Dragon's Bride

4. The Siblings

The door swung open as Iris entered in the hall. Mark beamed at his little sister as she greeted him.

"So what did you do all day, my dear?"

"Nothing much just strolled in my backyard", Iris replied with an accusatory tone.

Mark noticed her subdued expression and dejected voice. He knew she was unhappy due to his guards following her around everywhere but after Papa's death, he didn't want to take any chances.

Iris was his kid sister whom he would protect at all costs. The way his opponents were scheming he didn't want to be dying with concern about her safety all the time.

He knew she was a free spirit and she was not happy with the arrangement but some troubles in life are unavoidable.

He smiled now as he patted her head and said, "I have a surprise for you."

Iris looked at him skeptically as she asked, "Umm... like what?"

Knowing she was bound to be happy with the news he started, "We are celebrating the Belladonna Festival in Lucusorbis this time."

Iris gave a little squeal of joy as she heard this. She threw her arms around her brother's neck and hugged him tightly.

"Remember it's a secret for now. Soon I will announce it formally in the kingdom", Mark added as he patted her head.

Iris smiled as she told him, "You are the best brother in all realms."

Mark had to carefully tackle his opponents in arranging this festival in Lucusorbis. He had his reasons and he needed things to go according to his plan.

The Belladonna festival was a festival of young people where magical beings from different realms gather around and have fun.

Traders brought souvenirs from their lands, all types of fairies present their magical skills. It was a lively affair.

It's been 10 years since it was organised in Lucusorbis. At first, Iris was not of age to visit this festival as fairies and nymphs also look for their future mates there. Parents keep the young maidens away to prevent them from becoming easy targets of love potions and other tricks.

The past two years, Iris was old enough as she was 500 years old but it was not celebrated in their kingdom and Mark didn't allow her to travel cross country. It would be her first time enjoying such a colourful festival in her life.

Iris was laying in her bed-chamber waiting for Sasha to arrive. Her room looked like an extension of a garden as her bed was made out of a walnut tree with rows and rows of floral vines hanging from the bed frame.

Everything was especially taken care of by Sasha. Her magical powers of blooming flowers were a prerequisite for this room.

Sasha entered a while later and reported to Iris about the guards stationed outside.

"Your Highness, there are a couple of them strolling in the front yard, all is well at the back room."

This backroom was like a Solarium that has giant French windows at one end, opening in the back garden which was the pride and joy of Iris.

Besides her, she only let Sasha tend her plants there. The other notable feature was the magical ceiling that shows the sky from inside the room without letting anyone from outside see a thing. This amazing magical ceiling was charmed by her father when she was young and though many years have passed, his magic didn't fade.

It was this room where Iris has hidden Ethan. All the palace maids knew that this Solarium was out of bounds for any one of them so Iris was not worried about anyone finding of this secret guest of her.

As all was well she gestured Sasha to come closer and whispered to her about the Belladonna Festival. As expected, Sasha squealed in delight as her eyes began to shine with excitement.

"Your Highness that is going to be wonderful. You will have a really good time there", she added gleefully.

"Not only me Sasha, you and I both will have a great time there. Who knows when can we get another chance to attend such a festival", Iris replied.

Sasha was not just a maid or attendant to her. She had been her friend and companion from a very young age. When Iris was only 50 years old, a mere toddler, Sasha was born to her Nanny. This Nanny had been taking care of Iris since she was born as her mother fell extremely sick after she gave birth to Iris.

Iris still remembered when she had first seen little Sasha bundled up in her Nanny's arms. As soon as Sasha was old enough her mother taught her to attend Iris for all her needs. It was second nature to Sasha to care for Iris. Although they had a master and servant's relation they both cared for each other like siblings.

It was Sasha who had helped Iris cope up with the loss of her parents. It was a bleak time in her life and if not for her friend and her brother, she couldn't have moved on.

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