And here was the opportunity to start all over from scratch. And Irishka tried with all her might to be Aola ryu Moro, even in her thoughts referring to herself with a new, such a melodious name. And that is to say, being a young beauty countess is much better than a thirty-year-old city archive worker disappointed in family life.

The bell rang again, and she sighed heavily as she swung her legs out of bed, trying to find her slippers.

"Aola, are you ready?" The door swung open without knocking, and Marie fluttered into the cell. Irishka involuntarily admired the pretty green-eyed blonde, with whom she managed to make friends during this time. - Overslept? Do you dream? Did you read past midnight again? Questions poured in one after another. “Or are you killing yourself over a little pig again?” - this restless one asked, making her eyebrows a house.

Stepping barefoot on the icy floor, her slippers were nowhere to be found, Aola grimaced from the cold and shifted her gaze to the portrait of the groom, which hung just opposite the bed. The Marquis of Custers ri Cavigny really had something of a pig in his appearance, a kind of local bottling Naf Naf. A plump, cheeky red-haired boy looked from the picture at the girls, capriciously sticking out his lower lip. Offended and dissatisfied, he held out a scarlet rose to the spectators with his right hand, leaning with his left on a desk decorated with a model of a sailboat. It seemed that the guy was forcibly torn away from an exciting game with a boat and forced to pose for a stupid portrait. Marie believed, and Aola had no choice but to agree with her, that most of all the artist succeeded in the rose, sailboat and satin azure bows on the cobalt, gold-woven shoes of Custers.

"The picture was painted eighteen years ago?" - girlfriend carefully looked at the portrait of Custers Naf Naf.

- Well, yes ... This piglet grew, grew .. Grew, grew .. and grew ...

- What grew? asked Marie, who knew nothing about the operetta "Princess of the Circus".

- Yes, what has grown, then it has grown, you can’t return it, - the laughter came out a little nervous. - We'll see soon.

"Get dressed quickly, we'll be late for breakfast."

“Already.” Aola finished her braid and straightened the lace collar of her blue uniform dress. - Let's go.

Marie clicked her heels loudly, retelling all the latest news and did not need an interlocutor. She had time to tell about the wonderful little white puppies who had recently opened their eyes, about the passionate affair of the head washerwoman and the groom, about the quarrel between Karla and Marianna, who fought like simple kitchen girls, about the arrival of the manager of the estates, ri Cavigny ...

- Wait. Who has arrived?

- Mr. di Martin, he ..

- I know who he is - came out too abruptly. - Excuse me, dear, but why ...

- Aola ri Moro, the Most Serene Iliad is waiting for you, - Sister Martha intervened in the conversation, as if woven from the shadows. - Hurry up, have breakfast later. - a tall, skinny, always dressed in black, feisty teacher among loving pupils had the nickname Karga.

Without even thinking of arguing, the girl, nodding in agreement, went to the office of the headmistress of the boarding house, wondering to herself what threatens her with the arrival of the Chevalier de Martin.

Chapter four

Climbing up the steep stairs, Irishka found herself in the gallery of the Founders. Portraits of the headmistresses, illuminated by sunlight penetrating through the lancet windows, looked sternly from the walls, as if they knew the secret of the visitor. Every time she was here, she felt terribly uncomfortable. Trying to quickly hide from reproachful eyes, the girl knocked on the nearest door and, waiting for permission, stepped into the office.

In the spacious, very modestly furnished room, Serenity was not alone. A man of about forty-five rose to meet Ira. Small in stature, bright red, very mobile, he looked like a kind of ruddy donut, round and rich. However, the tenacious look of unexpectedly young brown eyes evoked thoughts that their owner is very difficult.

“Aola, allow me to introduce you to the Chevalier di Martin.” The Serene Highness pointed to the manager after the greetings had sounded. “Here and now he represents your fiancé.

- I am very glad to meet you, - the official tone of the mentor made it clear that it is worth delaying the questions.

“The Marquis ri Cavigny could not come, he has urgent business in Dagonia,” Iliad continued meanwhile. "So you'll have to marry by proxy." The ceremony will take place in two hours in the temple of the Great Mother. Go ahead and get ready.

The discouraged bride had no choice but to thank her Serene Highness in the most polite terms for the wonderful news, assure Mr. di Martin of her absolute joy, and leave the office on unbending legs. Somehow, the upset girl reached her room and, moaning, pressed her flaming forehead against the window pane. Realizing that she was entering into an arranged marriage, where there was no place for feelings, she counted at least on respect from her husband, and in the most secret corner of her soul lived a stupid hope for his possible love ...

- But I know what has grown out of you , Custers, - Ira wiped her angry tears. - You goat!!!

However, it was not possible to cry. The door creaked softly to let the Serene One in. Here and now there was no harsh, strict headmistress of the most prestigious boarding school for girls, a kind and understanding teacher came to her beloved student.

- My girl, you can handle everything, - the mentor hugged the frustrated Irishka, allowing her to bury her nose in the soft fabric of the mantle. “Come on, dry your tears quickly, otherwise your eyes will turn red and your nose will swell.” We won't show our weakness to anyone, will we? Do you remember everything I taught you, my beauty? Well, fine! Now put this on.

The brightest, like a magician, pulled out a small silver-encrusted box from somewhere. And in it ...

- Do you like it? - and seeing a consonant nod, she smiled. - Take it. Do not argue. I will not accept a rejection.

A rather massive gold chain of intricate weaving, decorated with pendants, was taken into the light of day. Stars, leaves, figurines made with extraordinary craftsmanship, shimmering with sparks of precious stones and enamels, attracted the eye.

- Loved it, magpie? Good belt? Put on. In our family, these were always given to girls. Pendants - amulets from the evil eye and mental influence, they will warn if the food is poisoned, they will not let you read thoughts, well, there are different things, you will figure it out.

-- Thanks.

- Sister Martha will bring the wedding dress now, we will prepare for the wedding. Until then, listen.

But the Most Serene did not succeed. The door slammed, and a furious Karga literally flew into the room with a pile of some rags.

"This... lover of vice has not sent a wedding dress or birth amulets!" Her eyes flashing indignantly, she dumped her burden on the bed. "Son of sin!" Puppy ungrateful!

“Goat,” prompted the bride.

- Yes, goat!

“Martha, calm down,” the headmistress reasoned. "Who are we to argue with the king's favorite, the talented magician his lordship the marquis ri Cavigny." Everything will be as he wants. The Serene Lady looked remarkably pleased.

- But how? - Karga even got confused.

“It’s just that under the circumstances, we have no choice but to perform the rite of the Great. The marquis doesn't need our girl, don't. We won’t force him, in three months he will return from Dagania a free man, - and answering Irishka’s surprised look, she continued. - This is a very ancient sacrament, it binds the fate of the newlyweds, intertwining them. Such a marriage cannot be dissolved, unlike the usual one, but there is one subtlety that only the initiates know about. If within forty-nine days after the ceremony the husband does not exercise his rights, the spouses become free from the bonds that bound them.

According to legend, all marriages used to be like this. People found love and happiness, their unions were harmonious, and their children were healthy. But one ...

- Goat, - Karga could not resist.

“Young man,” the Most Serene One threw a reproachful glance at her. - Windy, unfaithful, fickle, he neglected his wife sent by heaven ...

- Obviously the ancestor of our bastard, - Sister Martha could not help inserting a couple of coins.

“In those distant times, the gods still descended to earth and walked among people,” the headmistress continued, waving her hand at the mischievous mentor. - The great mother heard the complaints of the newlywed, she got angry at ...

- This is a lustful animal!

- An ungrateful young man and a stupid girl who agreed to get married, seeing that her lover ... - The Serene Highness looked meaningfully at Karga, she was imbued and said nothing, - she is not ready for marriage. She terminated their union, and began to give others time to think, seven times seven days. That's it. Now get changed, Aola, it's time for the temple.