The inside of the general store became bustling with the appearance of Iris. The women who were shopping were busy nodding to Iris, and the employees were pretending not to notice while subtly watching Iris.
“Jasmine! You’re in the store just in time. We need to have a proper conversation today. Even a small general store would have a guest reception room, right? Could you show me?”
Iris didn’t see Elise and Karan, who were tucked away in a corner. Even if Elise and Karan were near her, she probably wouldn’t have recognized them right away.
That’s because Iris’s attention was entirely focused on Jasmine and her accessories.
While Elise was away, Jasmine’s hairpins and accessories had recorded a hit as before.
Moreover, with Elise’s advice to upscale, the nobles lined up.
Jasmine released a limited edition accessory. Then, the noblewomen had people line up for it.
Complaints erupted about the long line that stretched out before the neighboring stores even opened their doors.
So, Jasmine sought advice from Elise and distributed reservation tickets for sales.
Most were distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, but they were also given as gifts to those who had a special relationship with Jasmine or those who had a good impression through Elise.
So, the young ladies and wives who were quite dignified and smart in the social world all wore at least one of Jasmine’s accessories.
But Iris still couldn’t buy Jasmine’s accessories.
[What to do? The reservation tickets have already been all distributed. You’re a step late.]
Jasmine always said the same thing. But to Iris, it seemed nothing more than Jasmine’s spite.
‘She’s jealous of me. She’s just showing off because I’m eager.’
Iris didn’t want to see Jasmine’s triumphant look, but she wanted to wear Jasmine’s accessories at the upcoming party to celebrate the successful gate subjugation.
[You couldn’t get Jasmine’s accessories? Oh my… I’d like to help you, but as you know, I’ve already made a reservation with the pre-sale ticket. How about asking His Highness Chase? Even Jasmine would find it hard to refuse a royal request.]
The women who were interacting with Iris chimed in one by one. They all had Jasmine’s accessories in their hair.
Having been a trendsetter, Iris was hurt to be left behind in the trend.
So she visited Jasmine several times, but each time she was either out or dealing with customers.
But today, she ran into Jasmine who was idly browsing the shelves!
Thus no one else entered Iris’s eye.
But it doesn’t mean her ears were blocked.
“Sis, I see you’re here. Have you been well?”
“Elise? Why are you here? And Prince Karan…huh?”
Iris’s face, which seemed to be taken aback by the unexpected encounter, delighted Elise.
“You should be polite, Sis.”
Elise pointed out the etiquette that Iris always emphasized. Iris slightly bowed her head and knee to greet Karan and lifted her chin.
“Didn’t you ask what’s going on here? I thought you’d be having a grand engagement ceremony in the capital of Tetris by now. Even if it’s grand, it wouldn’t be on the level of the Bedrokka family’s engagement ceremony.”
Iris narrowed the distance so that only Elise could hear and poured out words like a machine gun.
“A grand engagement ceremony is nice. But what’s the use of a grand engagement ceremony if there’s no true heart towards each other? Even if it’s decorated on the outside, the two people will still be unhappy, won’t they?”
Elise subtly showed that she knew about the discord between Iris and Chase. Iris, who was quick-witted, suddenly sharpened her gaze.
Elise ignored Iris’s challenge of argument with a smile and put her hand on Karan’s arm.
“Your Highness Karan, you said you would give me a gift, right? I heard that Jasmine’s limited edition accessory set is coming out this time, and I want that. Jasmine even engraves numbers.”
Elise spoke as if she knew that Iris was eager to get Jasmine’s item.
It was the first time Elise had asked Karan to buy something, and he was overwhelmed.
He was thinking of buying the entire Jasmine’s accessory store just a moment ago, but he was also deflated by the mere request for one accessory set. However, it was important that she had asked directly.
“Of course. Lady Jasmine, whatever it is, can you send the new arrivals to Elise first from now on? I’ll pay whatever you ask.”
Elise grimaced at the feeling of defeat.
Karan seemed unaware of how expensive women’s accessories are, especially designer accessories, where the price is what the designer asks.
He could afford to buy a set, but it would be difficult to buy Jasmine’s accessories every time.
Of course, if Jasmine was giving it to Elise, she would call an unbelievable sale price, but even that was not pleasant to Elise.
The value of a product is revealed when it is purchased at its price.
Elise was thinking of telling Jasmine later not to worry about Karan’s order, but Jasmine answered.
“It would be an honor if Elise wore it. I’ll send NO.1 to Elise every time.”
“Jasmine?”
The one who was surprised by the too generous answer was Iris.
She couldn’t even get a reservation ticket, but Elise was getting Jasmine’s limited edition accessory, and even NO. 1!
Iris forgot about the surrounding gaze and failed to manage her expression.
Seeing the flushed Iris, Jasmine quickly saluted Elise.
“Oh my! I forgot about my appointment with a customer. See you later, Elise. Your Highness Karan, I hope I have the honor of seeing you again before you leave Bedrokka.”
Jasmine hurriedly left the general store before sparks flew from Iris.
Elise, who hadn’t heard that there was an appointment, realized that she had avoided Iris.
“We should go too, Elise.”
Since he had chosen a gift for her–by herself,–Karan had no reason to stay longer.
It was when Elise gently took the hand he offered.
“Wait a moment, Your Highness. You can’t just send my Sister away when she came to Bedrokka. Our parents will be very upset. Will you come to our house for dinner tonight? Elise, you want to see our parents too, don’t you?”
Elise was going to refuse right away, but she caught the surrounding gaze.
If she doesn’t stop by the house, the discord between her and Iris will reignite, and it will be like adding fuel to the scandal of the past that has already been covered.
‘I’m involved in the discord between Chase and Iris.’
The rumors related to the fistfight between Karan and Chase were covered by speculation related to the gate subjugation without reason.
“Okay, I’ll go in the evening.”
“His Highness Karan will come too, right?”
“He’s busy…”
“I’d be happy to accept the invitation. Elise, I forgot. I mean, the dinner appointment was canceled.”
Karan accepted the dinner invitation while canceling even the non-existent appointment so that Elise wouldn’t feel uncomfortable.
Now that it had come to this, there was no reason not to go.
***
“Elise is back?”
“Yes, Father. I saw her in town. It seems she hasn’t even held an engagement ceremony yet. She doesn’t even have a ring on her hand.”
As soon as Iris returned home, she brought up Elise. Naturally, the reaction of the Wortons was not good.
“She must have been scared when she actually went to Tetris? There’s nothing to eat, it’s just cold. It’s a place full of barbarians. She’s probably sneaking back home, no way!”
Fraser expressed an absurd worry that Elise might settle down in the Worton’s house.
“Honey, isn’t Prince Karan trying to leave Elise? After living together, he must have been bothered by Elise’s unruly nature.”
Madam Worton was writing a story using her imagination of the discord between the two.
No one could even imagine that Karan, who closed the first gate and was a semi-hero, had come at the polite request of the Bedrokka royal family–at least on the surface.
“Anyway, I’m glad to see Elise again.”
Iris quietly listened to the two badmouthing Elise and then acted as the good sister.
Madam Worton hugged Iris tightly.
“You’re a good girl. Even though you had an unwanted marriage because of your sister…”
“Mom, don’t say that. Prince Chase is also great. He always thanks me.”
“He should! He got an overqualified bride!”
“Shh, honey, be careful with your words.”
Madam Worton pouted her lips and went outside.
She made an excuse to tell the servants that there would be guests for dinner, but the main reason was that she didn’t want to hear Fraser’s nagging.
“Is Prince Chase doing well? Any news?”
One of the few people who knew that Iris was involved in David’s poisoning case was Fraser.
He believed in Iris’s innocence as solid as iron, but it was hard to deny that her reputation in the palace had fallen due to this incident.
“He’s doing well. These days, he’s so busy that he doesn’t have time to open his eyes. Even though he’s busy, he often sends me letters. At the end of each letter, he always asks me to stop by the palace. So I’m going to stop by the palace soon.”
Everything except the fact that Chase was busy was a lie. But she was going to stop by the palace soon.
The gate subjugation is coming soon, but Chase didn’t say anything about it.
‘I’m the only one who’s pitiful.’
“Who wouldn’t like you? Tell me before you go. I brought in some good liquor from abroad a while ago. It’s better to take something than to go empty-handed. If you’re very busy, you’ll be desperate for a drink in the evening.”
He didn’t say to stay overnight, but Iris knew what Fraser wanted.
“Yes, father.”
Iris smiled kindly at Fraser and went back to her room.
“Niki, I need to change my clothes. Bring me the dress I bought recently.”
Iris spent the whole evening dressing up. She wanted to kill Elise’s spirit.
After a while, the promised time finally came.
Elise and Karan knocked on the door of the Worton’s house at the exact time.
“Welcome, Your Highness.”
Fraser greeted him at the door as a courtesy. The awkward dinner began.
