Part 3
Heather was waiting inside when Svetlana finally made her way indoors from her discussion with Victoria, who didn't follow her immediately. Heather chose to talk to Svetlana in rusalki, at least at first.
"You spoke with the pervert." Heather said, shaking his head. "I wish she would leave."
"You have been most unkind to the dead, Prince." Svetlana replied, also in rusalki, gesturing outside. "Do not judge the dead, for they have already paid the ultimate price."
"Ugh, you're not one of those reformists are you?" Heather said, making a face.
"That ghost will remain for the rest of your life, Prince." Svetlana said firmly. "It's clear you don't like her, perhaps you never did."
"I did." Heather interrupted quite forcefully. "I... we all did." Heather continued, looking down.
"You learned a fact about a treasured comrade you wish you hadn't." Svetlana answered, breaking protocol and placing her hand on his shoulder. "She knows you can see her. Say something to her."
Heather glanced back up, and saw Victoria peaking through the wall, just her head visible, looking at Heather. She was crying, as usual, but Heather looked away again.
"You can't bear to look at her." Svetlana said, this time in Gilnan. "You're reminded of mistakes you made."
"We could have stopped it. We should have." Heather said, still speaking in rusalki, holding back tears. "Rebecca set her on a path of ruin." Heather finished, this time in Gilnan.
"No." Victoria said, floating up to Heather. "She gave me enough rope to hang myself, and I made a wonderful noose."
"Perhaps. Perhaps. Your Majesty, why did you want to see me here?" Svetlana asked, moving the conversation along.
Heather and Svetlana reconvened in the study, with Victoria going back to stalking the children, mumbling that nobody can see her anyway, between sobs. Soon, Rebecca and Hamlin joined them.
"Welcome, Praetor." Rebecca said as she sat, and the maids brought over tea and cake. "How was your trip?"
"It was fine until I got to Lichfield." Svetlana answered, recalling the issues.
"So I've heard. Rest assured, the populace will be... reeducated." Rebecca said with an unnerving smile.
"Your majesty, I'll get right to the point, why are you here?" Svetlana asked, skipping the rest of the pleasantries.
"Why indeed." Heather said with a smile. "Rebecca was determined to bring me back here as her husband, and to father her children."
"Does she know?" Svetlana asked Heather, this time in rusalki.
"Do I know what?" Rebecca asked, leaning forward. "Oh don't look so shocked of course I know a few words."
"What the result of a rusalka and human mating is." Svetlana said, continuing after gathering her wits. Seeing a look of confusion on Rebecca's face, Svetlana continued. "The boys, they will be normal enough, for humans. Slightly smaller, perhaps. But the girls, every single girl you give birth to will be a rusalka."