The Love Potion 29 - 30

“Lighting up the woods in Julich, #Germany. Photo by Andrea Fettweis.”

29 The Lady and the Letter:

The dying autumn leaves fell one after the other from the trees, blanketing the ground in a colourful array.

It was late afternoon; Iris and Rosemary were having tea and crème brûlée in Rosemary’s private rooms.

‘Oh, it smells good today…’ Rosemary sighed sniffing the crème brûlée; she used a silver spoon to break the crunchy caramel on the surface of the creamy custard and spooned it into her mouth. Iris smiled at the lovely picture Rosemary made as she sipped her tea trying to hold back the pain. Rosemary smiled happily at Iris after savouring her crème brûlée,

‘Thank you, Iris.’                                              

‘Why?’

‘Well, now the handkerchief is completed. We can have this delicious crème brûlée to celebrate! Thank you, sister-in-law!’

Iris returned her cup to saucer and smiled at Rosemary,

‘Thank you for your kind words, but finishing the handkerchief successfully was all down to your efforts.’

She picked up her crème brûlée and took a spoon of it; it was rather delicious. The royal cooks were very good. She smiled.

It was more than just Iris’ imagination, but the Princess’ heart was straightforward and pure.

Rosemary shook her fluffy white hair,

‘No, it really is thanks to you Iris. Because with my previous teachers, I could not even thread the needle, talk less finishing a handkerchief.’

Rosemary lowered her gaze sadly.

According to Rosemary, all her previous tutors lamented her inability to thread a needle which was the basic of any sewing (Zuben: I lament their inability to tutor. Or does Rosemary need glasses?)

With Iris, she learnt how to do it.

While she understood, at first glance, the thinking of the previous tutors, but they just required a bit more patience. Her skill at embroidery was good. So, she may misplace the threading but the way she sewed was sweet. She was able to complete the pattern if the needle was threaded in advance.

‘That’s why I’m really happy. Thanks to you, I have graduated from horribly clumsy to somewhat clumsy.’

Rosemary returned her spoon to her plate gently.

A person will be happier will be happier if they can do more rather than continue to lament what they can’t do.

So should she. Even though, she could not be born with a lovely appearance, even though the deep affection that engulfed her was fake, she had been happy these past six weeks.

‘Thank you for saying that, Rosemary.’

She could only say this happiness was not fake. With just this memory, she should be able to live happily in the future. (Zuben: Numpty)

Although that is how she wanted to think, she also knew that the pain in her chest would never ease.

‘You’re welcome, sister in law.’ Rosemary gave her a dazzling smile and went back to eating her crème brûlée. Despite being just before dinner, she had ordered the crème brûlée to celebrate the completion of the handkerchief.

That night a week ago, in Ernest’s arms, she decided to free him from the powerful love potion.

She wanted him to be happy. So she wrote a letter to Matthias:

“I want you to get an antidote for the love potion. Once the detoxification is successful, I will be moving to the country house on the outskirts of the city that my parents left me.

Should you refuse, I will tell the King that you helped me procure the love potion.”

Matthias got the love potion; he should be able to find the antidote. But her brother-in-law really wanted her to be Queen, so she had to threaten him in case he refused. It was a bit scary to blackmail someone; while she was writing her heart was twisted with bitter feelings. But it could not be helped.

She decided to leave the palace to go to the country house to escape from the sad eventuality.

It would be best for Ernest. (Zuben: Hmm, I think this is a "shoot one's own foot" situation brewing)

He would be embarrassed when the effects were cancelled. When there were so many good women in the city, how could he be engaged to someone like Iris? Why would he believe that he loved Iris? As well as being embarrassed, he would be regretful of his actions. That was why Iris decided it was best to leave his side. She wanted to respect Ernest’s freed heart. In addition, once the engagement was cancelled her reputation will plummet.

It would be trial even for the Reinfeldt clan.

But as long as Matthias was there, they will be alright.

Even if Iris was seen as the bad person, he would always protect his beloved Leticia.

She had asked Katri, who had been going home to see her husband, to secretly hand Matthias the letter. Matthias should have begun to prepare the antidote.

It will be alright.

This is for Ernest; it was for the best.

Iris’ heart continued to hurt, she decided for the days to come this pain would be testimony to her great crime (Zuben: God, she’s melodramatic isn’t she)

It was also evidence that she had been happy these past weeks. As long as there was pain, she was able to keep on living by herself. (Zuben: You should have done that in the first place, if Ernest wanted you that much he would have dragged his arse to come and find you)

She picked up her china cup and drank the cooling black tea.

‘I shall give Sirius the handkerchief with this thought in my heart.’ Rosemary said finally finishing her crème brûlée. Her golden brown eyes sparkled like the sun filled Iris with guilt but she was so dazzling, Iris could not look away. She placed the cup back into its saucer, told Rosemary,

‘I give you my full support.’

‘Thank you Iris! And if that doesn’t work, I intend to do my best with the crying strategy my sisters advised.’

‘Really…’

Rosemary cheerfully explained the crying stratagem her sisters taught her in their letters.

In short, it seemed that her sisters had taught her that disappointing strategy of trying to manipulate men with crying. Of course, they were thinking that they were supporting their little sister in love. But Iris did not think it was right. She smiled softly at Rosemary as she was about decry that ugly strategy, when she heard Ernest call her.

‘Iris, are you here?’

With a loud bang, the sitting room doors were thrown open.

‘Ernest…?’

Why didn’t he knock like he usually did? Why did he have such a cold expression on his face that was about to freeze the air around him? His voice when he called her had been angry, why?

♔♔♔

30 The Lady and the Accident:

She could tell he was furious but she could not fathom why.

Iris gasped, and Ernest looked at her darkly before stepping towards her menacingly.

‘Ernest, brother, what has happened?’ Rosemary asked frowning with worry. She had never seen her brother look like this before.

Iris’ breathing quickened at the sight of Ernest coming towards her. Something she had not thought was possible had occurred.

No!

Had he realised he had been dosed with a love potion by Iris?

Iris turned pale, and felt afraid.

If he had realised, she should be in a dungeon by now. Whether intentional or not, it would not be possible to let someone who dosed the King of the country go. So if he had noticed, there should be a number of knights accompanying him to arrest her, given the possibility that she might harm the Princess.

But there was no Knight or servant with him. Though, he was terrifying all by himself.

What had happened?

Why was he so angry with her?

Ernest stalked into the quiet room and glared at Iris; not even sparing a glance at his sister, and grabbed Iris’ thin wrist with forced and pulled her up.

She cried out surprised by the pain. The momentum caused her to hit the tea table making the cups and saucers clatter.

‘Sorry about that,’ Ernest immediately said. But his face contorted in anger and he lifted her up and tossed her over his shoulder.

‘Oh no! Please put me down…!’

She was a human not a stuffed toy. Despite her struggle, he held her tightly. She had no choice but to hold on to his clothes for dear life.

‘Rosemary, I will be taking Iris.’ he announced to his sister. She was stunned by his actions.

Why was he angry?

Despite his anger, he had been sorry when her body hit the table. If he had not noticed he was under a love spell, what was the problem?

Rosemary tried to stop him on Iris’ behalf, ‘Wait, Ernest! What are you going to do with Iris?’

She could not understand what was going on. But Ernest ignored her and carried Iris out of the sitting room.

Except he stopped when he reached the door and turned to her,

‘Ernest?’

‘I want to ensure you keep your important sister in law as she is.’

‘What do you mean keep her as she is…?’

Ernest gave her a mirthless smile and left Rosemary’s private sitting room.

He was like a wolf surrounded by an aura of cold anger.

Where was he taking her?

The silence between them as he walked down the long corridors made her anxiety mount,

‘Ernest, coul…’

‘Do you think if you’re dropped from this height you will feel no pain?’

Ernest had seen though her, he knew she wanted to be put down. But he threatened her in his cold tone. She definitely would be hurt if he dropped her.

Her spine ran cold thinking he would truly drop her. She bit her lips and kept quiet. This wasn’t a simple incident.

They arrived at their rooms where he dismissed the maids.

What was he thinking now?

She couldn’t imagine what he was going to do in the bedroom, or why he was angry with her. His golden eyes had looked wounded.

He shut the door with a loud bang without caring about Iris carried over his shoulder. He walked up to the large bed and threw her into it.

She gasped at the impact.

The bed was soft and her fall had no pain as it would have if it had been the ground, but such violence was not like Ernest at all.

Before she could gather her wits Ernest was on top of her.

She looked into his darkened eyes and could not help but ask, ‘What happened?’

What happened for him to behave this way?

Ernest caressed her cheek while staring into her violet eyes. His face distorted with anger as he asked,

‘Is it so painful to be by my side that you ask Matthias for help to escape me?’ 

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