Звездопад / Starfall: Глава 5

Chapter 5

Camrad_RIP 13.05.23 в 06:54

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Camrad_RIP 13.05.23 в 06:54

The “unofficial” party in honor of those who arrived at the onstum had formally begun, but the atmosphere was nervous and full of anticipation. The number of those gathered did not yet correspond to the grandiose dimensions of the main hall of the imperial residence, and rare groups of guests were simply lost in the huge and empty spaces of the parquet floor. So, for the time being, most preferred to stay at the refreshment tables along the walls or at one of the four polished metal columns that served as an informal "meeting place".

Camrad_RIP 13.05.23 в 06:58

Near one of the tables with drinks, a young man in a turquoise uniform of the imperial guard propped up the wall with an indifferent look. He lazily drove wine in a glass and, obviously having nothing to do, listening to the rustle of conversations hovering around the hall. The thin, even slightly feminine features of his face expressed desperate boredom, and the look of brown eyes glided lazily over the audience until it settled on one guest. An ash-haired beauty of hard-to-determine age with a meaningful look of an experienced person. After waiting for her to look in his direction, the young man saluted her with his glass.

Camrad_RIP 13.05.23 в 07:03

He was noticed. He received a smile in return, and the beauty bade farewell to her companion and moved toward him.

Camrad_RIP 13.05.23 в 07:03

She was wearing a long maroon dress that showed off one shoulder and accentuated her green eyes surprisingly well.

Camrad_RIP 13.05.23 в 07:04

"Lady Laer. You are stunningly elegant tonight." He reported, kissing her hand. "And believe me, this is no routine compliment. To what do I owe the pleasure? You are a rare guest at boring palace gatherings."

Camrad_RIP 13.05.23 в 07:05

"Decided to make some variety in my life." She answered, looking back at the front doors. "And how did you end up here, Count?"

Camrad_RIP 13.05.23 в 07:06

"As a connoisseur of the beautiful. So many ladies have chosen to attend today, and many are going out for the first time."

Camrad_RIP 13.05.23 в 07:07

"At the onstum party? Count Zeper, so you must have gotten rich since the last time we met? And forget about your old friend?" Laer pretended to be indignant.

Camrad_RIP 13.05.23 в 07:12

"Alas, no." With sincere sadness, the count sighed. "My financial situation, if anything, has changed only in an unfortunate way."

Camrad_RIP 13.05.23 в 07:13

"Then your chances with the assembled ladies look very doubtful. You and I both know what they are here for."

Camrad_RIP 13.05.23 в 07:14

"Yes," he nodded, "to get yourself a rich man from Sector Tail, and a richer is better. But there are many more of them than have come to the onstum."

Camrad_RIP 13.05.23 в 07:15

"Three times as much." Lady Laer agreed, casting an appraising glance across the room.

Camrad_RIP 13.05.23 в 07:16

"I think there will be a real fight between them." The count's eyes sparkled with anticipation. "And it's just nice to look at this alone. Not everyone is destined to win. The losers are inevitable. Someone will have to extract them from the rubble of ambition, console them."

Camrad_RIP 13.05.23 в 07:19

"It seems to me," Laer pronounced with friendly irony, "you're trying to join those today who eat the fruits of battle without participating in it. They are called marauders."

Camrad_RIP 13.05.23 в 07:20

"Oh, how merciful. Thank you for not calling me a scavenger. But I won't deny it. I'm not looking for the hard way, and I see interesting opportunities here to add a trophy or two to my collection. Speaking of trophies, I don't see your companion. Who is he?"

Camrad_RIP 13.05.23 в 07:22

"I'm on my own, but I expect to fix that soon."

Camrad_RIP 13.05.23 в 07:22

"Here?" The Count's eyes widened in surprise. "I remember you were always above the fray. Did something happen?" He inquired with almost genuine excitement.

Camrad_RIP 13.05.23 в 07:27

"No, it's still the same." Lady Laer shrugged her shoulders with a sad smile. "It's just worth trying something new sometimes. I thought when I become an old hag who no one visits and who communicates only with servants who quietly hate her. I will have no choice but to indulge in the memories of wasted youth. I don't want to be tormented by the thought that I had a chance to spend a life of bliss and fun, not thinking about where to get a good loan. So I decided to cut off the path to retreat and try to arrange a party for myself. Doing my best, just so that later I would not I could reproach myself with insufficient perseverance. Well, if you are to take on such a thing, then you need to choose the most worthy goal. "

Camrad_RIP 13.05.23 в 07:31

"Prince Cassard?"

Camrad_RIP 13.05.23 в 07:31

"And why did you think of him specifically?" Laer answered question after question without denying it.

Camrad_RIP 13.05.23 в 08:52

"He's all anyone talks about." The Count shrugged. "So I guessed?"

Camrad_RIP 13.05.23 в 08:52

She nodded silently in response.

Camrad_RIP 13.05.23 в 08:53

"So, what attracted you to him?"

Camrad_RIP 13.05.23 в 08:54

"Well," she shrugged again, "for example, he's mind-blowingly rich."

Camrad_RIP 13.05.23 в 08:56

"All the lords of the Tail Sector are mind-bogglingly rich."

Camrad_RIP 13.05.23 в 08:57

"He's mind-bogglingly rich, even by their standards." She countered. "And most importantly, unlike everyone else, he's the Head of his own Family. Which means he won't have to be subordinate to some crazy two-hundred-year-old matron."

Camrad_RIP 13.05.23 в 08:58

"Yes, a perfect husband." The Count sighed wistfully. "And why are there no such brides..."

Camrad_RIP 13.05.23 в 08:59

"There's Nadina Pell."

Camrad_RIP 13.05.23 в 08:59

"Pell?!" He snorted indignantly. "Thank you humbly. Even I don't like money that much." And he added much more calmly. "Yes, and then she is not the Head of the Family. And Prince Cassard: rich, noble, and without pesky relatives. The only drawback is that he's young. I bet many assembled would prefer to see him on his way to the bright edge of old age... But it's not without advantages. At least you can look at him without shuddering."

Camrad_RIP 13.05.23 в 09:37

"I hear interesting intonations Count. Is it an envy?"

Camrad_RIP 13.05.23 в 09:38

"Guilty as charged," he lowered his head guiltily, "I have caught myself thinking that it is a wild injustice when one man is so rich and noble at the same time. It has to be one thing or the other. If he were one of those corporate nouveaux riches, it wouldn't be half as annoying."

Camrad_RIP 13.05.23 в 09:39

"You talk like a utopian," his companion sneered. "Also suggest that to share everything."

Camrad_RIP 13.05.23 в 09:41

"I'd love to share his fortune with you." He closed his eyes dreamily as if imagining something. "What a party you could throw."

Camrad_RIP 13.05.23 в 09:42

"You are surprisingly generous to share such a sum. I'm not sure I could do the same.

Camrad_RIP 13.05.23 в 09:54

"Аh..." He waved his hand philosophically, "What are words worth? It's unlikely we'll get a chance to put them to the test."

Camrad_RIP 13.05.23 в 10:54

"Speak for yourself. It's too early to write me off."

Camrad_RIP 13.05.23 в 10:54

"So you've made up your mind in earnest?" Her interlocutor raised an eyebrow incredulously. "And he is the one 'foolish enough, noble enough, and rich enough' to count on your hand?"

Camrad_RIP 13.05.23 в 10:55

"Dreams, dreams..." She rolled her eyes, "I'll settle for being a lover, too. For starters."

Camrad_RIP 13.05.23 в 11:25

"And yet?" Count Zeper did not relent.

Camrad_RIP 13.05.23 в 11:26

"And yet, it's more of a sport," Laer admitted honestly. "A worthy target, worthy opponents, why not find out what I'm worth in this field as well? Besides, he is said to be a man of free morals and at the same time very generous to his mistresses."

Camrad_RIP 13.05.23 в 11:27

"They say so, yes." The count nodded accordingly. "But, Lady Laer, I have heard that he already has a mistress, and it seems he has more than one."

Camrad_RIP 13.05.23 в 11:28

"Where there's two, there's three." She threw back, keeping her eyes on the door from which Lord Cassard was about to emerge. "Especially since he has none with him."

Camrad_RIP 13.05.23 в 11:30

"Beware," jokingly warned the count, "One of them is a nun and must be as terrible in anger as she is jealous."

Camrad_RIP 13.05.23 в 11:31

"Astonishing awareness." Laer frowned just as jokingly. "You've heard so much about him that I'm beginning to fear whether you should be counted among my rivals."

Camrad_RIP 13.05.23 в 11:32

"As far as I've heard," the count repeated, this time with an obvious smile, "Lord Cassard is quite indifferent to men. But he and I share a common interest in fine wines and beautiful women. Perhaps we can get along on that ground."

Camrad_RIP 13.05.23 в 11:33

"Are you counting on becoming his confidant?"

Camrad_RIP 13.05.23 в 11:33

"I'm too lazy and inconsistent for that. And I don't have the spirit for a sex change, and the old man would curse me. Have you decided exactly how you're going to seduce him?"

Camrad_RIP 13.05.23 в 11:35

"I'll rely on impromptu. The main thing is to catch attention. Maybe I can get close enough if I work my elbows properly."

Camrad_RIP 13.05.23 в 11:36