The last priest has already stretched the third cup to the moon today. Crystal tank with intricate edges cast a lot of rainbow highlights on the princess's stretched brush.

“Candidate number three,” was heard from the other end of the throne room.

The figure in gray took the cup with the girl's blood, bowing, and making a gesture in her direction saying: “This is in your honor” knocked him over, having drunk everything to the last drop. A surprised whisper passed through the hall in a wave.

“There were more than three sips,” Gett stated.

- This is bad? - Luna was worried.

- Not. The main thing is that there is nothing less, - her father smiled in a strange way in response. - But usually, no one takes the extra risk. Smug, do not you think? - the question was rather rhetorical.

“Hm-hm,” the priest standing next to the princess was still waiting for her to heat the cup.

The moon raised the cup to her lips. There were no sharp odors, it pleased. From the tank, there was a barely perceptible floral scent not of either lily of the valley or jasmine. The color of the liquid was dark red, similar to cherry juice, but noticeably thicker in consistency.

- Well. Your health, - the girl made a mental toast, lifting the cup, and drank her three sips. The taste was sweet and salty, somewhat reminiscent of toffee.

The princess gave the cup to the priest, and already consciously closed her eyes.

***

“Thank you,” came the familiar, velvety voice.

The moon opened its eyelids. There was impenetrable darkness around. Even her body was not visible, as if she was blind. The girl took a step back, the floor was absolutely level, the princess did not hear any sounds, even the noise of her own steps.

- For what? She asked in a surprised voice, still trying to find something around her.

“Toast,” came the quick reply.

- Where are we?

- Nowhere else.

“It's you,” the princess already knew that voice well. - You were in my head.

- Well yes. I thought you already guessed, - in the voice came the joy.

“I suspected,” the girl lied.

- Yeah. Of course - I heard a quiet laugh.

- You do not believe me? - offended the moon.

“Let it be yours, princess,” the voice replied playfully.

If someone, in the real world, allowed himself to talk to her like that, the girl would immediately turn around and walk away with her head held high and her shoulders straightened, but there was nowhere to go, so she crossed her arms over her chest and exhaled irritably.

“Don't get mad, Majesty,” the stranger continued to tease.

- How long will we hang around here in complete darkness? - Luna sniffed in response.

“As long as it takes,” replied, suddenly a serious voice.

- Will be required for what?

- In order for you to get used to me.

“I already know your voice,” continued the princess.

- And the more you do not.

- You will not fuck me with your voice! - stomped foot girl.

- Wow! You are so harsh with me, ”the stranger sneered. - I remember, with previous candidates, you did not allow yourself such verbal turns.

- Enough! Show yourself! - shouted the princess.

“Your will,” a voice answered calmly. “Though I think you will regret it.” Let there be light.

In the eyes of the girl hit hard. She closed her eyes, and when she opened her eyelids, she saw a large fireplace with high fire blazing in it.

The moon stood in a small room, it seems, located in a hunting lodge. The walls and floor were wooden. From the left, the entire area of ​​the wall was covered with tapestry, with a dragon embroidered with gold thread. Opposite there was a large window through which moonlight penetrated, casting the bizarre shadows of the branches right on the floor. Next to the window was a round table on curved legs, with two glasses, a carafe of wine, and a vase of chocolate and fruit. Almost the entire floor was occupied by the furry skin of an unknown animal. In front of the fireplace, back to the princess, there were two high, upholstered chairs. In one of them, it seems, someone was sitting.

The moon took an indecisive step. It was habitually comfortable to move. She examined herself. She was wearing her emerald velvet dress with a deep V-neck. She took a strand of her hair and brought it to her eyes. Red curls remained the same as she remembered them from childhood. The girl looked at the mirror surface of the window glass. Her reflection was looking at her. It is her. Nothing changed! Neither the hair, nor the eyes, even the rare freckles remained in place, on it, as before, there were no decorations. The moon was delighted to herself, such as her mom and dad gave birth, and even forgot that she was not alone.

- That's better? - brought her to reality a voice from the chair.

- Yes! - The mood of the princess has improved, and she boldly stepped toward the chair.

- Stop! - The voice was harsh and resolute. The girl froze in place. “I myself,” the stranger snapped.

From the chair rose something remotely resembling a man. The first thing that the Moon saw was a big hump, under the weight of which the owner of such a beautiful voice was bent. The creature turned its face to the princess, and she pressed her palms to her lips, holding back a cry of horror.

The stranger did not have hair, there was a large growth over his left eyebrow, flowing towards the eye socket and, quite strongly, covering the eye. Pupils were burning bright green light. The nose was probably broken several times, because it was crooked and with a big bump on the bridge of the nose. On the right cheek there is a large, hairy wart, more like a sea urchin than part of the body. The only normal parts were the palms and the mouth, which could belong to an ordinary person. The stranger was dressed in something like a monastic cassock, dark brown.

The moon, unconsciously, took a step back.

“Hello, Your Majesty,” the hunchback smiled.

- No, - this is the only thing that spun on the girl's tongue.

- Something is wrong? - the smile turned into an insolent grin. “Are you light enough?” - the creature was not appealing.

- What are you ?! - Luna did not believe her eyes.

“Shame on you, princess?” You see that before you is a creature clearly inspired. So, please, not what, but who.

- Who are you? - with an effort squeezed girl.

- I'm a goblin. My name is Tori, - the hunchback made a curtsy. - And I am your partner at number three.

“No,” the moon repeated.

- What is not? - Goblin slowly approached the trembling princess.

- I do not want. I will not! - the girl was ready to burst into tears.

- I'm afraid, beauty, you have no choice. Have you already learned the rules of the ritual?

“Please, don't,” Luna exhaustedly dropped her knees onto the skin. The creature approached her at arm's length.

- Well, do not worry you so. You will get used to it.

Princess sobbed. She was well aware that the choice was not great: either it was a monster or a monastery, and now she was more inclined to the second. Thoughts about how this monster will touch her, how he will undress and stick her dick into her, how she will splash her terrible seed into her gut caused nausea and panic, but she has no other way out of this damned place.

- Wine? - as if mockingly, asked the hunchback, stretching the glass of ruby ​​liquid to the princess. The girl, taking herself in hand, took the glass and drained it in one gulp. - Wow! What are your appetites! - the monster was having fun.

- Enough. You are welcome. Stop making fun at home ... - tears were heard in the princess's voice.

- Okay. “The monster answered simply and calmly.”

He took from the table a decanter and a vase with treats, and sat on the skin opposite the moon.

“Please,” he pushed fruit with chocolate and poured wine into a glass. The princess tried not to look at her companion.

“Thank you,” she took a piece of chocolate and mechanically put it in her mouth.

- You're scared? - suddenly asked Tori.

“No, fear is not the feeling she felt.”

- I'm disgusted with you. - Claiming, said the goblin. Luna was silent. - Nothing. You are not the first. You, by the way, the reaction is still nothing. - Monster smiled.

- AT ...