Renard...
Ayordan Castle was drowning in silence. For as long as I can remember, it was always quiet here, even on the big days, as if my house had been forgotten by all the winds. You can walk down long, dark corridors and you can't meet anyone. Such is it, the fate of a disgraced family - to be forgotten by gods and people.
Opala has lasted for fifty years. Everything started trivially - my mother loved her father so much that she refused to take part in the selection of brides for the previous king. And she was the only daughter of the Ayordan family, the heiress of the name. The royal court accepted her act as an insult, and the Ayordan family was forgotten as if it did not exist. Therefore, I, Renard Ayordan, the current heir, had never been to court. However, I bet that representatives of other clans were not often there either. After all, the Higher Houses of Aldon - as a state in the state, with its inviolable laws, traditions, and orders. Except they had their own life, but we did not. No balls, no guests. Nothing that makes up the usual life of aristocrats.
Therefore, the clatter of the servant in the corridor seemed to me to be thunder from a clear sky. Our servants were always as quiet as flies. So something out of the ordinary happened.
- Mr. Reniard, Mr. Reniard! - He flew into Germain's office, forgetting to even knock. - Mother wants to see you. Immediately.
Immediately? Did she get sick? After my father died on a hunt last year, my mother gave up a lot. And I was worried about her condition. So I pushed a pile of papers aside and hurried to the widowed High Lady of Mirana.
Mother was found in the living room. She was measuring the small room in steps and twisting a black curl on her finger. The black, embroidered gold dress emphasized her pale and fragile. Mourning has recently ended, but Mom has remained true to herself. And, I bet, she wasn't going to change her black clothes for other colors.
- Mother," I bowed my head.
- Renard, what took you so long? - she rushed to me.
- He came as fast as he could.
Mom really seemed excited, and I felt anxious. I was used to trusting my feelings.
- Look at this!" My mother handed me a white envelope with gold stamping. The colors of the royal court. I pulled out a sheet of coats of arms and seals, ran my eyes through the lines - and frowned.
Supreme Lord Reniard Ayordan - it was there - on the fifteenth of this month begins the royal selection of grooms claiming to be the hand of Her Highness Eliza Aldonskoy, daughter of the Serene King Erlizar of the First Aldonian. You must come to the capital no later than the fourteenth day and take part in the competition for the hand of the princess. The selection will last exactly a month and will consist of seven stages. Those who arrive later or do not arrive at all will be deprived of the right to be at the court for a period of one hundred years.
Good posting. Especially for me! I clenched my fists, barely holding back my anger. What's a spit in the face?
- Wren, this is such a chance! - Mother's face was shining with happiness. - My dear boy, this is an opportunity to return what is rightfully yours!
- Mother, this is an insult. And that's all. I am not going to marry a princess. And I will not participate in stupid contests just because the lightest one wants to. That's why...
- Wren! - Mom changed her tone in no time. - Like it or not, you're going! Or I am not your mother!
- But...
- As long as we're in disgrace, you can't even get married. Who will be your bride? Old maiden? A woman without a wife? Who, son? By the way, I want to wait for my grandchildren. Nobody asks you to win. Get to the final. Prove what Ayordan's family is worth. And our lives will change.
- I will not humiliate myself for the sake of a pathetic handout from the royal table.
- Either you are going, or I will die. Right now.
Mother rolled her eyes and fell into the chair. Bad comedy. I would say habitual. But every time my mother counted on the same thing. And I gave up. Of course, I shouldn't, but her words were common sense. I will go to the capital, reach the final, and there I will either lose or heartily announce that I do not need the royal daughter, even if her dowry - the throne of Aldon. And let everything burn with fire!
- Well, I will give you the order to gather. - I took the smelling salt from the table, but I did not even have time to bring it to my mother's face, as she had already jumped up.
- The right decision, dear," she hugged me. - Let everybody see how handsome my son has grown, and bite his elbows! They will still remember the family of Ayordan. And the princess will fall to your feet. Only usually they took away brides... What kind of trials will they prepare for the bridegrooms? So, urgently to the library! We will look for similar cases. No, I'm going to the library, and you are going to the tailors! Attractiveness is appealing, and nobody has canceled a decent costume yet.
- Mother, things in our lands are going badly... - I tried to make my parents understand, but no use. My mother sat down on her favorite skate. Apparently, no matter what she said, she lacked noise and fuss. Therefore, making sure that I went to the tailors, my mother must have rushed through ancient books.