“No. Will you help me?”
“I remember how you hated me, maddened. You only liked to fuck with me, yes, it attracted you, and you couldn’t resist. You love a sex. You like sleeping with different men. You are not one of those women who strive for a family, have children and raise them. You are like a lone she-wolf, a predator, you know how to stand up for yourself and walk in search of adventure.”
“I love Lis. If you take Arel, I want to stay with Lis. And I will be a faithful wife. And give birth to children if I can. Am I doing whatever is necessary? You let Dony go and she made her life well. You told me then: “She did everything that needs to be done.” I didn't understand these words, now I understand. Am I doing whatever it takes?”
“But what about the salvation of your brother?”
“It was probably a stupid idea. Like a lot of stupid ideas and actions before. But I will gladly try to persuade him more. He just lived a little and doesn’t understand anything. For him, perhaps, the throne and power, love is an empty phrase. I will explain to him that this is important to us if he wants us to be happy.”
“He loved Rosa.”
“And?”
“And? And sent her away. To the Upper World. In order not to get her.”
“And he wanted to send me too, persuaded me to run, but I am not Rosa. And I am not sixteen years old, but almost thirty, and this is my last chance, and I want a husband, and I want a husband-king. And I want to look my father in the eye with pride so that he understands that I am not at all the wayward idiot he thinks I am. I want to achieve something! What's the use if I leave? To vegetate somewhere in Komra? What should I do there? Praying for the salvation of your soul? Maybe a little later, when I become an old woman and I have absolutely nothing to do. Moreover, I have not done anything terrible! Is what I decided is stupid? Or bad?”
“This is very good,” Nikto smiled.
“Now!” Karina jumped up. “Wait a minute, I'll bring you something.”
She ran out of the room and quickly returned, holding a small box in her hands:
“The courier brought it from the village for my name.”
“What is it?”
“A parcel from my father.”
“And what does he write to you?”
“Nothing. There was money. I gave more than half to this witch for the ceremony. Excuse me.”
“This is your money, Karina, don’t report to me.”