– Do none of you see that your future queen needs help?

– Of course, Your Majesty! You're so tired of carrying all this junk! – Bergil, who had suddenly appeared beside her, said with a sneer in his voice. – Though I dare ask… Has not my king made it clear to you that he does not wish to see these rags? Or are you trying your luck, future queen? – The grin on his face was more like a grin.

– I don't think I asked for your opinion. You're very wrong if you think I can't wear what I like. Those dresses…" Sylvia cut her off icily, but the sound of approaching footsteps behind her silenced her.

– Yes, you can't! – When she turned around, she saw Derek, and from his face she realized that he was clearly unhappy with her behavior.

– Perhaps you have forgotten, Your Majesty, that I am not a servant, but a princess, heir to the throne and your fiancée! And this scoundrel does not dare to mock me! – Sylvia flared up and pointed her finger at Bergil like a child.

The king's face turned crimson. In an instant he was seized with a real rage: his best friend and his demoness fiancée had put him in an awkward position, and his answer would determine how he would be treated by his warriors and his people.

"Couldn't that bear Bergil hold back? He would have laughed at her when no one could see! No, he should have done it in front of everyone! Will that brat of hell ever shut up? Her reminders that I'll have to marry her are getting in my throat!" – he thought.

The king remained silent and shifted his contemptuous gaze from Sylvia to Bergil and back again. There were already enough curious onlookers around them to anticipate that their lord would deal with the arrogance and insolence of this red-eyed demoness in a harsh and dignified manner.

– Remember forever, Sylvia: you have no right to behave like a capricious princess, because you still bear your title only because of my mercy. As for you, Bergil, aren't you the one who should be enforcing discipline? You've both disappointed me. Terribly disappointed. – The ice in Derek's voice made both the demoness and the head of the guard grow cold.

– I beg you, Your Majesty, let me take at least one chest with my belongings and at least one of my maids," she asked quietly but insistently, but Derek didn't seem to hear her:

– It's time to go: it's a long way home! – he announced loudly to his warriors. – King Lamar has provided us with a royal carriage and twenty of Flammehav's best horses. In addition, numerous wagons with provisions, water and wine are traveling with us! Well, anything else you wish to take away with you: jewelry, fabrics, and who knows what else, you will have to carry on your own, as the newly acquired horses already have one important task!

"Excellent! I'm sure he'll make me shake on the horse's back the whole way! – Sylvia thought wryly as she listened to her fiancé's speeches, and only now noticed that the once glittering walls of the palace were disfigured by deep holes, and all the gold threads decorating them had disappeared. – Looters! How greedy are these monsters that they would not squander even so little!"

But she did not know that all of her parents' jewelry had also been looted and, hidden in dirty black pouches attached to the belts of dozens of human thieves, were ready to go to a foreign land. Sylvia's jewelry was unharmed only by the will of Derek, who had forbidden even to touch it.

– Soldiers of Kaldwind! Are you ready to march? To go home? – Derek asked loudly.

– Ready! Home at last! Oh, we'll get rich! – That was his answer.