A Reality better than the Dream

11.- Lessening the distance

She was looking at him suspiciously, unable to understand his motives.

Iris: In fact, I... I don't trust you thoroughly (he smiled). I don't understand your motives and I cannot even imagine them. I hope you will not use me for any political reason, but... why do you choose me for this task? Everybody says that you are unrivaled in this, so how could I help you?

Oren: Your mind in strategic is similar to mine, my generals have already noticed your abilities in war strategy. Your woman's mind has strong imagination and this can be a great help... it will perhaps reveal a new aspect of the situation.

Iris: I cannot accept it. I don't want to leave my grandmother and my home. And I cannot live alone among strangers. You already know that I dislike it.

He felt that this was indeed the most difficult point for her, more even than her lack of trust in him. He could see the mature woman but also the innocence in her eyes.

Oren: Then, I will discuss it with General Sheng, your friend, and ask for his opinion. Perhaps, he will find a solution, if of course he agrees with my proposal. I suppose that above me he will care for you, mm?

Iris: He will be unable to persuade me, if I am determined not to do it.

Oren: Oh, yes. I remember he had noticed that your future husband will not be able to control you!

Iris: Exactly! (she smiled in a provocative way, because he was pressing her too much). Emperor, has anybody ever told you that you are very persistent and your pressure is bothering?

Oren: No, you are the first one!

She looked at him frowned and she desired to free herself from him and his proposal. She felt very inconveniently and something was lacking in her mind, something she could not understand.

Then, they got up and opened the door. The two men were standing outside and Iris went to her room. The emperor and General Sheng discussed about the emperor's proposal. Tangren was smiling at his lord's determination to approach her in any possible way. He had never seen him acting like this. He could not approach her straightforward because she was very secluded, so he used political affairs... oh, really..?

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Next day was the coronation day. Iris was in her room and denied to mingle with the crowd of the visitors. She had her whole hair down and she was trying to relax of the recent stress the emperor had caused her with his unusual behavior. Although she could see from the window the calming endless wheat-grass fields outside, she could not relax. What did that man want from her? He had even touched her cheek! But he was not a man to play with the women. She could also still remember that dark old day... If she was not the queen, having obligations towards the people, she would have said from the very beginning "NO"! But...

After a while, General Sheng visited her and informed her that the emperor had presented to him his proposal about her participation in the war schedules, but Iris interrupted hims and refused even to discuss it.

Iris: I don't want neither to go to his kingdom nor to leave behind my grandmother and my home!

G.Sheng (calmly): Yes, I know, but our kingdom will have some important benefits if you co-work with them. I know what you like, but you are the queen and you try hard for the sake of your people... Don't forget it...

She looked very depressed and touched her head with her hand, wondering. She was moving in the room here and there thinking over the problem. Sheng found it entertaining, because the situation reminded him back when she was much younger and was going here and there in the palace complaining that her whole body was paining awfully due to martial arts.