Chapter 23

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They started the journey. Iris noticed the carriage even more warm and padded. Rosetta took the maid carriage. There's only The Duke, Doctor June, and Marquis Judah. She took the left window side. Thinking about the Director said to her. "Do what IRIS do."

She kept it to herself even carefully using her ability for people. Only one time she released it out of control, 13 years ago, when she was 17. That time, when she saw her mother dying in agony, she released it full power. Her mother was in sickness for a long time. She inherited that too. But they also wanted her mother to be in painful slow death so they slightly changed her medicine into poisoned. When she realized it, she became angry and release a full-blown healing and poison absorption skill. However, that too didn't help her mother. It is too late to help her at that moment. Not long after, her mother passed away. Her father years later died of broken heart and grief.

Since then, her movement was on watch every single moment. Her room became her prison. She thought of only survival. A revenge that even though they killed her mother and father, and indirectly killing her soul, she wanted to prove that she can survive. Her only purpose now is to survive and live freely. That's why she agreed to engage to Duke Lleuelyn as a pact between Musou and Lleuelyn.

She knew prior to the engagement the rumour about the harsh Duke and how he bullied all other ladies engaged to him. They set up his engagement to her also as part to tame him into marriage. With his political mind, he wouldn't be so easy to break his engagement to a princess from another kingdom with so many advantages in political area. However, Iris knew for sure he will break it too. She used this chance to ask for a free life. The rule is if they can stand the 13 days of courtship phase and one of them break off, they will give compensation. That compensation will be used to stay in Lleuelyn, promise to keep the country pact, and she will be free. She won't care about their pact and live as a commoner.

"But what IRIS do usually?" she was in deep thinking, "What if I didn't do it? Will I die? If I die will I be back to Lab? Or is it like die forever? What is it? I supposedly not erase all memories related to the story situation. Why why why?"

"Haaa…" Iris took a deep breath.

"Are you okay, Princess?" Doctor June asked her.

"Eh… Ooh… No nothing. I just… ummm… I just miss the children already. I won't see them anymore." She bowed her head.

Iowyrthe covered his mouth and sighed. He felt uneasy when she said she won't see them. She knew what he planned all along. He didn't notice how she genuinely cared for the children. Both Iowyrthe and Iris look far through window. Judah and Doctor June just notice their similarity. How they wanted to just tell them to be together. But it was not the best way for both of them. It has to come naturally.

After few hours of journey, Iris began to feel tired, she began to lean on the window side. She kept thinking but she didn't have any answer yet. She chose to not overthink herself. Her mental also affecting her body's health. Therefore, she chose to rest. Though body can't lie. She obviously got paler and tired. Not to mention the winter wind started to come in. She already used the cape she bought and the gloves, also the comfortable warm shoes Iowyrthe bought for her. But she can't help shivering.

Doctor June was about to cover her with blanket, when Iowyrthe said, "Give that to me."

"Oh, goodness! She shivers. You want to take her blanket again?" Doctor June was suppressing her volume but it loaded with anger.

"I mean like this," Iowyrthe covered her with the magic cape and took blanket to cover himself, "This will be better for her right?"

"Oh, right." Doctor June's anger subsided. She and Marquis Judah looked at each other. Their eyes coded each other like, "Let's help him."

The sky darkened and welcomed the night. They were nearing Euntaras. Euntaras was a small town in a valley. The land was fertile. The most unique one is the Euntaras tree which grow only one in whole Lleuelyn. The leaves were used as the base for any antidotes and for some medicines. They believed it has more use than just for poison. It bears fruit just one fruit per year. However, since only royal family who can obtain it, no one ever experiment or know the use of the fruit. They only stated that it was taste so good both natural or cooked as dessert or meal. No one knew the actual use.

The town itself was under royal family since it was also near to Aurinko. No nobles assigned to rule it. However, there was an elder who has role as leader. He protected and groom the tree as well as the townsman. They lived harmoniously with the nature. It was a peaceful town.

Pshhyyuuuu… There was an arrow targeted the Princess. But thanks to the majestic, strong, best reflex of the Duke, he caught it. Pshhyyuuuu… another one coming. He can't help but cover her with his body.

"This must be that bastards! Nicholas!" The arrow pierced through his back-right shoulder.

Hearing the scream, Iris woke up finding her hugged in Iowyrthe's arm. She wanted to fight back but she saw the piercing arrow, she gasped and uncontrollably absorbed the poison in it. Not long after, she started feeling weak.

Iowyrthe forcefully removed the piercing arrow. Doctor June stopped his bleeding sprightly. While Iowyrthe was bandaged, few of arrow came flying. Marquis Kvasir deflected it. They stopped the whole entourage. Not long after, Nicholas came knocking.

Nicholas was the captain of the shadow warrior that Duke Lleuelyn trained from generation to generation. Only Nicholas who can reveal his identity to other when needed. They have no name and only Iowyrthe knew how many of them. They spied, assassinate, going into battle, and anything the Duke needed. They operated in discreet mostly.

"I apologize, Your Highness. Here he is." He presented a younger boy with bow and arrow. Iowyrthe and Judah get off from the carriage. They saw the young boy and started interrogating.

"Name?"

"Felix."

"Where are you from?"

"Euntaras."

"Why?"

"To protect our town. I knew you want to occupied our land for the tree."

"How do you know?"

Felix, the young boy, became silent.

"How do you know?"

"I heard somebody talked to the elder before he got sick. They had black cape with magic stone like that." He pointed at the cape Iris wear.

Iowyrthe smirked, "We will come to Euntaras but not to occupy it. That's my cape. You have my words. My entourage will stay here for a night to rest. I am a Duke."

"How can I know?"

"You don't need to. Well, I will still come to Euntaras anyway. Take him with us." The boy tried to release his hands and resisted.

"Do you want to die instead? You have almost killed a Princess from foreign country and then hurt me in the process. I've tried to be kind and generous." Felix shivered hearing those cold remark.