Moonlight Ball

“Sid, you’re here early today,” Iris greeted Sidrain with a wide grin, to which he returned.

Oh Ris, everyone was curious about whether or not you had actually castrated the outsider and left him with only two testicles, Sidrain thought to himself. It was almost as if everyone were silently questioning whether national security was at stake.

“How was your day, my lady?” Sidrain inquired.

“I’m thrilled to announce that I’ve finally paid off all my debts!” Iris exclaimed, spreading her arms wide in a show of excitement.

“You mean your debt to the spirits?” Sidrain clarified.

“Yes, that’s the one! I took on some commissions with the money you gave me, and now it’s finally paid in full!” Iris stated, shaking her head in disbelief at having made such a foolish deal in the first place.

Sidrain couldn’t help but admire Iris’s charming and delightful smile. Suddenly, he thought of Rosemary, who had a similar expression.

Although Iris and Rosemary shared similar facial features, there was something undeniably distinct about Iris’s appearance. While Rosemary had always exuded an air of innocence, Iris possessed a delicate and graceful quality. Sidrain couldn’t help but be biased towards her, but even without his opinion, Iris in Rosemary’s body commanded attention in a way she hadn’t before. It wasn’t just her elegance and innocence that caught one’s eye; there was something more captivating about her that made it difficult to look away.

Something had changed, not just in Sidrain’s perception of her, but also in the way others looked at her. Whether it was because Elena knew Iris’s true identity or not, the behavior of the wealthy ladies and maids around her had drastically changed. Iris had become the center of attention, receiving admiration and love from those around her.

“Sid, why are you staring at me like that?” Iris tilted her head, confused by his silent gaze.

Sidrain replied, “Oh, my queen, you are simply too beautiful.” Iris blushed at his words, but he meant them seriously. The rosemary she wore was breathtakingly stunning, and he knew any man would be captivated by her.

“Sid?” Iris called his name, her gaze soft and kind. But Sidrain couldn’t help feeling uneasy.

No one would dare to pursue Iris, and no one would want to challenge him for her. However, he couldn’t shake off the worry of what men might think about Iris in the middle of the night or in their dreams. For instance, he couldn’t be sure what Frederick En Surah, the impulsive bastard, thought about Iris.

“Ris, I have a question,” Sidrain said as he trapped Iris between the wall and his arms. Although it was an uncomfortable position, Iris was willing to answer his question if it satisfied his curiosity.

“What did your stepbrothers do to you?” he asked.

His words made Iris’s face turn pale. She blinked rapidly and avoided his gaze, but Sidrain gently brushed his nose against her cheek, urging her to answer.

“I want to learn all about you, Ris,” Sidrain said earnestly.

“That’s all in the past,” she replied.

“Even so, I’m still curious. Why did you become so angry with Frederick? What did he do to you, and what did those others do to hurt you? I want to understand what those bastards did to my beautiful lady.”

Sidrain knew that Iris had suffered abuse, but he sensed that there was more to the story than just that. Regardless of the body she inhabited, Iris would always have been stunning. The thought of those degenerates laying hands on her made his blood boil with rage.

He needed to know the details of what had been done to her.

“I didn’t do anything to Frederick,” Iris muttered.

“I’m not worried about that,” Sidrain assured her. “I just want to learn more about you, my dear queen.”

Iris bit her lip at Sidrian’s words. “Don’t say that,” she whispered, but he silenced her with a tender kiss. “What happened?” he asked, his voice soothing. “Don’t be angry. Whatever Frederick did, I won’t be angry. And I’ll take care of those bastards.”

Sidrian’s gentle touch stroked Iris’s body, as if he were caressing her heart. Iris blinked uneasily, then closed her eyes entirely. It wasn’t that she thought she shouldn’t speak about it, she just didn’t want to. She didn’t want to revisit those memories.

But she thought it would be good if she could confide in someone about it, and that someone was Sidrian.

Ever since their visit to Mount Sato, Iris had been tormented by nightmares each night. Each dream transported her back to a time before the Magic Tower or Sidrian, where every day was worse than the last. It was a life where she struggled to survive, holding her breath and suppressing her emotions. That existence unfolded every night, and it frightened her.

“Uh, when I was younger, my brothers kept touching me.”

Iris spoke hesitantly about her past, revealing a painful secret. Despite her initial reluctance, the words flowed easily once she started. Perhaps she had been holding onto these stories for too long and needed someone to confide in. Sidrain listened intently, holding her close as she bared her soul. He helped her remove the garments that had been restraining her, laying her down on the bed in her naked vulnerability.

He joined her in bed, where she continued to speak, crying and laughing intermittently. Eventually, exhaustion overcame her, and she dozed off mid-sentence.

Sidrain kissed her gently on the ear and held her tightly, determined to protect her from any nightmares that might disturb her rest.

“Sleep well, my queen,” he whispered, his voice filled with tenderness and affection.

***

News of the king’s long-awaited horse hunt spread quickly, and the prestigious ceremony began the following week with the Surah family chosen as the starting point. With the king’s complete favor bestowed upon them, the Surah family basked in the adoration of the people, while Margaret strutted around with her nose in the air. Despite her daily mistreatment at the hands of her fiancé, nobody was aware of it, and so she put up with it. But with her newfound prestige, no one could ignore her anymore. Every dress shop she visited eagerly fitted her first, treating her like a Duchess. She even occupied a more prominent seat than Marchioness Rose In Lasian. It was a perfect situation for her.

While Frederick wasted away in his room, drowning in alcohol, his father and two brothers were thrilled with Margaret’s newfound favor. They understood that the horse hunt was merely a ceremonial event, and as long as they stood beside the king during his staged hunt, it was enough to maintain their status. However, this particular ceremony was an important tradition passed down through the ages, and historically, Elena En Sethang, Port Portwall, and Retendon En Mutarion had always guarded the king’s side. This time, however, the three men from the Surah family were given the honor, showcasing the king’s unwavering favor. The family was ecstatic, reveling in the power that had been bestowed upon them.

Finally, the long-awaited day of the horse hunt arrived.