They were back in the palace. However, Iris sensed something weird. It was like all the people were hiding something. Sir Thomas and Iowyrthe left her to rest.
That evening Iowyrthe, Sir Thomas, Judah, Felix, and Nicholos as chief of Callavan Knights met to discuss about the incident they saw. Earlier, they saw notes with "I will haunt you" thrashed all over the chamber. This must be the "bastards" doings. However, they didn't know who lead this. Few weeks when Iowyrthe receive the news that he will be engaged to the Princess of Musou, different kind of terror was thrown at him. Many were involved magic. It increased when the Princess arrived. At the moment, it was not only targeting him, but also targeting her. That's what made them anxious. The fact that it happened in the palace area has made it worse.
Felix explained that there was a dark mana in Princess's chamber. It was very swift but the damaged was pretty severe. The maids and servants worked hard to turn in back to normal. Iowyrthe wanted everyone hid it from the Princess. Doctor June said to take care of her emotional health too. So, they kept it secret. Tonight, the Duke shadow warriors was guarding the room silently. Felix was tasked to keep an eye for any mana activity. The knights work together with the palace knights to increase the overall security of the palace. Metuselah were ordered to make a protection bubble around the palace.
That night Iris got some nightmare. She kept repeated the same nightmare. In the nightmare she started cut her wrist down until almost her elbow, as if she was really decided to die. It was in a hot tub, somewhere not in medieval time. There was someone kept saying, "Just try." She was so restless. Her ring was turn into red blood colour. She knew something wasn't right. She decided to take the blood enhancer. But she couldn't find it. She looked for the Euntaras essence but she found nothing. Her body was tired and exhausted but cannot sleep. She cried and cried a lot. She thought this was Iowyrthe doing. He still wanted to make her suffer with removing the blood enhancer and the Euntaras essence.
The Nicholas and other shadow warriors sensed something wasn't right. They reported it to the Duke. The Duke ran and opened the door.
"Princess?"
"Don't… Don't come near!" She was trembling so much.
"Are you sick? Are you cold?" He sat near the bedside.
"I said no… Why you don't listen? Why you make me like this, why?" She cried.
"I didn't do anything."
"Please, I will cancel the engagement. I promise. I promise. Bring me back my blood enhancer or at least give me the essence. Please, please, I want to live. I just want to survive." His heart broke upon hearing this. He hugged her.
"I didn't hide it. It was broken. I have ordered new one. I will make it come as soon as I can. I promise."
"Why it was broken?"
"I apologize first. I don't want to tell you this, but…" Iowyrthe explained all the details about the terror he got up until today incident. He didn't know that Iris needed the blood enhancer tonight. He apologized over and over, that Iris now affected by the terror he experienced. Not long after, he found Iris was sleeping in his embrace. He laid her in her bed. She was still having the nightmare, but every time Iris was restless, he calmed her and held her hands all the time. He skipped his sleep, until dawn.
Early morning, Iris found him napping while sitting down and holding her hand. Iris remembered the night before. She was very touched. However, her body didn't get well. She felt jaded. When the maids came in, Iowyrthe woke up and told them to help her prepare.
"Rosetta, so all my belongings were damaged? How about children's drawings and letters?"
"Yes, Your Highness. Lucky it is not touched. Here I saved it for you. Don't worry, Your Highness."
"Oh, thank you so much."
"Princess, the new dresses are pretty. Sad I can't come with you yesterday."
"Next time, Rosetta, alright?" She smiled.
"You are smiling but you seem so tired. Are you alright, Princess?"
"Actually not."
"Don't worry, Hoppi will sent you the new essence soon. The blood enhancer is on the way too. You will meet Doctor June and the Mage too, today."
At noon they finally arrived in the Mage castle. It was deep inside the woods. Small house for normal eyes, but big castle inside. Metuselah let them inside. First, they stepped into a big beautiful hall with giant clock on the wall. On the 13th chimes, you will see a door below the clock and Metuselah opened it with a key. That door leads to a beautiful flower meadow with flower trees. He picked a pink coloured Camellia, "For the special guest today." He gave it to Princess Iris. Suddenly, the meadow changed into a relaxing parlour. "Please be seated." Metuselah said.
Metuselah was thousands years-old mage who serve the Lleuelyn Empire. He was cursed to be undead. His physique never changes. He looks like just a few years older than the Duke and the Princess.
A cup of tea flied in front of the guests. Princess Iris chuckled. "Is it what it feels to live in a fairy tale?"
Iowyrthe saw Iris was impressed. He felt uneasy and said, "Enough with all stupid magic. You know, right, what my intention is?"
"Of course, you think this grandfather don't know? Ckckck this kid still rude as ever? You still looking for that one?"
"Ahem, here, she is Princess of Musou Kingdom."
"Greeting to you Black Opal, the one who hold the key." Metuselah kissed Iris's hand.
"No, I am just Iris, Sir Mage." Metuselah smiled meaningfully.
"I have to take her somewhere. You guys stayed," he offered his hands to the Princess, "Shall we?"
He took her to a cloud-like things that lift them from the ground. They were like flying on the cloud and gradually disappear.