style="font-size:15px;"> «Still a swan girl,» Ben laughed at him, «you can tell stories. anywhere, but not at court, you will be immediately sent to hell, deciding that you are insane.»
«I swear to you, I saw her,» Fritz objected, but Ben cut him off.
«Hush!»
A group of young peasant women came up to congratulate Etienne. One of them handed the prince a bouquet of wildflowers.
«Meet, Etienne, this is Marie,» Ben said.
Marie sat down before the prince in a graceful curtsy. She was very attractive, with golden spike hair, and reminded him a bit of Odette, but this was not his favorite princess.
«Today is a wonderful day, your highness,» said Marie, and her eyes flashed merrily, «are you happy?»
«I doubt it,» Etienne replied honestly, he did not want to lie or dissemble, he did not see this sweet girl as a threat to his happiness.
«You should be happy on a day like this,» she said.
«It’s too difficult, my happiness is far from here, in the land of swan lakes.»
«Do you love the girl, or maybe,» she smiled slyly.
«Perhaps what?» he asked.
«Perhaps you love the swan girl. It’s just a fairy tale, but I wanted it to be a reality, right?»
«I do not understand?»
«Do you know the legend?»
«Which one?»
«It doesn’t matter,» she replied.
«What legend?» Etienne could not resist.
«About girls – swans who become fabulous beauties at night if they are on the swan lake.»
«No, I don’t know,» said Etienne.
«BUT it’s just a fairy tale,» she shook her head sadly.
«Why is it only a fairy tale?»
«Do you believe that this is reality?»
«Let my friends laugh at me, but I would like to believe it.»
«It’s impossible to laugh at you,» she replied coquettishly.
«Why not?»
«Because today is a holiday in honor of your birthday.»
«But there is no happiness in it.»
«And you would be happy if there was a girl who would love you with all her heart.»
«I only love one girl,» Etienne began, but did not have time to finish, as the heralds announced: «Queen!»
The Queen was accompanied by a large, luxuriously dressed retinue. Almost next to the queen was a girl who was simply hated by Etienne. Her name was Rosalyn, and it was her, after Odette’s disappearance, that Etienne was predicted to be a bride.
Fritz was not taken aback and led the peasant girls forward.
«Your Majesty, let me introduce them to you, they have come to congratulate you and the prince. They have a present for you,» he said, as politely as possible. The girls sat down in graceful curtsies, and Marie brought a small ginger kitten to the Queen in a basket of flowers.
«What a charm,» the queen burst out, «I’ll call her Clarice,» she said after a little thought, «that was my grandmother’s name, and I think this name is especially dear to me.»
The kitten immediately realized that it had fallen into the hands of the one who would herself and make everyone love it, like the most adored kitty in the kingdom. With joy, it immediately fell asleep in the arms of the queen. Neither Etienne nor Christian had such a favor as children, but they were not cute tricolor kittens.
«Etienne, escort this charming lady to the castle,» the queen ordered, placing Rosalyn’s hand in Etienne’s. Etienne almost gritted his teeth with anger, but obeyed.
«Your Highness,» Rosalyn began as soon as they were together, «I want to congratulate you.»
«Yes, thanks,» Etienne responded somehow awkwardly, looking aside and counting the moments until the moment when they finally parted.
«You are sad,» she said. What a question, and who would have fun in the company of a silly cutesy doll.
«I’m a little thoughtful, I’m sorry,» he said in response.
«About what?» With obvious curiosity she asked.
«It does not matter.»
«Open up to me,» she smiled.
«I was thinking about…» Etienne hesitated.
«About what?»
«About the legend.»
«How interesting.»
«But this is just a legend.»
«Many legends turn out to be true,» Rosalyn said.
«You think,» Etienne shrugged.
«What legend disturbs you,» Rosalyn continued her interrogation, «maybe you can tell me.»
«The legend of the swan girls,» said Etienne.
«They say they have a princess.»
«Princess?»
«Yes, the most beautiful girl in the world. The king of evil is in love with her, but she loves another, and the king of evil has vowed to destroy him.»
Etienne froze in surprise, but he did not have time to ask another question. A knight approached him – a guard from his mother’s retinue.
«Her Majesty asks you to come to her,» he said respectfully bowing to the prince, and Etienne, barely nodding to his unwanted companion, hurried to the queen’s chambers.
She was waiting for him in her apartment.
«Etienne,» the queen began, «isn’t it time for those to take a more serious look at some very important things for the country?»
«For the country,» the prince repeated with a sinking voice.
«You must marry Rosalyn.»
«Yes, I would rather marry the first peasant woman I come across, or a girl from a tavern.»
«Don’t say that, Etienne,» the queen ordered, «why don’t you want to marry Rosalyn.»
«Because I’m in love,» he said finally.
«You are in love,» the queen burst out, «with whom?»
