Episode 7

After waiting almost an hour, the marquis opens the door and asks him to come in. Inside, the cardinal explains that since the marchioness used her for deception, she will not be punished; however, the marchioness will have to go through a trial to determine her punishment, in which they could sentence her to death.

"Do you understand the gravity of the matter?" the cardinal asks.

"I understand... my mother's sin is so grave... I knew what it would mean to tell the truth, but I can't let her continue lying." Katerina covers her face with both hands as she sobs.

"I understand how difficult it must have been for both of you to come and say all this."

Katerina was fortunate that the cardinal was an understanding old man. For a moment, she thought that she could be blamed just like the marchioness, but fortunately everything turned out well. The cardinal explains that they will send someone to investigate the marchioness. They must have evidence in order to be able to send the guards to arrest her, so they cannot tell her anything about it. After talking, they both leave and the marquis thanks Katerina for not blaming his daughter.

The next day, Katerina goes to the mansion where Arek first summoned her. Standing before him, Arek thanks her for the information she gave him, as it was very helpful, since among those arrested in the casino, were two of the empress's sympathizers. He investigated them, and when he brought them before the council, not even the empress could help them, and thus she lost two fundamental parts of the crown prince's support.

"That woman must be furious. Be careful, Your Highness. She will do anything to prevent her son from losing his place."

"I know. For that woman, I have always been a nuisance. Therefore, she will understand that it is not easy for me to trust anyone."

"Of course I understand. I only know that there is something you will not be able to avoid. You must be aware of the tension between this country and Ketzania, right? The empress will want to send you to the front of that conflict..."

Arek is astonished by Katerina's words, since the information about Ketzania's growing discontent is not public.

"I don't know what you're talking about. I think you're talking nonsense."

"Don't worry. I have my ways of finding things out, and I'll give you something the empress won't stand to lose: the Rosesky's support," Katerina assures.

"How could you give me your family's support? Your father is a loyal servant of the emperor. He will not change so easily."

Katerina shows a slight sly smile, observing the young man intently. "He will. Just wait a little while."

Katerina says goodbye to the prince, but he can see that she left a note on the table, so he keeps it as he watches her leave. Jack enters after Katerina has left.

"If I were you, I'd take her away from my hateful brother," Jack mentions.

"You can't take away from my brother what he's never had." He smiles mockingly.

If there's one thing Arek is sure of, it's that Katerina is not a woman to be treated as a possession. At least that's the impression she gives, and although he doesn't trust easily, she is showing that her intentions to ally herself are genuine.

Katerina's carriage was going down a forest road, which was shorter and more discreet. Everything seemed fine, Jane was with her, until suddenly, both she and Jane almost fell from their seats when they felt the carriage come to a sudden stop and heard noises outside. Jane opens the curtain to see that the few guards who were with them were being attacked by some kind of giant lizards.

"They're lizards..." Jane mentions.

"Stay inside, Jane." Katerina stands up to open the door.

"What? No, my lady. You must stay inside. I'll go out and fight." Jane tries to prevent Katerina from leaving.

"That's an order, Jane. I can take care of this."

Before Jane can refute, Katerina opens the door, jumps out, and goes straight for a lizard, throwing some kind of ice daggers that pierce the reptile's thick skin, and it stops moving. Katerina repeats the same against other lizards. The guards were surprised to see their young lady do such a thing, since the marchioness never allowed her to be trained in magic. And she didn't seem to have just any magic. Although the lizards kept coming, so she ordered the guards to stay away from her and, if possible, cover themselves with their cloaks.

Katerina creates a kind of seal under her and the air begins to feel cold. Realizing this, the guards cover themselves and back away, but they can see a kind of mist covering the lizards. This mist was icy air, which encouraged the lizards, because it lowered their temperature instantly, and before this, Katerina throws the ice daggers, piercing the bodies of the lizards. However, she can see that they are getting closer, so she maintains the cold air that prevents them from moving.

"Let's get out of here," she orders.

Everyone mounts their horses, and Katerina gets into the carriage, although she leaves that mist throughout the area, thus preventing the lizards from following them.

"That was amazing, my lady, and I'll make sure no one tells the marchioness," Jane assures.

"Don't worry, I don't care if she knows. Soon, that woman will have worse things to worry about..." she smiles.

The marchioness does not know what awaits her. The temple will not let her go until they prove that she is guilty of deceiving them.

In the palace, the empress was furious. She did not know that her allies were being tried for illegal gambling and other crimes until they were brought before the council. Because of this, the families of both men were upset by how it all turned out, and now she could not help them. When word spread, her supporters might be fearful, because if anything happened to them, they would be afraid that the empress would not be able to help them.

"Calm down, Mother. Besides, we have the support of the temple and the Roseskys. I'll just send some gifts to my fiancee, and we'll have her happy," Rowan mentions without much concern.

"Right. As long as the temple supports us, we don't need those nobles. Just keep that little girl happy. Flowers and a jewel will do."

Besides, the empress knows that Arek does not have enough influence to compete against the crown prince, and if she manages to get the emperor to send him to the front of the conflict against Ketzania, it will be easier to get rid of him, as they will say it was an unfortunate event because of the violence of the neighboring country.

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