The following morning, Irene had barely gotten any sleep.
She rose from the bed, the other side of it empty, and walked down the corridor until she finally reached the outside.
The scent of rain mingled with that of damp earth, filling the air around her. A cool breeze gently stirred the strands of her hair, while silence had settled over everything, granting her a few brief moments of peace after everything that had happened.
The rain was light, falling softly over the grass.
Irene held out her hands, allowing the raindrops to dampen her palms.
"You seem rather lively for someone who was suffering from a fever and an illness."
Irene's hands trembled at the sound of the voice, and she quickly turned around.
Lucas was standing directly behind her.
Irene frowned as she studied his appearance. He looked utterly exhausted, as though he had barely slept—or perhaps hadn't slept at all.
"Ah... I just wanted to take a little walk. I woke up earlier than usual."
Lucas gave her a look she couldn't quite understand.
Then he asked,
"Where were you yesterday?"
Irene felt flustered, but she was prepared to settle the matter then and there. She clasped her hands together and lowered her head before answering calmly.
"I had been staying in the castle for several days, so I simply wanted to take a little stroll around the city before we left... And I know you're angry because I didn't listen to you when you told me not to go anywhere without an escort. What happened has already happened, and there's nothing I can do to change it. But I will make sure it never happens again."
Lucas stepped closer until all Irene could see were his feet in front of her.
Before she could raise her head, he caught her chin and tilted her face upward.
The strong smell of alcohol coming from him filled Irene's senses.
His eyes were bloodshot as well.
He stared at her for several moments before speaking in a rough voice.
"Leave today."
Irene's eyes widened.
"What?"
He repeated coldly,
"Leave."
Then he continued,
"You'll do anything to get attention, hiding behind that perfectly innocent face of yours. You knew exactly what would happen. You went to a public place and caused a scene, then instead of returning to the castle, you went and hid somewhere no one could find you, just to make everyone worry even more..."
He paused for a moment before saying sharply,
"I'm sick of your ridiculous games. I don't have to put up with you any longer."
His grip tightened around her face, causing Irene to wince in pain.
"...I'm leaving now, and I don't want to see that face here when I return this evening. I'll have the head steward prepare a carriage for you, so return to the capital. And I don't want to hear a single objection. Do you understand?"
Irene grabbed the hand that was squeezing her face and shut her eyes.
"All right... I understand. Please... you're hurting me."
Lucas released her.
Irene held her aching cheek as she looked at him again.
He's completely drunk... It looks like he's about to pounce on me. He's like a starving lion... If I argue with him now, things will only get worse. I need to leave before the servants notice we're here.
Lucas continued staring at her for a few moments before speaking.
"You have such irritating eyes... They bother me every time I look at them, yet I always find myself looking at them."
Irene blinked in confusion.
"Excuse me...?"
"Why do you look at me with those eyes?" Lucas muttered. "They get on my nerves."
Irene stared at him in silence.
What is he even muttering about now?
Just then, she heard the sound of approaching servants.
It doesn't matter... He's not in his right mind anyway. I need to leave.
She spoke calmly, trying to end the conversation.
"Please, let's postpone this conversation until this evening... You look exhausted, so get some proper rest. We can continue talking when you—"
Suddenly, Lucas struck the windowpane with his hand again.
The deafening crack of the glass made Irene scream and fall to the ground.
She quickly raised her head and looked at his hand.
Blood had begun to drip from it.
Lucas suddenly shouted,
"Again... You're making a fool of me again! Do I look like some kind of joke to you?!"
He paused for a moment before yelling,
"I told you I don't want to see that damned face when I return this evening! Do I look like I'm joking with you?!"
Irene's hands trembled.
"Your Highness!"
The servants hurried over, and the quiet surroundings suddenly erupted into chaos.
They rushed to Irene, who was still on the ground.
I can't hear anything...
"Your Highness, please, calm down."
The head steward quickly approached Lucas.
"My lord, please come to your senses... Your hand is bleeding badly."
But Lucas never took his eyes off Irene.
Then he ordered,
"Peter, prepare a carriage for the princess. She will return to the capital today. I'll send knights to escort her along the way. Is that understood?"
The head steward and everyone else present were stunned by his words, but there was no room to argue with Lucas in his current state.
The head steward bowed.
"Yes, my lord."
Lucas left quickly, leaving Irene behind, still too shaken to fully regain her composure.
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That evening, Irene stood at the entrance of the castle, her carriage already prepared for her departure.
The head steward stood before her and spoke with concern.
"Your Highness, please, let us wait until Prince Lucas returns so we can discuss your departure again... The prince has always had a temper, even since childhood, and he hardly seemed to be in his right mind earlier. Perhaps he will change his mind once he returns."
He then glanced toward the sky.
"Besides, the weather has been unstable these days, and there's a chance the rain will worsen. It would be dangerous for Your Highness to travel today."
Irene smiled calmly.
"Thank you for worrying about me. I truly appreciate everything you've done for me during my stay... But I've already decided to leave. I believe it's better for both of us."
She continued,
"There is no reason for me to stay any longer. We were already supposed to leave soon in the first place. There is nothing wrong with me returning to the capital ahead of him."
The head steward sighed before bowing his head.
"What can I do if this is the princess's wish? I have no right to interfere with your decision. Then I wish you a safe journey... And please, come visit us again someday."
Irene bowed once more.
At that moment, the knight in charge of the journey, Peter Pan, stepped forward.
"Princess Irene, we will depart whenever you are ready."
Irene answered without hesitation.
"I'm ready. Let's leave now, before the sun sets and the rain starts again."
Irene's carriage set off with Sally accompanying her, while another carriage carrying her guards followed behind.
Everyone watched in silence as Irene's small procession departed from the castle.
One of the maids spoke to the head steward in a worried voice.
"I feel so sorry for her. She was deeply shaken by what happened this morning, and even though she hasn't fully recovered from her illness, she's leaving like this..."
She fell silent for a moment before continuing.
"Even the prince's beautiful wife cannot handle the fits of anger he gets... I've heard that Prince Lucas has had a fierce temper since childhood, and that it was what made King Richard so harsh with him."
The head steward replied,
"King Richard is a strict man, but he was even stricter with his son because of his complicated nature... or perhaps because he was his only son."
He sighed before adding,
"But even if you catch a single fish, the river will still keep flowing."
He looked toward the road where Irene's carriage had disappeared.
"Perhaps King Richard's harsh upbringing also played a part in his temper. So I cannot place all the blame on the prince. Perhaps the anger he has kept buried since childhood is what made him so quick to lose his temper."
To be continued....