Iris 1

I remember the first day I came to the orphanage.

I must have been six years old.

I don’t recall my parents’ faces, but I remember the hunger and the cold.

That’s when Director Carina took my hand.

“This will be your home now, Iris.”

Now, six years have passed, and I’m twelve years old, the eldest among the orphans.

…

“Hmmm…”

I woke up from a hazy dream to the chill of early autumn dawn.

A few red leaves swept in through the window gap, carried by the cold breeze.

Soon, winter will come, and snow will drift through those same gaps, forming small piles.

The orphanage windows were old and drafty.

My long, dark hair framed my face.

If there were a mirror, it would show my sharp jawline and the largest, brightest blue eyes in the orphanage.

Director Carina once said my eyes held the sky, but to me, they just looked tired.

I got out of bed and wrapped myself in a worn blanket.

Though patched in many places, it was warm.

I fiddled with the loose threads as I shook off the lingering sleep.

The room where I slept was shared with the other children, but everyone was still fast asleep.

Eight small beds lined the walls, with three or four children crowded together.

“Iris, are you up already?”

Director Carina asked softly as she checked on the children in the corner.

Her gray hair and the tired lines under her eyes were clear even in the dim candlelight.

“Yes, I’ll prepare breakfast.”

I moved quietly out of the room.

The hallway floor was cold, like ice.

The stairs creaked, but I knew which steps to avoid to make no sound.

I skipped the third, fifth, and eighth steps on my way downstairs.

The orphanage was an old three-story building that had once been a grain warehouse.

The walls let in the wind, and when it rained, water pooled in the corners of the upper rooms.

The neighborhood smelled of sewage and laundry, but this was our only home.

When I arrived at the kitchen, the early morning sun peeked through the small window.

The faint light danced with dust motes.

The kitchen was humble, but it was my favorite place, my comfort.

There was an old wooden table, some rickety chairs, and a brick stove with a pot.

I began to prepare a thin porridge, using the last of the barley and two carrots.

It wasn’t enough for thirty children, but there was no other choice.

If we don’t feed them, Rendi’s illness won’t improve…

Rendi was a boy of about ten, but recently, his hair had been falling out, and he complained of dizziness.

Director Carina said it was malnutrition.

Due to a lack of protein…

When the porridge bubbled, I heard small footsteps.

“Sister, can I help?”

Serina, a seven-year-old girl, entered the kitchen in her nightgown.

Her golden hair was messy from sleep.

Serina was the liveliest child in the orphanage, having lost her parents to an epidemic.

Her bright eyes and cute dimples were charming.

“Thank you, Serina. Please set the bowls.”

As I served the porridge, Serina arranged the bowls with a smile.

Whenever she smiled, the orphanage seemed a little brighter.

Her small hands placing the bowls warmed my heart.

“One, two, three.”

Serina always counted the bowls three times.

It made me smile.

“Sister, are you working today?”

Serina asked as she placed the last bowl.

Her small fingers had a scar from when she broke a bowl once.

“Yes, I’m going to the brewery this afternoon. Maybe I’ll earn a bit more than yesterday.”

Serina’s eyes filled with worry.

Her clear eyes reflected my tired face.

“But you look so tired. Are you okay?”

Her concerned gaze pained me.

It was hard to see her worrying at such a young age.

“I’m fine. I’m strong.”

I forced a bright smile, but I was truly exhausted.

Waking up at dawn, preparing meals, cleaning, and doing laundry in the afternoon, and working at the brewery…

Especially the brewery work was hard.

Lifting heavy beer barrels, wiping up spills, avoiding drunk customers…

“Hey, kids! Wake up! Breakfast!”

I called out as I walked down the hallway.

Soon, the rooms came alive with the sounds of creaking beds, footsteps, and yawns.

The children slowly emerged, rubbing their sleepy eyes, and lined up for their bowls.

“I added carrots today. Is it tasty?”

As I handed out the porridge, I gave the younger ones priority.

The older children waited, following the orphanage rules.

My bowl always had what was left last.

…

In the afternoon, I headed to the market.

I tied my hair back tightly and put on an apron.

It made the brewery work easier.

My hair couldn’t get in the way of the beer barrels.

The market was bustling as usual.

Smells of roasting meat, fresh bread, and fruits filled the air.

I felt hungry but ignored it.

Buying something would take away from what the children could have.

On my way to the brewery, I noticed a crowd around the market bulletin board.

It was unusual.

Normally, the board had wanted posters or missing person notices.

“What’s going on?”

Curiosity drew me closer.

People were pointing at a golden poster.

I squeezed through the crowd to read it.

Crystal Elysium Recruiting Staff. Monthly wage: 3 gold coins.

My eyes widened.

3 gold coins?

That’s what I’d earn in six months at the brewery!

My heart raced.

I listened to the surrounding conversations.

“That’s three times what a noble’s servant makes!”

“But it’s for Frostia and Lycoris…”

“Is it worth risking your life?”

“It’s practically suicide…”

I was puzzled.

Suicide mission?

And Frostia? Lycoris?

Names I’d never heard before.

“Excuse me, what are Frostia and Lycoris?”

The people stared at me as if I’d asked, “What is the sky?”

“What? You don’t know Lycoris… or even Frostia?”

A middle-aged man wiped his brow and said.

“Frostia is the ruler of the Shia Kalt Great Labyrinth, a dragon who created the eternal ice zone between the Heshet and Diance Empires.”

“And Lycoris-“

An elderly woman glanced around and lowered her voice, as if sharing a dangerous secret.

“She’s Frostia’s subordinate, a monster born from flowers, and she only drinks human blood…”

It was absurd.

Could such things really exist?

Dragons and plant monsters?

It felt like a fairy tale from childhood.

But 3 gold coins…

With that money, I could treat Rendi’s illness, buy meat for the children, and get Serina new clothes…

I memorized the poster.

I decided not to tell Director Carina.

She would surely stop me.

I’d just tell her I found a new brewery job and secretly go to the interview.

…

On the day of the interview, I wore my best outfit.

A plain gray dress with no holes, and the red ribbon Director Carina gave me for my birthday tied in my hair.

My hair was neatly combed, and my face was clean, even under my nails.

Crystal Elysium was breathtaking.

Even unfinished, it was grand.

It looked less like a castle and more like a massive work of art.

Tall crystal spires reached for the sky, surrounded by gardens filled with white flowers.

The sunlight reflected off the crystals, casting a rainbow glow.

It was like the fairy kingdom Director Carina once told me about.

The sight was so dazzling that I stopped for a moment.

“Is this the right place…”

I muttered nervously as I approached the entrance.

The massive crystal gates blocked my path.

My reflection in the gate looked distorted, making my shabby appearance even more noticeable.

Only an old butler in black stood at the empty reception.

His face was lined with age and worry.

“Young lady, are you here for the interview?”

His voice was surprisingly warm.

“Yes, but where is everyone else?”

The butler smiled faintly and gestured to the large doors.

“Please go inside.”

As the doors opened, I gasped.

The room was more luxurious than anything I’d ever seen.

Sparkling crystal chandeliers, silver-decorated walls, and translucent ice-like floors…

My reflection stared back at me from the floor.

The chandelier’s light created dancing shadows on the walls.

There were two men present.

One was a dignified middle-aged man, the other an elderly man.

Both wore extravagantly adorned with gold and jewels.

I’d never seen such clothes, nor could I imagine their cost.

“She’s so young…”

The middle-aged man said, shocked.

“How old are you, child?”

“Twelve… twelve years old, sir.”

I bowed politely.

They were clearly high-ranking nobles.

I’d never met such people before.

My legs trembled as I curtsied.

“This is His Majesty, King Adelheit III of Genes Kingdom. I am the minister assisting His Majesty.”

At that moment, my heart nearly stopped.

The king? His Majesty?

Could I have misheard?

I knelt, bowing my head deeply.

“Your Majesty! I’m sorry! Forgive me! Please spare my life!”

Not recognizing the king? What had I done?

I recalled a story from the slums about a villager executed for not recognizing a royal.

Surely the guards would drag me away…

“What… No, stand up. Such a thing won’t happen.”

The king’s voice held surprise.

I looked up to see the king and minister exchanging uneasy glances.

The king’s eyes showed something like pity.

“Don’t worry. Answer calmly. Do you know what this place is?”

“Crystal Elysium… recruiting staff…”

The king’s expression turned serious.

He stroked his beard, then sighed deeply.

“This castle is a lair for dragons. For Frostia, the ruler of the Shia Kalt Great Labyrinth, and her subordinate, Lycoris.”

My spine tingled.

The market rumors were true.

The king glanced out the window, then continued.

“First, Lycoris… well, she’s hot-tempered and incredibly powerful. She could destroy the castle with a single blow.”

The king’s hand trembled slightly.

He, too, feared her.

He muttered softly.

“This girl looks just like Lycoris when I first met her…”

“Your Majesty?”

I asked, confused.

The king cleared his throat and continued seriously.

“In any case, you must never provoke her.”

The king went on.

“And Frostia is an ice dragon. She single-handedly destroyed the Kingdom of Rostelia and created the eternal ice zone between the Heshet and Diance Empires.”

It was real, after all.

The rumors were no exaggeration.

It felt like a fairy tale come to life.

“And if you work here, you’ll have important duties.”

The king explained.

“Whenever Frostia visits the lair, you must shout, ‘We welcome the glorious arrival of the great Frostia!'”

“Also, offering crystal water in the ice garden and lining the path with white flowers is crucial.”

The minister added.

Understood…

The tasks were strange.

Perhaps they were meant to appease the dragon.

My dry swallow was audible.

Despite my fear, I steeled myself, thinking of the children.

Serina, Rendi, and the others…

“I’ll do it. But… if I were to die, could you send the compensation to the orphanage?”

The king and minister exchanged a glance.

The king’s face showed fleeting sadness.

“Where is this orphanage?”

“In the southern district, next to the old bakery. Director Carina is in charge.”

The king nodded.

“Very well, I promise.”

“One more request.”

I gathered my last bit of courage.

“If I were to die, please don’t tell the orphanage. Just say I disappeared…”

The king’s eyes flickered with compassion and something else.

He nodded to the minister.

“Very well. And… take care not to die.”