"I... " she started out hesitantly but become confused when Terrence hold out a hand.
"May I have this dance milady?" he asked her with a hopeful gaze.
She sighed in surrender and accept his offer "I'll... be honored milord".
They joined the people on the dance floor, waltzing gracefully without saying a word. Terrence smiled fondly at the quiet lady, "you know... I'm still waiting for an explanation, I missed you Irene and you don't know how distraught I am when you die... but now you're here"
"I... um... was going to act like I don't know you but... you're the only person that could look at me like I'm an open book and that's mean lying to you will be a waste so I'm just going to say... if you...and Quinn I guess...want to know what happen then come to Solar Gardenia...to... our palace... to be exact" She said while looking at where Quinn was dancing with his random partner. Quinn was twirling his partner when he caught Irene staring causing her to retrieve her gaze back "oh god he notice me".
Terrence chuckled "he had notice you since earlier when we were waiting to present our gift to the birthday boy... though I guess since you technically invites us to S. Gardenia palace... did it have anything to do with you being the prophecised Lady Irene... the warrior princess?."
Irene blushed at the mention of her title "I didn't know that my destiny was known by many... "
"the Princess Irene is a mystery to all, they hears her destiny but never knew how she looks like... so it's kind of a famous topic, not to mention I'm now a high priest of the old religion and also Luvix's minister of magic, I have to be aware of this kind of thing" he told her while twirling her.
She beamed in happiness as she heard it "congratulations, you make a perfect high priest and I'm glad that magic is accepted in the kingdom now. How is he by the way? "
The music stopped and everyone dispersed, Terrence guide her to a lone corner near the drinks table where he gave a glass of red cocktail to her "he's a great king and he's now married to Lady Renee, well Queen Renee now, she can't come because she is currently 7 month pregnant on the first baby".
Irene widened her eyes and close her mouth in shock, growing teary "Quinn's going to be a father soon! by the goddess! how he grew up so fast".
"you know I was in doubt a few minutes later when I see you... but now that I heard you talking about me with Ren, I guess you really are my sister Irene aren't you? " the familiar voice of the king Quinn can be heard as he approached the couple.
Irene smiled fondly at her younger brother "I wish I could hug you but that would make people wonder about me... especially since I'm going to be introduced to public tomorrow at the hunting contest.."
"which makes me questioned, why are you here Irene... last time I saw you... you were... cold... and lifeless on my hand... " he grew teary as he said this.
"oh don't cry you big baby, you're going to be a father soon you know... and as I said to Terre(terry), I will explain when you visit S. Gardenia royal palace" she chided her while throwing a handkerchief to Quinn.
The king quickly wipe his tear while denying "I'm not crying... it's just... my eyes are tired from the grand decorations of this ballroom and ready to sle-".
"Your highness! there you are I've been searching for you!" Alexis came speed-walking toward the group with a relieved face as she stand infront of her, blocking Quinn. "your father and mother are worried when they can't find you where I left you and I-"
Irene cuts her off with a giggled "I'm fine Alex... and for your information I was dancing with Duke Reinsworth and are currently talking to King Quinn".
Alexis paled as she heard the word king Quinn and quickly turn to the amuse yet annoyed king and kneel "I am so so sorry your majesty for not noticing you, please forgive this lowly knight for her impertinence."
Irene clamp her mouth struggling not to laugh while Quinn sighed at the knightwoman pitiful expression "rise knight and don't worry... I understand that you were extremely worried for your princess and did not mean any rudeness to your action. Now how about introduce yourself milady... "
Alexis stand up and stand next to Irene, bowing "I'm the head knight of Solar Gardenia, Alexis la rue, I'm honoured to be in your presence sire".
"you must be a skilled knight to held position of head knight" he praises her.
Alexis blushed and shake her head in denial "I'm not that good sire... compares to princess Irene"
Irene nudged Alexis at the sentence and argued "you're just being humble, we're technically the same level".
Terrence and Quinn snorted at that "how modest Irene~" Quinn teased sarcastically.
She just winked at them "you know it brother".
Alexis look at them in relieved happiness before remembering "your highness, we are going to our usual guest wing to rest soon, especially since we will be joining the contest tomorrow".
Irene nodded then turn to the duke and king "well...see you tomorrow that is if you guys join the contest tomorrow? "
Quinn chuckled "wouldn't miss it for the world... I got my eyes for this year prize you know"
Irene rolled her eyes before bidding them goodnight and went off to where her parents are waiting.
scene: a field near a forest with a bunch of gazebos built at the edge of the field.
The morning was hot and clear at the day, about 20 horses was tended to in the waiting area, their beautiful coat glistened under the sun. There is 10 royal family stationed themselves on their choosen gazebos, Quinn and his group on a green themed gazebos while Irene and her groups in the sky blue and white gazebos. The host, King Heracles and his sons and wife have the biggest gazebo with red themed colour.
Queen Sirena was adjusting his husband's armour while Irene was polishing his father bow and making sure the string are tight. A rare sight for a princess to do a servant's job but for the knights and two family servant that come with them, it was normal. Alexis was being tended by the two servant.
"I heard the prize for this year contest is the rare phoenix marbles, created by the legendary phoenix using molten lava that is shaped into small 100 marbles and put in an indestructible round ice bowl made using the ice from the enchanted icy North region. The coldness of the ice and the extreme heat of lava created a neutral temperature when touched. I heard that it will bring luck to a kingdom if in possession of a royal family and that it can be used to call for the phoenix help only in time of desperate need which Ares kingdom apparently had no need for it and thus the contest also serve as a purpose to find a suitable kingdom to house it. " King Vincent rambled as his wife fix his armour.
"take it easy when the contest started dear... although the prize is really extraordinary, it's better to be safe than hurt due to greediness...it's okay if we did not win, I dont want to see you with a broken limb or scorched face for goodness sake" the Queen chided his startstruck husband making him chuckled sheepishly and kiss his wife's forehead in reassurance.
Irene just giggled at her parents as she finishes setting up the archery set and her father sword while other watched in amusement.
20 minutes later, 10 king including the host along with their head knights had mount their horses and wait in line. King Heracles urge his horse to stand in front of the contestants and announced "in 20 seconds we will start our annual hunting contest, in the forest there is a lot of ranked demon monster...a D ranked demon monster cost 1 point, a C ranked cost 2 point, a B ranked cost 3 point and an A ranked cost 4 points. The kingdom with the highest point will get the Phoenix Marble, second place will get the seeds of the rare bloodmoon flower and third place will get 3 medium chests of gold coins and the legendary Emrys staff. In the count of 10...9..." he ended his speech with a countdown, the contesting kings and knights went out of the waiting area and ready their horse to run as King Heracles started counting with the audience.
Irene lean on her mother shoulder, "the second prize is quite good, the bloodmoon flower had a great healing ability that could heal anything including wound inflicted by dark magic... to have it seeds even one seed is a blessing. Although I wonder how they gotten hold on the Emrys staff... "
her mother caress her daughter head and explained "I heard that the high Druid council give them the staff, the staff itself has no magical power as it depends on the holder of the staff... so if the owner of the staff is a powerful sorcerer or sorceress then it will be a powerful weapon and if it was owned by average sorcerer or sorceress then it power is also average... I think it will suit you greatly my dear child"
Irene nodded in understanding "so if the owner has no magical power or did not practices magic then the staff is basically powerless, interesting... and I have no need for a legendary sorcerer staff mother, I want to have my own staff made just for me" she smiled cheekily at her answer making her mother giggled and pat her cheeks tenderly.
"1 go!" King Heracles ends his counting followed by the sound of cannon from a far to signify the start of the contest. Every king urge their horses to speed up to the forest with their knights. King Quinn and King Vincent taking the lead. Each contestants enters the forests and bunch of glowing magical hawks are releases from their cage. The hawks are going to fly around the forest and recorded the contestants scores. Their scores will magically appear on a big board that has a list of their name and partners.
The number 6 had appear immediately next to King Vincent and Lady Alexis column showing that they had killed 2 B ranked monster while the number 5 had appear next King Quinn and Sir Lucas column informing them that they had found a B rank and a C rank monster. The other contestants are under 5 monster.
"his majesty and Lady Alexis is either lucky or unfortunate to encounter 2 B ranked monster as soon as they enters the forest.." one of the knights commented when they saw the score. The queen gripped her daughter in worry, praying that her husband will be fine.
Irene patted her mother's hand in reassurance "don't worry mother, father and Alexis are strong...I'm sure they are okay... ".
2 hours later the score was set, it was an intense competition between King Vincent and King Quinn. Eventually King Quinn got the highest scores of 30 while King Vincent got 29. The third place goes too the King of Ru'aun Kingdom with scores of 27. As soon as the contestants mount off their horse, they were greeted by their wives (or knights in the head knights and also King Quinn's case). The first, second and third place was presented with the prizes and King Heracles delivered a speech on a stage, thanking the royal families for participating.
"Before I forget, I'm sure everyone had been wondering about the beautiful maiden that had been with the Von Solari' royals...well... Vincent would you do the honour" King Heracles step down the stage and let King Vincent walked up with Irene.
"Fellow kings and knights... may I introduce you all for the first time my daughter, Irene Fae Von Solari'. For the first time joining us in our public gathering" he guide her to stand next to him.
Everyone that doesn't know instantly claps and gasp in awe, each one of them praising her beauty. Some princesses and female nobles or servants present grew jealous of her beauty and the attention she gets while some of them welcomes her with kindness and admiration.
The knights of Luvix muttered quietly among themselves making King Quinn and Duke Terrences turned to them questioningly. Sir Lucas hesitantly went close to the king and duke and whisper to them "the princess looks very much like the late Lady Irene sire". The knight word does not have any resentment in them, in fact it had a tone of curiosity and hope. King Quinn and Duke Terrence had made sure that his circle of higher ranking knights knew the truth of Irene misguidance as they all used to be her friends since young. The knight was saddened by the fact that she turns evil and even sadder when she ended up sacrificing herself due to guilt at the time of the attack.
King Quinn just smiled at them and said cryptically "maybe she is... maybe she's not." which makes them confused, although the hope inside of their hearts grew as they watched her smilling at them from the stage.
Four hours later the royal families went back home one by one. Irene and her family was standing at the porched of the castle while her father, King Heracles and Quinn was conversing.
They approached Irene and her mother and King Heracles pat her head while laughing boisterously"Come by anytime soon Irene, your presence is always welcomed... especially by Hercules, he seem to grow fond of you" .
Irene just chuckled awkwardly and nodded "of course.... uncle... Prince Hercules is a great companion" while fixing her messed up hair.
King Quinn look at the scene in amusement, trying not to laugh while Terrence had hide behind the king and quietly laughing.
Their carriage arrives and Irene and her mother curtsy to the people. King Vincent turned to Quinn and nodded at him "I do hope we'll be expecting you and company soon? "
King Quinn nodded at the other king. The ladies get into the carriage except for Alexis who joined her king with the horses.
They were halfway on the journey when Irene notices something. She popped her head out the window and turn to her father "father... you said that the journey will maybe last until nightfall... can I ask why does this journey take shorter time than when we embarked to Ares? ".
her father chuckled at the question, "my sweet child... we are using the shortcut to our kingdom.. "
Irene went even more confuse at this "why didn't we use the shorcut the first time? ".
This time Alexis answered the question "it was to tip off any bandits that may be waiting for us...if we use the same route each time it may give the bandits ideas to ambushed us on the way. Even if we have the protection spell casted by you we still need to be cautious and vigilant". (a/n: CONSTANT VIGILANCE! anyone know the reference *wiggle eyebrows*)
King Vincent praises Alexis for her answer making her swell in pride. Irene nodded in understanding and went back inside happily.
True to their word, the group arrives back safely with only few mishaps involving a wild boar that block their way once (needless to say Irene hates dealing with wild boar now as the thing is so persistent ). By nightfall, they arrived to their kingdom and head straight for their bedroom due to tiredness.
Irene was lounging on her balcony looking at the moon with a soft smile when her butler's greeted her.
"How was it milady? " Vylad ask her as he went behind her and massaged her shoulders.
She sigh in relaxation, "better than I expected... they were very happy when they meet me, I was expecting hatred or at least mild dislike from them... "
Vylad smiles and shushed her "they know that you're just misguided milady... and they still love you even if you make mistakes. Now go to sleep milady... it's midnight".
Irene hug Vylad and bid him goodnight as she went to bed. The butler close one of the balcony door and then put off the candles in the room before going out.