, he turned his gaze to Asil. Apparently, he was greatly surprised that the new ruler of their lands turned out to be... A child. Although he had heard it was supposed to be someone from the imperial family. However, he hadn't expected the lord to arrive not even in an imperial carriage, and... In such a state. Nevertheless, one way or another, the sign of the northern lord compelled him to perform his duties.

  Without much pleasure, the guard soon knelt on one knee and stiffly intoned:

  "We were informed that the new lord was to arrive shortly. I greet you, Princess."

  "We greet you, Princess!"

  All the other guards followed his example.

  Remesis sighed. Even if they did it under compulsion, at least they recognized Asil as their lord. Although it was no secret to anyone that northerners hated the imperial family and considered the lord sent to them more of a mockery. Much time would pass before the princess established herself in the eyes of these people.

  Meanwhile, Remesis turned her attention to the girl herself. Asil always got nervous in the presence of new people. And now too, her amber eyes trembled, a hint of confusion in them.

  Just in case, Remesis firmly took her hand. Asil stared at her.

  "Your Highness, it's alright. Let's go."

  "Aaaa..."

  "You want to eat, right? There's definitely food in the castle."

  "...Food?"

  "Yes."

  At first Asil resisted, anxiously glancing back towards the nearby forest, like an animal dreaming of breaking free and running away into the wild. But after the words spoken by Remesis, she magically calmed down. Her eyes lit up.

  "Food. Food. Food."

  Remesis laughed softly.

  "Yes, food. So come with me."

  The guards escorted them through the gates as Remesis continued to hold the princess's hand. Soon she felt the fingers in her palm stir and slowly grasp hers in return. Thus they walked hand in hand.

  The carter who had brought them stared at the children's backs with his mouth open. Of course, he could never have imagined that the identities of his little passengers would turn out to be such... But it was too late to ask anything, as the gates closed.

  The Iron Castle, which served as the main residence of the Northern capital, was quite small. One fortified tower, a wooden house, and a stable sheltered under a low wall of rough stone. The castle itself was old and shabby.

  Remesis sighed at the sight of the grounds. Honestly, the view before her was disheartening. Not at all like the domain of any lord.

  Long ago, this castle had been huge and majestic. But after decades of neglect, it was certainly far from that. The fortress had suffered numerous barbarian raids and had then been "cleaned out" by local bandits. In the end, only this pitiful semblance remained, which no one had looked after for thirty years.

  In that life, for the first few years, Remesis and Asil suffered from cold and poverty. Often they starved or ate scraps because there simply weren't enough funds to maintain the castle. But then... Everything changed.

  As Asil's influence grew day by day, everything else could not remain the same either. The Iron Castle transformed and expanded before their eyes. In the end, after a few years, this place was unrecognizable.

  The shabby, poor residence grew dozens of towers and changed radically, now fully reflecting the name of Fortress Nord. And this majestic castle became like a big cage for Remesis... The girl involuntarily shuddered from not-too-pleasant memories.

  In any case, now everything would be different. Remesis intended to treat the northern fortress as her home. At least until her revenge was complete.

  Inside, they were met by a knight. A sturdy man of about forty with an honest and open face, a broad nose, and a tousled red mane. He seemed like a kind person, and as far as Remesis remembered, he truly was. In all the time she had lived here, she couldn't recall a single negative remark about him.

  He was the only person who had sincerely treated Asil as his mistress from the very beginning. And he served her faithfully until... He was killed by her.

  "I greet Your Highness! I, Hannes Wrightly, commander of Fortress Nord, from this day forth am ready to serve Your Highness faithfully."

  "......."

  Asil said nothing.

  Remesis was a bit embarrassed. If Asil didn't give the order, he would just keep kneeling. So she decided to do it instead.

  "Please rise, knight."

  The man shifted his gaze to Remesis.

  "And you are...?"

  "My name is Remesis Rania Ashelot," the girl introduced herself. "Perhaps you've heard that our families recently entered into a marriage alliance. Therefore, I have also come to the North as a spouse."

  Surprise flickered in the knight's eyes. Whatever one might say, he could never have thought that this little girl could be someone's wife... At first, Hannes had even mistakenly taken Remesis for a maid accompanying the princess. But then, realizing his mistake, he hastened to kneel before her as well.

  "I-I beg your pardon!" he stammered. "Forgive me for not recognizing you immediately... Initially, I was only informed of the Princess's arrival. I greet the Princess of the North!"

  Remesis cleared her throat.

  "Thank you... But you may rise nonetheless."

  The knight hesitated before standing. He looked at Asil again. But the princess didn't care. She found it much more interesting to examine the stones under her feet than to talk to a knight.

  "Ummm..."

  An awkward pause ensued.

  "In that case, allow me to escort you to your chambers. Your Highnesses must be very tired after the journey."

  Remesis nodded quickly.

  "Thank you, sir."

  "Call me Hannes, Your Highness. I am always at your service!"

  The knight led them through the long corridors of the castle, which, due to its neglected state, looked more like abandoned passages. The few servants glanced at them with suspicion and wariness. Remesis hesitated before asking.

  "Hannes, how many people work in the castle?"

  "Umm... About seven maids in total. And another fifteen laborers."

  "And the guards?"

  "Twenty men serve in the castle's defense. And in total, our army numbers fifty."

  Remesis pressed her lips together, thinking as they walked. Indeed, not very many... In the past, when she didn't concern herself with castle affairs, the girl could tell from the atmosphere that the situation was dire. But she hadn't suspected it was this bad.

  Currently, their troops numbered only fifty men. Learning this, Remesis was even more astonished at how, in twelve years, Asil had managed to increase this number to a hundred thousand...

  She glanced inadvertently at the princess walking beside her and couldn't believe her eyes. If the girl didn't know the future, she would never have believed it. A beast who could neither write nor read would in the future lead such a large army... Anyone would think that was nonsense.

  But Remesis, who had seen it all with her own eyes, only smirked grimly.

  The knight led them to the main bedroom, which was located in a separate tower. From time immemorial, it had served as the personal bedchamber of the lords of the northern castle. The room looked large and bright, and not as poor as one might have initially expected.

  In the center of the room was a large double bed with a canopy. Nearby stood several armchairs and a marble table with a lamp. Flames burned in two fireplaces, filling the room with suffocating heat. There were even a few paintings on the wall.

  Remesis hesitated. This was Asil's bedroom. The very one in which she had died...

  Although then it looked many times better and more luxurious than now. Predictably, her impressions of this place weren't the most pleasant. Moreover, the girl didn't intend to share a room with her anyway.

  Now that they had arrived at the castle, there was no longer any need to sleep together for safety reasons. Remesis was going to ask Hannes to escort her to another available room. She even already knew which one.

  But Asil, as if reading her thoughts and understanding what she was thinking, suddenly grabbed her hand. Remesis shuddered and looked at her in surprise. Her golden eyes burned with a strange fire.

  "...Stay."

  For some reason, Remesis felt this was an order.