A King is Born on the Road

Chapter 111

Come to think of it, it has been a long time. For a very long time, she has been in love with Hayer.

It was strange to Iris that this was the only man she felt this way toward her whole life. She did not know what it was like for him, but for her, he was her first love, and so far her last.

Iris soon smiled after learning that no answer was received from him. She had some anticipation of his silence and rejection. It was just that people’s expectations were not rational.

Hayer wanted to answer something, but eventually kept his mouth shut. And Iris slowly withdrew her hand that he was holding.

At that time, the bride and groom turned around and greeted each other with applause erupting. Iris also rose and clapped.

She looked at her mother, who could not help smiling, and her father, who looked at her with a relaxed face. Still, she could not accept in her heart that those two were her parents. Just in her head, she was reminding herself over and over again that they were her parents, as if she were studying.

Iris had no feelings for her parents. Not only did she have no affection, but she also had no hatred for being sent out when she was young. If she had grown up in the royal palace, she might have been killed when she was younger. Even if she had grown up safely, it would have been impossible to avoid marrying Sid Lepos.

In that sense, she respected Celios’s choice. However, as a result, her relationship with her parents became void.

One thing she felt for the two was envy. That they found each other to love unconditionally in this wide world.

Celios probably never imagined that a child could be born between her and Peter. It was because the checks from King Eswa were so severe that it was understandable. Despite such circumstances, she gave birth to Iris Lepos. And likewise, despite such circumstances, Peter Wick defended Celios Lepos.

She was envious. Being able to love someone you loved.

She clapped, then turned to Hayer, who was standing next to her. He didn’t look her way. He was deliberately avoiding her gaze.

Iris hesitated for a moment, then gently covered the back of his hand with her own.

“Even if you don’t love me, it’s not your fault.”

At her words, Hayer looked at Iris.

“What can you do about someone’s own feelings?”

“……”

“It’s all right, so don’t drift away.”

She said with a reassuring smile. And as she was about to let go, Hayer grabbed her hand again.

Unlike when Iris held his hand, when he held hers, her hand was caught all in.

Hayer remained silent for a while in that condition. Then he leaned down and asked her quietly.

“How much?”

“…How much?”

To the subject you didn’t even answer, ‘how much’?

Even as Iris furrowed her brows, Hayer said with a nonchalant look.

“I want to know how much you like me.”

“You’re awfully shameless?”

“Yes. Why? You’re like someone who didn’t know I was shameless.”

Hayer replied while smiling wryly. Then he raised her hand, kissed the back of it, and continued talking.

“I will live as you wish.”

“……”

“Whatever you say, I will do anything.”

Saying she liked him was not light, but the words that came back were a much heavier answer than she thought.

Iris looked into his eyes and opened her mouth.

“I guess you were impressed by the bishop’s words?”

Hayer burst into laughter at her words. Then he nodded and answered.

“It’s not without that.”

“Mmm.”

“What about you? Do you intend to live as I wish?”

At Hayer’s question, Iris tilted her head to one side as if she were pondering. But it didn’t take very long.

She shook her head.

“No.”

“Yes, I would have been disappointed if you didn’t answer like that.”

Iris said with a small smile at his mischievous reply.

“I won’t always be right, but you won’t always be right either. So I will always stick to my opinion.”

Commitment did not mean she had to abandon herself completely. That was what Iris was thinking.

For some time after that, she had to ponder whether Hayer’s answer, that he would do whatever she wanted, was an answer to the words ‘I like you.’

The two soon left the temple for the reception. They didn’t feel the passage of time inside the temple, but when they came out, the sun was setting on the other side, unlike when they went inside. It was the beginning of the rainy season, the days were getting shorter and the nights were slowly getting longer.

Hayer said, escorting Iris to the east building garden where the reception began.

“It might rain.”

“I know. I hope it doesn’t come. For the bride.”

“For your mother?”

“I’m not that close to my mother, but just. I hope it doesn’t rain today.”

Iris thought it would be a universal feeling to wish it to be sunny at anyone’s wedding.

When they came outside, there were quite a few knights from the Tejas Knights. Cadella, who was helping the queen stay conscious, rushed to where the two were.

“Iris!”

Then he narrowed his eyes at Hayer.

“You bastard.”

“My name is ‘You bastard,’ yes.”

“Hmph.”

“Be mean to your heart’s content today. Her Highness has allowed you to attend the wedding.”

“Is it just the wedding? I came to the reception too.”

“That’s great.”

“I don’t want to hear compliments from you. I did it because I wanted to.”

Cadella sarcastically commented.

Iris muttered in disbelief.

“Cadella grows every time I see him.”

“Yeah! I grew up!”

Cadella answered excitedly, and Hayer also agreed.

“He’s at an age to grow up for a while.”

“Will he grow taller than me soon?”

“I think he will be next year.”

“It’s a little unfair.”

Hayer and Cadella burst into laughter at her small complaint.

Iris said to Hayer after scowling at the two laughing men.

“Since another escort is here, you should greet Her Majesty the Queen.”

“…Do I have to?”

“Come on.”

“Yes. Understood.”

He said with his own mouth that he would do whatever Iris told him to do, so Hayer set out looking for his mother with an expression that anyone could tell he did not want to go.

After sending him away like that, Cadella said in his own confident attitude.

“This old man will protect you.”

“Yes. I will only trust Cadella.”

“But I want to try that!”

“Shall we go?”

Although he lived a long time, Cadella’s thoughts and actions remained childish because his body was a child and his lack of social knowledge. Even after coming out of the maze, he began to talk and behave more like a child since people were treating him as a child due to his appearance.

Iris, who was heading to the dessert table with Cadella, stopped for a moment. It was because a drop of rain fell on her cheek.

“It shouldn’t rain.”

It was when Iris was worried in that way.

A trumpet sounded from the side of the palace.

Iris and Cadella simultaneously looked towards the palace.

“Iris, what kind of sound was that?”

“Sir Kernin is back.”

Iris grasped the signal of the trumpet and answered in a rigid voice.

Those who enjoyed the reception were rather interested in the fact that one more entertaining thing would happen at the party.

As people went out to see the grand garden in front of the royal palace, Iris and Cadella also joined them and walked.

Kernin Lepos, who returned from the Traitor’s Labyrinth, was approaching in a relaxed manner. He dismounted his horse and ran to ask the attendant holding the reins.

“Where is today’s bride? I should have come sooner, but I apologize for being late.”

“I-in the east building… she is changing into the reception dress.”

“I see.”

Kernin nodded once, and then strode toward the east building. Then he made eye contact with Iris, who was looking at him.

“You look a lot like Celios.”

After saying such words, he left for the east building.

Iris felt a little emptiness and a little relief that he did not even check on her. Then, as she was about to return to the reception area, someone dismounting from their horse ran towards her.

“W-wait a minute! Just a moment…”

Perhaps obtained from the Siere merchants, a young man dressed in the clothes of the merchants approached Iris. Iris recognized through the necklace the sage wore around his neck that this young man was Zeniel Bronte.

Iris smiled and said as Cadella frowned and blocked him.

“It’s all right, Cadella.”

“If you touch Iris with even a finger, I’ll use magic.”

“Yes. That’s why it’s okay. Because I trust you.”

Cadella, whose expression naturally relaxed at her words, stepped back.

The young man approaching her opened his mouth.

“Princess Iris.”

“How do you know me?”

“Oh, I saw you in a portrait.”

“The person who just came out of the maze, saw my portrait.”

At Iris’s cold voice, Zeniel smiled and continued talking in her ear.

“When the princess went to find the Tejas Knights and the North Gate, I got out of the maze and arrived at the royal palace.”