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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: A Night of Warmth
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The day before the Magic Palace Tournament.
I had something to do beforehand.
That was to meet Iris tonight, along with Eve.
"Alright, time for the Hanon switch."
"Thanks for your hard work."
As usual, I was to swap places with Hania.
Hania, now accustomed to this, calmly disguised herself as me.
"Lately, Lady Iris hasn't been in a very good mood."
"Is it because the succession struggle is intensifying?"
Hania affirmed my words.
Recently, the imperial succession struggle had escalated even further.
The First Prince's faction and the Third Princess's faction were locked in a tight struggle.
However, the Third Princess's camp wasn't in a good situation.
This was because Nia's assassination attempt was turning out favorably for the First Prince's side.
The First Prince's side pressed the Third Princess's faction with thoroughly prepared matters.
Though the Third Princess's faction quickly severed ties, the situation was complicated by a series of recent incidents at the academy.
And that pressure was directly passed on to Iris.
Iris was working hard due to Duke Robliajou's ambition for the throne.
Naturally, she couldn't help but accumulate stress.
"Lately, the frequency of her not being able to sleep has increased even more."
I consistently tried to reduce Iris's nightmares.
However, along with the stress Iris herself was experiencing, the influence of the Evil One was growing stronger.
It was clear that the frequency of nightmares had significantly increased.
"It's alright."
I told Hania not to worry.
"Because I've prepared a way to solve that."
Hania gazed at my confident face for a moment, then exhaled.
"Right. I suppose I can trust Hanon."
My ex-girlfriend seemed to have deep trust in me.
It seemed my actions so far had earned me a lot of points with Hania.
"Except for being such a womanizer."
But her next words flustered me.
"...Me?"
"There's a rumor going around that you're a playboy. You're sly."
Perhaps because of what happened with Seron and Sharin today, I couldn't bring myself to speak.
Why do I seem to be more loved when I don't show my affection than when I do?
I felt pity for myself.
"It was just a joke, but you seem more down than I expected. Don't worry. I know Hanon isn't like that."
Hania comforted me.
"Lately, I've been thinking, what if you actually like men?"
"Absolutely not. I like women."
Hania stared intently at my earnest face.
Somehow, her silence was more frightening.
"Right, let's just say that."
"Wait a minute, isn't that silence a bit too long?"
"But then again, I've never actually seen Hanon's male physiological reactions, have I?"
Hania's gaze slowly dropped.
My face stiffened.
"Honestly, there are a lot of aggressive women around Hanon, aren't there?"
Hania gazed at me with a slightly pitiful look.
Is there nothing to be done?
It seems I'll have to pull out my hidden trump card.
If I do, Hania will be in for a rough time.
"If there's a problem somewhere, just say so. I'll help you."
What was she going to help with?
Hania gave a meaningful smile, then left.
Frighteningly, Hania's foxy charm seemed to be growing stronger and stronger.
Thanks to Hania, I entered the women's dormitory with a complicated mind.
I took familiar steps.
No matter what presence appeared from the other side, I no longer panicked at all.
On the contrary, I could even greet them with a relaxed smile.
"You, hello."
"Hello, Isabel."
Just like now.
...No, wait, shouldn't it *not* be like this?
When I turned around, Isabel gracefully walked away, her honey-blonde hair flowing.
Just a moment ago, Isabel had clearly recognized me, greeted me, and then left.
It was as if my presence in the women's dormitory was perfectly natural to her.
'Is this… alright?'
More importantly, how does she recognize me every time?
Lately, I'm starting to doubt the effectiveness of the Veil Bandage.
Despite my complicated feelings, I decided to do what needed to be done first.
I knocked on the door of a different room, not Iris's.
Then, from inside, someone walked out with a 'Yes' in response.
There was a woman dressed in light training clothes.
Perhaps because it was still autumn, the indoors seemed warm enough for that.
As she tilted her head, looking at me, her blue hair flowed down with the movement.
"...Ah, was it Hania, you said?"
Unbending Azure Flame, Eve.
She managed to recall Hania's name and spoke.
"We're going to be a team starting today. You should at least remember names, alright."
"Uh-huh, sorry."
"And right now, it's Hanon."
I revealed my true identity to Eve, who was frankly apologizing.
Then Eve blinked, as if to say, 'What in the world is this nonsense?'
"I told you last time, didn't I? That we'd go see Lady Iris tonight."
"Uh, uh?"
Confused words spilled from Eve's lips.
It was a reaction that showed she couldn't understand the situation at all.
Regardless, I turned my body.
"Eve, we're going to Lady Iris's room, so follow me."
"W-wait, is this for real?"
"Lady Iris needs your help."
At my serious words, Eve paused.
Iris was truly in a dangerous situation.
Without Eve's help, she would eventually be consumed by nightmares.
Even I couldn't do anything about this.
Eve also recognized my sincerity.
She knew well that I was sincere about saving someone.
Therefore, she exhaled once and then followed me out.
"Let's go immediately."
"I already told the Head Maid that I'd be planning for tomorrow's Autumn Magic Palace Tournament."
"...You're thoroughly prepared."
"It's my specialty."
It wasn't for nothing that I was preparing each scenario and moving forward.
It was a habit ingrained in me now.
Eve and I went straight to Iris's room.
After two knocks, I opened the door to see Iris sitting by the window, again today.
Her jet-black, ink-like hair flowed down, contrasting sharply with her pure white skin.
Perhaps because of that, her skin felt unusually whiter, making one feel an urge to mar its purity.
Above such snow-like skin, her ruby-red eyes sparkled as they met the light of the night sky.
Her captivating eyes were so mesmerizing that it was no exaggeration to call her the empire's greatest beauty.
It was so much so that even Eve, who was standing beside me, momentarily gasped.
It was a beauty that overwhelmed even other women.
"Hanon, come here."
Iris raised her hand and beckoned me over.
I, too, walked over familiarly.
Then Iris offered her lap to me.
I obediently sat, and Iris hugged me.
Eve was staring wide-eyed, her expression one of utter shock at the sight.
Her reaction showed she had no idea what was going on.
Iris rested her chin on my shoulder and rubbed her face against my cheek.
Just as Hania said, it seemed Iris was indeed very stressed.
She was being unusually affectionate today.
Naturally, I felt no particular emotion.
It felt like a long-haired cat was being unusually cuddly today.
Ah, was that, perhaps, a good thing?
"Wh-what."
Eve was still looking at us with bewildered eyes.
"Lady Iris, that's Eve. You know that, right?"
"Mm-hm."
Iris completely ignored Eve and held me tightly.
It was as if a firm will emanated from her, as if she had no intention of letting go of her cherished doll.
Eve's face was flushed crimson.
Iris possesses the Charm attribute.
Given that, and her comfortable attire that revealed some skin, it seemed Eve found it hard to watch her being so affectionate.
"Eve has the Azure Flame. She can repel Lady Iris's nightmares."
For some reason, Iris's grip on me tightened even more.
Iris's eyes met Eve's.
Eve shook her head from side to side to throw off Iris's charm, then exhaled.
Then she lifted her head, her gaze having returned to normal.
"Hanon Airey said so. I don't know the exact details myself, but I feel like it could be true."
Iris was silent for a moment at Eve's words.
Then she glanced at my face.
"Hanon, did you bring this child here for me?"
The question included even her transfer to Jerion Academy.
I couldn't bring myself to lie here.
When I nodded, Iris let out a soft 'Hmm'.
For some reason, it felt like a black cat's tail was wagging behind Iris's back.
"Alright, since Hanon prepared it for me."
Iris stood up from her seat, still holding me.
I was held by Iris, limp as laundry, and carried along.
I couldn't escape from Iris with my own strength.
Iris casually went to the bed and sat down with a thud.
"Go on, try."
It was an incredibly arrogant tone, befitting a Third Princess.
"Lady Iris, the Sword of White Dreams that I gave you last time is also needed."
To quell nightmares, Lucas's Flame of Valor is most suitable.
It's a shame, but the Azure Flame feels somewhat lacking compared to the Flame of Valor.
That's why I brought the Sword of White Dreams from Pharazon for this purpose.
"Over there."
Eve turned in the direction Iris pointed.
It was a consideration since I was still firmly held by Iris.
Soon after, Eve brought the Sword of White Dreams, which had been leaning against the wall.
Then she glanced at me with a slightly troubled expression.
"Lady Iris, if Eve is to use the Azure Flame, you'll need to let me go."
I, too, noticed Eve's predicament and subtly spoke to Iris.
Iris raised an eyebrow, but soon let me go obediently.
This was because she wasn't the type to inconvenience someone either.
Soon after, Eve stood before Iris.
Then she conjured a brilliant blue flame of Azure Flame in her palm.
The Azure Flame blazed up, carried by the Sword of White Dreams.
"It's warm."
Just as Iris said, the Azure Flame held enough warmth to raise the temperature of the room.
"How do you feel?"
"Not bad."
I could feel tranquility settling on Iris's face as she answered the question.
It was clear proof that Eve's Azure Flame was effective.
"With this, it should be fine even if I turn my back and lie down, shouldn't it?"
"It wouldn't matter, even so."
Eve also said it would be no problem.
Then Iris turned onto her side and patted the spot next to her.
Understanding the meaning of her gesture, I reluctantly climbed onto the bed and lay down beside her.
Iris wrapped her arms around my waist and held me tightly.
I felt something very soft against my back, but I had grown somewhat accustomed to it, so it was fine.
"Hanon, thank you."
Iris said that while holding me.
Iris looked the most at peace she had been all day.
Hearing those words, I quietly mused.
Perhaps Iris didn't just need her nightmares to disappear.
The warmth of human connection she had lost long ago when her mother passed away.
Perhaps she had been longing for such warmth all along.
"Lady Iris, what is your dream?"
I felt Iris's eyelids gently flutter open upon hearing my question.
"A dream."
I had never once asked about her dream.
To be precise, no one had ever asked about her dream.
Because everyone thought that what Iris desired was the imperial throne.
Therefore, her dream, which no one had ever asked about.
I asked about that dream.
Iris was silent for a moment.
Then she buried her face in my shoulder.
"That's right. A dream, huh. I haven't really thought much about it, but…"
A gentle smile graced Iris's lips.
"I wish I had a family."
A family.
It was the word furthest from her.
Before I knew it, I could hear Iris breathing softly as she fell asleep.
Just as Hania had said, it was clear she hadn't been able to sleep properly until now.
For her, it must have been a peaceful sleep, one she hadn't felt in a long time.
Surely, if it was a dream without nightmares, she could sleep happily.
Would the dream she was dreaming ever come true?
I don't know.
I just thought that someday, after she achieved her dream, I wanted to see her smile brightly.