"Plenty, but just friendship isn't enough for them. It's
much more fun with you: you don't sing love songs to me, you
are not interested in me, and you can hardly stand me."
Denris laughed at the sour grimace on Gedeon's face.
"Is this sarcasm or a joke? Are you annoyed by admirers
of your beauty?"
"Yeah… And you're the only one I don't get attracted to.
This should please me ... Do you agree to be friends with me?"
"Are you that lonely?"
"I'm not lonely, just depressed. Looking for inspiration in
the new inhabitants of Illuria. You cause a pleasant comfort in
my soul with your presence, I don't know why."
"Wow! This is the first time I hear such confessions.
Nobody told me that. I communicate with you a little rudely,
but are you comfortable with this?"
"I don't really have a real straight friend with whom you
can just chat in a relaxed way. I can offer you protection in
return."
"Protection? From whom?"
"From vampires! You should beware of them."
"Is it possible for someone to threaten the lover of the
Queen Bee?" Denris chuckled.
"Why do you think I guard you to the royal tower and
back?"
"So that I don't run away from a date and get lost?"
"Ah-hah-ha! Funny! To keep you from being snatched
away by the vampires."
"Why do they need me?" Denris was surprised.
"Have fun with you."
"Sometimes I don't understand when you're joking. Was
this a joke now?"
"Nah… okay, let's forget it… So what about our
friendship?"
"I don't mind, you're funny. Just don't grab me with your
clawed paws in front of everyone, the guys laugh at me. They
think we have a very close relationship. They mock me..."
"Ha-ha! I'm too familiar with you. Here everyone behaves
this way, directly and openly, if they want something from
you, they will not hide it. Your human society is more
constrained in communication and arrogant. You too, by the
way. Such a detached one! But we have almost an equal status
with you."
"We don't really trust the Syrinxes, so we keep our
distance."
"Because of…?"
"Your morals are different from ours. What is normal for
you is fornication and debauchery for us. Family values are
blurred, violence is not a crime. Are there any restrictions or
penalties? What is considered misconduct and not
encouraged? Are there any honors and privileges?"
"Society is purely hierarchical. The strongest is always
right and can push the weaker ones around, punish them for
insubordination. Honors - in the form of universal respect and
authority. Royals like you have immunity, meaning you can't
be touched physically unless you let them, but you can get
attention and be mentally harassed using magic. For example,
I have a very high status and a lot of privileges due to my
super powers."
"Isn't it because of your marriage to the Queen?"
"No! She can choose her favorites without special talents,
the main thing is that he be pleasant to her in bed. You have
been chosen as a lover, but it is not clear to anyone why, by
what criteria Ellamyria does this, no one knows. Maybe
because you're small compared to the syrinxes. Even if you
weren't a prince, she would still find you and invite you to her
bed."
"Yes, I was surprised that she chose only me from all the
settlers, and immediately separated from the crowd."
"That's why you're under the gunpoint of the vampires
and I have to watch over your safety."
"What about my privacy?" Denris chuckled. "It won't help,
if what?"
"You know, these beasts are quite cunning. They can set
you up so that you yourself let them touch you."
"Ha! Never! They are so big. I remember their looks at me
then on the square when we arrived on your planet. Winked
at me, blew kisses, perverts! I am a baby compared to them.
What is the punishment for harassment a prince?"
"The most sophisticated, what is possible, to repay the
moral compensation."
"Is there no death penalty?"
"Not really… Killing a winged one is a terrible sin and is
punishable by deprivation of magic forever with the
expulsion and destruction of wings. And a human will simply
be killed for this as a warning to the rest of mortals."