After her research at the Magic Palace, Iris had been summoned by Rezeda.
However, her mind was elsewhere as she wandered toward the palace courtyard, burdened with too many thoughts.
Iris pondered the vaccine magic performed by Serj. Ideally, she would make it herself, but without the ability to use magic, that was impossible for her. Only high-ranking magicians with power akin to the Fairy Leader or the Holy Maiden could possibly replicate it. But they lacked immunity; she couldn’t risk giving them the toxic scabs.
She had asked Serj to continue making the vaccine but was curtly refused.
Fairies only lend their power to those they have blessed, he said, nothing more, nothing less.
He had only helped with the smallpox prevention because Iris had wished and acted toward it. Serj’s power was simply a force; it was Iris’s specific wish that allowed the vaccine to be created. His power didn’t inherently have the capability to create vaccines; it merely fulfilled her explicit wish.
Moreover, Serj had stated that fairies themselves should not make medicine. If those blessed by fairies were gone, the power would vanish too—a perfectly logical argument.
It needs to be a technology that can be generalized.
“The vaccine is working, but it’s far from widespread.”
Iris murmured.
“…vaccine?”
Startled, Iris snapped back to reality, realizing she was face-to-face with Rezeda and Nigel. Today, Nigel had also come to the castle for sword practice. Hastily, she curtsied.
“That’s alright, you don’t have to be so formal with me,” Rezeda laughed.
“So, this vaccine… what is it?”
“Um, that, well, e-excitement…”
Any good synonyms? Maybe something like “chinchilla” in this world? Oh, I heard bok choy was recently imported!
“Excitement?”
“Excitement bok choy! It’s short for that!”
“Excitement bok choy?”
“I’ve never seen bok choy before and am looking forward to it.”
“Really?”
Rezeda and Nigel looked at Iris skeptically, as she awkwardly averted her gaze.
“So, your highness?”
“It’s Rezeda.”
“Lord Rezeda?”
“I came to fetch you because you were late.”
The two then stepped to her sides, Nigel intertwining his arm with hers and smiling broadly.
“Let’s go, Iris.”
A puzzled Iris was dragged away by Nigel.
What’s going on? I haven’t done anything to be scolded for today.
Silently, Rezeda led the way.
In the courtyard, blooming with white lilacs, a tea setting awaited. Iris was seated with Rezeda on one side and Nigel gripping the back of her blouse on the other.
“Do you know about the Holy Maiden of the Black Forest?”
Iris shook her head; she had been visiting the Black Forest but had heard nothing of the sort.
At the table next to them, luxurious sweets were plentiful. Iris’s attention was already on the sweets.
Just what I needed, some sugar! Which one should I choose?
While pretending to “follow God’s command” with her eyes alone, she browsed the sweets cart, and a cup of aromatic tea was prepared before her.
First things first, hydration!
Just as she was about to sip from the cup.
“I hear a Holy Maiden with green curly hair appears in the Black Forest cave. She always appears alone at night, wrapped in a faint light, and vanishes before dawn.”
Could that be me? Good thing I didn’t sip my tea! I would’ve snorted it out my nose.
“…The current Holy Maiden has golden hair, doesn’t she? Strange rumors, aren’t they?”
Her voice unintentionally cracked.
“Indeed, very strange.”
“Really strange. Perhaps it was just a dream seen at night?”
Her eyes darted around.
“But, this saint, she left behind evidence.”
“Evidence…?”
“Yes, an ornately crafted… seems to be a dagger’s sheath.”
That’s the water!
“Eh, really?”
“Coincidentally, I know a girl with green curls who might do such reckless things…”
Rezeda trailed off teasingly, making Iris turn away uncomfortably.
“Now that I think about it, the workmanship on the choker you entrusted to me was also by Iris. It’s too coincidental.”
Rezeda’s eyes sparkled like a killer whale playing with a seal.
Looking to Nigel for help, he just smiled broadly.
“Nigel pulled lightly on Iris’s blouse.
“Iris, produce the dagger.”
“…Nigel…”
“Produce it?”
Iris shivered.
Yikes! Nigel’s really angry…
Nervously, she took out the dagger tightly wrapped in Serj’s fabric and placed it on the table.
Rezeda unwrapped the fabric and revealed the sheathless dagger.
Glancing up at them timidly, Nigel buried his head in his hands, and Rezeda wore an indescribable expression.
“That sheath, Nigel?”
“It’s definitely Iris’s.”
Hearing Nigel’s response, Rezeda looked sternly at Iris.
“So? Iris? Can you explain?”
I can’t escape this. Scary. Prince Rezeda doesn’t even look this angry in the games.
“Please let me explain. I never claimed to be the Holy Maiden. I have no idea how such a rumor started.”
Iris bowed deeply.
Rezeda sighed heavily.
“That’s not what I want to know. Iris, what are you doing there?”
His voice clearly contained anger, and Iris couldn’t even lift her face.
“It’s a dangerous place. Even for a lady of a knightly house, it’s not a place to go alone at night.”
I know. But it wouldn’t be allowed during the day either.
“I’ll ask again. What were you doing? Iris?”
Iris steeled herself.
“I was collecting smallpox scabs.”
“For what purpose?”
“For the prevention of smallpox.”
“I heard you were studying smallpox, but is Citis also involved?”
“No! Lord Citis knows nothing about this!”
Iris panicked.
“Summon Citis. Allow the use of translocation magic.”
Rezeda instructed a maid.
“Really, Lord Citis is not involved. So…”
“Are you covering for him?”
“I’m not covering for him!”
“A lone, magic-less Iris couldn’t do this alone. It’s clear you have accomplices, and there aren’t many who could.”
The easiest would be to have Serj explain, but Iris couldn’t summon him. Serj always appeared and disappeared at will, unconcerned with Iris’s needs. Moreover, fairies aren’t visible to everyone. Rezeda had said he had never seen a fairy.
What do I do? I can’t involve Lord Citis in this, it was all my doing.
“This is why I dislike children.”
Suddenly, Serj’s voice echoed. Startled, Iris turned to see Serj embracing her from behind. Rezeda and Nigel stood up abruptly.
Rezeda glared at Serj, then bit his lip and knelt. Nigel, seeing Rezeda’s reaction, hurriedly knelt as well.
Eh? Wait? Can Prince Rezeda and Nigel see him? And what’s with the prince’s behavior? Could Serj be some incredible fairy?
“Son of the king, Rezeda, I see your face for the first time. You’re still a child. And the knight’s son, Nigel, was it?”
“…I have heard of you. The sage embroidered in gold on a purple cloth. One of the Fairy Chiefs, Lord Serj?”
Rezeda responded.
“Yes, that’s right. But raise your faces. I dislike formality.”
At Serj’s command, Rezeda and Nigel looked up.
“Um, Lord Serj?”
Iris, overwhelmed with surprise, spoke up, and Serj chuckled amusingly.
“Citis will be here soon. The discussion can wait until then.”
At Serj’s words, Rezeda instructed the maid to prepare tea and urged them to sit.
“I’ll stay here.”
Serj lifted Iris from the chair, took her place, and then mischievously seated her on his lap.
