Chapter 32
The reason why the two men were in the same space, for once, was this:
“If you could stay by her side as an attendant during the date.”
“Of course, that’s my intention.”
That was the reason.
Although the Crown Prince and Jack were fundamentally wary of each other, when a third enemy appeared, the enemy of an enemy becomes an ally. In this way, they resolved to protect Iris.
“How can we know what that shameless guy, who even makes moves on someone else’s fiancée, might do if left alone with her?”
The Crown Prince sneered, clearly displeased with the situation, but to Jack, it seemed unnecessary for him—a fake fiancé, after all—to get so worked up.
‘As for me…’
Jack thought something to himself and gave a bitter smile.
For now, his immediate goal was simply to ensure Iris safely completed her fake engagement with the Crown Prince. That was all.
However, there was something the two men hadn’t anticipated.
“Aren’t those two getting into a carriage and leaving?”
“What?”
The two men and women, who they thought would meet today to plan their next date, had boarded a carriage and left the palace.
The Crown Prince looked at Jack, and Jack immediately kicked the door open and rushed out.
“Ha…”
The Crown Prince touched his forehead.
“Truly, unexpected things keep happening.”
He mocked himself. The night before, Iris’s words about why he was so heated had made him realize something.
“That’s why you shouldn’t get too immersed in a game.”
But he was already standing in the middle of a river he shouldn’t have crossed, with a woman named Iris on the other side.
* * *
Sitting in the carriage, Harmia and Iris gazed silently at the scenery passing by outside the window.
“Since we’re meeting like this, how about a date today?”
“Today, you say?”
“Until midnight today. I’ll give all my time to you.”
At her words, Harmia nodded immediately. Without hesitation, he took her hand, and she, holding his hand, boarded the carriage.
“Where are we going now?”
“I was thinking about what would make you happy, and a place came to mind.”
“Where is it?”
“My castle.”
“Your castle?”
“Yes.”
Iris blinked for a moment. As an ordinary person, it was difficult to find out where wizards resided.
Even the King and Queen of Beberia could only contact them but didn’t know exactly where they lived.
“Is it okay to show me something like that?”
“Of course.”
“This guy’s going to get himself in trouble.”
When she laughed lightly, Harmia gazed at her face, momentarily entranced. Iris felt a bit more at ease with this man whose one-dimensional reactions were so transparent.
‘Maybe because he’s a wizard and doesn’t socialize much, his thoughts are written all over his face.’
Iris opened the carriage window. A cool breeze brushed against her cheek.
“But won’t it take too long to get to the north? I promised only until midnight tonight.”
“Don’t worry about that.”
The wizard said this and snapped his thumb and middle finger, making a *click* sound. The scenery outside the carriage window brightened, and in an instant, it transformed into a completely different landscape.
*Neigh!*
“What, what’s this!”
The startled voices of the horse and coachman rang out. Harmia calmly instructed them not to be alarmed and to keep going, then naturally sat beside Iris.
“Moving through space is a very easy task for a wizard like me.”
“Wow, that’s amazing.”
“…Well, it seems we have an uninvited guest as well.”
“What?”
“It’s nothing. That over there is my castle.”
Harmia pointed to a spot outside the window. A blue castle, rising as if piercing the sky amidst a forest, came into view. It was as beautiful as if it were made of crystal.
“Wow…”
Iris widened her eyes and stared at the castle. It sparkled in the sunlight, looking almost like a giant diamond.
“Welcome to my castle.”
Harmia’s gentle voice tickled her ear. Iris felt a slight thrill. It had been so long since she felt excitement about a date with someone, and her heart raced with anticipation after such a long time.
And so, the carriage arrived at Harmia’s castle. With his escort, Iris stepped out of the carriage and looked up at the magical castle towering as if it touched the clouds.
“It’s even more impressive up close.”
“There’s even more to see if you come inside.”
He took her hand and led her. Forgetting to open her parasol, she held his hand and walked quickly.
*Rumble—*
Though there was no gatekeeper, as Harmia approached, the massive door opened on its own.
As she gaped in amazement and looked around, he smiled at her reaction and asked,
“Do you like it?”
“Does the door move automatically? What makes it move? Magic?”
Automatic doors were common in the modern world, but not in this one.
“Yes, it moves with mana.”
“That’s fascinating.”
If it weren’t powered by mana, she might have thought about adapting it for practical use, but it was a pity.
‘Maybe I could use a magic stone, but using something that expensive just to make an automatic door wouldn’t make sense.’
It simply wasn’t cost-effective.
“There’s more inside that you’ll like.”
“What could possibly make you so confident?”
“Everything I’ve created?”
He shrugged with a confident smile. Feeling like a child at an amusement park for the first time in a long while, she followed him up the stairs.
As they walked through the second-floor hallway, sparkling fish floated in the air, scattering what looked like star dust. They were like fairies made of water.
“What are these?”
“Oh, they’re artificial fairies that clean the castle.”
She nodded at his explanation.
‘Like a robot vacuum cleaner.’
The walls and floor were entirely made of crystal, and when sunlight streamed in from outside, the whole place sparkled like starlight—a breathtaking sight.
“This is the room where I keep the tools I’ve made.”
Following him into the room, she saw a warm space with a red carpet. As the door closed, the dazzling crystal light was blocked out.
It was a room with a very high ceiling, where various magical tools floated in the air, portraits on the walls moved, and a pen on the desk fluttered like a bird over documents.
“It’s like stepping into another world.”
“I’m honored that the first guest to my castle says so.”
“I’m the first guest?”
“Since my grandfather passed away and this became my castle, you’re the first visitor, so naturally, yes.”
“Goodness, what an honor!”
It was then that Iris realized something was slightly off.
‘In the original story, I think the female protagonist was his first guest.’
Her memory was hazy, and she couldn’t recall exactly, but she felt like she’d read a similar line before.
‘Still, something like this probably won’t change things too much.’
She brushed it off lightly and spoke to a lady in one of the portraits.
“Hello?”
—Oh, hello. Has Harmia finally brought a guest?
“Haha, he said I’m the first guest.”
—Seeing your face, it seems he’s finally chosen someone to marry?
“What? No, not at all!”
At Iris’s words, the lady laughed heartily, and Harmia quickly rushed over, saying something to her.
“Don’t burden the lady!”
—You’ve been boasting since you were a kid about marrying the most beautiful woman in the world, so how can I stay quiet?
Hearing this, Iris subtly joined in the teasing.
“So you’ve had that spark since you were young?”
“…Children are often more sensitive to beauty, you know.”
“Haha, you’re quite the talker.”
Unlike his usual brazen demeanor, Harmia looked a bit embarrassed and waved his hand.
“Chat with the lady for a bit. I’ll step out for a moment.”
“Alright. I’ll have to ask her all about you.”
“Please, go easy on me.”
Harmia chuckled, pretending to complain, and stepped out toward the first floor.
Why?
Because there was an uninvited guest.
“An uninvited guest is a first for me.”
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By Anna 💓
