A Reality better than the Dream

2.- Leaving home - A new life

But her misfortune had not yet ended. Next day, she with her father and brother returned to their kingdom, as it was arranged. Fortunately, she would be far away from the emperor and her painful memories. She was very tired physically and psychologically and the other two, father and brother, were treating her like a burden and an idiot. She didn't reveal anything about her meeting with the emperor and preferred to sit alone in her room, but they didn't let her free. They wanted to discuss with her before sleep.

It was then when she learned the very truth about the emperor's aggressive behavior and her heart was sunken into even deeper grief and horror.

Prince Antarn: You are so stupid and dull that not even your beauty and innocence can attract a man! Unfortunately, he is quite clever and able to understand with whom he has to do... with such a woman! That's why I wanted to marry you with a more stupid man. Only such a man would be attracted only by a beauty.

In the end she burst out with sadness and anger.

Iris: What kind of a father are you? A monster or a human? You killed my mother with your badness and indifference and now you want to use me as your pawn or "kill" me as useless! You desire to use anything and anybody, even your children... You are heartless... I don't want to know you as my father ... and you as my brother!

It was the first time she had raised the tone of her voice, especially to her father... it was also the first time that he was so openly aggressive and humiliating and had tried to use her behind her back.

She closed herself in her room for two days, while she was thinking what to do.

So, her father had noticed her feelings and revealed them to the emperor himself, offering her to him as a wife... what a shame! That's why the emperor had suspected that she had participated in her father's schemes. Not only this. When she protested against her father's wrong doings, he and her brother had laughed at her, that she was incapable to persuade the emperor, such a useless woman she was, not even a real woman! Then, she felt an even bigger shame, the burden in her heart was now so huge that she could not bear it anymore. So, she finally decided to go to her maternal grandparents to live with them, away from her father and his cruelty.

The third night, she secretly jumped from the window of her room, rode on a speedy horse and left unnoticed her home, running to their kingdom. She had taken no food with her, because she didn't want to be noticed by anybody in the kitchen of their palace. Her grandparents were King Iridan and his wife, lady Amary. Their kingdom was located in south and south-east borders of the emperor's kingdom. But, the distance was a huge one. She had not only to cross the paternal land, but also to cross the land of the emperor's kingdom and then enter her grandparents's land. She ignored all the dangers she might face during the journey, because she was very desperate. It was only a luck that she didn't face any danger during this speedy journey. It was also due to her ability as a rider. 

When she arrived at the palace, she was so exhausted that she could not even speak. Her grandmother was frightened when she saw her like this, with white face, swallowed eyes, pale lips, fever and desperate stare and her clothes in a very disordered condition. "Oh, my child! My child! What has happened to you? Can you speak to me?". Iris was carried by some servants to a room and was put on a soft bed. She could understand everything, but she could not yet speak due to her exhaustion, fear, sadness and despair. Lady Amary took care of her affectionately. During the long night, staying in Iris's room to watch her, she learned through her trembling words about that insulting incident and about her father's whole behavior and family's attitude. She was not surprised, because her daughter, Iris 's mother, had suffered near him and till her death was a desperate woman with no will to live.