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– Come in, my love. I'm sorry, I thought it was one of the humans," Varma told her hastily.

Sylvia stepped into her mother's chambers. The door slammed shut behind her.

– Look what that bastard has done to me! – Varma moaned, clutching her head.

– Oh, Mother, I'm so sorry…" Sylvia could only whisper, for the decrepit old woman standing before her did not resemble her beautiful, always young mother in the slightest. She had seen only a glimpse of Varma in her chambers when Derek Merkswerd had ordered her to be his wife, and now the change that had come over the demon queen surprised her unpleasantly.

"So this is what my mother hides beneath her magical sheath! Her old age! No, I will not be like her… I will meet my old age with dignity and will not hide from it" – involuntarily went through the girl's mind, but she did not want to upset her mother with the truth, so she said:

– Mother, no one will ever take away your beauty....

But Varma immediately interrupted her:

– It's already happened! That damned little man… Damn him! But how? Does he possess some magic even stronger than ours? Impossible! Humans have never had even a hint of magical ability! – The queen walked briskly to her huge half-wall mirror and dug her fingers into her long gray hair. – Oh, my beauty! My youth! I hate this reflection, it's not me!

While Varma felt sorry for herself and cursed Derek, Sylvia waited silently for her mother to come to her senses.

– And you.... So young, so beautiful… What I was years ago! – with envy of her own daughter, Varma suddenly said quietly, glancing at the latter's reflection.

– 'The people have gathered in the throne room,' Sylvia hastened to say: at this moment her mother was pushing her away with her behavior and her vain wailing. – Derek Merkswerd has ordered me to come there to celebrate my engagement to him… Mother, please come with me! I need you! – she pleaded softly.

– No, no… In such a state… And what is there to celebrate? Our shame? – Varma cut her off.

The girl smiled bitterly, but did not ask twice, for she knew that her mother, as if disturbed by the loss of her beautiful false shell, would never leave her chambers.

– Tell me, mother, is it true that Uncle Dariel killed and raped the women of Kaldwind and was executed by King Derek for it? – She asked the question that had been tormenting her.

The demon queen smirked, went to the dressing table, sat down on a beautiful thin chair and began to open boxes with cosmetics and jewelry: she wanted to somehow cure old age in her own eyes.

– And who told you that, my daughter? – she said in an indifferent tone to Sylvia.

She walked over to the queen and stood behind her.

– Derek told me.

– And you believed him?

– No, not at all. But I need to know. – Sylvia swallowed. – 'I beg you, tell me the truth.

– The truth? – Varma took off her earrings. – Yes, he'd had a lot of fun before he died. But that despicable man still had no right to…

– How? Uncle Dariel was a murderer? Raped women? – Sylvia was stunned by this news. – But he was so honorable!

– Dariel? Noble? – Her mother laughed. She had already taken off her earrings and was putting new ones with large black stones in her pointed earlobes. – There's a lot you don't know, my naive girl! He was never satisfied with being a prince, and he waited patiently for your father to pass away.

– But he loved me so much," she whispered, remembering how she and Daryal had played hide-and-seek in the great long corridors of the palace, and how he had taught her to ride. And how patient he had been!

– It's true. You were his favorite. – The queen took out a scarlet lipstick from a box and began to paint her dry, senile lips with it. – But he thought that when Lamar died, he would steal your power and lock me in a dungeon or simply slit my throat. Darius thought no one could read his thoughts, but I did. You know my gift for reading minds is greater than that of any other demon. It took me eighteen years to get inside his head, but when I finally did, I was terrified. I told your father, and he ordered Daryal's arrest, but his little brother simply slipped out of the palace, never to be seen again. And then came the news from Kaldwind– But I'm not surprised. Darius has always had a taste for violent fun.

– Then King Derek was right…" Sylvia pressed her palm to her lips and shook her head.

– No, he wasn't! – Varma exclaimed angrily. – He should have sent Dariel to us, not lynch us! Who was he to decide the fate of Prince Flammehav?

– No, Mother, he had every right to execute the murderer," the girl said firmly.

– You seem to have forgotten who you are, taking the side of your pathetic fiance? – Her mother squinted her eyes. – Have you forgotten the suffering he has brought to your people? How many demons he killed and how many cities he destroyed?

– I have not forgotten, and I will never forget! – Sylvia whispered loudly.

Silence hung, as Varma began to brush her gray hair and her daughter was taken captive by her thoughts.

The truth that her favorite uncle was going to overthrow her, the rightful heir, hurt Sylvia almost physically, but she chose not to think about it, for he was dead, and she would be Queen of Men… And consort to the cruel husband of Derek Merkswerd. Someone she hated with all her heart.

– You say they're celebrating? – The Queen suddenly broke the silence, turning to her daughter. – They must have emptied our wine cellars by now?

– The wine is flowing, Mother," she replied.

– We should have put poison in it," Varma smiled wryly. – In every bottle, so that every last one of those things would die!

– Will you come with me to the throne room? – Sylvia asked again, not wanting to listen to her mother's poisonous speeches any longer.

– No.

– Whatever you say, Mother. – The princess made a deep curtsy and silently left the room.

Sylvia reluctantly returned to her fiance, and the celebration continued into the night. Neither Varma nor Lamar showed up to support their daughter. Thankfully, Derek didn't throw her any more taunts, but neither did he allow his bride to leave for her chambers. It was only when Sylvia, exhausted and tired, was almost asleep on her throne that Derek graciously summoned two warriors and ordered them to take his bride to rest.

– Get a couple hours of sleep, my princess," he told her. He was already drunk, but he did not let the guilt cloud his judgment. – We have a long journey tomorrow.

– Thank you, my king. May I take my maids to Kaldwind? – The girl asked.

– No," Derek said.

– At least two.

– Not one. And all your vulgar dresses will stay here. I don't want a wife who dresses like a whore.

– Whatever you say, my king. – Sylvia curtsied and hurried out of the grand drinking party.