Six of Ruin (Heirs of Irenwell #1)

I knocked on the door to the servants’ room. They ate their lunch at the moment, which meant they were all there. I opened, not waiting for the invitation.

They all dropped to their knees once they saw me and murmured at the same time, “Your Grace.”

“Where’s Daniel?”

The servants were all dressed in grey, which made them slightly interchangeable. A light-haired fellow lifted his head and raised his hand, “I’m Daniel, your Grace.”

I frowned, “No, you’re not. My Daniel had dark hair.”

This seemed to confuse him, “Pardon me, your Grace, I am the only Daniel in the servants’ quarters.”

Was his name Daniel?

I looked over the boy. He was handsome. His jaw was quite sharp, but his blue eyes were gentle, glinting with mischief.

“Never mind, you’ll do.” I called him forth with a wave.

The boy grinned from ear to ear and followed.

There was a small possibility they all talked to each other about what I did with them, but I didn’t particularly care. My head wouldn’t fall. And they were smart enough to protect theirs.

I made my way up the stairs, the boy at my heels.

Gretchen was nowhere in sight to scold me.

“Your Grace?” The boy called after me. “Is it true you’re going to the dead lands of Orathia?”

I unlocked the door to my bedroom and grabbed his hand, “Yes, it is. And I need a farewell present.”

Once the door closed, I put both hands around the boy’s neck. His eyes were so blue, almost the same shade as Danilo’s. The boy grabbed my waist, slightly reluctantly, and leaned in. He pulled me in for a kiss. But he knew he was currently with a princess, so he behaved like a gentleman, lingering at the edge of my lips, letting me make the next move.

“Princess Irina!”

My eyes rolled so far back I could almost see my brain. I pushed the boy off the moment a firm knock landed on my door.

“Yes, Gretchen?”

Daniel seemed confused and slightly sad. After all, I might die on my way to Orathia and he wouldn’t be able to tell his grandchildren how he once fucked a princess.

Gretchen opened the door, her eyes widening, “Your Grace! The carriage is leaving! Are you even packed? Do you have everything you need? Get the boy out of here, please.”

“Yes, I’m prepared.” I grunted. As we approached the door, another figure joined in, Danilo. Ah, crap. “Hello there.” I leaned against the doorframe, using my foot to push Daniel out.

Danilo’s glum eyes followed the boy’s footsteps. Once he was out of sight, Danilo’s gaze landed on me, “We are leaving.”

I snickered, “I was just about to come.”

Gretchen cursed under her breath, “Sir, excuse Princess Irina, she is most likely frightened and acting out.”

I puffed and pushed past her and Danilo, “Whatever.”

She wasn’t completely wrong, though. The departure seemed unreal until yesterday evening. The idea of leaving was distant up until now, when it rapidly approached. My instincts told me to stay in Irenwell, where the air didn’t burn my face and the most dangerous animal was a rabbit.

“Princess Irina,” Gretchen caught up with me, “Are you truly prepared? This journey is dangerous and all kinds of men are lurking about and-”

“Gretchen, I don’t need your ‘the world is a dangerous place’ soliloquy now.” A lump formed in my throat; my heart pushed all the blood through the muscles.

“Are you certain you don’t need a chaperone?” Gretchen squeezed her fingers while she followed me. “A chaperone would do you good-”

“A brilliant idea, Gretchen!” I exclaimed. “Let us send some poor young woman to her death because you’re afraid I might land on someone’s cock.”

The maid’s palms covered her mouth, “Your Grace!”

I sighed, the poor woman probably couldn’t wait to be done with me, “There’s no need for a chaperone, Gretchen. I promise I’ll behave.”

The older woman’s eyes filled with tears, a sorrowful smile forming on her lips, “No, you won’t.”

I hugged her tightly, hearing her sob on my light pink dress, “No, I won’t.”

“Irina!”

“I’m joking.” I chuckled and pulled away from her. “I will be alright, Gretchen.” My gaze found Danilo lingering in the distance. “I’m sure there is at least one honourable man out there who will protect me.”

Danilo came closer, “For what it’s worth, I will protect you with my life, your Grace.”

I looked at him under my eyelashes, “Let us not go that far, Sir, how am I to live without you?”

Awkwardness settled between us; Danilo’s cheeks slightly flushed and I let out a laugh, satisfied with the outcome of my remarks.

Gretchen seemed to be whispering a prayer, possibly done with my insufferable behind. I rested both my hands on the small of my back and hopped away.

I looked over the Irenwell castle; its stone-covered walls with worn down tapestry in some places, the rooms that haven’t been open since my parents passed away and the beautiful, magical gardens that seemed to blossom on their own. Finally, the village beneath the castle came into view.

People were outside, lined up in front of their houses, their expressions solemn. Each held a silver candle, lifted up high in the air. A farewell to battle.

The gesture gripped in a way I hadn’t expected. A battle? I was most certainly not heading to battle; they were all wrong. Yet, the way my brother stared at the floor, the crown on his head nearly dropping, made me think I might be wrong.

The black carriage awaited in the bottom of the concentric stairs that led to the castle. Danilo’s men lined up next to it, each in a leather gear. The heat outside made me sweat in their stead. I held the hem of my dress as I descended.

My brother turned towards me, “You cannot possibly travel in that dress.”

“Why not?”

“You can barely walk in it.”

“I can walk just fine, leave me be.” I would’ve stuck out my tongue if it hadn’t been for the villagers watching.

Rodrig’s eyes turned grim, “Take care of yourself, Irina.”

“Take care of the Kingdom, brother.” I grinned.

Danilo appeared next to me and bowed to Rodrig, “I will protect her, your Grace.”

Rodrig’s wrinkle hardened, “I’m counting on it, Sir Danilo.”

Once Danilo walked past and opened the door to the carriage, I winked towards Rodrig, “When I return, you will let me marry him.”

And perhaps it was due to my departure, or Rodrig’s apparent soft spot for me, but he slightly leaned towards me and whispered, “If you return, you may marry whomever you want.”

I let out a short laugh, “Careful there, brother, you might regret that promise.”

Rodrig smiled at me knowingly and gave me a short hug.

Ira ran down the stairs just as I was about to leave, “Irina! Wait up!”

I stopped as my younger brother nearly crashed into me, “Ah, there you are. I thought Boris’ fencing class was more important.”

“Will you fetch me a dragon? Rodrig cannot forbid it if it is a present. Please, please, please.” The boy smiled mischievously.

“Alright.” I nodded. “If there is a dragon willing to come with me to be your pet, I will definitely get it for you.”

I hoped there were no dragons, though.

With a couple of waves and a lot more tears, Irenwell said its goodbyes. The feeling was strange. Usually, it was either my father or my brother being set off to the unknown world.

The jealousy I sometimes felt wavered immediately. Being on this side of the fence wasn’t pleasant. Staying in the warm, walled-up and protected castle was better than setting off into the unknown.

Danilo held the door of the carriage open for me as I entered, “I hope you’ve brought warm clothes. Springs are cold in Bastia, even colder further north.”

I smiled coyly, “What for? You’ll keep me warm.”

He took in a sharp breath and closed the door after I made myself comfortable in the beige, leather interior of the carriage. I glanced outside, towards my brothers and the people of Irenwell.

My hand went to the emerald around my neck on its own. And for a brief moment, I truly wondered whether I just jumped straight to my death.

I supposed going to the unknown north was better than marrying a soft-cocked, birdbrained loser. The first might kill me, but the latter would most definitely make me kill myself. And the story wouldn’t even be that good.

A princess dead due to suboptimal cock.

I let out a sigh and tore my gaze off my home, deciding staring forward at the leathered seat was a far better option. Danilo soon joined me in the carriage.

Sympathy shone in his eyes, “The first time leaving home is the hardest.”

I smiled shortly, “Let us make it the last.”

The carriage began to move and my gut moved with it. Perhaps it wasn’t too late to tell Rodrig he should go in my stead, perhaps I could rule-

“Tell me, your Grace,” Danilo’s voice cut through my thoughts, “Do you know the basics of fencing?”

I smiled, “No.”

“Any sort of defence?” Danilo asked. “The Fri-Ren of the Fae Folk is common amongst women, a very easy but effective strategy-”

“No.” I cut him off.

“Do you know anything that might be useful in a fight?”

I offered a smug smile and lifted my hands, “These were made for more delicate activities.”

Danilo’s head dropped, “Alright. I suppose I’ll have to teach you something. What other useful skills might you have?”

I put my finger on my chin, “I can bore my enemies to death. And I can offer cynical commentary throughout the entire journey.”

Danilo smiled tightly, “Wonderful.”

I leaned against the backrest of the carriage. It moved down the Irenwell roads, the castle still huge behind me. And once again, I wondered whether it was too late to stop it and walk out. Squires and pleasant climate were behind me. No one in their right mind would ever leave. My heartbeat quickened, as if I suddenly became aware of the fact I truly was leaving. Heat washed over me, fuelled by dread. The air seemed hard to breathe in.

I was just about to tell Danilo to stop for a moment when a breath of fresh, chilling air reached my skin, cooling down the panic. I breathed in deeply; my nerves relaxed a little.

Trying to distract myself, I talked to Danilo, “So, what is our first stop?”

“Firiy,” Danilo’s lips turned upward into a smile, “The Bordering City.”

“I’ve never been there.” And slowly, but surely, the journey turned a little bit more exciting.

“I’m certain you’ll love it, your Grace.”

And for better or worse, off we went.