Outburst

"No, I'm very much Varquezian by birth."

Everyone was silent for a moment.

Iris glared at Lamelie and leaned forward. "Are you serious?"

Lamelie nodded.

Iris lunged at Lamelie and tried to get her hands around her throat. "Die! You should just die!"

Lamelie snatched one of Iris's wrists and pushed her to the ground. She placed her knee on Iris' back to keep her down.

Iris struggled and squirmed to break out of Lamelie's grip. "You don't deserve to be here. You are not my captain," Iris shouted. Her breath was ragged and strained.

"Focus on your breathing Iris."

Iris slowed her breathing and stopped resisting.

"Now, explain yourself, Major Sergeant Iris Callio," ordered Lamelie.

Iris didn't look at Lamelie. "You are Varquezian. You forfeit the right to be my captain and be a member of the Mauriusian military."

Lamelie loosened her grip as Rianna stepped in and removed any weapons on Iris.

"Is that really all there is to it?" Lamelie held her arm but didn't press as hard.

"Varquezians are scum," said Iris.

"When you and I served together, did you ever think I was scum?" Lamelie questioned.

Iris let her head fall on the ground. "No," she murmured.

"What was that?"

"No."

Lamelie stood up and left Iris on the ground. She picked up the scattered documents.

"We'll pick this mission briefing up tomorrow and go over the details. For now everyone needs some rest."

When Lamelie reached the barracks, she collapsed on the bottom bunk.

Uggh, I knew Iris would take it the hardest. But direct confrontation was the only way she learned things.

Lamelie sighed. One of the hard parts was over. That just left the rest. Could she really complete this? Could she really prevent war? Or was she predestined to fail? No. No, I will do everything that I must to make this plan a success.

Lamelie sat up and saw Rianna in the doorway.

"Food's ready. Pixie made rabbit stew with an Autumn salad."

"Oh, thank you."

"Come join us in the mess hall."

Axel was at the serving trays, filling his plate. Brian sat at the table in the middle of the room where Rianna joined him. He had served her a plate. Pixie sat next to Brian and smirked at them.

Iris sat at the edge of the table. She stared at her food and picked at it. When she noticed Lamelie, she began scarfing it down.

Lamelie served herself a bowl of rabbit stew with a side of rice and autumn salad. She took a seat next to Pixie.

Brian and Rianna saluted Lamelie.

"At ease." Lamelie glanced at Iris.

"Why is Iris sitting alone?"

"Well, she chose that seat. She always distances herself," answered Rianna.

Iris stood up abruptly. She promptly put her bowl in the dirty dish basket and turned to walk towards Lamelie. She stopped directly in front of Lamelie. Rianna held her breath.

"My apologies for my earlier outburst. I will do my best to get along during this mission, Captain Lamelie."

"Thank you, Sergeant Major Iris. Do be aware that I will be taking any disciplinary action for your actions."

"What?" said Iris. She was flabbergasted but she didn't show it. "I acted rashly and assaulted a superior."

"It is important to know when to punish and admonish improper behavior."

Iris nodded and bowed towards her captain. "Understood." Iris left the mess hall and slept in her bunk.

Later that night as Iris reflected on what had been revealed and how she reacted. It was amateur. But in that lapse of judgement, she was fueled by blind rage. And fear. Fear that maybe Lamelie would abandon her just like the last Varquezian she had been close to. It was an irrational fear and she knew it. But she couldn't always see past it.

Iris turned in her sleep and stared at the others in their bunks. She jolted up and buried her face in her knees. What if they left me? I couldn't take it anymore. If Lamelie is really…

Iris glance to see Lamelie sleeping in her bunk. She crossed her arms and put her hands on the opposite shoulder. It was like hugging one' self. And it was comforting. She always did it before she let her irrational fears sink through. Lamelie is right. She patted herself. I've been too hard on myself and on the others. Not listening to regulations didn't cause my mom to leave. It was her choice. She held back tears but soon let them flow. My mom left, not because she hated me, but because she hated the way people treated her. Iris patted herself again. If I could see her again…

She relaxed. For the first time since the day her mother had left, she fell into a deep slumber.

The next morning as Pixie got dressed. She noticed Iris was finally sleeping in.

"Don't be so hard on yourself," she said. Rianna poked her head in to say good morning.

She stooped herself when she saw Iris sleeping in. One of us, she thought.

Brian and Axel grinned at the rarity of this sight. Iris, sleeping in?

"We should draw on her face with permanent ink," whispered Axel.

Brian frowned. "Shut up, Axel. Don't wake a sleeping dragon."

Lamelie smiled from the doorway as she watched Brian and Rianna hold Axel back while he wielded his permanent ink bottle and waved his brush around.

Adrien excused himself from the dinner early. He needed time to think. Everything had happened so quickly. The assassination attempt. Being proclaimed successor. He sighed. I wish Lamelie was here.

Raphael hurried out with Emperor Ezra close behind him. Adrien intercepted Raphael and stared him down.

Adrien had auburn hair that was messy. It matched his stark white Capital Official suit. Raphael sported black hair cut close to his head, almost in a military fashion. In addition he had grown a close shaven beard. He wore a grey suit to add to his totalitarian look.

Adrien stopped him from walking away by grabbing his shoulder.

"You threatened someone important to me and I will make your life miserable."

Raphael smirked and slightly tilted his head. "You're already doing that. By taking the throne, my life will be miserable," he said as he pulled Adrien's hand down.

Raphael withdrew from the conversation. "Keep up the good work!" he shouted while waving goodbye.

Adrien was flustered for a moment. What did he mean? And why did he look so hurt?

Emperor Ezra put his hand on Adrien's shoulder. "Don't go after him."

Adrien relaxed his arms and let them hang at his side.

"My brother is not the same as before, is he?"

"No," said Emperor Ezra, "He has changed and he has changed in a bad way. He is no longer caring for anyone other than himself. He holds onto grudges for a long time with great hatred. My boy-I-I no longer recognize my boy. My son."

Emperor Ezra teared up. Adrien gave him his hand for support and walked him to his room.

"I'm going to talk with your mother tomorrow. She helps console me."

Adrien knew what his father meant. Empress Emmeline Maurisius was buried in Rockefeller Cemetery, under the lone peach tree. She had been there for five years.