There are many people in the palace who try to please me. Every time I pass by, they smile at me and greet me according to their status. Most of them try to make conversation with me, to solve state affairs with me, to discuss important issues, but there are also those who just fawn over me, interfering with my work or trying to put one of their daughters under me, even if this girl will later have the unenviable status of a mistress. The funny thing about all this is that I was aware of the discontent among the palace nobles and the unrest among the townspeople. Every other citizen of Kaldwind, if not wanting to kill me, was at least waiting for someone to decide to do so. For reasons I understand, shortly after King Juris' death and my coronation, foul rumors spread throughout the kingdom that I had usurped the throne, but that was not the case. King Juris himself handed over the throne to me, and for good reason. I had never thought that fate had such a good sense of humor: putting a man born to clutch weapons, kill and command vultures on the throne of Kaldwind instead of a refined princess who had been prepared from childhood to be a future queen, who had been taught manners… I had to think of such a thing.
Andrada, on the other hand, has always been special to me. Real, sincere, loyal. She followed me everywhere like a shadow and never turned her back on me. If I was wrong, she always spoke her mind openly, and on the contrary, if I did the right thing, she always supported me. Always cold, reserved, fair, that's how I saw her every day. And even now, like a faithful dog, she sat by my bedside and tried to lick my wounds. If I'd been more careful, she wouldn't have had to do this kind of thing again.
– Don't you think sometimes you do too much for me and this kingdom? Your home is Emmerlend, but even for Emmerlend you do far less than you do for Kaldwind," I asked Andrada, looking at her beautiful, calm face again.
– I don't know what to tell you. – The sorceress lowered her head and must have been deep in thought. – Emmerlend is my homeland, but I have lived in Kaldwind for many years. I live here, work here, and experience things I've never known before. Sometimes I feel as if Emmerlend were a complete stranger to me.
– That's it," I grinned. – I, too, sometimes feel like I belong somewhere far away from the walls of Sturfjell.
– No, you belong here. You're just not used to the burden King Juris has placed on you," Andrada grinned, too.
– This throne should have gone to Hedda. She is the rightful heir, and I was just there when I shouldn't have been. – Barely opening my eyes, I got out of bed and offered my hand to Andrada to help her up. I had no energy left for conversation, so I decided to send her away after all.
– I believe the throne is yours by right. Would Her Highness' fragile shoulders bear the burden? Would she be able to lead the people in the war against the demons? At best, she would make them busy romantic armor, and then victory could only come if Rossi died laughing. – Taking the hint and placing her palm in mine, the magician rose and couldn't contain her smile.
A moment later, the room erupted in our laughter. It had been a long time since we'd laughed like that together, but sometimes it was good for us. The feeling that there was someone else in the chambers besides us faded away, and I even began to forget about the unpleasant awakening. It was a good thing that I had met such loyal friends and helpers as Bergil and Andrada, without whom I would have become an unfeeling fool long ago.
