Chapter 37: A Taste of Normalcy

Iris watched Evrys, who was listlessly picking at her food.

Her appetite seemed normal.

So, Iris assumed whatever was troubling her wasn’t as serious as before.

But the melancholic look on Evrys’s face made Iris uneasy.

Evrys had grown accustomed to her surroundings.

She ate quietly, without clinking her utensils.

As Iris watched her, an idea formed in her mind.

She wasn’t familiar with the capital.

But she recalled hearing about certain places.

Evrys finished eating and took a sip of water.

Her expression remained vacant.

Lost in thought.

Iris found her distant gaze unsettling.

“Evrys.”

Evrys looked up at the sound of her name.

Her golden eyes were slightly dull.

“Hmm…?”

Looking at those melancholic eyes.

A thought crossed Iris’s mind.

‘What causes this shift in her emotional expression?’

She recalled her time with Evrys.

From their first meeting.

Evrys had been transparent.

So transparent that even her lies were obvious.

Too obvious to be angry about.

She expressed her dislikes openly.

And her joy was pure and uncontained.

Even when she lied.

She always showed her true self.

It was a temperament ill-suited for the aristocratic world.

That was why, when Evrys had asked about leaving with Amelia.

Iris’s first instinct had been to dissuade her.

But she didn’t feel she had the right to stop Evrys.

So, she had given a different answer.

And now, she felt guilty.

As if she had inadvertently led Evrys into a difficult situation.

Thinking back, Evrys’s face that day had been devoid of emotion.

Iris searched her memories for other instances where Evrys had been emotionally distant.

She noticed a common thread.

‘She always had her sword with her.’

‘Could the sword have some hidden function I’m unaware of?’

But when Iris held the sword, it felt like an ordinary weapon.

‘Or perhaps it’s the act of carrying a sword itself that—’

“Um… Iris?”

Iris startled.

Evrys’s voice brought her back to the present.

She had been lost in thought after calling Evrys’s name.

When had she ever been so distracted?

“I apologize. I was lost in thought.”

“Are you alright?”

“Yes.”

The melancholy in Evrys’s eyes had vanished.

Replaced by concern for Iris.

Iris felt a warmth spread through her chest.

The sight of those golden eyes.

Focused solely on her well-being.

Filled her with a strange sense of joy.

The thought of Evrys’s bright spirit being dimmed by the cruelties of the capital’s aristocracy made her fists clench.

‘Perhaps it would be better to return to the North together—’

Iris shook her head, dismissing the thought.

That was why she had decided to stay.

She had already received her father’s permission.

She would support Evrys in whatever she chose to do.

‘For now, a change of scenery might be good.’

“Would you like to go out?”

Evrys’s face lit up.

“Yes. There’s somewhere I’ve been wanting to go.”

“Somewhere you want to go… Alright.”

“Thank you.”

“It’s nothing to thank me for…”

“Is it?”

“…You say the strangest things sometimes.”

Seeing the renewed light in Evrys’s eyes.

Iris felt a surge of happiness.

Hand in hand.

They walked towards their destination.

They wore inconspicuous clothes to avoid attention.

But the occasional curious glances made Evrys uncomfortable.

If she had her sword.

She could have ignored them.

But Iris had convinced her to leave it behind.

So, she had to endure the stares.

‘If only we weren’t holding hands…’

Looking at the crowds around them.

Evrys realized why they were holding hands.

‘…She’s afraid I’ll get lost.’

Objectively, Evrys was rather short.

If they weren’t holding hands.

She might get swept away by the crowd and separated from Iris.

That made sense.

‘I wonder where we’re going…’

‘With this many people, it’ll be difficult for a carriage to pass through.’

Of course, no one would dare block a carriage bearing the Winterhoff crest.

But knowing Evrys’s dislike for such displays.

Iris had chosen to walk.

Evrys, unaware of Iris’s consideration.

Felt a mix of embarrassment at being treated like a child and a strange comfort in Iris’s warm hand.

She tightened her grip.

Determined not to let go.

Iris paused momentarily at the sudden increase in pressure.

But she didn’t pull away.

She returned the grip, holding Evrys’s small, soft hand.

‘Such small hands wield such a monstrous sword…’

‘Her hands are surprisingly calloused…’

Lost in their separate thoughts.

They quickened their pace.

Haven, the capital city, was vibrant and bustling.

A pleasant cacophony filled the streets.

Children laughed and chased after their parents.

Some people scowled at the passing carriages.

But overall, it seemed like a decent place to live.

Evrys felt a pang of unease.

She knew that one day, these smiles would turn to screams.

Misinterpreting the slight tremor in Evrys’s hand.

Iris glared at the people around them.

Clearing a path.

“We’re almost there. Just a little further.”

“Okay…”

Evrys used Iris’s misunderstanding to mask her own emotions.

As her unease subsided.

They arrived at their destination.

Evrys blinked in surprise.

“This is…”

“I heard it’s quite popular these days.”

“That’s unexpected…”

“It’s important to experience new things.”

Evrys recognized the place.

It was where Amelia, the protagonist of the game.

Would sneak out of the palace to meet with others.

‘Why does a place like this even exist?’

It felt like something straight out of a game.

It resembled a modern café.

A wave of nostalgia washed over Evrys.

She stepped inside, followed by Iris.

A server greeted them.

Iris discreetly displayed the Winterhoff crest.

After silencing the wide-eyed server with a look.

They were led to a private room.

The room offered a panoramic view of the city.

And provided a perfect setting for a private conversation.

Evrys, seeing the place for the first time.

Let out a small gasp of admiration as she sat down.

Iris felt a sense of satisfaction.

She had made the right choice.

She ordered some desserts, black tea for herself, and milk tea for Evrys.

Sitting across from Evrys.

Iris watched as she gazed around the room with bright, curious eyes.

Evrys, noticing Iris’s gaze, cleared her throat.

Her face flushed slightly.

Embarrassed by her own excitement.

“You can look around more if you’d like—”

“…No, it’s fine.”

Evrys fidgeted with her silver hair.

“I see.”

Evrys snuck a glance at Iris.

Who sat calmly across from her.

‘She didn’t bring me here for herself.’

Now that her initial excitement had subsided.

Evrys understood why they were here.

Iris knew she didn’t enjoy places like this.

‘She brought me here because she saw me struggling with that hologram yesterday.’

The thought of Iris’s silent concern filled Evrys with gratitude.

And a strange sense of melancholy.

‘I wish I were the real Evrys…’

The thought crossed her mind with surprising intensity.

‘…But that’s impossible.’

They sat in comfortable silence.

Observing each other.

Then the server returned with their order.

After receiving Iris’s nod, the server placed the desserts and drinks on the table and left.

“Please, eat.”

“…You too.”

Evrys couldn’t remain gloomy.

Not after Iris had brought her here.

She had to put on a cheerful face, for Iris’s sake.

She took a bite of the cream-laden cake.

It was richer and more delicious than she had expected.

A genuine smile spread across her face.

‘I’m so simple…’ she thought.

But as long as Iris was happy, Evrys didn’t care.

Lost in the enjoyment of her cake.

She didn’t notice the cream on her cheek.

Iris reached across the table.

Wiped the cream from Evrys’s cheek with her finger.

And brought it to her own lips.

She savored the taste.

Then spoke with a hint of disappointment.

She had tried it out of a desire to understand Evrys better.

But it wasn’t to her taste.

“It’s still… too sweet for me.”

Iris noticed the slight blush on Evrys’s cheeks.

‘Is she angry?’

Evrys, however, was simply confused.

‘Is it normal for women to… eat things off each other’s faces…?’

She felt a flush of heat rise to her cheeks.

Suddenly, she wanted to see Iris flustered.

Forgetting Iris’s thoughtful gesture.

Evrys spoke, her mouth full of cake.

“Iris.”

“Yes?”

“Whipped cream wasn’t originally meant to be eaten.”

“Oh?”

Iris looked intrigued.

Her eyes shone with genuine curiosity.

“What was its original purpose?”

Unable to maintain the charade any longer.

Evrys lowered her head, mumbling.

“A-actually, I don’t know.”

“Shall I look into it?”

“No!!! It’s fine!!!”

Even though she hadn’t managed to tease Iris.

Evrys felt a strange sense of satisfaction.