Iris’s Dream

The day before the Magic Palace Battle.

First, I had a task to complete beforehand.

That was to find Iris with Eve tonight.

“Alright, change with Hanon.”

“Thanks for your work.”

As always, I was going to switch with Hania.

Hania, now accustomed to this task, transformed into my appearance with a composed air.

“Lately, Lady Iris hasn’t been in the best of moods.”

“Because the fight for the throne is intensifying, isn’t it?”

Hania affirmed my words.

Recently, the battle for the throne had become even more extreme.

The First Prince’s faction and the Third Princess’s faction were locked in a tense standoff.

However, the Third Princess’s formation wasn’t in a particularly good position.

The attempted assassination of Nia was playing out favorably for the First Prince’s side.

The First Prince’s side, with thorough preparation, pressed their advantage against the Third Princess’s forces.

The Third Princess’s faction was quick to cut off losses, but the recent incidents exploding one after another at the academy complicated the situation.

And that pressure was directly passed onto Iris.

Iris was working so hard because of Duke Robelia’s ambition for the throne.

Naturally, she couldn’t help but accumulate stress.

“The frequency with which she can’t sleep has increased even more recently.”

I had been consistently trying to reduce Iris’s nightmares.

However, with the stress Iris herself was receiving, the influence of the Evil One was also steadily growing.

It was clear that the frequency of her nightmares had sharply increased.

“It’s alright.”

I told Hania not to worry.

“Because I have a solution prepared for that.”

Hania glanced at my confident face for a moment before letting out a sigh.

“Yes. I suppose I can trust Hanon.”

It seemed my ex-girlfriend had deep faith in me.

It seemed my actions until now had garnered me a considerable score with Hania.

“Except for that tendency to chase after so many women, that is.”

But her next words threw me.

“…Me?”

“Rumor has it you’re quite the womanizer. And rather… calculating.”

With what happened between Seron and Sharin today, my lips simply couldn’t form the words.

Why is it, I wondered, that I’m loved more when I *can’t* love, than when I show affection?

I felt a pang of self-pity.

“It was a joke, but you seem more downcast than I expected. Don’t worry. I know Hanon isn’t like that.”

Hania attempted to comfort me.

“I’ve been thinking lately… maybe you actually prefer men?”

“Absolutely not. I like women.”

Hania stared intently at my earnest face.

For some reason, her silence was even more unnerving.

“Yes, let’s just pretend that’s the case.”

“Wait, isn’t that silence a bit too long?”

“But then, I’ve never actually witnessed Hanon’s… *ahem*… male physiological responses.”

Hania’s gaze slowly descended.

My face stiffened.

“Honestly, Hanon, you’re surrounded by so many assertive women.”

Hania regarded me with a slightly pitying look.

Is there really no other way?

It seems I have to unleash the secret weapon I’ve been hiding.

Once I do, Hania will get a proper scolding.

“If there’s a problem somewhere, tell me. I’ll help.”

Help with what, exactly?

Hania gave a meaningful smile and then departed, just like that.

Alarmingly, Hania’s foxy charms seem to be increasing with each passing day.

Thanks to Hania, I entered the women’s dormitory with a troubled mind.

I moved with familiar steps.

Even if some presence should manifest from the opposite side, I no longer find myself startled.

Rather, I could even offer a greeting, accompanied by a relaxed smile.

“You, hello.”

“Hello, Isabelle.”

Just like now.

…No, shouldn’t it not be just like now?

When I turned to look behind me, Isabelle was drifting away, her honey blonde hair fluttering leisurely.

Just now, Isabelle clearly recognized me, greeted me, and then departed.

As if it were only natural for me to be in the girls’ dormitory.

‘Is this… alright?’

More importantly, how does she recognize me every time?

Lately, I’m starting to doubt the performance of the shrouded bandages.

Despite the complex feeling, I decided to do what I had to do first.

I knocked on the door of a room that wasn’t Iris’s.

Then, a voice from inside answered, “Yes,” and someone walked out.

There stood a woman wearing light training clothes.

Perhaps it was because it was still autumn, or perhaps because the inside was warm.

As she tilted her head, looking at me, her blue hair cascaded down.

“…Ah, was it Hania, I believe?”

The Unyielding Azure Flame, Eve.

She spoke, barely managing to recall Hania’s name.

“They’ll be team members starting today. One should at least remember their names. Yes.”

“Oh, uh, sorry.”

“And right now, I’m Hanon.”

I revealed my identity directly to Eve, who was apologizing sincerely.

Eve then blinked her eyes in utter disbelief, as if she was hearing some nonsensical drivel.

“Didn’t I tell you before? That we’d go see Lady Iris tonight.”

“Eh, eh?”

A bewildered word escaped Eve’s lips.

She clearly couldn’t grasp the situation.

Be that as it may, I turned on my heel.

“Eve, I’m going to see Lady Iris, follow me.”

“W-wait, just a moment, is this for real?”

“Lady Iris needs your help.”

Eve hesitated at my earnest words.

Iris is truly in a dangerous situation.

Without Eve’s assistance, she will ultimately be consumed by the nightmare.

This much, even I can do nothing about.

Eve understood my sincerity.

She knows well that I am truly dedicated to saving someone.

And so, she let out a breath and followed me.

“Let’s go at once.”

“I told the Head Maid I’d be preparing a plan for the Autumn Magic Palace tomorrow.”

“…Your preparedness is thorough.”

“It’s my specialty.”

It’s not for naught that I’m moving forward, preparing each scenario.

It was now a habit ingrained in my very being.

Together with Eve, I went straight to Iris’s room.

After knocking twice, I opened the door to find Iris sitting by the window, as always.

Her raven-black hair flowed down against her snow-white skin.

Perhaps because of this, her skin felt especially pale, stirring a feeling of wanting to defile it for no good reason.

Upon that snow-like skin, ruby-red eyes met the light of the night sky, glittering.

Those eyes that drew people in could rightly claim her as the Empire’s most beautiful.

So much so that even Eve, standing beside me, gasped for a moment.

A beauty that overwhelmed even another woman.

“Hanon, come here.”

Iris gestured to me with her hand.

I walked over, familiar with the gesture.

Iris then offered me her lap.

I sat down quietly, and Iris embraced me.

Eve stared, eyes wide and unblinking, a mask of bewildered shock upon her face.

She clearly had no idea what in the world was happening.

Iris, for her part, had nestled her chin on my shoulder, rubbing her cheek against mine.

Perhaps Hania was right, and Iris was feeling particularly stressed.

She was certainly more affectionate than usual today.

Naturally, I didn’t feel anything special.

It was like having a fluffy long-haired cat being unusually clingy.

Ah, but perhaps…was it a little pleasing?

“Wh-what.”

Eve was still watching us with bewildered eyes.

“Iris-nim, that is Eve. You know her, yes?”

“Mmm.”

Iris completely ignored Eve, only tightening her embrace around me.

It felt as though she was determined to never have her favorite plush doll taken away.

Eve’s face was flushed crimson.

Iris possessed the Charm trait.

And now, engaging in skinship while clad in comfortable, revealing clothes, it was apparently quite difficult for Eve to bear.

“Eve has Azure Flame. She can ward off Iris-nim’s nightmares.”

For some reason, Iris’s grip on me grew even tighter.

Iris’s eyes flickered to Eve.

Eve shook her head from side to side, trying to shake off Iris’s allure, then exhaled a breath.

Then, her eyes returned to their original sharpness, and she lifted her head.

“Hanon Irelay has said as much. I don’t know the specifics, but I feel it is so.”

Iris fell silent at Eve’s words.

Then, she glanced at my face.

“Hanon, did you bring this child here for my sake?”

It was a question that included the matter of transferring Eve to Jerion Academy.

I couldn’t bring myself to lie, not even now.

When I nodded, Iris hummed softly.

For some reason, it felt as if a black cat’s tail was swishing behind Iris’s back.

“Yes, since Hanon prepared it.”

Iris, embracing me, rose from her seat.

Like laundry, limp and drained, I remained clutched in Iris’s grasp, carried along.

With my own strength, I couldn’t break free.

Iris, unperturbed, went to the bed and plopped down.

“Try it, then.”

A tone utterly befitting the Third Princess, so very haughty.

“Lady Iris, we’ll also need the Sword of White Dreams that I gifted you before.”

To quell the nightmare, Lucas’s Flame of Fighting Spirit is most fitting.

It is a regrettable truth, but Azure Flame falls short of the Flame of Fighting Spirit.

Thus, for that purpose, I acquired the Sword of White Dreams from Parazon.

“Over there.”

Following the direction Iris pointed, Eve turned.

As I was firmly held by Iris, it was a gesture of consideration.

Soon, Eve brought forth the Sword of White Dreams leaning against the wall.

Then, with a slightly troubled expression, she glanced at me.

“Lady Iris, if Eve is to use Azure Flame, you must release me.”

I, too, noticing Eve’s disquiet, cautiously spoke to Iris.

Iris arched an eyebrow, but soon released me willingly.

For she was not one to trouble others unnecessarily.

Soon after, Eve stood before Iris.

Then, within her grip, she ignited the blue flame of Azure Flame.

Azure Flame blazed along the Sword of White Dreams.

“It’s warm.”

As Iris said, Azure Flame held a warmth sufficient to raise the temperature of the room.

“How do you feel?”

“Not bad.”

One could feel peace settling upon Iris’s face as she answered the question.

Certain evidence that Eve’s Azure Flame was having an effect.

“With this, surely I could turn my back and lie down, no?”

“Even so, it does not matter to me.”

Eve had said there would be no problem either.

Then, Iris turned her back and laid down, patting the space beside her, twice, softly.

Understanding the meaning in her gesture, I had no choice but to climb over the bed and lie before her.

Iris wrapped her arms around my waist, holding me tightly.

A very soft sensation pressed against my back, but I was somewhat used to it now, so it was alright.

“Hanon, thank you.”

Iris said, still holding me close.

It was the most at peace I’d seen Iris all day.

Hearing those words, I quietly considered.

Perhaps all Iris needed wasn’t just to banish her nightmares.

The warmth of a person, something she’d lost long ago when her mother passed.

Perhaps she had longed for that warmth all this time.

“Lady Iris, what is Lady Iris’ dream?”

I felt Iris gently open her eyelids at my question.

“Dream.”

I had never asked her about her dreams.

To be precise, no one had ever asked her about her dreams.

Because everyone assumed that what Iris desired was the throne.

And so, her dream, something no one had ever inquired about.

I asked about that dream.

Iris was silent for a moment.

Then, she buried her face in my shoulder.

“Indeed. A dream. I haven’t given it much thought.”

A gentle smile played on Iris’ lips.

“I wish I had a family.”

Family.

The word furthest removed from her life.

Before I knew it, I could hear Iris softly snoring as she drifted off to sleep.

Hania was right; I hadn’t been sleeping properly. Not properly at all, it seemed.

For her, this would be a rare moment of serene rest.

A dream without nightmares… surely that would grant her a peaceful slumber.

Could the dreams she harbored ever come to pass?

I didn’t know.

Only, I found myself thinking that one day, I wanted to see her radiant smile, once she had finally realized her dreams.