When Iris opened her eyes the next morning, Mr.wolf was gone from her side. She climbed down from the bed and rushed towards the open window looking for him, but there was no sign of him. Dejectedly she returned to her bed and laid down.
After some time, Clarence, her mother's lady in waiting knocked on her door, "Are you awake my lady?"
"I am" she replied still lazing on her bed. Clara entered the room with a small smile on her face, "Good morning my lady"
"Good morning" she replied in a sad voice making the other woman worried, "Are you not well my lady?"
Iris sat up on her bed and stared at her, "Does anyone inside the duchy raise a wolf?"
Clara was baffled by her odd question, "A wolf?"
She nodded her head vigorously, "Yes a wolf, A black wolf of this size to be precise" she said gesturing with her hands.
The lady in waiting frowned and shook her head, "The duke has a hobby of raising rabbits, but a wolf is impossible my lady" then she looked at Iris, "If you request maybe the duke might get you a wolf cub to raise"
"Forget it," Iris said as she got up from her bed, "Tell me about my daily schedule"
Clara too left the topic and replied politely, "You have always had a weak constitution and spent most of your time inside the duchy, my lady"
Iris frowned, "I have a weak constitution?" she asked looking down at her perfectly healthy body.
Clarence laughed awkwardly, "Your health showed some improvement in the past several weeks, my lady" She felt bad for lying like this, but it was not like they had any more options. The duke and duchess were trying hard to cover up the truth, but Clarence just felt like that was unfair for both Lady Iris and Lady Irene. They were not able to disclose the late lady's death, it was like she didn't even exist. And as for the lady in front of her, it was like replacing her with another person.
"It did?" Iris nodded her head, "It's fine, now that I'm healthy, I can just make a new schedule for myself"
Clara smiled bitterly and gestured towards the shower room. Iris relaxed inside the tub filled with rose petals, she mentally praised Clara for her skills in making her muscles relax with a massage.
Wrapping a beige robe around her body, she stepped out of the shower room and stood in front of the mirror as Clara dressed her up in a flowing purple gown with small silver flowers specked all over. Her hair was left flowing on her back with a purple hairpin on one side of her strand. The lady in waiting kept her makeup simple and natural.
"You are so beautiful my lady" Clara muttered dreamily looking at Iris's reflection on the mirror.
Iris smiled at her reflection with satisfaction, "You are so good at this Clara"
"I'm glad that you like my work my lady" Clara replied politely.
After some finishing touches, both of them exited the room and strode towards the dining hall. Duke and Duchess smiled warmly as Iris entered the dining hall, "Good morning sweetie" She smiled at her father's cheerful voice, "Morning Papa and mom"
"Morning dear" her mother greeted softly, "Today you can shift to your room on the third floor"
Iris sat on her chair and thought about it, "I'm comfortable in my current room, can I continue staying there mom?"
The duchess halted her movements and frowned, "That is just a guest room, Iris. Your room on the third floor is much larger and more glamorous"
"I like my current room because it is connected to the garden. Please, mom, I like that room"
"That's not...." the duchess started but the duke cut her words, "Do as you wish Iris, I will reorganize the first floor as your chamber. We can just convert the third floor into a guest space"
Iris widened her eyes, "It's fine papa, you don't have to do that"
The duke shook his head, "This is my condition for you to stay in your current room"
Amalthea chuckled at her husband's stubbornness and looked at her daughter, "Let him do it, Iris, your father is adamant about spending his money on you"
Iris just smiled and nodded her head, "As you wish papa"
"That's like my sweetie," he remarked and continued his breakfast.
They proceeded to converse eating their breakfast. Butler Peter smiled seeing his master's family enjoying each other's presence. Only his young lord Clifford was missing from the perfect picture because he departed to the palace early morning as he was the General of the royal army.
****
ROYAL PALACE OF FINDARA
Clifford's sword clashed with a young man's sword opposite him with a clink. The young man facing Clifford avoided his attacks and continued sparring. Both of them proceeded with their action until the young man's sword fell on the ground.
The young man's light blue eyes twinkled with mirth as he breathed roughly, "You are always good at this Clifford"
"You praise me too much your highness" Clifford politely replied to him.
Crown prince Louis Bradford combed his red hair through his fingers and smiled, "Why are you always so polite around me? I thought we were friends"
"Having the crown prince of the great Findara empire as my friend sounds troublesome your highness. I'm fine with how things are now"
Louis narrowed his eyes at the young general's sarcastic words but smiled brightly in the next second, "How is your little sister doing?"
And as expected the young general's nonchalant expression cracked the instant he heard his words. Louis smirked inwardly and stepped towards Clifford and tapped his shoulder, "Careful with your words around me General and I hope that you take my side before it is too late"
Clifford clenched his fists trying to control his anger, "Thank you for worrying about my sister your highness" he said, "But I must tell that I'm capable enough to keep her safe without a stranger's advise"
"Oh yeah?" Louis raised his brows "Let's see about that"
He walked out of the training arena after that leaving behind Clifford.
Striding towards his chamber, Louis frowned recalling his encounter with General Kenworthy. It was not him trying to hurt lady kenworthy, but he also didn't try to stop his mother from doing it because it was advantageous for him if she died. His position as a crown prince was set in stone and he knew it. The current Grand duke of Wulfgur duchy, his half-brother was never a problem for him because his brother didn't show any interest in the throne. The real problem here was his uncle, Archduke Helio, that old man hated him because of the womb that he came from, and he was alright with it because the hate was mutual.
His half-brother and uncle were not an ally but one could never be sure. The Archduke was close to kenworthy duchy and he might use lady Kenworthy to influence his half-brother and he wanted to avoid it at all cost. He was never going to lose his throne to a concubine's son and the biggest reason for him to ascend as King was because he hated being controlled by his mother. His parents were trash and he would remove them as soon as he took his seat, and that might reassure his uncle who despised the empress.
He came out of his train of thoughts as he caught sight of his aide in front of his chamber.
Markus woods stopped his pacing seeing the crown prince, "Your highness!"
Louis chuckled at him, "What are you so anxious about Mark?"
Mark peered at his surroundings and replied in a hushed voice, "I just came out of your father's study, and guess what I saw your highness?" he stopped his exaggerated words seeing Louis's deadpanned face, "I saw a request letter from your halfbrother seeking approval for annulling his engagement with lady kenworthy"
"What?" Louis was baffled hearing his words, "Cassian did that?" he asked still doubtful.
Mark nodded his head, "It is true your highness, and I also saw duke Kenworthy's letter requesting the same. Maybe they both discussed and decided this together"
Louis furrowed his brows, "Does mother know?"
"Not yet your highness"
"Inform it to her as soon as possible, at least by this, she will stop hurting lady kenworthy," he said and was going to enter his room but halted his steps hearing his aide's next words.
"This is your perfect opportunity to make Lady Kenworthy your crown princess, your highness"
Louis turned towards his aide and frowned, "And you think that the Duke and General will just let it happen? They despise my mother for trying to hurt the lady"
Mark thought about it and said, "Then court her ladyship in secret"
"What rubbish are spouting Mark?" he asked wrinkling his nose.
"Her ladyship has never seen the outside world because of her health, she will be too naive and perfect for you to target your highness. The duke adores his daughter and will never decline her wishes"
Louis leaned against the door and started thinking, "But how can I meet her if she never comes out of the duchy?"
Mark grinned, "Three days from today, Princess Vanessa is holding a tea party, and all ladies from the high noble birth will be attending. The duke is currently running around saying that his daughter has recovered, so it will be very hard for them to not send lady Kenworthy"
Louis smirked, "I can't believe that I'm getting this opportunity because of my useless sister.