Moonlight Ball

The events of the day before were no different from other horrors that Iris had experienced in the past. If she experienced fear again, she would no doubt faint and he replied bluntly, “She hates people. She’s not going to meet you.”

“I owe her an apology though. I never meant to react like that.”

You broke the door, and you never meant to, so why did you break it? The reason why he hadn’t asked that question was that he was already famously known as the next owner of the tower, and since the tower and the royal family didn’t get along as it was, he didn’t want to step on the Crown Prince’s toes, so he politely said, “Let me tell her myself for now. She’s a very scared kid, by the way.”

“My white bird, faithful messenger, appear. Send the Crown Prince’s message to Iris,” Elaine had said and had opened his palms. A bright blue light had swirled across his palms, and a white bird had appeared. Elaine had held the bird up to the ceiling and it had flown into the air as if it had known what to do, and then had disappeared through the window.

“I thought you’d at least let me write her the letter?”

“Once again, Your Grace, she hates people. There’s no way she’d like a letter from someone she doesn’t know. I’m sorry, but the same goes for you, even if you are the Crown Prince.”

“But if I explain the situation well…”

“How do you explain breaking a person’s door down?”

There had been no way to explain it and realizing this, Sidrain had shut up. The white bird had returned through the window, holding a small piece of paper in its pointed beak. Sidrain had taken the paper out of the bird’s beak, smiled, and handed it to Sidrain.

It wasn’t even a letter; it was a bitter rejection. Sidrain now had no reason to keep asking. ‘What kind of apology is that? Don’t let someone else’s precious disciple suffer any misfortune and get out.’ Elaine snorted.

But the Prince, whose pride must’ve hurt, stood still and looked at the note for a long time, and had then said, “I want to know her name.”

“Your Highness, there’s no way I can tell you.”

“I want to know!” he’d demanded.

Elaine had had a strange hunch at the time and he hadn’t wanted to tell him her name. Some foreboding voice had whispered to him that he shouldn’t tell the Crown Prince Iris’s name. So Elaine had kept quiet, but Sidrain wouldn’t back down. He’d been acting as if he wouldn’t leave the tower unless Iris’s name was given. The two of them lived completely different lives, so what was the big deal about giving him a name? Finally, he’d said, “Iris. Iris Elaine.”

Sidrain eyes had widened at hearing those words, “What?! Why does her name have your name in it?” Doesn’t it feel like you two are married? The age difference between the two of you is more than thirty years!” He’d run out of words after he’d poured out his frustrations.

Elaine couldn’t stand it anymore, “Originally, the disciples of the tower have the teacher’s name! Because she left this world! And if Iris is my wife, why would she get my first name?! Lastly, I also have my teacher’s last name, Elaine Rossi! What the hell are you thinking?!” As Elaine roared like a heavy downpour, Sidrain shut up. He didn’t even look sorry.

“Iris, Iris Elaine.” After muttering for a moment, he said with a disapproving face, “I see. I apologize for the rudeness. Because I’m a worldly person, I do not know of such things,” Sidrain said politely. But it was a bitter apology that did not sound like an apology.

This duel was the second irrational thing that Sidrain had done since then, and both were related to Iris. Is this a coincidence? Or… Elaine looked sharply at the two men, who were about to enter a duel with folded arms, with his pupil caught between them.

No! I’m her teacher, and I can’t allow that! How could my disciple choose not any other man, but the head of the royal family? No way! Besides, there are rumors that if you draw blood from Sidrain, it would be as cold as ice!

Elaine decided to have a very deep conversation with his disciple this evening. Whether he did or not, things were getting very serious. The King picked the Queen up and repeatedly kissed her on the cheek several times before putting her in place. And then strolled out into the middle of the hall.

The King pointed with one finger at the man standing on the balcony, “You! You look stiff. Come out!”

The duel over the Queen was about to begin. People would normally be going crazy to bet money on a duel, but today there was no hustle and bustle; the result was too predictable. One man was the Sword Master and Dragonslayer, and the other was a nobleman who only carried a small sword around his waist. The odds of him winning were highly unlikely.

“You’re not going to kill him, are you?” Someone whispered in the crowd, as the people tried to gauge the King’s madness.

The man, who was intimidated by the King’s long, elegant and neat fingers, stood trembling. His face had turned white from obvious fear and he hesitated and then took a step backward.

“If you don’t come now, I’ll leave.”