2.14

Kamily joyfully ran up to Selestra walking in the garden.

"Well done!" The Queen took her by the hand. "Did not succumb to Palian?"

The princess laughed.

"But I was terrified, it seemed that he would swallow me."

They both laughed and twirled in their beautiful long dresses then sat down on the bench out of breath.

"So you didn't like him?" Kamily asked. 

"His beauty is dazzling, but there is something strange and frightening about him, I don't know how to explain."

"It's good that he won't get you," the Queen rejoiced. 

"What if he charmed me? What would happen to me?"

"Oh, come on, let's not talk about sad things. You now need to join our society. Gradually you will become an immortal syrinx."

The rumor that there is a new princess in the Kingdom stirred up all the syrinxes. They were looking forward to the Queen introducing her to society, but Kamily, trying to cool their ardor, insisted that the princess is not ready yet and afraid to get acquainted. Guests often visited the palace to see the girl at least out of the corner of their eye. They flew low over the palace garden in the hope of clarifying something, and Lariel's cousins demanded to meet her.

"Lar, please show us her," they urged in unison.  "We'll take a sneak peek."

"She is afraid of everyone, I have only seen her once," Lariel tried to ward them off. 

"Now she sits in his room and doesn't come out. Flying up to the window is useless, you won't see anything. The Queen forbids approaching her."

Sighs of disappointment erupted at his words.

"Is she even pretty?" Keleiro asked.

"Very!" Lariel teased his cousins even more.

Kamily is tired of persuading the princess to show herself to the people, having decided that the girl now needs more meditation to gain confidence and strength. The Queen spent all the time with Erin, preparing for childbirth and she had no time for receptions yet.

Selestra was very upset that she had to get to know everyone. She was terribly embarrassed that men would look at her, flirt and cast spells. She sat in her bedroom for days on end, not going out into the garden, despondent at the fact that this event could not be avoided. The girl was even afraid to imagine what it was like to stand in front of handsome sorcerers and the trembling ran through her body.

She did not want to see anyone except Lariel, the feeling of falling in love with whom did not leave her. It turned out that the mistress of the palace has another man Erin, no less beautiful and caring. The princess was surprised how you can love two guys at the same time, and how they all endure it, they all live together under one roof. Hope crept into her heart that Lariel could pay attention to her. She often secretly watched the Queen's lover walking in the garden with his son, but was embarrassed to go out and talk with him. Lariel himself avoided meeting the girl, knowing about her feelings for him and tried not to catch her eye. So they hid from each other until one day they collided in the same corridor.

Selestra greatly agitated decided to greet him:

"Hello, Lariel."

"Hi, princess," he said softly.

The girl looked at him desperately and did not look away.

"Can I help you with something?"

"Yes," she tried to control her excitement. "I would like to learn magic…"

"What exactly interests you?" Lariel asked with a sly smile.

"How to create cloth and items..."

"And you come to our party today, we will teach you," he wanted to get rid of communication with her and headed forward along the corridor.

"And who are we?"

"My cousins," he replied mockingly, knowing of her fear of guys.

"And how many of them will be there?"

"I don't know, five or ten..."

"Okay, I'll come," the girl herself did not expect such a decision from herself.

"Come, of course, we'll be waiting."

Lariel came up with this party on the fly, it was not planned at all. Just in case he have to invite three cousins to visit, and then the rest will catch up. He was very pleased with the prospect that the girl would fall in love with someone who would charm her, then she would leave her claims on him. After all, the princess could at any time demand him as her chosen one, and there was a chance to avoid this.

Selestra spent the rest of the day setting herself up to be brave enough to go to the party. She put on a thin light turquoise dress, elegant shoes and spun in front of the mirror for a long time, practicing to make a cold impregnable look and an imperious glance in order to cool especially ardent admirers. She understood that she could be enchanted and tried to imagine how she deftly dodges hot looks.

"One, two, and turned away. One, two, and goodbye! I am your mistress! You serve me!" such motivation gave her confidence.

She stamped her foot and grimacing in the mirror, made a fierce face.

The sun was setting when she went out into the garden looking for a party. Walking away from the palace through several flower arches, she came across three guys sitting by the fountain. They jumped as soon as they saw her.

"Princess!" Syrinxes joyfully blurted out.

They ran up to her, grabbed her by the arms and sat her on a bench. Each called his name, trying to catch Selestra's attention. It was noticeable how the fire lit up in their eyes. Remembering the charms she absently looked at them not dwelling on any of them. Lariel was not around, obviously he did not appear on purpose and set up this meeting.

"Do you want to play with magic?" Keleiro asked with a bewitching smile and began to show her tricks.