บท 24: Chapter 22
When we get outside, we head over to the archery range. I'm surprised that we haven't done anything besides archery and sword fighting. I guess that's just what were being trained for this year. Maybe he'll do different things next year.
We're led by a man who looks like he's in his early thirties. He turns to face us and his eyes scan over us. When he looks at me, he glares and casts me a cold look. I frown at him.
"Today the prince has instructed to give you some archery time. Note how I said in control, not Am I clear?"
We all mumble a quick yes and get to work.
As I'm shooting arrow after arrow, I get bored. I love doing this, but only for a certain amount of time. I start to go farther away form the target to challenge myself, until I'm a good distance away from the other men. I still easily make the arrow his the very center of the target with a thunk. Then I notice the man walking over to me.
"Do you know who I am?" He yells at me.
"No," I manage to squeak out.
"I'm Gus. I've been helping the prince for five years now. So when some little girl comes in and tries to show everyone up, I'm not so thrilled."
"I-I wasn't trying to show off," I stutter.
Then he slaps me. He doesn't do this once, not twice, but three times.
I fall to the ground and then I hear a voice yell out, "STOP!"
I turn my head and the prince is running towards us. Apparently a boy had left to grab the prince.
Gus falls in his knees and stutters, "Yo-your highness, I-I didn't expect to see you."
The anger in the prince's eyes could be seen from anyone. "Leave. Now. I don't ever want to see you again. I said, NOW!"
"Ye-yes, of course, your highness."
Gus runs off.
The prince turns to face me and helps me up. His eyes are now also filled with concern.
"Are you okay?" He asks, breathing heavily.
"I'm fine," I reply quietly. Gingerly I touch my face. It still stings and is probably bright red.
"Why did he do that to you?"
"I was trying to make things more difficult for me, but he thought that I was showing off."
"It's true," a man pipes us. "We all saw it."
"I've decided that we can all take the afternoon off," the prince says.
Everyone cheers and starts heading back to the castle for lunch.
"You didn't have to get rid of that man," I say to the prince.
"You're too soft, Iris. You need to realize that sometime you need to do things like this. If I had kept that man, who knows what else he would have done to you."
He makes a good point.
"So what have you decided to do with Zander?"
The prince sighs. "Well... After a lot of thought and talking with people, we've decided that he will be a servant that will be monitored at all times. He will live in the prison overnight."
While I still feel bad for Zander, I'm relieved that they're not killing him.
We walk back in silence and I turn to head to my room.
"Uh, Iris?" The prince calls out behind me.
I turn around and say, "Yes?"
"I was wondering if you'd like to have dinner with my family tonight. My father says he wants to meet you personally."
"Oh, um... Sure. Dinner would be great. What do I wear?"
"Just something nice. I'll come and get you later."
"Okay. Goodbye."
"Goodbye."
When in my room, I ask for Sonia. She enters and I ask, "I need some help. I would like your help picking out something to wear later."
Her eyes light up at the thought and she immediately walks over to my closet. She rifles through different dresses. Eventually, she settles on a pale pink dress with lace. It fits me perfectly. Some of the crease I have are much too small for me. Then an idea comes to mind. I walk over to the closet and grab a dress.
"Here, put this on," I say to Sonia.
Without hesitating, she takes off the clothes she's wearing and puts on the green dress I picked out. It matches her hair and skin color perfectly. She twirls and I laugh. Bowing I say, "Will you have this dance?"
She giggles and takes my hand. I show her a few steps of a dance.
"Wait!" I say. "You're not ready yet!"
I sit her down in the chair and braids her hair into a crown. Then I grab a few hairpins that I found and stick them in there. "Now you're ready."
She grins and we waltz around the room. Suddenly there's a knock on the door. I go to open it and there's the prince.
"Oh! You're here already?"
"I'm early. What's going on in here?"
I introduce Sonia and she smiles shyly.
"Well lady Sonia, will you have this dance?" The prince says, bowing.
They dance and I laugh. We have fun together until we realize that we need to leave. Sonia looks sad about that.
"Keep the dress," I say. "I doesn't fit me."
Her eyes light up and quietly she says, "Thank you."
Once we've said our goodbyes, the prince leads me out of my rooms we weave through hallways. As we approach the dining hall, we hear voices. The prince stops me and we listen. I recognize the Kings voice, but the other one I don't.
"What are we going to do with him?" The King says.
"I've heard from his brother that he fancies a girl."
"It's probably that Iris girl."
"Do you not approve of her?"
"Not at all! I need a to marry my son. She just doesn't fit the requirements."
The prince has had enough he puts on a smile and I follow him.
"Hello father, uncle." He says.
Next to the king is a jolly looking man with a brown beard. He looks very similar to the king.
"Ah! You must be Iris!" He says. I smile politely, but he comes over to me and wraps me up in a hug. "I'm Garrett!"
"Nice to meet you, sir," I say.
"Please, just call me Garrett. Now, who's hungry?"
"I know I am," the king pipes up. "Let's eat!"...
"So Iris," Garrett starts. "What is it like where you live?"
"Well, we leave on the country side so there aren't any people around us except for one family. The scenery is beautiful with many mountains and forests." I recall.
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