Chapter 10: Prince Reseda Makes His Move

 

 

 

Chapter 10: Prince Reseda Makes His Move

 

“SO, just how long are you two going to hold hands?” Reseda growled.

Brought back to her senses, Iris hastily pulled away from Cytisus. Her collar bell jingled; she reached up to silence it.

“Also, is there something wrong with your bell? You keep touching it,” Reseda continued, his eerily perfect smile unwavering.

“I…I apologize, Your Highness,” she stammered, trying to think straight. “I got into the habit of doing this while I was at the Temple of Magic. It’s a terribly grating sound, wouldn’t you say?”

“Is it? Personally, I like it. I associate it with you.”

Contrary to last time, Reseda was much more forward this time around, and frankly, it was unnerving. Iris averted her gaze. “I see. Well, I don’t much care for it.”

“Oh. Then why do you wear it?”

“Because my father wants me to. No other reason.”

At this, Reseda laughed quietly, his eyes sparkling. “Well, in that case—”

Out of nowhere, he reached for her throat. In the blink of an eye, Iris slapped his hand away, grabbed him by the wrist, and twisted his arm around, all purely on autopilot.

“Aagh! Uh…Lady Iris? Could you let go of me?!” Reseda asked, grimacing.

Oh god, I just twisted the Prince’s arm on REFLEX! Gasping, Iris quickly let go. But it was entirely his fault for reaching for her jugular! Still, he was a prince… If she aired her complaints, her whole family would pay the price!

“I…I sincerely apologize!”

“No, I shouldn’t have startled you like that. I see the House of Chevalier trained their daughter just as well as their son! Your reflexes are first-rate,” he sighed, mildly embarrassed. He must have realized that Iris was stronger than he was, and it wounded his royal ego. Or his male ego, I suppose.

But he wasn’t the only one feeling embarrassed at the moment. Iris hung her head. “Please forgive me.”

“Yes, of course, but allow me to explain myself in return. Seeing as you don’t care for your bell, I thought I’d take it myself.”

“But why?”

“Well, if you tell Lord Chevalier that I don’t like your bell, he won’t force you to wear one anymore, right?” He grinned impishly—a genuine boyish reaction, unlike his usual forced smiles.

“I…I suppose you’re right…”

“See? So, I’ll remove your bell. Would that be all right with you?”

“Oh, no, I couldn’t possibly ask you to—”

“I want to do it. After all, it’ll be even more effective if you tell him I personally removed it, right?”

His smile informed Iris that he wasn’t going to take no for an answer. Well, he has a point, I suppose. Reluctantly, she nodded her assent. He walked around behind her. Meanwhile, the fairy stared at him with a scowl.

Reseda pushed Iris’s hair away from her neck, exposing the black velvet against her porcelain skin. The beauty of it left him speechless, and his heart raced like never before. Every breath he took felt too heavy, so he held it instead. As he took the ends of the ribbon in each of his hands, his fingers faintly brushed against her skin, and she squirmed slightly. For some reason, Reseda found this pleased him.

To him, the ribbon’s tight knot seemed to represent Lord Chevalier’s hold over his daughter. Part of Reseda resented it, but at the same time, part of him envied it, too. He pulled the knot undone, and just like that, the ribbon collar fell right off.

“Thank you, Your Highness. I finally feel free.”

Iris’s gratitude delighted him. In some small way, he felt as though he’d rescued his princess from a tower. As he held the ribbon in his hand, he decided to ask something he couldn’t possibly bear to ask while looking her in the eye: “Can I call you Iris?”

His sudden question made her eyes widen. In the game, Reseda only ever referred to Iris as “Lady Iris.” The same was true for all the other noble girls. The only person he ever addressed by first name only was Camille.

Wh-What’s going on? Why does he want to call me by name? Iris couldn’t begin to imagine what sort of expression was on his face as he stood behind her. But she couldn’t exactly say no, of course, so she nodded reluctantly.

“Great. You can call me Reseda.”

“Oh, no, my lord. I couldn’t possibly address you as my equal.”

“Call me Reseda,” he insisted more firmly, and Iris could feel the pressure from behind her.

What kind of trap is this? Is he trying to trick me into being rude so he can punish me?! Surely that must be it! Panicked, Iris shot Cytisus an imploring look.

“Your Highness, Lady Iris may need some time before she can acquiesce to that request,” Cytisus explained with a smile. “She is a proper high-born girl, so it’s only natural that she dreads the thought of offending you. What need is there to rush? You have all the time in the world.”

Reluctantly, Reseda conceded. “Very well. But Iris, I hope you’ll warm up to the idea before long.”

Iris was utterly at a loss. What’s going on? Why did he change his tune out of nowhere? Somebody help me! He seemed like a completely different person compared to the Reseda she spoke to last time. Reflexively, she turned back to look at him…but that would soon prove to be her undoing. Oh god, his handsome face is so close to mine!!!

Hastily, Iris turned back to the table and stared down at her drink. She could feel herself blushing all the way down to her neck.

“Er…Your Highness…”

“Reseda.”

“…Prince Reseda… Do you have a twin?”

“You and Nigel are the only twins I know of.”

He laughed amiably. This only made her even more confused.

“Let me guess: you’ve noticed that I’m nothing like how I was last time. Well, that was merely my outward façade. But now that you’ve gone and twisted my arm, I can tell I don’t need to put on airs with you.”

Oh god, he’s still mad about that?! And now he’s making fun of me?! Embarrassed, Iris stared at her lap.

But on the other hand, it felt like a weight had been lifted from her neck.

❀❀❀

WHEN Iris returned home, sure enough, her parents went nuts about her missing choker. But when she told them Prince Reseda had wanted to keep it, they were suddenly overjoyed.

“Iris, my girl, I knew you could do it!”

“We should celebrate!”

One minute you’re furious at me, and now this? Well, knowing when to concede is a knightly trait to have, I suppose, Iris thought wearily.

Meanwhile, Nigel looked at her with sympathy in his eyes. “You really let him take it from you?”

Evidently, he was operating under the assumption that she’d liked her choker.

“Don’t tell Father, but…I always hated wearing that thing,” Iris whispered back. “I was more than happy to let His Highness take it off me.”

“Really?” He looked sincerely surprised to hear it.

“Yes, really. It was so tight and constricting, it felt like I was wearing a pet collar—like I was Father’s property. But now I’m free!” Iris explained with a bright smile.

Her brother, however, looked like he was on the verge of tears.

“What’s wrong, Nigel?”

“I’m so sorry, Iris. I didn’t realize you felt that way, and…when Father first gave it to you, I admit, I was jealous that you got a special symbol, and I didn’t.”

This time, it was her turn to be surprised. But frankly, Iris should have known Nigel would have already developed possessive desires by now. She played his route, after all.

Wait, but…just now, he made it sound like he wants someone else to tie HIM down. Did he want to wear a choker or something? I mean, even in his ending, he put a chain on himself…

“Er, Nigel… Should I ask Prince Reseda to give you my choker instead?”

“No, that’s not it. So, did he give you a replacement necklace or something?”

“Of course not! I only just got rid of this one—the last thing I need is another!” Iris declared flatly.

Nigel smiled stiffly. “I guess you really like your freedom.”

“Any girl would! Don’t you go putting chains on your future girlfriend, you hear me?” It was the perfect opportunity to warn him about such things, so she went for it.

“But Mother seems to like it…”

“…Well, all right, I suppose there are a few girls who do. But just remember—as long as your hearts are connected, you don’t need any physical ties.”

“You really think so?”

“Yes, I’m positive! If you need a literal chain to feel connected to her, then it’ll make you look painfully insecure. It’s simply outdated.”

“Oh, I see. Yeah, maybe it is a little old-fashioned,” Nigel mused to himself.

Iris was relieved to hear it. I mean, branding tattoos? Chains? Yikes! Please just have a normal relationship, dear brother! Perhaps she would have to teach him some common sense about romance from now on.

“Still, I’m jealous you got to visit the Temple of Magic.”

“As well you should be! But I’m afraid you won’t be able to go in. Supposedly the barrier rejects all knights.”

“Then how did you get in?”

“I’m not a knight, silly! I’m a damsel!”

“Oh, right. For some reason, I keep forgetting that part…”