The Carter home library was always quiet. With few exceptions, the maids might come in to dust the shelves. But for the most part, this large and luxurious room, filled with a variety of books, remained untouched.
And the reason for that was one person.
In the center of the hall, at a round, massive table, sat a child. She had rosy cheeks, white skin, and a cute face. Her eyes were blue and topaz-like, you couldn't help but stare into them. And her hair was black with a bluish tint.
This girl, the Duke's youngest daughter, Remesis Carter.
Despite her charming appearance and high origin, she spent almost all her time alone. People dared not even raise their heads to meet her gaze. Such was the fate of a child cursed by the stars.
«Ah, that story sounds too tragic though. I'm actually not living a bad life.»
At least compared to what awaited her in the future, Remesis was actually living pretty well now. She had warm lodging and food that she didn't have to fight for. She could also sleep well at night without fear of assassins.
Considering that she had spent most of her life in the harsh north, where every day could be her last, she was truly living her most peaceful times.
Which, by the way, would soon be over.
Remesis sighed shallowly as she turned another page of the thick book. Right now, gaining as much knowledge as possible was the only thing she could do for her future life.
The next few years were going to be extremely tumultuous for her. Remesis remembered well that in her early years in the north, she couldn't even find time to eat properly. The constant barbarian attacks, the assassins sent by the Emperor…
Therefore, Remesis took the opportunity to gain as much useful knowledge as possible.
Because of this, she was even dubbed the «young talent» of the empire…
Although, in reality, she didn't really aspire for such a nickname at all. Moreover, Remesis did not consider herself a genius. She spent her first life being completely illiterate.
Because of her background, the Duke hadn't even bothered to hire teachers for her. Why waste resources on a «defective» child who would be of no use anyway? Especially since Michael Carter had three other «normal» children.
Before her marriage in the north, which had been a disaster for her, Remesis had not even the most basic knowledge of the world. All she could do was write and read a little. And that was because she sometimes sneaked into lessons meant for her older siblings.
In the north, she had no opportunity for an education either. For the first ten years Remesis was concerned only with her own survival. And then, when the situation more or less stabilized and she was able to quietly «settle» in the castle, the girl had her first teacher.
The Maester of the northern castle, a kind old man who had once taught the scions of even the imperial family. In his old age, when he became useless to the former emperor, he was exiled to this place. Since then, the old man had been living in the northern fortress with nothing to do.
He was glad when, for the first time in a long time, he had an apprentice.
Thanks to her mentor, Remesis finally learned to read and write. She had also mastered the basics of geography, philosophy, arithmetic, and other subjects. In other words, at the age of twenty, received the usual education of an aristocrat.
Based on that, Remesis didn't consider herself as some sort of 'gifted' in the slightest.
Essentially, she's just a normal adult who has migrated into a child, and because of that, she's already considered a genius. Though perhaps she did go «a little» overboard.
After all, having a five year old reading books about the structure of the state might indeed seem strange… Remesis sighed. There were still many gaps in her professional knowledge that needed to be addressed as soon as possible.
Remesis was a princess of the north. However, since she didn't know how to do anything, she had no responsibilities. Was just a burden to her wife and the people of the north.
To rule the lands, a standard education is not enough. And in order to achieve her goal, she should not be as useless in this life as she was in the previous one…
So this time Remesis decided to prepare for her future role in advance. The first books she started to study were about financial management and estate economics. She also found a lot of useful information about the north.
In this life, Remesis would no longer be a helpless and weak child who had to face a cruel fate. Now the girl was ready to meet the obstacles in her path with her head held high.
Remesis remembered well the date she had married. August 374 of the Imperial year. In other words, her departure to the north, was less than a month away.
Remesis tried not to waste time on useless things. Fully focused on her studies, she studied in the library from morning till night. The girl greedily swallowed any information like air.
It was around noon when Remesis finished reading a chapter of another book about the structure of the northern lands. At this time she usually took a break. A maid would bring a cup of tea and cookies to the library, and for literally ten minutes the girl would be distracted from her work.
As usual, Seyla was on time. But instead of a cup of tea, she brought unexpected news.
— My lady, his lordship wishes to see you!
The maid's eyes shone with delight. Remesis did not share her joy.
Not a shadow of surprise flashed across the girl's face. Today must be the day. The day her father informed her that she would be going to the North as a wife, and she had no choice but to accept it.
Remesis closed the book with an impassive face. Her voice was clear and hard like a clear diamond.
— Okay, I'll be back soon. Clean up here for now.
The maid obediently bowed her head.
— Yes, my lady.
Seyla was her only personal maid. While the other children of the Carter family were assigned a «roundelay» of maids and nannies from birth (the record was set by Michel, who had twelve of them), only one was assigned to the Duke's youngest daughter.
And even then, at first, Seyla served her with great reluctance. She thought that she was assigned to take care of this little cursed girl only because she was new and had no say in the house.
As a result, she treated her duties the same way. They had no relationship in their first life. Seyla saw the child entrusted to her as a «job» and nothing more. The contempt and anger that had been in her eyes at first was gradually replaced by indifference.
The maid was covering her basic needs, and she didn't care at all how Remesis herself felt about it. The over-salted soup, the uncomfortable bed, or the drafts in the room. None of that mattered as long as that child lived. Still, whoever she was, it was still the Duke's daughter.
Seyla saw caring for Remesis as an onerous duty. She treated her badly, but the girl, in her naiveté, still held out hope of befriending her. The rule of treating others the way you want to be treated doesn't always work.
The girl had learned that well in her first life. So this time she set clear boundaries with her maid. It took some effort to «re-educate» her, but now there was even respect in Seyla's gaze.
After instructing her maid to tidy up her workplace, Remesis left the library.
Morally, she was ready to talk to the Duke.
She walked down a corridor covered with an expensive red carpet. The architects had done a good job, and inside, the Duke's estate looked as good as any museum. Remesis, however, walked past this beauty with a completely indifferent gaze.
One way or another, she couldn't even call this place her home. Everything here, from the tablespoon to the gorgeous tapestries in the lobby, belonged to the Carter family. And Remesis had nothing to do with her.
Speaking of her family…
A noise coming from the courtyard heralded the return of the owners. Remesis sighed heavily. She had to stop to greet them. At any rate a collision in the hallway was inevitable.
Unlike her, Duke Carter's older children already had an active social life. Every week they traveled to events where they socialized with their peers from other noble families. Remesis, on these outings, of course, was not taken.
This time Michelle, Katrina, and Livius were returning from the Count's daughter's birthday party. And why such bad timing… Remesis just hated going out with them.
And yet, as long as she lived in this house, she had to show them respect. After all, all these children were quite capable of making her life difficult. Especially Michel, who, as successor, knew no boundaries at all.
Servants hurriedly opened the front doors on the first floor, and the three entered with no less pathos than the Emperor's heirs. Although, that was almost true. After all, Duke Carter possessed very great influence in the empire.
— Sis, what an unexpected meeting!
Remesis gritted her teeth. She couldn't stand the nickname Michelle had given her.
Two children and a teenager appeared in front of her. Michel had not long ago turned twelve, and he was looking more and more like a young man. Impeccably dressed, and the scent of his perfume was quite like that of an adult. Though Remesis likened the scent more to sewage sludge.
His short blond hair was perfectly combed and styled to the side. The squinted brown eyes glared unkindly at her younger sister.
— Sis, what are you doing here? It's so unusual to find you outside the library.
— I answer to my older brother,» Remesis bowed her head, «Father summoned me to his office.
A fleeting flash of surprise was interrupted by laughter. Michel didn't believe her.
— Who? You?
The Duke's youngest daughter nodded briefly.
— If it was just an excuse to leave the room, I shouldn't have made up such a ridiculous excuse. It's not good for me to lie.
The tone of the Duke's precious heir sounded cautionary.
— Brother Michel, it's not a lie,» Remesis calmly objected, «Father really summoned me. I am going to him now.
— …
Michel frowned and looked at his sister. Katrina, for her part, stated:
— Even if she's not lying, father must be going to reprimand her. There's been so much buzz around that cunt lately…
Katrina wanted to reassure her brother, but it turned out to be the opposite. Michel got angry.
The news that the professor of the imperial institute had come for the sake of a meeting with Remesis made him terribly angry. He couldn't admit it: that even theoretically this lowlife could have been better than him.
However, as the heir to the family, Michel could not afford to falter. Especially with so many people watching him. With an unpleasant smile, he tried to hide the fact that he somehow cared about this topic.
— Ah, the party at Count Bratsvik's manor was so tiring… All those people were so eager to socialize with me. How could I refuse?
Deliberately stretching his words, Michel pressed on the most painful place of Remesis, and a mocking grin appeared on his face. Had he known that the girl herself had not cared about it for a long time.
— I'm glad you had a good time, brother.