rian

- The house has become so quiet ... - Livina looked lost. She crumpled a lace handkerchief in her hands, as if she did not know where to put it. And for some reason she avoided meeting her brother's gaze. “It’s even unusual… You know, until this morning you sent the chests with Eliza’s things back, I didn’t believe that she had really left.

“Consider this short-lived nightmare ended completely and irrevocably,” Ryan smiled reassuringly at his sister, nodded to the butler, who handed him a winter coat. - By the evening I will return already again single. But in any case, don’t wait for me, I might be late - just because Vincent offered to arrange a celebration on the occasion of this divorce.

But Livina was not upset. And although her lost appearance was a little alarming, so far he attributed everything to the hassle of the last time. Still, immediately after the wedding ceremony, Eliza stopped pretending to be sweet and harmless, in all her glory she showed her evil character. Yesterday even the servants made a celebration that she left.

Well, it remains only to put an end to this matter, and you can forget that in general this temporary unkindness was.

Already sitting in the carriage, briskly rolling along the snow-covered streets of the city, Rian caught himself thinking that for some reason he had been feeling uneasy since the very morning. As if scratching in the depths of the soul a strange premonition. It was as if he was waiting for something, madly waiting, and it’s already very close, very close ... Is it all just because of a divorce? But this is already the issue resolved.

Plus, there are plenty of other worries. And tomorrow's secret meeting with the king, and a lot of debts, hanged by her stepfather in the name of their family, and Livina's sudden desire to leave for a year in a boarding house in Hampling - and that's all, not counting the current affairs with the mines.

Temporary marriage was only one of the points that had to be fulfilled, but now you can forget about this short period of life with a clear conscience.

Near the temple, a carriage with the coat of arms of the Damlis family was already waiting - probably the parents accompanied Eliza. But here it remained only once again to sympathize. Ideally, they would sooner sell her again in marriage, and even so that she went somewhere. Only then can they breathe easy.

Ryan quickly climbed the steps of the temple, nodding in response to the bow of the guard at the main arched entrance. The spacious hall smelled of incense, and there were so many candles that they had accumulated, as if they were trying to heat the whole building. And, most importantly, silence reigned! And where is Eliza's swearing, expected from the threshold and echoed under the high vaults? Or has she already tied up the high priest and is now torturing him?

Passing the wide staircase and the main ceremonial hall, now dark and empty, Ryan reached the door of the high priest's office located just behind the hall. But Lord Mavrus was waiting here. Had Eliza forced her father to stoop to tearful coaxing?

"Lord Mavrus, don't," Ryan stopped him before the venerable man could speak at all. - With all due respect - and at the same time sympathy - for you, this issue has been resolved.

But for some reason he answered in a whisper, coming very close to Ryan:

- This is all, of course, unfortunate, but I still wanted to ask something else, - cautiously looking at the door, he added even more quietly: - What is the matter with Eliza? She doesn't look like herself.

- I.e? Ryan frowned. I did not want to suspect this honest man of cheap tricks.

"It's like they've been substituted," only Lord Mavrus's nervousness didn't seem fake. “Yesterday, in hysterics, she smashed everything in the house that could be smashed at all, with the exception of her statues. Today, for half a day, she didn’t appear at all, but now she is quiet, silent, only as if on her guard ... Have you noticed anything strange about Eliza lately?

So I wanted to answer, they say, suddenly she just has a certain limit in malice and she exhausted all of it yesterday, and now she has calmed down. Ryan just shook his head.

- Well, I see, - Lord Mavrus sighed. “Maybe this is just normal behavior on her part…”

- Gaffin already there?

“The High Priest has been urgently summoned to the palace, so we will be received by his assistant. However, the verdict is in any case ready.

He himself no longer began to detain Ryan. One by one they entered the office.

It no longer smelled of incense. It smelled of spices and sweets in here. And so it was drawn, how the high priest was quietly chewing something, strewn with crumbs on a massive table and ritual scrolls, while no one was watching.

Themis, Gaffin's second-in-command, skinny as a pole, further accentuated by the oversized ritual robe, jumped up briskly from his chair and bowed as Ryan entered. The downcast Lady Amiraya nodded in greeting, and Eliza... And where, by the way, is Eliza? Decided not to appear at all, hoping that without her presence the marriage would not be dissolved?

And who is the dark-haired girl sitting in the chair in front? She didn't even bother to turn around when he appeared.

‍​- Good afternoon, Your Grace! - Themis, apparently, just in case, even bowed twice. "Since you're already here, would you like me to start?"

Ryan didn't answer right away. Only after walking forward a little, I was convinced that the girl in the chair was Eliza after all. Only for some reason now the hair is dark ...

True, it was not so much the color of the hair that surprised, but her reaction itself. Eliza though looked at him, but with a bit of curiosity, even studying ... And that's it! No more emotions! And what about the drama of the century due to the fact that she will never become a duchess? But what about the tragic hand-wringing of both oneself and others? Why did she suddenly not only subside, but seemed to have completely lost all interest in what was happening?

For some reason, that strange foreboding intensified, and it was precisely from looking at the already almost ex-wife ... No, why did she have dark hair? And why does it bother him so much?

- Start, - Ryan did not sit down in a chair, and remained standing.

With a smile so radiant, as if he was going to marry someone, and not vice versa, the assistant high priest said:

- So, we have gathered here on a solemn ... - he stammered, - well, or not a very solemn ... occasion, and since it was I who was honored ...

- Can you get straight to the point? Ryan interrupted, trying not to show irritation. He had never before been impressed by long introductory speeches, and here, even more so, he wanted to end it all as soon as possible.

- Yes, yes, of course, Your Grace, as you say, - Themis began to unwind the scroll so fussily that he almost got tangled in his own excessively long sleeves. He quickly ran his eyes over the lines and finally read: - For this, it was decided to postpone the dissolution of marriage for a period equal to one week, in order to give the parties time to come to an agreement and not destroy the sacred bonds of the wedding ceremony ...

Oddly enough, it was Eliza who reacted first.

- Excuse me, did I understand correctly, the divorce is postponed for a week? - and there was no enthusiasm in her voice about this.

- Yes, exactly, - Themis quickly nodded. - That's the solution.

Ryan took the scroll from him, read it all himself. No, not that it was some kind of unseen, sometimes they really postponed the termination of bonds for a certain period. But in their case, why?

"I don't like it," he retorted decisively, returning the scroll.

- You have every right to appeal the decision of Mr. Gaffin, Your Grace! True, it will take just a week to consider the complaint ... - throwing an even more timid look at Rian, he continued to read: - In addition, the spouses are obliged to live under the same roof for the entire period set by him, to keep wedding vows, so as not to cause gossip and gossip in society. And to comply with these conditions, magical supervision is established. In case of violation of the above, the period measured for reconciliation will be extended ... - and then he added on his own behalf, even slightly pulling his head into his shoulders: - Your Grace, I'm sorry, but everything is according to the law ...

As if he didn't know! But Gaffin had to do without all this! Did Lord Mavrus fuss under the pressure of his hysterical daughter? Yes, only something Eliza herself does not seem to be happy with what is happening.

- That is, we have to portray spouses for a week, otherwise we will not be divorced at all? - looking at Ryan with such doubt, as if even a cockroach running along the wall would have aroused more enthusiasm in her, she clarified with Themis.

- It turns out that it is, - he carefully rolled up the scroll. “Mr. Gaffin has judged that just a month of your marriage is too early to make such hasty decisions. You have been given a week to reconcile. And exactly in a week we are waiting for you again here to either terminate the marriage bond, or to remove this issue. And, by the way, from the moment all these conditions are read to you, magical supervision begins. And if you do not live in the same house this week, do not begin to appear in secular society as a married couple, we will immediately know about the violation. And how long will your term for reconciliation last then ... I don’t even know.

- Well, everything is clear, - Lord Mavrus grabbed his dumbfounded wife by the elbow and led to the exit, - it's time for us. Eliza, don't worry, we'll send the chests with your things back to you today.

Her parents left the office in such a hurry, as if they feared that Rian would hold them accountable for this delay ploy.

Mentally gathered all his patience. Well, think about a week. Look, I endured Eliza for a whole month and nothing. Of course, this delay provokes unflattering remarks, but here, indeed, according to the law, there is no way to challenge it.

"Let's go," he commanded irritably.

Eliza looked at him as if he could go to hell with his teams. But still she got up from her chair, straightened the folds of her lush hem. Completely unperturbed, Themis clarified:

- Tell me, we should portray spouses only in society, right? And as for living, it only says that under one roof, right? - after his nod, she immediately continued: - That is, when we are not in public, we can not contact at all?

- Yes, - he clearly did not understand where she was driving.

But Ryan understood even less. Eliza is going to stay away from him? Seriously? No, of course, he himself is already planning with might and main so that she does not protrude from the far wing of the mansion at all and does not an eyesore, but here she herself tends to this. And it doesn't look like it's fake!‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‍

- Well, okay, - she glanced at Ryan again, but now as at an annoying something that still has nowhere to go, - after all, a week is not so long.

She was the first to leave the office. Trying to scrape together a little patience and calmness, Ryan followed her.

Elizabeth

Playing the wife of a man for a week, whose name I don’t even know? .. No, definitely, life didn’t prepare me for this. Well, where is this non-guardian with his wise advice?

Alas, the ghost was in no hurry to appear. So my whole society has so far been limited to Eliza's husband. He was now sitting across from me in the carriage as we drove in an unknown direction. It was already beginning to evening, so twilight reigned here too. And in this twilight my companion seemed to me even gloomier than before.

No, I couldn't help but admit that my local doppelgänger had managed to marry an extremely attractive man. Fatal brunette with a piercing look, the figure of an athlete and the composure of a granite rock. He seemed to be able to kill anyone with a look. And if he doesn’t kill someone with a glance, he will easily strangle him with his bare hands. And against the background of this dangerous individual, my Igor appeared to be just the cutest plush bunny, courteous and sweet. Eh ... Here's how to stop thinking that I'm now away from him forever? ..

All the way there was silence. And although I perfectly felt the look of this type, I myself looked out the window of the carriage. Interestingly, here the street lights flickered clearly not with light bulbs and not with fire. Magic? After all, since there are magicians in this world, as the ghost said, then there is magic. And while this is the only thing that seems attractive here ...

When we arrived, Eliza's husband got off the carriage first. He gave me his hand, rather, simply by the developed reflex of a secular boyfriend, and not because he really cared so that I would not fall out of the carriage and smash my face into a snowdrift. But I didn't touch his hand. Not out of a desire to ignore or anything. Simply, firstly, there was a convenient handrail at the door of the carriage. And, secondly, as soon as it opened, the gaze immediately riveted the towering mansion. Even larger and more impressive than Eliza's parents, he, like a gloomy giant, gloomily shone through the arched windows in the twilight. Just to match its owner, the monastery.

The carriage stopped just a few steps from the front door, so that all that remained was to climb the wide steps, so perfectly cleared of snow, as if it were summer at all. The doors were helpfully opened by an elderly butler. And although Eliza's husband let me go ahead, but having given his coat to the servant, he was the first to disappear into the bowels of the house.

And so I stopped in a spacious hall. Nevertheless, despite the external gloom of the mansion, everything inside seemed quite comfortable so far. I even became curious what the rooms look like, to which this wide staircase with carved railings leads, and what is there in the side corridors, and why the butler is looking at me as if I were a horseman of the apocalypse suddenly bursting in here ...

By the way, really why?

Since Eliza's husband had given his coat to this strange old man, I, following the example, gave my cape.

And undressed.

The butler looked at me. On my boots. Again on me.

- It's snowing outside, but it's clean here, - for some reason I already felt embarrassed.

So, okay, you need to get away from the locals as soon as possible, while you haven’t pierced in anything yet. That's just my first time in this house!

- I'm so terribly tired, could you show me to my room? I asked.

The butler blinked in confusion.

What? Not polite enough?

- Please, be so kind, - smiled in addition.

For some reason, he looked again at my shoes, and the stream also at the door, as if he wanted to ask her what had happened to me outside the house. No, really, as if my behavior seems to him very strange for some reason.

- Of course, madam, - the old man still spoke, - please.

With a fright, he led me like this, holding outer clothing in his hands. We climbed the stairs to the second floor, and then we moved along the corridor to the left to the next staircase. On the way, first one maid came across, then another. And although both hurriedly bowed, they looked at me as if they definitely did not expect to see me here. Ah, yes, the servants must have been aware of the divorce. Well, I'm sorry, it's not my fault, and in a week I won't be here anyway.

The butler led me into a spacious bedroom. And, oh happiness, there were no statues and portraits of anyone. Left in splendid isolation, I immediately looked into the bathroom, into the dressing room, now empty, and sat on the bed, looking around the bedroom with a leisurely glance. No, definitely not a bad place to hang around for a week. I'll finally get some sleep. I will ask the servants for books on local geography and history. So I'll make good use of this time. And then, when the term of my reservation ends, I will study this world in practice, and not in theory ...

There was a knock on the door, knocking me out of my thoughts.

“Mistress,” the young maid reported with a bow, “the master has ordered you to come down to supper.

Hoba ... In the carriage, we, therefore, played silent and staring, and also, for sure, thinkers "How to throw the imposed wife into the nearest ditch and say that it was so." And then all of a sudden we want to eat together?

- Thank you, but tell your master that I'm not hungry.

She obviously wanted to ask again, but she didn't. After bowing once more, she left so hurriedly, as if she was afraid that I would definitely be puzzled by something.

‍​Still, the servants here are strange ... And Eliza's husband is strange ... Although, maybe it's just that I'm strange by the standards of this world and don't fit into the general team?

But in any case, for the time being it is necessary to avoid communication with everyone who knew Eliza well. I don't know anything about her at all! And I can easily betray my imposture with any little thing. So I will sit out this week in a room as a recluse, to the delight of myself and others.

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