And therefore he gathered a council to develop the rules. They decided as follows:

1. Before a dragon marries, to give him a choice of 13 maidens. Нe must communicate with them for at least six months, the contenders may live all the time in a castle, the emperor may replace any of the maidens (this is in case he wants to go again to Land of people).

2. Every five years the palace arranges a ball, to let girls meet a couple.

3. On the outskirts of the empire to create a settlement Old Believers, to resettle people there are not ready to live among two-faced (dragons and werewolves). (It turned out that not all the girls were able to believe in and get used to a new life, and frankly went mad).

So I have, first of all, a plausible legend (a human settlement exists, some behind high walls are really completely closed and barely communicate with the world), and, secondly, a right to participate (according to the law, if a person from such a settlement wishes to participate, they cannot be refused but they may be expelled or replaced the next day. However, few people in the settlements themselves know about this, so they do not claim the right.)

4. The girls who did not choose a pair at the ball or the Royal selection, but refuse to live in human settlements provides a work.

So, rules are created, the war finished with the victory of the emperor. Grandson of the emperor grew up and it was time to try out the rules with the selection.

But the grandson fell in love with the maiden of the dragon family, took advantage of the opportunity of replacement and put a chosen one in the castle. Six months later he announced his choice, married and lived in a marriage with his beloved 300 years. These 300 are considered the golden Reign in dragon history. The dating balls for the nobility were still held, there were no wars during this period, and our lucky man asked his grandfather to bring thingsthat are not present in this world from his travels (he himself could not walk thro ugh the portal, too much jealous wife he had). This period was recorded as the Age of the Flourishing Arts, Science, Technology and Magic.

The new emperor decided to complete the regulations (knowing that the next selection would be for the son).

First, the right of dragons to send their daughters for selection has been secured.

And the final change: if after six months the heir has not decided on a choice, the coronation and transfer of power are postponed, and after two years a new selection is made.

And then two things happened:

1. As a gift to our lover of sacrifices was given to a beautiful woman, to whom a certain George has turned out to be in love. The guy was young, hot, and our emperor was quite the opposite. George became a local hero who killed monster and even on his coat of arms painted the defeated dragon. So the active communication of worlds was interrupted, the new emperor did not want to walk between worlds. The method of transition is preserved only by the Emperor’s family (in the library) and by some Mage-keepers.

2. Grew up new ruler.

New selection was carried out, the Queen is determined (again chose the dragon), but there was no love in marriage. During the six months allotted for selection, the families of the future wife and husband discussed: the merger of capital, rules (including the freedom of choice of lovers, after the birth of heirs), the appointment of some relatives in key positions, and so on.

The following three generations of emperors entered into arranged marriages, but each of them followed the tradition and ritual of selection

It means that the monster with which we are acquainted probably already have a bride with whom the deal of the century is being negotiated.But it’s night, so I’ll start working out a plan tomorrow. Right after breakfast.

Why i didn’t it before? I had 3 weeks for it in the house of Vidon, but only when I saw the monster with my own eyes I realized that it wasn’t a hoax.

When in front of you stands up monster and gives a volley very real fire, and his skin looks like a live crocodile – you start to realize the reality of what is happening.

If it had been friends joke, it wouldn't have lasted more than a week. They are not so cruel to let me to miss the flight. So we will have to accept and live in a cave.

The morning greeted timid dawn, fighting mood, clothing home. (Dresses I had brought with me to the castle were bought for me: four of it were mind-bogglingly memorable, three were solemnly beautiful, fifteen were decently closed and securely tightened, and two were free, without a corset, in the style of peasant women).

Today I was dressed in one of the peasants. Because the heir was absent, there’s no one to seduce, so there’s no reason to suffer with a corset. I Plaited my hair, belted my dress, and put a communication bracelet on my arm, and went down to Breakfast in this modest fashion.

In the dining room there was silence again, and now the cause of it was my appearance. It turns out they without a corset does not come out, I’m a redneck against them. But I sat down at the table and said, breaking the silence

«Enjoy your appetite, excuse me if my appearance seems strange to you, but in the estate from where I arrived we wear dresses with corset rarely, I am more accustomed to a simple tailoring».

The beauties exhaled, mentally crossing me out from rivals, because the girl in the bag with the pigtails can't be the Empress of dragons.

The breakfast was delicious, the crepes with the cream cheered up the mood, my head gradually lined up the next plan of action. I'll start it with the library. It is necessary to assess the amount of information available and useful.

I looked around our friendly company at the table, and I discovered that I was the only one who didn’t talk to anyone. The beauties were actively sharing impressions, plans and news from their families.

So, after finishing the pancakes, still silently I left the table, calling an escort in advance. The chair screeching caused silence and bewilderment again, but I think I’ve already broken all the rules, so leaving will be just one point in the long list of oddities of the girl from the outskirts.

***

My preliminary action plan consists of four points

1. The library: Try to find information about the portal, to escape early by myself. And to find any information on the local world order.

2. Avoid the heir to the extent possible. It is desirable simply to avoid expulsion.

3. Avoid contenders. Without friends, I half-year somehow hold out, but how to deal with those who uzreet in me a threat to their future of the Union, I have not thought of.

4. Finally, find out who is a contractual bride. What should I do with this information and especially how to get it is not quite clear yet, but I will leave it as a goal.

Library – a room with an infinite number of racks filled with books, part of the halls is closed for visiting. There’s no damp here, and there are deep, comfortable, soft chairs for visitors. The library will be my favorite room!

The caretaker of the library, wizened little man with a cane and a small bald spot smiled affably.

– What’s your name, young lady?

– Catherine.

– Catherine, I have to tell you about the rules of the hall: in the reading room at the same time you can leave with him no more than three books, reserve for no more than three days. In your room, you can take no more than one and not more than for a month. What do you want to read?

– It is possible the book, which described the events of the first selection?