Burning survival

Hidden Agenda's

As Iris stepped into the palace, the familiar opulence enveloped her, a stark contrast to the desolate landscape she'd traversed. She handed Paulo's reins to a waiting groom, her movements mechanical as her mind wandered.

With a quiet nod, she dismissed the attendant who approached to escort her. Iris preferred to walk alone, lost in her thoughts as she made her way to the gardens. The soft rustle of her silk gown echoed through the corridors, a soothing melody that failed to calm the turmoil brewing within.

As she strolled through the gardens, the vibrant colors and sweet fragrance of blooming flowers seemed to mock her somber mood. Iris's gaze drifted over the meticulously manicured hedges and sparkling fountains, her eyes unseeing as her mind replayed the events of the past few days.

The weight of her responsibilities, the burden of her secrets, and the ache of her unrequited feelings threatened to consume her. Iris felt like she was drowning in a sea of uncertainty, unsure of how to keep her head above water.

She paused beside a tranquil pond, its glassy surface reflecting the turmoil that churned within her. A soft breeze rustled the leaves of the nearby trees, whispering secrets only the wind could hear. Iris closed her eyes, letting the peaceful atmosphere wash over her, but her thoughts remained a jumbled mess.

"My lady, where did you go?" Raya, a maid, came up behind Iris, her soft voice breaking the tranquility of the garden.

Iris's eyes remained closed as she replied, her voice low and even, "I went for a ride within the palace walls." The gentle lapping of the water against the pond's edge and the sweet songs of the birds in the nearby trees seemed to fade into the background as she awaited Raya's response.

Raya's gaze lingered on Iris's serene expression, her eyes narrowing slightly as she searched for any sign of deception. The maid's voice was laced with a hint of skepticism as she said, "Within the palace walls, my lady?" The unspoken question hung in the air, but Iris didn't flinch, her composure unwavering.

Raya's expression smoothed out, and she continued, her tone neutral, "The visitors from Evelon are headed towards this garden. The king has instructed that you are not to be around them at any point in time." The maid's words were laced with a subtle warning, her eyes locking onto Iris's as if to emphasize the importance of the king's edict.

Iris's eyes finally snapped open, a questioning gaze locking onto Raya's face. "Is there something I do not know about, isn't my father always willing to boast about his daughter's to his visitors?" Iris's brow furrowed, her voice tinged with confusion.

Raya's gaze evaded hers, her eyes drifting to the side as she replied, "My lady, this only applies to you, not your other sisters." The maid's voice was measured, her tone neutral, but Iris detected a hint of unease beneath the surface.

Iris's eyes narrowed, her gaze intensifying as she searched Raya's face for any hint of explanation. The maid's evasive behavior only piqued Iris's curiosity, and she took a step closer to Raya, her voice low and urgent.

"What do you mean? Why would my father specifically exclude me from meeting the visitors from Evelon?" Iris's mind was racing with possibilities, her thoughts tangling into a knot of confusion and concern.

Raya's eyes darted around the garden, as if searching for an escape or a distraction. Her voice was barely above a whisper as she replied, "I don't know, my lady. The attendant bringing the message ensured the king's instructions were clear, but he didn't share the reason with me."

"Well, I guess it is to be expected," Iris said with a sigh, and began to move out of the garden, still deep in her thoughts. Raya hurried her along, urging her to quicken her pace.

"Hurry, my lady, we don't want to be seen," Raya whispered, her eyes darting around the garden.

As they walked, They failed to notice the people walking in from afar, the man in front caught a glimpse of Iris from afar. His eyes locked onto her face, and for a moment, he forgot to breathe. A shocked expression crossed his face, but before he could react, Iris disappeared from view, vanishing into a different passage.

The man in front was King Ryker of Evelon, he stood frozen for a moment, his mind reeling with the implications of what he had just seen. He whispered to the person beside him, "Amithaba... she really exists."

Lirien, followed his gaze, but Iris was already out of sight. Her raven-black hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall of night, and her piercing green eyes narrowed into slits as she turned to them to the king.

"whom are we talking about Brother" Lirien asked in curiosity.

"The girl from the prophecy." He replied finally recovering his bearing

"You mean the one from the ancient books?" Lirien asked, her voice laced with skepticism.

King Ryker nodded, his eyes gleaming with intensity. "The very same."

Lirien raised an eyebrow. "Red hair is hardly unique in Rayin, brother. All the nobles here have red hair. And without seeing her eyes and accessing her aura, how can you be certain she's the one?"

King Ryker's expression faltered for a moment, and Lirien pressed her point. "She could just be another noblewoman with the typical brown eyes. We can't assume anything based on a glimpse of her hair."

Ryker realizes his error, his obsession with finding the girl from the prophecy had been the real reason he had agreed to find a wife in this country. The words of the prophecy echoed in his mind: "Hair fiery red, eyes as blue as the seas, and an aura wild as the forest..." He had heard rumors that a girl fitting this description had appeared in Rayin.

King Ryker's decision to come to this country for a marriage alliance was simply to secretly begin his search for the girl from the prophecy and what better way to search amongst the nobles of Rayin if not a ball held by their king?

Lirien's voice cut through the silence, her tone low and husky. "patience brother we will find her and bring her back."

Just then, a young man with a charming smile and a fiery mane of red hair hurried into the garden, his long strides eating up the distance, He was dressed in a finely tailored tunic and breeches, and a silver circlet adorned his brow, marking him as a member of the royal family..

"Why are we standing around?" Prince Kaelin, Iris's only brother, smiled warmly as he greeted King Ryker and Princess Lirien. "Please, let me show you our exquisite garden. It's one of the most beautiful places in all of Rayin."

"Ah, Prince Kaelin," King Ryker said, his deep voice smooth as silk. "I was just admiring the beauty of your garden. It's truly breathtaking."

Prince Kaelin beamed with pride. "Thank you, Your Majesty. We're very proud of our garden. It's been in our family for generations."

Princess Lirien's eyes narrowed slightly as she gazed at Prince Kaelin. "I must say, Prince Kaelin, you're very... enthusiastic, But I do find the view quite breathtaking" she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Prince Kaelin's smile faltered for a moment, but he quickly recovered. "I'm just proud of my home, Princess," he said, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "I want to share that pride with our guests."