Invasion by Dmitrii Mansurov

Author:Dmitrii Mansurov [Mansurov, Dmitrii]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-11-11T22:00:00+00:00

"Make it follow the orders properly," Maria advised. "Then the food will taste better."

"I'll do it tonight," Kashchey promised.

"Tell me, is this your castle?" Maria changed the subject.

"Yes," Kashchey responded shortly. He didn't want to tell her the whole history of his appearance in this place. It was too long, dreary, and required too much effort. Only Scheherazade could talk for three years in a row to save her life.

"So why don't you know where to go?" the princess insisted, and Kashchey gave up. Maria clearly wouldn't back off. She had nowhere to hurry, after all, and nothing to do. Besides, girls liked to chat.

'She did put a noose around my neck, subtly as it was,' Kashchey thought.

"I know the castle stores a lot of strange things," he said aloud. "But I've been too busy to explore them. They aren't gold, and I'm collecting gold right now. As soon as I decide that it's time to focus on the castle properly, I'll look through everything here."

"Who put these things in your castle?" Maria asked.

"I have no idea! I don't know who lived here before me, or if anyone lived here at all. I've heard legends about the mysterious builders, and I think that the castle was built specifically for me."

"Why?"

"Because no one has tried to get it for themselves. All the guests wanted to strangle me in particular. They didn't care about the castle. But I have no idea what these things are for."

"How can you live next to millions of puzzles and completely ignore them?!" Maria was astonished. "I would have died from curiosity a long time ago!"

"Die as much as you want!" Kashchey allowed. "But only after the prince comes. No sooner than that."

"No, seriously! Why?"

"Because my past is the biggest mystery to me. I'm a mystery. And all around me is a mystery. Wherever you go, you'll see mystery upon mystery upon mystery. And I just want to collect gold."

"I think you're depressed. It's wrong. You should enjoy life."

"Me? Depressed?" Kashchey was surprised. "The whole world is reeling from my forms of entertainment!"

"The world, yes," Maria agreed. "While you're sitting here alone and depressed."

Kashchey wondered about it. In some ways, Maria was right. Collecting gold century after century wasn't that boring, but it was kind of... monotonous? It was high time to focus on something else.

"All right!" Kashchey said decisively. "You'll find me the room I need, and as a reward, I'll allow you to study the exhibits in this vault until the princes come. Agreed?"

"Agreed!" Maria nodded. "And how long should I wait for their appearance?"

"A few weeks," Kashchey replied. "Or months. Or years."

"What?" Maria cried in astonishment, almost choking.

"Who knows what these princes of yours have in mind? Maybe they'll ride past the castle and then it'll take them years to find the right path... " Kashchey noted philosophically. "Don't worry so much! Time'll fly as we're exploring the castle. And we will know for sure whether the princes are worthy of you or if they’re just keeping up the appearances.

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