The king's eyes
Happyness is expensive

Samael

It’s been hours since I went to my room, Iris was supposed to come to replace me, but she still hasn’t arrived.

The citizens of Amben and the villagers continue to party with the members of the court, it will surely last until the early morning. The parties had become very rare given the ambient climate… Which I provoked.

Iris must have been dragged into the dances and songs of the late revelers. They celebrate her too, the only witch who succeeded in her mission.

Everything she did to help me when I welcomed her here unworthily...

Spitting on her like a bad guy, an embittered, unhappy bad guy.

Despite that, she stayed... She persevered and found a way to get to me. She became my light. And I clung to her like a condemned man on his last chance.

She became a part of me... She got herself into my mind, and I could never get her out... I don’t want to get her out. She was so precious to me.

I don’t want her to go away...

No, I don’t want to think about that now. I want to enjoy this moment, having her with me is a gift. I long for her, and I hope she will join me soon.

But it’s her party too. After all, she can enjoy these festivities all she wants if she wants to.

I can’t sleep at all...

I have a strange feeling, a kind of anxious feeling.

Doubt creeps into my mind.

I am not calm.

I hope my family is doing well. I haven’t seen them for so many years...

They will have to undertake a long journey here, I hope they want to return.

I tear them from their life... This life that I imposed on them. The kids are going to resent me. I was totally absent for 8 years.

There were only letters... Letters for each one of them. Joan always answered me.

But Satine... Her letters are rare and very formal with little information.

She’s mad at me, I know, and I’m going to do everything to make her agree to forgive me. Adolescence is a challenge for parents. It’s time for me to face it.

I want to tell them first before I tell the world that our lineage is part demon. And I would encourage them to accept it. I don’t know if my biological grandfather is still alive. And if he knows about my existence.

Demons live more hidden than all other magical beings. I don’t know where to look at all.

I knew my paternal grandmother very little, she died a long time ago. So I cannot ask her for any information.

As I search for a way to replace my grandfather’s identity, I begin to drift off to sleep.

The next day I woke up with a trouble feeling, anxious...

Damn... I had a short, restless, and stressful night...

I have a headache...

I had a disturbing dream...

But where is Iris?

She is not here with me as planned, she never came, I would have felt it.

It’s not normal... Something must have happened.

I hurry to get dressed to look for her.

People flock to me, to congratulate me again, ask me how I’m doing, etc...

"Thank you, I’m fine, I’m looking for Iris, Iris Du Neflier, have you seen her?" I asked.

"No, Monsignor, she left the party last night I think, shortly after you."

...Really? I don’t understand. Did I do something that hurt her? She's mad at me? I have to go see her, she must be in her room.

I arrive in the guest building. I should have made her change rooms, she is much too far from mine.

I am in front of her door but I do not feel her presence. I don’t think she is there.

I knock anyway.

"Iris, it’s me, can I come in?"

Nothing.

She is not there.

I open to get to the bottom of it. I see that her bed is made, and the room is immaculate. Her things are still there. I don’t sense her recent presence... She hasn’t been to her room for a long time.

But then where is she?

I continue to search for a long time, the guards helping me. I went to the gardens, the forest, and the orange meadow, but nothing.

I don’t feel her anywhere...

Bérénice comes to replace me when I return to the castle.

“My lord, Lady Iris is still missing, but her horse is still with us. The villagers helped look for her but have now left.

Another guest has disappeared, my Lord, and his horse is no longer there either. This is the wizard we received yesterday. Sir Rognus. Did something happen to wizards? Could they have gotten a call or something? Where would they have fled together?"

No, Iris wouldn’t have done that...

Did he take her away from me?

"HE TOOK HER FROM ME!

THIS ROGNUS TOOK IRIS FROM ME!"

He took her, this madman, this suicidal!

We have to look for them, look for them everywhere...

Damn if he hurt her...I’ll rip his head off...

He dared to take her from me... I will kill him.

I will kill him slowly and rejoice in his agony.

"Monsignor, calm down, we’ll replace her, we’ll send guards to look for her everywhere, we’ll warn all the covens in the county, my Lord...

Your eyes... They’re turning red!” Said Berenice, afraid.

It’s because I’m boiling with rage...

I hide my face in my hands to calm myself down... He acted last night, and I didn’t do anything to stop him...

My senses tried to warn me and I ignored them…

This strange dream… I can’t remember, I’m too enraged, I feel consumed by a violent fire that wants to burn everything…

I feel my heartbeat all the way to the top of my head, on each side...

The horns…

I believe that I am capable of transforming myself if I let go of control... Not now... I have to keep my sanity...

Calm down, and reflect...

I’ll replace a way to replace her...