Chapter 10 (continued)
Without going over the personalities
I was talking nonsense for another quarter of an hour. Kerian was blushing and pale, and I was proud of myself. Let him think again about whether he needs a marriage with a princess. And then I will really send berries to collect.
But Lanie is still half the battle. Dinner with Lord Liverani seemed much scarier. This no mushrooms will not scare, and even a vow of eternal fidelity will not hesitate, and then bury his wife, cry - and forget that such was. Comforted scepter king and universal submission. I did not want to have lunch with him - a piece will not climb down his throat. With such a husband and lose weight for a short time. That's when you evaluate the corsets - tightened tighter, and the dress does not fly off. No, the basics of household magic must be learned.
These thoughts helped not to think about Liverani, but dinner was inexorably approaching. And when the redheaded lord entered the dining room, I gave him a smile and a hand to which he immediately fell with his lips.
- Your Highness, it is an honor to finally speak to you in person," the Lord said in a highly esteemed manner.
- Likewise.
I allowed myself to be escorted to the table. Liverani sat across the hall. He looked at me like a cat, like a naive mouse that had decided to take his food away from him. They served lunch. It's a good thing Liverani and I aren't in danger of being alone.
- How do you like the palace? - I asked to start the conversation.
- Less beautiful than your eyes, Your Highness," Liverani bowed his head. - I've been to the capital, albeit infrequently, and I wish I'd met you earlier.
I can't say that mutually...
- For some reason, the high lords don't grant the royal court," I answered.
- Our neighborhoods require a lot of time and attention, Elisa. And the way to the capital is a long way off. And the times when the king regularly convened the Council of the High Lords are long gone. Your father, like his grandfather, prefers to decide everything himself. I hope that sooner or later this will change.
Is he the one who hints that his father should move the time?
- Fortunately, not at the expense of my marriage. - I made an innocent face. - I confess to you only, Lord Liverani, because you seem like a reliable man to me. I decided to go with my husband to his neighborhood. My father is young and my younger sister's husband should inherit the throne as she grows up.
- I'm afraid it won't, Your Highness," Liverani smiled predatorily. - Selection is selection, it is called to choose the ruler. You are not in a position to cancel his results.
- But I can refuse my fiancé if I am not satisfied with the result. - I made it clear that Liverani wouldn't suit me exactly. Not as a king, not as a husband.
- And embarrass my father? What are you, Eliza? Here are the most worthy sons of their sons, except for some. Therefore, you cannot find a better husband than one of us.
- But I'm afraid I won't be a good enough wife for such... worthy ones. - I wanted to put a hot plate on Liverana's head. - You see, my father thinks I'm too independent to be the husband's shadow. That's why he's in a hurry to get married.
- It depends on the husband. A real man will tame any woman," Liverani smirked at the corners of her lips.
- And if I don't want to be tamed? What then? - I asked straight away.
- I will have to accept it. Alas, Your Highness, life does not imply freedom of choice for royalty. Don't you know? I assure you that if I win, you will not regret it, because I will be able to solve everything for both of us.
Here's the boor! I stopped talking, finished quickly and said goodbye. How to take Liverani out of the selection? Because if he wins, I won't go back to the palace - I will strangle him myself. I spent about an hour in the boudoir, trying not to tear everything apart. Well, at least, we agreed with Reniard on mutual assistance, otherwise, it would have been quite tight. Speaking of Reniard...
I called the maid to change the dress. I chose golden-yellow with shimmering brocade inserts. She ordered me to put her hair in her hair, opening her neck. I can't wait to see Rena. This will help her to calm down. Although I had a serious conversation with him, too.
Five broke through, and I went out to the park alley. Reniard was already waiting for me there. Unlike the two previous candidates, he was dressed expensively, but without shine and gold. He was wearing a strict black vest with silver thread, a snow-white shirt, and black trousers. The calmness itself. Of course, he is not competing for my hand.
I let the maids go, and I went up to him. He wouldn't compromise my honor.
- Good evening, Lord Ayordan," I smiled at him sincerely. - I'm sorry to keep you waiting.
- It's good to see you, Your Highness. - Reniard bowed his head. - How was your day?
- Tiring," I confessed. - Shall we go for a walk?
Ayordan understood the hint and offered me a hand. I leaned on it and felt better right away. Yes, it's good to have friends, even though he doesn't know who's coming.
- Reniard, can I call you by your name? Tell me, why did your family decide to change their attitude towards selection? I remember your mother was his opponent.
- Because sometimes you have to put the past behind you," said the lord. - My mother wants me to get more than my current family situation can give me. And after my father's death, our forced seclusion is a great deal of her oppression.
- Do you live in such solitude?
- And yes, and no. - Reniard answered confidently as if the subject hadn't bothered him. - Of course, we hardly leave Ayordan, but our district is not so small. And I always have a lot to do. And Mother... She's a woman, she's tired of wasting her days alone. She too can be understood.
- Thank you for your honesty. I hope now you will answer me as sincerely. Reniard, what will happen if you win the election?
- I will refuse to win.
- What? - I even stopped. - But... it will only make it worse for you.
- Your Highness, - Reniard froze nearby, - Aldon must get a worthy king. This does not mean that I consider myself unworthy. Not at all. But imagine the reaction of the Higher Houses. They will never accept it. So that one of the Aerdans suddenly becomes king? There will be quarrels and unrest. And our country will suffer. At least because of this, I should refuse.
- I'm afraid that after such an answer, it will be the least of the cards. My father will not forgive me.
- I will try not to win.
- Good. - I made myself smile. - Then who is worthy of the throne? You have already met the lords, understood what they are. Come on!
- Elias Cavern. The only one who could be a good king and husband for you is your Highness. You even have something subtle resemblance.
The main thing is that he does not understand what! I was even afraid, so I did not think about it and asked:
- Do I not tempt you as a wife at all?
Reniard looked at me as if he didn't believe I dared to ask you that at all. I was ashamed of myself. I wanted to fall through the ground, hide, run away, and not to be found. I played it out...
- Why not? If it was just you.
What? Did I hear right? So he doesn't mind marrying the princess, but doesn't want to rule Aldon? Or did he answer that only out of courtesy?
- Thank you. And you know, there is such an interesting fountain here. Come on, I'll show you.
All right, enough questions! I carried Reniard to the far corner of the park, where the golden fountain shone in the sunset rays. In its center was an amazing sculpture - a girl in an open pearl shell.
- When I was a little girl, I always imagined that she was alive," I told him, in order to smooth out the awkwardness. - That she was charming as a punishment for loving some young man or that an evil sorcerer kept her captive, and at night she came out of the fountain and danced in the light of the stars. It's funny, isn't it?
- All children dream," said Reniard.
- But not everybody runs away from the nanny at midnight and climbs into the fountain to break the spell.
- And you ran away?
- Yes! The water was cold - creepy. I thought if you touched the pearl at midnight, the spell would fall and the girl would come to life. She touched it and nothing happened. I had to go back to the palace. How then my father shouted!
Reniard laughed quietly. I had fun myself. Still, it was easy to talk to him about all sorts of nonsense. So from the fountain, I went on winged horses, which I had caught with the help of my dad's conspiracy of carrots at my zoo. I didn't catch any horses, but because of a wrongly cast spell, I was attracted by a hornet swarm. I was wasps did not touch me, but ladies and gentlemen who were on a walk nearby, noble bit me.
- You are inimitable, Eliza. - Reniard laughed in the open. - And how is the palace still standing still in its proper place?
- I don't know," I put my hands together. - One wing was being rebuilt after a bad experience of changing hair color. I wanted to be blonde because I heard my mother's maids of honor discussing that the boys liked blonde girls better. As a result, we had to renovate the court wizard's lab and three adjoining rooms. I never became a blonde.
- And good. Your hair color suits you, Elisa.
- Oh, come on, are you? It's the most ordinary one. And you know, I took Lord Laherney's word that if he wins, he will give up the throne and go to the village to collect mushrooms.
We both laughed so hard, we were both dizzy and laughed. I grabbed Reniard so I wouldn't fall, I didn't see myself in his arms. I was calm and warm. My upbringing was screaming about decency, and my heart was that I wasn't a princess anyway. What difference does it make?
- Forgive me, Your Highness. - The Lord let me go and took a step back. - I was afraid you would fall.
I barely held my breath of disappointment.
- Apology accepted," I smiled at him. - It's time to go back. I have another meeting waiting for me today. Alas, not as pleasant as with you.
We moved back to the palace. On the way back, I was more silent, and now I was talking to Reniard. He talked about Ayordan, his nature, magic, the people who live there. The Lord seemed to love his home sincerely. That's why he didn't need Aldon.
- Thank you for the walk. - I stopped at the entrance to the palace. - I'll see you again.
- I will, Your Highness," said Reniard, "and I didn't even know how soon.
Nothing, I had to talk to Listings, and this crazy day will come to an end. And I was beginning to realize that escaping was one of the best decisions of my life. Because someone I would trust with my hand and heart wouldn't win the election anyway.