Aleta 2 full version. Torrent Milena Zavoichinskaya - Collected Works

All the girls dream of an unparalleled honeymoon in a fabulous corner of the planet. What about a pre-wedding trip? And not just to a fairy-tale corner, but to a parallel world described by Milena Zavoichinskaya. Elves, matriarchy, love and the union of destinies - how do they fit together? Answer: Zavoichinskaya Milena Aleta book 2, when it comes out, then we’ll be able to find out all the details.

New books coming out - alien worlds, disasters, elves and princes

We have been waiting for the continuation of the story of the restless Aleta since 2013, when the first part was presented. The author has outlined work in this direction, but there is still no formal information about when the 2nd book about Aleta by Milena Zavoichenskaya will be published. By the way, those who like fantasy from domestic authors may also be interested. This is another fantasy novel patiently awaited by fans.

To avoid missing out on these and other new books coming out, add timers for yourself and keep your finger on the inspired literary pulse. Be the first, create new countdowns to important events and follow them together with like-minded people and friends.

I gently shook my leg to shake it off, then leaned over and put it aside, and again tried to sneak past his mother. She didn’t move or make any movements, she just watched us carefully.

I'm good, really. Don't eat me. - Feeling very stupid, I tried to convince the animal that I needed to be released. - Honestly. I even shared the last chicken with your baby. But he came to me himself, I didn’t pull him out.

She finally turned her unblinking gaze from me to her baby. And with an elusively quick movement, she slipped past me and found herself next to him. Phew! I sighed with relief and almost ran away. Life doesn’t teach me anything; I shouldn’t have even stayed in the cave when I discovered a lair there.

I had already run about two hundred meters when this mother-beast appeared in front of me again and blocked my path. I don't understand anything. So how does she do that? Teleports or something? After all, she didn’t run past me, that’s for sure. She held her baby by the scruff of the neck in her teeth. We stood and looked at each other. Then she suddenly slid towards me, I even held my breath, and she suddenly poked her son into my hands, who was dangling in her teeth, funnyly jerking his paws. Out of surprise, I picked up the little animal and now stood with it in my hands, not knowing what to do next.

Hm. Thank you of course, but what should I do with it? I have no more food left, I have nothing to treat him with now. Maybe I shouldn’t give it to me?

The baby’s mother stood and again looked into my eyes without blinking. For a second I turned my gaze to the fluttering creature in my hands, and when I looked up again, we were already together. Class! Did she give me her baby for adoption? Holy shit. Does this even happen in nature?

Yeah, boy. Cool, we got you there. So, now we’ll live together and make good things?

The baby walked poorly, so he had to be carried in his arms. When my arms were already falling off from the weight, I wrapped it in my jacket and secured it to myself in a kind of sling that mothers carry their children in. So we finally got to the bottom. Having reached the river, I untangled the cub from my jacket, laid it on the ground, threw my bag next to it and fell exhausted on my back. How difficult these two days were. And now I’ve got a pet again. But I already swore that I would not have any more animals. I've had enough of Sher in abundance - enough impressions to last a lifetime. But no, again my compassion failed me.

We should also come up with a name for the baby, and then try to find out from people who he is. And how Pushkin does it - “Not a mouse, not a frog, but an unknown animal.”

Well, what about you, little one? Let's come up with a name for you? You and I are kind of like one team now. - I sat down and looked for the animal with my eyes.

But while I was resting, he hid somewhere in the grass, and my bag just lay forlornly next to me. And next to it is another bag, and it’s also mine. I blinked my eyes at this second bag in amazement. And she blinked back at me.

What we have, we don’t store;

Having lost, we cry.

Kozma Prutkov

Aleta's preparations are finally over. How funny she is, she packed so many things as if she was going to the desert. At first I tried to hint to her about this, and then I decided that let her. If only she could do it all faster.

Thank the gods, finally. Brownie Petrus did not deceive me; the portal actually opened without any problems. It’s even strange how I myself didn’t think of such a simple method. It’s no different that the lack of magic affected my mental abilities. The trembling of the haze around us showed that the last stage had arrived, one moment remained, and I would find myself at home, in Alzerate. I mentally imagined the place where I planned to move. The portal opened and we were spinning, when suddenly Aleta jerked away from me sharply. I tried to hold her, cursing, but something went wrong and she was torn off, and I was thrown out of the portal.

Oh, the landing wasn't as pleasant as it could have been. I was dragged across the grass and slammed into a tree. I jumped up with lightning speed, looking around, but... I was alone. Aletha was nowhere to be found. Grahchen tosh!!! What's happened? After all, everything worked as it should, I stood exactly in the place that I had mentally imagined when building the portal... An extensive park in the vicinity of the palace. You can see the roofs of the palace; I’ll be there on foot in a couple of hours.

I quickly went to the palace straight to the court magician. Father will wait, but I urgently need someone who can track the portal while traces of magical intervention remain. There was no doubt that the moatti was somewhere here in Alzerath. The moonstone in my earring glowed with the same steady light, and I still felt that everything was fine with her, our connection was still there. The only question is where it was thrown. And this needed to be clarified as soon as possible.

Having reached the palace, I burst into the laboratory of Master Linkenkal, our court magician. And, of course, I immediately came across it. After briefly explaining the situation, I asked him to follow me and help me track the portal. We got there quickly; on horseback it was not far at all. But... Master Linkenkal could not help me in any way. Confirmed that the second channel release occurred here on Alzerate. But he couldn’t track where exactly.

Grahchen tosh!!! What is this? How can I find her before she gets into trouble? We must use any means to get into our father’s closed library and get to the entries in the forbidden book of spells. Surely in the section describing the “Shanet moatti” ritual there should be some information about the possibility of contact between two moatti in such cases. After all, I feel that everything is fine with her so far, she is alive, not injured.

Yes, I will do that. Anreniel will cover for me, I will tell him everything. Together we'll come up with something.

The world is small, and the more acquaintances appear,

the smaller the world becomes.

I’ve seen cats without smiles, but a smile without a cat... - I quoted the well-known phrase in a trembling voice, looking at the second bag..

At that moment the bag began to tremble, and a round nose bulged in the middle, and then the entire muzzle. It’s just a surrealist painting - a bag, and from the bag my new pet’s eyes looked at me touchingly, and his nose moved funny.

Baby? It's you? - not believing myself, I called.

And then the bag in some incomprehensible way spread out, changed color and texture and turned into an animal, which, comically kicking its fat butt, rushed to fawn on me.

Honestly, I just don’t have words. I somehow survived the brutal mother who moves at unimaginable speed and ends up in a place where she wasn’t there a second ago, and then suddenly gave me her child for adoption. But here is her child, who in an unimaginable way from a four-legged fat and shaggy kitten turned into a black smooth bag, and at the same time managed to look and move her nose, and then back into an animal - this is beyond my understanding. I turned the animal in different directions, poked its thick belly with my finger, felt it, tugged at its paws - but it looked fine. Shaggy, plump, funny. Nah.

The baby and I brotherly shared our meager supply of food, namely a modest chicken foot and a packet of crackers that was in my bag. To put it mildly, we didn’t have enough food; we were so hungry. Considering that this puppy-not-puppy, and I don’t know who, had a brutal appetite, so most of our modest lunch went to him.

Yes, baby, looking at you I remember one equally funny and equally voracious alien, Alpha. His phrase “I sat quietly, peacefully. Then I got hungry. Then it was like a fog!” - suits you exclusively. - I sighed. - I guess I'll call you Alf. Besides, you are the first living being that I have met on this planet.

I looked around with interest: I was curious where we had gone. True, it was already evening, and it was not possible to see much. There are some trees around, somewhere in the distance there is hubbub and noise, and behind you is a high stone wall. And by the way, it’s noticeably cool. Brr. I was really cold in my transparent naked dress. I looked at Sher with a question, this is his domain.

– We are in a park on the outskirts of the city. Now I will open a portal to the right place.

- So, guys, turn away, please. I need to change into something warmer, otherwise I'll die. – I shivered. – Yes, and now I’ll try to remove the wings, I won’t shock the general public.

My gop group looked at each other, shrugged their shoulders and turned away. Moreover, my two bodyguards unobtrusively pushed everyone aside, even Shera and Ilmar, who tried to be indignant at first, but then gave up. Delan and Kiram stood between me and the others and blocked me with their wide backs and wings. Oh my goodness!

I took jeans, some kind of T-shirt and a short leather jacket a la a biker jacket from my bag. Modest, comfortable, and most importantly, windproof and warm. The problem remained in the wings. What did Enlil say - if you want, they will disappear? Okay, let's start the desire session. I closed my eyes, relaxed and began to want. I wanted it, opened my eyes and checked the result. I wanted it badly. Take two - and the Indian fig hut ends up. Take three... The wings disappeared on about the sixth try. Phew, good, otherwise I was already beginning to fear that Enlil was playing a trick on me.

Quickly taking off my dress, I changed into my things and, coming out from behind the bodyguards, smiled contentedly. And all the men stared at me. It was funny to watch their faces. Ilmar, Merton, Delan and Kiram looked at my modest outfit with displeasure. Well, sorry guys, I've had enough of these transparent rags. Sher simply walked appraisingly over my figure and thought about something, probably deciding what things I would need to buy here; for him, my earthly clothes are quite familiar. But three elves, a gnome and an orc were slightly stunned by my appearance. I don’t know why exactly they were so interested in this, but they looked at each other and clearly drew their own conclusions. And I belatedly thought that maybe I got excited and put on clothes from my world in vain. I have no idea how the local ladies dress here. Maybe they have a fashion here for dresses with bustles and caps on their heads, but here I am so smart, in jeans and a biker jacket...

Seeing that I was ready, the drow conjured something, another teleport opened next to us, and now Sher gave everyone the go-ahead to step into it. He again grabbed my hand tightly, and I held Merton just as tightly. If I have already dragged the poor priest far away, I will not abandon him until the last moment, until I finally find him a home. Sher looked sideways at this, gritted his teeth, but said nothing.

This time we found ourselves again in the middle of the trees, behind which we could see some large building that looked like a palace. That’s where we headed with our whole friendly camp. Moreover, I perched myself on the Hummer, which Cher was driving, since stomping my feet in the dark is not much fun, and in general I was tired today. I wish I had something to eat now and go to bed.

- Cher, where are we going anyway? There are so many of us now, maybe it’s better to go to a hotel? Can we all fit in your house? “I couldn’t stand it first.”

- We'll fit in. – Cher smiled happily. - We're almost there. Wait a little longer.

We left the park to the palace. Well, wow, definitely a palace. With a front porch, with dressed-up courtiers scurrying around. Or rather, I assume that they are courtiers, because how do I know how these elves dress? It’s interesting that the girls are dancing, four in a row... And what did we need in the palace? If Sher brought us to get acquainted with the local government first, then he was in vain, I’m sure.

Drow smiled mysteriously, but was in no hurry to explain anything. And as soon as we reached the porch, several elves rushed towards us with greetings and began to drag him away for a conversation. It seems like Sher is well known here. He apologized to us and, asking us to wait a couple of minutes, walked away with those greeting us. I dismounted and shuffled next to the Hummer, scratching Alpha behind the ear and waiting for Cher to finish her conversations. On the one hand, it was interesting, but on the other, I was already so tired of all this fuss that I simply didn’t have the strength to interfere. The people milling around the palace looked at us with interest. But if they looked at the light elves as equals, at the Aerlings with surprise, then the orc, the dwarf and I evoked a skeptical, appraising look that strongly smacked of contempt.

Suddenly steps were heard from behind and a melodious female voice said:

– What kind of poor people are these?

I looked around and saw a very beautiful slender blonde in a silk dress, accompanied by three men. Is she talking about us, or what? Why are we hungry, I wonder? Everyone is dressed normally, no worse than she is. Well, more precisely, I’m worse, of course, but I’m wearing jeans. Moreover, Merton definitely stood out in his white robe.

– Larra Ilmaniel, these are the companions of Larra Shermantael. “He finally showed up today and brought this rabble with him,” one of her escorts responded obsequiously.

- Oh, Larr Shermanthael? And this girl is his new whore, or what? And where did he pick it up? “She wrinkled her perfect nose contemptuously and looked me up and down.

But this is in vain. I would also tolerate the affectionate word “bastards”, what’s more, I dearly love faded jeans that have a hole in them, so this doesn’t bother me at all. But she shouldn’t have called her names like that. My group jerked, and someone hissed, about to answer, but I raised my hand, calling for silence.

-Who are you? Would you like to introduce yourself? – I looked at her tenderly.

- Mortal, who gave you the right to speak to me? - She was twisted. - However, okay, what else can you expect from any trash, not the slightest idea about the rules of behavior. I am Lady Ilmaniel ver Salab, official favorite of the Lord of the Dark Elves.

A friendly sniffle was heard behind me; it seemed that my companions were holding back their laughter. Oh well.

- What?! – the blonde squealed. - How dare you? – She began to move into ultrasound, and how unpleasant it is to hear the truth about yourself. - Yes, I will raze you to the ground, scum.

I looked back at Sher, who had only now noticed this performance and headed in our direction. And then she turned to the light elves.

– Dear Edelhir, would you happen to tell me, according to elven law, what is the punishment for insulting a member of the royal family of a foreign country? “I decided not to reinvent the wheel, but to take advantage of the win-win option - to intimidate and put in place with the help of a wonderful thing, namely jurisprudence.

The elf, hearing my words, fell silent abruptly. But after a second pause it started up again:

- And who is this royal blood here? Isn't it you? So I know all the members of the royal family of people well.

– Larra Ilmaniel, before you is the youngest non-hereditary princess of the Aerlings Aleta from the royal family of Bertil, prince consort of the family of Bertil Il’marey vas Korta-Honer. Well, I’ll introduce myself, because it seems you didn’t recognize me either. I am Edelhir irn Elrinor of the Eiwe clan, brother of the ruler of the light elves, and this is my son, Anoredhel irn Elrinor of the Eiwe clan. – Edelhir’s voice hammered icy nails into the lid of the blonde’s coffin, and I mentally whistled. Wow, the brother of the ruler of the light elves with his son. And all this time I communicated with them so easily... Although now it is explained why the Queen of Larmen gave me only a list of their names, without surnames. They were encrypted, which means it was clear. But... Wow, what a useful acquaintance I made. Super!

Ilmaniel's face fell asleep, and her companions became noticeably more bored. Probably there is a punishment after all, I’ll definitely find out what it is. It would be nice to flog this cutie with rods, otherwise it looks like no one has even threatened her with a finger in her entire life. Then Cher finally reached us. He heard the end of the conversation, but still decided to clarify the rest.

“Nothing special, it’s just that this gentleman called us rabble, but this lady said that we were poor, called me your whore, scum and promised to raze me to the ground,” I lied, looking affectionately into Ilmaniel’s eyes.

Judging by her half-fainting appearance, my gaze was as affectionate as that of the viper.

- That’s how it is... Larra, your father will certainly find out about your misbehavior and will decide on the appropriate punishment himself. – Sher’s voice chilled the blood, and his gaze covered Ilmaniel’s body with an icy shell. Cool, I want to learn this too. “You disgraced us in front of two foreign royal families.”

So, somehow I lost the thread of the conversation. What does this have to do with Sher's father? Is he some kind of bigwig here, or something, responsible for punishment? I wonder if Sher will be smart enough not to spill the beans about our marriage, or if he will be impatient to boast that he is married to a princess?

- Where is father? – Meanwhile, Cher asked.

“He is now on a friendly visit to the ruler in the Light Forest,” one of the favorite’s companions helpfully reported.

She bit her lip in fear, and horror splashed in her eyes.

Sher winced and turned to us.

“Come along, larrs, they will show you your rooms,” he began to give orders. “Today it’s late, so dinner will be brought to your chambers, and tomorrow I’ll be glad to see everyone at the common table, they’ll show you off.” Aleta, Hammer will be taken to the stables and taken care of, and your furniture will be taken to the palace, then you will decide where you will put it.

He nodded, and one of the servants, who had previously stood on the sidelines and eagerly listened to the scandal, immediately ran up to me and tried to take a reason from me to take Hammer away. I stroked my black one, whispered that I loved him and that I would come by to see him tomorrow, but now let him go rest.

- Alf, go with Hammer, make sure that our bird is not harmed there, and then you will find me in the palace. “I stroked them both again and gave the reins to the servant.

He shivered chillily, looking at the horn and hooves of my “bird,” but obediently led the Hammer somewhere to the side. And Alf stood nearby, very proud and pleased, and looked slyly at Hammer: they say, I’m protecting you, little bird.

- Larra, larra. – Cher nodded coldly to the favorite and her companions and walked towards the porch.

- Your Highness. “The beauty, white as a sheet, curtsied, and her attendants bowed respectfully.

What? Highness? Cher - His Highness? I looked at his back in disbelief. And I'm only finding out now? That is, during all the time that we were close, he didn’t even consider it necessary to explain or say anything to me? Didn't find one minute, neither on Earth nor here? So he's an aristocrat? And his house is big, is there enough room for all of us? And that means his parents will find a bride for him, but he can’t marry me? Well, of course, on an ordinary simple dugout without a title. But when I became a princess, I immediately suited him, and that means he should become his first husband? And I'm a fool!!! A dull resentment rose in my soul.

I quietly followed everyone towards the palace. We walked along the corridors. In some rooms Sher placed a gnome, an orc and Merton. I set aside some room for two people for my bodyguards. He allocated some separate large chambers for three light elves. I was silent the whole way, as it was offensive to the point of tears. Because only now I realized that it turns out that all this time he was just using me. Finally, Sher stopped at the next door and opened it invitingly for Ilmar and me.

- Come on in, these are my chambers. “I walked in without saying a word.” “Aletochka, you just live here with me for now.” And tomorrow I will give instructions to prepare separate rooms for you, everything as you wanted, with a living room and an office. Ilmar, the bedroom is behind that door for you, make yourself comfortable. Tomorrow they will also prepare separate rooms for you.

Ilmar frowned and was about to say something, but I interrupted him:

- Shermanthael, do you want to explain anything to me? “I looked at him calmly and didn’t understand why all this time I thought that we were such close friends and that I could trust him with everything.

- What? “He flinched at my tone. -What are you talking about?

“I’m asking, do you want to explain anything to me?” Are you really the prince of the dark elves?

- Well, yes. – He shrugged his shoulders. “I am truly the crown prince of the dark elves.” And as soon as father returns, I will introduce you to him.

- It's clear. So you think you did the right thing by hiding this from me? – I pronounced the words with icy calm. – In your opinion, the fact that I’m finding out about this only now is a completely normal phenomenon? And during all the time that we lived at my house, and then, already here in Alzerath, you didn’t have one minute to tell me about this?

- Baby, just think, nothing terrible happened. Well, yes, I’m a prince, but that doesn’t change anything. “He started to get nervous.

– No, Cher, it changes, and a lot. Isn’t that why you were so scared because of the bracelet when you thought that I was going to marry you? Well, of course, a commoner, and suddenly she’s going to get engaged to you, the crown prince. So? “He looked away, and I continued: “And as soon as it turned out that I was accepted into the royal family of the Aerlings, did I immediately become good enough for you?” Well, of course, a princess... An equal, you’re not ashamed to show her to dad. Come on, say something!

Sher looked to the side, shifted from foot to foot and remained silent.

- Let me ask you something else. Why didn't you tell Queen Larmena about your title? After all, you had to understand that if she knew about this, then there would be no talk of any execution of you. In the worst case scenario, they would hold him and ask for ransom. And you couldn't help but know this. It is so? But you were silent and allowed me to go along with this idiotic idea of ​​​​marriage. After all, I really saved Ilmar, he is not a prince, he would have simply been stupidly executed. Notes? You weren't in any danger. “And then it dawned on me: “And the queen knew... She couldn’t help but know the name of the crown prince of a large state.” So, that means... That's what she meant and that's why I was adopted so suddenly. – I laughed bitterly, remembering all the looks and half-hints of the queen.

God, what an idiot I am! Oh stupid! She was pushing herself with all her might, trying to pretend to be something, to help someone. But it turns out that everything is so simple... The Aerlings, having accepted a rootless girl into the family, set up this stupid trial, and I fell for it. And they became related to the drow, without losing anything, but, on the contrary, only benefiting both from the fact that they accepted me and from the fact that this wedding was rigged. And now I am with two husbands, neither of whom needs me myself, but only needs what this marriage gives them. Ilmar - life and freedom, and Sheru... By the way, what did Sher gain from this marriage?

“Come on, Shermantael dor’Oroville of the Reynolds family, do you want to explain anything to me?” Why did you need this marriage? It was also beneficial for you to become related to the royal family of the Aerlings, right? I bet your daddy will even be happy. I don't think many elves could do this. “I could hardly say the words, and there was a lump in my throat.

“Baby, you don’t understand, it’s not like that at all,” Cher squeezed out and stepped towards me.

- Do not come to me! “I stepped back sharply. - What? I did not get it? Well, explain to me, what else do I not understand? Why did you need all this? After all, you never needed me myself, so, a sweet girl with whom you can giggle and fool around, she also saved your life, and helped you get home. You have never felt even a slight love for me, so don’t la-la. So what is your benefit from this marriage? And I thought we were friends. – I took a deep breath. That’s it, I can’t take it anymore, it’s time to stop this meaningless conversation, everything is clear. “Your Highness, do you have one room in the palace for me?” Separate. I don’t want to be near you for a minute, much less live in your rooms.

- Aleta, you don’t understand, don’t do that. Please. – Cher tried to come up to me and hug me again.

- Dont touch me! “I almost screamed at him.” “I thought that you and I were friends, I trusted you, but it turns out you were just using me all this time.” I can't see you. Do you have a room? If there are no more rooms, then I’d rather stay at a hotel, but I don’t want to be next to you for even a second.

The room was found. Ilmar tried to come to me with the words that he is my husband and I should spend the night next to him, because he does not trust anyone.

- Disappear! – she growled at Ilmar, so that he even recoiled. – I want to be alone, is it so difficult to understand? And I don’t owe anyone anything, okay? And the last thing I owe you is anything. You got freedom, you found wings, you got profitable relatives - that’s it, live happily, and leave me alone! “I was already getting carried away, hysteria was gaining momentum, but I simply couldn’t stop.

Moreover, I clearly understood that this was hysteria. And I just need to stop pushing myself harder and harder, but I couldn't. It was an avalanche that was rushing down, and until it destroyed everything in its path and exhausted itself, it was useless to fight it. Maybe if Cher had tried to say something intelligible, to explain, I would have stopped. But he remained silent and averted his eyes, which meant that I was right about everything. And I slammed the door behind me with a bang. A little later Alf came running and began whining under the door when I didn’t open it, thinking it was Cher or Ilmar again. Then they brought dinner, and again I opened it only after the servants began banging on the door, almost shouting that the food was getting cold. Alf and I had dinner and went to bed.

At night there was a quiet knock on the door.

“Aletochka, open it, talk to me,” I heard Sher’s quiet voice. - Baby, listen to me, please. It's not like that at all, you don't understand. Well, let me explain to you, open it, please.

I covered my head with a pillow. Enough! What now, it’s her own fault. After all, Cher never tried to convince me that we were friends or that I meant anything to him. Just think, he took advantage of the situation to enter into a politically advantageous marriage with a representative of the Aerling royal family. That’s why he’s a prince, or rather, a crown prince. Politicians are all like that, and it doesn’t matter what world they come from – the end justifies the means. So Cher got married politically intelligently, as soon as it became clear that as a bride I was more profitable than just a friend, and could, in something known only to him, bring more benefit than the bride he mentioned. It turns out that some other girl was made a fool, or rather, a fool. Who knows, maybe she’s just in love with Sher, who can figure them out, these drow.

Although I’m lying, it was offensive to the point of tears. I would also understand if Cher wanted to marry me because I am me and because he has romantic feelings for me. If he had sought this marriage for my own sake, I would have understood and not even said a word, it would have been like a man. But to be used like this, for the sake of marrying my title and not me... I felt like a thing.

Well, to hell with them all, I’ll wait a year - or whatever is required in a fictitious marriage - in the status of a wife, and then we’ll file for a divorce and go our separate ways. It won’t be long now anyway; in just a few months the new school year will begin and I’ll go to school. And tomorrow - shopping, nothing heals mental torment and frustration so well as money spent with feeling, sense and purpose. I finally calmed down. Ugh, I found something to worry about! Goodbye, otherwise tomorrow you will have black eyes. And the first thing in the morning will be to apologize to Ilmar and explain things to him. Otherwise I feel like the last bitch, I snapped at him for no reason at all, and his eyes became like that. Straight out beating of babies. Eh, how uncomfortable it is in front of him...

In the morning I woke up cold, hungry and thirsty for new experiences. I won’t kill Sher, let him live, the big-eared radish. But I won’t tell anyone about myself, let alone him. No, trust is not one-sided. After quickly washing my face, I slipped back into jeans and a T-shirt and pulled out my earthly moccasins. We need to go have breakfast.

- Alf, let's go get some grub. How about you eat an elephant? Only one leg and trunk are mine, the rest is all yours. – I winked at my shaggy boy.

The answer to me was an astonished expression on the muzzle, on which the questions were clearly read: “Who is an elephant? Girlfriend, are you sure that everything else is enough for me? Or maybe you’ll donate your trunk and leg to me, and chew the grass yourself?”

As soon as I slammed the door to my room, at the end of the corridor the door to Sher’s chambers immediately opened and, in fact, he jumped out himself. And for some reason his appearance was not very blooming, but slightly wrinkled and with black circles under his eyes. Didn't sleep all night, maybe I was worried? Well, just think, it’s your own fault. But I don’t feel sorry for him at all. Following him, Ilmar looked out of the room. Oh, but it’s awkward in front of him, I need to apologize.

- Hi boys. – I waved my hand to them. - Will they feed us or what? If it’s “or what,” then Alf and I are categorically against it.

I approached them. Sher stood and looked at me tensely, and Ilmar also looked, but offended.

“Ilmarchik, come here, my dear, I’ll kiss you.” Don't be offended that I yelled at you yesterday. This is nervous stress, and my character is bad and violent, you get used to it. “I pulled Ilmar by the shirt, forcing him to bend over, and kissed him on the cheek.

-Will you tell me something? – Cher asked quietly.

- And I’ll tell you, why not tell. I won’t kill you and I won’t even quarrel with you anymore, don’t be afraid. We drove through, what happened, what happened. Anyway, our marriage is fictitious, we can all endure it for a year. – I smiled coldly. - And we have a lot of things to do today. How are you, with us, or will you provide a guide? I need to go to the bank, to the shops, and just for a walk.

Sher smiled wryly in response. And we went to have breakfast, picking up our entire company along the way. One of the servants took Alpha into the kitchen, I told Monimont that he could eat the whole elephant himself, and I’ll make do with tea and buns, and the shaggy boy happily galloped off.

And the food in the palace is delicious, I liked it. The table for breakfast was set very generously, as they say, first course, second course and compote, and with great pleasure I ate a piece of delicious cherry pie and smiled blissfully. Now I would like another cup of coffee instead of the herbal poison that they drink here, but I’ll organize that for myself later, but for now everything is fine. Then I simply watched the rest of those having breakfast and whistled respectfully, mentally, of course, assessing the volume of what the orc and dwarf had eaten. Everything here was Suvorov style - eat breakfast yourself. However, something told me that they wouldn’t give up their dinner to the enemy.

Sher himself went with us as a guide. As usual, I hung my bag on Alf, who smiled contentedly with his well-fed face, pulled on my jacket, and we went. Walking along the corridor, I quietly, without attracting anyone’s attention, thrust an impressive wallet with gold coins into Edelhir’s hands and expressively pointed with my eyes at his companions, slightly lingering on Merton. I have no idea whether this is a lot or a little by local standards, but in any case they need to buy warm clothes, horses, weapons, and I put Merton on them. So it’s okay, I won’t become poor. I have just an enormous amount of money now, and that’s exactly what I need to put in the bank. It was a little embarrassing that Edelhir, it turns out, is of royal blood and might misunderstand that I am giving them money, but, on the other hand, his finances are tight right now. And then he wants to repay the debt, I won’t object. The grooms brought out Hammer, who, to the contemptuous chuckles of the drow, obediently knelt before me, and as soon as I sat up, we set off.

On the way, it was decided that we would go our separate ways in the city. I am with Sher and Ilmar - and, of course, with my bodyguards - these followed me tail - in one direction, and everyone else - in the other. As Edelhir assured me, they know the city well and can handle it themselves. And so we drove around the capital and broke our necks, or rather, I drove, the others walked, and we all broke our necks, except for Sher. And the drow calmly played the role of a tour guide.

I liked the city. So handsome, so kind. Two- or three-story houses made of dark stone behind fences with gardens. Clean paved streets. Lots of shops, taverns, statues and even fountains. A little gloomy after the bright and rainbow city of the Aerlings, but Dakart still made an impression. Such austere, masculine beauty, much like in the old towns of the Czech Republic with their charming mansions. Not gothic, of course, but beautiful, truly beautiful.

And around there were crowds of dark elves who looked at us with interest. They examined the wings of the Aerlings appraisingly, looked with delight at the power of the Hummer, and looked at the toothy face of Alpha with a smile. Personally, I did not arouse such interest; rather, it was disgusting bewilderment. I look like a person. No matter what kind of goddess I was, an adopted Aerling and who knows what else I was, I still looked like an ordinary ordinary human girl. Moreover, not shining with special beauty, and even dressed in who knows what. Compared to the slender, tall and truly beautiful elves, I didn’t look all that impressive. And if in the palace, where, at the instigation of Sher and the scandal caused by Ilmaniel, they already knew that I was not a person, but a guest from the royal family of the Aerlings, and therefore did not allow anything extra towards me, then no one stood on ceremony here. The drow I met, judging by their looks, did not even consider me to be an intelligent being. Unpleasant. Especially after the reverent attitude that the Aerlings had towards me. Hmmm. Somehow the idea of ​​studying at their School of Magic no longer seems very wonderful to me.

We started shopping at a clothing store, and a men's one at that. I, being a thrifty hamster, took warm clothes from the Earth, so now although I was not hot and there was steam coming out of my mouth, it wasn’t too bad either. Although, of course, it’s cool in a leather jacket; you should wear a sweater under it. But my team was slowly but surely covered in icicles. The brutal winged macho men with red noses looked sad, so it was decided that first we would insulate ourselves, and then everything else.

- Cher, why is it so cold? I expected that it would be warm here, too, like the Aerlings,” I couldn’t resist and shivered chillily.

“Well, because the Aeller Valley is much further south, and it is closed by mountains,” Sher explained calmly. - It 'warm over there. In general, it’s only the last month of the cool season. The hellman season will end, the season of waiting for the blossom will begin, and it will become warmer.

I thought about it and began to wonder what month it was on Earth. Having calculated the approximate time that I spent in the valley of the Aerlings, I came to the conclusion that it is now mid-February, most likely even the second half. Hmmm, it's winter, though. Even though there is no snow, that’s good. The weather was similar to Europe: cool, but clean and dry. But it's still cold. I sniffled. Damn, I just needed to catch a cold.

We taxied into a store where male mannequins were displayed in the window. The Hummer was taken from me by a tailor who had jumped out of the store and tied it to a wooden stand outside, and he respectfully invited us inside. After thinking for a couple of seconds, I took Alpha’s bag off and, squatting in front of him, looked into his eyes.

“Alf, buddy, you stay outside with the Hummer.” Protect our equid bird. What if someone wants to steal it, what would we do without it? I'm counting on you.

Monimont snorted mournfully, stuck his tongue out at Hammer, but obediently walked over and sat down next to him. But the sneaky “bird” very noticeably pricked me in the butt with its horn as soon as I stood up.

- Hummer! “I shook my fist at him. “You’ll tear your jeans, you monster.” I love you and I worry that nothing happens to you. And you?

Cher watched us with a smile, standing on the porch. I stole a glance at him. Is he still going to never leave my side? Already on the porch of the store, and even under the protection of Monimont, nothing threatens me. Having dealt with my living creatures, I walked past Sher and was about to go inside, when the drow suddenly grabbed me from behind, pulled me towards him and hugged me tightly, burying his nose in the top of my head. We were silent.

- I trust you. I trust no one in all the worlds as much as you. I'm just terribly afraid of losing you, and yes, I took advantage of this opportunity. I couldn't help but use it. Understand me. Because I need you. Take it for granted: I can’t live without you. “He turned me towards him and looked into my eyes. - Sorry.

– Cher, don’t worry, I just lost my temper yesterday and said too much. I don't consider you an enemy. It was an ordinary nervous breakdown, hysteria. “I smiled calmly at him.

“Baby, you just don’t understand.” My freedom does not belong to me, whether I want it or not, no one would ask me. They would find me a bride who was advantageous for political reasons, and that would be it. And you can’t even imagine how happy I am that you could suddenly become her. Don't push me away, I'll do anything for you, anything you want. Just let me have it. “He leaned over and breathed it practically onto my lips.

Oh, my knees are treacherously weak. When such a handsome man looks into my eyes and practically touches my lips with his, it’s somehow difficult to think and get angry. So, we pulled ourselves together and breathe, breathe, or even our lungs suddenly refused to work.

- World? Let everything be as before? “And this tempting snake with dark circles under his eyes kissed me lightly.

Oooh, legs, traitors, come on, pull yourself together, now I’ll just sit here on the porch.

- Persuaded, peace. And all the same, you are a big-eared fool, even though you are a highness, do you know that?

- I know. – He nodded. - So, does that mean you will forgive me? At all? And will we sleep together again?

Ugh, damn it. Who cares, the lousy one needs a bath. And here I am, thinking lamur, tujour, romantic, that he needs access to me, and he needs access to the body. The brain quickly returned to its place, and the body began to function normally again.

- I will think. – I pulled away. - Let's go, it's cold. - And she was the first to enter the store.

Meanwhile, our satellites have already stocked up in full. The tailor, a cute fair-haired elf, was not just beating in ecstasy when my winged creatures began to choose things from him. And considering how much we picked, his accountant was probably in the same ecstasy; the store was quite expensive. Yes, this is something worth working on.

– Larr, what do you think about the fact that part of the amount will be used as barter? – I turned to the tailor.

– What barter? - He made a stand and, squinting, looked at me carefully.

- Well, which one? Good, of course. The company doesn’t knit brooms, so everything will be just fine. Do you see these charming winged young men now? – The tailor nodded. – Have you met many people like them in your life?

“Not a single one,” the elf answered honestly.

- That's it. Because they are Aerlings. So, after some time, more similar specimens will gradually arrive here. And, as you understand, they will all need a wardrobe according to the climate and local fashion. And taking into account physiology. Well, there are specific raincoats, shirts and jackets of a certain cut. Sechete?

“Seku-u-u,” the tailor drawled and looked at my boys with a carnivorous gaze.

– Look at these two stunning models. “I moved Delan and Kiram forward. – They may come to you a couple of more times so that you can use them as experimental specimens. Take measurements, check whether your clothes are comfortable, and so on. Well, I tell the great master the truisms. – I decided to sweeten the worm on the hook. - You know better. Then you will either have a certain supply of ready-made items, or you will clearly know how to fit them quickly, efficiently and exactly where you need them. And in return, you will customize some of the clothes that they have chosen now to fit them and give them as payment for their work as models. Is it good?

- Good. “The tailor’s fingers involuntarily clenched and unclenched, and it was clear that in his mind he was already taking measurements, or whatever else they were taking from models.

- Boys, do you understand everything? – I turned to my calm bodyguards, and they nodded affirmatively.

They have known universal peace a long time ago, almost from the beginning of working for my humble person, but it must continue to be developed. So let them do it, at the same time they will be in business, and they will earn some money for the pins. We will make men out of henpecked people. Then we need to force them to practice with swords, and Ilmar at the same time. I turned my gaze to the blond. And he quietly backed away and tried to hide from the line of fire behind Sher’s back. Hmmm, Ilmar has yet to comprehend Zen. It’s okay, I’ll take care of this, it’s not going anywhere. And I reached into my bag for money to pay for purchases, but Sher grabbed my hand and looked reproachfully.

- Aleta, are you out of your mind? Are you going to pay for all this yourself?

- Um... well, yes. These are my bodyguards and my husband. – I nodded at Ilmar.

In general, I paid for all of Cher's purchases, minus the cost of clothes for Delan and Kiram. And we went to the women's store. I decided that I wouldn’t pack a lot of things, just a couple of dresses, shirts and, most importantly, local trousers, since I didn’t feel any desire to freeze my butt in a dress and ride a horse in it. Therefore, not caring about all the decency that Cher talked to me about, I chose a pair of the softest leather tight pants. The leggings are not leggings, but they are very, very tight. But it is comfortable and warm. Can I show a good figure? Eh, if only they had biker boots, they would be a total waste. They also found me several matching shirts, a warm leather jacket with fur with a bunch of studs, and a fur vest made from some local animal that looked like mink, which I immediately pulled on over my biker jacket. And, heeding Sher’s persuasion, she took a couple of dresses to keep up appearances. Moreover, they promised to bring me the dresses home after fitting, because, despite my fragile figure, it turned out that the elves were even slimmer than me in their upper nineties, but at the same time noticeably taller.

At the shoe store we picked out shoes for everyone. I again had a problem, since they didn’t have such small boots, and all the ones they had were on average a couple of sizes too big for me. Therefore, we ordered everything to be delivered to the palace, causing trepidation in the seller, paid and left.

Then there was a bank. Oooh, a bank is a bank. As Cher explained to me, all the banks in Alzerat are run by gnomes. And this is a whole network. That is, by visiting any branch in any city, you can withdraw the required amount from your account. A drop of blood is enough to confirm that I am the very person who is the owner of this account. In addition, you can take a bill of exchange, so as not to carry heavy wallets with you, and present it for payment. In short – a civilization of foreign exchange bankers.

The Dakarta bank branch was located in a monumental, squat building made of dark stone. Concentrated gnomes in uniforms scurried about with a businesslike air, and stern clerks sat at several tables. I chose one and walked over and sat down at his table.

- Good afternoon, dear, I want to open an account with you. Is this possible?

- Of course, Larra. In what metal? How much? For how long? – The clerk picked up the pen and got ready for work.

- In gold. For a long time. To the big one.

- To a big one... And more specifically? – The dwarf looked up at me.

- Very large. More specifically, this will have to be calculated now, and I’m afraid it will take a long time. Do you have a separate room for these purposes? “I calmly looked at the serious bearded guy. I can’t explain to him that I have no idea how much of this currency I have. I didn’t even put wallets in my bag, and I have a lot of such wallets.

The clerk called another employee, whom he left in his place, and we proceeded to this very separate room. I left the guys waiting in the hall; I didn’t want to advertise my well-being, but I only took Alpha with me. They know less, they sleep more peacefully. In the room where the clerk led me, there was a large stone table and several chairs, on one of which he invited me to sit.

- Please, Larra, take out your money, we’ll count it.

Well, I started taking it out. And she took it out and took it out... When the pile on the table became the size of the gnome himself, and the gnome’s eyes were the size of saucers, the clerk coughed and said that he would need assistants. Having pressed some button on the wall, the gnome returned to me and continued to watch my movements with silent surprise. In short, five dwarfs counted my modest little pile, and they counted for a long time. Finally, we summed up the total amount and signed contracts, which, fortunately for me, it was customary for the gnomes to read out loud, because they also had a magical component and had to be voiced. Then they took a drop of blood from my finger, it was also somehow magically fixed, and I used it to put my fingerprint on the contract. The dwarf, lavishing pleasantries, announced that I was one of the largest investors and that they were incredibly flattered and all that. And in exchange for the wallets, I was given a magical figurine on a chain, which confirmed my deposit and allowed me to withdraw monthly interest on the deposit, if I needed to do this quickly, not only in a bank branch, but also from any representative of the dwarf tribe, no matter a merchant or a craftsman . And then the bank compensates him for this amount.

In general, we were very pleased with each other, when I suddenly thought that it was probably worth leaving most of my treasures for safekeeping in the bank. Which is what I asked the gnome about. He shuffled around and said that, of course, for the beautiful larra they would allocate the most wonderful cell where I could put a family necklace, or a tiara, or whatever I have for storage. And I started taking “what I have there” out of my bag. Considering that I had a lot of my own jewelry, which I greedily bought from the Aerlings, plus those that were given to me for the wedding, and even those that the Queen of Larmen presented to me, in total it was very, very much. The gnome felt sick. He began to fan himself and hold his heart, and we had to invite again those guys who helped us count the gold coins. By the time we described, assessed and sorted it all out, a lot of time had passed. And I needed a cell the size of a good chest.

After the bank we walked around a little more. Sher kept trying to make peace, and I, carefully pushing the resentment and anger to the bottom of my soul, tried to answer him calmly and not periodically break into a roar. Because it was still offensive. Very disappointing. It’s disgusting that I was used, and I no longer had the same trust in him. But at the same time, I understood that declaring a vendetta on him was stupid. They're adults. In our story, we must somehow try to resolve everything peacefully, bypassing the stage of “You are no longer my girlfriend, you are no longer my friend. Don’t play with my toys...” And so I carefully pretended that everything was normal, that I was able to communicate. I don’t know, maybe one day something will change or I will change, and the old attitude towards Sher will return, but so far it has been difficult for me to behave normally with him.

We returned to the palace tired, hungry, cold, but extremely happy with the walk. And most importantly, we purchased everything we needed. Warm local clothes, weapons for Delan and Kiram, and horses for all three Aerlings. The group that arrived with us from the Aeller Valley had also already spruced up and looked dressed for the season and quite respectable. I looked at Merton with pleasure. No, after all, how smart I am for getting him out of there, I really love myself, good. What a cool guy he turned out to be as soon as he took off that creepy white robe and changed into normal men's clothes. He, noticing my appraising gaze, smiled affectionately at me.

“Aleta, what’s going on with this priest?” Why is he looking at you like that? – Cher, noticing Merton’s smile, immediately lost his step and slowed down.

- Nothing. He is my friend, a very good one. And what? “I smiled back at Merton.

– How good? Why is he smiling at you like that? – Cher started to get excited.

- Cher, don't pester her. Merton - a former priest, that says it all - stood up for the guy Ilmar.

- Oh, how’s that? And what does this say? And why, I wonder, does this former priest look at my wife like that? – Cher was already openly freaking out.

- Oh, Cher, don't act like a jealous cat. I already told you that Merton is my friend. – I looked at the drow tiredly. - And in general, you are starting to tire me with your jealousy; it seems that I have not given you any reason to consider me your property. If you are wondering why he is looking at me like that, then go ahead and ask him yourself. Stop making scenes for me, you don’t have the slightest right to do this.

- And I’ll ask. – Sher quickly approached Merton, who had been standing aside all this time and listening to our bazaar. - You…

“Because I love her,” Merton calmly interrupted Shera, without waiting for the question.

- She is mine! – hissed the enraged drow.

“I know,” Merton shrugged just as calmly. “But it doesn’t affect my feelings for her in any way.”

Oh-oh, it seems like something will happen now. Ilmar and I looked at each other and, without saying a word, quickly stepped towards these fighting cocks. Cher really got me, but I feel sorry for Merton. There are strong suspicions that if push comes to shove, the drow will kill him. Still, the priests are unlikely to be doing well with their physical training.

- Cher, are we going to have lunch today? I'm literally dying of hunger. “I took the drow by the elbow and dragged him in one direction, and Ilmar, picking up Merton, led him in the other. On the way, I looked expressively at Edelhir. - And by the way, when will your father arrive?

“I don’t know, I already sent him news that I returned to the palace.” I think soon,” this jealous man fell for my distracting maneuver. - And why do you need it?

- Well, why? Познакомиться. It’s interesting to look at your daddy, and I need to give him letters and letters from Queen Larmena, I’m kind of like a representative of the Aerlings. Do you want me to give them to you? It turns out that you are the crown prince,” here I winced, “which means you can also accept all the credentials.”

- It's not worth it. In another situation, I could act as a deputy father, but in this case, let’s better wait for him, and you will discuss everything with him. Time endures. And I have accumulated a bunch of my own affairs that require my personal presence.

At dinner, Edelhir took the fire himself, distracting Sher from the artillery attack with angry glances in Merton's direction.

– Your Highness, can you help us with teleports to the Light Forest? – he asked Sher. “Our magic, unfortunately, has not yet recovered after being completely blocked by the magical brand for such a long period.” So there’s no way I can do it myself.

- To the Light Forest? – Cher thought about it. - No, Larr, I can’t go into the Light Forest itself. I was there only once and didn’t have time to take the coordinates to open the portals. And, unfortunately, Master Linkenkal is now with his father, right in the Light Forest. I can suggest either waiting for them, and then they will help you, or I will open a portal to the border of our territories, and then you are on your own.

Edelhir thought, rubbed the stem of the wine glass with his fingers, and glanced at his companions.

- Well, to the border, then to the border. There we can contact the border service, and they will send for us. Let's do it today then. In principle, we are ready to leave immediately after lunch.

“Your Highness,” boomed Bofur, “and us?” What about the portals to Garethgarhol and Orohart? – He nodded at the orc.

- Alas, gentlemen, the same thing. I have never been to the steppes and mountains among the gnomes. I can help with portals to the borders closest to your territories, if that suits you. – Sher shrugged.

The dwarf and the orc looked at each other. Judging by the fact that they mostly stayed together and slightly apart from the elves, the guys clearly became friends during their time in captivity.

“That means we’re also up to the border,” Irrogor rumbled. “Then I’ll ride.” Bofur, will you come with me? Your mountains will not go anywhere, you promised that you will definitely be present at the Festival of the Awakening of the Steppe, and you and I will have a drink.

- Yes, and let's go. – The dwarf laughed loudly. - But then you come to me, for the Festival of Shaking the Mountains.

Oh, it looks like these two have gotten over it and will now go visit each other. We looked at each other and hid our smiles.

Immediately after lunch, my entire team fled. The former slaves left to get ready, I sent my bodyguards to train with swords. Well, I got ready to see everyone off. I caught Edelhir and took him aside to talk about Merton.

– Larr Edelhir, have you spoken with Merton? Is everything okay, is he coming with you? – I asked quietly.

- Yes, Your Highness, don’t worry. I’m taking him under my wing, and then we’ll figure out on the spot where to place him. By the way, do you know that he has a very good education? He studied, according to him, at home, but he had excellent teachers. I think I'll send him to study with Anoredel.

- Oh, how nice it would be. – I was happy. – Larr Edelhir, I have another question... financial. What should I do better: give Merton a spending amount in cash now, or open a bank account in his name and put some money there?

– Larra Aleta, will you allow me to call you that? Stop it. – He frowned. “I am taking Merton for full maintenance, believe me, I am not poor at all, and he will be given a monthly salary as my son’s companion.” And then, after training, we’ll see what to assign him to.

- Thank you. Thank you very much. I am very glad that we met and that everything worked out so well. I hope we will see each other again. “I extended my hand to the elf, and he kissed my fingers.

- Definitely. I'm looking forward to your visit. You've never been to the Light Forest, have you? “He looked at me carefully. - Come. I will introduce you to my daughter, she is a very good girl, I think you will find a common language. There are still a few months before the start of classes, you will have time for the Festival of All Gods. I will be waiting for you very much. – He smiled.

Hmmm, something tells me that I will run away from my hubbies much earlier than this very holiday. Considering that it is only February by earthly reckoning, and this Festival of All Gods is on the summer solstice, I have every chance of either becoming a widow or making my husbands happy with my untimely death.

Ilmar went with me to see off the former slaves. For some reason unknown to me, Sher led everyone to open the portal to the same place where we arrived the night before, in the park behind the palace. The dwarf and orc were sent first. These two noisily said goodbye to everyone, invited us all to visit and, chatting cheerfully, stepped into a teleport somewhere on the border of the drow territory and the steppes. Then Sher began to open a portal for the light elves. And I walked up to Merton with a smile to say goodbye.

- I'm glad you made the right choice. Learn, grow. And we will definitely see each other again someday. – I extended my hand to him.

- Thank you, Aletochka. I am happy that you are in my destiny. “He took my hand in his palms and squeezed. “And just know that I love you.” Shh, don't interrupt. “He pressed his finger to my lips when I opened my mouth to answer him. “I don’t ask you for anything, I don’t expect anything, just know about my love and that you are the greatest happiness in my life.”

Merton looked back at the waiting light elves standing near the already open teleporter. Then he grabbed me in his arms, quickly kissed me on the lips with a firm, confident kiss and stepped into the portal, not paying attention to Sher, who rushed towards him, and to Ilmar, who clung to Sher and tried to prevent him from approaching us.

The elves followed, the portal closed, and Sher, breaking free from Ilmar’s grip, jumped up to me and grabbed my shoulders.

- What was it? Why is he kissing you? What kind of demon is he even touching you with? You are my wife, do you hear? You are mine! “He held me tightly by the shoulders and looked at me with completely crazy eyes.

- Hands off! “I freed myself from his grip. – Now listen to me very carefully. You make a scene like this one more time, and it will be the last day you see me at all. I am not yours! And it was never yours! Remember this once and for all. And I don’t want to listen to your jealous scandals and hysterics. It's clear? – I turned my gaze to Ilmar. - This concerns you too. In the coffin I saw all these marital games of your deer. We are married fictitiously, and if I want to have a lover, I will do it and won’t even ask you. Moreover, as an Aerling woman, I can even marry for the third time. For my part, I won't mind if you get girlfriends. I understand everything, it’s a young business and the body demands its own.

Ignoring their looks - the reproachful Ilmara and the absolutely insane Shera - I waved to Alf and walked towards the palace. Horrible! Well, is it necessary? I, you see, him! Why on earth? We're not even lovers, let alone anything more. I started shaking with anger. I hate, I hate scenes like this. I had one boyfriend who was jealous of every post and kept watch outside the house in the evenings, always suspecting that someone would accompany me and he would catch me red-handed. I was sickened by these endless scenes of jealousy, I went crazy with anger and attempts to explain that it was his sick imagination, and not me, who was guilty of something. Now for me, relationships with such jealous people are taboo. I've had enough of this nightmare. I still remember with a shudder that relationship and how much effort I had to spend so that he would leave me alone.

I sat in the room for the rest of the day. I only went out once to go see the guys and invite them to dinner, in the hope that Cher had calmed down and we could communicate normally again. She went to the door to the drow's room and listened. Some noise and Sher's ringing voice came from the room:

– Is she making fun of me? Grahchen tosh! Ilmar, tell me: is she blind? She doesn't see or understand anything? Rahaa murdok! Yes, I go crazy when I think... What demon? “Some heavy object crashed into the door.

Oh! I quickly walked away and returned to my room. Perhaps I’ll have dinner in the room alone, somehow such global cataclysms in Sher’s emotions scare me. In the morning there was a knock on my door, and a huge bouquet of flowers floated into the room, followed by Cher holding this bouquet. Well, behind him loomed Ilmar, performing as a support group. Sher hesitated, walked into the room, put the flowers on the table and turned to me. I sat and waited, tracking their movements with my eyes.

“I apologize for yesterday’s outburst,” the drow finally squeezed out. - I was out of my mind. I promise that something like this won't happen again. Now let’s go, rooms have already been prepared for you, which will always belong to you in this palace. - He hesitated. - World?

– I don’t know yet, Cher. - I got up. “I hope you keep your promise, because now I have a strong desire to never see you again.”

The drow jerked as if from a slap in the face.

I rolled my eyes. This is what they seem to be thinking about. Here my whole life is upside down, every day there is something new, sometimes scandals, sometimes intrigues, and these two just want to be in the same bed with me.

– Are you kidding me, or what? Why did you get so excited about this joint dream? There is nothing between us anyway and there won’t be, don’t even count on it. – I snorted. Some kind of idiocy. – I’ll think about it, but for now my answer is no.

The two looked at each other and led me to look around the rooms. By the way, they turned out to be simply amazing. Sher took into account all my wishes. There was a large living room with tables, a sofa, armchairs, poufs and even a banquette. Fireplace and large balcony with wicker chairs and table. There was an office in which they placed the secretary and chair I had brought from the Aerlings. And a bedroom with a huge bed, mirrors, three armchairs. One door from the bedroom led to the dressing room, the second to the bathroom. And everywhere there were thick soft carpets on which you could sit just like that.

From my living room, which was locked, there was a door leading into a room that was something between a dining room and a living room. There were two more doors, behind one of which were Ilmar’s apartments, and behind the second were Sher’s. In short, these two shots came together in such a way that all our rooms were nearby and had one adjacent one connecting them to a common living-dining room.

I liked my chambers. They were really very beautiful and light, and I thawed. So, having kicked everyone out of her territory, she went to unload the junk from her miracle bag. I don’t even know approximately how many things I have in there now, I’ll have to hang everything in the wardrobe, and then we’ll figure it out. I've never had so many clothes before. And I knew all my dresses by sight, but here I had to get acquainted with many things. “Alice is the pudding. The pudding is Alice."

And in the evening I got ready to sleep. Ha, naive fool. I really wanted to go to bed, quietly and peacefully. And when I, all so languid and melancholy, floated out of the bathroom in my pajamas, I found both my hubbies in the chairs. And both of them only had towels on their hips.

- And what are you doing here? And even in this form? – I nodded at their terry cloths. And, trying not to stare at these two mountains of testosterone, she walked past them to the bed.

“Well, we’re after the bath,” Ilmar smiled.

“We came to bed, we agreed, you promised to think about it,” Cher purred.

I quickly slid into bed, pulled the blanket up to my chin and modestly adjusted my top. And these two... bad non-humans... threw off their towels and in what their mother gave birth went to the bed.

- Guys, aren’t you crazy, my dears? – I stared at them. Moreover, I confess, I stared at what had previously been hidden under the towels.

Well, it’s not every day that they show such a striptease, but what if I don’t see it again? You should at least take a look at who God sent me as husbands, or rather, the goddess, or rather, my great-grandmother, her beloved one. Wow, what a treat I had. Oh, they sent them to me. I started gnawing on my fist. And the muscles, and the cubes, and the droplets of water on the chest and stomach, and what the buttocks. That's it, shoot me, otherwise I can't vouch for myself. I don’t even remember the last time I was with a man.

- Boys, you should cover yourself, or what? – I mumbled.

Moreover, I mumbled this slowly, but my eyes refused to even blink, otherwise they would suddenly open again, and the movie was already over. And these two monsters walked slowly towards the bed and, the bastards, didn’t even try to cover themselves. My heart was already trying to crawl out of my throat to also see what they were showing there that my eyes were about to fall out. I swallowed, not letting him out. Then it began to pound like mad and make a fuss about how it was so dishonest and it also wanted to look. The brain tried to give the command to the eyes to close their eyes so as not to be subjected to such a psychological attack, but it was sent. The eyes refused to close their eyes, but, on the contrary, they opened even more so as not to miss anything. Then my brain began to cynically wonder who I would want first. Horror, in short. Honestly, if they were now wearing swimming trunks, like strippers, I would, without hesitation, put all my savings in there for an elastic band. Because you won’t see anything like this in any strip club... Well, in short, what I saw now.

– We’re not ashamed of you. “You’re not shy about us either,” Cher drawled.

“But you don’t have to look if you fear for your morality,” Ilmar added languidly.

They began to go around the bed on both sides to lie on either side of me. And I felt that my eyes, like a chameleon’s, were moving in different directions, because it was beyond my strength to let at least one of them out of sight.

“Guys, cover yourself, otherwise I’ll rape you both in a particularly perverted form, and we’ll have to suffer together all our lives, because then they won’t divorce us,” I decided to intimidate them.

“We’re not afraid of you at all,” Sher whispered, sliding under the blanket with me.

I closed my eyes with effort, trying to gather them together. Sher pressed my shoulders and dropped me onto the pillow. And then these two disturbers of my hormonal levels moved closer, each kissed my shoulder on their side, wished me good night, turned away and got ready to sleep. No, there are simply no words! What the hell good night to my grandmother and my great-grandmother?! Now I'm going to burst from hormones. How, I wonder, am I supposed to sleep with two such incredible bodies lying on either side of me?

“Don’t be creepy,” Sher muttered over his shoulder, turning his head slightly.

“Sweet dreams,” Ilmar responded and laid his wings more comfortably.

And they, calmly settling down, began to breathe evenly. No... Well, that's... Well, it's just... No way at all... I don't even have words, just interjections and ellipses. I lay there, hiding. It was difficult to breathe, the blood started a volcanic eruption, the heart was still trying to jump out of the chest, the hormones were raging. And while I was calming all this local storm in my body, these two were already snoring peacefully. Nightmare! And I spent half the night struggling with my own body and trying to fall asleep, only to wake up in the morning from the knocking of the door and a frightened ooh.

With difficulty opening my eyes, I tore my head off the pillow and saw the maid looking at our rookery. I turned my gaze to where she was looking. And, groaning, she dropped her head back, because these two shameless people had revealed themselves at night and were now sleeping completely naked, clinging to me on both sides. God, I can imagine what kind of gossip there will be now and what they will think about me.

In general, this is how it happened with us. During the day we existed autonomously, and I practically didn’t see the guys. Sher asked to be patient a little and not get bored, explaining that during his long absence, a certain number of urgent matters had accumulated here that required his personal presence, and he disappeared somewhere all day long. Ilmar trained with swords from morning to evening along with my bodyguards, and I studied the palace and the surrounding area. We only met for dinner, and by night the guys showed up in my bedroom, and we slept like babies. The servants and courtiers looked at each other and whispered after me, but no one dared to say anything to my face, so I simply gave up on everything. Nobody seemed to know that we were married, and therefore they believed that I was such an insatiable person that one man was not enough for me. Although sometimes the thought crept into my mind that this was not good and that in their eyes I looked, to put it mildly, not very decent, and maybe I should tell them that we were married. Moreover, as it turned out, the story of Ilmaniel’s rudeness and the fact that I, it turns out, was not a person, but an Aerling, and a princess, gained publicity and taught the palace public to be careful. So there were no idiots, but no one was in a hurry to be friends with me. The drow diligently ignored my presence, although very politely, no matter what.

I ran into the royal favorite a couple of times in the corridors. But she also made a stony face, looked sideways at Alf and, curtseying slightly, if she met my gaze, quickly left, practically ran away. And I’m glad, the last thing I wanted was to communicate with this arrogant bitch.

Sher and I spent two evenings teaching me the local alphabet. It was faster on a computer; Sher won learned to read in just an hour, but even so, using a book, I quickly got the hang of it. I learned the letters quickly, thanks to my new memory, and then it was just a matter of training and developing fluent reading skills in the local language. Which is what I did in my free time, studying books on the history of the Aerlings that I brought with me. Otherwise, it’s somehow wrong, I’m supposed to be their representative, but I don’t know a damn thing about my people.

On the third day I discovered the ballroom. More precisely, judging by its size, the hall is not quite a ballroom, but something like a small hall for something that requires a lot of mirrors. Oh, how happy I was, I haven’t danced for so long. The body required the usual load, and the soul asked for music and dancing, so that same day I occupied this hall for my classes. There was, however, some difficulty with changing clothes, since walking through the entire palace in the clothes in which my training usually took place was not comme il faut; the local drow already shied away from me. Therefore, I didn’t want to embarrass them with my athletic appearance, but it was also inconvenient to change clothes in the hall. So I stole a cloak from Sher's room and dressed in my room, then wrapped myself in it and, like a gloomy ghost, followed to the dance hall. And there she already went all out, placing her record player on the window so that there was enough sunlight for the batteries. Lord, how, it turns out, I miss the Earth, my friends and parents, music, the crazy rhythm of the big city, and even my former job (I would never have believed that one day I would say this, but nevertheless ). So I turned on the music and, completely forgetting about everything in the world, danced. Several times I noticed that people were spying on me and eavesdropping on me. At first it got in the way and I got confused, but then it didn’t matter. Let the main thing be that they remain silent and do not interfere.

About a week after our arrival in Dakart, Sher announced that he was taking Ilmar, and they were leaving for two days to inspect the borders, since the drow also had business in distant territories, and his father still did not return. Having promised that they would return by the evening of the next day, the guys left immediately after breakfast, and I was left to my own devices. I still had absolutely nothing to do, and I was frankly going crazy with boredom. Still, I’m not used to such a stupid and idle pastime. I was tired of reading, walking alone was boring and cold, and I’m not a fan of walking in nature, all that was left was training.

And so, as soon as Sher and Ilmar left, I changed clothes, took my equipment, wrapped myself in Sher’s cloak and wandered in the right direction. I just had to go down one of the last stairs leading to the hall when I conceived an act that was blasphemous from the point of view of maintaining decency. Actually, I had been planning to carry out this blasphemy for a long time, but somehow there were always too many drow around. Namely, I dreamed of sliding down the railing of one of these wide staircases, which, like two wings, led from the second floor down to the front doors. It turned into an obsession, but the stairs were so long, and their railings were so smooth and wide, that I decided: it would be great to slide down. Childhood, of course, but the railing beckoned, and I was only guarding the moment when no one would be around, so that I wouldn’t be caught. And now I'm finally lucky. Hooray!

I left the record player by the wall to pick it up later, sat down comfortably on the wide railing, wrapped my cloak around me and drove off. Uh-uh. It was cool, I didn’t even imagine that I would like it so much. Since the stairs were spiral, by the middle I had already accelerated well, and at the very end, like a cork from a bottle, I flew up, crashed into some man and buried him under me. Damn, what kind of bad luck is this? That's where he emerged from, but there was no one there.

I raised myself up on my elbows and accidentally pushed the man into the floor. He grunted. This reminds me of something. Throwing my hair back from my face, I looked at the victim of my pampering.

“A man...” I started and looked closer. - Oh, what an interesting man you are.

Oh, what a man I crushed... My God, where do they make such handsome men?! A fiery dark brunette with perfect facial features, he was incredibly handsome compared to other drow and even my husbands. Her black hair was braided and styled in some kind of complex braid, and it was very long because she was lying next to him on the floor. Black eyebrows and eyelashes and very dark violet eyes. And these eyebrows are raised in surprise, and violet eyes look at me with curiosity and, in fact, are waiting for something.

- Hello, Larr. Did I squeeze you? “I squirmed, making myself more comfortable, and smiled at him.

The man grunted again under my elbows, but did not try to get out, and I was also in no hurry to get up from him.

- There is little. Would you like to get up? “He chuckled, and the corners of his lips twitched.

– You’re uncomfortable, right? “I tried to rise, but my elbow slipped again and the man grunted again.

- Oh! No, nothing, better lie down. Otherwise you will make a hole in me now. – This handsome man was already openly amused.

- Yes? Well, excuse me. I just decided to take a ride up the stairs. Believe it or not, since childhood I’ve dreamed of one day taking a ride on just such a staircase; I’ve seen similar ones in estate museums.

- So how is it? Liked? – There were already smiles dancing in his eyes.

– Thank you, but I think I’ll abstain. – The elf still couldn’t stand it and snorted with laughter.

- In vain. Honestly, it was such a thrill, it was like riding on a carousel. If you decide, call me, I’ll keep you company, there are two stairs here. – I laughed too.

Then, from somewhere behind, the shrill voice of the royal favorite was heard, who was clearly moving in our direction. I winced:

- Okay, I'll go. And then here comes the royal bitch, oh, that is, the royal favorite. I don't want to face her. Between us, a creepy woman.

I slid to the side, ignoring the man’s stifled chuckle, and stood up. She wrapped herself in her raincoat again, covering her dancing chaos, and ran up the stairs to get her player.

The next day, I again didn’t know what to do, I was bored out of my mind, and I wasn’t expecting the guys until the evening. After reading it at home, I spent another half a day poking around the palace and suddenly realized that I really wanted pancakes. And that I really missed normal, familiar food, and now I’ll just die if I don’t get these coveted thin lace pancakes. But I didn’t know where these drow’s kitchen was, so I had to ask Alf to accompany me to where he was given goodies. Monimont smiled carnivorously, said that he was always ready to eat, and led the way.

In the kitchen I was greeted by stunned silence and several puzzled looks. I hesitated on the threshold.

- People, who is in charge here? – I finally decided, remembering that I was supposed to be the first to address someone of lower rank.

- I, Your Highness. Would you like something special for dinner? – An elf in a white cap stepped forward.

- Yes. Wish. Could you make some pancakes? I really want to. – I looked at him questioningly.

- Pancakes? – The cooks looked at each other. - And what's that?

- Well, made from dough, these thin fried flatbreads. Do you know how?

They couldn't. Moreover, barbarians have never even heard of such a strange dish. After thinking, I decided that saving those dying of hunger was the work of the dying themselves, and therefore ordered me to be given an apron, ingredients and dishes. And she also said that now I would show them a master class on making these same pancakes.

- Yes, gentlemen, cooks. I’ll do it now just for me and... um... well, it doesn’t matter, so remember the proportions, then you’ll do it yourself. Carry two liters of milk, two eggs, salt, sugar, flour, vegetable oil. A liter is about that much. “I pointed my finger at some dish on the table.

The cooks looked at each other and with great reluctance, but still gave me a place and everything I demanded. It was obvious that they really didn’t want to let me into their domain, but they didn’t dare to argue and simply began to carefully observe my manipulations. However, they didn’t say anything out loud, so I stopped paying attention to it. Because whatever, I’m a highness, even though they don’t like me.

The first three or four pancakes, which, as usual, came out lumpy while I got used to the local frying pan and the thickness of the batter, were gobbled up by Alf. Two more had to be sacrificed to the head chef and his assistant for tasting. Well, as soon as they were finished baking, I covered the rest with the silver lid given to me here so that they would not get cold, and dragged them to my room, grabbing all sorts of tasty additions to them and a bottle of wine.

And so Alf and I wandered along the corridor, terribly pleased with ourselves, and I was also in anticipation of how I would now organize a belly festival called “Death to the Figure” with these same pancakes. Alf was carrying a string bag with wine and toppings for the pancakes, and I was carrying the dish itself. And suddenly, already on the way to my chambers, I came face to face with an amazing drow from earlier, who stood blocking the road and watched our procession with interest.

- Hello, Larr. – I smiled at him. “Didn’t I give you any bruises yesterday?”

- Hello. No, we didn’t have time, I have a good, strong sting. “He smiled slyly back at me.

And I turned my gaze to his black leather tunic, worn over a white shirt. A good jacket, and the shirt under it is good, and everything under the shirt and below is also... very good. So, calmly, something is taking me to the wrong steppe.

- So, you are the same Aerling princess who sleeps with two men at once and one of them is Crown Prince Shermanthael? – The elf looked at me with interest, but I grew bored.

I thought... And he came to collect gossip. And so tactless too. Well, okay, I sleep like that, I sleep, I’ll play my role as it should be.

– For what purpose are you interested? Would you like to join? “I looked at him affectionately, sighed and languidly lowered my eyelashes, and then slowly raised them.

– Do you still have vacancies? – The man chuckled with a smile, but was not embarrassed, but continued to flirt.

- Well, since I am the princess of the Aerlings, I can generally have a whole harem. I'm even supposed to. By status. – I smiled and slightly bit my lower lip.

Here the handsome man’s eyelashes trembled, but he did not take his eyes off my lips.

-What makes you smell so good? – he changed the topic of conversation.

- Pancakes. How do you respect them?

- Pancakes? – He raised his eyebrows in surprise. - What is this?

I took the lid off the dish, and a mind-blowing aroma floated down the corridor. The man swallowed involuntarily.

- Want to try? – I watched the victim of taste sensations with a smile.

- Want. Can i? – He smiled back at me.

- Why can’t it? But not in the corridor, come on, I’ll treat you. We're almost there already. – I covered the dish with a lid and headed towards the door to my chambers.

The elf obediently followed me.

- Excuse me, Larr, what’s your name? “I looked over my shoulder at him.

– You can call me Cyrus. And you?

- And I’m Aleta. Ask.

I walked into the living room, unloaded a dish onto one of the low tables and took the wine and toppings from Alf. She took out two glasses from the cabinet and nodded to Kira at the bottle. He intelligently took it and, opening it, poured it into glasses.

- Come on, have a seat, Larr Cyrus. Now I will treat you. I hope you like it, I baked it myself. What do you like with jam? There is also salted fish, sour cream, honey. “I sat down on the carpet by the table and waved invitingly to my guest.

“You can just call me “Kir.” I do not know. What tastes better with? “He watched with interest as I arranged the pots of toppings and smiled at something.

– Well then try with everything in turn.

And we started trying. It turned out experimentally that Kira likes this dish best with salted red fish, if it is wrapped inside, and with honey, in which to dip it. Well, I ate it with lingonberry jam. And I washed it all down with wine, which the cook kindly gave me in the kitchen. In general, we tried it well. I ate quite quickly and after the third pancake I simply drank wine in small sips, but Kir turned out to be either very hungry, or was so imbued with it, but the pancakes quickly disappeared from the dish. Hmmm, it looks like there won’t be anything left for Shera and Ilmar, but don’t take it away now, since she invited you.

Finally, he, too, fell away from the table, satiated.

- Well, how do you like it?

- Divine. And I'm surprised you baked it yourself. – He smiled contentedly and drank wine.

- Well, what if your cooks don’t know how to do this? – I laughed. “I had to get up to the stove.” I'm glad you liked it. I think now you can eat them too, I taught the local chefs how to bake them.

We savored the wine and each thought about his own. Kir had no intention of leaving, but, on the contrary, sat comfortably on the carpet, stretched out his legs and leaned back on the sofa, and relaxedly watched me.

- Kir, maybe we can play cards? Are you in a hurry? “I thought that I didn’t know what to talk to him about, and the silence was clearly dragging on, but I couldn’t kick him out.

- We can play. True, I don’t know how, but if you teach me, I’ll be happy to do it.

I quickly went into the bedroom and returned with a deck of cards. It’s not that I’m such a gambler, but sometimes, if only in good company. Yes, and I don’t know much about games, but even I can teach you how to play a fool, simple or tricky. Having distributed the cards, I explained the rules, and we played the first training game, during which I explained everything.

- Here you go. Actually, this game is called “throwing fool”. The one who loses is a fool.

- Understood. What are we going to play for? What bets are usually accepted? – asked Cyrus.

– Well, nothing at all, just play and that’s it, or some nonsense. For desires, for example. And stupid ones, like crawling under the table and meowing or climbing onto a chair and crowing. But I think you and I shouldn’t play based on desire. “I giggled to myself, remembering Ailontar, and thought that my desires are sometimes very specific.

– What other bets are possible? – Cyrus chuckled in surprise.

- And even more stupid ones. For undressing, for example. The loser takes one thing off himself. Or on clicks. Or for fun - the one who won asks a question, and the loser must answer it honestly.

- No, it won’t go to the cracks, I can’t beat a girl. – Cyrus thought. – And it’s not worth the interest, suddenly we start extorting state secrets from each other. What others?

- Well... or for kisses. But there are only two of us, so kissing is also out of the question.

- Are they disappearing? – Cyrus glanced at my lips with interest. - Well then, let's undress, I don't mind.

At this point I started thinking, figuring out the number of things I was wearing right now and how many games I would last if suddenly I was unlucky. It turned out okay, considering the trousers with a belt, shirt, vest, jewelry, shoes and stockings. Nothing. I’m not sure, though, that this is a good idea - oh, and Cher will knock me on the head if she catches me. But, on the other hand, it’s interesting to look at this Kira without a shirt, and you can stop in time, completely undressing is not part of my plans. I think it’s possible to reach a shirt, it’s long, like a tunic, it covers my butt if it’s untucked.

And we started playing. At some point, we ran out of a bottle of wine, and I, looking into the corridor, asked a servant running past to bring a couple more, and we continued the game. Somehow, the second bottle and the third ran out unnoticed. I practically didn’t drink, I just took a little sip, but Kira was already feeling good. He smiled, flirted and seemed to have a lot of fun with our game.

Kir played with complete dedication, excitement, we even argued noisily a couple of times, he accused me of cheating, while I myself took out a stuck card from his sleeve, and he loudly indignant that this was an accident and he had nothing to do with it. Well, he looks like such a decent elf. At the same time, he was outrageously lucky, and if I hadn’t been wearing so much jewelry, we would have had to stop the game a long time ago, since I simply would have nothing to take off. In general, we had a lot of fun; I haven’t played regular cards with such pleasure for a long time.

- Bito. Aleta, you have lost again. – Cyrus laughed contentedly.

- Come on, Cyrus. If I knew you were so lucky at cards, I wouldn’t even sit down to play with you,” I muttered, taking off my second stocking. “Then I’ll teach you how to play checkers and backgammon, there are no bets.” Want to? Or chess, but really, I’m not much of a chess player.

Actually, by agreement, this was our last game, since I had nothing else to take off, I was now left only in underwear and a long shirt, and Cyrus was sitting in only white underpants, and he only had some kind of tricky game in stock for this game. hair clip. And the only jewelry I had left was my great-grandmother’s ring and a moonstone pendant, but I didn’t plan to take them off under any circumstances, so that was the end of our card tournament.

- Baby, we're back. What makes you smell so good?

The door opened, my two husbands appeared on the threshold of the living room and froze in shock on the threshold, looking around at our group with a stunned look. Cyrus, who was sitting with his back to the door, also looked back and looked at them with a smile. Hmmm, I can imagine the spectacle. The drow and I were sitting on the floor, with cards in our hands, surrounded by empty bottles and a mountain of things, mixed with mine and his, which we simply threw into one pile.

- Dad? - Shera, confused.

- Dad?! – surprised Ilmara.

- Dad?! - my full of resentment.

I coughed. Well, your mother! Yours, Cher, dad! Why, why am I so unlucky?! I just met such an amazing man, the look of whom makes my veins shake, and I rolled my lips, but for you, Aletochka, meet your own father-in-law. It's even worse than Meet the Fockers. This is actually... the first part of their last name, and many times.

Cyrus stretched and stood up smoothly, and Cher stared at his underpants and raised his eyebrows.

- Father, what are you doing here?

“Your Aleta treated me to pancakes and we played cards.” – Cyrus laughed. “I don’t even remember how many centuries I haven’t had this much fun.”

Sher looked at me. Oh, what’s going to happen now... But Cher didn’t say a word, he just looked at me, and I felt that I was becoming terribly ashamed. And that, it seems, I'm a fool. My ears started to burn. I stood up quietly and retreated to the bedroom to get dressed. Without looking, she pulled on the first dress she came across instead of a shirt and returned to the living room. Kir, too, had already put on his pants and shirt, turned to me and coughed. What else? I got dressed. I looked down to see what was wrong. Oh! All wrong. The dress I put on in a hurry was one of those that I brought from the Aerlings, transparent and with slits on the sides. Cher and Ilmar didn’t say anything, they just watched me quickly blush.

I hesitated, and then went to the sofa and sat down with an independent look. That’s it, it’s burned, it’s burned, so why bother fluttering now. I’ll get my share of what’s due... uh... well, what do jealous husbands say to their wives when they’re caught red-handed?

- Cher, would you introduce your companion to me? – Kir broke the long pause, watching my tossing with a grin. “And come on in, eat the pancakes, they’re still warm.” I'll tell you to bring some wine now.

Ilmar and Cher came up to me and, after standing for a couple of seconds, finally sat down on the sofa on both sides of me. I took a breath. It seems the scandal is being postponed.

- Meet me, father. This is Il'marey vas Korta-Honer, Prince Consort of the Aerlings and second husband of the youngest non-crown princess of the line of Bertil Aleta.

Cyrus had already dressed and sat down in the chair opposite us.

- Second? “He chuckled, looking at me with interest. -Who's first?

- I, father, I.

Oh, how I want to become small, small and invisible and crawl under the baseboard somewhere...

Cyrus's face fell. He looked at Sher for a long time, probably expecting him to say that he was joking. But Sher was silent. And I was silent. And Ilmar was silent.

– Yes, Shermanthael, you know how to give surprises. How did it happen to you?

Cyrus shook his head and turned his gaze to me.

- Well, how do you like life in such a marriage, Aleta? You,” he paused, “you’re not an Aerling from birth.” Why did you do this?

At this point I looked at Sher, calling for help. Still, it seems to me that he himself must explain himself to his parent. But he just shrugged his shoulders sadly, looked at me sideways, but didn’t say anything. Again they blamed everything on me. Boys, damn you with nettles. And by the way, dad Shera seems to know who I am, it’s just me, a naive fool, who got caught like the last idiot.

- Because if I had not taken them as husbands, they would have been executed. – I shrugged my shoulders sadly. “And believe me, I myself am horrified by such a triple marriage.” And we don’t know who, how and when to turn to to have it dissolved, because we have a fictitious marriage, there is nothing between us. We're just friends. – I winced. - True, everyone in the palace thinks that we are lovers, since no one knows that we are married, and we are not going to tell anyone about it.

- That's how it is. Fictitious? – Cyrus looked at me so carefully that I even shivered, stood up and walked around the room. - Yes, you gave me news. Cher, do you know that I just returned from the Bright Forest and agreed on your marriage with the niece of the ruler? Everything has already been discussed, a preliminary agreement has been concluded, and Anoriel irn Elrinor from the Eywe clan will come to Dakart in the near future for the betrothal ceremony.

- But this is impossible! Her father could not give his consent to this marriage. – Sher looked up at his father in surprise.

“Cher, her father went missing along with his son, God knows how many years ago.” The agreement was concluded with the ruler and her mother.

“Yes, her father was found, and her brother was found.” They were in the harem of the Aerling queen. Aleta bought them and took them here along with Ilmar and me.

Cyrus, who was pacing the room, stumbled and turned towards us.

- And where are they?

– I think I’m already at home. I sent them to the borders of our lands with the Light Forest, they were going to contact the border service there. Looks like you missed each other by just a day.

“Your news can drive you crazy,” said Sher’s dad.

Ah-ah-ah... So... So... And dad... I can’t dare call him that. He looked a little older than Sher, just as tall, just as handsome, just a little more mature and serious. Looking at him, it was immediately clear that this was a man, and not a young guy. And Cher looks a lot like his father, just a younger version. I watched Cyrus with longing. There is no happiness in life. And if there is, it’s not in mine, that’s for sure. Vladyka caught my gaze and lost his step. Oh…

– Kir, forgive me, I don’t know your full name. I think you should talk to Cher alone, you probably have a lot to discuss. – Pulling myself together, I looked sympathetically at Sher, and he took a deep breath with relief. Yes, it seems that he, too, was not warmed up by listening to his father’s educational speech in our presence.

-You're right, Aleta. And call me as before, for you I am Cyrus. “Sher, sitting next to him, shuddered and looked at his father strangely.

- That is great. Sher, Ilmar - let's go to the table and eat the pancakes before they get completely cold. “At a pace,” I commanded, and the guys obediently moved and started eating. They seemed to be glad for the break in the interrogation.

– Cyrus, I have one final question for you, as a ruler. What exactly should I do and write to file a formal note of protest or, as it is properly called, accusations of insult to me as a member of the ruling royal house of the Aerlings? “For now, I’ll get busy with other showdowns in order to distract Cyrus from Sher, and I need to distract myself.” And by the way, I still wonder what his full name is.

- What are you about? – he didn’t understand.

- I'm talking about your mistress. - Cyrus slowed down, and I continued: - When we first arrived in Dakart, she told me and Edelhir irn Elrinor a whole bunch of nasty things and threats. Personally, I, being Aleta Olkhovskaya, would calmly survive this. Tea is not the first little thing I’ve encountered in my life, thinking God knows what about itself. But as Princess of the Bertil family, I am forced to demand that this be properly investigated and that she receive the appropriate punishment. I believe that Larr Edelhir will support me.

- So-a-k. Well, let's be more specific. – Kir moved onto the sofa into the vacant seat next to me. I shivered again. Crap…

And I told him in detail. In colours, sparing no emotion to describe the behavior of this bitchy scoundrel. I do not mind. No, really, what does she allow herself? It would be nice if there was a queen, otherwise she’s just an ordinary aristocrat, and poorly brought up at that. And all her merit lies only in the fact that she managed to get into bed with the ruler. I glanced sideways at Kir. Although, hand on heart, I understand her. Only something tells me that what attracted her there was not the physical merits of this... This... Well, in general, this... Who was now sitting next to me. Well, what an attractive guy, he has no strength. Cyrus sat, comprehending everything that I told him. Then he looked briefly at Sher.

- Shermanthael, what did you tell her?

- That you will figure it out yourself when you arrive, and inflict the appropriate punishment on her and her sycophants.

- Great. This is just great. – Cyrus narrowed his eyes predatorily. – Aleta, are you asking for the maximum punishment?

- Um... well, yes. Maybe. What is the maximum? - I got lost.

- The death penalty.

“Well...” I closed my eyes in confusion. - Somehow this is too much.

- Really? Think carefully. According to the laws of the Light Forest, this is punishable by death. What punishment is due to the Aerlings, since you represent their ruling house?

“Death penalty,” I whispered. But it’s true, not only am I a woman, and the Aerlings have a hard time with this, but I also now belong to the royal family.

Cyrus smiled and narrowed his eyes slightly.

– But maybe there is something softer? Well, a little? But according to the law,” I mumbled.

– The most gentle thing you can do in this case is deprivation of the title and expulsion. Forever. For her and her descendants, if any appear.

“I agree,” I said quickly, before Cyrus changed his mind.

This girl Ilmaniel, of course, is disgusting, and also a fool, for allowing herself such antics, but she cannot be executed for this.

- Well... I'm waiting for you tomorrow in my office. I think you and I have a lot to discuss. – Cyrus smiled, looking at me through his eyelashes, covered my hand with his and shook it, and I felt like I was melting. - And grab your checkers. After all business issues are settled, I will be happy to play with you. “More,” he added in an enveloping voice.

Sher choked on a pancake and coughed.

- Cher, how are you? Be careful. Inhale through your nose and exhale and cough through your mouth. “I pulled my hand away and switched to Sher.

He cleared his throat and wiped away the tears that had come from coughing.

- Everything is fine. “I choked,” he wheezed.

- Are you okay? If you're finished, let's go to my office. We have a lot to discuss. – Kir stood up smoothly. “You’ve been gone for a long time, tell me everything calmly and in order.”

Sher nodded, cleared his throat again and also stood up. Ilmar and I rose after them to say goodbye.

– Aleta, I was very glad to meet you, you are charming. And you bake very tasty pancakes. - Cyrus bent down and kissed my hand, pretending that he was not looking at all into the neckline of my dress and through the dress itself, which did not hide my lace earthly underwear at all. Hm....

- Mutually. – I smiled forcedly and turned my gaze to Sher. - Should I wait for you?

Sher looked at me thoughtfully:

“No, I’ll be free late and go to bed at home, there’s no need to wait,” he turned and left the living room, followed by Cyrus.

I sadly flopped back onto the sofa and hunched over. It felt as if the rod had been taken out of me and I was about to melt into a puddle. Nope. Well, it’s evening, I’ve done a lot of things. Cher seemed offended. I'm generally sad. I don’t understand how Ilmar feels. And he, without saying a word, came up and sat down next to him, and I crawled under his arm, pressing myself against his warm side. We sat in silence.

– Did you really like him? – Ilmar spoke first.

- Who? “I shuddered at his question.

- Kir. I saw the way you look at him and the way he looks at you. No sparks just flew between you.

“Kir...” I drawled. – Yes, Ilmar, I liked it. But, alas, nothing can happen between us. No matter how much I or he suddenly wants it. “I threw my head back and looked at Ilmar.

- Why? – He smiled at me affectionately. – You can have a whole harem if you want. If he wants you too, and Cyrus does, it’s obvious. And you want it. “You never look at me or Shera the way you looked at him now,” he added sadly.

– Il, he is Sher’s father, you understand? I just can't do this to Cher while we're married. Let there be nothing between us, let us just be friends. But... Cyrus is his father. And then... Who am I and who is Cyrus? There is an abyss between us, and what you saw is just physical attraction. Agree, he is a very attractive and charismatic guy.

- Understand. Come here. – Ilmar dragged me onto his lap, hugged me tightly and rocked me like a child. “There is nothing between you and Sher just because you don’t want it.” If you had only allowed him, you would have had everything long ago.

- Il, I can’t. And you see, Cher was never interested in me as a girl. He just got used to considering me his property, hence all these outbursts of jealousy. All the time that we knew each other, there were no men in my environment, and he got used to the fact that he was the only one next to me. But we kissed him only once, not counting the wedding, and then it was more like drunken courage, back at my house, there. And he never even considered me as his companion, girlfriend, and even more so his wife, which he told me about himself, personally. It’s now, when I suddenly gained the title and became a princess, that he changed his mind. Until then... Let me tell you something. Just swear to me that all this will remain between us.

- I swear. – Ilmar leaned over and lightly, practically without touching, kissed me on the lips.

– Il, the fact is that I am not from this world. I am an ordinary person, a completely simple human girl who does not have any abilities, as I always thought. And I’ve only been in Alzerat for a little over a month. And I got here just before we met, having actually fallen out of a teleport in your mountains along the way. Only this path was from my home world, which is called Earth. And Cher brought me here.

And I told Ilmar about our meeting with Sher, about how I nursed this half-dead cat and how then I always considered him an ordinary pet. And about how one day she accidentally returned him to his elf form, and then after one ritual that we had to perform to save his life, she became immortal. And about the letter from my great-grandmother, who somehow knew that one day I would meet a representative of another world. After thinking about it, I told about that scene with my gift, and how Sher was scared, deciding that I was forcing myself on him as a wife. He honestly told me then that he could never marry me. And he didn’t even try to court me or seduce me, although I liked him and I didn’t mind if he showed at least a little persistence then. But he was not interested in me as a woman at all. And all these fits of jealousy began only now, after this wedding, he went completely off the rails and became inadequate and unbearable. Because he decided that I was more profitable for him than some abstract bride that his father found for him. Then I sighed. Father, eh...

“Do you really think that you’re not interested in him as a woman?” Don’t you see that he is crazy about you, hence his jealousy and these hysterics. Yes, he loses his head when he sees you. – Ilmar shook his head reproachfully. “Do you even know that he made me swear that I would not exercise my right as a husband by forcing myself on you?” Only if you love me and want our marriage to become real? That’s why the three of us sleep together, so that you can choose and make a decision yourself, but he’s afraid to sleep with you alone. He’s afraid that he’ll lose his temper and you won’t forgive him later.

Strange. It doesn’t look like Ilmar is deceiving me, but...

– Ilmar, you are confusing something. After all, he even had a fiancée, and we parted for only three days, while I wandered around the mountains and looked for the way to the Aerlings.

- Aleta, you are his fiancée. He was engaged to you. Remember your gift to him, the bracelet. He put it on himself, consciously. Even if he didn’t know that it would work as an engagement, he just hoped for a miracle, and you gave this bracelet as an ordinary decoration. But then the magic worked so that from the minute he put it on, you were engaged. He found out about this only here, in the palace. His father told him. And he didn’t even have time to tell you, you see how it all happened.

- But why didn’t he explain anything to me? Didn't try to talk to me, tell me about all this and his feelings, if he had them? “I was even confused by such revelations and by the fact that I was learning all this from my second husband.

– Did you give him such an opportunity? – Ilmar looked at me reproachfully. - Well, don’t you really like him at all?

I sat there, processing the information.

– I like it very much, he’s wonderful. And I always liked him, but not once during the entire time we met did he try to court me. Cher made it clear to me at the very beginning that he didn’t need me as a girl. And then I was very offended by him. Ilmar, I’m used to considering him just a friend, and I treat him exactly like a friend. Well, it seems... Ugh, damn you. Now I myself don’t understand what I feel for him. - I thought about it. “But I’m not in love, that’s for sure, and he didn’t do anything to make me suddenly fall in love with him.”

- How stupid and blind you are. - He hesitated. - And I? Do you like me?

- Very. You are like a dream, like a fairy tale, like a bright angel. It’s nice to even just look at you, and I’m thrilled by your blue eyes. You are an incredibly bright creature.

“You call me an angel again.” – He smiled. - Who is this?

- Angels? These are representatives of the pantheon of my religion. They look like you: just as beautiful, bright, amazing and with the same white wings. Helpers of God, protecting people, helping them not to commit sins. Well, to put it very simply, I am an atheist and am new to religious aspects. They live in heaven, in paradise. And they are sinless. – I stroked Ilmar’s cheek with a smile.

“I’m not at all sinless.” “He smiled back and raised his eyebrows playfully. “And if you would let me, I would prove it.” “He gathered his courage and asked a question: “Why don’t you want me to remain your husband?” I could make you happy if you would let me.

- Because I want you to be happy, Ilmar. Because I want you to meet a girl who you will love with all your heart, and she will love you. And so that you will always be together and be happy. You deserve it.

– But you don’t admit the idea that you could become this girl?

– Ilmar, let’s be honest with each other, since this is the first time we’re talking like this. You're not even the slightest bit in love with me. You feel gratitude, sympathy for me, perhaps you even like me, just like you do to me. But this is not love. Not the kind of love that happens between a man and a woman. What you and I have is more like kindred feelings. Affection, friendship, desire to be close, communicate, share. But you don’t burn with fire thinking about me, you don’t die of desire. The hairs on your arms don’t stand on end, your breath doesn’t catch and your knees don’t tremble when I’m next to you. You don't go crazy with jealousy at the thought of another man touching me. It is so? Admit it yourself and you will understand what I mean.

He nodded slowly, as if listening to me in fascination.

– And I want you to have all this, Ilmar. So that you love and burn with passion. And just the thought of her would give you goosebumps and a sweet tug in your stomach. And so that she, your only one, will love you just as madly. So that you drown in each other's eyes and melt from the touch of your fingers. And the whole world would lie for you in each other’s breathing, and the nights that you would spend next to each other would be full of passion and pleasure. So that you get married and live a long, happy life together, and you don’t need anyone else. So that your love for each other is so great that neither troubles nor misfortunes, if they suddenly happen, will overshadow your feelings. And so that you have children who would live in a happy family, see your love and also be happy, knowing that true love is not a fairy tale, that it is possible. I wish this for you with all my heart, Ilmar. “I kissed him tenderly on the cheek, and he turned his misty gaze to me.

– But nevertheless, what if suddenly... Well, after some time we could mutually love each other and experience all this?

“Well then, no one can stop us from getting married again, but for love.” – I smiled at him.

- Fine. “I won’t object to the divorce,” he said quietly. – I hope all this will happen in my life. And I also wish the same for you, Aletochka. May the gods hear me. I really want you to find your happiness too, because I have no one closer and dearer than you. Just promise that you will not disappear from my life, that you will remain my close friend.

- Will! Necessarily will. She is the one, your beloved and only! And I won’t disappear, I promise,” I firmly stated and quietly added: “And the gods hear you, Ilmar.”

“Then we need to go to the Lord of the Winds.” He sealed our marriage, he can dissolve it. Do you know where to find him? You've been communicating.

- I know. The dragons have it. “We sat in silence, simply enjoying the minutes of complete mutual understanding and peace that comes when a controversial, difficult situation is resolved.

“Aleta, tell me about your world,” Ilmar asked thoughtfully.

- Tell? Let me show you something better? Wait. “I slipped off his lap and headed to the bedroom.

In a bottomless bag I had albums with photographs, which I took with me as souvenirs, so that in moments when I missed the Earth especially strongly, I could leaf through them and remember my home. And now I was going to show them to Ilmar.

I showed him my parents, brother and his family. My friends and girlfriends laughing with me in photos from the academy graduation. Just shots that captured pieces of my former life. Me and my friend Yulka on trips to the sea. Here we are smiling at the camera in the hotel and on excursions, here she is balancing on one leg on the pier and laughing, and here I am on the beach, sleepily staring at her when she woke me up with the click of the camera. She showed photographs from various holidays, which we celebrated either with a stormy company or with our family. And the ones where I'm in dance and training costumes at dance classes. Here we are with Oleg in flight after an unsuccessful support, he almost fell, and I’m flying on top of him with wide eyes. We also got to photographs of Cher when he was first a cat, and then in his normal appearance. And Cher is on them in earthly clothes, and so... simple and understandable, cheerful, slightly stunned and confused. She showed a bunch of photos from the last New Year’s celebration at the dacha. Cher, covered in snow, in a padded jacket and felt boots, disheveled and with a red nose, is selflessly sculpting a snow woman with the guys. So next to him I’m not giving the woman a carrot nose, but a snowman. Here Olezhka laughs, clutching his stomach, looking at our creativity.

I showed all these pieces of my former life to Ilmar and talked about it. And so I wanted to go home at that moment, to the point of tears, to the pinching in my nose, to the lump in my throat. To turn on the TV, surf the Internet, call a friend and chat with her for two hours about nothing. We rarely saw her lately, since she quickly got married and had a baby, but we always chatted on the phone for a long time. And I really wanted to drink tea and cakes in my parents’ kitchen, and for my dad to ask me smart questions, and when I didn’t know the answer, he would say that I was a glamorous blonde who was only pretending to be an educated brown-haired woman. And my mother would laugh and say that he’s just too smart and old, and I have my whole life ahead of me to learn. I sniffled.

- Wait, Ilmar, I’ll show you something else now. – I took the photo albums, hid them in my bag again and brought a player with discs. – I’ll let you listen to one song now. You most likely won’t understand the words, so take the paper, I’ll dictate them to you first, so that you know what is being sung there.

Ilmar obediently took the piece of paper, and I dictated to him the words of Kipelov’s song “I am free.” I knew the words by heart, but I was embarrassed to sing in front of strangers, because in general, having an ear for music and understanding when someone was out of tune, I myself absolutely did not know how to sing correctly. As soon as Ilmar finished writing, I turned on the disc. And the song burst into the room. Ilmar looked at the player in bewilderment and, at the first sounds of music, recoiled in surprise. And just a couple of minutes later I fell into a trance and listened to the song, enchanted. And I played them for him one after another, first my favorites in Russian, then foreign pop music. Cheerful dance music lifted the mood, and Ilmar smiled too.

- Do you want me to teach you to dance? “I jumped up and extended my hand to Ilmar with a smile.

Then I taught Ilmar earth dances, and we laughed when he couldn’t follow me in hip-hop moves and got tangled up in his legs and arms. And the sight of an Aerling dancing a lambada is something special. We couldn’t even laugh anymore, we were just sobbing with laughter. Ilmar liked Sirtaki much more, and we jumped a little, lifting our legs and enjoying it no less than the tourists who came to Greece. But it seems that Ilmar got a shock from the dances that are replete with the video clips of modern pop divas. Because I, accustomed to such explicit movements, did not even think of being shy, and I selflessly twirled my butt and flexed in modern club dances. And then, Jamaican and Brazilian dances, which gave many movements, are for the fragile male psyche... I don’t even know what to compare it with, it’s definitely a blow, I just can’t think of how and why.

And then Ilmar asked what dance Cher was talking about and if I could dance something for him. I ran out, changed into one of the belly dance costumes and returned to Ilmar. He was even confused by such an outfit, but did not fall into a stupor again, considering that the outfits of their women are also very far from the dresses of nuns, and, it seems, he had nowhere to fall deeper, after a couple of reggae dances that I had just shown him . So he prepared to watch.

And I danced. Oooh, it turns out that Ilmar still had a lot to fall into. And far and deep. When I came closer and began to move my hips quickly, making the belt with coins jingle cheerfully, his eyes just fell out. And when a wave went through my stomach, my pride, with which I had killed more than one hour, practicing in front of the mirror, his jaw rolled somewhere below on the floor. Yes, earthly dances are a terrible force. Only, it seems, I overdid it... Because Ilmar stopped laughing and smiling too, but his eyes darkened, and the boy “swimmed.” Tex, it's time to call it quits, dance and you'll be done.

In general, the evening and half of the night were fun. We had fun until our stomach muscles hurt, we laughed so much, and our lips tried to spread into a smile again. It was already starting to get lighter outside the window, and our eyes were starting to stick together, so we quickly put ourselves in order and fell like tin soldiers onto the bed to sleep.

When I woke up in the morning, Ilmar was no longer there, and when he left, I didn’t hear. I lay in bed, basking on the sheets, because I absolutely didn’t want to get up. Finally she got out and walked around the bedroom, listening to her feelings, then froze in the center of the room. Body and soul sang and rang like a stretched string. I had a feeling that if I now stood on tiptoes and pushed off, I would fly away, I was so permeated with some amazing lightness. It's as if my whole blood is full of air bubbles, as if I can float like a balloon without touching the ground. It was a wonderful evening, and after our conversation there was a feeling that a mountain had been removed from my soul, choking me and bending me to the ground. And for a while I became myself again, an ordinary girl who loves music, dancing, having fun with friends, traveling...

I stood on my tiptoes with a smile, threw my head back and reached up to feel my weightlessness. The door slammed behind me. “And here Ilmar is back,” I thought and turned to the door with a smile.

- Aleta, how long can we wait for you?! – And Cyrus quickly flew into the room without knocking. - I asked you to come to me in the morning, everything is worthwhile. Cher and Ilmar left early in the morning and will return late in the evening, and the maids assure you that you are still sleeping, although it is already lunch.

- A? - I was dumbfounded.

He glanced at the confused me, stumbled, opened his eyes, froze, then abruptly turned away and found himself facing a large mirror in which I was all reflected. And I dropped my hands and froze in panic, not knowing which way to run and what to grab to cover myself. And Kir froze again, looking at my reflection, then nevertheless turned away from the mirror and abruptly left the room.

Holy shit!!! Is this even my personal bedroom or a passageway? Well, okay, the maids, I’ve already come to terms with their constant presence; after all, it’s their job. But my own father-in-law flying into the bedroom when I am parading around this very bedroom in only microscopic pajamas is already too much. I just don't know what to say. And even though I am not burdened with unnecessary complexes and, to be honest, my most modest swimsuit is much more revealing than these pajamas, but the fact itself?! And in general... What if I were naked?! I also froze, rushed to the bed and wrapped myself in a sheet, wondering what I should do now and whether Cyrus had already left. Then I decided to check just in case, otherwise I’ll get into the bath now, and what if he’s waiting there and breaks in again. I'm afraid that my delicate psyche won't stand it.

I crept to the door and cautiously looked out into the living room. Well, exactly, he’s standing there, waiting. I coughed, adjusting my makeshift toga made from a sheet. He quickly turned around at my voice and ran his gaze over the sheet and over my bare shoulders.

- Sorry. “I didn’t think that you were really still sleeping, it’s been so long already,” Cyrus finally squeezed out.

“Don’t you think that I can do whatever I want in my bedroom?” Including sleeping until the evening, and not alone? – I got angry.

No, of course, I really like him, frankly, I’m drawn to him, the guy’s charisma is unreal. But damn, he's my father-in-law!!! Why the hell does he break into my bedroom? And why did Alf allow him to do this? I looked around for my living creatures, but it looked like this ogler was grazing in the kitchen again. What a glutton!

– But Cher and Ilmar had already left, and I thought... However, it doesn’t matter. I apologize to you. - He switched to a businesslike tone: - And now, since I woke you up, get ready. I'm waiting for you in my office. Sher said that you have papers for me from the queen of the Aerlings and you are their authorized representative. We still need to draw up documents with charges against Ilmaniel ver Salab. I have already contacted the Light Forest, Edelhir irn Elrinor fully supports your demand for a suitable punishment for her. True, he insists on a more severe measure than you asked. Therefore, we will have to look at this case again and decide what kind of punishment to apply to Lady Ilmaniel. In the meantime, she is under house arrest.

- Okay, I’ll get ready now and come to your office. Just... I'm hungry, please take care of breakfast for me, or you will have to wait until I eat at my place.

- I'm waiting for you as soon as possible. Breakfast will be ready when you arrive. – Cyrus turned sharply and went out into the corridor.

Plenipotentiary representative of the Aerlings, you say? Well, I’ll arrange it for you now... You’ll get a representative of the Aerlings in all her glory! I quickly took a bath and sorted through the mountain of dresses that were handed to me in the palace of Queen Larmena with assurances that I must certainly have a supply of court outfits suitable for a princess. Well now, Cyrus, I’ll give you shock therapy. You will forget about all your affairs and about breaking into my bedroom like this, without knocking or warning. I chose a tight emerald dress that perfectly matched the color of my eyes. Of course, transparent, only with embroidery along the hem, the edge of the sleeves and the neckline. And also matching high-heeled shoes and underwear made from those gem-embroidered rags that she also brought from the valley.

The maid came and helped me put my hair up into a neck-baring updo and attach a princess headband to it. I also put on the medallion and ring, otherwise I might have to affix some papers with my personal seal. Then I tinted my eyelashes, added a little blush and clear lip gloss. When I got dressed in the chosen dress, the maid’s eyes widened, but she didn’t dare say anything, she just watched me with square eyes. You will get a princess. And this royal bitch will get it, and this dark elf lord, let him choke on his saliva. So ruin such a joyful morning for me!!!

I entered Cyrus’s office, where the maid kindly escorted me, in a fighting mood. The blood was boiling and demanded revenge, and the shocked looks of the courtiers and servants only added courage. When I entered, Cyrus was standing with his back to the door at a table near the window and pouring something into a cup from a silver teapot. I quickly walked to the desk and unloaded the mountain of scrolls I had with me for the drow.

- Come on in, Aleta. Your breakfast has already been brought, a moment please,” he said, without looking back and continuing to carefully pour something.

- Thank you. I’m dying the way I want...” I purred, taking a meaningful pause, “something...” another pause, “to eat.”

Kir twitched, looked back at my provocation and dropped the teapot lid on the table. And here it is for you!!! Next time you will know how to stare at naked girls. Vladika stood, forgetting about the stream of tea that continued to flow past the cup, and devoured me with his eyes. What did you think? The Aerlings are not your kind of khukhry-mukhra, they have such dresses that any sex shop on Earth would strangle themselves with envy. Ilmar and Sher are used to it and don’t react; one might say, they are already immune to such clothes. But for an unprepared viewer this should be shocking. I remember how Sher almost got sick just from my Turkish dance outfit.

- Ki-i-ir? – I said.

- What? – the object squeezed out hoarsely, without taking his stunned eyes off me.

- I want tea. And you pour it on the floor.

- What? “He looked at his hands and abruptly put the kettle on the table. There were puddles on the table and on the floor around.

- Maybe we can call the maid? Let him clean up and take care of me? – I smiled affectionately at him.

Cyrus went to his desk, trying to loosen the collar of his shirt as he went, and rang the bell. After a couple of minutes, the maid wiped up all the puddles, carefully poured me a cup of their local herbal tea and brought me a saucer with a cake. Ew, disgusting, with cream. I can't stand such sugary things, but I'll have to eat it today.

I walked, swaying slightly on my heels, to the chair at the table and sat down. Cyrus also sat down, separating himself from me with his desk. And I guess I like this game. I smiled contentedly. At least flirt with someone, otherwise I'm bored to death. I’ll have a little fun and remember the past, otherwise I’ll completely lose my skill. Of course, I won’t allow myself anything with Cyrus. I’m not that immoral and I simply can’t do this to Cher, this is his father. But can I at least flirt a little and fool a handsome man’s head? Moreover, yesterday he himself flirted desperately, sometimes making me blush.

Well, now is the time to remember the lessons on seducing males that I was given when I was sixteen years old. Where is the spoon and the pie? Come to me, my dears. Now I'll eat.

– Cyrus, in the meantime, read the papers from Queen Larmena. And I'll have breakfast in peace.

The Bishop obediently took one of the documents, opened the seal and, unrolling the scroll, began to read. And I started on the cake. How is it necessary there? Scoop up a little cream with a spoon, lick it off, savor it, scoop it up again, lick it off. Brr, I hate cream. And who came up with the idea that all girls love sweets? Right now I’d rather eat a pickled cucumber or a sandwich with smoked sausage. Well, okay, you'll have to be patient. Take a sip of tea and more of this disgusting sweet cream. And don’t look at Cyrus, but why? I already see with my peripheral vision that he’s about to go squint, tracking the movement of the spoon and my lips. Oh, that’s it, I can’t take it anymore, this cake is starting to make me feel sick. I put the saucer down and finished my tea.

I looked at Cyrus, he was still carefully reading the document. That's just... I stood up and walked over to the table, bent down, carefully took the paper out of his fingers, turned it over and returned it back to his hands. Still, reading upside down is somehow not very good.

- It seems to me that it will be more convenient for you. – And she smiled.

Cyrus's face hardened, and the tips of his ears turned pink. My God, what a beauty. How old are you, darling, that you still haven’t forgotten how to blush because you were caught by surprise? If you were on Earth, our glamorous moray eels would tear you to shreds and you wouldn’t have time to come to your senses. And after all, I didn’t even use heavy artillery, everything was within the bounds of decency, I didn’t allow myself anything unnecessary. No more than in business negotiations with clients, so, slightly distractingly, in order to conclude a more profitable agreement. And I dressed decently, just in the fashion of my adopted family and race, and I eat modestly, and I didn’t even finish this unfortunate cake. However, that's enough, let's play and it will be. Things come first. I sat down on a wooden chair with armrests, standing close to the table.

- Well, where do we start? From a discussion of Lady Ilmaniel's offense or from the credentials of the Aerlings? – I asked in a calm and business-like tone. – I believe that since you have already started reading the documents, we will discuss what agreements can be concluded between our peoples and how to try to establish trade?

We must give Cyrus his due - he quickly moved away, and we got down to business. They concluded several treaties on non-aggression, on friendship and cooperation, on the composition of diplomatic missions, and discussed what exactly the Aerlings could export and what they would need as imports. We discussed logistics. In short, all sorts of economic nonsense, fortunately we were taught well at the academy, I remember it all very well, and I have experience in the economic sector, very little, of course, only two years, but at least something.

Several times we raised our voices, vigorously defending our point of view regarding how much interest who should receive. Moreover, Cyrus was always the first to raise his voice. Well, there’s no need to yell at me, I can bark at myself if necessary, and put him in his place too. My boss was that guy, it’s not for nothing that his nickname was Bulldog. And it’s not because of his appearance, he’s just fine with that. But it’s a death grip, and if it grabs onto a client, it won’t give up until it gets its way. Well, I accompanied him to negotiations more than once, so I have a good school. We have long forgotten about flirting and making eyes at each other. What the hell is flirting, big things are being done here, at the international level. And we argued until we were hoarse, each insisting on his own.

“Aleta, you are unbearable,” Cyrus barked and slammed his fist on the table. “You don’t have any patience left anymore.” Well, why should I agree to these extortionate interest rates, explain to me?

“You don’t need to put up with me, I’ll leave myself when we finish all the work.” – I also started to growl. “And why did they decide that you should get sixty percent, and the Aerlings only forty?” Why such joy? Do you need these contracts? Needed! And they need it! So there is no point in organizing a robbery in broad daylight. In half, period. How the merchants will agree among themselves is not our concern. But at the state level, let it be equal.

- How are you talking to me? Haystar! Why should I listen to all this, and even agree? - Having reached white heat, he jumped up and leaned over the table towards me.

Wow, how I brought him down. Well, it’s okay, you don’t have to talk to your big-eared bunnies. And there is no need to scare me. I myself can show my character no worse. I have on my side the experience of centuries of intriguers of all nationalities, as well as business sharks. And in general, let him say thank you that we are relatives now and I am friendly towards him. Otherwise it wouldn’t seem like much. And then, if you talk to me in a civilized way, I won’t even say a word, but will crumble into curtsies. But you don’t need to yell at me, then my brakes will come off.

– Don’t raise your voice at me. “I’m not your subject, there’s no need for me to show the terrible ruler in anger,” I purred and also stood up smoothly, leaned my hands on the table and leaned forward a little, so that Cyrus’s nose buried itself in my neckline.

He shut up and looked deeper into it with interest. He angrily let out air through clenched teeth and slowly sat down. I also sank into a chair. And suddenly Cyrus threw his head back and began to laugh out loud, sincerely, from the heart. I raised my eyebrows and watched him in bewilderment. And what's so funny, may I ask? We've been here for four hours now, like crazy, arguing over every agreement, without making the slightest concession to each other. And in general, I’m hungry already, and it wouldn’t hurt to drink some coffee. I'm not a lawyer, so why the hell am I sitting here and arguing with the lord of the dark elves, I would like to know?

- Oh. Now I understand Shermanthael. – Cyrus laughed and wiped away a tear. - Okay, let it be equally. And I really hope that there will be someone more compliant than you at the embassy. This is some kind of nightmare, it is absolutely impossible to cooperate with you to your advantage. You can’t even imagine how my hands itch to strangle you.

- That’s great, it would have been like this a long time ago. I’m hungry, by the way, and you’re arguing here. – I smiled at him affectionately.

“You know, you will make a great queen.” “He stretched with pleasure, and I was even jealous; I also really wanted to get up and stretch, my muscles were so stiff.

- Yes, it wouldn’t hurt to eat, it turns out it’s already evening, and I didn’t even notice, I was so busy... I should find out if Cher and Ilmar returned.

He rang the bell and asked the servant the relevant questions. It turned out that the guys were not there yet, and then Cyrus ordered dinner to be brought to our office.

We ate calmly, took a break from our heated debates, rested, and generally talked peacefully about nothing, as they say, about nature, about the weather. And we proceeded to the last two agreements remaining for today. And again I found a scythe on a stone, we could not come to a common opinion. Cyrus insisted that this should be beneficial primarily for the drow, because they are supposedly a more developed and cool nation and they have more opportunities. But I did not agree with this nationalist nonsense and defended the interests of the Aerlings. Well, what should we do? He called himself a milk mushroom, so don’t show off, milk mushroom. So I loaded Kira to the fullest.

- Aleta! You are completely impossible! – Cyrus howled, jumped up and ran around the room. “I’ll strangle you now, after all, and I don’t care if it causes a world scandal.” You've got me so worked up that I'm just shaking. “He quickly stepped towards me, rested his two hands on the armrests of my chair and loomed over me like heavenly punishment.

Then the door slammed and someone came in.

- Father? Aleta? What's going on with you? You scream so much that it can be heard throughout the entire corridor, the servants are already shying away from the door.

I looked out from under Kir’s arm and looked with a smile at Sher and Ilmar standing in the doorway.

- And here we conclude contracts. – I giggled. - And Kir wants to strangle me. “He probably doesn’t like me,” I added capriciously and looked up into the eyes of the ruler hanging over me.

Oh! It looks like he's going to attack me now. And it looks like he didn’t intend to strangle him. Cyrus looked deeply at me, at my lips, which I defiantly pouted capriciously, squinting like a fool, and his gaze was... So... Well... Not lethal, in short. He slowly straightened up, looked over his shoulder, lingered on one of the guys, then walked around the table and sat down in a chair. He unbuttoned the collar of his shirt and leaned heavily back in his chair.

- Shermanthael, take your girlfriend and take her away. Otherwise I am not responsible for myself. We'll finish everything later. – He glanced at Sher and gloomily buried himself in the papers. He didn't even look at me.

Well, hello there. And what does it mean? I shrugged my shoulders and went to the guys. We reached my rooms, and I happily settled down on the sofa in the living room. Somehow it turned out that this was the most comfortable living room and we all relaxed in it. The boys were practically never in their rooms unless they changed clothes or took a bath.

- Aleta, what happened to you? The father is not himself at all. What did you do to upset him like this? – Cher looked at me with interest, but without the slightest shadow of a smile.

- I don’t know. We concluded agreements, sat in his office for more than five hours, arguing over every piece of paper. Well, there was a bit of a row. They shouted at each other, proving their point. – I shrugged.

- What? Did you shout and quarrel? With my dad? – Cher’s eyes were simply square. I have never seen such wide open big eyes even in cartoons.

- Well, yes. So he didn’t agree and shouted at me. Well, I shouted a little in response.

- And he didn’t kill you?

- Well, as you can see, no. True, he said that his hands were itching to strangle me. – I giggled again.

– And I understand him. You are completely unbearable. For your information, he kicked out his last mistress, who dared to call him Cyrus, from the palace that same night. And I’ve never even heard of anyone yelling at him. I suspect such suicides have never been seen before. – Sher shook his head. “And in all my more than seven hundred years he himself has never raised his voice.” It was enough for him to just look and calmly say, and everything was the way he wanted. Now I understand why the servants and courtiers looked so frightened and why they tiptoed around his office.

Ilmar, sitting in the chair opposite, snorted with laughter, but, catching Sher’s gloomy gaze, pretended to simply cough. Hmm... It’s even strange, I wouldn’t say that Kir is such a calm type. On the contrary, he seemed very emotional, passionate and open to me. Miracles!

- Guys, are you hungry? Maybe ask for dinner? – I switched the conversation.

The boys looked at each other and nodded in unison. Dinner arrived quite quickly. I didn’t want to eat anymore, so I just sat and rested, and the guys, like wolves, attacked the food. It looks like they haven't eaten all day. Having finished, they moved to the sofas with glasses in their hands.

- Aleta, why did you suddenly put on these Aerling clothes again? – Cher asked after some time. – We don’t accept such frank things, you’ve already seen it.

“And your father said that he needs me as an authorized representative of the Aerlings to conclude treaties.” So I dressed like a princess. You see, she even put on a wreath. – I poked my finger into my hair. - And a medallion and a signet ring. Well, besides, I don’t have your court dresses. Only two, and even then very simple, everyday ones.

“I’ll send you tailors tomorrow.” – Sher looked at me reproachfully. “It’s just no good that my wife doesn’t have any dresses.” - He hesitated. - Yes?

And that was the look he had at that moment... I looked at Ilmar, and then, as if by chance, I pointed at the door with my eyes. I still need to talk to Sher. Ilmar smiled intelligently, stretched and stood up with an independent look.

“Aletochka, Cher, I’m incredibly tired today, I’ll never get used to riding for such a long time.” I'll go to bed, see you in the morning.

- Sherchik?

I moved even closer. He glanced sideways at me again and put the glass on the table.

- Sherchik, don’t be a bitch. Let's make peace, huh? “I moved even closer and lightly leaned against his shoulder.

“I didn’t quarrel with you,” he finally said.

- I know. – I gathered my courage. - Excuse me, I was stupid. It’s out of boredom... I’m just freaking out in this palace of yours. You are never there, I am completely alone all day long. “I lightly pushed him with my shoulder.

- I'm on the road. It’s hard there, on horseback all day, I can’t carry you with me.

- Yes, I understand. I just wander around the palace all day long, like a restless person, with nothing to do at all, and all the time alone, with no one to even talk to. The courtiers shy away from me, this grim Ilmaniel showers me with contempt when they meet me. And you can’t even say anything nasty to her in response, she’s silent.

“Father will insist on her execution,” Sher said after a pause.

- How is it? Why does he need this, she is his mistress. - I was taken aback.

- Because this is a good opportunity to remove it. Ilmaniel is too dangerous and tries to play her own games, but there is no legitimate reason to get rid of her, she comes from too noble a family. So her father kept her with him so that she would be under supervision, although it was impossible to catch her hand red-handed. And before that, she intended to become my wife, and that was terrible.

- Wow…

I thought about it. However, what a dirty game it turns out to be. How to sleep with her is so normal, but the opportunity to execute her has arisen - and all the bed games are forgotten. Brr. Somehow, Shera’s dad doesn’t seem so charming to me at all. Beautiful, of course, there are no words, but Cher is no worse. And, I hope, not so cynical and... Cruel? Pragmatic?

- Yeah. Well, okay, I'm not talking about her. I'm talking about myself. I admit I was wrong. Do not be angry.

- What are you talking about? “He sighed and hugged me with one arm. And again the lilac sideways glance.

Ugh, you little eared devil. After all, he understands what he’s talking about, but no... Okay, he’ll have to shoot up.

- About cards. And about your dad. – I sighed sadly. “I confess, it was terrible stupidity on my part.” Do not be offended by me.

He lifted me up and sat me on his lap. Hooray! Hooray! Thawed.

- Yes, I’m not angry. I know my father too well. If he turns on all his charm, then he has no equal and no one has a chance to resist. There is also, among other things, a racial feature, well, the impact on the opposite sex. – He kissed my temple. “That’s why I was surprised that you were arguing and yelling at each other.” In your place, anyone else would already be lying in his bed and, melting with delight, signing everything that he demands.

Oh how?! That's how daddy... Although, yes, the man's charm and sex appeal are gushing and off the charts. Cher is probably right, and the local ladies will simply swoon with ecstasy if he pays attention to them. I couldn’t resist either. But this means that it wasn’t my brain that suddenly had such a problem, but that my dad was up to something? Oh, how bad.

“He won’t try to get me into bed.” “I’m married,” I said after thinking.

-Are you so sure about this? I saw the way he looked at you. And how do you feel about him. And then, you yourself told him that we have a fictitious marriage, which means that nothing will stop him if he decides to get you or force us to divorce. He needs this divorce so that I can marry Anoriel.

- Hm-yes. But you're still better! – I sucked up.

- Better? – And a sly look with a grin.

- Certainly. Everything your own is always better. But you’re my little ear, aren’t you? My. So you're better. “I stroked the sharp ear with my finger, and Sher took a convulsive breath.

– Cher, Ilmar and I talked yesterday. He agrees to the divorce. We will go to the dragons to find the Lord of the Winds and ask them to divorce us. – I threw a test ball.

- That's how it is. And he agreed so easily?

- Why shouldn’t he agree? Cher, Ilmar is not in love with me. Of course, he agreed, we clarified everything in our relationship.

– And what are you planning next? Will you marry this priest of yours?

– Listen, haven’t you overheated during your travels? Why on earth would I marry Merton? “I got up from Sher’s lap and sat down in a chair.

- Well, he loves you. - And a crooked smile.

- Cher! “I started to get angry again.” - Well, you have to understand that he just thinks so. Well, judge for yourself, I don’t have any special abilities, my head is full of cockroaches, and I’m clearly not the sweetest and softest girl, I don’t even have a special appearance. I am the most ordinary simple girl. Do you really think he would really have fallen in love with me if we had met under different circumstances? I just happened to be the only girl in his circle. Understand this. He will now settle down, look around and forget this love of his, meet some cute elf or human girl, truly fall in love and get married. This is what I wish for him with all my heart.

Something flashed above my head. Oh! I looked up. No, it seemed.

- And when do we leave? – Cher asked after a pause.

- Well, you want to divorce both of us, don’t you? – He smiled bitterly. “So everyone will have to go.”

- Cher, what do you want? Don't you want to talk to me normally? What do you think about this elf, the daughter of Edelhir, who is coming to you for betrothal?

– Aleta, I already tried to explain to you. - He rubbed his forehead. – Now do you see that no one asks my opinion? Father doesn’t even care about the fact that I saw this Anoriel only once in my life, two hundred years ago. And no one asks her. Everything was decided for us. And here you are... Father insists on our divorce, he needs to become related to the Light Forest. Today this is more important than being related to the Aerlings.

- And you? You still haven’t answered me, what do you want? “I looked at him carefully and tried to understand what he was thinking.

- Don’t you understand?

- No, Cher, I don’t understand. Tell me. You already either be or don't be. Do something, as the song says.

“I don’t want to get a divorce,” Cher finally said after a pause.

And it's all? Doesn't he want to get a divorce? Somehow everything is wrong. That's not how the whole conversation goes. For some reason, I naively hoped that he would now reveal his attitude towards me, maybe he would suddenly say that he loved me. He will try to conquer, seduce, seduce, in the end. But he just doesn’t want to marry this bright elf. But not a word about the fact that he wants to be with me. Well, what kind of question is: “Don’t you understand?” I don’t understand, yes, I don’t understand anything at all. If Ilmar had not given me at least some of the information yesterday, I would not have even guessed that, in addition to possessive feelings, Sher had any other interest in me. And then they simply tell me that he doesn’t want to marry someone else. Like, I don’t want to divorce you, but you can decide for yourself whether to stay or not.

Damn elves with their twisted brains! So where's the romance? Where is the flair? Well, how about courting a girl, dating under the moonlight, kissing on a bench at the entrance? Candy-bouquet period? Shoot your eyes, flirt and all that? Wow, big-eared non-human!

Somehow I felt offended at myself for my naive sentimentality and belief in fairy tales. It's time to grow up and understand that there are no fairy tales. And I'm good too. This Cyrus... And I somehow relaxed, forgot myself and suddenly believed in my own irresistibility. But, Alyota, face the truth. It’s not you who are so wonderful, but just a wise old elf, who is God knows how many centuries, or even millennia old, who wants to divorce you from his own son in order to marry him profitably. But Cher still didn’t say anything. I lowered my eyes and thought.

Perhaps I’ll suggest that he leave this marriage fictitious for one year. Let him deal with his life, his dynastic brides, his despotic father, but I’m tired. Enough. I’ll enter this School of Magic, and that’s it, hello, amigos, see you in a year. I've had enough of these inhuman men and their idiotic behavior. And it’s very good that I built an impregnable wall around myself and did not allow Sher to crawl into my soul with racial charm. Now I’ll make a right-of-way around it too, so that my dad won’t get through it either. Study, study and study again, everything as grandfather Lenin bequeathed. And we probably need to move out of the palace. I have enough money to buy or rent a house in the city, closer to the school.

- Cher, let's do it. “I thought for a minute, trying to formulate what I was going to say. “In the coming days, we are packing up and leaving for the dragons to look for the Lord of the Winds.” Ilmar and I are getting a divorce now. And with you...

And suddenly there was a loud, demanding knock on the door.

What is this? Not a palace, but God knows what! Everyone goes back and forth as if it were their own home, in the morning they break into the room without knocking, and at night they knock on the door. I gritted my teeth in anger and shouted to come in. They didn’t enter, but the knock was repeated. Well, who is this shy one we have there? With a sad sigh, I went to open the door for my midnight visitor to say hello. She jerked the door open, already opened her mouth and prepared to express all her feelings and collided with Cyrus’s gaze. Didn't understand?!

– Aleta, good evening again. Can I come to you? You promised to play some checkers or backgammon with me. Please do this. – He entered the room without noticing Sher. And he looks kind of rumpled. Drunk or something, I don’t understand? “You have completely thrown me out of balance today; I just can’t calm down.” Even the tincture didn't help.

Confused, I turned to Sher, calling for help. Kir also turned, following my gaze, and ran nose to nose with Sher. Oh mommies! A familiar phrase popped up in my head in a panic: “It’s not my fault, he came himself!” I have a strong desire to crawl under the sofa, because these two are looking at each other. And they are silent. Both.

Phew. I even felt feverish. There was no sadness... It seems that Kir really decided to use his charm so that I would switch from Sher to him. Well, of course, the potential bride is on the way, and here I, unexpectedly, confuse all the cards. I grabbed some paper from the table and started fanning myself. Oh. Maybe I'll faint? I wonder if it will help? Will they even notice or will they just burn holes in each other with their eyes? We need to intervene, but how? Crap. I'll have to play these checkers and backgammon, I didn't have enough cards. With an independent air, I walked past them into the bedroom and brought a board with backgammon. She plopped down on the table and waved invitingly to Kira.

- Sit down, Cyrus. Let's play backgammon. There’s no need to think too much here, I’m generally tired too, today was a very long day.

Cyrus came up and sat down at the table; he no longer looked at his son. But Cher was about to leave. Where? Come on, stand! I lightly kicked the elf, who had already begun to move towards the door to his half, and discreetly showed my fist. Why else, leave me here alone at night with my father?! Are you crazy?

– Cher, please order us some wine, fruit and something tasty. A? Only without cream, I beg you. Well you know what I love.

At my words about the cream, Kir raised his eyes. So what are we looking at? Yes, yes, a hint to you, the girl doesn’t like cream, next time at meetings don’t feed her such poison. And yes, Cher knows what I love. But you don't.

And we started playing backgammon. For the first three games, everything went somewhat tensely. Kir hesitated, Sher remained silent, I was tormented by the awkwardness of the situation and my sad thoughts. But gradually everyone moved away, and the elves had good wine. The men were drinking something sweet, but they brought a bottle of tart dry drink for me, and I savored it little by little. By the fourth game, Kir and I were already in a frenzy, he was excitedly throwing the dice and reacting violently to the number of points rolled out, I also got the taste for it.

And then there was a knock on the window. Ass? Where? Out the window? We're on the fourth floor. What kind of climbers came here? We looked at each other, Sher stood up and, going to the window, carefully opened one of the doors. And something flew into the room.

This something was a dragon, but very small, the size of a large chicken. With large round eyes, a thick belly, short hind legs and neat front legs that look like pens, and cute wings like a bat. There was a crest along the long flexible neck, at the end of the long tail there were spikes, and on the head there were two small horns. And he was all so colorful. That's how a parrot is. The scales on the back and sides are bright purple, on the belly - light purple, the wings are orange, the crest and horns are black. And the eyes are the same as mine, bright green, with a red rim around the pupil. In short, an absolutely Rastafarian dragon.

He flew into the room, made a circle around it with a confident look, plopped down on the back of his chair and looked around at us.

- Why are you staring? – this creature said in a hoarse voice.

- Oh! How lovely! “I froze, took a step towards him and raised my hand to touch him.

- Well, don’t touch it! – the creature hissed. – Is that you, the Hearing Guardian? Enlil sent me.

“I am,” I agreed obediently. - What for?

- What do you mean - why? You yourself said that all you need for complete happiness is a foul-mouthed parrot. So, I'm for him.

-Are you a parrot? “I started laughing.” Well, Enlil, well, he made friends.

-Are you blind, or what? Open your eyes. Vo gives, and also the Guardian. Where do you see feathers? “Something spread its wings to the sides and twirled in place, demonstrating the absence of feathers.

– Yeah, so you’re just a swearer? – I snorted with laughter.

- No. – The multi-colored something drooped. - I haven’t matured yet. Only intemperate language, so they kicked me out of the pack. And Enlil said that you just need someone like me. So here it is, me.

- Are all dragons like you? I thought they were big.

- You hit your head, or what? – the multi-colored something was indignant. – I’m a rainbow dragon, a rare endangered species, by the way. Do you like me? “He put his hands on his hips and stuck out his thick belly, on which lay a large pendant hanging on a chain from his neck.

- Wow! I like you. Just watch your tongue, otherwise I wish you would bite it. Well, what is your name, wonderful creature?

“Orek,” the creature introduced itself and modestly shuffled its hind paw.

- Well, what kind of Orek are you? - I smiled. “You’re so nice and pot-bellied, just like Nut.”

- Yes? - The miracle brightened up. But then he frowned. - No, what are you doing, Guardian? I'm an adult already, well, almost. What kind of nut am I to you?

- Good good. Orek is Orek, I don’t argue. – I giggled.

- You, Guardian, listen, Dana gave you something here, take it off your neck. – And the dragon pointed his forepaw at the pendant. – They invite you and Enlil to the wedding. So pack up your junk and let's get lost, almost all the guests have already arrived.

- What are you talking about?! – I screamed joyfully. – Dana is marrying Enlil?! Oh, I'm so glad.

Lord, what happiness! At least some people marry for love, my great-grandfather is getting married now, and Dana has finally waited. Oh, how happy I am for them. And Enlil was found! Divorce! Divorce! If this wedding hadn’t hung over Cher, I would have divorced him right now. And freedom for the parrots, that is, for me. Or maybe, well, him?

-Who is Dana? Who is Enlil? – two questions immediately followed from Cyrus and Sher, who had previously been watching our acquaintance with Orek on the sidelines.

– Dana is my friend, the goddess of rivers. And Enlil, he, uh, her fiancé, the Lord of the Winds,” I answered obediently, deciding to remain silent about my relationship with God.

– Your friend is the goddess of rivers?! - Kir.

– I won’t let you go alone! - Cher.

- Well, Enlil said that the eared and winged one will not let you go alone, so the invitation is also for husbands. So, pack up what you need to take, take your men and your animal, and let’s hurry up. The ceremony will take place at dawn. Just take off the amulet of transference, it’s heavy and barely made it to you. When you get ready, hold the stone in your fist. – Orek pointed his finger at the pendant again.

I obediently took it off the dragon and put it around my neck.

- Cher, get ready, quickly. “We’re leaving now,” I gave instructions and ran towards Ilmar’s rooms.

She flew into Ilmar’s bedroom and began to shake the sleeping Aerling’s shoulder.

- Ilmar, get up, quickly. Climb! Get ready, we are flying to the Lord. Like lightning, and towards me,” and she ran back to her place.

Cyrus sat in my living room alone and watched all this excitement with bewilderment.

- Aleta! – he called to me as I rushed past him towards the bedroom. – Do you want to explain anything to me?

- A? What? Cyrus, no time. We'll be late for the wedding if I procrastinate, that's all.

- Alf! Come to me, troglodyte! - I barked into space, because I don’t know where my furry creature was hanging around, he always disappeared and appeared on his own, checked that I was all right, and disappeared again. At that very second he appeared out of thin air. - Alf, go to the living room, run, wait for us. Don't offend the dragon.

I quickly put some things in my bag in case I had to change into something warmer there, I also changed into my only normal dress - an earthy white sundress, pulled on a denim jacket on top and returned to the living room. I think I won’t freeze; it’s unlikely that the gods celebrate a wedding where it’s cold. Sher was already there, fortunately he was dressed and he only needed to take a weapon and a cloak.

“Listen, Guardian,” Orek spoke.

- Just call me by name. “I’m Aleta,” I interrupted him.

- Yeah, Aleta. You are... You are going to the gods, at least put yourself in a decent appearance.

I lowered my eyes to my white sundress. If only I had something else to change into, something smart. But there is nothing, and there is no wedding gift either.

“Oh demons of the rainbow and gloomy clouds, stupidity, open your wings,” Orek blurted out, seeing that I did not understand his remark about a decent appearance.

Eh, wings? Well, wings - I can do that. I closed my eyes, concentrated and really wanted to return my airy wings, shining and shimmering. A minute later, a familiar sensation appeared behind me, and I opened my eyes with a smile to stumble upon the amazed and delighted expression on Cyrus’s face.

- A-ah-ah? “He stood up and stepped towards me with his hand outstretched.

- All later, Cyrus. All explanations later.

A sleepy but completely collected Ilmar appeared on the threshold. Clearly not understanding anything, he came and stood next to me, Sher and Alf.

- Aleta? I don't understand anything, what's the rush?

– Ilmar, meet me, this is Orek. He brought an invitation to the wedding. “I took the little dragon in my arms, and he fell apart comfortably. “We’re going to the Lord of the Winds for his wedding, and then we’re going to get a divorce.”

- Already? So fast? – And the sad look of blue eyes.

- Get a divorce? – And purple panic over the edge.

- Is that so? Divorce? – Violet eyes with an expression of something... What?

But why was it necessary to open a secret portal directly from the imperial palace? Accidentally? Did she illegally enter the neighboring principality - also by accident? And, apparently, she got married quite by accident...

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Kira and her partner Karel are special purpose booksellers. Dot. Confirmed and signed. And if earlier this could still be doubted, now, after Annushka... excuse me, Annatiniel Cariboro, a dark fairy, teacher of bestiology and fairy studies, deigned to become the personal mentor of the restless couple, vowed to make magicians of the highest standard out of them and began to scare until you tremble at seminars and exhaust yourself until you lose your pulse at...

Well, yes, going on orders from her boss to pick up a foreign “specialist” from the airfield, Arina was sad, hungover, and inadequate. And what do you want? It's not every day that a young, beautiful witch is seriously predicted that she will meet death today. So I met... an English necromancer with the telling surname Mortem...

Is it easy to be a fairy? Probably easy if you have a magic wand and a textbook on fairy magic. What if, instead of a magic wand, you have a talking familiar and a transition point between worlds, and instead of a textbook, you have a list of responsibilities for the barony and a Castle that has gathered under its roof a motley group from different races and worlds?

Honestly, everything... well, almost everything happened by accident! And I unexpectedly heard about free admission to magic academies, and my sister and I went for a ride on the ice slide, without planning it in advance, and I accidentally borrowed a basin, or rather a battle shield, from a guard. And she knocked down, flying on this very shield, a malicious blond stranger completely unintentionally. As if not on purpose, he and I fell into an unconfigured portal.

Just when it seems like life is finally getting better, everything falls apart again. The terrible secrets of the closed kingdom do not let go. And Ramina faces an important choice. After all, the Sidhe, a bright, peace-loving people, never get involved in wars. But only the sidhe, being the soul of the world, can save it.

Irzhina’s life has returned to normal: she has a house, the Emperor himself provided her with work, she has made friends, and her favorite hobby has not gone away. It would seem, live and be happy.
But why was it necessary to open a secret portal directly from the imperial palace? Accidentally? Did she illegally enter the neighboring principality - also by accident? And, apparently, she got married quite by accident...
And when will she understand that all accidents are not accidental? This means that we need to draw conclusions from them and move on.

I'm lying on the grass, a hundred fantasies in my head. Dream with me, there will be not a hundred of them, but... two hundred!
I live the way I want and can. I write as best I can and as I like. Thanks to Natalya Zhiltsova for the cover

Milena Zavoichinskaya

The story of Demid, Stepan and the fly dragon (fairy tale)

The one who lives nearby (story)

The Incubus and the Accountant, or how Muz and I tried to write erotica (story)

Children's fairy tale ABC for 5-6 years old.
Each chapter is a short story about an adventure with one letter.

No final chapters! Fully published only to subscribers of the author.

In the country of Alphabet, the evil witch Mistake confused the name of the fairy queen and the name of the country. Only a human child can save the fairies by learning all the letters and unraveling the confusing words. One of the fairies comes to the boy Nikita every day and teaches him her letter. Having learned all the letters, he accomplishes a feat.

that they serve the animals rather than the animals serve them.

Diogenes of Sinope.

The night passed anxiously, because I was very afraid that while I was sleeping, the cat would quietly die in the kitchen and in the morning I would be greeted by a fresh cat corpse. Therefore, at night I got up several times to check on the cat and give him another amount of water and milk. He was very exhausted, you couldn’t give him much at once, but he needed to feed him somehow, especially since he himself made no attempts to drink.

By morning, oddly enough, the cat more or less came to life, although he didn’t try to get up, but he carefully watched my movements and even drank some water himself. After breakfast, I ran to a nearby shopping center and bought cat shampoo, a comb, some cat vitamins, and everything that is needed when a cat appears in the house. And also chicken. The animal needs to be fattened, but it doesn’t look like it will be able to handle dry food.

For two days I fed him chicken broth, boiled chicken and milk. And she poured medicine into her mouth through a dispenser. By Sunday evening he finally moved away and even began to try to get up. And although I wasn’t sure if this was right, I dragged him into the bathroom and gave him a bath with flea shampoo. I can’t tell you how much dirt was washed off of him, I couldn’t even imagine that in winter, with snow, you could manage to get so dirty. The cat fought back sluggishly, but on the whole behaved quite well and we managed without scratches or cat tantrums.

After washing and drying, it turned out that the cat had long fluffy black hair with gray-blue streaks, tassels on large ears and a luxurious fluffy tail. It seems that this breed is called Maine Coon, however, I do not understand this issue. How such a luxurious cat ended up on the street, and even in such a poor condition, was not clear. Either he ran away and got lost, or the owners threw him out, but the cat was beautiful. Only very thin and intimidated, just hug and cry.

Well, kitty? How are you Have you recovered, poor fellow? Now that you are clean, you can enter the room. Come on, I’ll show you where you’ll live now until you get better and we decide what to do with you. “I picked up the cat in my arms and walked with him around the apartment. - What should I call you? Murzik?

The cat hissed and tried to escape.

Barsik? Oh, I know! You remind me of Cher, the same black and high-cheeked, big-faced. You will be Cher.

The cat looked at me in amazement and meowed.

On Monday morning I was getting ready for work, and the cat was slowly, staggering, wandering around the apartment and exploring the space. Although, to study it, there is only one room in the apartment. True, the kitchen is large and the bathroom is separate.

I made coffee and sat down to have breakfast and watch the news, and put food for the cat on the plate that I had allocated for him. Ignoring the plate on the floor, Cher jumped onto the chair opposite me, put his front paws on the table and tried to steal the sandwich from my plate.

Hey, cat, don't be impudent. “I put some food for you,” I moved the plate further away and put the cat on the floor in front of his plate. Ignoring this, the cat jumped up onto the chair again, placed his front paws on the table and stared at me expectantly.

Shaggy, you are an esthete, as I see, do you want to eat at the table? Well, okay,” I put the cat’s plate on the table, sat down in my place and stared at the cat with interest. When Sher began to carefully eat the boiled chicken from it, I burst out laughing. - Oh how! Did you run away from the circus or what?

Cher looked at me reproachfully and continued his breakfast. I chuckled and began to drink my coffee.

That’s how it was with us, we both had breakfast and dinner at the table, and during the day he ate from plates placed on the floor. With our diet, too, everything was not like that of normal people and cats. He flatly refused to eat cat food, neither dry nor canned. He ate the same thing as me - porridge, pasta, soups, meat, milk, even bread and potatoes. Only I got used to adding hot spices not when cooking, but only on my plate. For several more days, in the mornings and evenings, coming after work and evening classes at the fitness club, I gave him antibiotics. Sher recovered amazingly quickly and no longer resembled the starved, half-dead creature that Grandfather Vasil and I had picked up in a snowdrift. He ate very carefully, but in huge quantities. Just some kind of bottomless stomach, it looks like it was eating off after its forced hunger strike on the street or eating for future use.

What made me endlessly happy is that he is silent. I hate the cat’s screams and the fact that Sher was not heard, it’s just some kind of holiday. The only time he screamed like crazy was if I didn't let him into the bathroom, when I was taking a shower or bath, or in bed. In the first case, he threw himself wholeheartedly at the door, trying to break through and screamed like a knife. And once inside, he sat on the washing machine and carefully watched me, periodically trying to fish my leg out of the water. In the second, I methodically kicked him out from under the blanket, and he just as methodically and purposefully climbed back in, softening up something swearing like a cat. And having achieved his goal, he settled down next to me and slept under the blanket until he got hot and crawled out. He followed me around the apartment, as soon as I entered the apartment in the evening, he followed me relentlessly like a shadow. If I was sitting on the sofa, then he would sit next to me and snuggle, if in a chair, then he would lie on his feet. The only place where he didn’t rush after me was the toilet.

One morning I was getting ready for work and talking with Sher, and he, as usual, sat opposite and carefully watched me change clothes and get ready.

Well, Cher, can you help me choose an outfit for today? - I asked with a laugh; he had a very serious face. - Come on, tell me. This skirt and blouse or this pantsuit? Just keep in mind that I still have dance classes in the evening.

Sher stretched lazily, jumped down and came up to me. I watched him with interest. He’s still a very strange cat, either incredibly smart or well trained. Meanwhile, he demonstratively pretended to bury both presented outfits, walked up to the closet and looked back at me. This was already getting interesting. Standing on his hind legs, Cher leaned his front legs on the shelf under the hanging things and poked his jeans with one paw. He turned around, checked that I was looking at him, and again poked his paw, but this time at a thin woolen sweater.

Wow! Wow! - I was simply stunned. I clearly didn’t expect THIS from a cat. - Well, whatever you say, jeans means jeans. I feel like a witch with a cat as a familiar.

I quickly dressed in the outfit suggested by Sher, well, I didn’t want to upset the animal, I asked for it myself, and ran off to work. I had a lot to think about. It looks like the cat is really not simple. That's how much money and time it took to train a cat like that. And how did he actually end up on the street? And aren’t they looking for him all over the city?

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