Distain

In the crown prince reading room. Gulten walks in then put down a document on the table.

"Your highness, is there anything else you want me to do?" Gulten asks.

"No, you may go." Nickolai said.

Gulten bow down his head as he leaves the room.

Nickolai sat back on his chair.

It been two days, she's away. Nickolai upon reading the letter she left for him, knew Dacia deliberately want to stay away from him.

But...she had just broke one of the three rule that he had asked her to follow.

Going out field.

However, he didn't stop her from leaving. He just watched as she leaves.

Because he had another intention.

Since she's going against his rule, he will wait for her arrival.

Once she arrived, he will give out a punishment for her. A very proper punishment.

He smiles in satisfaction, waiting for that day to come.

Irene who had no clue of what coming for her, took a sit on a vacant chair. Others still having fun on that night.

While the soldiers are busy setting up camp.

"Irene! Come on!" Lydia tried to bring her to dance again.

But Irene shakes her head, refused.

Seeing that, Lydia and Marcy continue to dance with others.

Libby quickly sat beside Irene with a cup of water in her hand.

"Here, have some drink, your highness."

"No need, thank you. Have you eaten already?" Irene asks.

Libby shake her head.

"You should go eat. You don't have to worry about me, Libby. Go." Irene ushered her to take some food.

Libby could only obeyed.

Irene watches her leave then see Callus approaches her, hiding something behind him.

"What is it?" Irene asks him.

Callus bring out a wreath.

"For you." Callus said, shyly.

"It's beautiful, Callus." Irene then gesture him to put on her head.

Callus put it on her.

Looking at her with the wreath on her head make him blushed. She looks so ethereal.

"Thank you." Irene smiled at him.

Callus smile as he timidly walk away.

Irene turned to look at her surroundings.

Seeing the people happy and joyful expression, Irene couldn't help but feel content.

When suddenly a bowl of soup, appear in front of her.

It was Ben.

"I thought...that you might want some..." Ben awkwardly said.

"Thank you." Irene didn't want to embarrassed him so she accept the bowl of soup and took a sip of it.

Ben then took a sit beside her.

"He likes you. Callus." Ben stated, abruptly.

Irene who heard that, was surprised.

"But don't worry, he knows his boundaries. He will eventually get over it."

Irene didn't know how to react to that.

"He always falls for the wrong person. Once, he grown to like one of the gentleman that always comes to the brothel. He was his regular. Both of them fall deep in love. That man promised to take him as his lover. But...it turn out that man has a wife and children. When his wife knew about Callus existence. He disappeared. He never came back. It broke Callus heart. He was only 12 back then." Ben continues.

Irene heart feels sadden. She couldn't imagine how hard it was, for a young boy to experience as such.

"You don't have that expression at all." Ben stated.

Hearing that, Irene raises her brow. Wondering what he meant.

"Usually, people look disgusted. They look at us like...we are a disgrace and...a disgusting being. Which make me believe that we are."

"But you're not." Irene intervened.

Ben look at her, then smiled.

"Yes, only you treat us like a human being. And because of that, we began to like ourselves more." Ben continues.

Irene only stay silent.

"Thank you...again. For saving our lives. We couldn't have left that hell of a place, if it wasn't for you." He expressed his gratefulness.

"That wasn't just me. It because of you. All of you. Your will to survive. That's all you. I just happened to open the door, for you all to steps in. You all save your own self. So you should thanked yourself for that." Irene told him as she look away.

She didn't want to take the credit as their saviour.

Ben smile, for awhile. Then his expression changed.

"I heard what happened..."

Irene turn to look at him, confused.

"About Arlo..."

Hearing that, Irene expression changed.

"If I hadn't burned down that place, you wouldn't...he wouldn't..." Feeling guilty, Ben couldn't found the words to express his feelings.

"That's not your fault. Whatever happened back then...none of it was your fault." Irene recalling back that moment.

In fact, she didn't blame Ben. She blame herself.

That scene wasn't supposed to happened. She took a major turn, and try to change the plot. Thinking highly of herself, as she tries to change everyone fate in the story.

Because of that, she had cost someone life. Someone who shouldn't have died.

Reminded by that, she had reopen old wounds.

Seeing her sad expression, Ben no longer said anything.

Both just sit silently, having their own thoughts.

The next day, Irene had to return back to Loistava.

Old Judy, Lydia and Marcy were in tear as they bid her farewell.

Irene hug all of them goodbye.

"Take good care of yourself. All of you." Irene reluctantly gets in carriage after that.

All of the people there, wave her goodbye as the carriage move.

Irene look towards the town folks until they no longer in her sight.

She move away from the windows as she sat back.

Libby notice her young lady emotions, just sat quietly.

Upon arrives at the sanatarium, Irene notice there were royals guard waiting outside.

Irene steps out from the carriage.

Sir Lawrence then approaches her.

He bow his head down before he speaks.

"The crown prince has ordered us to escort your highness back to the palace. He is waiting for your arrival."

Irene heart grew alert.

"Then I will take my leave now." Irene said towards Michael and the two apprentices.

Michael, Thomas and Bront could only bow down their head as she leaves.

While, Irene gets inside the royal carriage, such scene is seen by Lady Alma.

She heard about the losses that happened to their store because of the pandemic that happened.

But when she heard from her father about the discussion of the antidote at the court. She was thrilled.

She decided to meet with the old physician to make business for that antidote.

Lady Alma wanted to make a profit from the losses of her business.

Unexpectedly, when she heard about the achievement of the antidote is actually from Dacia Wickson. She refused to believe it and cancel the reason she came there.

How can that crude woman would able to resolve such matter.

Even knowing from the old physician, how the crown prince allowed her to participate in this matter, she grew jealous.

And now, she saw this scene.

She came to realisation that the crown prince had a change of heart towards the crown princess.

The crown prince had only send over his very own knight towards the holy priest. That is the privilege that shown how much he favours the holy priest.

She had once, grew jealous of that. But thinking that she's the only woman that the crown prince tolerated and willing to converse with in any occasion, she already contented with that.

Moreover, she is the crown prince childhood friend. Which make the women in the kingdom envy towards her.

Since she received such different treatment from the crown prince, she even had been harassed by Dacia.

The crown prince will send any compensation towards her whenever she had been wronged by Dacia.

When others saw that, none dare to treat her lightly.

But now, he had send over Sir Lawrence just to escort the crown princess, the very woman he had hated!!

Lady Alma feels threatened for the first time.

That vile woman, doesn't deserve such treatment from the crown prince.

She had to do something. If not, she will lose the crown prince forever.