At least the Party food was good.
Then a delicate voice giggled from her back. "well! A new face."
Iris looked over. A girl wearing a fabulous gown from the table beside them was walking toward her. She had two other girls behind her; they all looked ugly and mean-looking, but unlike them, a girl from the middle looked pretty and sweet, which made her stand out. But unlike her face, Iris thought that her attitude wouldn't match her face.
"What do you want?" Iris asked, not looking at them, just focusing on the food
"Ugh! That's rude," the ugly girl number one said. "do you believe what she just did! lady Catherine"
"Can't believe it someone uneducated like her was invited," the other ugly girl interjected while shaking her head. "what was the Duke thinking?"
"Girls, stop saying that? Maybe she's excellent in bed," Lady Catherine stated and laughed.
"Να τους σκοτώσω" Iris mumbled, which made them wonder what she said since this was the first time they had heard that language. But they got a feeling that was somewhat a curse.
"You are a barbarian," Lady Catherine announced, but her eyes twitched. Maybe because she was just slightly doubtful if she should have said that, and her voice started attracting other noble's attention.
Iris turned towards her. "I'm not a barbarian!" she yelled.
"Then what are you?" Lady Catherine said and giggled with her friends, ignoring the presence of the others.
Iris rolled her eyes. "Nobody, and mind your own business," she said.
Iris tried to bite onto the cake on her plate, but Lady Catherine did not back down.
"What if I don't want to?" Lady Catherine sneered, crossing her arms.
The other nobles gathered around them, began whispering, and waited for something to happen. Some of them started laughing, and some of them were looking at Iris, disgusted.
Even Duke echeron noticed the commotion and started heading toward them.
"You looked pretty on the outside but rotten on the inside," Iris stated firmly for everybody to hear.
Lady Catherine growled. She stomped her heels to the ground, went to the table, and grabbed a spoon and fork.
She smiled as she showed it to Iris and dropped it before her.
"Pick it up," she said
In the distance, somebody was shouting 'no', but it was too late.
Without thinking much of it, Iris grabbed the spoon and fork on the floor.
Then Iris looked at the distance, who was showing not to pick it up, and she saw the Duke dashing towards her. He looked troubled, but it was too late; he couldn't do anything about it now.
Lady Catherine and her friend snickered.
Iris just stood there wondering why they were laughing at her.
"You so dumb, dummy," the ugly girl one said.
Iris didn't get what she had done. She just knew that it was rude to drop the tableware on the floor.
Iris didn't notice that the Duke was already on her back. He touched her shoulder and whispered, "You just accepted her challenge to a duel".
"What!?" Iris was shocked. She never knew that the purpose of dropping those spoons was for a duel.
"I'll handle it," the Duke said
Echeron stepped in front of Iris and walked closer to Lady Catherine.
"Lady Catherine, perhaps you could reconsider," Duke Echeron asked.
"I'm sorry, Duke Echeron," Catherine said in a lovely voice. "But she accepted the duel on her own, and you know the rules," she said to the Duke, bowing down.
"Besides, this is a hunting event? what's wrong, having a little fun with it?" Lady Catherine asked The Duke.
The Duke looked pinned since a lot of the nobles were looking at him right now, and one wrong move could ruin his plan, so he just stepped aside.
"Okay, do what you want," he said. "I won't interfere".
Echeron looked into Iris's eyes, telling her, 'You'll be fine. I'll find a way,' but Iris didn't know what it meant and just nodded.
"I'll see you tomorrow," Lady Catherine said, smirking at Iris. "Don't run away."
They turned around, giggling and laughing as they walked away. The other nobles started surrounding Iris and asking her how she offended the Marquis's daughter. That's when Iris knew that she was Marquise Bellona's daughter and they were the ones holding the hunting event.
Duke Echeron starts to get pissed. He grabs Iris's wrist and drags her away from the crowd. They reached the garden, so the Duke sauntered and let go of her wrist.
Iris rubbed it since she felt a bit of pain when she was dragged outside.
"what where u thingking!?" the Duke said angrly
Iris remained silent because she knew the Duke was furious right now. She can feel it.
"Do you know how ---" echeron didn't continue what he wanted to say since he noticed that Iris was shrinking in the side of a bush.
Echeron grunted in frustration.
"So you know how this duel works?" Echeron asked her
"No, I'm sorry," Iris whispered, burying her head in her lap.
Iris felt terrible that she created a mess. She just didn't want to back out on those girls that time that she tried to fight back, but Iris guessed that she was wrong and that she should have remained quiet and let them bully her.
"Don't feel bad. It's not your fault," echeron said, assuring her.
"I'll help you to win this duel," echeron continued as he touched her hand and hugged her.
Echeron started to explain to Iris how the duel works.
The duel consisted of three challenges. She must win at least two to be declared a winner.
The first challenge was archery. Since they are ladies, if men, it should be a sword. In the archery, they should at least shoot three bullseyes to secure a win.
The second challenge was the admiration flowers. The people watching the event will give flowers to those they are in favour of. The most flowers received will win.
The last challenge is the hunting event. Each contestant will select a champion to fight for their place, and the one with the most hunt will win the contest. Also, the contestant can join if she wants.
"Do you know archery?" the Duke asked Iris.
"I do," Iris answered.
"That's good," he said, signing gladly. "in the second challenge, Lady Catherine will win since she has a lot of admirers already", the Duke informed
"won't you ask why I know archery?" Iris asked the Duke
"No, since all the ladies know how to use a bow," the Duke answered and smiled at her.
"Thank you," Iris whispered.
"We should get the first and last challenge, okay?" the Duke said, looking at her reassuringly.
"yes, Duke" Iris nodded.