"No, no, of course not! I just… I don"t know," Orel stopped and looked at Nikto guiltily.

"Yesterday when I won a fight, everyone congratulated me, hugged me, was happy for me. And you were sitting angry, gloomy and didn"t even smile," Nikto said bitterly. "At first I pushed you away out of foolishness. Now you"re pushing me away. I didn"t want relations like this," he paused. "But if I really bother you and you don"t like me any more, tell me now. If you don"t need me any more, I"ll leave. Because I have nothing to do here without your friendship."

Orel got pale.

"Oh gods! How could you think that?" he squeezed his temples. "I distanced myself from you because I was afraid to hurt your feelings – but in the result I hurt you even more! I thought I was harassing you, especially after I said so many stupid things to you. Please, forgive me, yesterday I behaved like a real boor! I felt so miserable, I thought you didn"t need me at all. I didn"t even think it"d offend you. As always, I was thinking only of myself! Will you forgive me?"

"Don"t beg me for forgiveness, I was to blame, too. I laughed at you, insulted you every time when you came to me with the best intentions. I was rude to you, I don"t know why I did it. I like you very much," Nikto lowered his head, the last words sounded very quiet. "You were reacting at me in such a way…"

"I understand," Orel flushed. "You decided we couldn"t have normal friendship, I acted as if obsessed. I"m so ashamed of it! If not for the paint, you"d see me blushing with shame. But I swear it won"t happen again!"

Nikto raised his head, there were mischievous sparks in his eyes.

"I"m not sure about it," he said and touched Orel"s leg. Orel shivered starting back.

"No, no! I swear to you! But you also shouldn"t provoke me!" he pressed to the back of the bed.

"I"m sorry, I was really provoking you just now," Nikto smiled. "I"m very flattered that you like me so much. You like me indeed, don"t you?"

"Yes," Orel answered. "But let"s forget about it or we"ll say some stupid things again."

"Fine. I agree," Nikto smiled.

Orel couldn"t stand it and laughed. "Stop it, a smile doesn"t suit you!"

"But I can"t! I feel good and it just happens. I can wear my mask."

"No, don"t! I can"t stand it when you wear it, you remember."

"Fine. Do you know how the Unclean and commoners show their smile when their faces are covered with masks?"

"No!"

Nikto pressed his forefinger to the corner of his lips horizontally.

Orel smiled. "Nikto, I"m so grateful that you are here and talk to me!"

"Yes, we really have a talk: begging each other for forgiveness for the whole hour! I can imagine how it looks. Enriki would probably say: "If my sister heard it, she"d cry."