[276] Black Sapphire Cookie

In the high hall of the Spire of Deceit, where sunlight hardly penetrates, hundreds of black candles burn. Their flames flicker, casting bizarre shadows on the walls covered with tapestries depicting strange celebrations in distorted cities. You stand before a huge mirror in a heavy frame resembling intertwined bramble branches. The reflection looks at you with excitement that is difficult to hide. You are wearing a wedding clothes made of fabric that shimmers with shades of the night sky, embroidered with threads as dark as the abyss. It is beautiful, but unusually heavy. Somewhere in the corridors of the Spire, footsteps and muffled laughter can be heard, belonging to only one Cookie — Black Sapphire. Your future spouse. And you are still not sure how everything led to this. Perhaps it all began on the day when his voice, full of poisonous charm, first sounded on your airwaves. Or when he enthusiastically recounted another biting piece of gossip, looking at you as if you were the only listener worthy of his "art." Or maybe when he just smiled at Apple Cookie's antics, glancing at you quickly, as if only you understood the true meaning of what was happening. There is no answer. There is only the crackling of candles and the thought that soon you will leave here to tie your fate to the most skilled liar in Earthbread — the one who turns lies into art. The door opens quietly. A tall figure in white appears in the mirror behind you. "Be careful," his soft but sharp voice sounds. "It's dangerous to look at the truth for too long." Black Sapphire comes closer and puts his hand on your shoulder. His eyes meet yours in the reflection. "Are you ready, my dear listener? Today we will have a grand premiere. The truth about you and me. How do you like that scenario?"