5.4

***

"Oh, what a wonderful baby! Hello, Xiorlis, long time no see!" - Palien smiled welcomingly, stroking the baby's head.

"Do you remember him?" Farenia was surprised.

"Yes, this is our valiant officer, who died in battles a long time ago, and has finally found worthy parents," Palien calmly explained. "Lantas, come with me to talk."

Farenia cast a desperate glance at her husband, realizing that he was taken away from her on purpose.

"Don't worry, you can handle it," - he whispered quietly to her and left with Palien.

Soon Farenia felt cold in heart, turning to the door: four handsome officers with shining eyes came to her.

"Hello, Farenia! Will you meet us?" Rustled the velvety voice of one of the men. "I am Tumariz! You are so charming!"

He gallantly offered her his hand, penetrating her soul with his gaze.

Everyone approached her and introduced himself. They walked over and sat down on the sofa.

"Hello, Xiorlis!" Amirel whispered, walking past the crib with the sleeping baby.

"Do you all remember him and came to visit?" Farenia asked in confusion, realizing that the officers were not going to leave.

"No, he was my friend!" Amirel explained, holding out his hand to her. "Sit with us, beauty, let's talk."

Farenia had no choice but to sit down next to the officers.

"Do you like it here?" Tumariz asked, piercing her with his emerald eyes.

"It's kind of boring, I don't know what to do," the princess answered tensely.

"Then you don't have to avoid us, we would entertain you," - the blue-eyed handsome man named Shemion grinned. - "We still have seven years to fly to Xantari. You still can't hide from us."

"And what entertainment can you offer me?" Farenia asked sarcastically.

Everyone smiled and perked up at once, believing that the princess was not embarrassed by them at all.

"I know your fun... poor Selestra was upsey so much after her visit to you. I almost changed my mind about flying with you," the princess said.

Everyone looked at Ramies reproachfully.

"It's all him! We didn't even touch her," - Tumariz justified himself, grinning.

Ramies looked at Farenia calmly.

"Everything is fine with her now, I am next to her and support her."

"How is that?" - The princess said sarcastically. "At such a distance it is impossible."

Ramies snapped his fingers and a blurry image of Selestra appeared in the air in front of her. She smiled, said something inaudibly and waved her hand.

"What kind of magic is this?"

Farenia was amazed and answered her friend in the same way. Selestra waved to her again.

"My copy of thin matter is on Zaria, next to her, and we can communicate even at a great distance," - Ramies explained proudly. - "It's a pity you can't hear her. But once you learn telepathy, you can then communicate with her through me."

It was clear that Selestra in the image was calmly examining everyone sitting in the room.

"How can you prove that this is not a hoax?" - It was difficult for Farenia to believe in such a miracle.

"Do you want to tell me the latest palace gossip?" - Ramies perked up. - "The Queen has a new chosen one - Rohen! Do you know him?"

"Yes, I know, this is her personal assistant. Unexpected choice!"

"Lariel left Azaren and founded a new city..."

"What?" Farenia was alarmed.

Everyone started laughing.

"We know you liked him," - Shemion said. - "It's a pity we couldn't charm him."

"Why do you need him? Do you mean charm?"

"Lariel is a hermaphrodite and has the ability to lay eggs," - Tumariz laughed. - "For example, from us, aristocrats. Only the guy is very errogant and refused to accept his fate. He was supposed to fly with us. But since there is a princess, this honor was given to you."

Their conversation was interrupted by Lantas entering, he looked at everyone with a dissatisfied look and pressed Farenia to him.

"We understand everything, Lantas!" Tumariz said.

The officers rose with sighs and walked out the door.

"Well, how? Everything is fine?" Lantas did not let go of his beloved wife.

"They didn't try to charm me," Farenia said. "We just sat and chatted."

"Now they are such sweethearts, then they will be more persistent and cast spells. Don't look them in the eyes. I hope you didn't like anyone?"

"Lantas, I want to live with you. Are you upset about something?"

"Yes, Palien made an unpleasant scene for me. He demands that I hand you over to the officers. I explained to him that I couldn't, I promised both you and the Queen that this wouldn't happen. I don't know how to resolve this conflict. He will continue to put pressure on me. He began to call me a renegade from the ideals of Xantari."

"I understand why you are so concerned about children from princesses. This is how your friends lost in battle are born! Our son already lived with you before."