The Dragon's Vow or the Stubborn Bride

– This is Mallory Ritchie. Her father is not very noble, but rich. Industrialist. He got his start in the construction of gas tanks and the installation of lighting artifacts. Not your kind of bird, Jed. She catches bigger fish, like Aiz or Ethan,” the all-knowing Kai enlightened us.

– And these? – Jed pointed with his eyes at the retinue of guys waiting for her at a distance.

– Fools who are ready to serve for a smile. Some just like to rub shoulders, others hope to gain trust and get a chance, if not to become related to a wealthy family, then to stake out a warm place by the end of their studies. And Mallory just uses them.

– Wow! – Freckled said in surprise.

“Ethan, do you understand which one is yours?” – Aiz suddenly asked.

– Don't know. I don't feel anything. Perhaps we need to take a closer look at the girls. Almost all of them have their backs turned.

– So what are we waiting for?

Jed almost jumped out of the bushes, but I tugged at his sleeve.

– Quiet! We'll embarrass ourselves.

– Why?

“Because hiding in the bushes is unworthy of two princes and such glorious magicians as you and me,” Kayu patiently told him. – This is not very good for the reputation of the toughest guys at the academy.

– Understood. I'm sorry.

Jed sank down into his seat, and one by one the new girls filed into the building, only Beate H?gel remained on the porch. When the door closed behind the girls, she called:

– Hey, get out! Stop hiding!

My distant relative from the younger branch noticed us a long time ago, but did not show it.

“Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone that you’re peepers,” she said, smiling indulgently when we emerged from hiding.

– Hello, Bea! I didn’t expect to see you here, and even among the new ones,” I told her.

– Hello, Ethan. “I didn’t expect you to spy on these newest ones from the bushes,” she retorted.

Beate H?gel was such a badass, and she didn’t mince words. I walked over and we hugged.

– So what destinies? – I repeated my question

– Uncle Eric made me do it. He said that we need to demonstrate to everyone the seriousness of the upcoming changes. But you understand why they really did all this?

– And for what? – Jed asked, looking with admiration at the bright brunette, who violated all the rules and canons with her appearance, starting from short-cropped hair, styled in a picturesque mess, the color of a raven’s wing and bright scarlet provocative lipstick, and ending with clothing that followed all the curves of the body, in appearance too light for such cool weather.

Beata looked Freckled up and down with an appraising look and said nothing.

– So why were you hiding in the bushes? – she repeated her question.

“Ethan wanted to know which of the…” Jed began again, but Aiz grabbed him by the arm and pulled him to the side, whispering something angrily in his ear.

I looked at him gratefully. I had no intention of sharing my plans with Beata yet.

– Well, you wanted to meet the new ones, but the Ogress came with you. “I had to hide,” I explained.

– Ogre? Oh, you're talking about the dean's office! – the distant maternal relative guessed and smiled predatorily. – An unpleasant person, I agree with you. But she can't eat the dragon. By the way, why did she scare you all so much?

– Points are deducted for every sneeze, but do you know how difficult it is to earn them? Oh yes, of course you don’t! – I faked it.

– Are you really afraid of losing some points? You are the heir to the throne! – Beata made an incredulous face.

“I am the heir, but only the second in line, so I must study no worse than Mikael, you understand, right?” Uncle chooses which of us will sit on the throne after him. I can’t concede on anything, but Mika, he’s an excellent student.

– Your Mika is a complete idiot! Do you know what he did the other day?

– No. I was here.

I actually flew to the academy the same day I stole the Focus, and I didn’t know what was happening in the capital.

– ABOUT! So you don't know? – Beata’s eyes sparkled. “Then I’ll tell you the latest news!” Let's go!

Bea grabbed me by the arm and pulled me away.

– How long will you stay? “I’m hungry,” Aiz called out to us.

– And sleep! – the guys added in unison.

We were all not in the best shape after that night and looked rumpled. In my mind, meeting new people was worth postponing at least for the evening in order to be fully prepared.

– Go! See you later. Don't wait for me. If I have time, I'll join you in the dining room.

My sister and I headed towards the park, Bea continued to cling to my elbow to the envy of all the guys I met. I could understand them; my distant sister’s figure was just right. Although there is nothing to envy. Beata is a dragon, and also my, albeit distant, relative, and I knew perfectly well that we were not a couple. Happens between dragons when no Focus is needed to determine the truth. It also works the other way around.

– So what about Mikael? – I hurried my sister, who seemed to be simply enjoying the walk.

The wind changed and died down, the rain stopped, and the sun came out from behind the leaden clouds. The gray stone sparkled, becoming completely not dull, and the foliage began to sparkle with brighter colors. And this time the external did not cause me any contradictions with my internal state. I don’t even know why.

– Mikael is under house arrest, can you imagine? – Beata suddenly said.

I even stopped and pulled myself together.

–What happened?

Bea looked around, and then stood on her tiptoes and whispered in my ear:

“They say something very valuable has gone missing from a cache in the ruler’s office.” The uncle finds no place for himself, the servants have turned the entire palace upside down, the guards and security officers are combing the most dangerous places in the capital. They stirred up everything, and even arrested someone. And this idiot managed to distinguish himself once again. He attacked some girl right on the street. She and Mika's company were seen in several places that day. They say they literally followed her.

– Nothing new. My cousin had done this before, but everyone turned a blind eye for years,” I shrugged it off.

– This time everything is different. Mika almost killed her with his own hands, and in front of witnesses! Used a combat spell. He was seen by residents of houses in the Workers' Quarter and…