a very flirty and groovy little girl who terribly annoyed him with his obsession, but from which he, of course, had no right to get off in the open, if he did not want to be persecuted by the king, who had no soul in his beautiful daughter. The ambitious young man who was inclined to the teachings and strict self-discipline was completely alien to the character of the spoiled naughty girl, who only wanted to be in the center of attention and listen to endless compliments in his address. Nevertheless, it happened that he had to spend hours walking with her through the alleys of the park, patiently answering her endless completely mindless questions, playing with her in her stupid games and giving her compliments that she herself almost pulled out of him childlike spontaneity, which is capable of being twisted by luxury and attention to a twelve-year-old sissy.

And yet then there were bright, cloudless times, when nothing threatened the kingdom, and petty court intrigues were the king's most serious concerns. Verlaine recalled those times with anxious sadness, realizing that he did not return forever, that trumps after the bloody war, during which His Majesty died, are not in their hands, and that it is on his shoulders that responsibility for the fate of the country falls shortly. The eighteen-year-old girl who is now crowned as the Bloody Moon as the legitimate queen of Valaringia by the personal death order of the king was far from stupid, well-educated, charismatic and insightful, but still yet too naive and not ready for a serious political struggle in which she immediately will have to join. Among their powerful neighbors, few would want to recognize the power of a young unmarried maid, even though her father won the decisive battle. In her face, they see nothing more than a profitable party for their heirs who want to seize the prosperous state. This Verlaine could not allow. He made an oath to the king that he would retain absolute power in the hands of his only beloved daughter, would not allow to discredit the blood of the oldest royal family, teach the queen all the subtleties of conducting a favorable strategy for the state and continue the course of government begun by His Majesty. In addition, these tasks were somewhat complicated by the fact that the flirtatious and flirtatious girl, who didn’t really know life, was not deprived of daring character, overestimated self-conceit and confidence that the whole world would immediately fall to her feet if she only wanted to ... Now her fervent, self-satisfied and audacious video player spoke about everything about it. She brazenly looked into his eyes, which no one had dared to do for a long time, smiled happily and generally fully enjoyed all the power of her divine beauty, irresistibility and power.

Not changing a bit in the face, Verlaine nodded respectfully to his future queen, and indifferently looked away. He knew that this would make her angry, but his inaccessibility would only benefit her, because at least someone should resist her will in the palace and not go on about it. Recently, more than once she willy-nilly showed gentle signs of attention to him and, obviously, was completely convinced that he should be crazy about her, because there simply could not be any other way. She always held herself with dignity, and she never disturbed propriety, but still she couldn’t hide her true feelings from a person who read people like an open book. He certainly needed to settle in her soul of doubt, anguish and pain. After all, an unrequited attachment to him is the only thing that could make her obey his will.

“Her Highness demands that everyone leave her quarters for fifteen minutes,” an unexpected order suddenly scattered around the huge hall. The voice of the master of ceremonies who announced him was almost lost in hysterics, because the delay was like death today. Nevertheless, the crowd filling the hall immediately set in motion and reached for the exit.

Verlaine frowned and looked toward the princess. She had her back to him, dressed only in a corset and a fluffy petticoat, and did not even think to turn around. Verlaine swore to himself and was ready to go and find out from this crappy girl what had happened, when suddenly the whole master of ceremonies flew up to him and, gasping, puffed:

“Her Highness demands you, Your Grace.” I don’t know what took it to her head this time ...

He shook his head and immediately withdrew, and Verlaine slowly, very slowly, walked towards the crowd rushing towards the exit, feeling anger boil inside him. Stopping a few steps behind Chantal, the young man waited patiently until the chambers were empty. Then he appeared before her face, imperturbable and stern, looked at her with a cold appraising glance and, instead of a respectful morning greeting, threw dryly:

- What's the matter?

He hoped that such familiarity would make her feel a little bit, but this time he was wrong. There was something wrong with the girl at all ... she seemed to him too agitated, not at all as sure as ever, scared and even embarrassed. Her cheeks were feverishly glowing, her hands were lowered and clasped in front of her, her fingers timidly taking care of the skirt's air hem. She bit the lower sponge and stubbornly did not dare look at him. Such her appearance even in the heart of Verlaine for a moment settled anxiety.

“What ...,” he tried to repeat his question, but the princess interrupted him.

“I love you,” she murmured, never looking at him.

- What? - as if not hearing, he exclaimed.

“I love you,” she repeated more confidently, and this time she looked at him for a moment. However, she seems to dare to look only at his lips.

For some time, Verlaine was completely confused, until he suddenly realized what was happening now. Yet he was right - the girl was crazy about him, since she had even decided to take a risky confession on such an important day for her fate. The man barely kept a triumphant smile. Apparently, fortune, as always, was very supportive of him. Such affection of the young queen was more than profitable and, of course, flattering for the exorbitant male vanity of an ambitious young man. Now this mouse seems to have fallen into his mousetrap completely ...

“What are you saying, Your Highness ...,” he said as sternly as he could, knowing full well that her own trembling heart was injured by her cold tone.

The girl was even more embarrassed, frowned, but still withstood this blow.

- Verlaine ... well, don't you really understand ... I thought about it for so long ... and decided to confess to you right now, because after a few hours, after I become the queen, we can’t be at all equal ... I wanted to confess to you, while you are still my mentor, but I am still your student ... Please do not be so angry ... Did you really not notice how I feel about you ...

- Your Highness, do not you think that today you should not think about such nonsense, but about your coronation. Your father and your people have entrusted their fate to you, and you are behaving more than lightly, he reprimanded her, and at the same time he allowed himself, without taking off her gloves, completely unceremoniously and rudely to lift her chin by face to look into her eyes. - I hope you understand that by your trick you question the success of today's ceremony? After all, we have too little time. In addition, you let down your retinue ...

- Verlaine ... forgive me ... I ... it happened by chance ... I couldn’t hide anything anymore ..., - having felt his imperious touch for the first time, the future queen trembled and completely lost the gift of her eloquence.

How seductive she was now - Verlaine, for the first time, allowed himself to admit the idea that she could be so close, submissive and approachable, like any of those court beauties who surrendered to him every night without fail, and his ... Read more →