Verdant Skies

Walking through the halls towards the library, Iris planned to check in on Hermione before she went looking for the Kou princes. With her being in the palace now, she would be able to see the brunette more frequently same with Ron though they'd still have to keep some distance if only to keep up this facade. Eyes glancing towards her reflection in a nearby window, she mentally grimaced as her fingers twitched with the urge to tug her hair free of the bun it'd been placed into. Dressed in a dark crimson red today, the frilled edges of the gown trailed against the ground. To offset the red, she'd been given several golden ornaments to stick in her hair.

As she pressed on her way, Iris' ears caught the sound of loud muttering coming from ahead of her. Faltering for just a moment, she inwardly shook her head and pressed on seeing as the library was in that direction. She was a little surprised to find Prince Kouha stomping in her direction with a stormy look on his face. There was an unmistakeable tension within the halls as he strode forward, she almost jerked back as his eyes rose to meet hers with anger blazing in them. She cleared her throat and gave a quick curtsy, "Prince Kouha, it's a pleasure to see you this fine morning."

"Lady Iris," Kouha's eyes lost their anger and he offered her a light smile, "Good morning to you as well," He glanced around her curiously, "No Lord Habi?"

Forcing herself not to tense up at the mention of Lord Habi, Iris put on her best gentle smile and shook her head, "No, Lord Habi is currently in the middle of dealing with his nobles. He has little time for me during this portion of the day," She let out a soft laugh and forced herself to flush a bit, "Did you require him, Your Highness?"

"No, not all," Kouha shook his head, "I'm quite glad that we ran into one another,"

Curiosity curled through her though she forced herself to remain composed, Iris merely offered him a demure smile, ""How can I be of service, Your Highness?"

There was a moment where Prince Kouha's expression faltered, he cleared his throat while gaining a light smile. Iris could see the faintest flicker of something in his eyes that told her something was bothering him though. He spoke with his lips pulling into a pout, "My brothers have decided to spend time in the library when it's such a nice day outside," He gestured to the nearby windows which boasted a rather nice view of the sunlit gardens outside, "Since they wish to rot away inside today, can I interest you in joining me?"

Surprised both by the sudden invitation and the fact Hermione had the older two princes in her domain, Iris felt just a little bit torn. Either way, she'd be getting information especially if Hermione decided to seek her out later which would likely happen. And it would be nice to get away from the oppressive atmosphere of the castle for a few moments even if they would still be on the grounds, she would just need to find a way to seek out the older two princes later on. Mind made up as those thoughts swirled through her mind, she offered Prince Kouha a small smile, "I would be delighted to accompany you, Your Highness. A walk in the gardens sounds far more interesting than spending the day within the library."

Grinning at her, Kouha's cheeks gained a slight flush as he offered Iris his arm, "Let's go outside then, My lady."

Seeing Kouha practically dance as he walked into the small dining room where they were to eat meals while indulging in Lord Habi's hospitality, Kouen raised an eyebrow, "Rather chipper, aren't you, Ha? Did you find something to amuse yourself with after all?"

Nodding his head with a grin, Kouha dropped into one of the chairs, "Yup! Iris and I went on a walk through the gardens-"

Straightening as he shared a look with Koumei, Kouen cleared his throat, "Iris? Lady Iris, you mean?"

Humming as he began serving himself food, Kouha's smile was bright, "Yeah, I thought it was kind of silly for us to keep calling each other by our titles," Kouen's eyes narrowed at his youngest brother, "She's nice-"

"Ha," Koumei's voice was measured despite the frown curling at his lips, "You need to be careful-"

"I am being careful," Kouha denied Koumei with a slight scowl, "Trust me, Mei. Just because I'm making friends with-"

Pinching the bridge of his nose as irritation rolled through him, Kouen muttered, "Kouha," The boy fell silent immediately, and he breathed in through his nose before continuing, "As we told you last night, Lady Iris isn't someone that can be trusted right now. Not when she's merely a pawn to Lord Habi."

"B-but, Entei," Kouha started to protest, "She doesn't-"

"Nice or not, Lady Iris is, for the time being, aligned with the Goulon Empire, and as such, she's part of our enemy's camp," Kouen's gaze locked on his brother's with his expression stern, "Your feelings, or hers, don't change that fact. Your actions could have consequences for all of us."

Expression fell as Kouen's words seemed to sink in, Kouha's eyes dropped onto his lap as he muttered, "I...I understand, Entei. She's nice though and we had a lot of fun in the garden."

While not entirely unsympathetic to his brother's feelings, Kouen wasn't about to let Kouha jeopardize their mission before it could truly begin. Inclining his head to Kouha, he spoke in a lighter tone, "I am glad you enjoy yourself, Ha. But just remember that while we're here in the Goulon Empire, we need to be cautious and not let our guard down."

Ever the voice of reason, Koumei chimed in, "Don't forget that just because you're able to interact freely with Lady Iris, it doesn't mean Lord Habi isn't allowing it for some reason, Ha."

"Allowing-" Kouha's expression twisted a bit, "Iris said something about Lord Habi when I mentioned him earlier,"

Raising an eyebrow at that, Kouen leaned forward while wondering if this was a possible ploy of the man they were going to be overthrowing. While it wouldn't be something they could entirely disregard, the information would have to be taken with a grain of salt. Lips pulling back a bit, he asked, "What exactly did she say, Kouha?"

Scratching the back of his head, Kouha's expression turned thoughtful, "Well, she did mention that Lord Habi is usually busy with his nobles around that time of day. And she laughed about it, saying he has little time for her."

Sharing a look with Koumei, Kouen's eyebrows knit together as he contemplated that information. On one hand, it could be a ploy to make Lady Iris look like the perfect target for information gathering. On the other hand, the man could simply just have no actual time for her right now. Koumei's eyes were narrowed as he spoke, "That's interesting, Ha. Lord Habi's supposed to be her betrothed, and he's not making time for her. He may be deliberately keeping his distance to avoid arousing suspicion."

"For now," Kouen leaned back into his chair and grabbed the wine goblet that he'd scarcely touched since Kouha had entered the room, "We'll be keeping an eye out for any inconsistencies or patterns in Lord Habi's behavior," He stared into the dark liquid as a pair of emerald green eyes flashed through his mind briefly, "If we do so, we might just be able to pick out things that we can use to our advantage,"

Clearing his throat, Koumei spoke once Kouen's eyes had risen to meet his again, "Indeed, those inconsistencies might provide us with valuable insights into Lord Habi's motives and potential vulnerabilities."

With a frown firm on his face, Kouha spoke in a soft tone, "Right, I'll be more observant and cautious around Ir-Lady Iris. I won't get distracted by...by personal feelings."

"Good," Kouen took a sip of his wine before placing the goblet down, "I'm counting on you, Ha,"

Frown disappearing at that, Kouha grinned before digging into his food with gusto as Kouen smirked slightly.

Entering the library not long after eating lunch, Iris smiled as her eyes locked on Hermione and a glance revealed that none of Lord Habi's people nor the Kou were within the immediate vicinity. Moving towards her friend, she called out in a soft tone, "'Mione."

"Iris-" Hermione stopped short as she turned towards Iris' voice and her eyes went a bit wide, "Oh wow, they went all out,"

"So it seems," Iris' cheeks flushed and her hand rose in an aborted movement to rub the back of her neck.

Even in the years after being collared, Iris still held onto some of those old mannerisms even if the result only left her with discomfort. As her hand fell back to her side, Hermione spoke with a slight grimace showing that she'd caught the movement, "What brings you by, Ris? Or well, I should be calling you Lady Iris now, huh?"

Rolling her eyes with a low snort, Iris muttered, "'Mione..."

Snickering softly, the smallest shades of her former self peeking through at that moment as Hermione shook her head, "Only teasing, Ris," The brunette eyed her, "Though my question still stands, what brings you by? I would think you'd be trying to spend time with the princes per Lord Habi's orders."

"That is my plan and I did spend the morning with Prince Kouha," Iris followed Hermione as the brunette began walking towards a more concealed area of the library, "But my original intent was to come to check in on you before doing so," She sighed softly, "It's been far too long since we had time to catch up,"

"Very true," Hermione grimaced a bit while pausing to pick up a stack of books that had been left out, "But...Something changed since this morning?"

Nodding as she grabbed some books of her own to assist Hermione, Iris admitted, "Yes though I still plan to catch up with you. Ron as well when there is some time," She followed Hermione deeper into the shelves, "According to Prince Kouha, the elder two were within the library this morning. Do you happen to know why?"

Humming low in her throat, Hermione nodded as she began to put the books in her stack away, "Yes, the two were looking into the Empire's history with a particular interest in Lord Habi's family line."

"Oh?" Iris' eyebrows scrunched together at that, "Any idea why?"

While she had already suspected that they weren't here for the reasons they'd stated during dinner, the fact Prince Koumei and Prince Kouen were looking into the Empire's history was a bit odd. Odder still was the particular focus of Lord Habi's family line, it didn't make much sense to her. Hermione shook her head, "It's difficult to say especially when they're attempting to stick to their cover story. By looking into the empire's history as well as Lord Habi's family line, they could be searching for any weaknesses that could be beneficial for them to use. With the Kou Empire being involved in this, I can say for certain that nothing is off the table, Ris. They're known for never leaving a stone unturned."

Handing over the books she'd been carrying when Hermione held out a hand for them, Iris sighed heavily as she considered Hermione's words. Things were going deeper than at first glance, they could be sure of that. She spoke with a frown, "So being careful of our further interactions with them is a must, we need to gather what information is possible before trying to move forward. This won't be a quick job no matter how we look at it."

"Lord Habi won't be happy..." Hermione pointed out.

Internally wincing that, Iris grimaced as she looked away from Hermione, "I...I know, 'Mione. But we both already knew he'd probably take the chance to punish me whenever he could, I just have to deal with it."

"Ris-" Hermione sounded more distressed than Iris had heard in a long time.

Both of them jumped a bit as the library doors opened, Iris felt just a hint of relief when the main objects of their conversation walked into the room. She glanced at Hermione for a brief moment before clearing her throat and grabbing a semi-thick tome from the shelve. Walking out of the shelves, she acted somewhat and started to see Prince Kouen and Prince Koumei for a few moments before offering them a small bow, "Afternoon, Your Highness'. I trust your day has been going well?"

"Lady Iris," Prince Koumei greeted her with a light smile, "It is," He tilted his head a bit, "What brings you to the library?"

"Grabbing something to read, I dislike being idle for long," Iris held up her book with a small shrug, "And you two?"

While Prince Koumei seemed amiable enough, Prince Kouen exuded an air of indifference as he let out a low grunt, "Reading as well."

Moving off towards a table further in the library, Prince Kouen seemed content to ignore her presence. Iris' fingers curled tighter around the book she'd chosen at that though focused as Prince Koumei asked, "Is that a Markovic's book on Astrological signs and their meanings?"

Glancing at the book in her hand, Iris caught sight of the title and found herself smiling as she nodded, "Yes, you're familiar with it?"

"Quite familiar though it's been a while since I've read the book myself," Prince Koumei smiled warmly at her, "Are you?"

Shaking her head, Iris admitted to him, "Not really," She smiled sheepishly, "It's been a few years since I've studied anything to do with the skies though during my schooling it was something of a pleasure."

"Now," Prince Koumei's smile widened just a bit, "If you're willing, I do have a few books to suggest if you have the time to read them,"

"I should have the time," Iris started to look around for a piece of paper and pen to write down the list he was going to give her.

"If you'll follow me, I believe we came across a small selection of them earlier on," Prince Koumei gestured to an area deeper in the library.

Not quite faux stutters began to fall from her lips at that, Iris was startled that he would offer to help her find the books himself, "A-are you sure-"

Shaking his head lightly, Koumei's smile turned a hair gentler, "It's rare to find anyone willing to speak with about a topic I find interesting that doesn't involve war or politics. So please if you'll allow me to show you."

Inclining her head, Iris began following Koumei deeper into the stacks feeling strangely touched by the act. The unexpected warmth in his smile and seemingly genuine enthusiasm to speak with someone on a topic like astrology... took her by surprise. During the time that she'd spent in this world and wore these masks to do Lord Habi's bidding, no noble within this political landscape had seemed so genuine. But as Prince Koumei paused before a section of shelves, she found herself mentally frowning. There was a fine line to be walked here and no matter how nice or genuine the princes might seem, she couldn't afford to let her guard down.

Listening intently as Prince Koumei pulled a few books down and explained their significance as well as the aspects of astrology they covered, Iris nodded as she took the books from him carefully. She spoke as the last book was placed onto the small stack that had been settled within her arms, "Thank you, Prince Koumei. I look forward to reading these and learning more about the subject. It's a nice change of pace."

Chuckle leaving him, Prince Koumei's expression was bright as he gazed at her, "I'm glad you think so, Lady Iris. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions about the books or if you ever wish to discuss the topic. I find it quite fascinating."

Walking back through the shelves together, they parted with Iris leaving the library for her rooms. With those final words, she might be able to gain a foothold to gather information and perhaps...perhaps have a way to gain their freedom. Feeling the smallest seed of hope burning within her chest at those thoughts, she almost began to hum though managed to stifle it while passing a group of guards that were patrolling the halls. If there was one thing she didn't want to do, it was reveal any kind of happiness in front of Lord Habi's people.

"What were you doing?" Kouen's eyes narrowed at him as he settled back into the seat he'd chosen earlier.

Crossing his arms, Koumei eyed his older brother as Dentalion radiated a sense of amusement towards him. He spoke with a raised eyebrow, "What does it look like, En? Opening an avenue of communication with Lady Iris."

Eyebrow twitching as his eyes flickered with annoyance and concern, Kouen's voice betrayed none of that as he continued to speak in the same low tone he'd been using, "After we told Ha to be more careful about our interactions with her, you decide to engage her in astrology discussions?"

Sometimes playing with Kouen's patience was more amusing than Koumei would like to admit, he felt his lips twitch t as he responded, "Well, yes. It's not all about politics and war, Brother," He picked up one of the books he'd found earlier on," Sharing knowledge doesn't necessarily expose our intentions, but it can make her more cooperative in the long run. And who knows, we might learn something valuable in the process."

Eyes narrowing at Koumei, Kouen's lips pulled into a deep frown though his eyes were filled with a mixture of emotions that belayed the war within. Finally, there was a deep sigh as his elder brother seemed to acknowledge his motives for what they were, the dissatisfaction present in his eyes showed that he wasn't happy about it though. It wasn't too surprising though. He had seemingly gone against their decision to act cautiously when it came to being around Lady Iris after all even if the conversation they'd shared was innocent enough. Regardless of his intentions, Kouen wasn't pleased by what he'd done even if there might be a strategy to it.

"And what exactly is your plan, Mei?" Kouen's voice carried just the slightest hint of irritation to it.

Koumei's voice was calm and unwavering as he spoke, "Speak with her...get close through our conversations. Gain her trust. Information comes more easily once trust is earned."

There was a long moment of silence before Kouen finally released a deep sigh, it was the clearest sign that he'd conceded to Koumei's logic. Eyes softening with understanding, Kouen's voice held a slight warning tone, "Be careful, Mei. You might not be Ha, but considering the situation, we can't take any undue risks."

"I know, En," Koumei's lips pulled into a slight smirk, "I'll proceed carefully."

Seeming to relax at those words, Kouen sank into his chair and finally grabbed for his book, "Good."

Swallowing heavily as she followed the attendant through the dimly lit halls towards Lord Habi's solar, Iris' stomach churned with nervousness and dread. Her skin was itching from the heavy silk and lace construct she'd been forced into not even thirty minutes before, the fabric constructive against her skin as if it was something meant to impress rather than be comfortable. Every step forward felt like the collar around her neck was growing heavier, it made her chest tighten and sweat gather along her forehead though she didn't dare wipe it away. As the attendant leading her bowed to the guards outside the ornate door to Lord Habi's solar, Iris's heart pounded in her chest.

There was an impending feeling of doom that she couldn't shake, the weight of both unknown and known coming together in an unholy mix. Throat dry as her palms became sweaty, she forced herself to take a deep breath as the door opened with a creak prompting her to step inside. Much like the rest of his castle, Lord Habi's solar was a den of opulence with every inch decorated to the nines. From floor to ceiling, the man had trinkets that spoke of his immense wealth even if very few would truly see this place. With a quick scan of the room, she found Lord Habi sitting at an intricately carved wooden desk.

The attendant announced her presence, "Lady Iris to see you, M'lord."

Barely acknowledging the man's words and dismissing him, Lord Habi waved his hand and the attendant bowed quickly before leaving. As the door shut behind her with a heavy thud, Iris' apprehension grew both due to her attire and the uncertainty of what the man before her would do. She swallowed heavily though stayed silent knowing full well that he would happily render her barely able to move if she attempted to speak before he'd had a chance to. There was a long moment of silence as his eyes scanned her form, it was as if she were little more than a tasty piece of meat.

Disgust shuddered through her though she forced herself to stay still even as Lord Habi stood, he spoke while moving towards the currently lit fireplace, "My little toy," She barely managed to hold back a growl, "You look exquisite today, Iris. The ensemble suits you perfectly."

Suppressing the disgust that shuddered through her, Iris' voice was measured, "Thank you, Lord Habi."

Chuckling softly as he reached the fireplace, Lord Habi turned to her as she felt a shiver go down her spine at the sound, "Such formalities, my dear. There's no need for that today. We're alone."

There was an insinuation in his words that she could barely stand, it made her want to scream though she forced herself to remain composed. She spoke as her jaw clenched, "Lord Habi," She inwardly flinched at the way his eyes narrowed at her, "You called upon me not even a day after the Kou arrived. I assume that is what you wish to speak about?"

Lord Habi's eyes continued to fixate on her with an intensity that sent shivers down her spine. Smile always tinged with malicious satisfaction when directed towards her, seemed to grow as he stepped towards her, the steps he took were calculated and deliberate. Voice gaining a purr, he chuckled, "Quick as ever, Little pet," He slowly began to circle her though she forced herself to stay still despite the wish to keep an eye on him at all times, "Seems you've been quite busy fulfilling my little request."

Trying to keep her voice steady, Iris nodded while promising herself to keep a better eye on the various staff Lord Habi had littered about the castle if only for later, "Yes, sir. I am attempting to get close for the moment and it seems to be working."

"Good, good," Lord Habi's breath brushed against her ear and she bit back a snarl, "Get close enough to find out their true intentions," She stiffened as his thumb trailed across her cheek, "And once you do, we'll be able to root them out like the swine they are. My empire will not fall like the rest to these uppity little bastards that think they're good enough to conquer everything that fits their fancy,"

Breath stilling in her chest at the touch, Iris barely managed to force her voice to stay stable as she asked, "You plan to kill them?"

As her question hung heavily in the air, Lord Habi grasped her chin with a wicked grin spreading across his face, "Why of course, my dearest toy," He purred with his hot breath fanning her face, "It's the only way to ensure my empire's safety. Those Kou rats are a threat that must be eradicated."

Alarm spread through her at those words though she should've expected that this was why he would allow the Kou princes into his home, Iris had seen him do it more than once since arriving three years ago. Had saved someone from such an attempt three years ago, she felt her heart speed up at the thought of him doing it to the Kou Princes' who she was counting on freeing from this man. If they were going to get free, she would need to ensure those princes survived while also playing into Lord Habi's plans. Forcing her voice to stay measured, she replied, "Understood, Lord Habi."

There was a hand grasping one of her arms, the fingers of it driving into her skin harshly as Lord Habi glared at her, "You will do everything in your power to befriend those rats, Iris. Gain their trust, find out their weaknesses, and report everything back to me."

"I will, Lord Habi," Iris forced out in the same measured tone.

Lord Habi released his grip, and the wicked smile returned. "Excellent," he said. "You're such a dutiful little pet, Iris. Now, I have other matters to attend to, so you may go."

Not quite believing it though she wouldn't fully question her luck, Iris curtsied quickly, "Thank you, Lord Habi."

As she turned to go, the feeling of her collar tightening set in and Iris mentally cursed. With each step it grew tighter and tighter until she was just before the door when painful shocks began running down her body, she fell to her knees with a gasp as the collar tightened further still to the point it was suffocating her. As the shocks continued to travel through her body, she started to spasm against the cold stone floor. Each passing moment felt like an eternity as the shocks continued to torment her, the world around her darkening without an ounce of air entering her struggling lungs. Just as consciousness was about to blissfully be stripped from her, the collar loosened as the painful shocks dispersed.

Gasping in lungfuls of air, Iris slumped heavily against the floor though she found the slight respite it brought gone as Lord Habi's fingers dug into her hair harshly. Dragging her up by his grip as he bent down before her, the man's eyes gleamed with sickening enjoyment, "This is just a little reminder of what awaits you should things not go my way, Little pet," He gripped her chin with his other hand, "And well, I do so hate it when others take away my fun."

Eyes burning with tears that she wouldn't let fall within this man's presence, Iris's voice was strained from her restrained screams, "I-I understand, Lord Habi."

"Good," Lord Habi's sadistic smile grew wider as he released her to slump back against the ground, "Remember your place, my little pet. You exist only to serve me while that collar is on your neck,"

As Lord Habi turned from her, Iris inwardly seethed unable to speak again as she tried to gather her strength. With that little move, the resolve she had to go through with her plans burned stronger than ever and she planned on ensuring Lord Habi wouldn't survive once this was over.

Leaving the library as words had begun to blur together, Kouen began heading back towards his rooms. As he was crossing into another hallway, an odd sound hit his ears though couldn't quite put his finger on it. Only when he'd heard the sound once more further down the hall did he realize what it was, it was the low thump of someone stumbling into something. He recognized it from when Judar and Kouha were returning from a night spent drinking with the two somehow managing to make it close enough to his rooms. Lips pulling into a frown, he decided to ignore it as one of the guardsmen was likely drunk and their lord would need to punish them come morning.

As he was making his way deeper into the hall and the sound grew just a bit closer, Kouen's ears picked up another sound that alarmed him. A pained gasp of the female variety and his blood ran a bit cold. Before he truly registered it, he was moving towards the source and found himself standing in the shadows of another four-way within the castle. Eyes widening as a figure became visible with her body leaning heavily against the wall and lacking any kind of grace that he'd seen her bear, Lady Iris moved with great difficulty through the halls.

Heavily tanned skin having paled with her cheeks flushed, Lady Iris' eyes were alight with pain and misery. Hair unbound from its usual bun, it seemed sweat-soaked same with the woman's forehead. She breathed harshly like every breath was a chore and trembled like a leaf as if she'd seen a ghost. As Kouen started to move forward to assist her, he heard a male voice call out, "Ris?"

A voice far more weak and hoarse than he'd ever heard it, Lady Iris' head rose from its currently slumped position against the wall, "R-ron?"

"S-shit," A guardsman appeared from one of the other halls and darted for Lady Iris, "When did this happen?"

"I-Ron, just help me to my room, please," Lady Iris' voice was pained as the man quickly steadied her, "I-I won't be able to keep myself up much longer,"

There was a flash of rage and regret that crossed the man's face, Kouen watched his jaw clenched before he nodded, "Alright, Ris. But seriously, we gotta talk-"

"Not right now..." Lady Iris' voice shook in a way that made Kouen's stomach twist and drop, "J-just-Please..."

There was a long silence as the guardsman began leading Lady Iris toward the hallways that he'd come from, "Alright, Ris...Alright..."

As the two started to leave, Kouen's eyes caught sight of something glinting just below the edge of her scarf. As his eyes focused on that, he spotted the redness of her skin which indicated the beginnings of a bruise, and his eyes narrowed. Just what could she be hiding beneath her scarf? He shook his head and decided that his presence was indeed not need though supposed he'd gained something from this little exchange. As the sound of Iris' painful breaths faded from his ears and he turned to retreat to his rooms, he was left with a gnawing feeling in the pit of his stomach.

This had confirmed one suspicion of his but also added more questions than he truly preferred to have at this point, Kouen mentally scowled while striding through the halls. Despite Lord Habi's claims of Lady Iris being his future consort, the man's actions thus far and Lady Iris' current state left quite a few holes in that claim. They couldn't accuse the man of lying to them though as it would place not only them in danger, but Lady Iris as well. Though it would seem Lady Iris seemed to be in danger currently, he frowned a bit at the thought of her current state, especially with the mysterious thing she was hiding beneath her scarf and the bruise. Even if they were to potentially use Lady Iris as a source of information, they would need to be careful of anything that came from her as there was no telling if she bore any true loyalty to that man.