The sound of the old grandfather clock penetrated the silence making Iris acutely aware of how slow time seemed to be passing, and the face of the divine beauty got ugly.

“I did tell you to go,” Iris said as she watched the lady simmer. But at the same time, she was curious. Judging by the way she spoke and acted, she looked like an important person. And, the still way that she sat in the chair was as perfect as that of someone in a portrait. Iris could see that she was trained to sit like that. Probably a noblewoman, she guessed.

Iris recalled her half-sister, who she could vaguely remember. At that time, she had been envious of her younger sister, but when she thought about it now, she realized that she had had her troubles too. As a young and only girl, the Count had educated her sister so that she would be fully prepared to marry a man at any time when she was old enough. It meant a lot to marry off your daughter in this society. You could send her to a partner and ask the enemy for a truce, or you could send her to just show her off. Iris wondered what had been her fate.

When the clock chimed loudly at precisely six o’clock, the woman couldn’t hold back any longer and jumped up and asked demandingly, “Didn’t your teacher tell you when he’d come back?”

Iris bowed her head politely. “He didn’t say anything to me.”

“Why is he out on a day like today?” she angrily snapped. It seemed that she was on the verge of hitting Iris and she flinched automatically, meekly replying, “I don’t know.”

The woman bit her cherry red lips and shook her fist in a threatening way, but then suddenly swung around and yelled instead, “What a useless wizard!”

She’s finally leaving. My legs are killing me! As Iris was about to sigh in relief, the woman stared at her with a frightening look.

“You!”

“Yes?” The woman was visibly rattled as Iris answered with her eyes wide open.

The woman squinted her eyes at Iris, scrutinizing her face which seemed familiar and suspicious. Iris bowed her head more obediently and looked up at the woman with only her eyes raised. For a wizard, the woman snorted with an unduly servile attitude.

“No way!”

She was right to doubt it. Iris lowered her eyes and the woman strode out the door. She was like a fairy even though she was stomping with anger. As expected, people had it easy if they were born pretty. The door opened and Iris was amazed at the effect of her appearance.

Men were seen in the eyes of Iris, dressed in plain clothes but looking like soldiers. As soon as the men saw the women, they bowed with respect, and she’d reach out naturally. Then, a man escorted her and picked up her carriage. The carriage disappeared, and she left without saying anything. Iris scratched her head while staring after the carriage.

It was kind of rare to have such a pretty face in a royal family. Royals generally gave an impression that they could muddle through life, differently to gambling addicts and alcoholics whose faces showed that they were going through life in a really serious manner.

Iris had rarely seen nobles, let alone royalty. Being the best disciple of Elaine, the great wizard, she should have seen many royals and nobles, but Iris’s nickname was Iris Elaine ‘the hermit’ because she didn’t like to meet people.

Iris was already twenty-three when Elaine realized the problems of his apprentice. She was a genius and free in the Magic Tower. Iris was so competent that he didn’t notice any problems with his apprentice. He was very proud of his best student and never dreamed that she would have a problem. He just thought she wanted to show off her eccentricity and talents when she sent out a living doll, not herself, to meet people.

It was only when Iris turned twenty-three that the problem arose. The vacancy of the royal wizard became an opportunity for Iris. It was a heavy task for a twenty-three-year-old. Elaine knew she’d take the position. But, she rightly refused the position and the teacher faced the problem of discipleship for the first time.

“Why did you refuse?” asked Elaine.

After thinking for three days, Iris answered his question simply, “I have to go out of the Magic Tower and meet people, so I won’t be able to stay with you anymore.”

After much thought, Elaine gave Iris his workshop. But she all of a sudden refused, saying she would neither leave the Magic Tower nor her teacher’s side.

“I’m not angry that you refused to serve as the royal wizard, Iris. But you are right,  you can’t stay with me forever. A human is an independent being and must stand alone at some point. And you have to interact with others. You need to learn that.”

Iris cried and clung to her teacher that day. But the teacher was adamant.

“I love you, Iris. But as the person responsible for your upbringing, I must raise you as an independent individual. My best friend, my most perfect companion, my feelings for sending you away are also tearing me apart. But I have an obligation. It is my duty to make your life as healthy as your body.”

That’s why Iris had set up a workshop that she could afford. Her livelihood came from accepting the requests of his clients sent from the tower, and Iris’s social skills improved.

As Iris left the house, Sammy from the fruit store next door spoke to her. “Hi, Iris. Don’t you need fruit today?”