"Rise and shine, your majesty," Iris said in a lilting tone.
Hera stretched, shielding her eyes from the light. "For heaven’s sake, Iris," she groaned.
"Wake up, up, up, up," Iris said again. "Since I’m the one in charge now, you can’t just sleep in all by yourself.
Hera rubbed her eyes. "What do you an by you’re in charge?" she asked in a yawn.
"Well, your sister isn’t here, and she has placed you in my care. Which ans.... I’m in charge."
Hera snapped her head towards Iris. "Gone? Gone where? And how long is she gone for exactly?"
"Slow down, slow down," Iris chuckled, "she didn’t tell where she was going, only that she’s going to be gone for a while and not to worry about her. "
Hera’s eyes widened in shock, then narrowed in anger. She got up from the bed, pinched the bridge of her nose, and paced about the room.
"I shouldn’t worry about her?" Her scowled. "Is she right in the head? She just vanishes one day and says not to worry..."
"You just said that."
"Not the ti, Iris. Why didn’t you let know she was leaving? It’s just very inconsiderate of all of you. And don’t give that rubbish about how you don’t know where she’s gone, you do know, you liar, but you all just think I’m so weakling who needs protecting, and then you never tell anything."
Iris had folded her arms and stared at her as she threw a fit.
"Who did she leave with, Selene?" Hera asked.
"Yes."
"Just the two of them?"
"No."
Hera stopped pacing and glared at Iris. " Is that all you have to say? Was it just the two of them or not? Who else did they go with?"
Iris sighed. "They left with seven other girls. As I said, it’s important."
Hera’s hands fell limply to her sides.
"Look," Iris sighed and went to her side, "I understand that this is confusing, but you need to trust that this is very important. She didn’t leave you or abandon you to go have fun sowhere else. Trust her and pray to the gods that she cos back fine... And alive."
Hera turned her head towards her sharply, "Does this have sothing to do with the order? Is this sothing dangerous?"
" Hera, breathe... " Iris tried to coax her, "I need you to breathe. This is exactly why she didn’t want to tell you. She didn’t think you’d handle it well, and you’re proving her right."
"How exactly do you want to react? You’ve just told that my sister might not co back to alive. But you won’t tell where she’s gone, who she’s gone to, and why she snuck out of Erindros in the first place."
"Because that’s all I was permitted to say, Hera. Allow her to handle the rest, and when she cos back, she’ll tell you all you need to know."
"If she cos back," Hera retorted.
"There’s nothing you can do right now. Worrying is useless. I can assure you, if there’s anyone who knows how to stay alive and never gives up, it’s your sister. Right now, you need to do what’s important here, which is knowing this kingdom like the back of your hand. Your sister is counting on us."
Hera shot a glance at her, scanned the room with her eyes, and heaved a deep breath.
"What does she want us to do?"
"Get dressed," Iris smiled, " we’re going into town today."
Iris reeled back a little, "We’re suddenly allowed to leave?"
"Yes," Iris shrugged, " don’t know why, but the prince, before he left, said we were free to roam the city.. With a few guards by our side, of course. "
"Left?" Hera raised and eye brown, "To where?"
"How am I supposed to know that?"
"Sorry," Hera replied. "Alright then."
Hera got ready, and they went downstairs for their breakfast.
"Hello," Hera said to Ophelia and the others, "how’s everyone doing? Did you enjoy the banquet yesterday? "
"Hera," Ophelia said, smiling back at her, "always late at usual."
Hera chuckled. "That’s not a nice thing to say."
"Thank you for asking," Androda chid, "I think we can all say we enjoyed last night."
"Which is why I’m so shocked to learn that the prince will be gone for a few months," Hope added.
"Oh, Iris told as soon as I woke up."
"Apparently," Ophelia said, " the prince stated that because he didn’t want us to miss him so much, he would allow us to explore the town as much as we wanted, supervised, of course."
"I an, that’s the best news I’ve heard since I got here, " said Androda.
"Whatever," Hope sighed. "I will miss him, though. His smile, his body, everything."
Hera chuckled. "E"
Androda and Ophelia shot themselves quick sideways glances and imdiately burst out laughing.
"I don’t see your sister with you today," Ophelia noted. "Is she alright? I didn’t see her at the banquet, so she’s a no-show this morning."
"Ahh... Emm... She... Went back to our kingdom. Our father summoned her. He sent a ssenger who got here last night, and they set off at first light."
"So she’s not coming back?" Androda asked.
"She will, she promised she would," Hera replied, then began to pick at her food.
The other girls noticed her mood darken, so they said nothing more.
Muffled noises were coming from a different hall on the floor, which persisted for a while.
"What’s that?" Hope scowled.
"It’s those old, fat geezers from yesterday," Ophelia replied.
"You an the senators," Androda corrected flatly.
"Whatever... You weren’t there yesterday, Hera, when they’d first started trooping into the banquet hall, they were staring at us like we were so piece of at. And... One of them had slapped Hope on her bottom."
"What?" Hera said in a grimace, "That’s disgusting."
"You can say that again."
Hope gazed at the mory. "I’m trying to forget that.
"I wonder what they’re arguing about this morning, though," Androda said.
"Probably sothing boring, like state affairs and rubbish like that," chid Hope.
"It’s not rubbish, Hope, " Hera corrected. "Whatever it is that they end up agreeing to in rooms like that affects the lives of thousands of people."
"Sure, sure," Hope replied nonchalantly.
They chatted for a while and agreed to et up later. Hera went to look for Iris in the separate breakfast hall where she stayed.
"So," Iris started, "where do you think we should explore today? Or do you prefer staying indoors? "
"We need to leave... Right now," Hera retorted playfully.
While they waited in the anteroom for the servant, they had sent to call a guard to escort them outside the palace gates. The council dispersed, and the senators trooped out of the hall, arguing and laughing.
"We need to be careful around these people," Hera whispered. "I hear so of them are quite lecherous in character."
"Don’t bother about , Hera, " Iris whispered back, "I have a redy for people who can’t keep their hands to themselves."
"You better not do anything..."
"Hera," soone interrupted. "Is that you?"
"Nikolas, it’s you. How are you doing?" Hera asked with a tight smile.
Iris glanced back and forth between the two of them.
Niko noticed the confusion on Iris’s face. "Forgive my manners," he pleaded and held out a hand to Iris. "Nikolas Aetos. Son of Senator Grascus Aetos. I accompanied my father today. I thought I might have another chance to see you, Hera."
Iris shook his hand, and Hera smiled stiffly.
A few of the n who passed sent a few glares and questioning glances.
"Might I ask what you two are waiting here for?"
"We’re fine, Nikolas," Hera replied. "I’m sure you’re quite busy. Please, ignore us."
"Actually, we were just heading out," Iris chid. "We were waiting for a guard to be assigned to us as our escort."
Hera glared at her.
"So, you both would like to see the town? Explore this marvelous ho of ours?" He said, "Please, let join you. I’m a wonderful tour guide."
Hera said nothing. Her eyes darted around the room, refusing to look at him.
"Please?" He begged
"We would love that," Iris said, "but we still need to wait for our guards. "
"Excellent choice. I’ll be waiting outside then." Niko nodded to both of them and headed outside.
"What is wrong with you, Iris?" Hera chided. "You saw I obviously did not want any of that, and you still agreed to it."
"Calm down, princess. I understand your grievances. You have a handso man who has shown a little bit of interest, but you do not reciprocate his affections," Iris retorted. "I need you to bear with it for a while. He’s a senator’s son for heaven’s sake, the doorway into the Empire’s secrets."
"You really think he’s that stupid? That’s, he’ll spill everything he knows to us."
"If you play your cards right, I don’t think you need to try too hard."
"What’s that supposed to an?"
"Don’t play dumb with , Hera, you know exactly what I an."
"Lest you forget, I am in the palace for the prince," Hera replied through gritted teeth.
"Give it a rest," Iris waved her concerns away. "You’re not the only girl with the sa agenda. Sure, you can try and win the prince, which you currently aren’t doing much of, but you do not know for certain you will be chosen. So, until we have that confirmation, you need to arm yourselves sohow, so Epirus does not get intimidated by this empire again."
Hera pressed her lips into a thin line.
"Finally, so sense." Iris laughed.
"This doesn’t an you’ll push towards this man against my will. I’m not in the mood for dealing with n."
"Calm down, princess," Iris teased.
"And why do you always say princess like that? It’s very exasperating."
"I had no idea, princess. I’ll be sure to do better in the future."
Hera grumbled, and Iris laughed in return.
The guards finally ca, and they left to et Nikolas.
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