It had been a few days since echeron and Iris pretended to be lovers. However, Iris hasn't seen echeron for a while.
Echeron told her he was summoned to the palace to work on something urgent, but it had been seven days since she saw him.
Iris was tired of waiting, so she decided to get out of bed and visit everyone working in the mansion.
Iris roams around the estate with two of her personal maids following her. Iris never really had time to stroll around the mansion since she always slept or read books in her room.
This time, she decided to walk around the estate to see and meet the servants.
First, Iris walked through the garden. The servants who were working in the garden were so surprised that Iris went there to Stroll. They never dared to greet her or come near her. They just stared at her intensely.
Some part of Iris wanted to talk to them, but seeing their reaction now changed her mind. Iris continued to stroll and went to the crystal garden that her personal maids spoke about.
As Iris went inside the crystal garden, she was too stunned by what she saw. The crystal garden was so beautiful—The smell of the flowers, The Gurgling fountain, the different flowers blooming inside, and the flowers in the ceiling made it more magical.
In Front of her was an old lady watering the flowers. She wore a black gown with laces suited for an old lady like her. The old lady's hair was grey up to her shoulder. Her eyes were as black as obsidian.
"Oh dear," the old lady said, "I didnt notice you there."
The maid of iris stepped forward. "Who are you!? I haven't seen you around here," she said
The old lady chuckled. "I've always been here taking care of the flowers for the past thousands of years."
"Thousand years? So you're supposed to be dead?" Iris asked.
"Ohh, silly me, I must be so old I forgot how long I lived," the old lady said, turning her back to them and continued watering the flowers.
Iris smelled the flowers. It was enchanting. The fragrance was like perfume she never smelled before.
"That's Primrose," the old lady suddenly said. "Usually, they grew in spring but with the crystal garden. Any flowers can grow anytime, every day."
"Who are you really?" Iris asked again
"I'm Flora, my dear, keeper of this Crystal Garden" Flora said. "now if you excuse me, I have to do something."
Flora Flicked her fingers and disappeared in the thin air, but before she was gone, a bunch of petals fell from where she was standing.
"Did you see that!?" she asked her personal maids.
The two of them just looked at each other and said nothing. Iris insisted that it was magic, but they just remained silent.
"I read the books that say magic was gone for thousands of years! How can you explain that?" Iris insisted
"For humans," the maid mumbles
"What was that?" Iris asked.
But they remained silent again. Iris signed as she knew these servants still didn't trust her yet.
"What's your name?" Iris asked them.
They looked at each other, curious why she wanted to know their name but still answered her.
"I'm Lilith," The one on the right said
"I"m Arza," the one on the left said
"Nice to know your name finally, Lilith and Arza,"
Iris said and bowed as a sign of courtesy. Lilith and Arza also follow to bow.
"Let's go. I want to see more of the estate," Iris said, pulling them out of the garden.
They walked toward a big door. "I know this door," Iris said
"This is the throne room of the Eche-- I mean, The duke, right?" she asked Lilith.
"yes, my lady," she replied.
Iris didnt want to enter that place since she had terrible memories inside, and that place gave her chills.
They went on their way again and ended up coming to the kitchen.
The Chef and some Servants who are working in the kitchen were also surprised by a sudden visit from Lady Iris.
They started whispering about her coming into the kitchen and wondering what she wanted.
"Good Day, my Lady," the Cheft greeted
Iris wondered if he was the head chef since his attire was different from everyone else's.
"Are you the head chef?" Iris asked
The chef bowed at her "yes, my lady."
Iris was so happy that there was someone in the servant who talked to her, unlike the servant in the garden, except for the old lady in the crystal garden.
"I just wanted to thank you for making my meals," Iris said thankfully.
"No, it is my Duty," the chef said, still bowing.
"you can stop bowing now," Iris said embarrassedly.
The chef did not raise his head. "Not until you take back what you said."
"what do you mean?" Iris wondered
Iris did not know what was happening right now. She looked at her two personal maids, looking for an answer. Lilith went to her and whispered.
"It is custom that you can't give compliments to the servants since they serve you and you are higher rank from them," Lilith said.
"What? That's so lame. What's wrong in thanking their hard work?" Iris asked.
Lilith just looked at her thoughtfully. Iris understood that she was serious, so she just let go of the issue.
"Okay, fine! I take back what I said, and serve me well in the future." Iris told them
"Yes, thank you," the chef said as he raised his head.
"do you need something, my lady?" the chef asked.
Iris actually went there to take servants for there hard work, but since they don't want her to thank them, she doesn't know what to do.
"Nothing," Iris said and left the kitchen.
Iris just walked in a long, long hallway. She didnt know that she was all alone. Two of her personal maids were gone.
Walking felt like forever. That is what Iris felt when she noticed something off. Iris turned back and saw that she was all alone.
Iris was lost.
It was already dark outside. She tried to call out for anyone, but nobody answered, so she just moved forward.
Walking forward was strange because she felt cold all of a sudden. And in front of her was a black door with a snake design. A big lock was on the door handle.
"You're not allowed in here," a sturdy voice said behind her.
Iris looked back and saw a man standing behind her shadows.