Side Story: Lovesick
RESEDA de Geyer, the second prince of Floraison, wasn’t acting quite like himself. As he sat in history class, he gazed out the window and sighed. His melancholy aura was so contagious, even his male classmates were sighing along with him, to say nothing of the girls.
He was strikingly beautiful, after all. His flamingo-pink hair looked as if it were made from flower petals, his eyes sparkled like pink sapphires, and his porcelain skin was smooth and free of blemishes. Physically, he was flawless—more than any living creature had the right to be. Not only that, but he was gifted with high mana, skilled at sword fighting, and knowledgeable in all subjects of study. And there was only one person in the kingdom who could have such a devastating effect on Floraison’s perfect prince: Iris du Chevalier, the noble daughter of the Marquis.
Iris was standing outside, taking part in magic practice with the rest of her class. As usual, she was just waving her wand fruitlessly without casting a thing. But she looked so stern and dignified while she was doing it… To Reseda, she was truly beautiful.
My fiancée is so precious, he sighed to himself. But his spirits were low. Lately, Iris was avoiding him on purpose, and he didn’t understand why.
After many twists and turns, they had finally become formally betrothed, willfully, with the blessing of both their families. Their wedding date was set, and now all that remained was to wait for the big day to roll around. So why was Iris blatantly avoiding him?
Knowing her, this wasn’t some tricky mind game. She always wore her heart on her sleeve; some might even describe her as hotheaded. But this only made him worry all the more. If she sincerely wanted to avoid him, then that was even worse!
They hadn’t eaten lunch together for the past few days, either. No matter how long he waited at the cafeteria, Iris never turned up. Then he found out she would send Camille to buy sandwiches, cookies, and other easily portable snacks and bring them out to her in the far corner of the courtyard—hardly fitting of a high-born heiress.
It really hurts that she’d go so far to avoid me. Reseda let out another sigh as he watched his beloved wave her wand. The history teacher’s voice went in one ear and out the other.
Just then, Iris looked up at him, and their eyes met. Delighted, Reseda smiled. It felt like forever since she last afforded him a passing glance. But when he waved at her, she abruptly turned away.
…Well, I guess we ARE technically in class right now…or does she despise me that much…? Another sigh left his pale pink lips, stirring the hearts of all those around him.
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IRIS du Chevalier, heiress to the noble Marquisate of Chevalier, wasn’t acting quite like herself. More specifically, every time she saw her fiancé, Prince Reseda, her heart would start thumping painfully in her chest, and she had become deeply self-conscious of every tiny gesture.
Just now, for example, she caught herself bewitched by the sight of Reseda through the second-floor window. Despite the distance, he stood out to her so sharply, it felt like someone had put zoom lenses in her eyes! Since when was he so…charming and handsome…?
Gah! No! I’m in class! I need to focus! Even if Iris couldn’t cast a spell to save her life, she still wanted to make sure she looked good so she wouldn’t make a fool of herself if Lady Sauge ever lent her mana again. Iris concentrated firmly on waving her wand…but then, when she looked up again, she found Reseda looking back at her, and their eyes met.
AAAAGH! Don’t give me a heart attack! Oh god, he knows I was looking at him! Kill me now!!!
Hastily, Iris turned away, her green ringlets swinging with the motion.