Silence fell in the room.
Remesis looked at the physician and did not believe her ears.
"...What?" she whispered.
"You are pregnant," the physician repeated, and there was not a shadow of doubt in his voice. "I checked three times. Pulse, tests, external signs. There is no doubt. You are carrying a child. The term is about three months."
Remesis slowly sat up in bed, ignoring the weakness in her body. Her hands trembled — not from cold, but from shock.
"That cannot be," she said. "This... this is impossible."
"Why do you think so?" asked the physician.
Remesis opened her mouth to answer — and froze.
Why?
Because she did not think she could have children? Because she had never discussed it with Asil? Because...
She suddenly realized — it didn't matter.
The child was already there.
Inside her.
A tiny life she had known nothing about, growing within her... This feeling was too shocking and overwhelming for her to fully comprehend and accept it right now.
"Asil and I are going to have a child..." Remesis whispered, her voice trembling.
"Yes," the physician nodded.
Remesis placed her hand on her stomach — where nothing could be felt yet, but where, according to this old man, a tiny heart was already beating.
Right now, Remesis felt so strange that she could not say or ask anything more. She just sat in silence, listening to the baby's invisible heartbeat.
The physician, meanwhile, rose from his chair.
"I will prescribe you some strengthening remedies," he said. "You need plenty of rest, good nutrition, and to avoid stress. The first trimester is the most dangerous. Especially in your condition."
"...In my condition?" Remesis repeated.
"You are exhausted, Your Highness," the physician said gently. "Both physically and emotionally. If you want to keep this child — you must take care of yourself."
Remesis looked at her stomach again.
She thought about how, just a few weeks ago, she had wanted a divorce. Wanted to leave. Wanted to forget Asil like a bad dream and start a new life somewhere far away — in the south, by the sea, in peace and quiet.
But now, everything had changed.
She was bound to Asil forever. Not by marriage vows, not by oaths, not by fear. But by blood. The blood of their child.
"What will happen now?" she asked, addressing no one in particular.
The physician did not answer.
He bowed, said he would return in the morning, and left the room, leaving Remesis alone.
The girl lay in bed for a while, covered by a warm blanket, staring at the glowing embers in the fireplace.
A new life was growing inside her.
It seemed she still could not fully grasp it.
Remesis closed her eyes.
The cold northern wind howled outside the window.
The physician had left, but the silence he left behind was heavier than any words.
Remesis lay on the bed, pressing her palm to her stomach, staring at the ceiling.
I am pregnant.
This word spun in her head, finding no place. It was foreign, wrong, out of place.
How could this have happened?
She knew how, of course. But in her mind, this knowledge refused to connect with reality. A child. Inside her.
And, even more incredibly, it was Asil's child.
Remesis turned onto her side and pulled her knees up to her chest, curling into a fetal position. She suddenly felt cold — despite the burning fireplace, despite the warm blanket, despite the room being at least twenty degrees.
The cold came from within.
She did not know whether to rejoice or be horrified by this news.
What was she to do with this child now?
Various thoughts came to her mind in an instant.
Remesis squeezed her eyes shut, pushing those thoughts away.
She couldn't think about it now. Right now, she just needed to... accept it. Accept it as fact. But it was hard to do.
How will I raise this child? she thought. How will I give it everything it needs? How will I make it happy when I myself am unhappy...
Remesis was not ready to become a mother. She had never even thought about it. Her life was duty, responsibilities, fear, and constant struggle. But even so... Could she simply give up this child?
Remesis took a deep breath.
After receiving such shocking news, she continued to think about it for some time.
And there was a knock on the door just as Remesis was finally beginning to calm down a little.
"Come in," Remesis said, although she did not know who it was.
The door opened, and in the doorway appeared a person she had definitely not expected to see.
It was Boris, Asil's servant.
Remesis, upon seeing him, immediately sat up in bed.
She was bewildered. Why had Asil's personal servant suddenly come to her?
"...Your Highness," he bowed.
Remesis frowned.
"What do I owe the pleasure of your visit?" Remesis asked, gesturing for him to enter.
The knight stepped into the room and closed the door behind him. He was holding some kind of folder in his hands.
"Princess," he said, "I have come to carry out the Lord's final request."
Remesis's heart skipped a beat.
"What request?..."
The knight sighed and opened the folder. His fingers sorted through the papers, extracting the right one.
It was a sheet of parchment. Thick, with gold embossing along the edges. The Northern crest — a silver wolf — was in the upper corner, and below was text written in a calligraphic hand.
Boris handed the paper to Remesis.
"This is the document for the dissolution of the marital union between the Lord and yourself," he said, not raising his eyes.
What?...
For a moment, Remesis thought she had misheard.
She immediately took the parchment with trembling hands.
She read the first few lines — and nearly faltered.
It was too shocking and unexpected.
"I, Asil Nara Ashelot, Lord of the Northern Lands, voluntarily and of sound mind, renounce the marriage bonds that bind me to Remesis Carter. The parties no longer wish to remain married, and neither has any claim against the other..."
"...What is this?" Remesis whispered, raising her eyes to the servant. "What does this mean?"
"It means, Princess," the knight replied impassively, "that the Lord signed these documents before her death."
Remesis shifted her gaze to the bottom of the parchment.
There was Asil's signature.
"But... why?" Remesis's voice broke. "Why did she do this?!"
The woman who had refused to let her go until the very end had herself signed the divorce papers?
Was this a joke? A forgery?
But this document looked official and did not resemble a forgery at all...
Nevertheless, Remesis was still in turmoil and could not believe it.
Boris did not rush her to accept this information. He stood with his eyes lowered, patiently waiting for Remesis to realize the reality.
"The Lord signed the documents," he said finally, "and ordered me to deliver them to you... She said you must decide for yourself whether you want to stay or not."
Remesis still remained silent, not saying anything, not taking her eyes off the document and Asil's signature. She was too shocked by this.
Boris, meanwhile, raised his eyes to Remesis again, and there was something like a plea in his gaze.
"Princess, the Lord left clear instructions. The decision about the divorce must be made as soon as possible. If you decide to dissolve the marriage — the documents are ready. Only your signature is needed. If you decide to stay... the documents will be destroyed."
Remesis stared intently at the parchment in her hands.
Then she shifted her gaze to her stomach.
Her heart faltered.
If she signed this document, then this child... what would become of him? Would he be considered illegitimate? Or would the North recognize him as heir, even if the marriage was dissolved?
"I am pregnant," Remesis's voice trembled, but was firm. "What will happen to my child if I sign this?"
Boris seemed not to have expected this question.
He was momentarily taken aback and even somewhat shocked before speaking.
"...According to the laws of the North," he replied after a pause, finally, "a child conceived in marriage is considered legitimate, even if the marriage is dissolved before its birth. He will retain the right to inheritance and title. But..." he paused, "he will not have the right to your guardianship if you divorce."
Remesis fell silent.
For a few seconds, heavy silence reigned in the room.
After which...
"Leave the documents with me," Remesis said quietly. "I will think about it."
"Princess," the knight stepped forward, "the Lord asked to settle this matter as soon as..."
"I said — I will think about it," Remesis's voice became firmer. "You will have an answer within a week. For now... leave me."
Boris wanted to object, but something in her gaze stopped him. In the end, he bowed, quietly left the room, and closed the door behind him.
Remesis was left alone.
She looked at the divorce papers, but her mind was completely blank.
She thought about how, not long ago, she had dreamed of this sheet of paper. Dreamed of freedom. Of leaving, forgetting everything, and starting a new life.
Now, this sheet lay before her.
But freedom no longer seemed so desirable.
Rather... it lay upon her like a heavy burden.
What was she to do now?
To stay here meant accepting responsibility. Not only for the child but also for the entire North. For the people who had depended on Asil. For the lands that now needed a new ruler.
But was she ready for that?
Remesis pulled her knees up and pressed her forehead against them.
Probably, deep down, she already knew the answer.