Chapter 1

"I think you're late." Leonard made one last attempt to wake me up. I continued to swim in fragments of sleep, unsteady as evening twilight. Downy light blankets clung to the body so warmly and comfortably, as if they were urging: do not get out under any circumstances! It just so happened that we celebrated the graduation ceremony together and now, it seems, for three days. I graduated from the Academy of Magic, and he graduated from the Royal Military. While my mind was clouded by sparkling wine and some gloating that I had taken the guy away from under the nose of my fellow student Taya, Countess Shatt, everything was going well. But gradually, from a slightly extravagant lover, the guy turned into a uniform bore. - Where? I asked, opening one eye. - Where am I late? Leonard brushed his long golden bangs off his forehead and smiled. No, I absolutely do not understand why this type of guys acts on me like a magnet on iron shavings. The duke's son, Viscount Leonard Celeretto, handsome - so what? In fact, boredom has already come to me, giving the morning a taste of disappointment, bitter, like badly brewed coffee. - You have a distribution today, but you still haven’t taken your diploma from the office ... - the viscount and the handsome man began, and I already, jumping out of bed, rushed around the room, looking for clothes. Certainly! Who can even think about some kind of distribution for practice, when music sounds around, couples flutter and golden magic lanterns shimmer with soft light under two full moons? And also a handsome guy whispers something indecent in your ear ... But stop. Was it supposed to be tomorrow? Or did I just have a whole day out of my memory? These feasts will bring me sometime, definitely. Either I drown in a fountain, or I burn down some house and go to jail. A. Yes, what is there ... The servants, it must be said, were well trained by the viscount, my things were already in the hands of the standing maid, the green shoes embroidered with silver threads were cleaned, and even a new pair of silk stockings was present. The woman maintained a stony expression on her long high cheekbones even when I began to dress myself, declaring that I would do it faster. However, empathically, her disapproval flooded the entire room like swamp water. Yes, yes, the youth of the capital is just like that now, and if an unmarried noblewoman spends the night with her lover, then this is her own business. It is curious, by the way, that the woman herself did not possess either youth or beauty, and her closed blue dress with an apron screamed about the perfect asexuality of the owner. Shouldn't a noble and rich guy surround himself with such sweet blondes with a third size?Okay, nevermind. I guess I'm just being too frivolous. This is where Leonard got lost. - When will you be back? - he asked. - Where? - I was indignant, trying to somehow smooth the naughty copper mane. - I have distribution today! How do I know which end of Dyes I'll be sent to? - But I'll agree ... Well, that is, father ... You will stay here ... - given that it was in the bedroom, it sounded so ambiguous that he stopped. - Well, with me. In the capital! I tried to look at him with a long sad look, as my older sister did to perfection, but it turned out to be too difficult in such a hurry. In addition, her eyes are brown, almond-shaped, with a kind of mysterious elven sparkle, while mine are gray and quite human, which means they are much less expressive. In general, the effect was not the same. Here's how to explain that I need to run away from this capital, anywhere, just far away from here? From under the care of my mother, relatives, the Academy and other well-wishers. It's stuffy for me here. Tight and boring. I tried to be as diplomatic as possible. - I think the curator has already decided everything, he seems to have talked with my father the day before. - Wait! - Leonard ran around the room, trying to catch me like a child to a motley butterfly. - And how can we meet if you're in some wilderness! Every day through the teleport to dangle? “Yeah, for you everything outside the capital is either resorts or the wilderness,” an inner voice grunted, also, apparently, just waking up. “For my disgusting behavior, I was promised a village without a teleporter,” I joked, pinning up my hair with a sparkling emerald flower trinket on the back of my head in front of a massive silver-rimmed mirror. The maid finally deigned to leave us alone. But will you at least come?How should I know? Leaving now is the only chance to do at least something in life on your own. If I can't now, I won't ever be able to. - Well, yes, in half a year, I’ll probably start to get out to the capital, - I joked. - What?! The viscount grabbed my shoulders, looked at the wings fluttering, and made at the same time: a courageous face and an incredibly serious proposal for a man of his lifestyle: - Christina. If you really have to go somewhere... Do you want me to go with you? "Hey, what's he talking about?"I was numb. A pleasant adventure, that's one thing, but in everyday life it will cause a lot of trouble. Although, stop. Nice gesture? Did he really manage to agree with the curator and now he simply does not risk anything? Hmmm, I think they married me. “Leonard, let's do it differently,” I gently tried to free myself from his hands, “for now I'll go to the Academy, and you will sit and think carefully, do you need something ... well, something else? - Need! However, life experience told me that the child was just a whim - I wanted just such a toy. For some reason, women mature earlier. And a lot of guys don't grow up at all. Plus, he's a year younger than me. - Leo. You take your time, men must make informed decisions. Reasonable. He added more masculinity to his face, even with a hint of sad severity. Oh how. Alarm call. - I know what I want. "Oh well". He lowered his voice slightly. - I have "there" - everything. - What?! Did you leave Taya?No no no! Now she will definitely send assassins to me, after all our ... friendship with her! I thought she would just get a little jealous, well, throw a scandal. And then they'll make up once Leo's Entilian is out of his head. Such a turn was not part of my plans at all. A pleasant adventure and a flick on the nose of an icy countess - yes, a serious romance - definitely not. “You are much…” he searched for the word. - More promising.