Chapter 14: The Prince’s Summons
AFTER another long day of studying at the Temple of Magic, Iris was summoned to meet with Prince Reseda…but the whole way there, she found herself distracted with other thoughts. There was just so much she needed to consider—like the magic Sauge used to make the vaccine. It would be ideal if Iris could make it herself, but this was impossible since she couldn’t use magic. If she had to guess, the only people who could manage it were those with mana on par with a Fairy Leader, like a veteran mage or the Holy Maiden. But they didn’t have soilpox immunity, so she couldn’t possibly subject them to the virus unprotected.
Iris asked Sauge if she could keep making the vaccine without her, but she said no. According to her, she was only able to help Iris make it the first time because Iris had wished for it; the only reason her powers turned the scabs into a vaccine was that Iris had quite literally asked for that very thing. And supposedly, it wasn’t safe for fairies to make medicine of their own volition, since its effect would vanish once the human who originally wished for it passed away. Iris couldn’t really argue with that.
Long story short, Iris would have to establish her own means of production.
“I know the vaccine works. I just need to figure out how to bring it into the mainstream,” Iris muttered.
“Vackseen?”
The sudden voice brought her back to her senses, and Iris looked around. Reseda was there, along with Nigel, who had come to the palace for sword training. Hastily, she curtsied. “I sincerely apologize!”
“Relax. No need for formalities between friends,” Reseda laughed. “Anyway, what’s a ‘vackseen’?”
“Oh, er, no… What I said was…”
Iris wracked her brain for something she could substitute. What about that fancy new cabbage that got imported recently? Close enough, right?!
“Bak chee!”
“…What about it?”
“W-Well, I’ve never tried it before! I’m eagerly looking forward to cooking with it!”
“What?”
The boys looked at her dubiously. She averted her eyes. “Wh-What about you, Your Highness?”
“Reseda.”
“What are you doing here, Prince Reseda?”
“You were running late, so I got worried and came to meet you.”
The boys took their positions on either side of Iris; Nigel took her arm in his and grinned. “Let’s be off, Iris!”
As she hesitated, her brother happily dragged her along. What’s going on? Surely I haven’t done anything to make them angry, have I? Meanwhile, Reseda walked beside her in silence.
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WHEN they arrived at the courtyard, they were treated to tea amid the blooming white lilacs. Iris sat down, and once again, the boys sat on either side of her. Nigel was still clutching the back of her blouse.
“Tell me, have you heard about the recent sightings of the Holy Maiden in the Dark Forest?” Reseda asked.
Iris shook her head. She’d spent a fair amount of time there lately, but she hadn’t heard anything about her visiting. Next to the table was a rolling cart filled with decadent desserts, and Iris was already distracted, trying to decide which one she wanted. As she played “eeny, meeny, miny, moe” with her eyes, a maid set a cup of tea in front of her, its mellow fragrance ever so tempting. First things first, I need to stay hydrated!
But right as Iris brought the cup to her lips—
“People say a Holy Maiden with green ringlets has been turning up at the cavern in the Dark Forest late at night. She shows up alone, out of nowhere, bathed in faint light, only to disappear before daybreak.”
Wait… Is he referring to ME?! Thankfully, Iris hadn’t taken a sip yet, or else she might have reflexively spit it out.
“…That’s odd. I thought the Holy Maiden was a blond,” she replied, her voice cracking.
“It is odd, isn’t it?”
“Y-Yes, very. Are you sure these people weren’t simply dreaming?” Her eyes darted around nervously.
“Oh, I’m sure of it. For you see, she left evidence at the scene.”
“…Evidence, you say?”
“A dagger’s sheath…with a very intricate iris emblem.”
Oh god, the spout!
“R-Really?”
“And as coincidence would have it, I know a girl who fits that description. A girl with green ringlets and a penchant for mischief.”
Reseda went silent. Meanwhile, Iris looked around for a hole she could crawl into.
“Come to think of it, that choker I took from you has an iris emblem, doesn’t it? Another coincidence, perhaps?”
His eyes glittered like a cat toying with a mouse. Iris looked to Nigel for help, but he simply smiled and clutched the fabric of her blouse with all the strength of a knight.
“Take out your dagger, Iris.”
“Nigel…?”
“Take. It. Out.”
Iris recoiled sharply. Oh god, he’s furious!
Reluctantly, she pulled out the dagger, still wrapped up in Sauge’s purple stole, and set it on the table. Reseda took it and slowly unwrapped it…and when he was finished, he was left holding a dagger with no sheath.
Timidly, she looked up at them to find Nigel had buried his face in both hands while Reseda stared down in disbelief.
“Nigel, I think it’s safe to say…”
“The sheath is hers,” her brother nodded.
Reseda looked at Iris sharply. “Care to explain this, Iris?”
She wasn’t going to be able to talk her way out of this. God, he’s terrifying! He never got this angry in the game!
“If I may speak in my own defense, I never once claimed to be the Holy Maiden. I honestly don’t know where that came from.”
He let out an exasperated sigh. “That’s not what I’m asking. What exactly have you been doing in the forest?”
The anger in his voice was so palpable, she couldn’t bear to look him in the eye.
“You may be a knight by birth, but you’re still a lady of the aristocracy. It’s not safe for you to go there, especially not alone at night.”
I know that. But knowing you, you wouldn’t let me go during the day, either.
“Now, let me ask you again: what have you been doing there, Iris?”
Iris summoned all her courage, took a deep breath, and said: “Collecting soilpox scabs.”
“For what purpose?”
“To make a preventative treatment for soilpox.”
“Right, I was aware you were studying it. Is Cytisus part of this scheme, then?”
“No! Lord Cytisus has nothing to do with this!” Iris blurted out hastily.
“Send for Cytisus at once. And tell him he has my permission to teleport here directly,” Reseda instructed the nearby maid.
“I mean it—Lord Cytisus isn’t involved whatsoever!”
“Are you trying to protect him?”
“No, I—!”
“With no mana of your own, there’s no way you could have done it alone. You had to have an accomplice—and a very powerful accomplice at that.”
The simplest solution would be to ask Sauge to explain, but Iris had no way of summoning her. She arrived and departed on her own schedule and no one else’s. Besides, most people couldn’t see fairies to begin with—and that included Reseda.
So...what do I do?! I don’t want Cytisus getting in trouble for something I did!
“Good grief. This is why I despise children.”
All of a sudden, Iris heard Sauge’s voice ring out. Startled, she whirled around to find her standing behind her. Sauge wrapped her arms around Iris in a hug.
Instantly, Reseda and Nigel leaped to their feet, their chairs clattering behind them. Glaring, His Highness reluctantly lowered himself to one knee; Nigel took one look at him and hastily followed suit.
Huh? Wait, what’s happening? They can see her? And they’re kneeling?! Is she a really famous fairy or something?
“You are Reseda, son of the king, correct? This is the first I’ve seen of you, but it seems you’re just a boy. And this is Nigel, the son of a knight?”
“A purple stole with golden sage plants… I’ve heard of you. Lady Sauge of the Fairy Leaders, I presume?” asked Reseda.
“Yes, that’s right. Now rise, both of you. I care not for these formalities.”
At this, the two boys stood up.
“Uh, Lady Sauge?” Iris asked, baffled. Sauge laughed amiably.
“Cytisus is on his way. The conversation can wait until then.”
Reseda gestured for the maid to bring more tea, then invited Sauge to sit in an empty chair.
“No need. I shall sit right here.”
With an impish grin, she scooped Iris up, sat herself down in her chair, then placed Iris in her lap.