Confidential
(c) Y. Ruzhytska
3.
Neonila fumbles with her own braids, she opens her mouth to
respond, letting out only a soft gasp as she freezes in
surprise. Lada and Freasia notice her face expression and
follow where she looks again. This time they see SWARG(50s)
enter, striding towards them with a grin.
FREASIA
Speak of the devil.
Neonila takes a step back. She's looking around anxiously,
seeing no place to hide nor run.
NEONILA
Anyone but him.
LADA
Ah, so that's of whom you two spoke
of! Sir Swarg Vulpar, is it? Now
that's an ugly mug. But a rich one,
too.
NEONILA
And old and disgusting. He's
coming, he saw me.
FREASIA
Let me handle this, darling.
Freasia pokes the shoulder of the SERVANT who stands next to
them and whispers something into his ear. The servant nods
and tells something to Swarg, stopping him in his tracks.
Swarg sighs and leaves the dance hall, entering the other
room. Neonila lets out a breath she held the whole time,
relieved.
NEONILA
Thank you, Freasia.
LADA
What did you tell him?
FREASIA
Why, the truth. That Sir Helix
wants to speak to him. He'd never
disobey Neonila's father.
NEONILA
Nor my father ever misses an
opportunity to converse with him.
They can talk for hours. How can
they do that escapes me, but I'd
rather not know. Swarg either
brings up the good old days of
their service together or how much
he wants to marry me.
LADA
And what your father says?