Old Friends

Irene and others had done their duty. They finally had to go to another place.

All the people in the town, thanked them for what they have done.

The people there see and waved them goodbye as they left the town.

Inside the carriage, Irene couldn't stop smiling. Her heart feels so warm and full. Even Libby notice it. She keep on glancing back at her.

Irene senses Libby eyed at her, turn to see Libby, grinning.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Irene asks.

"Your highness, I'm infected by you. Your happiness is spreading to me." Irene touches her cheeks, feeling the smile on her face.

Both look at each other and then laughed.

Hearing the ladies laughing inside the carriage, Bront and Thomas couldn't help but chuckles. Even the soldiers smile through their face as they ride their horse.

But only Michael seem to be in a deep thought. He keeps on glancing at the carriage.

Many questions lingering inside his heads that doesn't seem to make sense. He needs to inquiries towards the crown princess regarding about the amulet she's wearing.

Finally they arrived to next town, Irene look out to see a familiar place.

She drew out a big smile.

Everyone in that town, approaches them and looking at them with curiosity. Some look worried and anxious.

"Do not be alarmed, we come in peace." Michael then stand forward to the crowd.

"On behalf of the kingdom Loistava, we came, ordered by our king to help the people who had suffered the disease that had been spreading and offer help to anyone to be treated without charge." Michael stated.

Hearing that, the people in the town look at each other and murmured in disbelief.

Just then, Irene came out from the carriage. Thomas and Bront quickly offer their hand to help her down.

Irene could only accept their help and put her hand on their hand.

Not noticing Thomas and Bront demure smile as she gets down from the carriage.

Irene walks towards, to face the people there, with Libby beside her.

Seeing Irene face, the town folks was surprised.

"Isn't that....Irene?"

"Irene??"

Everyone looks at her, with mix feeling.

"Hello, everyone." Irene herself couldn't believe she gets to be here, seeing all of the people here.

"Irene!"

Irene look over to see Marcy and Marcus.

"Marcy!"

Marcy run to hug her. But the soldiers there, stop her.

"No, it alright. They all my friend." Irene then move forward to hug Marcy.

"Irene...I thought I will never see you again..." Marcy said, with tear glistening in her eyes, hugging her back.

"Me too." Irene pull away then wipe away the tears from Marcy eyes.

Marcus approaches them.

"Irene, it been so long."

"Marcus...I'm glad you're alright..." Irene hugged him, not bothered by the dirt on his clothes.

Thomas and Bront was surprised to see the crown princess behaviour towards the people at that town.

But not as surprised as Michael. After hearing the name, that they referring towards the crown princess. That has finally confirmed his suspicions.

"Where's Lydia and...Old Judy?" Irene asked.

"Irene..."

Irene look over, to see Old Judy and Lydia. Both seem to run to come there, seeing how they panting. It seems like the town folks, inform them about her arrival.

Seeing both of them, something struck in Irene heart. A lump caught in her throat. Tears started to form in her eyes.

Lydia then cries as she run to hug Irene. Even Old Judy hugged both of them. No word was needed to said. All was shown through their actions of how much they missed each other.

As Irene pull away from the hug with red eyes, she notice a lot of children, and young boys standing in the crowd.

She look over to see a familiar face.

A young man is looking at her.

A vivid memory came into her mind.

"You...Callus..." She finally remembered who he was.

Smiling, Callus happily run to hug her as he twirl her around.

"I never thought to see you again, Irene." Callus said as he embrace her.

Irene was a bit overwhelmed with the situation. That she didn't know how to react, seeing Callus, Ben and all of the bunch of kids that were saved from the brothel.

While, Libby and people from the palace was shocked with the way they treated the crown princess with so much familiarity.

Now, a strange young man dare to hug the crown princess, other than the crown prince.

"How dare a mere man hug the crown princess!" Seeing the misconduct behaviour, Libby hurriedly push Callus away from Irene.

"What?"

Everyone in that town was shocked.

"Irene...is a crown princess?" Marcy look at Irene, like she couldn't believe what she just heard.

Looking at everyone reaction, Irene knew that there will be a long explanation to do.

Whilst, Michael and others treating people there, Irene is at the Old Judy's tavern, with soldiers surrounding that place outside.

Only Irene, Old Judy, Marcus, Marcy and Lydia inside the tavern. Upon hearing her story, they sat silently.

None said anything for awhile.

"So...this means...we should address you as...your highness?" Lydia inquired.

"No, you don't. You all need not to." Irene insisted.

"Since you're a princess after all. This means...you can't come here to see us...again, right? " Marcy then asked.

"I can't make promises. But I will try to visit you all. No matter what, you're all my friend."

Another silent came.

Even Irene couldn't came up with any topics.

"Well, since you are here. We should cook for you. It worth celebrating for your arrival." Old Judy suddenly said.

"Oh yes! We should prepare it." Everyone agree as they started to busied themselves.

When Irene was about to follow suit, Old Judy turn to look at her.

She put a hand on Irene shoulder, as she drew out a sad smile on her face.

"You have been through a lot." Old Judy seem to wanted to give her consolation.

Irene smile in appreciation.

After receiving treatment, people in that town started to put down their guard by warming up to the people from the palace.

Irene is busy helping Old Judy cooking with some of the ingredients she had bought.

Finished cooking, their share the foods to all of the people.

Some even played a flute and drum. The children gather around to dance.

Everyone clapped their hand as they cheered them to dance.

Old Judy and Marcus enjoying drinking.

Marcy and Lydia tried to pull Irene to dance.

"Come on, Irene." Lydia pull her.

Irene then joined them, as they joined hand in circles. Dancing around in circles following the sound of the music.

While Irene is dancing happily, she didn't realise she had been the center of attention of certain people.

One of that person is Michael. He came to found a better understanding of the crown princess personality. Which, one wouldn't be surprised if people become fond of her.

Knowing her true identity, Michael grew worried of what to come.

The other is Libby.

She smile to see her young lady happy expression. Something she found rare on her lady's face.

It's seem that she feels free and high-spirited around these people.

And lastly, Bront and Thomas were entrance watching Irene dance.

Her movements bring a sense of poise and balance, where her body seems to move with the music in a visually pleasing way, like incorporating expressive gestures and transitions that appear seamless and captivating.

Both of them, came to realisation that they had fallen deeply towards the crown princess. Through her braveness, humbleness, sincerity and kind-hearted.

All of that traits just shown how beautiful she is as a person.