Looking at the vial in her hand, Iris gave a gentle smile that brightened the atmosphere. Her eyes stayed on the bright pink liquid which rose and fell like tides of a small moon. Its minuscule droplets tainted the vial’s surface before dripping back to the main body of water.
“Interesting. I cannot discern its effect nor its ingredients,” she said. “What have you done, Rarisa, to create such an intricate medicine in such a short time?”
“Telling you would ruin the magic, Miss Iris,” Rarisa smirked. “I can’t let you know the recipe, lest you no longer return to help me.”
“Am I that despicable?”
“I’m merely preparing for the worst. You won’t fault my caution, will you?”
“I like you, Rarisa. You get to tease me as much as you like. At least until I can no longer control myself.”
Rarisa took a deep breath. “What will happen, then?”
“You’ll have to find it out yourself.”
Rarisa averted her eyes. She could feel Iris’s gaze stroking her body, caressing her exposed skin. It discomforted her, but she didn’t hate it. She couldn’t bring herself to hate it, even though she should have. Such a terrifying influence.
“I’ve learned that this world is dangerous, that some secrets are better left untouched. I won’t be testing your limit today, Miss Iris.”
“Would you do it next week?”
Rarisa bashfully smiled. “If I could gather my—”
A series of knocks interrupted the conversation. Rarisa frowned. She turned to Persil, who sighed and went to unlock the door.
“Lady Iris!” Lorient barged in. “It’s been more than an hour. Did . . . did they do anything to you?”
Iris giggled. “Do you want them to?”
“If they could cure you, I would grit my teeth and accept it.”
“Although Rarisa couldn’t cure me, her potion could ease my symptoms.”
Lorient’s eyes widened. She scrutinised the lady in front of her. The two observed each other, ascertained each other’s motives, and greeted each other. Their sparks flew in their minds, felt and heard by one another.
“Who is she?” Lorient said. “She’s too close to you, Lady Iris.”
“And who are you?” Rarisa said. “I’m her doctor; I must examine her to give an accurate diagnosis.”
“Stop it, you two,” Iris said. “Lorient, I allowed her, for she’s proven herself worthy of it. And Rarisa, Lorient is my close friend; she brought me here.”
Lorient hmphed, but she wouldn’t go against her mistress’s words. Rarisa also wouldn’t ruin her patient’s mood. The two reluctantly ceased squabbling, though their eyes remained fiery at each other.
“Lady Iris, I don’t want to bother you, but we’ve been here for too long.” Lorient grabbed Iris’s hand. “Don’t forget your schedule.”
Indeed she’d spent too much time here. Rarisa’s unexpected expertise intrigued Iris, and she lost herself in her teasing. If she didn’t stop now, she’d be late for her schedule.
“You’re right. I must now return.”
Iris exchanged parting words with Rarisa and Persil before she, escorted by her Lorient, left the examination room. The door gently closed as their footsteps faded into the background.
Once silence permeated the atmosphere, Persil sighed. He had remained quiet since Rarisa returned, since Iris revealed parts of her hand. Those words, uttered so casually by Iris, terrified him.
“Why did you sigh?” Rarisa said. “Are you angry at me?”
“Has my anger ever affected you?”
“You would’ve raged more if it had.”
Persil shook his head. “That Iris . . . she knows our identity.”
“It isn’t difficult to learn about our academic background. Anyone who wants to look into us will know our names.”
“She knows I’m Master of Mechanical Forest.” Persil’s voice quavered. “Her tone is too steady, too confident, as if she had always known about Nature Defiler.”
Rarisa paused. “What gave you away? Not even Nature Defiler’s members know about our disguise. Could it be . . . that she’s one of the founders?”
“She told me she could lend us a hand if we pass her test, that her people will contact us soon.”
Rarisa and Persil ceased talking. Only the sounds of cold winds coursing through the vents monotonously hummed. Its distorted yet rhythmic tune faintly vibrated the research papers stuck on the wall. Although its intensity was nigh unnoticeable, its combined amplitude was enough to sway the articles.
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Initially faint, this danger stacked on each other, forming an inescapable labyrinth. Rarisa and Persil could try to flee, but without their organisation’s help, they saw no hope. Iris’s unseen influence permeated them, confined them, and swayed them.
But it might not be terrible. Iris needed them, and she was willing to trade with them, so long as they fulfilled her desires.
“I’ll visit the organisation tomorrow,” Rarisa said. “We must at least learn of her background, even if it’s only for her disguise.”
“Don’t be rash. If you act out of character, you might really ruin this identity.”
“I know. If she wanted us, she would’ve already taken us. What I have is only a mild surprise to her.” Rarisa tapped the corner of her mouth, which curved into a smile. “Still, she’s . . . so fascinating. You wouldn’t mind my intimacy with her, would you?”
Persil said nothing. Nothing he could say would change her mind anyway.
. . .
“Mistress, please don’t scare me,” Lorient said. “Your unravelling condition can’t afford any more trouble. At least you should’ve let me stay with you.”
Iris leaned on the carriage’s sofa. Her eyes stayed not on Lorient’s worried expression but on Lorient’s hands, which held protectively a box carefully wrapped in pink fabric.
“Never did I think of deceiving you, Lorient. If I knew this beforehand, would I have come here with only you?”
Lorient looked down, shame filling up her throat. She was too weak to protect her mistress, too weak to be sufficient. Indeed, she was inadequate; Mistress would permit any inadequacy.
This time, coincidence was her enemy, carelessness her bane.
“Don’t overthink it, Lorient,” Iris said. “You’re one of the few who could take care of me in my moment of weakness. Could mere prowess and wit replace that quality?”
“Even though it’s my task, I still abandoned you. If you weren’t so perfect, if you weren’t so charming, they might’ve harmed you. I’ve failed all your friends, failed you.”
“You tend to disregard others when you’re emotional. The Court has many Transformation Phase Monster Girls who will gladly take care of me. But I don’t want them. I only want you.”
“I . . . I just want to be stronger for you. Could you help me, Mistress? What you went through, I too wished to go through it.”
Iris wryly smiled. She would never sabotage her family, but the circumstance surrounding her rise to power was too volatile, too unpredictable. Beyond her measly involvement was an ever-evolving design where the Divine Pantheon and the Five Catastrophes rolled their ten-thousand-faced dice.
If not for her significance in the grand game, of which she herself knew dimly, Iris wouldn’t have survived even a single move of those beings. No matter how wonderful, lovely, and determined Lorient was, she too would fall as mere collateral in their delicate blows.
“When are you going to reveal your surprise?” Iris said. “Once we reach our destination, I won’t be able to give you the intimacy you so wish for. Do you still want to wait?”
Lorient knew her mistress was changing the subject, but she also wanted to receive praise. What she had prepared . . . she hoped it was good enough.
“Please close your eyes, Mistress.”
“Are you going to steal my lips?”
“No!” Lorient perked up. “I wouldn’t dare to, not when you’re ill.”
Chuckling, Iris closed her eyes. Her shoulders relaxed as her body sank into the sofa. Her ears twitched as warm breezes coursed along her face. A nervous aura radiated onto her. She stayed still in anticipation of her present.
A soft palm touched her face, tickling her. She lightly pressed her cheek against it, feeling the bounciness and warmth pervading her skin. Lorient’s muffled gasp rang in her ears. How cute.
“Mistress . . . you can open your eyes now.” Lorient drew back her hand.
Iris opened her eyes. Lorient had returned to her seat, but the pink flushes on her face lingered. Indecent thoughts must’ve surfaced in her heart, and she must’ve spent a great deal of effort suppressing them.
“How do I look now?” Iris said.
“Gorgeous as always, Mistress.”
“Are you implying that your accessory did nothing?” Iris touched her ears, where a pair of flower-shaped earrings hung lovingly. “But, judging from your countenance, I must’ve been too tempting.”
“Not in the slightest; you’ve become too pure, your demeanour too angelic, that my desire to embrace you becomes overwhelming.”
Lorient handed a handheld mirror to her mistress, who looked at her new earrings.
“I’ve envisioned many presents, but I still failed to predict this. How embarrassing of me.”
“Please spend more time with me to know me better.”
Iris snapped her fingers. A series of magical hexagons manifested around her before sinking into the carriage, sealing the interior from external perceptions.
“Like how you handcrafted your present for me, I too will handcraft my reward for you.”
Iris inched closer to Lorient, who retreated until she sank into her sofa. The pillows surrounded her, bound her, and cushioned her. She couldn’t look into her mistress’s eyes and instead stared at the earrings, which twinkled when rays of light, passing through tiny gaps between the curtains, landed on them.
“Please be gentle, Mistress.” Lorient’s whisper diffused in the steamy air.
Once her voice vanished into the creeks and cracks of the sofa, Lorient let her emotions unwrap her restraint. She finally watched Iris’s eyes shimmering while they caressed her body.
Her trembling hands reached around her mistress’s neck and drew herself close to those glossy lips. Her breath whitened her vision, soaking the air with a warm scent.
Iris silently let her lips meet Lorient’s. Like her tongue, her fingers slithered on Lorient’s naked flesh, infiltrated her messy clothes, and undid the buttons and strings. Their garments came off; their bodies fused as one, their voices echoing each other’s tone.
The carriage faintly shook, with the wheels crushing the rubble underneath. Its curtains waved and swayed as its silent occupants glided their hands along them.
The driver noticed that the muffled voices coming from the interior had vanished; she thought nothing of this and calmly guided her horse to march softly, steadily towards where she had to be.
Rocking motions continued until the carriage arrived. The driver came to the door and knocked on it firmly. The curtain parted, revealing Lorient, whose pinkish expression blocked the interior. Lorient smiled at the driver, whose heart skipped a beat, and closed the curtain.
Lorient and Iris soon left the carriage. Everything was neat as if no one had sat in them, except for the faintest scent of passion. The driver, who had received ample money, said or knew nothing. She left as quietly as she came.
“Why are we here, Lady Iris?” Lorient said. “I . . . I’m already satisfied. You don’t have to force yourself.”
Iris glanced at Lorient, who shamefully shrank back. “Should I believe your lie?”
“You . . . shouldn’t, Mistress. Can I be greedy again?”
“Take what you want, my Dear,” Iris smirked. “White Rabbit Café is where I usually work; its tranquil mood puts my heart at ease, but today, its mood can change a little to accompany you.”
Lorient widened her eyes. Mistress didn’t take her here to continue their love!
“Mistress, I . . . I’ve let my fantasy take over me. This won’t happen again, so please forgive me just once.”
Iris shook her head. “I’ve been too lax for you; you deserve severe punishment, my Dear.”
Iris grabbed Lorient’s hand and, licking her lips, dragged her dismayed yet excited maid into the café, where she booked a private room undisturbed from the outside world, with endless free time to explore endless possibilities.