THE BRIDE FROM THE WEST

2- MEETING THE CROWN PRINCE

I was in my trance of thoughts when the door swung open. The maid - I mean Olive entered the room with an elderly man who had a suitcase-like thing in his hand. I guessed he's a doctor cause he didn't have Black hair like Iris for me to presume him as Duke Meckelov.
The Doctor looked old , he had wrinkles over his face and wore round glasses which gave him an owl-like appearance.

"Milady, are you awake ?" Olive asked

"Yes", I said, trying to converse as little as possible.

The doctor greeted me and seated himself in the chair beside my bed. He asked some questions and I answered them trying not to be suspicious. The doctor concluded his checkup in some time prescribing some tea for stress and anxiety. I really couldn't believe that this body was fine cause i presume the real Iris to be dead or probably in my body as Kiara. Whatever. For now, I had to focus on saving my neck from that crooked crown prince.

As the doctor left, Olive approached me, and I thought of excuses I might have to tell her for her prior awkward behaviour.

"Milady, how are you feeling? Are you dizzy? Is there any pain? " She seemed genuinely worried.

" No , I'm okay . I just had a Nightmare. The nightmare was so realistic that it was hard to tell the difference ."

"Oh", she sounded awkward with the current situation.

"Anything else ?" I tried to conclude the conversation  but to my surprise, she did have something to say.

"Oh, yes!! You have to go to the palace today, for a tea party organised by the Crown Prince. I thought that we may have to skip cause of your health but now it doesn't seem to be a matter. Right?"

"Yes?" I was dumbfounded. I had to do what?! Meet the crown prince? Today? I knew I had to meet him but so quickly!!

To my misfortune, Olive took my 'Yes' as a positive answer and started preparing for the bath. Well, the sooner the better !! I thought I started getting ready for the trip to the palace.



THIS IS HELL!! To the people who think that wearing a saree or a lehenga is problematic. Try wearing a corset !! Because I have to meet Royalty. I had to wear a Victorian era dress with a corset that was so tight that even breathing was a struggle and not-so-comfortable heels which did not use comfy material as those in the 21st century. And for your information, I was never a makeup person, but this makeup used over my skin made me feel itchy and irritated.
How do women bear with this ?!

I entered the royal palace and I was greeted by two knights in front whom I presumed to be my escorts. One of the knights bowed in front of me and held his hand towards me. I received his hand and he led me inside the Royal Palace.

I was nervous and my heart was beating against my chest. I took a deep breath and entered the garden where the tea party was being held. I left the knight there and headed towards the round table surrounded by flowerbeds where three people were seated.

I noticed the silver-haired flinching as I approached the table and the two men glared at me as if my presence was annoying. I didn't have to struggle to recognise both of them.
The man with blonde hair and blue eyes was the crown prince Alexis de Van Elendel. And the other man with crimson hair and hazel eyes was Jason Waltun, the knight who saved the maid and led the real Iris to death. And the lady sitting between both of them was , Yuriel, the maid. Yuriel was indeed beautiful with silver hair and violet eyes. It seemed as if an angel had graced the earth. But beauty doesn't justify what Iris suffered.

The men were still glaring at me. Why did you invite me if you didn't want to see me? The answer was simple. The crown prince was a cowardly scoundrel. The Emperor was in Iris's favour and the crown prince could not afford to anger the emperor.