Princess Iris
CHAPTER 23

I have been at the same spot since Iris ran off. After she pushed me away, I was just too surprised to say anything. I watched her run away and for the first time in my life, I didn't go after her. One by one I stood there as the guests all left. The rain seems to have stopped but the elements are at their peak as lightning is seen.

"Adrianna..."

"I will never forgive you if my sister runs away," I say turning to father.

"I am so sorry for making you feel this way," Father says.

"Why? How can you apologize to me and not to her? When did the hatred start?" I say.

"That is enough Princess Adrianna," Father scolds.

"Why do you hate her so much?" I push on.

Father says nothing, I look at mother who was been crying.

"I don't hate Iris, Adrianna. I just..." father sighs.

A heavy thunder is heard.

"She reminds me of how tough my father used to be on me. Believe it or not, I was more like Iris when I was young, alive, stubborn, untamed, difficult, and carefree. My father used to yell and scold me when I do something reckless. As I grew older, he found ways to discipline me out of my 'bad behaviors' that's what he called it. He locks me up in my room for days sometimes with no food. He would even go as far as starving the servants who were assigned to look after me. He knew how much I hated seeing people suffer, so in doing so he hoped it will change me. Of course, my mother did not stand for such punishments. They always quarreled about what was good for me and what wasn't. My mother always took me out with her so my father wouldn't replace a way to punish me.

One day my mother went on a trip that I couldn't go on with her and something bad happened. The circus was in town; my twenty-first birthday was around the corner and I was soon to be crowned King. The circus came with all sorts of animals, elephants, rabbits, birds, squirrels even the wild ones, lions, and gorillas. The night before my birthday, someone broke into the circus camp and freed all the animals, including the wild ones," King Matthew says. "No," I say in disbelief.

Father walks to the end of the podium and mother walks to him. I watch her slip her hand into his. A technique she does to calm father down. Father turns to mother and smiles at her. He lifts her hand to his lips and kisses it. Father turns to me and continues.

"By morning the horror had already happened. Two people were killed by a lion and one of them was Constantine's mother. When the report got to my father, he didn't wait for the case to be investigated, he got to my room with the guards and had them put me in the dungeon. He thought I was the one who set the circus animals free. I tried to tell him it wasn't me but he refused to listen or believe me. It was during my moments in the dungeon I realized what my free-spirited behavior had cost me, 'My father's respect.'

My mother cut her trip short and came back. She fought father at every turn because she believed I was innocent. Two whole weeks passed before the truth came out. One of my father's servants set all the circus animals free. He did it to spite my father for punishing his brother who was caught stealing from the royal treasury. By the time my father came to release me it was too late, I changed. I always saw the regret on my father's face but we never spoke about it till he died," Father says.

I rush to father and hug him and he hugs me back.

"Now I know why you never talked about grandfather. Nana never mentioned him too," I say.

"My mother never forgave him for what he did to me," Father says.

"Your father and I never meant to hurt Iris. Although we might have taken it too far, I love Iris she is my daughter. I thought creating distance between me and her will discourage her character. We didn't want her to end up like your father. Now I know it only made her hurt," Mother says.

Thunder sounds loud.

"Now I understand why Nana was always with her. Iris reminded her of you. she probably wanted to make up for not being there for you when Papa was harsh on you and at the same time she wanted me to always be there for Iris too. I see why she always pushed me to follow Iris everywhere. Father, mother you both have to talk to Iris. It's not too late to patch things up," I say.

Mother warmly touches my cheeks.

"I believe you are right. As a mother, I should have protected both of you, especially her. She needed me and I wasn't there. I promise to make it up to Iris and to you too Adrianna. I will promise to listen to her and try to get to know her better," Mother says and turns to father, "Honey?"

"Of course my love but where did she run off to?" Father asks turning to the empty ballroom

"North of the stable."

We all turn to replace Prince Jeffery walking into the ballroom.

"Prince Jeffery?" I say.

He bows at my parents and I curtsey at him.

"What are you still doing here? I thought everyone left?" I ask.

"I tried to follow her, to explain all of this but she rode off on Grenade," Prince Jeffery says.

"Grenade?" I ask.

"A horse," Prince Jeffery says.

"Did you happen to say my daughter went somewhere?" Father asks.

"Yes Your Majesty, I saw her riding off north of the stable," Prince Jeffery says.

"Constantine!"

"Yes Your Majesty," Constantine answers.

"Send out a search party, she couldn't have gone far in the rain. Is there anywhere she would have gone somewhere she could replace..." "Honey?"

"Yes my love," Father answers mother.

We all turn to mother who is looking in a distance frightened. "My love, are you alright?" Father asks walking to mother.

"What do we have north of the stables?" Mother asks

"What do you mean?" Father asks.

"Are there any buildings north of the stables?" Mother asks

"The old bell house I believe," Father says.

"Where did we ever put those gunpowder's, the ones shipped from Cerphila?" Mother asks.

"The old bell house. Why are you..."

"It's on fire." Mother says.

"What?" father asks.

"The old bell house it's on fire," Mother shouts.

I turn to the window and in the distance, I could see the roof of the bell house on fire.