A little girl sat at a table, and opposite her sat a boy about five years younger. Somewhere behind them, their sister played—instead of spending time with dolls, she was reading books whose meaning she probably didn't understand at her age, but she did so with such an absorbed expression that one could envy her. At least Vanessa envied her, for at her age, she was frightened by every shadow or unusual light because of her inexplicable gift, which adults considered mere childish fantasies. But the girl already knew this wasn't true, for now she was almost always accompanied by her personal shadow, Gabriel, who had earned a place in the protection of her retinue. As far as she knew, her father had even arranged with the elder Katerina, the current Duchess Blood, to grant him lands for his service, for he was now not simply Gabriel, but Duke Hollow! In exchange, of course, Katerina was to bear the king a child. Vanessa didn't quite understand the intricacies of her father's actions, for before her now was her brother Idivig, also her half-brother through their father, whose mother lived somewhere in a private castle near the capital. Now the three of them—herself, Idivig, and Carolina—sat in the library. While their sister read, Vanessa looked at her brother with a serious gaze.

  "How many more times will we play?" the girl asked the boy, whose gaze was also far too serious for his age.

  "Until I win!" Idivig declared, slightly raising his voice, but then immediately tried to calm himself, at which the girl simply smiled. He was already seven, so he tried to control his emotions, but because he was still a child, he didn't succeed very well.

  "You've already lost twice, Idivig! I won't be queen, so you'll be king!" Vanessa declared sternly, continuing to look seriously at her brother. Carolina occasionally glanced at the pair with an interested look, but immediately returned to reading her book, apparently not quite understanding the concept of their game. "Did you understand all the rules correctly?"

  "Yes," the boy protested. "We're playing 'who doesn't want to be king'! Our main game is chess! Whoever wins becomes king, whoever loses does not. You can't just give away pieces—that counts as a win, and you become king."

  "What a stupid game," Carolina muttered, overhearing her brother and sister's conversation while continuing to read her book. But Idivig and Vanessa didn't react to her at all.

  "That's right, Idivig. And you've already won twice and become king twice," the girl smiled sweetly, as if teasing her younger brother.

  "You're cheating somehow!" the boy protested in response.

  "Nope," his sister replied with a mischievous smile.

  "You're just older, that's why you win!" Idivig protested, still looking seriously at his sister.

  "So if you win against your older sister at chess, that doesn't mean you play well?" Vanessa continued to tease her brother.

  "I'm losing the game! I can't manage to lose to you while losing few pieces—it's like every path leads to complete destruction, so I have to win, even with minimal losses," the boy pouted, but then thought for a moment, as if beginning to realize something.

  "Fine!" Vanessa said. "But only one game. After this, we'll stop playing 'who won't be king,' accepting our last match as the truth!"

  "Princess, wake up," a voice sounded from outside, pulling the young woman from her doze and childhood memories.

  Vanessa opened her eyes and surveyed the ship's cabin, where she had been for about a week now—the same ridiculously large room for one person, where one could only hang oneself from boredom. Beside her was a servant named Artyom from the Duchy of Wood, who had accompanied her throughout this journey to the Kingdom of Stone. A second servant, Selena, also part of her retinue, was currently preparing clothing to present the princess in the appropriate light.

  "Have we arrived?" the girl asked sleepily, addressing both her servants at once.

  "Yes, Your Highness," Selena replied, preparing the cumbersome dress and corset. Vanessa involuntarily grimaced at the sight, and seeing this, the servant continued. "His Highness, Lord Idivig, has decreed that you should appear at the upcoming negotiations as the very embodiment of beauty and aristocratic femininity of the nobles from our kingdom."

  *In other words, do everything I hate,* the girl thought to herself, still shuddering at the prospect of spending the entire day in this suffocating corset and uncomfortable, puffy dress. She didn't understand at all why aristocratic women loved torturing themselves by wearing something in which they literally couldn't breathe.

  "Perhaps without the corset?" Vanessa asked hopefully, addressing Selena.

  "No way, Lady Vanessa. Our esteemed King of Crow said you would resist, and that we would have to dress you in these garments so that you might worthily appear before the envoys from the Desert Empire and the Free Cities, and also not disgrace ourselves before the host nation, the Kingdom of Stone," Artyom replied instead of the girl, crushing Vanessa's last hope of not donning this instrument of female torture. Her brother had indeed calculated everything, knowing his sister wouldn't want to wear this cumbersome construction. On the other hand, she hadn't particularly wanted to go to these negotiations either. But after Carolina's death, Idivig had simply said:

  "We need a diplomat, and there is no one better than the first princess, who renounced the throne, because her brother the king and other close relatives are mourning the loss."

  A bit rude of him, firstly because he himself had killed her dear, beloved, though still foolish, little sister—whom Vanessa could no longer save after their ambitious simpleton decided to side with the Desert Empire. And secondly, she *was* a close relative of Carolina! Of course, not as close as Idivig, but still a half-sister. Vanessa was saddened by the fact that she would have to spend time at these stupid negotiations instead of seeing her sister off on her final journey. Of course, she had been dead for about a month now, and they had buried her in a closed coffin, not showing the body, saying that illness had disfigured the princess. Perhaps this was also to prevent Vanessa from meeting with Lady Adrianna—Carolina and Idivig's mother. Vanessa disliked this old, ambitious schemer, who had achieved her position in the palace and capital only because she had slept with Vanessa's father, who was susceptible to female attention. Vanessa wasn't even sure if she had other brothers and sisters she didn't know about, but she hoped not. On the other hand, the girl understood why Carolina had been the way she was—literally a young copy of her mother, who had been unlucky enough to reach for a large piece of cake that she might have eaten. She and Idivig had long tolerated Carolina's antics, from interfering in the railway project to its total collapse. Now only Viscount Mol, under the guidance of Count Sky, might try to revive this idea. But for now, everything seemed in ruins, especially after they had exiled Leon to the Duchy of Storm. All the money of the Starr Barony was now legally inaccessible to anyone for the next few years, creating only a headache for the kingdom's finances. Of course, they could seize it by royal decree, but that would set a precedent that would negatively reflect on Idivig's reign, one that other nobles could use to undermine the legitimacy of her brother's power—something they did not want.

  The girl sighed inwardly again, thinking of her deceased sister, while her servants dressed her in the torture weapon that was somehow categorized as "clothing—dress." She hadn't wanted Carolina to die, but Idivig had proven too cold-blooded, like a surgeon deciding to amputate a leg, and he had been right to remove the pus that had already infected half the body. Too often they had dealt with problems their sister had brought them, yet still not punishing her severely, thinking that when all her ideas came to ruin, she would calm down. But to their mutual regret, she had crossed a red line beyond which there was no possibility of forgiveness. By trying to involve herself in diplomacy with the Desert Empire, trading herself as an object and social status, she risked being so thoroughly devoured that she wouldn't even notice she was merely a puppet in the hands of a double. Vanessa felt immensely sorry for her sister, and for Idivig, who had committed this act. She wished someone else could have done it, not him. But apparently, the man had decided it would be an act of mercy toward his own sister if he took her life himself.

  The corset dug into her ribs, pulling her from her reflections on her deceased sister. Now, in the cabin, it was calm, except for the bustling servants dressing her. But as soon as she left it, the weight of the world would again fall upon her. She would again see colors and hues that ordinary people either didn't notice or ignored. So here and now, she was gathering her thoughts, preparing to appear at this diplomatic meeting in her usual guise of a slightly foolish princess, projecting an image of decline in the kingdom, but then, in a naive voice, to mention the death of the false Prince Delmar, setting the Free Cities and the Desert Empire against each other, playing on their old grievances, mentioning it just in passing, so that the slightly naive and foolish princess would be treated with condescension, unaware that behind this grand facade of a dress hid not a naive fool, but a true tigress.

  Vanessa chuckled softly, imagining herself in the role of an animal ready to tear her enemies apart with her fangs. But she understood that in reality, she was much weaker even than the man now dressing her, and in the event of a real threat, she would remain defenseless. So the mask of the foolish princess was also her weapon, for she was a weak political instrument to pressure Idivig. Who needed an ordinary princess who had renounced the throne? If her brother Arthur were here, it would be a completely different conversation. By sending her here, Idivig knew his sister would be safe, but the outcome of the negotiations themselves depended solely on Vanessa herself. Yet even here, the girl suspected her brother believed in her and her unequivocal success. Since childhood, she had known how to lose in such a way as to sacrifice as few pieces on the board as possible. And if all she lost now was face in the eyes of other countries, that was a fair price for peace—a price the princess was willing to pay.

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  With these thoughts, she emerged onto the deck of the large galleon, its sails already furled, the ship itself docked. The world again crashed down upon her, teeming with various colors and hues of phenomena that people either believed in or considered myths. But even so, she did not flinch—Vanessa had been accustomed since childhood to seeing the world differently from other people, and she had decided to let this be her strength, with which she would build a kingdom where she and her brothers and sisters could live in safety. This was the goal she pursued, and for that reason, she was simultaneously sad that Carolina had tried to destroy everything she and Idivig had built, but there were still people she needed to protect, and one of her few battles was beginning now, at these negotiations.

  "Oh, it's our princess!" exclaimed an old man in a white ceremonial bisht, also standing on the deck. It was Professor Abid, who had traveled with her throughout the entire week. Yet even so, they had not crossed paths often on the ship, as the man preferred to spend time in his cabin, focusing on his research. To her, he was an absolutely ordinary old man, without any particular peculiarity or any superstition or myth behind him. Although the late Professor Munib had also possessed no special power, unlike all the Dukes she had seen at the ball.

  The Duke of Storm was majestic as a mountain, and from him emanated a warm but seemingly scorching light, capable of destroying anyone except the one to whom it belonged.

  The Duchess Blood was terrifyingly dreadful, for in her Vanessa saw an infinite emptiness that seemed to devour everything around it.

  The Duke of Wood exuded the aura of a peaceful meadow where one might wish to lie down and rest, yet one felt a chill from the fact that he allowed only those he wished onto this meadow.

  The Duke of Celestial was strange. She seemed to see in him a potential that was hidden, much like in her younger brother Arthur. Perhaps this was due to their mother, Latonia Crow, who had once been the daughter of Lord Zakery, her grandfather, the owner of this very strange aura. To her surprise, Vanessa did not remember the color or peculiarity of her mother's aura, just as she did not see her own in the mirror.

  So for her, Professor Abid was an ordinary man, engaged in the technological development of their world, possessing no special power behind him—only his intellect and a desire to make the world better.

  "I greet you, esteemed Professor Abid," the girl said, making a majestic bow in this terribly uncomfortable dress.

  "Yeah, yeah, how you love formality," the professor muttered under his breath, but not quietly enough, so the princess heard him. He probably hadn't done it on purpose—more likely an age-related peculiarity, unable to speak quietly enough.

  But paying no further attention, the princess moved toward the gangplank leading ashore. Her servants Artyom and Selena had not left the confines of the cabin, remaining there. Now she was accompanied by two officers dressed in the military uniform of the Kingdom of Crow, with the coat of arms of their kingdom on their backs—a crow in profile wearing a crown—who carried on their shoulders the weapons of this arriving era: muskets.

  On the shore, a carriage awaited the princess, which was to deliver her to the place where negotiations between the three parties would take place. As far as she had managed to ascertain, only one city would represent the Free Cities—Starhorod—and it would be represented by Professor Abid, with whom she had traveled. Representing the Desert Empire was an unknown man named Yegor Tumanov, who had been close to Prince Delmar and was also a former boyar of the Tsardom of Vys. Representing the Kingdom of Stone would be their second prince, Stone, Lord Coral—a lad about Arthur's age, but already responsible for ensuring the negotiations went smoothly.

  As the carriage carried the girl to the meeting place, she surveyed this small port town called Salt Shore—it stretched along the coast, not extending inland. But now she was being taken away from the fishermen's houses, to where, apparently, the homes of the local nobility were located. When they finally arrived at a small two-story house, the princess noticed that another carriage was already standing nearby, from which a young man in a red-and-white caftan was emerging, accompanied by two black men stripped to the waist, with a red circle tattooed on their chests, rays emanating from it. Unlike Vanessa's protectors, they carried no visible weapons, but knowing the Empire, they could be concealed within their bodies.

  The carriage door opened, first releasing the two officers, and then Vanessa herself. Before her stood the youth in the caftan, as well as a bald young man with dark skin, dressed in a blue sari wrapped around his body. The princess noticed that his body, overall, was hairless. When the princess finally stepped out, this young man bowed to her.

  "I greet you, crow of royal blood. My name is Coral, and I am the sea in which royal blood flows," the youth introduced himself, raising his head. "This one is of fallen blood from the great desert, whose name is Yegor."

  "Princess of Crow, Lady Vanessa," the girl introduced herself, understanding that her etiquette was excessive in this country, but she should follow it to the end, so as not to be shamed before other nations.

  "Professor Abid," an aged voice spoke quietly, before Coral could introduce the old man, who had arrived in a carriage directly behind Vanessa's. Unlike the other two diplomats, he had no escort with him.

  "Then, representatives of different bloods, please follow me," Coral said and walked into the building behind him. Vanessa slowly followed, cursing the heels she was unaccustomed to walking in the entire way. Had Carolina been in her place, she would have certainly embodied the ideal noblewoman of royal blood. But now this role had fallen to Vanessa.

  Their journey was not long in this small house, which smelled of salt and sea, until they found themselves in a small hall with a round table and velvet chairs placed around it. Here, a completely different scent prevailed—the scent of incense—and the place itself was enveloped in a kind of blue haze, slowly drifting throughout the room. Vanessa couldn't tell if it was real or another manifestation of her gift. The girl took the seat indicated to her and surveyed the people present.

  An old professor who wanted everything done quickly so he could go home.

  A sly fox disguised as a small child.

  And the host of the house, who was clearly inexperienced in such matters.

  "Again I greet you, gentlemen. And now, let us conclude peace agreements and return to our homes," Vanessa began the negotiations with a sweet and naive smile.

  "What are you babbling about, you utter fool?" the youth Coral had introduced as Yegor suddenly shouted. "The prince of our empire is dead, and you..."

  "But it wasn't we who killed him," Vanessa said in as naive and honest a voice as possible, even injecting a few notes of hurt feelings, while interrupting her interlocutor. "We can, of course, hand over his murderers to you, but unfortunately, for some reason, they no longer move and just stand gathering dust in our hangar."

  *I know you want war with us, but I will play the losing game so as to give you as few of my pieces as possible, for my goal is not to win this war, but to prevent it,* the princess thought to herself, observing the table's reactions.

  "You didn't understand me, you idiot? Our prince died on your land, and you will pay!" Yegor shouted irritably. He had been sent here specifically to prevent compromise, but Vanessa saw the people before her as children playing at being aristocrats. This was not the complex mechanism of Nikolai, who hadn't even lifted a finger against Count Crown to erase his power; it wasn't even on Carolina's level. The girl felt as if she had stumbled into a children's party. These negotiations hadn't even properly begun, and she already knew how they would end—with her victory.

  "So you need the prince's murderers? We are ready to hand them over," Vanessa continued, as if repeating some mantra.

  "Are you stupid?" Yegor asked his question, at which the girl merely blinked innocently, as if not understanding what was happening.

  "Fallen blood, please, fewer insults," Coral interjected, as the arbiter of this meeting.

  "Tch," the youth clicked his tongue, deciding not to insult the one on whose land he currently stood. "I don't need your excuses. I need blood for blood!"

  "Oh, so you mean that your prince killed the wonderful Professor Munib?" Vanessa asked, trying to express as much surprise as possible, theatrically covering her mouth with her hands.

  "What are you babbling about, you stupid sheep?" the Empire's representative began to lose his temper.

  "Well, she has a point," Abid joined the dialogue for the first time. "The professor did indeed die at the hands of Prince Delmar, and there are plenty of witnesses to this. The only problem is that the host nation, the Kingdom of Crow, did not provide adequate security."

  "And those metal contraptions the professor brought to the ball, the ones emitting lots and lots of smoke—weren't they guarding him?" Vanessa posed her question again. It seemed to her that this was going too easily. For the peace that would soon come, she would only pay with the reputation of a fool, which was worth nothing.

  "Indeed, child, there is some truth in that," Abid nodded, examining his nails with some interest. He was very bored here, and Vanessa was pushing for a quick end so they could disperse, which would greatly please the old man. The fact that representatives of other Free Cities were not here only meant they had already decided everything, and at this meeting, the princess was merely buying time for her kingdom.

  "Then shall we conclude a peace treaty and disperse?" the girl asked, surveying the table with her innocent gaze.

  "What farce have you staged here?" Yegor asked. He was clearly trying to find any pretext for war, but it seemed all his plans were crumbling against Vanessa's stupidity. "I remind you that our prince..."

  "Yes, yes, died, I've already heard that," the old man waved dismissively. "Who killed one of the greatest minds of our generation. Now, upstart, shut your mouth, sign the treaty, and let's disperse. Otherwise, we'll find a reason not only to attack Crow but also the Desert Empire, and I doubt the Emperor will pat you on the head for that."

  Yegor's face turned crimson with rage, while Coral began to extend the papers concerning the peaceful regulation of this conflict, wherein the Kingdom of Crow was ready to hand over the Mu-6 to the Empire as the murderers of their prince, and had no territorial or informational claims against the Free Cities or the Desert Empire.

  *Better to be a fool in their eyes than to prolong this endless farce,* the girl thought to herself as she signed the documents, feeling as though she had just taken candy from a child rather than won a diplomatic negotiation. Now all that remained was to return home and attend to the administration of underground affairs—it seemed Richard had completely stopped handling them once the younger Katerina entered the academy. Now the girl could allow herself to relax, for she had bought a little time for her kingdom, even if it meant enduring a bit of shame in the process.