"...Eh?".
"Mm?". Jin reeled back, eyes widened.
Both exchanged silly banter as they started with their eyes open. Iris's thoughts accelerated as her breath slowed. Slowly, as the answer reached her ears, her cheek twitched, and her heart thumped, returning to reality.
"You know?". Iris' voice cracked, her lips quivering as she stared at the boy. "How?".
Jin silently pointed at his eyes, emerald, calm eyes that seemed to see through anything. Iris finally snapped back and shot straight, pushing away the chair until it made a clattering sound behind.
"Don't tell me?". Blood returned to her face, Iris reeled close, and her breath was rough.
Exhaled deeply, Jin's head nodded off, "Yeah, my eyes are a bit unusual".
"Since when?". Iris' gaze was sharp, piercing his soul.
Iris reeled in closer, and Jin instinctively leaned back, shrinking under her intense gaze.
The boy could only give a weak sigh and raised his hand forward to block Iris's further advance. Her womanly scent rubbed on his nose, rousing something within him. Iris's clear and mesmerizing looks further pushed Jin's limit to its edge.
He took a deep breath to calm his quickening heart, but it was futile as he felt the soft and warm grip on his hands, which were so tightly pressed onto the table.
"Jin!". Oblivious to the boy's struggle, Iris pushed further by locking him in a deep grip.
Jin's eyes rolled on the back, mouth agape as he squeezed his brain, trying to seek a proper answer, for he still had a secret he must hold. "Since the first time I saw you".
Upon hearing the answer, Iris's face drew a blank; strength left her body. She slowly straightened her posture and stared at the boy before her face turned 'poof' stained with pink.
"No". Her voice was sultry and cracked, filled with deep shame.
He scratches his cheek, averting his gaze to the side. Jin wonders what the problem is when her identity is exposed like that. From what he recalls, Elves are nothing uncommon in this world; they live in the Kingdom northeast of his place.
However, the way Iris acts blows Jin's perspective about the Elves, who live in nature and elegance. He thought they must be aloof and looked down on other races.
The two held their tongues and delved into their own business until a few minutes passed, and Iris returned to her seat, facing Jin with still pink cheeks.
"I see, so you already know my identity… I see". Her voice was shallow and filled with hollowness as her vacant eyes looked toward the reflection on the cup. She was like a broken recorder.
"Um, I'm sorry. Did I make a mistake perhaps by discovering your Identity?".
"No, I was just". Iris lifted her gaze, stared at the boy's emerald gaze, and then flinched.
"Just, what?". Jin leaned closer and further pushed Iris' shame to the surface.
"...Uuh, Nothing, enough with this talk, let's change the topic!".
Iris flapped her arm sideways before she took the glass and downed the content in one go. She stood up and walked to the kitchen to get her refill, ignoring the prickling gaze that tickled her.
She strode back with stomped feet, letting out a 'thud' as she sat down before the boy, closing her eyes. Iris held the cup and brought it to her mouth to quench her thirst.
Jin sat calmly with parted lips, knowing this new side of her, who always tries to act mature before others. However, inside, she is childish and seems stubborn to at fault, and that makes her more approachable.
He raised the glass before taking a gulp, then said, "What is your reason?".
"Um? Reason? What are you talking about?".
"Am I guessing wrong? You wouldn't have just revealed your true self to some stranger for nothing".
"Stranger? No, I never thought of you that way; rather, I hold you as someone important… even special…".
Her words got quieter at the end, followed by the blush that tainted her cheeks as Iris sneaked a glance at the boy who stared at her with his usual calm gaze.
Iris inhaled deep, her hands clenched tight on her skirt. She exhaled all the tension and worry that conflicted her heart, then stared at the boy's eyes head-on.
"Jin, thank you". Iris bowed her torso before Jin.
Jin choked on his breath and stared with wide eyes at the event that had happened. His heart, which thumped like a reminder clock, awoke him from his dream as he hurriedly clasped Iris's shoulders and straightened her up.
"No, no, what are you doing?".
However, Iris refused to back down. She leaned forward again, her forehead almost touching the table. She held her breath, and her heart felt heavy, weighed down by guilt, not knowing what sort of feeling the boy had.
She knew that her current action was pure selfishness as she one-sidedly expressed her gratitude for that day.
Jin, who knows the woman's temperament, quietly exhaled in defeat and weakly opened his mouth.
"Okay, I accept your thanks. Seriously, don't ever do this again. My heart can't take it!".
"Alright, thank you. Fufu..". Iris lifted her gaze, loosening her stiff face upon seeing the blushing boy.
Both people sat in silence, unable to gaze at each other's eyes. As time ticked, Iris slowly brought the glass to her mouth to moisten her throat before opening her lips.
"Do you want to hear my story?".
Jin turned sideways and saw his partner gaze at the reflection of her calm yet somehow sorrowful face. He gulped his saliva, trapped between hesitation and curiosity that clashed in his mind.
However, when the woman's gaze lifted, Jin saw his reflection in those clear and beautiful eyes.
"...I'm listening". Jin gulped the water in his hand to hide the blush on his cheek.
Iris's gaze softened, and her lips parted slightly before stiffening. She shifted her posture straight, her chin held up, gazing at the boy before her with aloofness. Iris rested her hands on her skirts, poised herself in elegance and ferality.
"First of all, it is a pleasure to meet you, Jin Midnight, third son of Viscount Midnight. My name is Irisdina Everleaf, the six princesses from the Kingdom of Elarion in the Northeast".
For a moment, Jin blinked his eyes and sat still before the dawn of realization, which struck him like a hammer from heaven, striking his consciousness down. His eyes wavered for a moment before he jumped off his seat and kneeled.
"Pleasure is mine, Your Highness. I implore you to forgive my casual…".
"It's okay, Jin. Even though I was born a princess, I abandoned that title long ago when I left the country. Besides, in my country, we didn't hold much difference from the other Elf whether it was royalty or commoner".
He shifted his stiff neck to look upward and saw the woman covering her mouth to hide her giggle. Jin breathed a sigh of relief before returning to his seat, knowing that he was also not too fond of royalty and etiquette.
"Okay then, Iris. Let's hear your story".
"Sure, I won't go into too much detail, but the truth is Nina is not my daughter!".
'Yeah, figured'. Jin exhaled, and then he raised his hand to support his cheek.
*****
It was a day in the summer weather. The sun blazed through the land, scorching the dirt and air around it, while the long carriage strode along the empty street, jagged rocks and dirt not stooping the horse for doing its job, steered by a man.
Iris, who sat in silence, gazed at the world outside. The green carpet stretched endlessly, and the crisp and humid air opened her pores, making her face crunch in disgust at the smell of sweat.
"Jeez, I'm sweating already".
"Irisdina, please correct your words; you are a woman, after all."
Come a melodious and gentle tone that stabbed her iris consciousness. She glanced to the side and saw a woman. Her green wavy hair fluttered gently by the wind, and her white dress captured her ethereal figure into fine sculpture.
She carried a tiny life on her folded hand, breathing calmly despite the humidity.
"Leave me alone, Big sis, Aria!".
Iris scoffed and turned her gaze elsewhere. She was too occupied by the scenery she had never seen.
As one of the seclusive races, Elves usually spent their lives within their own Kingdom, shrouded by vibrant trees. A gentle melody from a flowing stream and the nostalgic scent of soil became her everyday life. And for the first time, Iris traveled to the outside world, expanding her horizons.
Aria caressed the baby in her hands before turning to her sister, biting her lips. "Are you sure about this, Irisdina? Leaving your home like that?".
"Ha? It's fine. I don't care what those stubborn old fellows said, and it's boring staying at only one place, staring at trees. This might be a good chance to spread my wings".
Iris's willingness to accompany her on this journey was, without a doubt, a blessing. But somehow, it weighed down on Aria's heart. She cast her gaze down and looked toward her little baby, who stirred.
"Uuh, Ma, ma".
"Good morning, Nina".
"Waah, Nina, your auntie's here".
Iris, whose attention shifted, peeked through the baby's face, flashing her white teeth. The sudden appearance of her stiffened Nina's face, but soon, it melted into adorable laughter with raising hands.
"Oh gosh, she is adorable; her green hair looks like you, Big sis."
"Fufu, right? Nina is my pride and joy, right dear?".
Aria turned to the side of the coach seat, seeing something strange as red shadows enveloped his figures. She could feel it on her skin; the temperature was raised to an extreme, making the carriage feel like an oven.
A flash blinded her sight, and a chilling sensation crawled across her skin, prompting Aria to act in haste.
"Zhepyros cast a barrier!".