The square outside the church, full of smoke from the burning torches held by thousands of townspeople and peasants, was noisy, but when the door of my carriage opened and I appeared before the crowd, the royal horn blared and there was perfect silence. My arrival marked the beginning of mass, during which it was forbidden to speak even in whispers, which, however, was often broken.

Wit had disappeared.

As I entered the church and made my way to my pew, where my mother and daughters were already seated, I saw Hedda, and her mournful look made me cringe at the thought that I was a full quarter of an hour late. But Hedda did not seem to hold a grudge against me; when she saw me, she smiled softly and held out to me the palm of her hand, which was covered with a velvet black glove.

– I'm glad you're with us today, my king," she whispered to me, breaking the rules.

– Please forgive my tardiness. It won't happen again," I replied in the same whisper and took my seat.

Hedda walked down the aisle and knelt down.

The organ played loudly and pitifully.

"She would have been a splendid queen if I had not taken her father's throne," I thought involuntarily, looking at the kneeling princess.

Dressed in a black gown and with a translucent veil covering her snow-white hair, this girl represented an angel of sorrow. Her long white eyelashes, so unusual, gave Hedda the appearance of an ice maiden from the ancient legends of Kaldwind. Hedda was popular and beloved by the people, unlike me, but she had no interest in affairs of state; she had ceded the throne to me entirely willingly. Perhaps I should have befriended her, been more loyal to her, for she, besides loving and caring for my daughters, never showed any aggression or anger toward me, the usurper, as she might have called me.

– Papa, if Sylvia doesn't come back, why don't you marry Hedda? – Alva suddenly asked me.

I knew that she and the princess had a very warm friendship, but this question made me surprised: no, what are you making up!

– God forbid! – I laughed softly. – But enough talk, or we'll be kicked out of the church!

– You would be a good couple," Alva laughed at me again.

– You're wrong. And we won't broach the subject again," I said a little sternly, and Alva crossed her arms resentfully.

– Can I sleep? The sound of the organ makes me sad," I heard Vit's voice suddenly appear at my feet.

– Sleep, my friend. I don't think you'll be interested in listening to the scriptures," I said, barely audibly.

– Hmm…" my familiar hummed and curled up in a ball.

The mass was long and boring. Vilja shook her legs impatiently, Alva rubbed the laces of her cloak with a detached look, Vit was asleep, I was in a half-sleep, and only my mother listened attentively to every word the Cardinal said, repeating now and then: "Amen!".

Suddenly I felt a severe pain in my right temple and was surprised to find myself lying face up on the stone floor. Above me, my girls and Hedda were screaming with their mouths open, but not uttering a sound.

– What… What am I doing on the floor? – Touching the wound, I asked.

– You had a seizure, Your Majesty," Andrada's voice answered me, and I saw her standing beside me, towering over me, Hedda, and my daughters.

– A seizure? What the hell does that mean? It's never happened to me before," I asked, covering my eyes.

– It means that now my potion has no effect on you, and if your consort doesn't show up soon, soon Kaldwind will lose his king," Andrada answered me quietly.

"You are dying, my friend. I see a shadow beside you. It is the silhouette of Death, and it is patiently waiting for its time to take you to its halls," I heard Vit's voice full of longing in my mind.