𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝖘𝖙𝖔𝖗𝖞 𝖔𝖋 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖘𝖊𝖆 𝖘𝖍𝖊-𝖍𝖊𝖉𝖌𝖊𝖍𝖔𝖌

      The sea witch, an octopus bat with outstretched tentacles instead of legs, which she also covered under the blanket, slept in a warm bed until the rays of the sun at dawn fell directly on her eyes and woke her up. It's time to get up. Having removed the blanket, admiring herself and her tentacles in the mirror, she quickly puts on a new dress that she bought yesterday and covers her semblance of legs under it. Finally, for beauty, she paints her lips and powders her cheeks. At that moment, Amy and Rouge came in with a fright, turned around, shouting: — HEY, WE DIDN’T TEACH YOU TO KNOCK??? WHATEVER I AM NAKED??? — After screaming, she noticed that it was Rose and calmed down. — A! It's you? Sorry, I can’t get used to the fact that you don’t have a voice now. How are you feeling? — "Fine. I just had an unusual night. On the one hand, I was a little upset and scared, but on the other hand, I was even happy and calm.” — the hedgehog answers with thoughts without her hat, simply holding it in her hands. Fortunately, the witch herself could read her thoughts: — “And how are you?” — Yes, nothing either. It’s true, you can’t even imagine how hard it is for me to hide these crumbs from people and the guards and the prince. — Rouge explained, lifting her dress and showing her tentacles, the tips of which she moved slightly, like her toes. Then she lowered her dress and sat down on the table with a heavy exhalation. — If it were up to me, I could also take the same potion that I also gave you, but I don’t want to lose my voice. And it makes no sense for me to get human legs, because with them I can walk well on the ground and even stand, while you, for example, with a fish tail, would simply lie and crawl. Amy laughed quietly at what she heard: — "Yes. I can imagine how funny it would look if I remained a mermaid and walked on land with a tail instead of legs.” — Tell me, I hope you’re not too offended or angry with me, that because of me you essentially no longer have a voice? — the witch asked. — “Not much, Rouge! At least I listen to everyone more often, and don’t forget that I have for communication, if anything, a notebook with paper and even that very hat that reads my thoughts, just like you. And I'm so glad that I got what I wanted. You helped me with this." — then she thought to herself: — “I wonder, did she know that prince Sonic doesn’t really love me?” — Yes, he talked to me during dinner in the dining room before bed and explained that he didn’t feel anything like that for you. Remember the side effects I told you about? — the witch asked and the former little mermaid nodded in response. — So here it is! You don't need to be afraid that you will die. Sonic just considers you a friend, which means you don't have a full romantic connection with him. The side effect will work only when both of you and your boyfriend love each other, but despite this you change each other. — “Yes, I already realized this myself when I woke up early at dawn and was already preparing for the fact that I would turn into sea foam... But fortunately I didn’t turn into sea foam. Only I don't understand. If Sonic doesn't love me, then who does? After all, after I heard that Sonic loved Sally instead of me, my heart slowly broke. Although then it relaxed when I saw... Silver.” — Silver? Yes. He loves you. — Rouge answers, having guessed. — "He? But why Silver?” — Amy was already asking herself rhetorically in her thoughts, but the witch still answered her as if she was asking her: — Didn’t you understand yourself? — she asks her and gets up from the chair. — You and Silver are connected not only by a romantic chain, but also mentally and even by fate. He was born and grew up unhappy among royalty, just like you. He was treated like a thing and sometimes manipulated, even though he tried to be kinder to everyone and control his anger towards the whole world, just like you. You and Silver, you are the same at heart. Well, don’t forget that you and he both have a similar situation. You fell in love with prince Sonic at first sight, although he didn't know about it and considered you a friend, while he was in love with Sally. And Silver... — she didn’t have time to finish, when Amy herself already guessed in her thoughts about him: — “Loved me at first sight, without even knowing that I was in love with Sonic and simply considered Silver to be my friend?...” — having collected these thoughts and understanding everything, she smiles. — “So it’s Silver! He is my true love, which I didn’t even know about.” — Of course. It was he who fell in love with you, but is still afraid to admit it to you. He is afraid that you will refuse him or laugh at his confession. — the witch explained. — “Just like I was at first afraid to confess to prince Sonic... Well, at least until I realized that since I... Well, supposedly I would die today at dawn, then I immediately decided to confess to him... And Then Sonic and Sally themselves honestly admitted to me that I was just a friend for them.” — Exactly. So what are you going to do, Rosie? — Rouge asked. Amy, confident in herself, smiles in response and thinks: — “I’ll go to Silver right now, listen to him and answer him with mutual understanding. Let him know how I feel about him now! If Silver loves me, then I will love him too... Or at least I will try to truly love him.” Afterwards, she leaves the bedroom and accidentally bumps into the chubby Robotnik's stomach. — Whoa whoa! Be careful! Why rush in like that? — he asked her jokingly and walked past. Before that, of course, he knocked on the door. — Miss Rouge, may I come in? — Yes. Come in! — she allowed the prince’s uncle to enter her bedroom. Robotnik came in and brought her a cup of coffee. — Your morning coffee, madam! — Thank you. — the witch thanked and accepted the mug, starting to lap up the contents of the drink, which helped to cheer up. From time to time she glanced slyly at Robotnik and read his thoughts: — “I hope she won’t guess that I brought this to her out of love. I really like her." — Are you in love with me? — she asked him sarcastically. — "What? How did she guess? — the chubby little guy fussed a little and clenched his teeth in fear. Then he started lying: — No, no, where did you get the idea? I just thought maybe you hadn’t gotten enough sleep yet and brought you coffee to cheer you up properly. Rouge laughed in response and said: — Okay! Although I don’t even mind if you and I are just friends. — In what sense? — If we talk about love, then I’m generally more into women. Although I am well aware that some women have the right to love men. Still, it's their choice. Likewise, if you love any of the girls, then you have the right to love them. Nobody forbids you to do this. But if you still fall in love with me, then unfortunately you made the wrong choice... Among women. — A! Fine. Sorry, I didn't know. But don’t you know that in our kingdom it is forbidden for women to love women and men to love men? It's just something... — Wrong? — Rouge asked. — I know. Not all countries approve of this. We won't blame them for this. But the most important thing is that only adults should decide this... It’s too early for children to know about this. It’s just that Amy and I come from a country where such types of love, on the contrary, are approved. — Rouge lied. — A! Well, yeah. There are countries and kingdoms where this is sometimes approved. True, sometimes they are too often approved and almost promoted even among children. Although it’s not something to show to children, it’s not even something to tell. Well, I think so. — I completely agree with you. It’s better to save your kids’ nerves, wait until they grow up and let them decide for themselves how to live! You can’t force your opinion on other people. And I myself don’t want to impose anything on you. I just want you to understand that men, unfortunately, are not interested in me, if suddenly you are interested in me. Do you understand, Mr. Robotnik? — Of course, Miss Rouge. But anyway, thanks for telling us about yourself. — he answered and was about to leave. — Wait! — the witch extended her hand, asking Robotnik to stop for a minute, and then asked a little shyly: — You won’t tell anyone about what we talked about here, will you? — Certainly. I give my word! — answered the chubby man, pretended to close his mouth with a zipper and left, closing the door behind him. — “I never break my words if I give them. I promise her that no one will know about this.” — "Thank you." — the witch mentally says to herself as if answering Robotnik’s thoughts. Afterwards she continues to drink her coffee.

***

      At this time, Amy headed to the dining room, just like yesterday morning, to have breakfast. There, by coincidence, she met at the table not only Sonic and Sally, but also Silver himself. They made sandwiches as usual, but spread them with condensed milk. Sally, as usual, smeared from below, while Sonic and Silver smeared from above. It was a little inconvenient to spread condensed milk from below, as it sometimes flowed down in long drops and almost stained the table. The chipmunk sometimes had to bend down and stick out her tongue to lick the dripping drops of condensed milk from the underside of the bread. — Maybe you can try to smear it on top, like us? It will be more convenient this way. — Silver explained. — No thanks. I'm already used to smearing and eating like this. It just tastes even better this way. Especially when your fingers get slightly dirty with butter, jam or condensed milk. Unless, of course, you forgot to wash your hands well with soap before doing this. — Sally answers. — I myself have long been accustomed to the way she likes to spread it on bread in her own way. I'm sure you'll get used to it too, Silver. — says Sonic. — I didn’t find fault, I just advised. — Silver explained. — Yes. I understand, Silver. — Sally answers him and notices Amy coming out to them in the dining room, greeting her with a wave. — Hello, Amy. Amy also waved her hand in response, put her hat on her head and sat down opposite them. Sonic turned his attention to Amy, looking worried and asking: — How are you? — "Everything is fine." — the hedgehog prince heard the answer in the form of her thoughts from behind the hat. — "And how are you?" — We're fine too. — Sally answers. — We are glad that you understood everything and forgave us. — “I don’t want to seem rude, but I would like to be alone with Silver.” — Rose immediately thought, and when the hat conveyed these thoughts into the ear, Sonic and Sally looked at each other and decided to get up from the table to politely leave the two alone. — Okay. Let's not disturb you two. - Sonic explained. — Yes. For we now, perhaps we’ll go to the garden or sit near the beautiful fountain. — added Sally. Sonic and Sally left the dining room and Amy and Silver were left alone at the table for now. Amy looked at Silver with a smile, and the latter was a little surprised and did not know what to tell her. A little awkwardly, he raises his right hand and says: — Hello... Nice to see you. — “And I’m glad to see you, Silver.” — the hedgehog answered with thoughts. Afterwards, she takes off her hat and decides from now on to listen to Silver more than to speak further with the help of her thoughts. The white hedgehog sat shyly and remained silent for the time being, lightly gritting his teeth and fussily looking around, already sweating. It's like something unknown scares him. Of course Rose noticed this on him, but did not interfere. She perfectly understood these feelings when a person is afraid to confess his love to another person. The court son was still afraid and did not know where to start the conversation. Amy decided to cheer him up a little and calm him down from these thoughts by showing him the very beautiful rose that he gave her last night. She planted this same rose in a slightly broken cup as a pot and poured fresh soil into it to cover the roots. — This is... My... Rose? — asked Silver. The former mermaid nodded and the hedgehog smiled so much that he almost cried. She is probably the only person who appreciates his plants, which he grows himself, while most do not pay any attention to his plants. He got up from his chair and decided to go to the kitchen himself to bring breakfast for her, when suddenly he accidentally tripped over something again. Amy, anticipating this in time, slipped under the table and intercepted Silver, preventing him from falling. — Oh... Thank you, Amy... — he thanked her and stood up again, looking back. — Stupid number of floors. — while he scolded the floor for almost falling because of him, the hedgehog herself was about to go around the table and return back to her seat, when suddenly she herself slipped on the wet floor and almost fell. Fortunately, this time Silver managed to grab her by the arms. — Wow Wow! Carefully! Saved by her savior, she looks into his beautiful golden eyes, just as he looks into her emerald eyes. Silver, having already forgotten about his inner fear of a lover, helped Amy get up and looked at her for a long time, but he couldn’t stop looking at her. Well, how could he not!? They looked into each other's eyes for a short time until they were distracted by the chef. — SILVER, YOU ARE SIDING AGAIN!!! — he shouted and threw the mop next to them. — UNCLE, YOU ARE STARTING AGAIN, OR WHAT??? — Silver shouted indignantly at the boss. The latter wanted to yell at him again for this, but he was frightened by the look of Amy, who looked at him menacingly and was like: — “What are you doing? Are you crazy? Have you lost your fear or have you forgotten what you and I agreed on?” The chef was frightened by she-hedgehog’s gaze and, smiling, immediately became kinder, saying: — Sorry, Silver. I just wanted to remind you that you washed the floors in the dining room, but forgot to wash the floors in the kitchen. But if you don't want to, fine. You don't have to wash it yet. Silver also calmed down and answered: — Okay, uncle, I’m sorry too, it completely slipped my mind. But I can wash it right now if I need it right away. At that point they did not argue with each other any further. Silver went to the kitchen and Amy followed him too. She decided to help him a little. Seeing a pile of dirty dishes in a barrel, she took liquid soap, put some in a sponge, wet it and began to wash the plates, pots and pans. The chef at first wanted to dissuade her so that she would not waste her energy on such a trifle, because Silver would deal with this later. The latter convinced him to allow her to do this if she wanted. For one thing, it will free him from the second extra work while he finishes the first. After about ten minutes, Silver wipes the sweat from her forehead, because the entire floor in the kitchen shone like a mirror, and Rose washed the last plate and placed it upside down on a pile of ten of the same on the table so that the remaining water would drain. Having finished cleaning the kitchen, they looked into each other's eyes again, held hands and walked out of the castle through the back exit.