– We can't leave Flammehav without those bastards taking revenge on us and invading Kaldwind with another war," Derek explained. – Andrada wrote that she was wrong in her calculations, which means that with her death the magic of the White Talisman will also die

– That's right! – Bergil scratched his beard thoughtfully. – Bad!

– Imagine what would be left of our kingdom and its inhabitants if the demons attacked us and were able to use their devilish magic?

– I don't want to think about that. What do we do, Derek? If you decide to slit the throats of all the demons, down to the last child, I'll be at the forefront," Bergil smirked. – But before you do, give us permission to have some fun, me and the others. Why protect those red-eyed whores? They'll do us some good.

– My friend, you are as bloodthirsty as a hungry wolf. But it won't happen. My conscience won't let me go against my word. You think I care about these demons? Alas, I rushed into it, and I've trampled myself into the mud! – Derek cursed like the last highwayman and stepped back to the large window. He stood there without moving for several minutes, thinking frantically. Finally, when Bergil was about to pull him back, Derek turned to his friend and said, "Bring Rossi here.

– Who exactly do you want? The king? That slutty queen? Or their pretty little girl they're shaking like a crystal vase over? – Bergil asked.

– All of them," Derek answered briefly, turning back to the window.

– Whatever you say. – Bergil bowed subtly to his friend's back and left him to himself and his thoughts.

'This is the only way to keep my people safe from the vengeance of the demons. Andrada has shattered all my illusions. But I will do whatever it takes to keep Kaldwind intact. And what I do will be a small price to pay," Derek decided.

It was a hard decision to make, but he realized that it was the only way to guarantee peace and quiet for his kingdom.

Soon Rossi entered the room, each of them searched and disarmed, their hands still bound tightly with ropes. They looked at the silent King Derek Merkswerd with bewilderment, and Varma with contempt, as they waited for him to speak.

– Lamar and Varma: you are here to hear the terms on which I will give you peace, and on which my army will leave Flammehav," Derek said firmly and turned to the demons.

– I listen to you, King Derek," Lamar replied in an ingratiating tone.

The gray eyes of the king of men stared into the red eyes of Princess Sylvia.

– Your daughter will be my consort," he said in an uncomplaining tone.

– My daughter is the wife of a mortal? – Varma hissed: as Derek had expected, the magic no longer nourished her body, and she was now a gray-haired old woman. Her husband looked no better. Only young Sylvia was still herself.

– Derek, you ask too much," Lamar said softly. – Ask anything, kill me, kill Varma, but leave Sylvia alone.

– You're in no position to contradict me," Derek reminded him grimly.

– I agree. I will be your consort," Sylvia said quietly but firmly, looking into the gray eyes of the enemy of her people.

– I agree. I will be your consort. – These words were given to Sylvia with great difficulty, as if a ball of thread was stuck in her throat, not allowing her to breathe. But she kept her eyes on the King of Men, trying to speak clearly, to let him know that her pride was still with her, and had not been dropped the moment she knelt down.

There was tension in the air and a pleasant, floral scent coming from the vials of oils on the gold and white marble dressing table just opposite the front door. Derek couldn't help but notice that back at their first meeting, when he'd put the cold blade to young Rossi's fragile neck, he'd thought for a moment that he'd caught a familiar scent emanating from the demoness. It was the smell of his mother's house… The combination was unusual, and that was what made it stick in his mind. Derek snatched a strand of hair from Sylvia's head and inhaled the familiar scent of pine and lingonberry pie. He'd never encountered either of those things before in his conquest of Lamar's lands.