‘That’s right, Baru…died,’ she mused as she recounted the moments of Baru’s death.

Her lips curved into a bitter, pained grin. Why does nothing ever go properly in her last lifetime up to here? ‘What did I do to Gina for her to betray me? And why did the foolish monkey, which I believed was simply a subordinate, give his life to protect me? Just why do they keep hurting me over and over again? Why?’

“If you’re lucky enough to make it out here, it is not too late for you to make a change. Don’t become like me, little sister. A horrible worthless bandit.”

‘Change? In the end, you are truly one big chunk of a fool Baru. There is nothing for me to change.’ Iris glanced up to the vixen. ‘Ahh! I just felt so tired now.. Let’s just get this over and die’

“Ah yes,” Iris said, beginning to speak. “All of this is the result of his actions. I’m simply his pathetic subordinate who managed to kick the a** of one of the tribe’s three chiefs.” Iris responded with a grin, but her eyes were apathetic. Her heart, on the other hand, faced a series of pains she thought she’d never taste again.

“This insolent…” 

“Lady Diana,” called Tyzzynth. “Calm yourself down.” 

Diana tightened her fist and took a long breath. “I apologize for losing my composure,” she said to Tyzznnth before returning her attention to Iris. “Iris, slave of the Octagon. Since you are his subordinate, the sentence will remain the same. Whether you’re the leader or just the subordinate, everything you did was all an act of treason not only to the Dukedom of Taleba but to the Empire of Hacien as well. I, therefore, sentenced you to death by beheading.” Diana raised her right hand to her chest level and faced all the tribal leaders. “Are all the chief’s here agreed with my terms?” 

Each of the tribal chiefs nodded firmly. “I approved,” they all said simultaneously one after another.

Diana’s eyes shone with delight. She was completely pleased with the turn of events. “Iris, the slave of the Octagon, the leaders of the eight tribes, has concurred with your judgment. Your befitting sentence will be death through beheading.” Diana stated the following.

‘See Baru. Your life has been wasted on me. I will still die in the end. Not that I look forward to living in the first place.’

“However, before we go any further, we need you to answer one more question.” Diana gave one of the knights a nod. After saluting, the knight approached Iris. He struck Iris in the abdomen, forcing her mouth to drop open. A small white pill was hurled at Iris by the knight. When the pill came into touch with Iris’ tongue, it quickly disintegrated in her mouth, allowing her to forcibly ingest it.

“What you ingest is the truth pill so you couldn’t lie to us when you answered our questions,” Diana spoke.

Iris began coughing as a reaction to the sudden thing they forced her to consume. “Th-The truth pill?” She looked at them with a mocking expression on her face. “What more can this lowly existence provide you?”

“Silence!” Diana drew her whip and smacked Iris down. “We shall be the ones who pose questions here!”

As the whip struck Iris, she winced. She didn’t, however, make any cries of agony. Too much of Diana’s disappointment.

“The letters you sent us…” Diana began to speak. “How did you find out about the contents of those letters?” Diana said, her gaze fixed on Iris.

“I’ve never heard of the letters you described. And I don’t even send that to anyone of you in the first place.”

Iris was taken aback when she began speaking when she had no intention of doing so. It was as though her lips had a mind of their own.

The eight tribes’ eyes narrowed in response to Iris’ remarks. ‘She had already swallowed the truth pill. This implies that she is no longer lying. But the letter plainly said that it was from her.’

“Show it to her.” The Tigris Tribe’s Idy Geommas motioned to one of his men. A man dressed as a mercenary approached Iris with a white letter in his hand.

He held it open in front of Iris so she could see it well. Iris’ eyes widened. ‘This! The Tigris tribe’s hidden treasury location!’

“I’m not sure but…” Someone covered her lips before she could complete her sentence. “Shhh…There’s need for you to tell them anything now.” Behind her, a smooth rich masculine voice resounded.

When a guy wearing a cloak and mask suddenly emerged behind Iris, all of the knights and the eight tribes of Taleba rose from their seats, ready to confront the unexpected intruder.

“Who are you?!” Diana inquired as she began to draw her whip.

Iris widened her eyes with the actions of the sudden man who appeared out of nowhere. He suddenly carried her in a princess-carry style manner.

“Please accept my deep apologies, My Lords, but I shall be taking Lady Iris with me now.” Rein said this without flinching in the face of the pressure from all eight tribe leaders.

Diana recognized the two talismans Rein had pulled out. She tried her hardest to reach them with all of her might. However, Rein totally tore two talismans, and both he and Iris vanished.

“Don’t let them get away! Find them!” Diana shouted. All of the knights were frightened and started running throughout the forest heeding Diana’s commands.

“Ahhh!” Diana screamed out of frustration with the sudden turned of events.

—⚓⚓⚓—

Rein and Iris both emerged on the coast near Sulkira village. He placed Iris gently on the ground.

“Who you are?” Iris inquired cautiously. “Why did you save me?”

But Rein remained silent. Instead, he took out a pin and began picking the locks on the chains that were tying Iris up.  After all the chains with her feet and hands have been removed, Rein started going for the metal collar on Iris’ neck.

“No. Keep it there!” Iris said as she blocked the metal collar on her neck. Rein without asking anything just retract his hands.

Then, from under his cloak, he pulled out a purse containing gold coins and two healing potions. “Milady stated that with this, her debt was already paid.” Rein finally said out as he handed both of the things to Iris. Iris accepted it with a narrowed glance. “A fishing boat from Aravan would come. You could ride for it and go to another nation to start a new life.”

‘Aravan? It is a small country located between the Empire of Hacien and the Kingdom of Fraeshan. An independent country devoid of conflicts or difficulties ruled by the richest merchants in the continents, as well as a great haven for criminals could hide when fleeing their own countries.’ Iris pondered.

“Wait!” Iris clutched the back of his cloak. Rein shifted his gaze back to her. “Do you need anything more, Lady Iris?” Rein said politely.

“What is your name?” Iris queried.

“I apologize, but I couldn’t reveal that.” Rein replied.

“Then the lady you mentioned, is she the one who wrote those letters?”

“I apolo…”

Iris interrupted Rein’s statement by waving her right hand to him.  “Alright. I get it. Can’t Reveal.”

For a long time, Rein didn’t say anything in response to Iris’ comments. “Then, if there’s nothing else I can do for you, I’ll leave…” Rein halted as he stared at Iris and realized something. He then took off his cloak and placed it to Iris, much to her astonishment.

“I’ll take my leave now, Lady Iris. May the goddess of light blessed you with your new life ahead.” Rein stated this as he ripped a talisman and vanished from Iris’ sight in an instant.

Iris touched the cloak Rein had given her. She then lifted her left hand, and a tiny white moth landed on it. “Follow him.” After then, the moth vanished. “Don’t think you’d be able to get rid of me that easily, my very gentleman savior.”

Iris gazed to the horizon, where the sun was just beginning to bloom. Its brilliant orange and crimson petals were already illuminating the once-darkened sky. She just continuously peered at it as her eyes rippled with unknown emotions. She tucked a strand of her behind her right ear. “Are you perhaps the one who wrote those letters, Gina?” She scoffed with disdain. “So even in this lifetime you still follow after me.”