Chapter 15. Stirlitz’s Failure

In anticipation of accompanying I was walking down the hall, examining the pattern of the marble floor (he was black and sleek, in the center laid out drawing of the sun, the color of gold), white columns, stretching high up in the cave vaults. I tried to memorize the very details that Elegelika asked for. But the study was interrupted by the pleasant male voice of a handsome brunette:

– Hello, Catherine. You look wonderful

I looked down at my dress, a little dusty, absolutely not perceptible, without a corset. Looked up at the stranger, I met the gaze of his blue eyes, noted the high growth and tightened figure. I gave short answer – «Thank you» – and returned to looking down the hall.

The Interlocutor silently studied me, obviously not expecting such neglect from me, probably local womanizer (appearance pretty, voice fascinating, I am, for example, at the edge of the eye studying it), used to the ladies catching his attentions signs. I am so tired today forces to flirt with the local playboy left.

– Good morning, Your Majesty. Did you return earlier than planned? – a voice said Rosalind, who sat in a deep curtsy.

I felt faint, it is necessary so to fail the task for agents 007 so not to know the subject of persecution so to speak in the face. But I had nothing to do once again unfold in the direction of the heir. It seemed too late to bow, so I simply froze in silence, waiting for an answer.

– Yes, Rosalind, as you can see. Would you like to walk with me in the garden?

– With pleasure, Your Majesty – and she took the brunet under his arm sending me a perfectly sincere smile.

– Have a nice evening Catherine

– Thank you, Your Majesty – I said quietly. From rainbow mood was gone.

– Have a nice evening Catherine

– Thank you, Your Majesty – quietly said by me. There was no trace of the rainbow.

Chapter 16

I should have worn the lowest cleavage I have at dinner. o distract the heir from analyzing my behavior. Bright red color, well opened collarbone and a little chest.

In the dining room this time, I was one of the first, so instead of taking a seat at the table, I went to the event board. There are events marked on it: a play to be held in three months (open to all), a culinary evening from a certain Zarina (invited) in three weeks, and a private dance from Faride next week. – I could get you an invitation to a cooking party- the heir was too close behind my back- or do you think about how to overshadow faride's dance? – at this point the heir raised his hand and gently ran the outside of finger from my neck to the shoulder.

–I'm bad dancer- i retreated from the prince and turned to face him. – I think I'll knit your socks so you won't freeze in the damp castle

– Catherine, dragons do not freeze.

– Good to you, and why fireplaces if you do not freeze? I'm here every night trying to stay close to him, it is terrible to think, as here in the winter.

– For beauty. Fire in it is a very beautiful and fascinating sight, isn’t it?

The room became a little noisy, the sound pushes chairs interrupted our conversation about beauty, and I hastened to take his place at the table, away from the heir.

On the right hand of the heir sits Nadine, most likely the arranged bride, next to her Rosaline, placed Bleckle on the left, followed by Farida, Zarina on my right, Darin on my left. This girl, as far as I knew loved horses, never missed a single horse riding or hunting, swordsman, willingly accepts the challenge and from men. Darina was the embodiment of the warrior: high height, pronounced arm muscles, low loud voice. Her movements were more rapid and abrupt than smooth.

In front of the heir sits Assol. The girl had bright red hair, falling down her back with large, sunny, green eyes, fascinating with her beauty. My dress paled next to her outfit. What she was wearing was a work of art. The creator of this creation is incredibly talented. Dress embroidered with small stones so that it shimmered in the light, (it seemed to dress sprinkled of diamonds). The dress was also decorated with green stones (as our emeralds) and red (as our rubies) , blossoming on a black silk dress with delicate flowers. Assol of ancient and powerful family. So she like Nadine can be a contender for an arranged marriage. Other names I unfortunately, did not remember, so just examine on a variety of dresses and parties at the table. And then focused on my stew with potatoes. That's surprising, such contrast to our worlds, but language and cuisine we were similar? I saw as Nadine and Rosalind easy to feel in communion with the successor of (he has a long full name .. Ridon Amaral Deron kind of Drakodar).

It was impossible to leave before the heir, but I did not have time to warn Amiron about what I need tomorrow to the city in the morning, and the heir was in no hurry to leave the table.

– Katrin, your plate was empty for a long time, with the girls you not communicate all the time fidgeting in a chair, you want to leave ? – heir voice seemed friendly and quiet, but the issue and appeal to my address so unexpected that girls fell silent and all eyes are directed in my direction.

– To be honest, I really wanted to leave early, if it would not insult you, Your Majesty. The fact that I made an appointment in the city with friends, but I didn't have time to warn Lord Emiron that I was going away . I would like to have time to find him, before he live home.

– How long will you be gone?

– I have to be in town by 11:00, the meeting will not take more than a couple hours.

– Well, Catherine, can go. I let Emirom go to the family estate, but the coach will give you tomorrow. Good night.

– Good night.

Chapter 17

Sitting in the park near the castle, breathe fresh air, enjoy the birds singing, i was thinking about conversation with magician, took place in a cafe.

So, a simple communication artifact costs 30,000 gold (unot yet had time to get used to their prices, but for dinner wizard paid 1 000). Weedon said the multipurpose artifact while nobody was producing, but he will try. (I had also tell about the flash drive, plugs for them to exchange information, adding features). For two experimental artifact Weedon invoice for the sum of 100 000 Golden. They will work as standard communication artifacts, but Widon will create 5 cells (connectors) for the artifacts – updating. They will be ready in a month, by the same deadline he will have made two crystals under the connectors with the function of sending and storing voice messages. There’ll be 40,000 more to be paid for these rocks.

The crystal of the record «dictaphone» Vidon will make for me for free, fearing that we will be suspected of spying and will not pay at all.

I also asked whether there is such a thing as a patent, co-founder … I know I’m going back to my world and I can't use the money, but you never know what can happen. Their Patent calls the "Certificate of discoverer". It has three types: 1) non-transferable to third parties (artifacts can produce only a magician creator), 2) with the right to rent (mage, manufactured artifact pays rent to the creator) and 3) the free circulation after a certain period of time.

To register object magic can only magicians. But sales of the store, the purchase of stones, workshops on creation of blanks to fill magic, that such companies can be jointly administered, and I can get a percentage. My thoughts already painted small shop local analogue cellular store.

From fantasies distracted voice of Ridon.

– Good afternoon, Catherine!

– Good afternoon! – blinking in the sunlight, looked up to the heir, he towered over me, and it seemed even higher than I remembered. Assol held on to his elbow, her dress was white, straight and closed, her hair had a neat white hat, and a lace white umbrella over her head.

And by pursed lips of red beauties, I realized that once again violated the established etiquette. Remembering that in front of me future emperor, not simply brunet with blue eyes I jumped off the bench and curtsied (as I remember from the movie, I hope not too sloppy), repeated:

– Good day Your Majesty.

Lips of Assol gonna relaxed, eyes softened. But eyes of the heir slightly darkened and narrowed.

– Catherine, Lord Emiren told me yesterday that you wanted to discuss some expenses for your event. Unfortunately, he will not be in the palace for at least two weeks, due to the worsening health of the lord’s mother, so I suggest we discuss it directly with me. I can give you an hour in my office at 16:00 today.

– Thank you, Your Majesty.

The Heir nodded and continued walking with Assol.

Here’s a beautiful couple, I admired them. The Assol in this delicate white blossom, the red-haired curls around the hat like a little corner of the sun, and the heir in his black, with a straight back. Slow steps, Assol is only slightly below Ridon. They looked harmonious. I imagined myself in her place, as my head is somewhere just below his shoulders, and as my hand gets tired, trying to get to his elbow. The heir felt my long gaze, looked back and slightly raised my eyebrows in the silent question, I only shook my head and turned around slowly walked to the castle.

Chapter 18

Nadine was absent from the dinner (departed to her parents after her brother), and Rosalind took her place. I warned her I wouldn’t be able to walk in the park this afternoon because of His Majesty’s invitation, but I promised to look in her chambers the next day.

I warned her I wouldn’t be able to walk in the park this afternoon because of His Majesty’s invitation, but I promised to look in her chambers the next day.

At the appointed time, I entered the office of the heir, which consisted of three rooms: the first room was a conference room, in which up to fifty people could be accommodated. The second hall, which was used most often, housed up to twelve subjects. But I was taken to a third – a small cabinet with a fireplace. Its wall is lined with a dark tree, a window with a view of the garden, unexpectedly cozy.

– Come in, sit down in the chair by the fireplace. Wine?

– Yes, thank you very much.

Ridon poured two glasses of red wine, he gave me one, and with the second he located in the chair opposite. I admired the glare of fire, taste wine and waited for an invitation to talk. Heir treated me, the wine did not touch. I didn’t dare start a conversation.

It was raining outside the window, it charged from lunch and now sounded quiet in the background, along with the crackling logs.

– Catherine, as I understand from talking to Emirenom, you are asking to allocate funds. Have you made a list?

– Your Majesty, you see, the money I need is for a gift to you, and it has to be a surprise. So, can I not get into the details of what I’m spending?

– Try it out

– I need 140,000 on the development of the artifact, the creation of which will take at least a month. But before I give it to you, it s require to test during a couple more weeks. If testing goes well, then after a month and a half I'll give it to you, and you will give the magician certificate of invention.

– I wonder … Who’s going to test? It is dangerous?

– The assignment of the artifact itself is not dangerous at all. But Weedon says that no one before us did multifunctional artifact, so he is not sure of the stability and wants to check whether there is no side effects.

– You intrigued me, Katrin. We’ll give you half by the end of the week, the other half after the test, but with one condition: I want to to be watching the results of the test. Is there anything else?

– You know, maybe it's the wine gives me the courage to voice one more wish, but I will understand if you will be surprised of my arrogance and refuse.

– You are amazing Catherine – he leaned forward. I didn’t notice when his glass was emptied, and the heir meanwhile put him on a low table with a little knocking and returned to his original position. – your speech does not seem to me provincial, but all the same words and phrases that you eat sometimes I have not heard before. – the sound of rain on the glass became clearer, I held my breath, and even seem slight intoxication wine melted. – But I digress, voice your desire.

– You know that I lived a pretty closed. I would like to see the real world. I’m asking you to let me go on a trip. I understand that a request may seem insolence, but maybe I can not only learn something new for yourself, but also be of some use? Start learn mood or identify issues on which you do not know, visit settlements of people.

– Catherine, and do not you accidentally forget why you're in a castle?

– What? – I'm honestly surprised.

– You see, Catherine, the people on this project are trying to win my heart and capture my attention. They come up with surprises, they show the most beautiful dresses, they celebrate any kind of attention, even if it’s a short walk in the park. Not only are you avoiding me, but the only wish you’re expressing is to get as far away as possible – the heir rose from his chair and walked to the window, I admire of his back and somehow try to deal with goosebumps fear that travel through my body – Moreover, I understand that you are waiting for that i will finance it – he turned to face me, leaning on the window sill.

I peered at him , hesitating to put my glass, which still had red fluid at the bottom of it is still splashing red liquid, slightly swinging it, hiding the trembling of my fingers

– But I'll give you a gift, Your Majesty, is not a sign of attention? And I'll go on a trip in the surroundings of your subjects, not earlier than three months (for such a serious journey must be prepared).

– For some reason, it seems to me that you most curious result of the experiment and the ability to obtain funding from the treasury of the empire, not my response to the presentation of a gift and a possible pleasure from it.

We stood in a duel views. Overall, the Heir is correct in his accusations. I’m not seriously considering it as a possible husband (though if you add a couple of glasses and leave the lighting like this. Like now.)

I need Artifacts more to survive really , but i can not to admit .

When silence lingered, the Heir said:

– Well, let's proceed as follows. An artifact money will be allocated. To make a travel decision, you have to prepare more detailed information: which lands you would like to visit , which establishments and we will return to the discussion in two weeks. The second condition, you have to prepare me a gift. But one that will target it to me. So you told something about the socks ?

– Yes, Your Majesty, but you and without them hot, and I knit bad. But well, the conditions are accepted. From me description of where and why, and a gift like socks. I will go? Outside the window was dark, we probably time for dinner.

– Yes you are right. But I need to work, and will eat in office. I said goodbye, but in the dining room did not go, asked to file into the room. And what to present? This thought occupied my mind all the time remaining before bedtime