prevented her from appealing to the arguments of reason. She first learned Verlaine from this side. She first saw him so shameless, arrogant, cheeky! Is she to blame for this change of his own? Did she make a mistake by confessing his love for him and giving him a reason to feel unlimited power over herself?

“Let me go, Your Grace, and get out!” - at last she angrily threw, feeling devastated.

“As you say, Your Highness,” he smiled and let go of her, stepping back with a courteous bow, and not without pleasure glancing at her bare breasts, which she still did not have time to cover. - I am sure that today's event will be held flawlessly, because you will not allow yourself a single mistake and will not let your weaknesses take over you. You will become the greatest queen in history. Your subjects and their descendants will glorify your name forever and ever.

At this he turned and silently withdrew with his majestic gait. The queen followed, still bewildered, by his tall, stately figure in black to the very door. His mouth was still melting the taste of his shameless kiss. On his chest, the skin still remembered the heat at the touch of his fingers in thin, narrow gloves. The lower abdomen was filled with a painful, unremitting desire; hot moisture melted between the legs. She could not stop her heartbeat and shortness of breath, her eyes stinging from the tears that ran, her chest ached from the fear of his deed and from the impudent imperative tone with which he dared to respond to her confession. Chantal clenched her hands into fists. How could he ?! Was she expecting this from a noble, always so restrained and respectful duke, whose wisdom and education she had always admired? He should have knelt! He should have thanked her for her love and kissed her hands! He should have sworn his love! How dare he tell her what to do? Execute! Banish! Destroy! Narcissist impudent!

The girl struggled to control herself, realizing that from the minute to the minute all the courtiers would return to her chambers. It was impossible to appear before them in such an unassembled form, otherwise they all immediately guessed what had just happened here. Verlaine ... sneaky snake! She will now never forget his cunning and will never allow him to treat him that way with herself! The princess forced herself to take a deep breath several times, looked at herself in the mirror with an appraising glance, pulled on the straps of her chemise, straightened her curls, getting out of her hair, put ice palms to her burning cheeks. Everything. Now she finally came to her senses, and in front of her was waiting for the coronation, followed by an incessant two-week festival, during which her every day is painted by the minute. She will not be up to him, not up to Verlaine ... then she will think what to do with him. In the end, her father punished her always and in everything to listen to his advice, to respect him and trust him ... No, she can no longer trust this type, but in memory of her father she is ready to show her mercy.

***

“Give Her Highness another five minutes.” She is extremely excited before the upcoming ceremony and wants to pray alone, ”said Verlaine Ober, the master of ceremonies over her shoulder, without even stopping. Here, nothing more depended on him, so he could boldly do other things. Much depends on how this girl shows herself today. The queen has no right to lose self-control either from passion or from betrayal. Let her learn to control herself - she will have a difficult fate, and she should gradually learn to overcome difficulties.

***

Everything flashed before Chantal's eyes like a hurricane, full of life, colors and sounds.One action immediately followed another - processions, balls, horseback riding, fountains, fireworks, Chinese lanterns over the park; boats on dark water, decorated with flowers; concerts; tables bursting with food; laughter, smiles. She only had time to change her dress, repeat long jagged speeches, bow out to her courtiers and guests and have fun, have fun from the heart. Everything seemed like a beautiful dream, which you forget right after you open your eyes, but for a long time you still feel its cloying aftertaste. And so, one day she woke up alone in her bedroom, at dawn, and no one woke her up, because today she was entitled to a well-deserved rest without any specific timetables. A smug smile blossomed on the lips of Her Majesty. She already knew that everything went great, that the whole kingdom was delighted with her intelligence, education, beauty, upbringing and charm. The whole court crumbled in compliments, everyone sincerely congratulated her, bowed courteously and took oaths of eternal fidelity. The whole color of the aristocracy came to show its respect and to take a solemn oath. All Valaringia rejoiced and celebrated with her. Her reign will no doubt be a triumph!

Chantal with pleasure reached out in her silk bed and was about to ring the bell to summon her favorite, Marquis of Veil, Marie, but suddenly noticed some movement in her chambers. She jumped in surprise, ready to scream at any moment, but then she was speechless when she saw that from the depths of the room was none other than Duke Verlaine. He was wearing a velvet black suit with a strict dress coat, a pink vest embroidered with gold, a snow-white jabot and lace pleated sleeves. Her raven-black hair was tied into a ponytail, her blue eyes sizzling with mocking insight. The queen did not speak with him from the date of the coronation, but saw him only a week later at the oath ceremony, when he knelt before her knee, like all other subjects, and dryly kissed her gloved hand. For half a second she ventured to meet his gaze, and immediately looked down in embarrassment: he looked impertinently, arrogantly and imperatively, not at all like looking at her queen at the moment of the oath. The general turmoil and festive mood immediately eroded the exciting sensations from the charming head of a young girl, and she forgot to think about Verlaine. In addition, she knew that he had never loved noisy celebrations and preferred to remain in the shadows. By the edge of her ear she heard that he, it seems, was busy with important state affairs and that is why she did not appear to her. Now all of a sudden, memories of a recent incident before the coronation came out with a new force, and the girl's breath involuntarily caught her breath.

“What ... what are you doing in my chambers?”

- I just wanted to remind you that the next Royal Council will be held the day after tomorrow. It’s time for you to take up your duties.

- You could remind me of this and in another place! There was no need to come here!

To her surprise, Chantal did not notice anything but a haughty smile on the duke’s face.

“Your Majesty ...,” he said in an icy tone with a balance, “In your position I would recommend you not to show me your temper.” The fact is that you have no idea about the true state of affairs in the country, or about the difficult situation in international politics, but most importantly, you are completely unaware of who surrounds you in the palace and what you can expect from these people.

- From you, as I understand it, I definitely should not expect anything good! - suddenly flared up Chantal. She jumped out of bed, her hair spread like a wild thunder cloud over her shoulders and back, and a loose silk shirt slid off her rounded shoulder, through the thin fabric of which her hardened nipples appeared. “A warlike spectacle,” not without sarcasm, Verlaine said to himself, walking steadily toward the queen's bed.

- I will not hide that from me you will also have to endure some inconveniences. I do not intend to indulge your whims, and I am going to achieve your complete submission. I do not want to endanger the public interest, following the whimsical girl, so you have to hide your royal pride away and obey ... Read more →