Chapter 41

Iris felt her body so light. Like she was floating. She saw nothing but white surrounded her.

"Am I died? I must be died. I couldn't finish the story. I failed to survive. Such a simple goal. But I failed. What a shame."

"Princess…" A faint voice was calling her, "Princess…"

It was Gili and Euntaras.

"So, I am a spirit now?"

"No, Princess you are not."

"Yes, if you are, we then failed to protect you."

"So, I am not dead?"

"No, of course no. We owe you a life. We will give it back to you. That's why we protect you."

"Thank you, but…" She jolted, there's something soft touched her hand.

The spirits smiled.

Iris opened her eyes. She was in the chamber. Her head was heavily dizzy. She felt drowsy and weak. She couldn't stand the light, but her sight was slowly getting clearer. Her right chest was so painful. Her breathing was short.

"You wake up?"

Iris was too dizzy to reply.

"June, June, she's awake."

"Let me check," June walked to the bedside, "Princess…" She gasped, "Oh, finally…"

Iris tried harder to talk, "I… I…"

"Don't…"

She could hear many people were cheering. Rosetta came bringing water for her to drink. Iowyrthe helped her.

"You want to rest? Sleep, sleep now. Don't forget to wake up. I will be here." Iowyrthe was tearing. He was relieved and grateful.

Iris couldn't help but sleeping again. The next time she woke up, she saw Iowyrthe in her bedside sleeping on the daybed. She wanted to move but too hastily that it hurt her.

"Aah…" Iowyrthe woke up hearing the voice.

"Are you alright?"

"No." Iris was in cold sweat holding the pain. She was very drowsy and really wanted to close her eyes, but at the same time really wanted to wake up due to her long hibernate. Iowyrthe moved to her side and let her lean on him.

"You want the essence, I heard it eases the pain too." She drank it with trembling hands and hazy sight. "You don't have to push yourself."

"Why are you here?" she murmured, "shouldn't you go?"

"Go where?"

"From my life," Iris talked like a drunk person, "I can't stand if you keep appearing. I don't want to get hurt. I am tired. Leave me alone. Lea…" her sight suddenly blacked out.

"Do you hate me that much, Princess?" Iowyrthe whispered while caressing Iris in his embrace. She was lifeless. She was very weak at the moment. Metuselah told him that using magic to stop her bleeding and healed her taken its toll in the form of health energy. Her health energy was already low from the beginning. At the moment, she cannot recharge it to the fullest and any simple movement was exhausting her. Her emotion condition too seems unstable that it worsens her condition. Metuselah said that taking care of her was like taking care a dandelion. A simple blow may take her life away.

June added that she may recharge from resting and sleeping. But, seeing she was fainted from saying few sentences after a long 5 days of unconsciousness, it means that it didn't recharge that much. The only way to change the game was to find the Amandine Flower in Calpara. However, since Iris herself should go there, it was like almost impossible. The carriage may take them to some part of mountain. But after that she have to walk. Only both of them in the harsh winter to be precise. Iowyrthe was thinking the whole time how he could take her there safely. Not to mention, after all the effort, they still cannot gain the flower if it doesn't choose them.

Iowyrthe realized how much he really wanted her to be healthy. After contemplating while taking care of her these past days, the most logical answer he has was he felt guilty about the whole stabbing situation. The real crown prince was found in the basement. Ernesti was still on search. He must be teleported or using some other ways to pass Metuselah's bubble. He didn't expect that Iris would save him. He thought maybe it was just because Iris was at the right moment. The only question left was why Ernesti wanted to take him out rather than aiming on Iris directly.

Iris breath woke him from all of his thought. He realized that he embraced her for a long time. Seeing her like that made him sad.

"Shouldn't you be awake fully by now? Didn't you say if you sick that this is how your mother treat you? You should try Aurinko's food. If you wake up, let's go to the market." The whispers were taking so long but she still didn't wake up. He didn't know what sort of magic that he fell asleep embracing her in his arms.