Elena couldn’t help but wonder what was wrong with the King. He had money, force, and his face was one of the best-looking on the continent. She considered that people had different tastes when it comes to looks. Elena thought that the King’s face was handsome, but he was so handsome, that it was almost a curse. His statue-like face could also be intimidating or uncomfortable for some people to see. He had such a great build that it was as if he wasn’t a human being. But power and wealth weren’t always viewed as good things to have in some people’s eyes.

But most of all, Sidrain was crazy about this queen, yet she wanted to run away. Elena wouldn’t allow this to happen. Where else would they find another queen like her? Elena thought to herself that there was no chance she’d let her get away with this. If Iris hid in the tower, she was going to bring her back, even if she had to carry her upside down! Finally, they had a perfect queen, and she couldn’t be taken away by the tower.

Elena breathed deeply and decided to try and calm down. “I’m sure you know that people want the birth of the successor, right?”

Iris nodded her head. “Yes, I am aware of that.

“We’re the same, you know. We’re both women, and I’m always on your side,” Elena said, emphasizing her words about being on The Queen’s side.

Iris nodded again, “Yes, I understand that.”

“So there’s nothing you can’t tell me.”

“Yes, I know.”

“When you were in bed with the King, did you feel uncomfortable? I might be able to help you with that.”

“No, not at all.”

She was lying right now. Elena could read her like a book, but Iris insisted that it wasn’t the case. Elena tried to comfort Iris and somehow bring up the s*x topic. But Iris was adamant that she was okay and just shook her head, not saying anything. Elena had no choice but to take a step back when she looked as if she was going to faint.

“Nothing’s going to be difficult, Your Grace. All you have to do is lie down.”

“Yes, yes.”

“If you have any difficulties, please tell me. Do you understand?”

“Yes, yes, yes.”

Iris couldn’t possibly tell her because what she had to do with Sidrain was humiliating. The King wants me to bite his sausage! It’s dirty! And, he wants to exchange saliva, which is even more disgusting. Iris couldn’t understand why she had forgotten about this until now!

There was only one person Iris could trust, and she didn’t trust anyone else. She liked only one person, and she didn’t care for anyone else. He was her savior, teacher, parent, friend, and world. It was the only normal relationship she knew. That one person had always been enough for her.

***

That evening, Iris sat on her bed, looking desperately into her ivory bracelet. No matter how long she waited, her teacher didn’t answer. Iris looked at the bracelet countless times as she wiped away the tears that dripped onto her arm. “There’s nothing to cry about,” Iris said, trying to be brave. “Nothing’s happened yet.”

She looked in the mirror and saw a strange woman with red eyes looking back at her. “Everyone does it at some point in their life. So it won’t be that scary.” She tried to force a smile while giving herself a pep-talk, “Others do it when they’re sixteen or seventeen, and I’m now twenty-eight years old, so I’ll be fine. Elehrosa or whatever. I can do it.”

Iris then chuckled to herself when she thought about knocking the King out. But she couldn’t even do that because he was the Swordmaster. Iris then closed her eyes tightly and sat in the dim light, accepting that she couldn’t do anything about the situation. Iris felt lonelier than she’d ever felt before, especially since there was no answer from the ivory bracelet.

“Teacher! Teacher, why aren’t you answering?” Iris called out as fresh tears streamed down her cheeks. She wore the ivory bracelet on her wrist and held it tightly as she laid in bed. Let’s sleep. Let’s hurry up and fall asleep. This feeling will be gone by the morning.

She tossed and turned as she tried to fall asleep in the darkness of the silent room. And on the roof was a man who was sighing and looking up at the star-studded sky. After hearing her pleas to her teacher, Sidrain now wanted to kill the owner of the Magic Tower. He wondered what her teacher could be so involved that he’d just left his student on her own.

Sidrain didn’t want to give her to the Magic tower, and he hated her crying like that alone. Why did she shed tears alone when he was there to comfort her all night and would hug her whenever she reached out?

Sidrain caressed the tiles on the cold roof. The woman he loved was crying alone beneath him in her bed, and there was nothing that he could do. She was scared but trying to fight the fear by herself. In a place where Iris knew nothing, she tried desperately to study and accomplish something, enduring all the discomfort alone.

“What can I do for you, my lady, My Queen?” Sidrain closed his eyes, feeling tears well up in them. He didn’t want to go back to his bedroom and leave her alone.