Princess Millicent chooses the middle son of Count Videlhof.

The young princess is dismayed by recent events...

The cruelty of the raging crowd of beggars.

The painful **** of one of the knights-bodyguards.

A hasty escape that does not at all correspond to the due grandeur of the heir to the throne.

And a sudden meeting with Count Videlhof.

"Why is he here?! Doesn't he usually do his business in the capital, as a member of the Council of Regents? His detachment of warriors was more numerous than my guards... The situation looks as if Videlhof had prepared for the events that have occurred in advance... This vile **** on his part... Taking the princess hostage?! This is an unheard-of brazen crime! He is practically forcing me to marry one of his sons-lummoxes! So… I will try to agree to these absurd demands in order to lull of count’s vigilance… I am **** to choose one of these two idiots… Well… But when I get the chance, I will send a secret message to my mother… This impudent parvenu will still regret what he did!” - approximately such thoughts arose in the head of the charming princess, while she beamed at those who so persistently “invited her to visit”.

“You made a promise. Now, either you voice your choice, or I will make the choice for you…” - the hoarse voice of count Aldric Videlhof sounds demanding.

The princess clenches her fists in indignation at such tactlessness, but forces herself to restrain her anger.

Her graceful finger simply points towards one of the count’s two sons.

A completely random choice.

“I don’t care which of these lummoxes will be considered my fiancé! I will still find a way to get rid of these obligations imposed on me..." - thinks Millicent.

This young, black-haired, thin man in brown clothes and a black cloak nods briefly and looks at his father with an expression of readiness to carry out the order...

The princess perceives this young man as the son of a nobleman - parvenu; as an unworthy and primitive person who is clearly insignificant against the background of the greatness of the royal family.

"Congratulations, Siegbert..." - the count says with satisfaction in his voice.

So, the choice fell on the middle son...

"And now will you finally allow me and my retinue to go to the city?" - the princess says impatiently in her voice.

"The oaths must be properly secured, Your Highness... You can not worry about your retinue... From this day on, your safety will be reliably ensured. My best warriors will accompany you everywhere. And for your safety, there will be many more of them than your guards had during that unfortunate incident on the way…” - the Count’s tone of voice expresses subtle sarcasm.

“You! You knew about this horror?! You organized it?!” - the Princess cries out indignantly.

“Of course, I would not organize a riot of dirty plebs and an attempt on the life of a person of royal blood. This is simply absurd. This is beneath the dignity of a nobleman. I was aware of the extremely unsettled situation among the plebs in the city of Iseldein and in the adjacent area. And about the underestimation of this danger by many members of the Council of Regents. Therefore, I hastened to your aid, together with a detachment of my best warriors. I was preparing to fight to save you. You should not attribute any malicious plans to me, Your Highness…” - Aldric Videlhof calmly answers.

Millicent still senses some reticence and secrecy in the intentions of this insidious aristocrat. Perhaps. her first guess was too rash and wrong. However, the girl's mind is haunted by a vague feeling that what has been happening to her in recent days is the result of some sophisticated intrigue.

The girl's doubts and anxious premonitions would only be strengthened if Millicent knew that at the meeting of the Council of Regents, dedicated to the "testing of the heir to the throne", the count voted in a way that was very unexpected for the queen mother.

"Enough words! It's time for the ceremony!" - the count's voice sounds commanding.

"What?!" - the princess barely has time to be indignant - she is very quickly surrounded by many servants.

Servants, heavily armed warriors, the count and his sons...

And there is not a single person from the princess's retinue nearby!

Millicent is **** to obey and follow where she is being led.

Everyone is going somewhere into the inner rooms of the castle.

Long corridors...

Descent down the spiral staircase...

Long, dark corridors again.

Finally, the procession reaches a large hall.

A vast underground room.

Tall columns…

Burning lamps hang on the walls and emit a dim light.

In the center of the hall rises an altar, on which is depicted a symbol…

A spiral of silvery hue…

“No! I don’t want to!” - the princess suddenly realizes that her promise has led her too far…

Strong hands grab the girl by the hands and lead her to the altar.

The symbol on the gray stone of the altar is The Spiral of Duty and Scourge.

The symbol of Fardenna, who is the goddess of justice, order, oaths and duty.

The symbol hints at the usual non-anthropomorphic form of the goddess - a huge silvery whirlwind that spews lightning.

Stern Mistress of Justice is very strict about keeping promises...

It seems that the plan "say what they want me to say - and then do it differently" - will be difficult to implement.

A tall, thin and slightly hunched man, dressed in a gray robe, comes out of a door in the far corner of the room. Around his neck is a medallion with a religious symbol of the Fardennian faith. He is bald, his shaven, beardless face expresses phlegmatic calm. The gaze of black eyes indifferently examines everyone present.

The hubbub subsides.

Everyone except the Count, the Princess and his two sons kneel respectfully.

The Count and Siegbert lead the Princess to the altar.

Millicent is shocked. She expected that she would have time for deception: announcing the engagement, planning a lavish wedding, inviting guests... Ordinary aristocratic weddings require a lot of time to prepare.

However, events develop quite differently...

Deception near the altar of Fardenna, deception in the presence of the priest of Fardenna...

Such an intention is very risky. Stern Mistress of Justice loves to punish those who are oathbreakers.

The princess tries to resist. She wants to run away from here. But all attempts are in vain.

Despite the tears on her beautiful face, she is led to the altar.

Step...

"Princess Millicent, the Crown Princess of Eborvair, did you make a promise to marry Siegbert Videlhof? Have you chosen him as your spouse?" - the priest's voice is monotonous and emotionless.

The princess's mind is seized by fear...

Some mystical **** makes her remember every moment of the recent past. Every second during which she made a promise to Count Aldric Videlhof.

Even silence becomes oppressive. Silence can be perceived as a negative answer. As disrespect to the one who asks. The fear intensifies, because the priest is the one who relays the will of the goddess...

"Yes, I made such a promise..." - the frightened and crying girl says quietly.

"Siegbert Videlhof, did you swear to fulfill the will of your father and marry the woman your father chooses, count Aldric Videlhof?"

"Yes, venerable, I made such a promise..." - the young man’s voice sounds calm and dispassionate.

The princess is brought as close as possible to the altar.

Her sobs do not bother anyone.

Siegbert takes the girl's left hand and places it on the altar.

A feeling of cold.

The priest extends his hands, pronouncing monotonous words of prayer in a mysterious language.

Then, the fingers of the fardennian priest touch the foreheads of each of the "spouses".

Even Siegbert winces in pain.

Millicent cries hysterically from fear and the feeling of the presence of an uncompromising mystical **** that is ready to break any mortal creature.

The priest's touch to the girl's forehead brings a flash of pain...

As if a lightning bolt pierced the entire body and soul of the young girl...

Her consciousness "goes out", unable to withstand the intense stress...

The last thing she manages to hear is the quiet voice of count Aldric Videlhof: "Sacred Vows have been brought... Take the princess to the chambers of Siegbert and quickly bring her to consciousness! Now is the time for the first wedding night!"

The realization of what will soon happen only aggravates the depth of the princess's fall into the "abyss of unconsciousness"...