Princess Iris

Ri closes the door behind them softly and rushes to my bedside drawer, shuffling through it.

"Ri, what are you looking for?"

"Nothing."

I try to peck at what she is doing.

"It doesn't seem like nothing," I say.

She finally turns to me holding a few stacks of letters.

"Are those..."

"Letters from everyone," Ri says smiling.

"Everyone?" I ask.

"You know what I mean," Ri says.

"How many are there?" I ask.

She starts looking at the names on each letter.

"This is from Juliana," Ri says tossing the letter on the bed.

"This is from Lucinda; this is from Esmeralda."

I pick up the letters as she throws them at me.

"This is from Prince Nathaniel, this is from Octavia, this is from Lord Harry, this is from Zadie, this is from Prince Williams, this is from Lord Alden, this is from Isabelle, this is from Prince Gregory, this is from Prince Frederick, and then she pauses. I pick up Prince Frederick's letter and I frown.

"If Prince Frederick wrote to me then surely Prince Jeffery..." I turn to Ri and look at the two more letters she has with her.

I look at her and she is staring at me. She finally stretches her left hand to me.

"This is from Prince Leonard."

I take it from her and examine the letter.

"Prince Leonard wrote me a letter? After all that happened between us, I wonder what he is going to say in his letter," I say to myself.

"I know right? I had the same expression from I got his letter and it was addressed to you. I had Constantine look into it and make sure the letter was from him and he confirmed it was from him," Ri says.

I turn to Ri and look at the last letter in her hand. She smiles and hands the letter to me. I stare at the Divimon seal and his name. I can't stop smiling. I turn to Ri.

"You know these letters aren't going to open themselves," I say.

Ri jumps up clapping and joins me on the bed.

Lady Juliana, Lady Zadie, and Lady Lucinda's letters, all express their worries about the fall and they wish me a fast recovery.

Princess Octavia and Princess Esmeralda wish to come to see me but mother has refused visitors until the birthday ball. They are sad about that but they understand and can't wait to see me.

Prince Nathaniel, Prince Gregory, Prince Frederick, lord Harry, Lord Alden, and Prince Williams' letters are more of an apology. I feel bad they have to be blamed for what happened. It was more of my fault than it was their fault. Then I remember Leonard's letter. I pick it up and rip it open. I start feeling dizzy. I try to inhale but the pain grips me.

"You have read enough letters, let me read that for you," Ri takes the letter from me.

Dear Princess Iris,

I gather from mother that you are still unconscious. I have never been put in a situation where I have to worry about someone but I find myself anticipating my mother and father's return from your kingdom. You scared a lot of people after you fainted, and me too. I have never seen Jeffery so out of place that he fought me for you.

I gasped.

"Jeffery, Prince Jeffery fought Prince Leonard?" I ask.

Ri looks at me and sighs.

"I didn't want to tell you and I was hoping no one will mention it in the letters but I guess it can't be avoided," Ri says.

I watch Ri bit her lips like she's anticipating what to tell me before she sighs.

"Ri, what happened after I fainted? I want to know," I say.

"Jeffery attacked Leonard. I have never known Jeffery to be violent or seen him act the way he did when you fainted, he lost it, Iris. He was like someone with no direction. King Archer could not contain him. It took the efforts of Queen Fiona, Prince Williams, Prince Nathaniel, and even his brother, to calm him down," Ri says.

"I can't believe all this happened because of..."

"No Iris, this is not your fault. Leo..."

"Leonard tried to warn me but I wouldn't listen, I wouldn't back down Ri. I just chose the wrong moment to be stubborn. Catherine almost got trampled or even worse could have happened," I say as tears roll down my cheeks. Ri gently uses her handkerchief to clean the tears.

"No one blames you for what happened Iris. If anything, they respect you more than before Iris. You were daring, you were challenging. You were like Sir Hana when I saw you on that horse. You thought of protecting everyone else but yourself. Princess Catherine called you her hero you know."

I start laughing and Ri joins me.

Ri scans through the letter to find where she stopped reading. She lights up when she sees it. I smile at the cute moment.

"Now can I continue with the letter?" Ri asks.

I nod at her.

"A lot has been happening back at home and things have been getting worse. My relationship with my father is not as friendly as you think. All I do is look after my sister and that is all I have cared about until you. "I don't understand, why is he telling me all this?" I ask.

Ri looks at the letter and looks at me. She looks at the letter and reads through it.

"Iris even I understand what is happening. Keep an open mind," Ri says and continues reading.

That is another story for another day. I really don't know why I am awful to everyone, especially you, I guess that's just me and I hate to change myself for anyone especially if it is not worth it..."

"That dimwit," I curse as Ri chuckles.

"If I am to ever change it will be my own accord. But this is not about me, everyone tells me it's my fault, what happened to you, I know I share the blame here so this is me extending the olive branch and saying I am..." Before Ri could complete the sentence I gasp. Ri bites her lips and continues.

"I am sorry for hurting your feelings and getting you almost killed as my mother puts it. I hope you can forgive me. I wish you a fast recovery Princess Iris. Also, you must not tell anyone about our conversation, especially your sister. Yours truly

Prince Leonard..

There was silence for a while.

"That was very personal," I say breaking the silence.

"And strange," Ri says.

I relax my head further into the pillow. My heart has been feeling warm since Ri started Prince Leonard's letter. I place my hand on my chest to feel the warmth.

"My heart feels warm," I whisper.

"Did you say something?" Ri asks as she folds up the letter.

"No, I didn't?" I say.

I look at the last letter in my hand. I smile imagining what Prince Jeffery has to say.

"Alright open it and read out."

"Read out?" I ask.

"You should know Iris, if I wanted to read every letter here I would have. It took every self-control in me not to open these letters. Besides, nothing is stopping me from taking the letter from you and reading it."

I roll my eyes at her.

"Alright, Alright,” I say opening the letter.

Dear Princess Iris,

I don't know where to start, I have lost count of the letters I have written and discarded before this. I have a lot of emotions stirring up in me. Frederick says I should talk about them from the most to the least that it helps, so there it I goes. The first emotion that I feel strongly is guilt. If anyone should be blamed for what happened to you it should be me. I was the one who took the responsibility of teaching you how to ride a horse, I neglected my post and you got hurt. Very little things scare me Princess Iris but seeing you on that ground, drowned in pain was very frightening. I have never felt helpless until that moment. I so much wished I could switch places with you when I carried you in my arms and when you fainted I thought the worse, I allowed fear to take over me so I took it out on Leonard. It took the effort of others to calm us both down but not to worry Prince Leonard and I are fine.

Queen Henrietta made sure we got due punishments. I am sorry for letting you down. I am sorry you got hurt. There is no second I don't wish it were me not you. Mother says you are still unconscious but you getting well. Queen Mariah has refused any visitors from visiting you until your birthday ball. I can't wait to see you, Princess Iris. I hope to see the daring spirit I know. Until we see Princess Iris. Love

Prince Jeffery.

I hug the letter to my chest smiling.

"That was romantic," Ri says.

"Oh Ri, he said Love, he said love," I say excitedly.

"Yes he did," Ri says laughing.

I start getting tired almost immediately as I yawn.

"Alright, I think it's time you rest."

Ri gathers all the letters and neatly puts them away. She helps me lie down on the bed.

"Ri, what of mother?" I ask.

Ri looks at the door with a frown.

"Don't worry Iris, I bet she's getting your dinner ready."

I let out another yawn.

I watch Ri rush to get her book and take her seat. I listen to her read as I slowly drift away into sleep.