The Empire of Reimia (3)

When the Empress left the hall, Marey felt as if the air had turned to glass, completely restricting his movements and thoughts. It seemed he could sit there for eternity, staring blankly at the Empress's gift, still clutched in his hands, but the fragile silence was shattered, like a hammer blow, by the sound of Azarina's weeping. Still slightly stunned, as if he had just woken up from a dream, Marey sat for another half-minute before retreating to the bathroom to wash his face and hands. He repeated the procedure three times, but could water really wash away the filth with which he had sullied himself just a few minutes ago? Returning to the hall, he found everything as it had been before, but he couldn't distract himself. Marey poured himself a glass of wine, took a small sip, but the drink wouldn't go down his parched throat. He loosened his tie, but his breathing was constricted from within. And how could these people behave as if nothing had happened? Being lost in his own thoughts was unbearable. Marey approached Naru. He wanted to say something clever, something meaningful, but all he could manage was to nod towards the window and say: "Y-yes. Times." He took a small sip from his glass, using it as an excuse for the awkward pause, and quietly said: "The north wind and the flying snow, Outside is cold, and cold within. Resign yourself and endure, slave-man; Kneel down – or die."