Chapter 31
*Clink.*
In the middle of the restaurant, where only the faint sound of clinking dishes could be heard, Iris was continuing her meal with a slightly uncomfortable expression.
The reason for her discomfort was none other than:
“There’s going to be a hole in my fiancée’s face.”
“Oh, are you uncomfortable?”
“Seems like it.”
“I’ll restrain myself.”
It was because of the smooth-talking wizard, Harmia. He still had an intense interest in Iris, which made her thoughts quite complicated.
‘I know he’s supposed to end up as the heroine’s ally with time, but…’
Was it really okay to keep drawing Harmia’s attention like this? She let out a deep sigh inwardly.
After all, once they left Bevberia, she wouldn’t have to see him for a while, so for now, she had no choice but to endure.
“With such fervor, I’m wondering if I should put a veil over my fiancée’s face.”
No, but why was the crown prince in such a foul mood?
“Your Highness, it’s fine, so please eat.”
“She says she’s fine, doesn’t she?”
“Wizard, just stay quiet.”
“Am I not staying quiet?”
‘Your mouth, shut it.’
Iris wanted to throw the fork she was holding, but since this wasn’t her mansion and the other party wasn’t Jack, she had no choice but to hold back.
‘In this atmosphere, I’m not even sure if I can properly make the request I originally intended.’
Iris picked at her food, her mind racing. For starters, the wizard Harmia was determined to avoid conversation with men as much as possible and was solely focused on her.
‘It seems like the most ideal approach is for me to take the lead.’
With that judgment, Iris took a sip of water to moisten her throat and spoke.
“The reason we’ve come to Beberia is something specific. Your Highness, what was it again?”
She naturally opened the conversation, but the crown prince, with a face that suggested something displeased him, stared at Iris for a few seconds, hesitating.
‘What are you doing? I’m telling you to speak.’
When Iris gave him a pointed look, urging him on, he finally opened his mouth.
“Although we’ve suppressed the rebellion in the Kingdom of Cecil, the crown prince is still missing. We need a magical tool to track him, which is why we’ve come here.”
“I see.”
At least Harmia seemed to understand this wasn’t just a casual dining occasion, as he responded to some extent.
“And?”
No, he only responded.
‘That sly bastard.’
Iris jumped in with a bright smile.
“Is there any way you could help? We’d be truly grateful if you did.”
“If Lady Iris says so.”
Wow, should she be happy about this or not?
As expected, the crown prince’s expression turned sour, and even the King and Queen of Beberia seemed visibly restless.
‘If he weren’t a wizard, His Highness would’ve flipped the table by now.’
Iris subtly patted the crown prince’s thigh under the table, as if to tell him to keep his composure.
His gaze lingered on the side of Iris’s face, but she didn’t turn to meet it, acting as if she’d done nothing.
“But there’s a condition.”
“Name it. We’ll accommodate.”
The crown prince responded to the mention of a condition. After all, he wasn’t just the prince of some small kingdom but the crown prince of an empire. What condition could he possibly not meet?
However, the condition Harmia proposed was unexpected.
“I want to go on a date with Lady Iris.”
“Denied.”
An absurd proposal met with a rejection faster than light. The crown prince pressed his temple, as if nursing a headache, and spoke.
“Where did you hear that Lady Iris is my fiancée, Wizard Harmia?”
“You’re not married yet, are you?”
“What trashy words. Who said it’s okay to flirt with a woman who has a fiancé? I doubt that’s how you were raised.”
Wow, His Highness the Crown Prince. He even knows how to throw shade.
‘No, this isn’t the time to be impressed. If this atmosphere continues, the negotiation will fall apart.’
Iris raised one hand briefly to draw both men’s attention.
“If it’s just that condition, I think we can accommodate it.”
“Iris.”
“Your Highness, just think of it as spending a little time for political reasons. There’s no need to get so emotional.”
As Iris calmly met his gaze, the crown prince, after a moment of silence, let out a deep sigh and nodded.
“If you insist to that extent, fine.”
“And Harmia.”
“Yes, Lady Iris.”
“You need to make sure you help us catch the crown prince of Cecil until the very end.”
“I promise.”
“Good. Let’s discuss this further later and finish our meal for now. If we keep talking about this, I might get indigestion.”
At her suggestion, everyone nodded in agreement, and fortunately, they were able to finish the meal without further incident.
Iris and the crown prince, having arranged to meet Harmia again the next day to finalize things, returned to their rooms. As soon as they arrived, the crown prince expressed a bit of dissatisfaction.
“Why are you entertaining a guy like that?”
“Your Highness, get a grip. Do you think I’m doing this for fun? We need to catch the crown prince of Cecil.”
“There were plenty of other things we could’ve offered him besides that.”
“Sure, sure. But if we can secure a wizard’s help with just one date, isn’t that a good deal?”
“…I don’t think you’re wrong.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
At her question, the crown prince looked as if he’d been struck.
What? It’s not like she said anything special.
As Iris looked at him with a puzzled expression, the crown prince held up his palm.
“Give me a moment to think.”
“Huh? Oh, sure…”
Iris tilted her head, watching the crown prince’s back as he retreated into his room.
‘What a complicated man.’
Was being royalty always this emotionally complex? With an inward tsk, Iris returned to her room to rest and prepare for the next day.
☆☆☆
The sun was blazing, but the humidity was low. It wasn’t bad weather for wearing a frilly dress.
With the help of Aster, who was now quite adept at playing the role of a maid, Iris put on her dress, picked up a parasol, and headed to the royal garden of Bevberia.
“I’ve been waiting.”
The wizard Harmia, with his water-colored hair, was sitting on a shaded bench in the garden, waiting for her.
She had sent a letter that morning suggesting they meet around noon, and seeing how quickly he replied, it seemed he’d been waiting all day.
“Did I make you wait?”
“No, I just came out myself.”
She smiled and lightly placed a hand on his shoulder. Even in the shade, his jacket was warm to the touch, suggesting he’d been sitting there for at least 30 minutes.
‘Should I say he’s well-mannered in this regard?’
Holding her parasol, she began strolling through the garden with him.
“I can’t tell you how relieved I am that Harmia is helping us track down Cecil’s crown prince.”
“Is that so?”
Harmia said, escorting Iris by her side.
“I recall His Highness saying you needed a tool to track him.”
Iris gave a light laugh.
“I clearly said yesterday that I agreed to this date on the condition that you take responsibility ‘until the end.’ Was I mistaken?”
As Iris looked up at him with her ruby-red eyes sparkling, Harmia gave a wry smile, as if caught.
“I was so dazzled by the date that I didn’t quite catch that part.”
“You’ll keep your word, won’t you, Wizard? Of course, I intend to keep my promise faithfully as well.”
“Of course. I never break a promise to a lady.”
“Oh, how kind.”
The two approached a fountain set up in one corner of the garden. As they neared, the hot air cooled, and a refreshing breeze blew in.
And watching this scene from the window were none other than:
“He’s all flash on the outside.”
“That’s what makes him a wizard, isn’t it?”
It was the crown prince and Jack, the two of them.
☆▪︎▪︎▪︎☆▪︎▪︎▪︎☆▪︎▪︎▪︎☆
By Anna 💓
