Chapter 14
There are no face masks to see
Elisa
Did this crazy day come to an end? I couldn't feel my legs. I wanted to fall on the bed and fall asleep, except I couldn't afford it. Over and over again, I scrolled through the morning's events. If it weren't for Reniard, I wouldn't have done it. Alas, it turned out that I wasn't ready for the preparation of something big at all! But Wren was ready and coping so that it was only surprising.
Wren... Why am I thinking about him again? Whatever I was distracted by, my thoughts returned to Reniard over and over again. And when I saw the costume, I realized that I didn't want to be in the image of Elias Cavernel at all. Stupid and crazy! Although there will be another check on the lords. Let's make such a joke with Ari! Let's choose the same dresses, and ... I tried to remember whether I have such dresses. And they were! One day, Ari and I wanted to play a particularly stubborn fan at a masquerade. Alas, then my father punished me and did not let me go to the party, and the dresses stayed and waited for their hour. What am I sitting down?
I immediately jumped from my chair and rushed into the corridor. It was only as I approached my wing that I realized that the appearance of a strange man would at least seem strange. So what do you do? Go back and use the book? Or take a chance? According to my calculations, the guard had to go around the castle in a quarter of an hour. So you have to get to Ari's room in time before that. But there may be maids there. They will definitely raise a scream. What can we do about it?
I decided to take a chance because it was too late to turn back. While I'm hovering between our rooms, someone will definitely notice me. So I walked boldly to Ari's door - that is, to my door - and knocked.
As I thought, one of my maids opened the door.
- How can I help you, my lord? - She sat down in a curtain.
- Please tell her highness that Lord Cavernell is eager to pay her his respects," I replied quietly.
She hid behind the door, but a minute later she walked me into the spacious living room in beige tones. I always didn't like it here, but the room was furnished with Dad's favorite master, and nobody asked me.
Ari was sitting on the couch with a book in her hand.
- Leave us alone," she majestically ordered the maid.
She leaned against me as if to remind the lady that she was breaking the rules, but still left without complaint. Ari's face immediately disappeared from the false calm.
- Elisa! - She rushed to me. - Are you crazy? What if someone sees it?
- I'll say I'm hopelessly in love and will die without your eyes," I said.
- How did the test go?
- It's hard. I don't know how it will be appreciated, and I don't want to think about it, to be honest. It's about something else. There will be a masquerade in the evening, and I want to give the lords my test. I even have dresses for this! The same for both of us.
- Elisa, what are you doing? - A friend barely held back her emotions. - What if the other guests realized that there were two of us?
- We will stay away from each other. And then, it's a masquerade! Who would know it was us? Just girls in the same dresses. Come on, Ari!
- Why? - Arietta crossed her arms on her chest. - Why do you need it, Elisa?
I kept silent, pondering whether, to tell the truth, or lie. But I decided that you shouldn't hide the truth from Ari.
- First of all, as I said, it was just another check to see if the lords recognized me. And secondly, I want to dance with Ren. You can think I'm three times stupid, but that's all I think about! Wren helped me a lot today. And I am so grateful to him.
- Thank you? - Ari smiled understandably. - Come on, Elisa! You're in love with a lord, it's been clear for a long time. So why don't you go back to your seat and let the selection be over? Wren will win, you will be married.
- What if he doesn't love me? Will you live knowing that for him this marriage is only a duty? No, Ari, I don't want to do this! But why not try to get to know each other better? He can like me, right?
- Sure," said a friend. - You are beautiful, Elisa. Ren is lucky you like him. Well, I'm willing to take a chance on that occasion. Only how do you put on a dress? We meet again at the library?
- No, it won't... Maybe I'll do it myself? But there are hooks...
We were confused.
- Why don't you come to my secret place with the dress? - I had a thought. - No one will be looking for us in the closet. I'll go there now, and you'll join me when you find the dresses.
- Okay. - Ari was desperate to change my mind. - Whatever you say. What kind of dresses do I need to find?
- Remember when we were preparing them for the masquerade, and then my father banned me from attending?
- Of course, my friend nodded.
- Look for them! And I will wait.
While Ari was studying my wardrobe, I dived into the closet and closed the door tightly. The defense spells worked, so there was no need to be afraid - no one but my girlfriend would find my hideout. However, the waiting time was dragging on. Either the dresses went somewhere else or Ari was delayed. I was getting nervous, and time was running out. What was wrong with that? I heard the rushing steps, and Ari squeezed herself into the tight space of the closet. With a dress!
- What happened? - I couldn't stand it. - Did someone see you?
- No, Will came. - Ari waved her hands. - About the next trial. Elisa, it will be an obstacle course. Will you stop after all? We will put all our efforts into winning Ren!
- Ari, you heard me. - I quickly began to change clothes. It's okay, I'll stay here until the masquerade. - I won't go back to the palace! And I won't be a prize for anyone. Did you bring a mask?
- Yes, here. - A friend showed a blue half-mask on a velvet pillow. - Let me lace up my dress. Woe, you're mine! Isn't it better...
- No," I interrupted without letting Ari finish. - I will go through with the selection. And in any case, I won't lose.
Finally, the ribbons were over, and Arietta took care of my hair. She pierced them with a pearl barrette so that the wavy strands would fall on my back. A pinch of magic and her hair was perfect! The final touch was the shoes. Ari thought about everything!
- After the masquerade, we meet here," she said. - That's it, I ran.
- Thank you! - I shook my girlfriend's hands, and she fled outside the door, and I fixed the ruffles of a sky-blue dress with a magnificent hem embroidered in white and silver. She folded Elias Cavernel's clothes and lowered the pendant with illusion from above. Waiting for the beginning of the masquerade! According to my calculations, it was no more than an hour before him. In any case, there will be a lot of guests, and no one will pay attention to another mask.
I was so nervous that I managed to bypass the stockings a few dozen or even hundreds of times. Maybe we shouldn't have done it for anything. But I will be wearing a mask! Ari - too. No, it's too late to retreat. I'm sure the lords are already eager to get the attention of the princess. They will have to moderate their fervor a little bit.