- I want to apologize to you. For a slap in the face. It won't happen again. I will do whatever you tell me to do. I will learn your language and tell you about the fairies. Only...
"What?"
- Give me back my dress! - It burst out. - I can't wear it!
Mark played a sincere bewilderment.
"But I didn't touch your dress. Mefalo must have put him in the closet with the rest of the clothes.
And did not show the fairy how the wardrobe is arranged. Because Mark didn't order this maid. He wanted to see Miriel in the frankest outfit that one of the Junior Masters of the Order had made for her that night.
- I did not see any wardrobe!
Arelato shrugged his shoulders again.
"So Mephalo will show it to you. Is that all that bothers you? What else can I do to make life in Randu more comfortable for you?
- Let Kodorro talk to me! - A fairy burst out.
"Codorro?
- The guy who brought me here. He said he couldn't come in and talk to me without your permission. I like him. It's a good one. I want to talk to him.
Arelato felt the playful mood flowing like sand through his fingers. Codorro... Does she like it? These words, and most importantly, the fairy's intonations sprawled with nasty worms in the Grand Master's chest. He did not want to confess to himself in such a lowly, unworthy feeling as jealousy. But now Mark felt it. And he could not get away from it.
- I'm not the only one who lives in prison here," the fairy continued. - Can't everything move a finger without your permission?
"That's the discipline of the Order! - Arelato barely held back, so he wouldn't have to bear the brunt of it. - What can you know about her, spoiled child?
Mirielle flashed. In her mind, Arelato read: "You should go to the demons, you arrogant! The fairy didn't say that out loud. I reminded myself of my parents in Coffee. About the groom - and these eavesdropped thoughts more spurred the jealousy of the man. Now they both - Mark and Miriel - were both burning with intensely restrained rage from the inside. And they both worked hard to keep it from spilling out.
- Good. Your discipline is your business. I'm sorry to interrupt. You asked I answered. It would be nice to talk to different people.
"I heard you, Fairy Miriel.
- Well, then I'll go change... Can I?
Did you even ask permission? It's nice to see her like this. Uncertain, trying to play obedience. Even though Mark knew how much anger and protest were behind her pretense.
"Aren't you hungry? Because of your morning behavior, you were left without breakfast. I, by the way, also. I am going to have breakfast now. Will you keep me company?
Miriel took the shoulder.
- Not hungry. Fairies can do without food for a long time.
The irritation has risen again with a deaf wave. Mark, like his prisoner, tried not to let him out. He answered dry:
"As you wish, fairy Miriel. Go change your clothes.
He called on Mephalo and, with an angry look, escorted Miriel into the darkness of the corridor. Then he sent a mental call to Codorro.
"Monsignor? - The Junior Master answered.
"Codorro, I need your help in the lab. Take off the observation from the fairy's room and go to the research team's aid.
"But... will be performed, monsieur!
There was a hiccup for just a second, but it alerted Arelato. Didn't Codorro want to leave his post at the door of the fairy? Did you manage to succumb to her spell?
The worms of jealousy wrapped up in the Grand Master's chest... How annoying was this unpleasant feeling! And how inappropriate it was now when all thoughts took up the confrontation with Doramon ... and the intervention of some third force. A force that managed to send its agent to Randu.
Who is the traitor? Most likely, one of the novices or Junior Masters. Or is the enemy so strong and cunning that he introduced the spy into the ranks of the Senior Magister? Could Mark see the slate among his closest associates?
We need to keep an eye on Diamond Armor... and from a fairy. Two priceless treasures of Randu Castle. Mark caught himself feeling that he was afraid of losing the fairy as much as the main artifact of the Order. A capricious, stubborn girl. What is this - the spell of Eleseum? Or him, the Grand Master Arelato, an unacceptable stupidity?
The fairy is just a tool. He must use it to create a reservoir of recoil. Forge a tool of retribution. He can play courtesy with her, but he must not forget what his purpose is.
Like Tesso and the rest of the girls, the new prisoner is not a toy to satisfy his passions. She is the key to defeating his enemies and Randu's survival. Do not forget about it, seducing the fairy. It's just a game. And he should not play in it.