13. Iris El Devhardt – 04
A quiet passage leading from the deserted western terrace to the heart of the imperial palace, where the imperial family usually resides.
There, Iris, the princess of the Empire, who was wearing a dress that was somehow disheveled, unlike her usual neat attire, and somehow exuded a mature atmosphere, was walking down the aisle, stepping on heels while maintaining a truly elegant figure. .
A truly relaxed smile appeared on her lips as she walked down the aisle. It could be said that it was a very unusual thing for her, who always had a hard expression on her face and never showed any other personal feelings on her face.
“…pretty, cute. no it was really cute Yes, really.”
After sharing a kiss, Iris smiled again as she remembered the puzzled look he gave her when they parted their lips.
In the meantime, she never expressed it outwardly because she had face and pride, but in fact, Iris was quite dissatisfied with Cain, who did not take any action even with an attractive woman in front of her.
It wasn’t any other relationship, it was her relationship with Cain. In other words, it was a relationship that could be described as a lover among lovers who made a connection in the past and confirmed each other’s feelings in the future. In this situation, where she was clinging close to him, not touching herself was a situation that hurt her self-esteem as a woman. Of course, if he had put his hand on himself without hesitation, that would have been quite distasteful.
Regardless, it was a truly great harvest to be able to confirm each other’s feelings with him in a situation where complaints were gradually accumulating. Having intermingled with him just before, Iris was convinced. He loved Cain, and he loved himself too. The future that did not come, the time of communion shared with him was never in vain. He and himself were clearly connected.
However, it was not just that a woman named Iris, who was swept away by a momentary passionate emotion without any calculation, brought her first womanhood to him. She is the princess of an empire. She was a woman who knew better than anyone how much a huge wave of waves could be caused by each light action she took.
In the affair with Cain, of course, love for Cain was first and foremost, but at the same time, various political calculations were included. Of course, it was part of a vicious plan to make a man named Cain von Estel politically tied up and made his own.
So far, all of her plans have been going smoothly. The first step of the plan was to lure him in with the swordsmanship of ‘Flowing Star’ and bring him into a system where other women cannot reach. that was the second step.
If that wasn’t enough, the third step was to privately mobilize the Empire’s intelligence department and instruct them to desperately spread all sorts of rumors in order to make sure that no one in the imperial capital at least knows about his relationship with him. It was the fourth step that he even declared what kind of relationship he had with Cain while collecting numerous nobles living in the system under the pretext of a banquet.
In other words, it is a fact that Cain will never know and will never know, but his future has already been decided from the moment he steps into the system. He was currently in a single shot, no checkmate. To put it plainly, he was a fly that flew into the flytrap by the scent, and was like an ant in front of a hungry anteater-
Crucially, Iris even made love to him tonight. Of course, it was an emotional choice that was uncharacteristic of her, but it was by no means a bad choice if you look at the act itself. If I were to marry him anyway, I would have to have a relationship in order to produce an heir. Also, if Cain had a strong sense of responsibility, he would no longer be able to blindly reject himself.
Privately, there was also a point where Iris acted like that to get rid of the nightmare of the west terrace, which was entangled with bad memories. Iris thought that the scent of Sarah that permeated the entire terrace would have been covered by Cain and herself making love today. Now, the west terrace was no longer a nightmare for her. Rather, it must have been transformed into a space of memories of sharing love with him.
It was absolutely perfect. It seemed like everything was going smoothly. At this rate, for eternity in the future, having him by your side wouldn’t be a dream either…
“very good. Keep him like this-”
And, that was the time.
“…Continued, then what? That’s a very interesting self-talk. Sir, could you please tell me what you were going to say next?”
Turbuck-
Along with the sound of footsteps that didn’t sound like a presence at all, Iris heard a harsh voice in her ears. The reason why the voice was annoying was because the subject of the voice was the woman that Iris disliked roughly the second time in the world.
“…Ariel Thiers?”
Looking at the face of that woman who appeared casually from the other side of the aisle, Iris’ eyebrows crinkled slightly. It wasn’t just that her face was crumpled because at this very moment when she thought about the memories she had just had with him and felt like she was about to blow up, her stomach was turned upside down by the woman putting that brazen face in front of him. It’s just that he can’t understand why that woman is in front of him.
“…How are you in the imperial palace? You must have decided to stay in the Duchy of Estel with Bianca del Castana, didn’t you?”
In response to Iris’ question, Ariel chuckles and laughs as if it’s really fun.
“Well, that’s because, as you know, the woman I am is not a proper woman enough to listen to the words of the princess. In particular, since they are not imperial citizens, they have no loyalty to the lower classes. The only person I enshrine under the sky is the goddess.”
Indeed, it was Ariel who was violating the law with a nonchalant tone, but Iris’ face did not show even the slightest movement. In the first place, it was a well-known fact that the woman called a saint in the world was a woman who peeled pumpkin seeds through her back hole. There was no need to resent Ariel’s words after coming this far.
“…Yeah, for some reason, he seems to have remained in the Duchy of Estel too easily, so he was doing such a cute trick behind the scenes. Aside from secretly following Jedo, how did you get into the imperial palace?”
Of course, the imperial palace was not a place where dogs and cows could casually walk in and out like a corner store in the neighborhood. Anyone other than members of the imperial family had to obtain a separate permission to enter the palace. If a woman like Ariel had wanted to enter the imperial palace, she would have heard the news at least once in her own ears as the princess. However, I hadn’t heard a word about Ariel until now.
“Lowering. This is for the safety of the Empire, but it would be better if you pay more attention to the palace guards. Bianca, because she used a simple magic trick, and no one noticed when she walked in and out of the front door. Isn’t that a bit harsh even considering that Lady Bianca is an archmage?”
Iris clicked her tongue at Ariel, who was talking happily as if mocking her. Anyway, with that nasty talkie.
“…Huh, you know better than anyone that the guards and barriers in the imperial palace aren’t supposed to be enough to defend against the movements of a transcendent woman like that woman, Bianca. I know very well that you are a woman who has not been able to eat again, but what I just said is a very brazen remark.”
“Well, I would like to have a detailed discussion later on what my personality is like. More than that, I had something I wanted to share with you, so I hid here in the imperial palace.”
“…story? What is it?”
Iris wasn’t in the mood to mix with that venomous woman, but Ariel took a step forward towards her, not caring about her feelings at all.
“As you well know, people have what are called ears, so even if you don’t want to hear it, there is news that you can hear. Especially since I arrived in Jedo, rumors from which I couldn’t guess the source kept tickling my ears, and I couldn’t sleep.”
Ariel smiled brightly as she said that, but there was a small but clear hint of murder in Ariel’s face.
“One of the duties of a priest is to listen to the confessions of others, so I thought I was used to hearing nonsense, but this time I couldn’t just listen to the nonsense and ignore it. Even the Goddess must be offended that such bullshit bullshit roaming the streets.”
“It must be your opinion, not the goddess’s.”
Ariel’s expression didn’t change at all, even though Iris pointed out the rest, which was so dumbfounded.
“I think the rumors, of course, are false rumors. Of course it has to be. Just because she taught me at least one swordsmanship, it’s impossible for a crazy woman to try to trap people like that exists in the world.”
“…Hoo, you must have said something well.”
I tried to stay still, but Ariel’s way of speaking had a side that somehow offended people’s nerves.
“To be honest, it was very absurd. decline of the princess. What you’re doing is, in a sense, much worse than Bianca’s. Miss Bianca couldn’t overcome her feelings and just did it out of anger, but isn’t your servant trying to monopolize him using very subtle means?”
At Ariel’s words, Iris laughed. It’s not wrong, but it’s not the words that come out of the mouth of the most insane woman by his side.
“Don’t worry too much. I’m generous, so I can tolerate having a few concubines by his side. Even though I don’t like you, wouldn’t it be possible to allow me to stay by his side depending on your attitude? and-“
“…and?”
“Aren’t you the one who monopolizes Cain and tries to redeem him at the end? While I was in the Great Forest, I heard a few interesting facts from Kyrie. Why do you long for him so much, what do you want from him, what are you obsessed with? all.”
“…..”
…Damn it, she’s like a light-mouthed woman.
“Well, there is no need to put on such a worried expression. Because, from now on, I will grant your wishes instead.”
“… instead?”
Instead of answering, Iris slowly twists the corners of her mouth. As if he was very much looking forward to the words that would come out of his mouth in a moment.
“Ariel Thiers. You might be able to notice what I was doing with Cain just a while ago.”
Saying that, Iris lifted the hem of the dress she was wearing very slightly. Contrary to her neat disposition, the dress was disheveled here and there, crumpled, and somewhat wet.
“…..”
Ariel’s complexion turned white, very slightly. And after a while, Ariel’s face became contorted. And at her appearance, Iris was looking at her with great satisfaction.
“Well, that’s how it happened. Cain and I have already become that kind of relationship. So, there is nothing for you to worry about anymore. Ariel Thiers.”
“Because I’m due to give birth to his child in ten months instead of you. I’m happy that my love with him has come to fruition, and you don’t have to get sick to your stomach twice, so isn’t it a very good deal for each other? yes?”