– You're exaggerating. Poison couldn't have done that fast…" I started to smile derisively, but as I walked to the mirror and saw my reflection, I realized that Bergil had told the truth, which, either out of respect or not wanting to upset me, neither my daughters, nor my mother, nor Hedda, nor Andrada had told me.

"What's wrong with me… What are these spots on my skin? What do I look like? It is the reflection of a dead man rising from the grave… My poor daughters… How frightened they are by this sight of me!" – I thought with horror, not believing my own eyes: the man looking at me from the mirror looked so sick and frightening that I involuntarily began to hope that I was still in the grip of a nightmare. Because if what I was seeing was really what I had become, what Hund's cursed poison had made me, the reality was scarier than any horrors my mind had ever seen.

"Why didn't you tell me?" – I mentally turned to Vit with reproach.

"I knew Bergil would not be silent about it. Why should you hear this unhappy news two whole times?" – The snow leopard answered me.

– Are you convinced? Name an heir. And you better do it today. Derek, you have no idea-" Bergil's voice trembled, "-you have no idea how hard these words are for me to say. But the fate of Kaldwind depends on who inherits your throne, and I serve it faithfully.

I didn't answer. I couldn't believe what was happening. I couldn't accept that I'd gone from being a healthy man, a warrior, to a strange, thin creature covered in dark spots. The hair on my head had thinned, and my beard was almost gone. It wasn't me. Someone else, but not me.

Suddenly it hit me: I'd put so much faith in Sylvia and her loyalty that I hadn't even thought about the fact that she might not be there in time to save me. Save me? Does she want to? She left the palace in the company of a handsome young healer, so why would she return to me, who took her by force as his wife and raped her on their wedding night? No. She won't. I was blind. I was stupid. I'll be dead soon.

Bergil is right.

I need to name an heir.

But who can I name? Who should I choose from?

The first and rightful heir was Hedda. But, God, what can this frivolous girl do but spend money on dresses and jewelry and have fun? She doesn't know the basics of diplomacy… Does she? What am I talking about? She's never taken an interest in her own kingdom's affairs, so what diplomacy is there to talk about? Besides, Hedda made it clear to me a long time ago that she has no claim to the throne because she doesn't want to take on the responsibility. "Also, my lord, I want to enjoy life, not live it in the throne room or on the battlefield. You are much better suited to that role than I am," Hedda told me on the day of my coronation.

Alva? My eldest daughter? No. I never married her mother, which meant neither she nor her sister could claim the throne. They were illegitimate, bastards. If I named Alva as my heir, the people and the nobles would revolt, and I couldn't put my daughters in danger of being killed by an angry mob.

Bergil? My trusted friend, my noble knight and the one I've consulted more than once on this or that matter of diplomacy or Kaldwind's needs?

– Bergil," I said quietly.

– What?" he said.

– Bergil will be my heir," I said firmly.

– Over my cold corpse! – Bergil coughed, choking on his wine.

– That peasant? The king? Oh, that's funny! – Vit laughed.

– I've made my choice. When I die, you will be king and protector of Kaldwind," I said in an unapologetic tone and turned to my friend. – You will be a great king, my friend.