Chapter 28. Crocus.

It took them almost six months to reach Fiore's capital, Crocus.

- Wow! - the children exclaimed in admiration, Eros and Roni were more restrained, but they were still surprised by the beauty of the city. It really deserved its second name - "Blooming Capital".

- Indeed, a magnificent sight!

Crocus was located in a wide valley surrounded by rocky mountains of low and medium height, as well as small hilly slopes and a small river. Forests on both sides occupy the western zone of the valley.

As the capital of the Kingdom, Crocus is the largest city, with a huge number of buildings in a circular formation. On the right side of the city, there are small rocks on the edge. The buildings are constructed with light-colored facades and towers with extremely gabled tiled roofs that protrude upward. There were stone streets on all sides, some of which were the main ones, while others, more sophisticated than those, consisted of very large round mosaics made up of wide, flat stones that bear floral and natural motifs or chess patterns. There is a large, round lake in the central part of the city. In its center stands Mercury, the palace of King Fiore.

They got to the capital without hindrance. Walking along it, they admired its beauty. Because of this, there were a huge number of people in the capital, there were also many more shops than in Magnolia, although it is a trading city. It was often possible to notice on the way the guards patrolling the city and almost every fifth person passing by was a magician, which was very surprising.

- Indeed the capital, there are magicians at every corner, - said Eros in surprise.

- Still, it was not in vain that we decided to look here.

- I agree, where are we going?

- Let's first find a hotel, and then we'll decide, - offered the titan, the rest agreed.

Having rented two double rooms, and having thrown things into the rooms, they separated. Nevertheless, all girls are like girls and the main thing for them is to buy something new, and if they are in the capital, then it's a sin not to go to a clothing store. Of course, she invited the guys too, but they politely declined, but Rick was sorry, he had no choice. And when Lily dragged the boy away with her, he looked at two of his friends with supplication, but they tried not to look him in the eye and turned around and walked in the opposite direction. Of course, they felt sorry for him, but their nerve cells and brain will be more expensive.

Both guys went through all the diners and pastry shops until the evening. Nevertheless, these establishments were too fiercely advertised, and young girls in short skirts managed to lure these two "hard" men. Although still occasionally, Roni noticed the thoughtful gaze of his young friend, who was staring at the royal palace. Therefore, in the evening, when they were already returning home, he nevertheless asked about it.

- I want to get to the palace, so I'm thinking how ...

Hearing the answer, the cheerful mood quickly disappeared from the man's face.

- No, not again.

During the trip, there was already a case when Eros entered the mansion of one of the Dukes, for the sake of books, thank God that then he was not noticed and everything ended well. But to enter the Royal Palace ...

- EROS! YOU FUCKING BOOK MANIAC! DO NOT DO THIS! - Ronnie exclaimed in horror, - YOU WILL BE PLANTED AN IDIOT!

- You be quiet and I'm not going to do this, it's too much even for me.

- Truth? The man asked hopefully.

- Yes, really, so calm down.

- Okay, - he sighed with relief, he asked more seriously, - And how are you going to go there, you will definitely not be allowed if you just ask them, and money is unlikely to help.

- I myself will decide how to "enter" there, do not worry, I will try to find the most "legal" way.

But even after the words of Eros, Roni felt uneasy, because this fool could really try to enter the palace. And if they catch him, they are unlikely to leave the city. And only after he took an oath promise from him that this would not happen, Roni could breathe a sigh of relief, but some worm of doubt still tormented his head.

***

Half an hour after their return to the hotel, Rick and Lily returned. The girl was just beaming with joy, and behind her was a pale and swaying Rick. He staggered not because of fatigue, but from the load, because because of the packages, the guy's figure was almost not visible, only a couple of feet and a tired look could be seen through them.

- It was a wonderful day, - the girl sang, and the guys just looked at Rick with sympathy.

- Lily, why did you collect so much, how can we carry all this with us? - asked Eros, looking at this pile of packages.

- Do not worry, I have already agreed with one merchant and he agreed to take everything with him to Magnolia, - the girl held out rather, - And tomorrow we will continue, because we have passed only half of the shops and we still have to go to the studio ...

- That's how it is, - "Rest in peace, my friend! We will always remember such a good person who took the whole blow on himself! " - folding his hands in a prayer gesture, he said in his mind, after him this gesture was repeated by Roni.

When Rick saw this, he just swore softly in his mind at these two pi **** owls, for throwing him and having fun all day while he was tormented.

- Something happened, why are you behaving so strangely? Lily asked in bewilderment.

***

On the second day, Lily again took Rick, although he resisted as best he could. This time Roni decided to take a walk through restaurants and find inspiration for future dishes, and he will learn something new. Eros was left alone and again his gaze was directed to the palace, and a cheerful grin appeared on his lips.

Still, he had an idea of ​​how to get to the palace, it appeared to him yesterday, when at one of the stands, he saw an announcement that in a week there would be a holiday called "Day of Flowers". This holiday is celebrated every year, because the second name of this holiday is "Foundation Day of the Kingdom of Fiore" and everyone will be on it. From ordinary citizens to the king and queen himself. And also there will be an annual parade and tournament for the title of the strongest magician. But usually, really strong people rarely participate in the tournament. Yes, and the prize of Eros did not attract, why does he become a knight of the King?

Having looked at the palace for the last time, Eros turned around and entered the nearest alley ...

Eros returned to the hotel in the late afternoon, tired but happy and without undressing, plopped down on the bed.

- Did something good happen? Roni asked in surprise when he returned.

In response, Eros mumbled something indistinct and fell asleep.

***

On the second day, the picture repeated itself, the titan came again in the evening, tired and fell asleep to Roni's question without answering. And when this happened for the third time, the man became wary and decided to follow Eros, and Rick followed him.

They watched the titan for most of the day and he behaved very suspiciously. First, he went into a restaurant, where he began to talk about something with a man in a black cloak, after leaving him, he went to some shop. Where he talked to the seller, who looked at Eros with fear and constantly shook his head, as if denying something. But after about ten minutes, the seller lowered his head and took out a wad of money and put it on the table. The Titan nodded contentedly and took her away.

Roni and Rick, watching this, looked at Eros in disbelief. "How could such a good person extort money from an ordinary merchant?" They just couldn't believe their eyes. But still, they believed that this was just a mistake, Eros could not be such a bad person.

But after half an hour, the picture repeated itself. The titan again took money away from some merchant, then again and again, and when Eros entered the best brothel in the evening and left only an hour later, with a satisfied face, the last hopes of these two collapsed. After all, how could they not understand that Eros is taking money from ordinary peaceful merchants in order to just relax in a brothel.

When Eros approached the hotel where they were staying, Rick and Roni stood in front of him with very serious faces.

- Eros, where have you been?

- BUT? Why do you need to know this? - asked the titan in surprise, but seeing the frown of the guys, he continued, - I've been in the library all day.

- Stop lying! We saw what you did all day today!

- So that's who spied on me! And I thought ... Okay, it doesn't matter.

- Eros! Stop doing this! You're not that kind of person!

- I can't, I'm sorry, - the titan said with a sigh, - Now I really need it ...

- Eros, if you are so unbearable, - Rick exclaimed embarrassedly, - You could ask us for money, but why rob innocent merchants ?!

For a moment, the titan hovered.

- Rob? - Eros asked in surprise.

- What do you think you have been doing all day ?!

- So! - Covering the new cries at the root, the titan asked more calmly, - Now, tell me in more detail, what you two idiots have fantasized about?