I am Dr. Iris not a princess
"You have to die… You have to die!"
"NOOOOOOO!"
With a violent gasp, my eyes flew open. I was drenched in a cold, heavy sweat, sitting upright in my airplane seat, my chest heaving as I fought to pull air into my lungs.
A flight attendant, noticing my frantic state, rushed to my side, her face laced with concern. "Ma'am, are you okay?"
I managed a faint nod, my throat bone-dry. "Water… please. Could I get some water?"
"Yes, ma'am, right away," she replied softly, turning to head toward the galley.
Before she could take more than a few steps, a violent shudder ripped through the aircraft. The cabin lurched violently. Gasps and muffled screams echoed around me as passengers instinctively grabbed onto their seatbelts. The flight attendant braced herself, tightly clutching the headrest of my seat to keep her balance.
"Please, everyone, do not panic!" she announced, her voice trembling slightly despite her best efforts to remain calm. "Please stay seated and keep your seatbelts fastened!"
As she carefully tried to navigate down the aisle, another flight attendant emerged hurriedly from the direction of the cockpit, her face pale with terror.
"Is there a doctor on board?!" she cried out, her voice desperate. "Is anyone here a doctor?"
Without wasting a single second, I unbuckled my seatbelt and stood up. "Yes, I am a doctor."
A flicker of relief washed over her face. "Please, follow me!"
She led me straight to the cockpit. The door swung open to reveal the First Officer frantically leaning over the Captain, trying to keep him upright in his seat.
"Is his breathing normal?" I asked, my voice dropping into a calm, practiced tone despite the underlying tension.
The First Officer looked up, anxiety etched deeply into his features. "Yes, but he’s completely unresponsive."
I immediately stepped forward to assess the Captain, gesturing to the cabin crew. "Get me the emergency medical kit and monitoring equipment now." I quickly checked his pulse, noted his clammy skin, and put the pieces together. "Check his blood glucose level."
The crew member quickly handed me the monitor. One look at the screen confirmed my suspicion.
"His blood sugar is dangerously low," I declared firmly. "Follow emergency medical protocols immediately and contact ground medical support."
While the crew coordinated the protocol, I kept a hawkeye watch on his vital signs, continuously monitoring his shallow breathing. Minutes stretched like hours, heavy with suffocating suspense.
Then, the Captain’s eyelids fluttered. He groaned softly, his eyes struggling to focus on me. "Where... where am I?"
A subtle breath of relief escaped my lips, though my expression remained composed. "You’re still on the plane, Captain. Your blood sugar dropped to a dangerous level, causing you to pass out. You need to rest right now."
The Captain blinked, his gaze darting around the instrument panel in confusion. "Is... is everything under control with the flight?"
The co-pilot, who had seamlessly taken over the controls, glanced back with a reassuring smile. "Yes, Captain. Everything is completely under control."
I stepped closer, adjusting my posture to project full medical authority. "The First Officer and co-pilot have everything handled. Your only job right now is to be a patient and rest."
The suffocating tension in the cockpit finally broke, replaced by a quiet collective sigh of relief. Leaving the Captain in safe hands, I stepped back out into the cabin.
Not long after, the heavy hum of the engines shifted, and the plane touched down smoothly at our destination. As I gathered my belongings and walked toward the exit, the entire flight crew and the recovering Captain were waiting near the doors.
"Thank you so much, Doctor," the Captain said warmly, holding out his hand.
"There's no need to thank me, it's just my job," I replied with a warm, modest smile. I glanced at the Captain pointedly. "And please, take care of your health from now on."
He nodded gratefully. "Thank you for saving my life. If you don't mind me asking... may I know your name?"
"Iris," I replied softly, my smile broadening just a touch. "Dr. Iris."
A collective gasp rippled through the crew. The flight attendants looked at each other in utter shock.
"Dr. Iris?!" one of them exclaimed, her eyes wide with awe. "Are you the famous doctor—the one who has never had a single surgery fail?"
I gave a slight, playful shrug. "Well... it seems so."
Leaving them standing in stunned silence, I walked past the jetbridge and out into the bustling airport terminal. Behind me, the hushed, admiring whispers of the crew drifted through the air.
"Dr. Iris is so beautiful... and so intelligent! A true beauty with brains..."
I smiled faintly to myself. I had heard those exact words countless times in this life. In my previous life, people hated everything about me they even treated my name like a curse. But this life? I loved this life. I loved it so, so much.
Breathing in the fresh air outside the airport, I hailed a taxi and headed straight home. The moment I unlocked my front door, a deep sense of peace washed over me. Exhausted, I sank into the plush comfort of my sofa, closing my eyes.
Slowly, darkness consumed my vision.
"Iris... Iris... open your eyes right now!"
The sharp, demanding voice echoed inside my head. My heart suddenly hammered against my ribs like a trapped bird.
I slowly opened my eyes. Standing right above me was a strikingly beautiful girl with flowing golden hair, dressed in an extravagant, royal gown.
I sat up abruptly, my eyes darting frantically around the room. The grand silk drapes, the gilded furniture... This room... this is my room.
"Yes, this is your room!" the girl screamed, her face contorted in anger. "And this is my new dress!"
I stared at her, my mind reeling. "You... you are..."
"I am what?!" she shrieked back.
My breath hitched. I slowly raised my hand and pulled back my sleeve, staring down at my wrist.
There it was. The faint, unmistakable mark on my skin.
No... No! I'm back?! No, no, no! I can't be back here! I don't want to live here! I need to go back... I have to go back!
Before I could process the rising tide of panic, the heavy double doors of the chamber burst open.
A woman stepped into the room. She carried an air of effortless authority, clad in immaculate royal attire, her long black hair cascading down her back like a sheet of silk. At her presence, every single maid in the room instantly bowed their heads in deep reverence.
I scrambled out of bed, staring at her in absolute horror. This is a nightmare... a nightmare!
"What on earth is going on here?" the Queen asked, her commanding voice cutting through the air like a blade.
Princess Rose, my cousin, instantly stepped forward, pointing a accusatory finger at me. "Queen Elza, look what Iris did to my dress!"
Queen Elza turned her gaze toward me. Her cold, dark eyes locked onto mine, brimming with unadulterated hatred and disgust. She tore her eyes away from me as if I were a stain on her floor, turning back to Rose with a smooth, comforting smile.
"Do not worry, my dear. We will order another dress for you. You may leave us now."
I remember this day... My mind raced, memory after painful memory flooding back. I remember it so clearly. The moment Rose leaves, she is going to tell me that I have to get married tomorrow. I can't believe I have to live through this day again. I have to live this wretched life all over again... I am Dr. Iris not a princess....... I don't want any of this! I don't want this life! I don't want it at
The overwhelming weight of helplessness crashed over me. I couldn't control the violent surge of emotions tearing through my chest. Hot, angry tears spilled over my cheeks, blurring my vision.
I knew it was useless, but I couldn't stop myself. I turned and bolted out of the chamber, running as fast as my legs could carry me, desperately trying to escape the nightmare that had reclaimed me.
