Princess Iris
CHAPTER 39

I can't stop thinking about the meeting that is about to take place soon. Father said he will come to get me when everyone is ready. I patiently wait at my window, staring at the vast mountains surrounding Cerphila.

"Your Majesty, your bed is ready for the night," Bridgette says.

"Oh, thank you, Bridgette," I say and turn to the door. "Are you sure no one came for me while I was having my bathe?" I ask.

"Yes, Your Majesty. I waited and listened very keenly but no one came," Bridgette says.

"I see, is my robe ready?" I ask.

"Yes, Your Majesty, your night oil and perfume are on the dressing mirror just as requested," Bridgette says.

"Alright then, it seems I am ready for the night," I say walking to my bed. "Have the tray returned to the kitchen," I say.

"Of course, Your Majesty," Bridgette says carrying the tray. "Will that be all for the night?"

Just then a knock comes on the door. We both look at the door. Bridgette turns to me and I nod at her. she drops the tray and walks to the door.

"Who is it?" Bridgette asks.

"Sir Arnold Your Majesty, King Matthew asked me to come to get you."

I quickly take my robe and put it on.

"Go ahead and answer the door Bridgette," I say as I quickly fasten the clips.

The door opens to reveal Sir Arnold.

"Your Majesty," Sir Arnold bows. "Everyone is waiting for you."

"Everyone?" I ask.

"Yes, Your Majesty, everyone," Sir Arnold says.

"Alright," I say following Sir Arnold through the door.

We walk through the corridors of the large castle with a lamp in Sir Arnold's hand. We reach a large door; I watch as Sir Arnold opens and bows as I enter.

"Will you look at that?" I say to myself. "It is a library."

"Everyone is waiting just straight ahead," Sir Arnold says.

"Thank you, Sir Arnold, I say.

"You are welcome Your Majesty," Sir Arnold says and closes the door.

I take a deep breath and walk straight, just then I start to see a light and I hear voices. I walk to the light and find an open space. I recognize everyone instantly. My father, King Archer, King Donatello King Frederick, Prince Jeffery, and King Williams. When Prince Jeffery sees me, he runs his hand through his head and smiles. I couldn't help but smile at the gesture.

Just then, I start to feel a familiar stare. It feels like the one I felt earlier during the ball. At the corner of my eyes, something moves. I turn to the direction of the movement and I spot King Leonard, my heart instantly skips a beat and my heart starts to feel warm.

He is dead gorgeous. His black hair rests on his face in a sexy way. He is way taller than every man present in the room. I watch him as he moves from where he is and joins the others. I can't seem to take my eyes off him and he is looking straight at me.

"Iris, my beautiful daughter," Father says walking to me.

I turn to father as he takes me into his arms. Father takes me by the hand and leads me to the front of everyone. The atmosphere becomes still and quiet.

"Alright everyone, we have all been briefed but there is nothing like hearing the events from the person who planned it all. My daughter, Queen Iris is here to tell us all how she was able to plot out a plan and successfully deliver a shipment without any major casualties," Father says.

Father turns to me and I nod at him.

It feels like more than an hour has passed. The room remained quiet even after I finished talking. Seems everyone is still processing all I have said. I look at father and he nods at me, signaling a job well done.

"Are you saying all we have to do is create a contingency plan, in a way we are tricking the pirates?" King Leonard asks.

I turn to him. come to think of it, I don't remember seeing him during the ball. This is the first I have seen him since this night.

"I know this feels like we are playing a game but we are not. We all know brute force wouldn't work on pirates. We have already tried it and we lost many supplies of hard work," I say.

"So, all we have to do is outsmart the pirates?" King Frederick asks.

"Yes," I say

"Aren't we just going to be running in circles with the pirates?" King Archer asks.

"This feels like a joke," King Leonard says.

"Oh, hush now you old hag," I say losing my patience and scorning at King Leonard

Prince Jeffery and Prince William chuckle at him. He scorns at them, looks my way, and gasps when he looks at him. His eyes seem so warm, I could look into those eyes forever. I close my eyes trying to recollect myself and continue. "Whenever the pirates attack, we always respond with brute force, and guess what, they are always ready for us. King Donatello, three years ago you engaged the pirates at the green seas and you lost one-third of your fleets that day. The same story goes for Divimon, Octavalia, and Filamonda. The pirates always win because they know our war strategies. We need to start thinking outside the box, what have not tried before? These are what we should be asking ourselves and coming up with ways to get our territories back," I say.

The room is quiet now. just then I spot a map among the bookshelves and I remember what Octavia said. I hurry to the shelf and take the map. I place the map on the table, while father joins me behind the table.

"So, you are saying we shouldn't fight the pirates? We don't need our forces?" King Williams asks.

"Not entirely true Your Majesty," I say as scatter tags on the table.

I start tagging the map to lay out my plans.

"While we are coming up with strategies to deliver our supplies and have our supplies shipped to back us, we are also planning to fight the pirates both on the sea and on land," I say.

"On land?" Prince Jeffery asks.

"Our plan is bound to provoke them; we need to be ready for when they decide to take the fight to us. By then, we will be more than ready, with a thought-out plan. Filamonda's forces weren't stretched out thin trying to get this plan to work. We still have more than a hundred thousand to fight the pirates. Knowing how many forces we need, all the kingdoms including the four great kingdoms need to come together for this to work," I say placing the last tag.

When I look up, all I see are surprised faces, I look down at the map and spot the South End.

"All the kingdoms?" Father says.

"Is there a problem with that?" I ask.

"It is no problem for the four great kingdoms to unite against a common enemy. But all the kingdoms?" Prince Jeffery.

"They will think we want to take their lands," King Frederick says.

"They won't support this plan," King Leonard says.

"The future is not set in stone yet. A lot can change when the time comes," I say.

"What do we do now?" King Williams says.

"For now, we need to investigate here," I say tagging a landscape on the map.

"Where is that?" King Archer says.

"The South End I believe," I say.

"Why tag there?" King Frederick asks.

"Cerphila already makes supplies to the South End, am I correct King Williams?" I ask.

"Yes, you are, we do make shipments to the South End even as far as the reserves," King Williams says.

"According to Octavia, the pirate's stronghold should be there," I say.

"That is correct," King Williams says.

"Why haven't you launched an attack since you discovered this? Among all of us here, Octavalia is the closest," I say.

"We can't risk any ship getting captured by the pirates. I have lost more than 10 ships with soldiers on them. Right now, my priority is securing my territory and protecting my subjects," King Williams says.

"We have always been at loggerheads with the pirates but it became serious exactly 10 years ago. The fight for our territory and supplies became severe," I say as I put a tag around the South End.

"So, what you are trying to say is the solution to our problem is at the South End?" Prince Jeffery asks.

"Not necessarily our solution but it is a hunch worth looking into," I say.

"I will send three of my trusted knights to look into the area, they will report directly to me. Whatever they find, I will communicate it to you, Queen Iris," King Leonard says.

I smile and nod at him and he nods back at me.

"So does everyone agree with my plan?" I ask.

"I had my doubts at the beginning but after thinking it through, I believe it is something worth trying. I have exhausted all my options, so I think I have nothing left to lose at the moment. I will fight with you Queen Iris," King Frederick says. Everyone agrees to my plan and agrees to support me in whatever way they can.

I, father, Prince Williams, and King Archer are the last ones left at the library. We go over everyone's concerns and contributions.

"This can't be right," I say.

"What is it, honey?" Father asks.

"The last ships that were attacked from Cerphila on the sea are reporting outrageous numbers of ships of the pirates." I look at the report again. "Is this even, right?" I ask looking at both Kings.

"That's why I gave you the report to look into. At first, I thought the knights were just reporting false numbers until I investigated and interviewed them. Each of them told different stories of how they were attacked and what they saw, which led me to believe it could be only one thing..."

"Blind spots, the pirates are attacking from blind spots," I say interrupting Prince Williams.

Prince Williams nods at me and I look at Father.

"No wonder the contingency plan worked," I say.

"They weren't expecting a second ship," Father says.

Just then I let out a yawn.

"Pardon me, gentlemen," I say.

Father and King Archer chuckle.

"We best call it a day Matthew. Tomorrow we all head back to our kingdoms and don't forget we have that little thing for you and Mariah. Have a lovely night Queen Iris," King Archer says as I curtsey at him and he nods at father and leaves. "Little thing?" I say to myself.

Prince Williams and I say goodnight as Father and I turn off the candles and put them back.