Chapter 14: The Invitation

Warmth enveloped me.

The cozy warmth of a blanket wrapped around me.

And… an unfamiliar warmth, like a hand warmer or an electric blanket.

‘Could it be… am I back?’

‘Did I die there and return to reality?’

A blurry image of Iris, looking down at me with a strange expression, surfaced in my mind.

Like fleeting shapes behind closed eyelids, etched onto my retinas.

If I opened my eyes, I would know for sure, but…

I didn’t want to.

I wanted to savor this feeling of being back in my cherished home, just a little longer.

I heard soft breathing next to me.

It might sound unrealistic, but I felt like I knew who it was.

Iris…

‘I’m still in the game.’

Accepting the reality that pressed against my skin, I slowly opened my eyes.

The now-familiar ceiling greeted me.

The plain, yet functional room.

I turned my head and saw Iris asleep in a chair.

Or rather, the top of her head. She looked pitiful, not at all like the next head of the Dukedom.

‘If Iris and I are back, that means… she brought me here.’

‘What I did wasn’t in vain.’

As I replayed the events in my mind, the sudden fire came to mind.

It had saved Iris, but thinking about it now, it was suspicious.

The fire appeared at just the right moment.

I had been too distracted at the time to think much of it…

‘Are those who sent me here watching me?’

Honestly, I didn’t know. I didn’t know how to feel about it.

I wished someone would just give me answers. Nothing was certain.

Even the idea that I could return after reaching the ending was just my assumption. But if I didn’t think that way—

“Hmm…”

Iris stirred.

She mumbled something, then lifted her head.

Her drowsy red eyes met mine.

Feeling awkward, I gave a small wave. Iris brought both hands to her face.

‘What is she doing?’

She placed her fingers at the corners of her lips and…

…pulled them upwards.

‘…Is she mimicking a smile? But that’s not her style. Did she eat something strange? Why is she doing this…?’

Her lips were curved upwards in a forced smile, while her eyes remained emotionless. It was an indescribable expression.

Even Iris seemed embarrassed, her fingers trembling slightly.

I couldn’t stand the awkward silence.

“…What are you doing?”

As I spoke, Iris’s hands dropped, and her expression turned icy.

The room felt colder.

Her face, stiffer than ever, and her voice trembled slightly as she spoke.

“Didn’t… you say you liked it… when I did this?”

‘It’s better than your usual expression… but I don’t remember saying that.’

“When did I…? Well, it’s better than—”

“I see.”

“Uh… yeah…”

“You seem very tired. You should rest some more. Now that I’ve confirmed you’re safe, I’ll be going.”

“Oh…”

After her rapid-fire words, Iris pushed back her chair and flung open the door.

“Then…”

Despite her abrupt movements, she closed the door quietly, and I heard her footsteps retreating.

They sounded heavy.

Slam!

A loud crash echoed from somewhere.

It was loud enough to make the real-world annoyance of noisy neighbors seem trivial.

‘What could have made such a loud noise?’

The silence that followed suggested whatever it was, it was over.

‘I should probably go back to sleep, like Iris said. Just in case, even though I’m tough.’

It was dark outside anyway, so there was nothing to do.

I fell asleep in the strangely warm bed.

After a refreshing sleep, I had to spend a considerable amount of time assuaging the servants’ worries.

I understood their concern, but they seemed to be getting increasingly dramatic.

Saying things like, ‘Unlike the Lady Iris, you seem like someone who needs protecting,’ or ‘It’s a joy to work these days thanks to you…’

It made me feel like I was really in a game.

Though their concern wasn’t entirely unwelcome, I set out to find Iris.

The first place I checked was the training grounds, where she spent most of her time.

She had promised not to train, but I wanted to be sure. ‘Is this disrespectful of me?’

My worries were unfounded. Iris wasn’t there.

The sweaty men, diligently emitting unpleasant odors, made me flee back inside.

Since she wasn’t in the training grounds, she must have kept her promise.

I could have asked someone where she was, but that would be no fun.

So, I went to Iris’s room.

I knocked, and Iris’s voice told me to enter.

‘Found her already. How boring.’

I opened the door and saw her writing something at her desk.

She seemed focused, not even looking up as I entered, her gaze fixed on the paper. I felt a little slighted.

‘Well, I didn’t say anything.’

‘But we’ve spent so much time together!’

‘…Not that much, actually. But still.’ I wasn’t actually upset, just… a little.

“What are you doing?”

Hearing my voice, Iris slowly looked up.

“You’re here.”

She sounded even more stoic than usual. ‘Must be my imagination.’

I noticed her left hand.

Unlike her right hand, which held a pen, her left hand was bandaged, as if she had injured it.

‘Don’t tell me…’

“What happened to your left hand?”

“Oh.”

“Did you break your promise and train again?”

“No.”

“Can I trust you?”

“If you don’t believe me, you can ask someone else.”

She wouldn’t lie like that. ‘Then why is it bandaged?’

“I believe you. But why is it bandaged?”

“My left hand was more severely injured before.”

“Really…?”

“Yes. So, there’s no need to worry.”

It felt like she was hiding something, but since she insisted, I didn’t push it.

“What were you doing?”

“Writing invitations.”

“Invitations?”

“Didn’t I tell you before?”

“No?”

“Then I’ll tell you now.”

She seemed to have finished writing. She folded the letter neatly, sealed it with wax, then took out another sheet.

“As you know, I climbed the mountain for a family ritual before my coming-of-age ceremony.”

‘Oh, right.’

“So, what happens now?”

“The coming-of-age ceremony?”

“Exactly. Including my debutante ball. We’re combining them to avoid unnecessary fuss.”

“So that’s why you’re writing invitations.”

“Yes.”

Now that she mentioned it, I vaguely remembered this event.

I think I saw a text passage where someone else attended in the princess’s place.

‘That means we’re still in the early stages of the game. Plenty of time.’

“What are you thinking so hard about?”

Iris stopped writing and looked at me.

“Nothing.”

“I see.”

“Yeah.”

“By the way, will you be attending?”

“Me?”

“Yes. It might be a bit much, but if you wish.”

I wasn’t completely uninterested. I played romance fantasy games for a reason, so it would be a lie to say I didn’t want to see it.

And since it was an event that happened without the protagonist, and mostly through text, it should be fine.

Thinking so, I looked at Iris, who was waiting for my answer, and said,

“Sure.”

“Alright. I’ll let them know.”

Iris nodded and resumed writing.

The only sound in the room was the scratching of her pen, which was strangely unnerving.

Seeing her busy, I felt bad for just lazing around and asked if there was anything I could do to help.

“Just staying quiet and not causing trouble is enough help.”

“…When have I ever caused trouble?”

“…”

“Why are you— never mind.”

Feeling slightly offended, I turned my back to her.

“Are you leaving?”

“Yeah. I’ll go be quiet in my room, like you said.”

“…”

‘She’s really going to keep that up.’

‘Well, I have my pride too.’

I quietly closed the door and went down to the dining hall.

I wanted something like that cocoa.

‘Come to think of it, I had something to ask Iris, but I left because of her.’

‘…I’ll ask her later.’

‘There’s still plenty of time.’