Princess Iris
CHAPTER 45

**King Frederick, King Leonard and Prince Jeffery.**

"It's been 30 minutes, where is Jeffery and that map. Do you think he stopped to check on Queen Iris?" King Leonard asks shuffling through the papers on his desk.

When King Leonard doesn't reply. King Leonard looks up at him and notices King Leonard is lost in thoughts.

"Leonard... Leonard..." King Frederick calls.

"What? Did you say anything?" King Leonard asks.

King Frederick studies he's best friend for a while, looks down at the papers in front of him and pushes them aside.

"Alright Leonard, it's obvious your mind is not here. I have caught you several times looking out in space. Whatever it is, I need you to spit it out," King Frederick says taking a seat in front of King Leonard. "It's nothing Frederick, let's just get back to reading the new proclamations," King Leonard says.

"No, we are not. There is something obviously disturbing you. Now stop being stubborn and tell me what it is," King Frederick says.

King Leonard stands up from his chair and walks to the window.

"I didn't expect to see her here," King Leonard says.

"Who are you talking about?" King Frederick asks.

SILENCE STRETCHES

King Leonard turns and looks at his friend giving him a familiar look. Just then the realization of what the look means hits King Frederick. "Are you talking about Iris, Queen Iris?" King Frederick asks.

"Is there any other woman I have been in love with?" King Leonard asks.

King Frederick stands from his seat and walks to King Leonard.

"Leonard you can't be serious, I thought you were over her?" King Frederick asks.

"First you didn't tell me she is getting married to Jeffery and secondly, you didn't tell me she was moving over here," King Leonard says angry.

"Hey go easy on the tone. I already said I was sorry about the first part and for the second part I had nothing to do with it. It was all my mother's idea. She invited her without telling me, or Jeffery, or even father too. Also, she didn't move to Divimon, she came to visit and why are you so angry?" King Frederick asks.

King Leonard doesn't respond.

"Please don't tell me you are still in love with her?" King Frederick asks.

"So, what if I am?" King Leonard asks.

"For Christ's sake Leonard. You do remember what happened to you after she locked herself up. You practically went mad. Do you remember what I and Isabelle went through for your sake? We..."

"For fuck's sake Frederick that is enough. You talk as if I was not there," King Leonard says walking from the window to the fire place.

"Were you? Because if were there and you remember what we three went through, you wouldn't want to experience that all over again," King Frederick says.

"She doesn't know," King Leonard says.

"She doesn't know what?" King Frederick asks.

King Leonard turns and looks at King Frederick.

"That I love her. That I have been in love with her all these years," King Leonard says.

"Please don't tell me you plan on telling her?" King Leonard asks.

"What if I am? It is not a bad idea," King Leonard says.

"Have you gone daft. Of course, it is a damn bad idea, Leonard. Iris is set to marry my little brother Jeffery, your friend too. What do you think is likely to happen when King Matthew or my father replaces out about this? God I am having shivers just thinking about it" King Frederick says.

"What do you suggest I do?" King Leonard asks.

King Frederick walks to his friend.

"I can't deal with this Leonard. You made I and Isabelle promise not to tell anyone what truly happened to you. As your best friend, I suggest you work on your feelings for her. I don't know how you are going to do it but just do it," King Frederick says.

When King Leonard doesn't say anything, King Frederick studies him and sees his vulnerability. King Frederick walks away from King Leonard and sighs.

"She has well thought out plans to stop the Pirates and knowing her, she is going to be at the front of all these. Which means it won't be long before the Pirates start to target her. And knowing you, I know you have thought all these through. Since you can't be with her, then protect her," King Frederick says.

"You know me, Frederick. I will always protect her," King Leonard says.

Just then Prince Jeffery enters the room with an old box in his hand.

"Sorry I took time. These things are harder to replace than you expect and I ran into Iris in the library," Prince Jeffery says.

He notices the tension between King Leonard and his brother. He looks between the both men.

"What happened? Did I miss something?" Prince Jeffery asks.

"No, you didn't," King Frederick says running his hand through his hair.

"Ok... Just as requested Leonard, here is the map detailing the forest and rivers surrounding the wild mountain," Prince Jeffery says.

King Leonard takes the map from Prince Jeffery and examining it.

"What do you think?" Prince Jeffery asks.

"It's just as thought. There is a path behind the mountain forests, just toward the river. My troops can battle avoid here and cross the river undetected," King Leonard says. "This is temporary I hope?" King Frederick asks.

"Yes, it is. Princess Ursula has promised to visit each of the dukes to settle the dispute but not without me being there," King Leonard says.

"I see she is not letting you out of her sight," Prince Jeffery says.

"More like she is not willing to give Leonard up without a fight," King Frederick teases.

Prince Jeffery starts laughing.

"You know you both will make a great couple," Prince Jeffery teases.

"Somehow I knew this was going to come back to bite me," King Leonard says.

"I told you inviting her over to your castle for dinner was a bad idea," King Frederick.

"I get it Frederick, I messed up," King Leonard says dropping the map on the table.

"Did she really say she liked you?" Prince Jeffery asks.

"I wish she said what she said to me in those words," King Leonard says.

"Was it that bad?" King Frederick asks.

"You have no idea," King Leonard says.

"Wait you don't know this part of the story. I am replaceing it hard to believe," Prince Jeffery says taking a seat and crossing his legs.

"He refused to spit it out," King Frederick says.

"Classic Leonard," Prince Jeffery says

"Tell me about it," King Frederick.

"Can you both stop talking as if I am not here," King Leonard snaps.

"Ooh feisty," Prince Jeffery says.

King Frederick chuckles and Prince Jeffery starts laughing.

King Leonard groans at both of them.

"Oh, lighten up Leonard old pal and tell us what happened during the dinner," King Frederick says.

After a little bit of silence King Leonard sighs and leans on the table.

"Already just as you predicted, Princess Ursula and Isabelle didn't get along. That alone should have been the first sign for me to know she was going to be a handful," King Leonard says. "Isabelle never got along with the other princesses," Prince Jeffery says.

"Yes, and if I remember well, she and Queen Iris were always at logger head," King Frederick says.

"That was different. They were still friends even if they fought. At least they tolerated each other. What happened between Isabelle and Princess Ursula that night was more like war," King Leonard says. "Isabelle won't go off on just anyone unless they said something," King Frederick says.

"She told Isabelle to shut up," King Leonard says.

The silence in the room stretches.

"Well, she had it coming," Prince Jeffery says.

"I can't even begin to imagine what Isabelle did after that," King Frederick says.

"Oh, you don't want to imagine," King Leonard pacing the room.

King Frederick and Prince Jeffery watch him for a while.

"So, what now? What are you going to do?" King Frederick asks.

"The cease fire on the wild mountains is very important Frederick. This is no time to waste, Octavalia depends on that route for transportation," King Leonard says.

"If she is successfully in making the dukes to cease fire, what do you think she will want?" Prince Jeffery asks.

"I don't care what it is she wants Jeffery. All I care about is making sure my kingdom has enough food to sustain us for the winter. With the pirates cutting off ships, this is the only choice I have left," King Leonard says.

"You need to take it easy Leonard, you don't want to suffer a burnout. You need to take care of yourself.," King Frederick says.

"I don't have time to care about that, it's not like I have someone to return home to like you both," King Leonard says with frustration in his voice.

"Ok Leonard calm down, Frederick was just trying to help," Prince Jeffery says with his hand right hand on King Leonard's shoulder.

"Take your hand off me," King Leonard says charging at Prince Jeffery.

Prince Jeffery reciprocates the action and King Frederick steps in between both men.

"Have you both gone mad? Right in my presence?" King Frederick says and turns to King Leonard.

"This is my kingdom, my castle Leonard, you better calm down before I do it for you," King Frederick says and finally turns to Prince Jeffery.

"Jeffery step outside, we will meet you at the stables," King Frederick says.

Prince Jeffery doesn't move; he has his eyes pinned on King Leonard.

"Jeffery, I said you should step out now," King Frederick orders.

Prince Jeffery looks at his brother and back at King Leonard. He turns around and leaves the room, closing the door behind him.

"What were you thinking Leonard? Attacking Jeffery like that, if I didn't know you better, I would think you have a death wish," King Frederick says pushing King Leonard.

"I am sorry Frederick, I didn't know what came over me," King Leonard says.

"You need to get yourself together. We have a lot on our plates as it is, we do not need unnecessary squabbles especially from you," King Frederick says.

King Leonard walks to the window and just then he sees Queen Iris walking through the fields with Princess Catherine and some castle guards following them behind. He watches her talk and laughs at something Princess Catherine says. He watches the exchange for a while until they are both out of sight.

"I am sorry Leonard but she isn't yours to have and you can't have her now. You need to let her go," King Frederick says.

King Leonard looks at his friend beside him and turns to the empty room. He talks to the table and starts gathering the papers.

"I think I have overstayed my welcome," King Leonard says. "I am going to borrow these and the map of course and while I take my leave, I will stop at the stable to apologize to Jeffery," King Leonard says.

King Frederick smiles at his best friend..

"I will follow you to the stables. Besides I wanted your opinion on the new horses we bought. Father thinks they won't last during the winter," King Leonard says.

"You know King Archer has always had a good eye for horses," King Leonard says.

"Yes, yes he does," King Leonard says opening the door.

"And you have terrible eyes for horses," King Leonard says.

"Yes, yes I do," King Frederick says closing the door behind him.