"What was the Doc talking about?"

I asked, looking into Kay's icy blue eyes.

"Something that can be done to ensure Iris's early departure from the Shield," he replied, sighing heavily. "But speaking as your uncle, I don't want you to do this."

I raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

"Because doing so will affect you as well," he said, striding past me to gaze out the window.

It was a clear sky outside with the sun shining high above, a rare day in Les Anciennes.

Suddenly, the daemon alarm blared around us. I glanced at my bracelet. Our Unit had a scheduled battle today.

"Of all times..." I muttered, then noticed my bracelet wasn't blinking.

"I asked Minerva to exchange your Unit's battle schedule with Unit 05," Kay said, turning toward me.

"Vanis won't be pleased with that," I remarked, picturing the stoic and icy captain of Unit 05.

Kay shrugged. "Iris once saved her life from an Abnormal. Vanis owes her."

I raised my head to look at him. "You cannot send Iris to the battlefield."

I pointed toward the door of his office, where the battlefield lay. "If you send her to fight the daemons, she won't last a day, even with retraining."

"So tell me, uncle. What is this method?" I met his gaze, determination in my eyes.

Kay's expression was conflicted. "It has been called two things: the most selfless act a Deathwalker can do for their comrade and something that no sane Deathwalker would do."

He paused before saying the words.

"Sentence Exchange."

My brow furrowed. "Sentence Exchange?"

Kay nodded solemnly. "Exactly. When a Deathwalker approaches the end of their term in the Shield, they typically have two choices: to depart or to remain."

He raised a finger. "Or there is a third option. Exchange their ending sentence with another Deathwalker."

I stared at him. "Now that is mental."

Kay's gaze didn't waver. "It is. It means the Deathwalker agrees to exchange their remaining short sentence with another."

I took a moment to process his words. "So, I could take on Iris's sentence, and she would get mine which will be over in a few weeks?"

"Yes," Kay confirmed. "But you must know this, Mordred," Kay asserted.

"Iris's final year as a Deathwalker consists of daily battles against the daemons."

"She mentioned something about that once." I frowned, trying to recall her exact words. "Something about her brothers demanding conditions to make her life miserable."

Kay nodded. "If you do the sentence exchange, you will have to fight her battles."

I let out a chuckle. "And you are worried about me? What have you done with the Commander?"

I stepped forward and met his gaze. "Uncle, you never really cared for me. You only taught me the art of the blade because of your obligation to my mum."

"You don't have to worry about me. I'll handle the daily battles. I am no longer that weak child."

Kay's gaze hardened. "Iris doesn't remember, and yet you're willing to do this for her?"

I nodded, unwavering. "Yes. She might not remember, but I do. I remember everything she's done for me, everything we've been through together. Her memories might be gone, but she's still Iris."

"Shouldn't you at least tell her who you are to her?" Kay asked, his voice slightly raised.

A bittersweet smile tugged at my lips as I contemplated those words.

I shook my head. "The memories we have of each other are intertwined with the horrors and suffering she faced as a Deathwalker."

"Revealing our relationship would also mean revealing the very horrors she escaped by losing her memories," I stated.

Kay's frustration was palpable. "She won't even realize what you did for her. She won't grieve if you die!"

"I don't care!" I yelled. "At least she will be fine!"

I sneered, feeling the bitterness well up inside me. "If I die, then that's good. At least the sacrifice of my miserable life would benefit someone."

"MORDRED!" Kay's voice shook the room. "Don't you know the value of your life?!"

"My life?" I let out a bitter laugh.

"I'M THE FAILED PRINCE! THE DISGRACE OF THE PENDRAGONS!" I bellowed.

Placing a hand on my chest, I continued. "And I'm a Deathwalker! An irredeemable monster bathed in the blood of others!"

"And so is Iris! She's just as irredeemable as you!" Kay shot back.

"I know!" I stamped my foot, releasing a shockwave of ardor. "But hasn't she paid enough?"

"Her body is covered in the scars of her battles against the daemons, and the horrors of the battlefield and the voices of the dead shattered her mind."

I clenched my fist. "Every night, she wakes up screaming, and even in her sleep, she cries out in despair for forgiveness. Her nightmares are worse than mine."

"She destroyed her body every time she used her stigma. She destroyed her mind every time she used that accursed ability as it chipped away at her memories."

"And now she doesn't even know who she is! Hasn't she paid enough?" My voice cracked as I asked him that question.

Kay's expression was resolute and his eyes remained stern. "And you think taking her place will change that? You think you can save her by sacrificing yourself?"

"Yes," I said firmly. "She deserves a chance at a new life, free from the torment she's endured. Even if she never knows what I did for her, it's worth it."

We glared at each other for a moment before he sighed. "Fine. If that's what you wish, I will approve the Sentence Exchange."

Shaking his head, he approached his desk, muttering, "Like father, like son."

Settling into his chair, he looked at me. "Now that we've decided on the Sentence Exchange, there's one more thing to discuss."

I gave him a puzzled look. "And what is that?"

"What happens to Iris after she leaves the Shield."

"Isn't that up to Iris?" I asked, stepping closer to Kay.

He raised his eyebrows. "Do you think she's in the right state of mind to plan anything now?"

I winced. "You're right, but do we have the right to decide for her?"

Kay snorted. "I am her guardian, and you are the closest person to her heart."

"I was," I said bitterly.

"But she confided in you her wishes, right?" Kay asked.

Our conversation in the Tomb resurfaced in my mind. "She wants to open a cafe."

He blinked in surprise. "That's... quite interesting."

"So, what will happen to her?" I asked anxiously.

Kay leaned back. "Well, now that she'll be released early, I must inform His Majesty to arrange her knighthood ceremony."

I was taken aback. "Knighthood?"

Kay smiled, which shocked me even further. "Minerva simulated a scenario where the wraiths escaped from the processing room. They caused untold devastation."

"Iris single-handedly saved the Shield while sacrificing herself in the process. The High King took notice and has decided to knight her."

I stared at him. "That means?"

Kay nodded. "She will become a noble in her own right and can form her own faction or noble family."

"House Lefay," I said, a small smile tugging at my lips. However, a sudden thought wiped it off my face.

"But. Where will she go?" I asked.

"She can't go back to the Karsus Estate. She told me she would never step foot into that place." I pointed out.

"And she will not. There is no Karsus Estate." Kay said.

I blinked. "What?"

He tilted his head. "Haven't you heard? Duke Karsus decided to step down from his position. The Karsus Duchy will be taken over by a new Axial Family."

"That's news!" I remarked.

Kay sighed, "Incarni! I need to tell Minerva to relax about the restriction on communication with the outside world."

"So yeah. The Karsus Duchy is no more. No one knows why Duke Karsus decided to step down."

He frowned. "The strange thing is, he decided to give away all of his accumulated wealth and assets to Iris."

I scoffed. "Now he is trying to be a father?"

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

The Commander shook his head. "I have no idea. Perhaps Iris is the only living member of the Karsus Family apart from him. So I guess she would inherit his wealth?"

"I see," I murmured.

Kay observed my reaction. "You don't have a problem with that? Duke Karsus giving away his wealth to Iris."

I shrugged. "Not particularly. Sure, I hate that guy. That bastard killed Iris's mother and never cared for her. But money is money. It will greatly benefit Iris."

"You're right." Kay agreed and looked at me. "Iris would need a place to stay. Somewhere a bit isolated, a safe place for her to recover."

I smiled.

"Uncle. Can you search for a good place on Blackrose Island?"

*******

"Are you sure about this?"

Artemis asked as she aimed a kick at my face.

I blocked the ardor-laden strike and grabbed her leg. She twisted her body and made me lose grip.

She aimed to lock my head between her legs but I swiftly ducked to the side and struck at her stomach.

She crossed her arms to protect herself but the force blew her away.

"Sure about what?" I asked.

Winds surrounded Artemis as she used Aeris and stopped herself from crashing into the wall of the sparring court.

As soon as her legs hit the floor, she shot forward with a powerful burst of wind.

"The Sentence Exchange." she struck out at my side. I shifted back and parried the attack with my fist.

But she wasn't done.

Artemis pivoted, using the momentum to deliver a spinning kick aimed at my head. I ducked under it and retaliated with a swift jab toward her midsection.

She deflected my punch with her forearm and countered with a series of rapid strikes, each one laced with ardor. "And also sending her to Blackrose Island."

I sidestepped and avoided an ardor-laden punch. "How many times have you asked these questions?" I asked back, grabbing her wrist, twisting it, and flipping her to the ground.

Artemis rolled with the fall and sprang back up, surrounded by glowing gusts of wind.

"You haven't given a proper answer." She aimed a high kick at my side, but I jumped back and her boot swept past my chest.

Ducking forward, I unleashed a powerful punch which she barely dodged.

"Yes. I am pretty sure. This is the best for Iris," I said, blocking her next attack and dealing a precise kick that connected with her stomach, sending her stumbling back.

"But what about you?" She caught her balance and shot forward, a burst of wind accelerating her movement.

"Fighting daemons and wraiths daily can break a person. Both the body and mind," she said, unleashing a rapid barrage of punches.

I parried them all effortlessly, our hands becoming a blur of ardor and shockwaves. "I'll be fine." I smacked her fist away, leaving her vulnerable.

I wasted no time and landed a powerful blow to her ribs.

Artemis let out a painful grunt accompanied by the cracking of bone, but she grabbed my arm and pulled. She balled her fist and placed it in the path of my face.

I tilted my head to the side, her fist grazing my ear, and dealt a knee strike to her stomach.

She staggered with a painful cough, and I seized the advantage.

I unleashed a furious assault on her, each precise and quick blow forcing her back as she blocked them.

Breathing heavily, Artemis tried to regain her footing, but I was already upon her, my strikes relentless and coated in a deadly layer of ardor.

Time to end this. I quickly ducked low, swept her legs out from under her, and pinned her to the ground.

I looked into her golden eyes as she lay on the floor, heaving and out of breath.

"This is her last day in the Shield," she rasped, "and you haven't gone to meet her since she woke up."

I didn't answer and turned away from her. Her next words froze me in my tracks.

"You're scared, aren't you?"

I stood there for a moment, my back toward her. I clenched my jaw and flexed my fist.

"Looks like I will be getting a knuckle sandwich," Artemis remarked with a chuckle as I turned around to face her as she sat on the ground.

I unclenched my fist and held out my arm toward her, much to her surprise.

I sighed as I helped her up. "Yes. I am scared."

My voice trembled as I spoke. "I am afraid that I will crumble if I see her like that again."

Artemis's eyes softened, and she hugged me. "She'll be fine."

Her lips curled into a smile. "I heard even the High Queen helped with the arrangements."

I nodded. "Indeed. Mother has assigned a Phantom Knight to Iris."

She looked surprised. "But aren't Phantom Knights only assigned to the Royal Family?"

I responded with a nod. "Yes. When a royal is born, they are immediately assigned a Phantom Knight."

"And the confinement in the Dawn Palace prevented me from getting one."

Artemis's eyes widened. "Wait. So that means..."

"Iris got my Phantom Knight. Mother made sure of that the moment she returned to the Royal Palace," I said.

"That would ensure her safety," Artemis nodded and smiled. "I also heard she acquired the entire fortune of the Karsus Family."

"All that wealth is still not enough compensation for what that sorry excuse of a father did," she added drily.

I nodded in agreement. "True. But wealth isn't the only thing Iris is receiving. The Commander is legally adopting her."

"Double bonus!" she remarked as we walked toward the door.

"Looks like she will be fine." Artemis continued and gave me a look. "But I ask you again. Are you fine?"

Before I could answer, the door opened, and standing there was Carlo with an odd expression on his face.

"What is it, Carlo?" I asked, noticing his expression.

"She's leaving," he answered.

I stared at him and closed my eyes. "I see."

"And she asked to see you," he added.

I blinked. "What? But she doesn't remember me!"

Carlo sighed. "Stop yapping and get to the reception. She's waiting for you."

Artemis and I exchanged puzzled glances.

What the heck?

*******

The crowd was huge.

Dozens of Deathwalkers were gathered at the door leading to the reception area.

"What the heck is this?" I asked as we got closer to the throng.

Carlo sighed. "They want to see Iris, the Hero of the Shield before she leaves."

I shrugged. "Well, she did save the Shield. I kind of expected this."

But damn! That's a huge crowd, and I'm starting to get jealous. Even if she doesn't remember me, I still love her.

So get your filthy eyes away from her!

That's what I would've said as we reached the crowd.

The ones at the back noticed me and immediately parted, whispering and staring in surprise.

Deathwalkers cleared a path as Carlo, Artemis, and I made our way to the reception room.

"It's Mordred Pendragon!"

"I heard he did a Sentence Exchange with the Fairy."

"No way!"

"He's a mad prince, I say!"

Whispers surrounded me as we walked past the Deathwalkers. But I paid no mind to them. My focus was on the person waiting beyond those doors.

A team of Deathwalkers stood guard at the doors, trying to control the crowd.

When they saw me, they gave a nod of understanding and cleared the way.

"Better hurry, Vice Captain Mordred. Her transport is getting ready," one of them told me before resuming her duties.

I nodded and stood before the doors. My heart pounded against my chest, and everything around me turned silent.

Anxiety and dread coiled inside me like a snake, slowly crushing my insides.

My hand hovered over the door handle, and I turned to look at Artemis and Carlo.

They nodded and came right behind me. Carlo placed a hand on my shoulder. "Go on, Vice Cap."

I took a deep breath and steadied my trembling hands. Grasping the handle, I pushed open the door and strode inside.

Only to freeze in my tracks.

The room was unnaturally quiet. An oppressive silence replaced the usual bustle in this area.

As I took a step inside, my eyes fell on Iris sitting on the couch, her gaze distant as she stared at the symbol of the Pendragons engraved on the huge main doors.

Her posture was relaxed and regal, accentuated by the outfit she wore.

My heart stopped and went cold as I recognized what she was wearing.

A light blue shirt and gray pants underneath a black long coat—the very same outfit she wore when we first kissed on the Tomb's cold peak.

My insides and heart twisted into a painful knot.

What kind of cruel joke is this?

Hearing my footsteps, she glanced at me. Her eyes, once filled with an insane and mischievous light, were now softer and emptier.

She seemed like a different person; even the crazy and powerful aura that once surrounded her had changed.

Iris gave me an uncertain smile and stood up. "Hello," she said, her voice soft and regal yet uncertain as she bowed. "It is an honor to meet you, Your Highness."

I swallowed hard and forced a smile. "Nice to meet you, Iris Lefay."

My voice came out steadier than I felt, but it felt hollow, each word a struggle against the emotions threatening to overwhelm me.

"I am truly glad to meet you, Your Highness," she said, her eyes searching mine for something she couldn't quite grasp.

"The doctor told me we were quite close," she frowned as she tried to find any memory we had together. "He said we're friends."

What the heck did you tell her, you quack!

Her blue eyes flickered with something like frustration, a furrow forming between her brows. "I'm sorry," she said, her voice tinged with sadness and frustration, "I just... I don't remember anything."

"It's fine," I said as I moved closer, resisting the urge to reach out and touch her, "Yeah. We're friends."

Her eyes lit up, and for a second, I saw the old Iris, looking excited for another thrilling battle.

It was for a second, but I saw her, and it broke my heart further.

"That's wonderful," she bowed again. "I don't remember it, but thank you for being there for me."

She straightened up and gave me a bright and confident smile. "I will be sure to repay you when we meet again."

I gave her a confused smile. "Meet again?"

She nodded. "You will get out of here, right? Please pay me a visit when you are free."

Again, the old Iris flashed before me.

I stared at the girl standing before me, the one having the same confident smile as the girl I fell for. I nodded. "Yes. I will."

Just then, the massive doors of the main entrance opened, revealing Kay standing outside, tiny snowflakes falling gently on his pristine suit.

His icy blue eyes fell on me, and he nodded.

I nodded back. It's time.

"Miss Iris. Your transport is ready," Kay said, his voice bold but still soft.

Iris turned around and nodded to the Commander. "Very well."

She turned back to me. "I guess it's time to leave," she said with a nervous chuckle.

I nodded, my heart aching at the thought of her leaving, of the lost memories we shared. "Yep," I responded. "All the best out there."

She nodded, a hint of nervousness beneath the facade of confidence she put up. "Thank you, Your Highness."

Those words plunged into my crumbling heart like an icy dagger, threatening to shatter me, but I kept my cool.

Just as she turned to leave, I called out to her one last time in a trembling voice. "Iris?"

She turned back, puzzled.

"Take care of yourself," those words that escaped my lips were barely a whisper.

She gave me a small, uncertain smile and nodded. "I will. You too, Your Highness."

With that, she walked toward the open doors and stood beside Kay.

"Goodbye! See you again!" she waved her hand as the doors slowly closed.

I nodded with a painful smile as the doors closed, providing a final glimpse of the bright blue of her hair.

"See you again," I whispered.

Silence enveloped us again.

Artemis and Carlo approached and stood beside me.

"She'll be okay," Carlo said with a sad smile.

I nodded, my movements mechanical. "Yeah. She will."

Artemis gave me a sideways glance, her expression unchanged. "I ask you again, Captain. Are you fine?"

I nodded again. Cold tears slid down my face, and I felt a smile on my lips.

"Yeah. I am fine."