2.9

Kamily woke up and looked out the window - the syrinxes were already approaching the palace in anticipation of the coronation. She reached for a luxurious white dress on a hanger glittering with transparent rhinestones.

"How are you?" Lariel asked sympathetically as he entered her room. "Ready?"

"Ready! I don't have a choice," she irritably pulled her new dress, trying to flatten her plump belly.

"Did Erin say that?"

"Erin… I don't recognize him at all, he's become strange. I thought, at least he would offer me to run away somewhere, to hide. But not! Become a Queen! It's such an honor! Palian did something to him. Did he tell you what he did there?"

"He described a little. There were women..."

"Well, of course, he had fun with them there. Palian took him there on purpose to spoil Erin, he thinks it will make me angry, but I don't care anymore."

"I'll run away from you anyway," Kamily said quietly. "As soon as Palien flies away, so immediately. Let the princesses serve you ..."

Kamily walked out of the palace onto a vast terrace and sat down in a high-backed chair. All the citizens lined up in front of the palace, ready to be sworn in. Palian approached her with an indifferent expression, holding in his hands an elegant blue crown of twenty-two rays with one large white crystal - the symbol of the Stronghold and the colonies.

"I'm Palian, Supreme Archon of the colony of Zaria, by the power vested in me, I appoint Kamily as Queen of Zaria," he approached and crowned her with a tiara.

"From now on, the Code of Thrive, established by the Holy Archons of Xanthari, is officially in force, the resultant for each settlement of the Syrinxes, according to which love relationships between men are prohibited. The Queen is obliged to reproduce offspring, to solve all the emerging intimate needs of her citizens and to provide for the use of herself or other women. Everyone is now supposed to bend the knee, give their name and swear allegiance."

Each syrinx came up and down obediently in front of Queen, who was frozen motionless with an impregnable expression and an icy gaze.

Everyone noticed that the Queen did not smile at anyone and did not show any signs of attention, as if she was offended by her lieges. This was no longer the cheerful Kamily with whom they had communicated before and no one had to count on some kind of favor.

Palian noticed her cold attitude and at the end of the ceremony began to stare at her. He realized that she decided to suppress everyone with her indifference so that no one would want to flirt with her.

"You play an inaccessible bitch," Palian followed Kamily to the palace after the ceremony.

"I'm not playing," she snapped angrily. "I don't like anyone."

"Okay, let's see what happens next, "his eyes sparkled brightly. "How long will you last? Keep in mind that your direct duty is to love your lieges in every sense. And don't forget the princesses, I need them."

"Are you tired of your concubines? Do you need princesses?"

"Oh! Did Erin tell you about mine concubines?" Palien chuckled.

"No, I guessed."

"Then, you have no idea how much he liked them," Palien turned around and left the palace with a evil laugh.

Kamily plucked the crown from her head and flung it violently on the floor. Hatred for her new life and inevitable fate tore her soul to shreds.

Since then, Lariel and Erin noticed that Kamily stopped paying attention to them, she closed herself in and did not want to communicate with anyone. Many times they tried to get her to talk, but she did not give up, cast an angry glance at them and silently walked away.

"Erin, what did you say to her then before the coronation, she hates us all now," Lariel tried to find out.

"She seemed to agree when I asked her to be the Mother of our folk, Erin replied absently. I did not expect that she would behave like this, especially since she is pregnant, no one has bothered her yet. Why doesn't she want to see us?"

"She thinks she is being used, not loved! Doesn't believe in love. She needs time to come to her senses, to understand how she should live on. Let's not touch her for now. I will look after her, you are now very busy with the defense."

Erin sighed heavily, frowned and went about his business.

Day after day passed, but her mood did not change. Lariel was calmed only by the fact that Kamily often began to plunge into long meditations, sitting in the garden with their baby Eki. He hoped that this would help her get out of resentment and disappointment. The Queen stubbornly did not accept any of her lieges, who dreamed of her favor and attention.

Palian occasionally flew in to check on Kamily's condition, watching her for a long time through the window with his penetrating gaze.

"She will resign herself to her fate," he assured. "The Source will help her."

Once Erin managed to call Kamily to a conversation:

"Forgive me, my love, stop being offended."

He tried to take her hand, but she pulled it back.

"Why waste time on me, go and have fun with Palien's concubines, you liked them so much."

Her words seemed to burn Erin.

"Who told you that? I didn't like them at all," he hurried up to deny. "They look like women, but they are empty shells, there is no attraction to them. They smile stupidly and try to please. I don't need them, Kamily! I love you! I share you with my brother, and you were offended because of some faceless creatures that they slipped into me, there's not even anything to be jealous of."

Erin got very excited and knelt down in front of her.

"Don't reject me for this nonsense."

"Erin, we still have to part ways, someone else will take your place. It was your idea, and you pushed me into the arms of your relatives so that they would have fun with me. It was you who set me on this path - to be the Mother of your race and live according to the rules of Thrive, you yourself begged me ..."

"Why is Lariel next to you? Isn't he the very first person to hurt you? Why do you love him so?"

"I forgave him everything. He became my friend and lives nearby, raising our son."

"Forgive me for everything, I can't get away from you, I will endure everything," he buried his head in her knees, wrapping his arms around them.

Lariel watched this scene with surprise, it was obvious that Erin was asking her forgiveness, maybe Kamily would finally come to life. He ventured to approach her when his brother had gone.

"Will you talk to me?" he asked with a sly smile. "So… it was Erin's fault? Have you forgiven him?"

"He does not want to leave after the birth of his child, he begged not to drive away." Was sad answer.

"Ah! Well, yes, we have enough places for everyone in the palace," he said ironically. "But everyone wants to sit at your feet especially after this idiotic ban. The guys are now very unhappy, unable to satisfy their passions. I do not even appear in society and do not communicate with the brothers. They envy me and Erin..."

"This situation is pissing me off," Kamily snapped. "We must somehow find the princesses and bring mortal women to please my loving lieges."

"I will help you find them."

Lariel drew her to him, plunging her into his arms.

"I missed you and you completely moved away from me. I'm your friend and you can always count on my help."

He showered her with kisses and she melted into his adoration.