Chapter 46

Iowyrthe was taking the horse as he was the one who leads all of them. Felix was on guard on any mana movements. Nicholas and the shadow warriors were already on move before Iowyrthe and Iris start the journey to clear out any enemy in their path. Nothing serious was found.

Metuselah saw that Iris has many thoughts and said, "Princess, overthink will worsen your health. Calm, trust me, trust him, trust anyone involved in this journey. We will make it."

"I trust you. But I don't trust myself. I think you know better about my condition, right?"

"Believe me, I will ensure you will survive. You have Euntaras essence, you got your blood enhancer. Everything was checked before, you will be alright, Princess."

"But I… I am really tired, Metuselah. I fainted like numerous times, every time I wake up, I feel my condition even worse than before. I don't think I can make it."

"Hey… Iris…"

"I don't feel like I can survive this journey. When the estate say farewell, it felt like it will be the last time. I said sure I will come back, but inside, I am not even sure I will made it to the peak. It will be useless."

"Don't say it like that, we did our best things. Your only task is to walk to the peak and made it. You're not even have to succeed, Princess Iris. Please let us try. Even if the flower didn't choose you. At least we have tried."

Iris was silent for a while. Then, she asked, "Do you know how can the flower choose us?"

"This is from my observation; I think it will be related to love on the pair. As I said, since the peak path only open for two people. So, in my own opinion, this will be related to relationship between those two. It could be their intimacy, bond, or maybe love or compassion between the pair. There's many were parents and their children or friends or couple and they succeed. They only remember that they kiss. As it is a…"

"Seal?"

"Oh, we think alike. Yup, sealed with a kiss…"

"Haha, Iowyrthe do this as payback. He feels guilty. He won't even seal it with a kiss, don't you think? I even cannot imagine if the test was about love. You know how it is between me and him."

"We never know. He seriously begged the Emperor and Empress for this. He plead me to help on this journey. Eeven though if he didn't ask me, I will still do it. It is our pact. From what I know, he never begged when he became the Duke of Callavan. Seeing those changes, I think he may have secretly like you."

"Don't make my hope rise, Mets. Can I call you Mets? Mets seems cute but dangerous you know?"

"The drugs? It is Meth. Hahaha, but I don't mind. Still I have to call you Princess. This story setting made me do so."

Iris chuckled, "Alright, let's do this. Wish me luck!"

Iris decided to sleep after. She felt a little headache and it was getting colder.

Iowyrthe signalled all to stop. They have to rest. They were lucky, the first half of the journey was pretty easy compared to what they prepared for.

"Is she alright?"

"She is sleeping now. I found nothing serious about her health. However, she still doesn't believe in us completely. She talked along the road about how she felt that she will not make it. You know it was a risqué thought. We have to make her believe in us and in herself."

Iowyrthe sighed upon hearing those remarks. He, himself that broke that trust started from the beginning. He can't even think how he's going to build it back. All he knows from previous relationship was to get rid of them not to make them stay.

They camped in the forest near the foot of Calpara Mountain. It was not a thick forest so relatively easy to guard. Metuselah made a protection bubble around and the knights take turn to guard. The shadow warrior was on rest since next morning they will be the one who start and clear the road from all kind of disturbance. Iris woke up and join people at the bonfire. She looked better after resting. Iowyrthe served her some food.

"Eat."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

"No, just Io is fine."

"Well, it is sounds weird."

Iowyrthe didn't reply. He was embarrassed. Every body nearby them seemed to read the mood. Some of the female knights found it cute to see their Duke blushed. Some older knights feel pity to see how inexperienced Iowyrthe was. If Dr. June and Marquis Kvasir were here, they were pretty sure the most respectable Duke of Callavan will be bullied just because of that small conversation.

Iowyrthe felt so awkward, while Iris coolly eat the soup that he served her. Her mind was on something else. She felt she already a burden for as much as people who follow the journey. Not to mentioned people who stayed in Callavan that involved in the preparation. She felt so guilty.

"Should I stop now?" she contemplated, "But if I stopped halfway won't it be burdensome? They will be more disappointed right? Ah, there's no other way than follow this useless quest. I hope the story won't end if I keep going. I am the so-called Iris the healer, wouldn't it be weird if some most wanted character died before they were revealed? They also send Metuselah to help. He is sims too. Why on earth they would send someone to help if I am going to die this soon? Right? Or will he betray me? No, we have made an oath, very unlikely. Will I succeed? Ah, so much thing to think of. God… My head will explode…"

Iowyrthe stared at her. He saw that she was thinking so much. How can he help? How can he make her trust him? How he never found her hair was as lovely as tonight? Is the moonbeam on Calpara reflect differently?

Every body around them smiled seeing the Duke, including Metuselah, who secretly want to scream happily seeing the gaze of Iowyrthe towards his sims partner. They can win this story. They should win this story.