Chapter 4

"Princess, please wake up, we will start the journey again. We will reach the dukedom in 5-6 hours."

"Sure. Sorry, I have a wonderful rest thanks to you, Rosetta."

"Alright, I will prepare to go. It is 2 in the morning. If we start moving you can sleep again my lady, though you cannot lay down."

Rosetta left. Then Iris woke up and sitting down. Her sight was slightly blurred but she used to it. Weak body was the main cause. The doctor in Vanra once said that she should be treated with blood enhancer or the Amandine Flower. The rarest flower only blooms once in a hundred years during harshest winter. It is only growing in Calpara, a mountain south of Callavan.

The maids and knights prepared to move. She was still in the carriage alone. Suddenly, an awful, shrieking sound suddenly heard. Heavy steps were coming in their direction. The earth shook a little. A very big troll it was. It has fang, nails, and horns. Those things were poisonous.

It was roaring like crazy. With the sound closing in, Iris clutched her hands in the heart. She couldn't move. She was terrified.

"Princess!!!!" Iris heard Rosetta calling. That was when the carriage was pushed aside. Her head hit the carriage frame hard. Some of the wood sliced her arm. Her head was spinning.

"Princess!!!!" Rosetta screamed in horror as the troll prepare to step on the already broken carriage.

It was then a white shadows flash before Iris' eyes. Then all become blurred and darkened.

The foot of the troll flung upon inflicted with the sword. The gross green blood splattered to Duke Iowyrthe white clothing.

"Gross. Annoying."

The knights rushed to cut down all troll parts. The troll blood is good for poison. The horn, nail, and fangs are good also for small poisonous weapon. Usually, it is good for defensive mode in a one to one combat.

The carriage was wrecked for good. Marquis was helping the knight to collect the troll part and investigated why suddenly a troll running in their direction. It seemed like it was controlled or provoked to come into their road. Rosetta and Agnes tried their best to look for the Princess under the wrecked carriage. They were so worry. She must get hurt. They have no strength in opening the carriage. The only one idle was Iowyrthe. The rude harsh duke.

"Duke please." Rosetta pleaded.

"Such a burden." Even though the words were harsh, he forced open the side of the carriage. He found Iris unconscious. He lifted her and put her in his carriage. No other casualties except the unlucky carriage and Iris.

"She bleeds. Weak. Patch her up."

Rosetta and Agnes the maid quickly run to her. Her body was so cold and pale. Her blood was flowing from the head.

Selma, the other maid asking curiously as she trying to gather the Princess' belonging, "Only 1 carrier?" She was in disbelief.

"Ha, good, she knows she won't stay that long." Marquis Kvasir, 3 maids, and the coachman, Aram, were looking at each other in disbelief.

"How can he so harsh to the nice lady? Is he a homosexual? Is finding Iris the Healer were only a façade? Maybe soon he will confess? How the Empress handle this news?" All those curious questions came into their mind. They shivered spontaneously.

All other lady before her was not so nice. They know Duke Lleuelyn was handsome, rich, and powerful. He is cousin to the Crown Prince. Loved by the community well. Marry him was the fastest way to an easy life. So, they treat the Duke nicely, but not his people.

Only one woman who can be considered close to the Duke, young Countess Eugenie Yuriel Baltasar. The young Countess was known to save his life when he drank a poison when he was on probation to inherit the Duchy. However, royal family especially the Empress opposed their marriage, due to her infamous evilness. Eugenie is so arrogant and treat commoner cruelly. Empress who act like Iowyrthe's mother after she passed away, always oppose Eugenie. Everybody know Callavan will come to destruction if she was the Duchess.

Iris come from another Kingdom and was there to strengthen the power of the two monarchy. Lleuelyn Empire has strong army forces, while Musou Kingdom have an abundant resource. Together they will not be easy to be reigned over.

Iris came in modest dress, she is humble, and easy to get close to. Not to mention those dazzling black opal eyes and hair. She seemed to have no ulterior motives. All 5 people secretly hope, that Princess Iris will be the last and become the duchess. They didn't know why they are hoping, but the calm and comfort they feel around the Princess seemed to strengthen the hope.