Chapter 2 (continued)
Ways to getaway
The next day, Ari and I discussed the plan to distract the secretary again. In lessons that nobody canceled, I was furious and angry, but this time Professor Snumrik, who had lost his wings, pretended not to notice my behavior. Only at the end of the class did I heartily speak out:
- Before the wedding, all the girls were worried, yes...
And in one sentence, any other day, I'd give him a second flight. Alas, it is impossible. Otherwise, my father will lock me up. So to speak, that the award has not escaped from the winner.
And in the evening, as agreed, I came to Ari's room. I opened the door and got stunned. Arietta surpassed herself. Golden hair was collected in a high hairstyle. Only a couple of curls sank playfully around her neck, exciting her imagination. Lips slightly touched by the lipstick - so pale that the color seemed natural and at the same time emphasized the whiteness of the skin and greenery of the eyes. Ari's dress also chose a magnificent white moiré with gold embroidery. She had her eyes on her! There were an envelope and a pen on the table.
- Let's go. - My cousin did not give me time for admiring shouts.
We passed the corridors that separated our wing from our father's wing and found ourselves in the secretary's office. I hid around the corner, hoping the guards wouldn't bypass the palace again, and Ari knocked quietly.
- Come in," a low voice was heard, and I shuddered.
For a few minutes, my cousin disappeared in Willan's office. I thought it wouldn't work, but a few moments later the door opened again, releasing the secretary and the red one from Ari's embarrassment. Villian remained calm. Strict, tightened, without a single shadow of emotion on a pale face, the secretary seemed almost a creation of dark forces. But here are the steps have subsided. It was my turn.
Ari had distracted Villiana so well that he had forgotten to close the door. Will you show me a suicide who will risk entering the holy of holies? I didn't know any of them either. So I acted with extreme caution. I crossed the threshold, and my heart desperately beat. No, you have to pull yourself together! There will never be another chance like this again. I checked the room for traps and protective spells. Of course, they were found on the windows and the box with the father's seal.
The casket - then. First the letter. I sat down to the table, pulled out my sketch and quickly rewrote it to a blank royal form. Then she whispered the spell of change - and the handwriting instantly lost its female roundness and acquired the pretentiousness and accuracy of Villian's hand. And now the seal. After hiding the draft by the corsage, I took out the needle. The magic of the royal blood-soaked everything in the palace. And now, as soon as a drop of pierced finger touched the castle as the lid snapped. The traps protected from everyone except those who had the right to be sealed. I quickly sealed the envelope, hoping that Villian did not count the sheets on the table, and returned the seal to its place. I will send it from my room so that there is no magical trace of the portal.
As soon as I hid the letter, I heard footsteps in the hallway. What to do? I would have recognized them even if I had only heard them once - a chased, large step by a secretary. Hide? Under the table? No, the princesses are not hiding. That's why I took a risk - I sat in a chair and straightened the folds of my dress.
I squeaked, opening the door, and Villian appeared on the doorstep. Alas, it seems that poor Ari did not manage to detain him. The secretary remained deaf to her pleas and blind to beauty.
- Eliza? - Black eyes squint for a moment, studying me. - Forgive me, Your Highness...
- Good evening, Lord Villian. - I pretended not to have noticed a mistake. -
- Yes... I mean... - I think I managed to confuse him! - To what do I owe this, Your Highness?
I got up from my chair and rushed to the secretary with a cry:
- Villian, you have one hope!
The poor guy pulled back, hit a stack of sheets, and it fell apart on the floor.
- Oh, what a shame! - I sat down and started collecting the sheets.
- Your Highness, leave it alone. - Villian gently lifted me up on my feet. There was panic in his eyes. Wow, I can be scary too! - Tell me what happened.
- My father wants to marry me. - Two tears slipped down my cheeks. I had to remember my favorite canary, who had recently fallen asleep from old age.
- Yes, I know. - Willian pulled himself together and spoke calmly again. - We sent out invitations to the heirs of the Higher Houses.
- Villian, talk to him! He will listen to you if he doesn't listen to his own daughter. - I was wringing my hands, regretting that I had so few spectators. Otherwise, they would have applauded me standing up.
- But, Your Highness, the selection cannot be canceled. Only to postpone... - Villian seemed to be making excuses.
- For five years? - I looked into his eyes.
- No, not at all. Your Highness, His Majesty's will is unchanged. Who am I to advise him?
- A man he trusts," I sat on Villian.
- I'm sorry, it's out of my hands.
- You just don't want to help! - I exclaimed and ran out of the office, slamming the door loudly for safety.
Something seemed to have fallen in the office. But the secretary wasn't sorry. And myself, I was. So I ran down the hall to my room like someone was chasing me.
- Can you imagine that turkey running away as soon as you heard it was a love letter? - Ari exclaimed, waiting for me in my room. - And how were your successes?
- Here! - I triumphantly pulled out a slightly squashed letter. - Send!
A magic portal for small objects is a simple thing. Given my love of pranks, I often used it on everything I could get my hands on. But this time I had to tune in well, say the name of the recipient three times - and the letter disappeared in the golden mirage.
- Let's hope it fell into the right hands," Ari said.
- I have no doubt about it," I assured my friend. - Now Cavernel will stay on his estate, and I will take his place. And then watch out, grooms!
- You are a terrible woman, Eliza. - Ari looked at me with admiration. - I don't envy your husband.