The Cursed Wolf’s Love

Iris sat to have her lunch in the common dining hall with the servant. The other days she used to have her meals with Adolphus, but today he didn’t call her. The rejection he got from her deeply affected her. Iris surely was upset about it, but she couldn’t do anything about it either.

“Iris, have this,” a fellow maidservant, Kiera, told her as she placed a bowl of sweet dessert before her. “This is a special dessert given once a week. You will surely love it,” Kiera added.

“Thank you. I appreciate you bringing this for me,” Iris said with a tiny smile.

“So, how’s your work in the Crown Prince’s service? I heard he doesn’t allow any other female servant except you,” Kiera said as she sat next to her to have her lunch.

“Yes, His Grace doesn’t allow anyone else. I feel good working there,” Iris pronounced.

Kiera hummed and continued eating her meals. She advised Iris not to get herself involved with the royals. “We humans belong to the lowest rank if they are chosen as servants or slaves in the palace,” she asserted.

“I agree with this,” Iris said. She had finished her main meal and decided to eat the dessert. Picking up the spoon, she ate the dessert and savored its sweet taste.

After finishing the dessert, she thanked Kiera for bringing it for her.

“Do you wish to eat more?” Kiera asked.

“No. I am full now,” Iris said and told her she would wait for her.

“I may take time. You should leave. Since you are appointed to the Crown Prince’s service, you cannot be away for a long time,” Kiera advised her.

Iris concurred with her words. However, she couldn’t either tell her how Adolphus didn’t even want to see her. She lifted her plate and walked away.

After washing her hands and rinsing her mouth with water, she headed to the Crown Prince’s manor. Upon reaching there, she found out from a maidservant that Adolphus, in anger, had hurt himself.

“What?” Iris was shocked to learn that. “What do you mean His Grace has hurt himself? What happened? Is he in his bedchamber?” Iris inquired.

“Yes. You should hurry,” the maidservant told Iris, who was ready to head to Adolphus’ bedchamber.

However, Anthony stopped her. “His Majesty has summoned you. Follow Miss Martha to the King’s chamber,” he ordered Iris.

“I will go after checking on the Crown Prince,” Iris said.

“There is no need for that. The Physician is dressing His Grace’s wound. You shouldn’t keep the King in wait,” Anthony opined.

Iris bowed and followed Martha to the King’s manor. She was nervous and worried at the same time. The former feeling was supposed to see the King, while the latter feeling arose because Adolphus injured himself.

In no time, she was in the King’s chamber. She gave a respectful bow to both the King and the Queen, who were seated on the ornated chaise.

Xavier observed Iris and then frowned. “You will be leaving this palace right at this moment,” he pronounced. Iris widened her eyes, but she realized why the King said that.

“I’ve learned about your family. How the Crown Prince punished them yesterday and sent them to prison. I won’t release them, but you won’t live in that house either. You will be deported to a village and start your life there,” he proclaimed.

Without any protest, Iris agreed to that. “I understand, Your Majesty,” she replied.

“You are fortunate that His Majesty didn’t grant you a death sentence for seducing the Crown Prince,” Lucia, the Queen, asserted.

Iris remained quiet since it was truly her fault as well to even dream of staying close to Adolphus all her life.

“I’m grateful for His Majesty’s benevolence and kindness,” Iris responded humbly.

“Hudson, take Iris away from the palace,” Xavier commanded his close confidant and the Commander of the military.

Hudson bowed to the King and then asked Iris to follow him. Following Hudson, Iris finally reached the carriage, which awaited her. She noticed they weren’t at the front entrance of the palace. It was a kind of secretive route.

“Get in,” Hudson told Iris, who promptly stepped into the carriage. The door was closed outside while Hudson mounted his horse. Within a minute, they left the palace. Iris couldn’t even see Adolphus for the last time. She had hurt him, so she didn’t even deserve to see him ever.

However, she was relieved, thinking that Adolphus wouldn’t even find her because she had already rejected him. He would understand that she didn’t want to stay in the palace. The memories she made for a short span of time in the palace were truly remarkable. Never once in her life was she treated, especially by anyone.

Gazing outside the window, she found the densely populated trees surrounding them. Iris realized that they were passing through a forest route. Iris rested her head against the window and closed her eyes gradually.

With a jolt, Iris’s sleep abruptly broke and she promptly sat up. The bright evening sun’s rays passed through the other side of the window when the door opened.

“Come out,” Hudson said.

Iris quickly got out of the carriage and looked around her surroundings. It was indeed a village about which she had no idea. She saw a well-structured hut where she was supposed to live from now onwards. An old woman came outside and bowed to Hudson.

“You will live here from today onward. This is the money you’ve earned till now in the palace,” Hudson stated as he handed the pouch full of coins to Iris.

“Thank you,” Iris humbly said.

Hudson turned on the heels of his shoes and left the horse. The old lady looked at Iris and welcomed her. “I am Dorothy and you?” she asked.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

“I am Iris,” she introduced herself to the old lady and walked inside with her. “Thank you for allowing me to live here,” Iris asserted while being thankful to her.

“You can take a room to the left,” Dorothy told Iris.

“Okay. Here, this is the money you should keep for letting me live here,” Iris offered the money she had just received.

“I can’t accept that. Just help me with the work. Go to your room and take some rest. I’ll call you out for dinner later,” Dorothy said and walked away from her sight.