As they stepped into the grand palace hall, the weight of royalty settled over them. Before them stood King Louis and Queen Felsa Evergarden – Iris' parents, resplendent in their finery. The queen's voice trembled with concern as she took in Haru's pallor.

"By the heavens, child, what's happened to Haru? She's as white as a ghost!"

Iris' explanation spilled out in a rush, her words tumbling over each other as she recounted their terrifying encounter. Her father, King Louis, strode forward, his expression softening as he ruffled Iris' hair.

"Who wouldn't aid my little princess?" His voice held a familiar indulgent tone, one that left no doubt of his doting nature.

Queen Felsa's gentle touch on Haru's forehead was a stark contrast to the steel in her voice. "You've all had a dreadful day. Off to bed with you, then. I've sent maids to your rooms."

Their rooms. Not guest quarters, but permanent chambers within the palace itself. A testament to their lifelong bond, one forged in the fires of countless adventures.

As they bid each other goodnight, Iris felt the familiar tug of exhaustion. Her sword clattered against the bedframe, her armor discarded piece by piece until she stood in nothing but a towel. The bathing hall beckoned, its warm embrace the only thing that could wash away the remnants of their harrowing journey.

She was drifting, caught in the haze of a looming sleep, when a knock shattered the peace.

"Dinner's ready, miss. You should come to the dining hall," Browny called, her voice muffled by the door.

Iris rolled over, her stomach growling in protest. But the thought of facing the crowded hall, of forcing a smile and polite conversation, was too much. "I'm not hungry, Browny. Go on without me."

"But, miss, you need to eat after traveling all day," Browny fretted, her voice laced with worry.

With a sigh, Iris relented. "Very well, but only if you bring it here. I can't bear the thought of the dining hall."

Stolen novel; please report.

Before she could settle back into her pillows, the door swung open once more. This time, it was her parents, accompanied by a maid bearing a trolley laden with steaming dishes. Louis and Felsa settled beside her, their faces etched with concern.

"Sweetheart, are you well?" Louis asked, his brow furrowed.

Iris forced a reassuring smile. "I'm fine, just a bit tired is all. The journey was a long one."

Felsa's cool hand pressed against her forehead. "You should have called for food to be brought up. You can't go to bed on an empty stomach."

"But I didn't wish to face the hall," Iris admitted, feeling a pang of guilt.

Louis harrumphed. "Well, you're eating now. No arguments."

Her gaze fell upon the trolley, her heart leaping at the sight of her favorite blueberry cheesecake. It was as if they knew exactly what she needed. With a squeal of delight, Iris dove into the cake, its sweetness exploding on her tongue. Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes as she devoured it, the familiar taste a balm to her frazzled nerves.

As she licked her fingers clean, she felt her parents watching her, their expressions soft with love. Without a word, Iris threw her arms around them, pulling them into a fierce hug.

"I love you both so much," she mumbled, her voice muffled against Louis' chest.

Felsa stroked her hair, her voice trembling. "We love you too, dear. More than words can say."

As they held each other, something inside Iris mended, the cracks in her heart sealing over. This, she realized, was where she belonged. Not on the road, not in the midst of danger, but here, surrounded by the people she loved.

With one final squeeze, her parents pulled back, pressing kisses to her forehead before departing with promises to check on her in the morning. As the door closed behind them, Iris let out a contented sigh. She was home. She was safe.

Her eyelids were beginning to droop when a flicker of movement caught her eye. A pair of emerald orbs stared back at her, unblinking. With a squeal of delight, Iris scooped up Cathyon, cradling the fluffy creature against her chest.

"And where have you been, hmm? I looked everywhere for you," Iris cooed, burying her face in Cathyon's soft fur.

Cathyon began to purr, her ears twitching as Iris stroked them. A giggle bubbled up from Iris' throat. "Oh, you're so sensitive!"

The door creaked open once more, admitting her friends in their nightclothes. Harlin looked...odd, her face smeared with a thick beauty mask. But Harlin was ever the vain one, and a little thing like that wouldn't deter her. The others claimed spots on the bed, with Harlin making a grab for Cathyon. The creature let out a startled squeak, burrowing under the blankets to escape Harlin's smothering attention.

Iris couldn't help but laugh at the sight of Harlin's pouting face. "Poor Haru, rejected by the cat."

Aylin leaned forward, her brow furrowed. "Iris, you should have come to dinner. You must be starving."

Iris waved a hand, feeling a pang of guilt. "I know, I just...I couldn't face it. The hall, everyone staring...I just wanted to be alone."

Elina, who had been quietly observing Cathyon's attempts to escape Harlin's clutches, sat up with a start. "The diary! We never did finish going through it."

Iris' heart gave a strange lurch at the mention of the mysterious book. "Oh, yes! I'll get it."

She padded over to the bookshelves, her fingers running over the spines until they landed on the worn leather of the diary. It felt heavier in her hands than it had before, as if it held secrets and stories just waiting to be unearthed.

As she settled back onto the bed, the others leaned in, their faces lit only by the flickering candlelight. Iris opened the diary, its pages rustling as she turned them. At first, there was nothing but scrawled nonsense, words and symbols that made no sense. But as they delved deeper into the book, the scribbles began to take shape, forming into crude drawings and diagrams.

Just as they were reaching the final page, a knock at the door shattered the spell, leaving them all breathless and yearning for more.