Iris Lizer

Chapter Six: Iris Lizer

(Chapters six, seven, and eight are optional reads. The protagonist isn't present, so it shouldn't affect your understanding. I considered revising them, but with the current word count, any changes would have a domino effect and be too difficult to implement.)

Iris Lizer strolled through the streets of Frel, her senses catching the faint floral scent carried on the breeze. Her taut nerves finally found a moment of respite.

In the year 1307 of the Flower Calendar, Iris Lizer was born in the town of Frel, within a prosperous kingdom.

Her grandfather had once been a member of the Flower Knights. He died in battle during a war against a southern nation, having achieved considerable merit. He was posthumously granted the title of Viscount, a title that could be passed down to his son, Hom Lizer.

With a noble title, they were genuine aristocrats, even though Hom spent the first half of his life tending to the fertile fields of Frel.

It was much like the historical accounts from the Xia Kingdom's Records of Unofficial Histories, where after Fan Jin passed his imperial examination, a throng of people eagerly vied to offer him money. Wealthy merchants in Frel showered the seventeen-year-old, unmarried Hom with vast sums of gold, farmland, and proudly presented their accomplished daughters.

Faced with such an array of temptations, the simple Hom had never encountered such a situation. Thus, at first sight, he was drawn to the girl reputed to be the most charming in Frel: Hailan, the daughter of the merchant Hoffman.

In the early years of their marriage, supported by the substantial death benefits from the Knights and his father-in-law's backing, Hom gained some renown in Frel. However, almost all of their assets were controlled by Hailan.

Hailan was a remarkably shrewd woman.

She was passionate about social events. After acquiring the title of Viscountess, she frequently adorned herself with precious jewels. She would often travel in a carriage pulled by eight white-horned horses to Falasong for various parties or banquets, or she would invite "friends," who were neither noble nor as wealthy as her, to her newly renovated home for revelry.

Hom, a man born to the soil, was not adept at these extravagant social activities. However, due to his wife's enthusiasm, he attempted to participate. The result was a barrage of sarcastic remarks from his wife, after which he would quietly retreat to the study on the top floor.

This situation improved considerably after Iris was born—at least he no longer had to pretend to read the tattered papers filling his study, which he couldn't understand a single word of.

After Iris's birth, Hailan did not curb her social inclinations, so the burden of childcare fell upon Hom.

Hom didn't know how to be a father, but he knew that his child must have the very best!

As soon as Iris was born, Hom invited his father's comrade to baptize her and asked him to serve as her godfather, guiding her future path.

Iris possessed beautiful golden hair, and her two gem-like eyes blinked, always shimmering with a sky-blue light, like a washed canvas. Her delicate pink lips would part slightly, exuding both cuteness and beauty.

Under normal circumstances, she would have followed in her mother's footsteps and become a lady of high society.

However, Hom's father's comrade believed she should inherit her grandfather's knightly spirit.

After experiencing a life of indulgence, Hom was actually reluctant for his daughter to wear heavy knightly armor. But his personality had long since shifted from rural simplicity to meek subservience, and he did not object to this decision.

Therefore, from the age of six, Iris began training in martial arts under a knight. Perhaps it was a generational inheritance of knightly blood, but her talent was astonishing. Shortly after her twelfth birthday, she was directly admitted into the Flower Knights' preparatory program. There were even rumors that she was already being groomed as the most brilliant Iris flower of the order.

But like many children left behind, even with the favoritism shown by the adults in the Knights, Iris would still gaze at the star-studded night sky every evening.

She felt that the flower seas of Frel were more beautiful than the starry sky of Falasong.

The training for the Knights' preparatory program was not particularly demanding. However, every time she returned home during holidays, arriving under the cloak of night, she was greeted by strange, humanoid figures and her mother's impatient gestures pointing upstairs.

Upon seeing her father, he would sternly inquire about her progress within the Knights. Upon learning of her excellent performance, he would rack his brain to concoct a series of cautionary tales, such as, "Don't be too proud; your grandfather back in his day..."

Every homecoming seemed to be an unpleasant memory.

Back at the Knights, Iris's mood had not yet settled when she overheard snippets of gossip about her mother.

"Don't you know? Iris's mother, Madam Lizer, is a famous socialite in Falasong. She shamelessly frequents parties, dressed in such ostentatious finery, as if she's afraid people won't know she's a Viscountess. But what noble title is earned through clothing? She's just the daughter of a merchant who rode on someone else's coattails."

"Her husband is also unlucky. He was perfectly content farming in the countryside, and suddenly he was granted a title. Is he worthy of it? It's quite a stretch!"

Iris's mood grew increasingly somber, and her temperament became more volatile and irritable.

She rushed forward, shoved aside the armor of the preparatory knights who were chatting idly, and with a sharp snap, threw the standard-issue white gloves of the Knights into the face of the person who had been laughing heartily moments before.

"On the honor of my family, I challenge you to a duel, you insolent beast."

Iris was a prodigy.

Whether it was her combat talent or her skill, Iris was undoubtedly a genius.

But when she forcefully knocked her opponent's sword away, stepped on their face with her booted foot, and utterly disregarded knightly etiquette, the Knights were compelled to punish her actions.

A day and a night of confinement did not temper Iris.

On the contrary, after she emerged from the confinement room and noticed that fewer people were discussing her family, her demeanor became increasingly arrogant.

If anyone within the Knights' preparatory program dared to spread unfavorable news about her, it wouldn't be long before a white glove appeared on their face, along with a prepayment for medical expenses.

The consequences of her actions were also evident.

The Knights' preparatory members typically transitioned to full knights at the age of fourteen. However, Iris, even after her sixteenth birthday, was still only receiving the meager allowance of a preparatory member.

Because of her foul temper, the Knights' management believed she was not yet capable of upholding the honor of a Flower Knight.

Iris no longer cared about this. Becoming a knight was not her aspiration. More than the splendor of Falasong, she preferred breathing in the fragrance of nature.

Therefore, taking advantage of her coming-of-age ceremony today, Iris returned to Frel, prepared to confront her father.

"I've decided to leave the Knights. I'll forge my own path from now on. Hmm, that's a firm enough tone, but if Father doesn't approve of my idea, how should I refute him? Given his timid nature, he probably won't argue with me at all."

Iris walked along the country road, unchanged for years, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts.

As she approached her family's courtyard, accompanied by the chirping of insects, she suddenly sensed something was amiss.

Linton Manor was situated a considerable distance from town. At night, the chatter of unknown birds could often be heard, but these sounds were usually drowned out by the manor's perpetual lights and clamor.

Had her mother not invited her friends over for a banquet today? Or had she gone to Falasong again?

Where were the manor's guards? The servants?

Wasn't it all a bit too quiet?