rian

This is not Eliza.

No, of course, the option flashed through her mind that she just changed her strategy and pretended to be on purpose. But no, this is clearly not a matter of pretense ...

The first suspicions grew stronger already in the carriage. Although even in the high priest's office it immediately seemed that something with Eliza was not the way Lord Mavrus had said. But only on the way home I took a closer look at her.

It seems to be identical appearance, not counting the hair color, but facial expressions, facial expressions are completely different. And after all, no pretense or affectation! She does not portray indifference, as if she really is not interested in him at all. At most, it causes only annoyance, like a sudden hindrance.

And somehow it ... puzzles.

Not the very fact that Eliza was replaced by such a superficially similar girl. And the fact that they did it was definitely not for the purpose of harming him. After all, then the girl would not be so detached. She was clearly upset when they announced the extension of the marriage for a week. Although at the same time there is no doubt that it was the real Eliza who convinced her father to influence the high priest. It turns out that they changed it today or last night.

But why? Who can possibly benefit from this? Eliza's parents, although wealthy, are still not so rich as to start such a scam for the sake of their fortune. Then who is the purpose of this substitution? He has enough enemies himself, and it is quite logical that someone would try to get closer to him in this way. That's just the impostor at the same time she tries to stay away from him.

And on the one hand, it was worth immediately handing over to the authorities. But on the other hand ... Something catches, intrigues in it. The aura of an unsolved riddle is mixed with an intuitive certainty that the stranger is still harmless. And whoever put on this performance, she herself is only a pawn, not a puppeteer. So before revealing her imposture to someone, it’s better to figure everything out yourself first.

Dinner together is just a good start to test the waters. That's just…

- Did she say that? At first, I couldn't even believe my ears.

“Yes, sir,” the maid confirmed timidly, “the lady replied that she was not hungry.” Would you like dinner served just for you?

No. So easily the impostor will not get away.

“Serve dinner directly to the mistress in the bedroom,” he commanded. - And immediately.

With a hasty nod, the maid hurried away down the corridor.

That's all, the issue is resolved. Even if the unknown girl herself strives not to show herself once again, she will not succeed in any case. Today he will force her to confess her imposture and hand over all those responsible. After all, maybe she's just so harmless in appearance. But if he himself has nothing to fear, then there is also Livina in the house, naive and completely defenseless. So don't let her be a threat.

Well, what can we hide, it intrigues a lot who this stranger is ...

All month before, he had never entered the bedroom in which Eliza had settled. Marriage was originally purely for cold calculation, and the temporary wife, for all her outward beauty, did not interest him at all. He never even kissed her, including the marriage ceremony, to say nothing of something more. Moreover, when a couple of weeks ago, Eliza herself showed up in his bedroom half-naked, this only caused irritation. And not a bit of lust.

Therefore, even now I had no doubt that no unnecessary emotions and impulses towards the impostor would interfere. The appearance is still the same. And Rian opened the door of her bedroom with exceptionally cold-blooded thoughts, unshakable self-control and ... a bewildered stupor, when a pillow flew into his face from the threshold.

What is going on?!

Elizabeth

The ghost, who is supposedly the guardian, showed up right in the middle of the room. And not that I was happy about this gloomy type, but so far, whatever one may say, he was the only one who could somehow help me.

- Stuck here for a week, then - the first thing he stated. He chuckled at some of his thoughts: - The irony of fate, you can't say otherwise ... - but then he continued in a businesslike manner: - Well, let's move closer to the point. Let your return to your home world be impossible, but I know how to give you what you really need.

A normal "guardian angel"?

- And what? I asked curiously, looking at how strangely the golden pattern on the walls was refracted through a translucent ghost.

- In this world there is a double of the man you are in love with. And I can easily bring you together.

That's what I knew! Igor's double is also there! And for sure just as wonderful! But, of course, it is very problematic to look for it yourself in a whole unfamiliar world. What if he's somewhere on another continent? So a hint would definitely help me here. Only the ghostly magician is not at all like the one who, with tears of tenderness, contributes to the reunification of hearts in love.

- And what do you want in return for your help?

The ghost smiled contentedly. He was obviously pleased that I myself perfectly understand what was what and did not expect here an attraction of unprecedented generosity.

- I need one item. From one closed place where I myself can not get in any way.

- Are there barriers for ghosts? I was just watching him walk through the chair.

- Magical barriers also affect ghosts. And where I need to go, in general, not a single living soul will pass. Except you.

- Why am I so special? - I was even more worried.

- Boring questions. Let's go without it, - he instantly snapped very categorically. “I’ll tell you exactly what to bring, where to bring it from and how to get there without any consequences for you.” And as soon as you get the artifact, I will not only lead you to your lover's doppelgänger, but I will personally organize a "happily ever after" for you. Well, before that, no questions, no sentimentality - a clear business agreement. What do you say?

I will say that you are such a muddy type that I don’t want to trust you at all. But on the other hand, for some reason it is believed that he is telling the truth.

- Well, let's say, - I nodded, - but I want to know in advance what I'm getting into. In addition, I have a catastrophic lack of basic knowledge about the local world. Yes, I can’t even imagine which of the forks to grab onto if I have to sit down at the same table with someone!

The ghost grimaced, but relented nonetheless.

“You will get all the information you need on etiquette and even some skills in a dream,” he lightly waved his hand, as if driving away an annoying fly in my direction. The flash that rushed from his fingers melted away from my eyes with such lightning speed that I didn’t even have time to get scared. - That's it, the magic dream is activated. So you're about to fall asleep. Tomorrow we will discuss all the details of my plan. After all, you'll only have to play the part of Rian's wife for a week.

Aha! Ryan! So that's the name of Eliza's husband!

And then he disappeared, leaving me alone with rolling drowsiness.

I didn't waste any time, fearing that I would nap right on the rug. Even though there were no more clothes here, I remembered very well that under this heavy dress there was a light, thin shirt in which it was quite possible to sleep.

Having undressed and somehow dealt with a complex hairstyle, I was about to collapse onto the bed, as the door opened without knocking.

Reflexes worked faster than thoughts. And with a fright, the pillow flew into the unknown before I figured out who it was. However, when she saw the newcomer, she did not really regret the projectile launched into him.

“Weren’t you taught that you should knock on the door before entering?” As they say, the best defense is an attack. You never know with what intentions he came here. And it’s better to immediately let him know that nothing shines for him here. Whatever relationship they have with Eliza, but excuse me, Herr Duke, for me you are a completely leftist man.

‍​rian

No, this is finally and irrevocably not Eliza ...

Even the mind can be fooled, but certainly not the instincts.

And now his instincts clearly hint that this girl, who is now standing a few steps away from him in one nightgown, with loose hair and an extremely belligerent look, is certainly not his hated wife. A wife whom he even outwardly couldn’t stand. And here…

“Weren’t you taught that you should knock on the door before entering?” - and in fact, it seems that he is not even embarrassed by him. Although any well-bred girl would be horrified at the mere thought that an outsider would find her in such a half-naked form. But maybe it's just that this one is already quite experienced, despite her age?

Trying to focus on her question, and not on chiseled legs and a very eloquent neckline, Ryan retorted with perfect calmness:

- Why should I suddenly knock on the bedroom to my wife, and even in my own house?

- From the fact that there are certain norms of morality and banal politeness - only she was not going to give in. She crossed her arms over her chest, either unconsciously making it clear that she had gone on the defensive, or just belatedly decided to hide behind.

“In my house, only my laws apply,” he smiled condescendingly.

- To our mutual relief, in a week I will finally leave this house. But until then, I ask you not to burst in like that without knocking. And in case you haven't noticed, I'm just about to go to bed, so... - she glanced eloquently at the door.

On "you" means. Obviously to emphasize the distance between them, and not because of the rules of etiquette.

- Yes, I noticed - for some reason, this confrontation attracted more and more. “But I also noticed that you,” deliberately emphasized the appeal, “ignored my order to come down to dinner.” But, so be it, if you do not want to leave the bedroom, then we will have dinner here. The servants are about to bring everything. And be kind enough to wear something.

But not only because outsiders will enter here. But because it’s more and more difficult for yourself to concentrate on business and not think about what you definitely shouldn’t think about now.

She didn't answer right away. Surely she was mentally looking for a good reason to guarantee to put him on his way. But still she didn't respond.

- Well, you can stay for dinner.

Almost choked on air.

That's how she turned everything out so that he himself turned out to be the petitioner ?!

But even though this jarred, he still could not help but notice that she did not begin to refuse any more, certainly not because she was imbued with his authority. Looks like she just got…curious?

She disappeared into the dressing room. He followed her with his eyes, noticing every movement. Surprisingly ... She doesn’t show off in front of him, she doesn’t try to be attractive. And, most likely, she does not even realize that she is almost hypnotizing ...

How so? In fact, the appearance is identical to Elise! But from that one it turned back, and already from the threshold I want to drag it to the bed. Or any other horizontal surface. And not necessarily horizontal. AND…

So. Enough. It is necessary to find out why this impostor is here and who she is, I don’t imagine her in very tempting fantasies ...

Something rumbled in the closet.

‍​Elizabeth

The last time I was so covered during the session, when before the exam in higher mathematics I did not sleep for two days. I then ended up almost falling asleep right on the bench in the corridor opposite the audience.

And just like that, drowsiness overcame me so hard that I almost fell right in the empty dressing room. She barely had time to grab onto one of the shelves, but she was holding on too loosely, fell down, knocking down those under her as well.

Only this roar still did not bring me to my senses. It seems I fell. Or she didn't fall, because she didn't even feel pain. I actually didn't feel anything physically. And I don’t even know if I was dreaming or if there was a clear questioning voice:

- What happened? Are you okay?

But in this state, I could not even figure out who exactly was asking. Consciousness, although it tried to fight the magical dream, but it was all to no avail. So maybe the question that followed was exactly the same to me.

- What is your real name?

But did I answer it or not? .. And did I answer the one that sounded after? ..

What about the real Eliza? What's with her?

All this was dissolved in the unreality of the dream, and I simply did not remember anything else ...

rian

She slept.

And no, not just asleep - before her eyes closed, the purple veil eclipsing them was all too clearly visible. Did someone send her a magical dream? But why?

However, there were also pluses in what was happening. She couldn't control herself right now.

- What's your real name? - although he held her in his arms, he did not leave the dressing room yet.

"Lisa," whispered the impostor, barely audible. His eyes were already closed, his head was slightly thrown back. And it's amazing how Lisa managed until she finally fell into a dream.

Fearing that she might not even hear the question, Rian added:

What about the real Eliza? What's with her?

- I didn’t even see her ... She is very, very far away ...

All. The magical dream won. Even breathing and a little trembling purple shimmer on Lisa's eyelashes spoke for themselves.

Still carefully holding her in his arms, Ryan returned to the bedroom. He lowered Liza onto the bed and immediately covered him with a bedspread so as not to draconize himself with the too seductive appearance of a sleeping charm.

However, he didn't leave right away. He just stood by the bed and looked thoughtfully at the impostor.

She does not look like a villain and an intriguer. Whatever role she plays in this scam, Lisa is definitely not the instigator. It must be under someone's control. And, obviously, a magician. Moreover, the magician is not weak, since it is impossible to penetrate into the magical dream he has induced.

And on the one hand, you need to be on the alert every moment. But on the other hand… Why is what is happening so intriguing? Where does this strange anticipation come from? As if he brought not a hidden threat to his house, but an exciting riddle that would be so pleasant to solve ...

Well, it looks like this week of reprieve won't be all that hard after all. Whatever game Lisa plays, you can still play this game together ...

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