The Love Potion 17 - 18

Irina Echina

17 Princess x Lady: 

‘Oh no, I’ve done it again.’

It was a calm autumn afternoon, so calm, it induced sleepiness.

A pretty girl sat with a needle and thread began to distort her face as though she wanted to cry.

‘Why can’t I do it?’

‘Princess Rosemary, what’s wrong?’ Iris asked.

Rosemary, who was sitting across from Iris, lifted her gaze and wailed, ‘Help me Iris, I can’t pass the thread through the eye of the needle.’ (Zuben: Do you need glasses?)

‘I’m so clumsy; the thread is so frayed…’

‘It’s alright, Rosemary.’ Iris said gently, ‘Don’t worry about it, everyone had days like this.’

‘You as well, Iris?’

‘Yes, quite often.’ Iris said with a small smile. She put aside her knitting and rose to sit next to Rosemary.

‘Would you like me to help you today?’

‘Yes, please.’ Rosemary said dolefully as she handed Iris her needle and thread, her brown eyes were filled with tears. (Zuben: Is it that serious?)

Iris gave her a conciliatory smile, and helped the cute younger lady to thread her needle.

‘That’s amazing…’ Rosemary, the fifth Princess of Berghausen, exclaimed joyously when she received the threaded needle from Iris.

‘Thank you, Iris.’ She beamed

‘You’re very welcome.’ Looking at her carefree smile, Iris returned the smile.

Rosemary seemed to have become completely attached to her.

While watching the adorable Princess poke the needle through the handkerchief, Iris recalled the past two weeks.

She had inadvertently given the King a love potion, he made love to her right after, and the morning after she signed a marriage contract.

Actually, it was more like she had been compelled to sign.

“If you sign the contract, I won’t tell anyone about your habit of using sweets to calm yourself.”

The pretty pink sweets in the pretty vial were by no means harmless, they were a powerful love potion; more harmful than poison. But Ernest seemed to enjoy teasing Iris by trying to eat the sweets and watching her try and keep him from doing so.

“Very well, may I have my bottle back?”

“No, I rather like these sweets so it is impossible.”

He was a tyrant!

Iris was annoyed and she almost forgot where she was, and was about to chastise him. But then she realised, to Ernest, it was just sweets. The appearance of a Lady clinging to a bottle of sweets like a lifeline would increase the chances of the sweets being sought out.

For her, for the Reinfeldt line, the only thing to do was so sign the contract.

“Lady Iris, you’ll be living in the royal palace while the wedding preparations are being done.” The Prime Minister said as she finished signing the contract.

Naturally, she refused; even more important than her lace work tools, an unmarried Lady could not stay in the Palace, leaving her family before she was married. But Iris was eventually convinced by the three men, so she accepted it.

The following day, an air of celebration filled the palace. Even though, they were only engaged, she was treated like she was married to Ernest already.

Above all was Matthias, her brother-in-law,

‘It would be nice if you got pregnant before you get married.’ He said. The anger and resentment that sprang up within her at that moment, Iris would never forget.

How did it all get so complicated?

Even though, she was bothered by it all and she had mixed feelings, the past two weeks had been more peaceful than she had ever imagined.

Although, she had to study and be trained for her new position, and had also helped Ernest with a few public affairs, she had time to do her lace work as well. Like today, she was working on her lace, while helping the young Princess with her embroidery.

Back home, she had spent everyday in one argument or the other with Leticia. It all now felt like a dream, almost enough to forget the sin she had committed.

‘...so next put the needle through here.’

Rosemary sewed into the handkerchief mounted on the embroidery square carefully.

Iris returned to her seat to continue with her own work. When she reached for her lace, she let out a long sigh; her hand got a squeeze by a delicate hand,

‘Sister in law, are you alright?’ Rosemary

These past two weeks, Rosemary had insistently regarded Iris as her sister in law. Iris had somehow become used to it.

‘Yes, I’m fine…just tired.’

The reason was Ernest.

Ernest came to her every night. Ernest, who had a high physical strength because he trained as a knight, was fine in the morning. But delicate Iris was sleepy during the day because of this. But Iris could not tell adorable Rosemary the true reason of her tiredness. Iris’ shoulders drooped and Rosemary shook her head,

‘It’s alright; I know my brother had been pestering you.’

The innocent Princess was unexpectedly astute. She seemed to have noticed Iris’ inner conflict for she added,

‘But please Iris, don’t leave my brother.’

‘Rosemary…’

‘Ernest has never been in a relationship with anyone until you.’

What expression should she have on her face in light of this comment by Rosemary? 

♔

18 Little Pieces:

Iris blushed amazed by Rosemary’s remark, but the younger girl looked very serious.

‘I’m sorry, I surprised you.’

‘...a bit.’

‘But it is true. Sirius told me.’

Rosemary frequently spoke of Sirius, the Prime Minister. He had been with Ernest a long time, though, he was two years older than Ernest. He would have a good grasp of Ernest’s love life.

Iris cautioned herself not to think of unnecessary things, although she thought it was rather strange.

Rosemary sat back and sighed, ‘I haven’t heard it directly from him, but I think my brother isn’t good with women because of our sisters.’

‘Hmm?’

Rosemary was the fifth Princess of Berghausen, she had four older sisters. The other sisters were already married into other royal families.

‘The other princesses…?’

‘Yes, we are not really close but…’

‘But…’

‘Our older sisters treated Ernest like their dogsbody - I think that is why.’

Hearing this, Iris had a slightly complicated feeling in her heart; whether one is of the royal family or the Reinfeldt family, having trouble with your siblings was the same in any home.

Iris sighed.

‘Is that so?’

‘Yes, but I don’t know the details of what it is about women he cannot handle...but I think that if you choose to abandon him, elder brother will become a living corpse. You are the only woman he has ever chosen to be close to.’ (Zuben: What is this emotional blackmail?!)

Giving Iris a warm smile, she returned to concentrating on diligently sewing the handkerchief.

Rosemary, Iris decided, has grown up as a kind-hearted woman who loved her elder brother dearly.

She had thought, when she saw watched them dancing at the ball, that they got along well.

If only it were real.

If only Ernest’s love for her was real. If the effect of the love potion were to end, and the deception were revealed, would Rosemary be hurt?

A sharp pain pierced through her chest. This pain was the evidence of her guilt. The crime of manipulating a person’s mind did not affect only them, but their close people. Iris’ violet eyes darkened.

But then Rosemary puffed up her cheeks in an expression of displeasure, (Zuben: Oh Japan, puffing cheeks is only cute in anime characters. Although, maybe I should just imagine they are anime characters)

‘Unlike Sirius, who only sleeps around having one-night stands.’

‘Eh?’

‘When I tell him off, he tells me that I am only a child.’

Iris forgot about her own problems and looked at Rosemary. It looked as though she has been annoyed with Sirius for while. Her emotions were all over her face; even her angry face was pretty cute. Her expression fell and it looked like she was about to cry,

‘Even so, I love him.’ she said with a trembling voice.

‘Rosemary.’

‘Even though I know I can’t match up to him at all, I still like him…’

It was because of Sirius, she was clumsily trying hard with her embroidery, even though she could injure her fingers. (Zuben: Isn’t that inevitable even if you are an expert)

Rosemary had told her, the first time she visited Iris, she wanted to be the woman who captured the Prime Minister’s heart, and she would do anything she could to capture him.

‘Don’t worry about me, I’m fine. I will definitely make him love me.’

Her status was higher than the women of the country, she had an adorable appearance that made people was to protect and cosset her. She lived life without any inconvenience. She had everything but she did not hesitate to strive for heart of the person she wanted. Why did Rosemary’s peach blossom laugh pierce the weak part of Iris’ heart?

‘Why don’t we first finish the handkerchief and amaze him?’ (Zuben: yes, lets amaze him with some cross-stitching)

‘Yes, I will do my best. But Iris, I’ve messed up again.’

She said with a droop of her shoulders. Iris felt for the younger girl, and she put aside her work and went to sit near Rosemary and helped her detangle her knot.

They continued to work, not noticing the sun had gone down.

There was a knock on the door,

‘Rosemary, I’m coming in.’

Ernest entered without gaining permission, but Rosemary did not mind,

‘Hello, brother.’ she said cheerfully, ‘What has happened?’

Iris had begun to become accustomed to his handsome face from staring at him every night. But even though she was used to him, she found herself blushing because she remembered Rosemary’s words.

Ernest walked up to his sister and held up a lovely parcel, ‘A delivery from Sirius.’

Rosemary placed her embroidery aside and took the parcel.

Iris was familiar with the packaging. She watched as Rosemary opened the package and a sweet scent filled the room,

‘It’s from Florentin!’ she exclaimed.

‘I’ve heard that the bakery is popular in the city. He happened to be going by the store and bought it. Are you happy, Rosie?’

‘I am! Very happy! I have to thank Sirius when I see him.’ She replied with a blossoming smile.

As Iris smiled watching her, she remembered that the Florentin shop had a lot of customers queuing for the shop’s baked goods. She knew this because the tailor who she sold her lace to was situated on the same street as Florentin, and Iris usually saw a long line of people outside.

Could Sirius have waited there to buy the cake for her? If he had, it was rather different to the kind of person Iris had imagined he was. So although Rosemary was aware of his relationships with women, he may think of her differently. But it was hard to gauge the emotions of a person of a different age and gender.

‘I thought it smelled sweet, it made me crave something sweet.’

‘Is that so? That’s unusual for you, brother. Did Sirius also get you something from Florentin?’

‘No, he did not. That is just for you.’

‘Ah, so…’

‘I have this with me.’ Ernest said reaching into his pocket.

His words induced a slightly unpleasant premonition. He pulled out the pretty sweets bottle from the pocket of his jacket. He took a sweet in the palm of his hand as Rosemary watched him puzzled.

‘Ernest, those look like the ramune sweets you used to like to eat every day.’ Rosemary said innocently.

 Although, it looked like simple sweets, they were actually a love potion, Iris thought. (Zuben: *facepalm)

Just before Ernest ate the sweet while staring directly at Rosemary, Iris rose from her seat and clung unto the sleeve of his jacket. (Zuben: Stop teasing the poor girl and tell her the truth)

‘Ernest?’

He ate the sweet and turned to kiss Iris giving her a bit of the sweet.

Rosemary said something, but Ernest held Iris’ slender waist with a self satisfied smile on his face while Iris blushed furiously.

Whenever Ernest ate the sweet thinking it was just sweets, Iris remembered her sin. She still didn’t understand why her chest hurt so much. However the reason for this sadness did not reveal itself. Somewhere deep inside she didn’t want to know.

She wondered, perhaps, if the shard of sweet he had given her would have an effect on her.

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