Swan Lake. Dragon Empire. Natalie Yacobson

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?»

      «I don’t know where she is now, but I’ll find her.»

      «Who is she?» the queen repeated her question.

      «The princess is a swan,» Etienne answered, not understanding what he was saying, «I love the girl – the swan, I love the princess Odette.»

      The queen was about to faint.

      «This is what communication with hermit sorcerers brings to,» she concluded.

      «Think,» the queen has already begged, «today is your coming of age, today you must prepare to become king and choose your queen, Rosalyn would be so suitable for this role.»

      «Never,» Etienne burst out, and his face flushed with anger.

      «I’ll only marry Odette,» he shouted as he left the room. The queen brought her thin, graceful hand to her forehead, well, what a trouble she has with her sons.

      Etienne decided to go in search of Odette. He entered his room only to take his cloak and sword. Rosalyn suddenly appeared next to him. Her hair was loose and the collar of her dress was unbuttoned. A long, curved scar in the shape of a five-pointed star glittered on one of the exposed shoulders.

      «God,» Etienne whispered, looking at the scar, «what is this?»

      «The kiss of hell,» she replied in a dream.

      «Then…» Etienne began, but she stopped him.

      «You are leaving,» she asked, and her lips lit up a faint smile, «believe me, you would be much better off staying here.»

      «Why?»

      «The curse of a rejected bride can be the worst,» she said.

      «I don’t understand,» said Etienne.

      «There are forces in the world that a mortal cannot compete with.»

      «How do you know?» Etienne asked.

      «Trust me, I know the king of evil. Don’t leave,» she whispered.

      «I must leave,» Etienne answered resolutely, and, grabbing his cloak and sword, ran out of the room.

      «Well, let it be so,» she shouted after him with malice and rage, «remember my curse, you will never find the one you love, and she can never become your bride because she is cursed, she is a princess – a swan…»

      Well at the end of the world

      Etienne drove for a long time through the forest, he was heading to the place where legends about damned beauties are born, to the