Verdant Skies

Along the cold polished halls of Rakushou's main palace, Kouen distanced himself from the main chamber, where the meeting with his father had taken an unexpected turn. A deep scowl etched across his features as he ruminated on the encounter. Gyokuen had inserted herself into the meeting like an unwanted leech, injecting an unwelcome presence that tainted the otherwise routine report. Distaste lingered on his tongue, a bitter aftertaste from Gyokuen's incessant barrage of backhanded compliments and attempts to undermine his reports. A small snort left him as he thought of the look on Gyokuen's face when he mentioned the lack of her precious priests or any of the others who tended to follow the woman.

It was a calculated move on Kouen's part, a reminder that her influence held limitations, at least beyond the gilded halls of the palace. Despite that calculated move, Kouen knew that woman would find out any information that had been left out of his reports whether he wished it or not. Mind shifting through the layers of schemes and alliances, he would not be caught off guard by the bitch. There was a laugh from above, he glanced up to see Judar perched on one of the raised wooden beams above him, "Judar..."

"Kouen~" The magi's ruby eyes gleamed as he jumped down from his perch, "Tell me, are the rumors true? Did you really bring a concubine back from that backwater?"

Inwardly snorting at the fact rumors were already starting to surface, Kouen continued to walk, "Iris is not a concubine, Judar."

There was something hilarious about that thought, Kouen had a feeling that anyone who even tried to suggest Iris become a concubine would find themselves in a very uncomfortable position in short order. Keeping pace with him, Judar tossed his long braid over a shoulder, "Well if she's not a concubine then why bring her? I mean what's so interesting about her?"

Keeping his expression stoic despite the urge to smile, Kouen spared Judar a sidelong glance as he replied, "She's an artist. A painter."

Eyes widening in mock surprise, Judar pressed a hand to his chest, "An artist? You, Kouen Ren, bringing an artist into the royal court? Now, that's a twist I didn't see coming," He grinned mischievously, "Is she here to paint your magnificent portrait, my lord?"

Barely managing to refrain from rolling his eyes, Kouen snorted softly. He chose to relay the information that Koumei had thought would be a good excuse as to why Iris was here even if her true reason was innocuous enough as it was. In their world of politics, one could never be too careful even among allies. Barely glancing at Judar, he replied, "She's here because she has a particular skill set that might be of use."

"Oh? Pray tell, what skill set does a painter possess that could be of use to the mighty Kouen Ren?" Judar's tone oozed with playful sarcasm.

"Observation," Kouen replied tersely, "She notices details that others might overlook. In a world where information is power, having someone with a keen eye can be valuable,"

Raising an eyebrow, Judar crossed his arms, "Observation, you say? Not something like oh, I don't know, companionship?"

Pausing mid-step, Kouen shot Judar a warning look. Speaking of such things in the main palace was a dangerous thing, Judar looked a bit startled as he growled, "Mind your own business, Judar."

Releasing a chuckle, Judar tried to make himself look unaffected by Kouen's stern words, "You're no fun, Kouen. But I'll play along for now," Kouen resumed walking with Judar following him, "Soo...where is this pretty little artist? I'd love to meet her and see what she's capable of."

There was an undertone to Judar's words, a possessive tone that had Kouen's hackles rising. For all that their magi could be a playful little asshole, the boy was capable of ripping people apart just because they displeased him. And when it came to his Dungeon Capturers, Judar was one of the most possessive beings he'd ever met and had killed more than one concubine that the Emperor tried to throw at his sons just because the bitch 'took up too much time'. But he also knew Judar liked finding interesting things, the boy had a specific fascination with anything that held power.

With that in mind and knowing how strong Iris was, Kouen nodded after a long moment of consideration, "Fine. You can meet her, but keep your antics in check. We have more important matters to attend to."

While in theory Kouha helping her find something presentable for the party was a good idea, Iris heavily regretted it mostly due to the many dress and makeup options he'd practically shoved into her face within an hour of showing up at Koumei's palace. And with Koumei being out due to needing to attend to his duties, she couldn't rely on him for assistance in getting Kouha to calm down. Becoming overwhelmed an hour in, she managed to slip out into the gardens Koumei had attached to his palace and sank onto the grass in a secluded area.

Grass tickled at her fingers, Iris took a deep breath, trying to regain some composure. The vibrant colors of the flowers and the gentle rustle of leaves in the breeze provided a welcome contrast to the chaos inside. Slowly as she shifted into a more comfortable position which ended up with her lying in a sunspot, she felt herself begin to relax. Her eyes closed as she breathed in the delicate fragrances surrounding her, the soft hum of distant chatter from the palace served as a reminder of the upcoming event. For the moment though, she could finally relax and simply breathe. Eyes opening not long after she'd closed them at the sound of footsteps approaching, she sat up and glanced about before her eyes locked on Kouen.

As a smile formed, it began to drop into a confused frown at the sight of his companion. Lean and muscular, the boy's inky hair hung in a long, segmented ponytail that stretched down to his ankles. Dressed in what looks to be a black belly dancer's outfit, the boy's midriff was exposed. Golden bangles decorated his arms and neck, a thick ruby was the centerpiece of his necklace. A white scarf-like material hung about his shoulders. Deep purple makeup coated his black ringed eyes, it brought out the deep ruby color of them.

Before she could speak, the boy's eyes narrowed and he hissed like a pissed-off cat, "What the fuck is this, Kouen? That's no normal human!"

Seemingly unfazed by Judar's outburst, Kouen stepped past the boy and walked towards where Iris still sat, "Judar," She blinked a bit at the realization this was the magi Kouha spoke of so often, "This is Iris," Kouen looked towards her, "Iris, this is Judar, Kou's Oracle and our magi," He stepped in front of her and held out a hand, "He wished to meet you after hearing so many rumors."

Distaste welled up at hearing those words, Iris clicked her tongue, "Rumors? Already?" She took Kouen's hand and let him help her up, "I thought there would be a little bit more time before those started up."

"Considering the fact you arrived with us, we really shouldn't be so shocked," Kouen chuckled softly.

"Kouen," Judar snapped as he pointed an accusing finger at Kouen, "You're a liar," Kouen raised an eyebrow at the boy as Iris looked between the two confused, "The amount of Rukh fluttering about her says so," He squinted at her and tilted his head, "Fucking weird patterns..."

Blinking slowly at the semi-familiar words, Iris had only ever heard that when meeting a new magician. She rubbed the back of her neck, "I...have heard that a few times," She flushed at the look Kouen tossed her, "Most magicians tend to say that when they meet me, they do it around the others too though only when magics involved-"

"Magic?" Judar frowned at her, "You mean magoi?"

"No magic," Iris heard Kouen sigh and realized that he'd probably been keeping it a secret from Judar, "Uh...shit, I said the wrong thing, huh?"

Offering Kouen an apologetic look, Iris was relieved when Kouen merely shook his head. He told her, "It was going to come out eventually. I'm just glad it wasn't around the main palace."

"What's going on?" Judar scowled at them.

"To put things bluntly, I'm able to use magic which is completely separate from magoi," Iris explained earning a confused look, "I as well as some friends of mine can't use magoi. It's just something we can't physically do. We're able to do things like this though," She conjured up a fireball before transforming it into a butterfly that began flying about earning a wide-eyed look from Judar, "I can do more than that, but I figure an in-depth explanation can wait,"

"That-the Rukh didn't even..." Judar slowly dropped down to sit on the ground with a stunned expression, "How...how the fuck are you able to do that?"

Hesitating for another moment and sharing a glance with Kouen, Iris told Judar, "If it weren't for the fact Kouen, Koumei, and Kouha trust you, I wouldn't say anything. They do though, so..." She took a deep breath before admitting, "I alongside some friends come from another world. One that we can't get back to as far as we're aware."

Letting out a laugh, Judar shook his head wildly, "That's some of the wildest shit..." He trailed off after realizing she wasn't lying, "You...you're really...But then..." He looked at Kouen, "The fuck happened in the Goulon Empire?"

With a hefty sigh, Kouen settled down on the soft grass and Iris joined him after finding a servant to bring them some refreshments. Judar listened to Kouen's words with rapt attention and his eyes went wide at the mention of her former status, "Holy fuck, you were a slave-"

"Only to ensure my friends were safe," Iris's fingers went up to her neck and felt the thick scar that rested there, "I've little regrets in that regard,"

Holding up his hands, Judar shook his head, "Easy, I was only saying it's kinda surprising," Iris's eyes narrowed, "With that kind of odd magic, I wouldn't have guessed someone could get the drop on you."

Lips peeling back into a slight snarl, Iris glared at Judar though said nothing as Kouen set a hand on her knee. She turned away from the boy as Kouen scolded him, "Enough, Judar."

There was a small grumble from the magi though his protest subsided after a few moments, Iris had a feeling he wouldn't let it go until he'd been given a satisfactory answer. Whether that ended with her injuring him in dragon form or not, she didn't know. She took a sip of the wine that had been dropped off and only chimed in to clarify certain parts of the story. By the end, Judar let out a low whistle, "Damn, you kept a lot from your dear old dad."

"If Gyokuen had not been present, I would have said more," Kouen crossed his arms.

"I don't blame you on that. The bitch is creepy as fuck," Judar shook his head as Iris felt a bolt of dread, "So...you can turn into a dragon?" Iris nodded while eyeing Judar, "Any chance you can show me?"

"Not right now," Kouen rolled his eyes as Judar pouted at him, "Sometime in the coming weeks, yes. Right now, we have a party to prepare for," He glanced at Iris as she let out a muffled groan, "Problem?"

"Save me from your youngest brother?" Iris asked with a pleading look, "I'm thankful for his help, really, but he needs to tone it down. I feel like I've been dragged back to my 4th year which is not a nice feeling at all,"

Amusement filling his eyes, Kouen smirked, "Oh?"

"Kouen..." Iris didn't care if she was technically whining as Kouha had been driving her up a wall since he'd invaded Koumei's palace.

Come to think of it, Koumei had left oddly fast once Kouha had arrived which made Iris want to strangle him just a little bit now that she'd realized why. Chuckling softly, Kouen nodded to her, "I'll have a word with him."

Setting down her wine glass, Iris hugged him earning a soft grunt, "Thank you! I was tempted to hide out here until Koumei came back otherwise."

Slowly wrapping his arms around her, Kouen chuckled as he patted her back, "No problem."

Flushing as Judar released a loud whistle, Iris pulled away from Kouen quickly as the magi grinned, "Well, well, what do we have here? Kouen Ren showing affection to someone?"

"Be quiet, Judar," Kouen shot the magi as glare.

Holding up his hands with a wide grin, Judar laughed, "I'm just sayin', Kouen. Well, I'm going to head out before Kouha decides to bitch at me because you decided to ruin his fun."

As Judar sauntered off, Iris couldn't help but feel a mix of amusement and embarrassment. Shoot Kouen a look as the prince stood, she asked him, "Is it really that uncommon for you to show affection?"

Inclining his head, Kouen eyed her for a moment, "With my position, it's important to come off as serious and reserved. Koumei bears the same weight though to a lesser extent," Iris nodded in understanding, "I don't usually indulge in public displays of affection."

Biting her bottom lip, Iris felt a pang of guilt and unease, "Oh..."

"But," Kouen cupped Iris's cheek with that gentle smile that always made her feel warm, "With you, I wouldn't mind. There will be some limits of course," He ran his thumb along her cheek and she found herself leaning into his touch, "But I would never say no to your touch,"

Cheeks flushing at the look in his eyes as he said that, Iris cleared her throat, "I...Okay..."

There was a low sigh from Kouen as Kouha's voice pierced the air, Iris let out a low laugh and covered her mouth. He shook his head, "That brat..."

"I was wondering when he'd notice I'd snuck off," Iris felt a small bolt of disappointment as Kouen's hand left her cheek, "We should go find him," She hesitated for a moment before offering her hand to Kouen, "Shall we?"

Eyeing her for a moment, Kouen nodded as he took her hand with a small smile. They walked through the garden hand in hand towards where Kouha was shouting for her.

"...and done!" Kouha grinned brightly and patted Iris's shoulder, "Take a look, Iris,"

Mentally rolling her eyes at his excitement, Iris turned to face the mirror, "I don't see-Huh..."

Despite all his fussing during the past two days, Kouha had only insisted on giving Iris light makeup. And with her aversion to having anything on her neck at the current moment, he had compromised with a light concealer that she couldn't even feel. There was a golden sheen to her, it brought out the green of her markings and hair, the emerald of her eyes popped out from the light purple eyeliner Kouha had selected Her lips had been painted a pale red, the edges were almost pink. Dressed in a midnight blue eastern-style dress, the silver-toned white ribbons in her loosely braided hair seemed to gleam.

Iris blinked at her reflection, genuinely surprised by the transformation Kouha had achieved. The subtle makeup enhanced her features without feeling heavy, and the overall effect was elegant and refined. The midnight blue dress complemented her coloring, giving her a regal and sophisticated appearance. Leaning in next to her, Kouha eyed the mirror with an excited look on his face, "Well?"

Turning to him with a light smile, Iris nodded, "You did a fantastic job, Kouha. Thank you."

"Told ya," Kouha clapped his hands, "Let's get going, I'm sure En and Mei will murder me if we take any longer," He gave an exaggerated sigh, "Honestly, some people can't understand what it takes to look this good,"

Biting back a snort, Iris simply nodded and they left Kouha's room in the main palace where they'd been getting ready. With everything going on, the halls were almost completely devoid of people save for the occasional servant who paused to give her a wide-eyed look. Stopping before a small pair of double doors, Kouha led her inside where Kouen and Koumei were waiting. Kouen turned to scowl at his younger brother, "Kouha-"

Flushing at the way Kouen's eyes widened and his cheeks gained a slight color to them. Delicate flush coating his cheeks, Koumei quickly covered his face with Dantalion's fan. Kouha grinned as he gently pushed her deeper into the room, "Did I do good, or did I do amazing?"

Clearing his throat, Koumei nodded, "Iris, you look very beautiful tonight."

"Thank you, Koumei," Iris's flush darkened at the compliment.

Letting out a loud laugh, Kouha wrapped an arm around her shoulders, "I've outdone myself even with toning it down."

"That you have," Kouen walked over and held out his arm to Iris, "Iris,"

Taking his arm as Kouha let out a low groan and released her, Iris offered Kouen a warm smile, "I suppose I'm accompanying you for the first part of this, Kouen?"

"To a point, Koumei will be taking over when our father decides he wishes for attention," Kouen walked towards the larger pair of double doors where Iris could hear a large amount of noise being generated on the other side, "Kouha will, of course, able to take over should we both be unavailable, but we'll try not to let that happen,"

"Hey!" Kouha growled at Kouen.

"Don't worry, Kouha," Iris shot him a light smile, "I'm trusting you to help me out if things get too boring,"

Grinning at her as Kouen and Koumei snorted loudly, Kouha laughed, "Of course!"

There was a soft knock at the double doors cutting off any further conversation, Iris swallowed heavily as a bolt of anxiety rushed through her. Someone stuck their head in, "My Princes, are you ready?"

"Yes," Kouen's voice was cold as he stepped forward and she quickly fell into step beside him.

As the doors swung open to reveal a grand party in full swing, the room was adorned with luxurious decorations, and the air was filled with lively chatter and the strains of music. As they stepped into the hall, all eyes turned toward them. With an air of authority and coldness, Kouen led the way through the crowd, and the guests parted to make way for them. She could sense the curiosity and speculation surrounding her. It was as if the entire hall held its breath in anticipation. Excitement and trepidation rushed through her, she could hear soft murmurs rush through the crowd as they walked past.

Guided by the party's flow, they soon reached a quieter section where Kouen's father, the Emperor stood with a woman Iris assumed was his wife. There was an unsettling feeling brewing underneath her skin as the woman's eyes met hers, it made the dragon within her soul growl darkly in a way only Lord Habi had managed up until now. Trying not to tense as they came to a stop before the pair, she forced herself to bow alongside Kouen as he addressed his father, "Father..." He paused for a long moment, "Honored Step-mother."

"My son," Emperor Koutoku greeted Kouen rather blandly, "Who is this?"

"This is Lady Iris, Potter," Kouen answered as Iris tried not to glance at him for the title, "She is going to be Koumei and I's guest for the foreseeable future,"

Eyes narrowing at his eldest son, Koutoku frowned slightly, "I see."

Gaze shifting towards her, Koutoku's eyes seemed to pierce through Iris, and she resisted the urge to fidget under the scrutiny. There was a calculating gleam in them that reminded her of Kouen and Koumei in an unsettling way, she didn't feel any sense of warmth though. While she was curious about what he was thinking, she knew from experience it was better not to push for an answer at the current moment. Despite remaining silent, Gyokuen's sharp eyes seemed to evaluate Iris in a way that made her uncomfortable. There was a smile on the woman's face that almost reminded her of a spider, the thought made every hair on the back of her neck rise.

Gyokuen broke the silence, "How...quaint of you to bring your guest, Kouen," She raised a fan over her mouth, "I assume Kouha got her dressed up."

"I did," Kouha's voice contained a hint of venom.

Kouen's arm tightened for a moment as Koutoku's attention shifted back to him, "She's quite young. What brings her here?"

"Her country has a different style of nobility," Kouen lied smoothly despite the fact they'd never actually discussed such a thing, "So I offered to show her how things work in our country,"

Gyokuen's fan-covered smirk widened, "How delightful. A little diversion, perhaps?"

Kouen's jaw tightened as his eyes gleamed with barely withheld malic, but he maintained his respectful tone, "Lady Iris is our guest, and she will be treated with the utmost respect."

Eyes glinting with something Iris couldn't quite describe, Gyokuen replied, "Of course."

Sensing the tension in the air, Koutoku intervened, "Welcome, Lady Iris. Enjoy your time in Kou."

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Iris replied with a courteous bow.

With the formalities concluded, Kouen led Iris away from the Emperor and Gyokuen, navigating through the bustling crowd once more. As if that meeting had been the starting sound, Iris found herself swept along as Kouen, Koumei, and even Kouha were greeted by various nobles. Dignitaries that had attended the party drifted along to speak with the three as well, she found herself immersed in a variety of conversations as the night wore on though relied heavily on the three princes to extract her from any conversations that drifted too far into unfamiliar or unwanted territory.

Observing from the sidelines after finishing a conversation that had pulled him away, Koumei noted how Iris adapted to the intricate dance of noble interactions. She handled the various conversations with grace and growing confidence. It was a testament to her adaptability which he appreciated as it showed she would be able to navigate the unfamiliar waters of Kou's court. Glancing to her side where Kouen stood, he noted that his older was handling things with practiced ease as always. Kouen's expression remained composed, revealing little of his thoughts. In times like this, he wondered just what was hovering beneath the calm surface that his brother was portraying.

Turning his head as a throat was cleared, Koumei offered a light smile to Hakuei as his adoptive sister stepped to stand beside him, "Hakuei, it is good to see you."

"You as well, Koumei," Hakuei greeted him with a gentle smile, "It's been too long though with Kouen dragging you away and Mother doing the same to me..." She let out a low sigh, "It's of little surprise,"

"Truly," Koumei took a small sip of his wine, "How are you this evening?"

"I'm well though I've found myself quite curious," Hakuei's eyes were focused forward and Koumei followed her gaze towards where Kouen was walking with Iris as they spoke with a low-ranking noble, "That girl you brought back..." He eyed his adoptive sister, "Tell me are the rumors true?"

Glancing towards Hakuei whose eyes were locked on Kouen and Iris with an intensity that didn't sit well with him, Koumei cleared his throat, "Rumors are often mired with falsehoods as you well know, Hakuei," She glanced at him, "What have you heard?"

Lips pulling into an amused smile, Hakuei raised her glass, "A few things though the most interesting ones drift between a concubine," Koumei's eyebrow twitched at that, "Some say she has some form of mysterious power with which she's managed to bewitch you three," He snorted softly at that, "And...Well, a tragic past was tossed in," She carried a knowing look in her eyes, "I'm a fan of the one where she's a possible runaway princess. It makes for a more interesting story, no?"

Snorting as he shook his head, Koumei's tone was dry, "You tell Kouha and Kougyoku to lay off the stories while thinking up something like that," He took a sip of his wine, "While I will confirm that Lady Iris isn't from around here, she isn't a princess, Hakuei," He looked towards Iris who was beginning to look a bit tired and irritated with her current conversation partner, "As for her past, she is not obligated to share unless she wishes to," He set down his wine glass, "She is no concubine either."

"I see..." Hakuei hummed low in her throat, "So...what of your intentions, Koumei?" He glanced towards her feeling slightly shocked and she merely raised an eyebrow at him, "While it might not be noticeable to most, I can tell something is different about both Kouen and you,"

"Nothings-" Koumei started to protest only to stop at the pointed look Hakuei gave him.

If there was one person he could not fool besides Kouen, it was Hakuei. Despite drifting apart as she took on more duties that fulfilled her dream of eventually becoming a general, they had spent years learning together. So he released a sigh and slumped slightly, Hakuei pressed, "So?"

"I..." Koumei tried to figure out the best way to answer her without revealing everything especially as they were in the middle of a party.

Before he had a chance to, Iris called out to him as she walked over, "Koumei," She had a tired smile on her face, "Mind getting some fresh air with me? It's a bit stuffy in here," She paused slightly while glancing towards Hakuei, "Unless you're in the middle of something-"

"It's quite alright," Hakuei smiled reassuringly at Iris, "I was merely keeping Koumei company for a little bit," She turned her head, "Though Koumei, we should talk later, alright?"

"Right," Koumei nodded to his adoptive sister.

Giving Iris a polite nod, Hakuei disappeared into the crowd leaving Iris staring after her in confusion while Koumei felt a burst of relief. Offering her his arm, he smiled as she took it slowly while asking, "Did I...interrupt something important? I have a feeling-"

"It's nothing, Iris," Koumei led her through the crowd being careful to dodge anyone heading their way and out through a side door into the gardens, "Are you alright? I thought Kouen was keeping you company,"

"He was before a-" She paused with a concentrated look on her face, "General or something walked up, I can't remember what the guy said he was. All the tiles and stuff being thrown around are starting to get a bit confusing," Koumei offered her a sympathetic look, "They started talking in and the guy seemed to think something about it needed to be a secret,"

"So he had Kouen send you my way," Koumei realized earning a small nod.

"Only after we both realized Kouha had disappeared though I'm pretty sure he went somewhere with Judar," Iris rubbed at the back of her neck, "This is tiring, I kind of wish they would've dragged me along,"

Snorting softly as he led her to a nearby bench, Koumei shook his head, "By morning, you would be cursing yourself out for saying that," She eyed him, "They're probably drinking their way through a bar."

"Oh," Iris's nose wrinkled and she grimaced, "That sounds kind of stupid, I mean drinking is nice, but not to get drunk," Koumei sat down beside her, "You get what...like an hour or two of enjoyment before things start turning shitty? No thanks especially when the next day turns out to be even worse,"

As she shook her head, Koumei eyed her in curiosity, "That's what happens when you get drunk? I've never had that happen."

Blinking at him, Iris's head tilted and she let out a soft hum, "Right, my body acts different when it comes to alcohol...well large amounts of it," She shrugged her shoulders, "But yeah, I can drink small to medium amounts just fine. Anything that gets me even close to getting drunk is going to make me miserable."

"Why drink then?" Koumei asked her earning a slight smile.

"Because I like how it brings people together and in a pinch, I get some extra firepower," Iris winked making him chuckle though her smile drifted away, "Koumei...thank you for coming out here with me. I just...Being in there, it reminds me of when the jackass used to show me around like his prized pony,"

Grimacing a bit, Koumei wrapped an arm around her shoulders, "Iris, I'm not going to say that you need to let those memories go. But..." He felt her lean into his side and bit back a smile, "You aren't there anymore and you'll never have to worry about him again. I don't think anyone can withstand dragon fire."

Soft laughter leaving her throat, Iris shook her head, "You're not wrong though...was she telling the truth," She looked at him curiously, "About me not interrupting anything?"

"To a point," Koumei saw her curious look as he admitted, "Hakuei was digging for information about you. She specifically wanted to know what's going on between Kouen, you, and I,"

Eyes widening, Iris cleared her throat, "O-oh," She licked at her lips, "Ah-what did you tell her?"

"Nothing," Koumei was a little amused, "You did interrupt,"

"Ah," Iris seemed slightly disappointed and relieved all at the same time.

Chuckling as he tightened his grip on her waist, Koumei said, "If it hadn't been for the people around, I likely would've told her something," Iris looked at him in surprise, "Hakuei is close to Kouen, and I though more so me," A small chuckle left him, "She's perceptive to the point she can seemingly see through things. And she cares for the well-being of our siblings, I had a feeling she would wish to speak about you sooner rather than later."

"Ah..." Iris tilted her head, "Should I be scared?"

"Not from what I can tell, Hakuei didn't give off any signs of displeasure though I'd wait a bit before fully relaxing as she can be a wild card at times," Koumei saw Iris's wary look, "While it may sound scary, she is merely looking out for our family. It's something she's done since her older brothers and father died,"

"I understand completely," Iris released a low sigh and settled a bit more firmly against his side, "Despite what it seems like with your parents, you seem to have a close bond with your siblings,"

"For the most part," Koumei confirmed with a slight smile, "In our position, we have to be otherwise the world would very happily rip us to shreds in a heartbeat. And as time goes on, I've come to appreciate that bond,"

Head settling against his shoulder, Iris murmured, "I don't blame you if things can get as bad as you've said."

As a companionable silence fell over them, Koumei's eyes drifted toward the sky above. The distant sounds of the party reached them, softened by the rustling leaves and the night breeze. Savoring the warmth pressed against his side and the soft scents filling his nose, he felt content though knew it wouldn't last for long. Hearing the door open and more sound fill the garden, he glanced back to see Kouen walking outside. Eyes meeting his brother's, he lifted a hand in greeting, "En."

"Mei," Kouen eyed him with a flicker of amusement, "Iris,"

"Hmm," Iris hummed softly.

Eyebrow rising at the sleepy tone, Koumei shifted to look at Iris properly earning a soft grumble. Amusement filled him as she shifted away from him to rub at her eyes carefully, he had to tease her, "Tired already? The night's not even half over."

Pouting at him, Iris muttered, "Can you blame me? Half of the people I talk to are boring as shit or airheaded twits, the few interesting people are only focused on Kouen or you," She crossed her arms, "I hate politics."

Chuckling low in his throat, Kouen approached them and settled a hand on her shoulder, "They don't know just how skilled you are though we are trying to keep that under wraps for the moment."

Shooting Kouen a minor glare, Iris huffed, "Can't we just chuck a dragon at them and be done with it?"

While that was an amusing thought and he was curious to see how everyone would react, Koumei knew it wouldn't go over well. Patting her shoulder, he reminded Iris, "As satisfying as that might be, we have to be cautious. Not every problem can be solved with a dragon."

"Though the option does exist," Kouen promised earning a small look from Koumei.

"Fine," Iris leaned back against the backrest of the bench.

"So," Kouen looked towards Koumei curiously, "What were you talking with Hakuei about? From what I could tell, the conversation seemed somewhat intense before Iris went over,"

Sighing as he exchanged a glance with Iris, Koumei admitted, "She was asking about Iris, our relationship, and my intentions..." He hesitated for a second, "Though I'm fairly sure she wanted to know your intentions as well, En."

Shifting uncomfortably, Iris grimaced as she murmured, "I hope that this won't cause any trouble...that I'm not going to-"

"You won't," Kouen assured her, "If anyone is going to cause trouble, it would be Kouha though in this situation," He smirked while looking at the dragon witch, "No one is going to be causing trouble. Hakuei cares deeply for our family,"

"We will likely have to have a more in-depth conversation with her later," Koumei warned Iris earning a startled look, "With how rarely any of us open up to anyone, she has a right to be wary. Any of us would be,"

"I..." Iris released a sigh, "This is going to be a complicated situation, isn't it?"

"No more complicated than it already is," Kouen looked at Iris in amusement as she gave him a look, "But for the moment, I think we should head back inside. While it would be nice to linger outside away from it all, we can't avoid the politics forever,"

Groaning softly as she started standing prompting Koumei to release her, Iris asked them, "How much longer do we have to stay?"

"You can leave within the next hour or so," Koumei informed her, "As for us..." He grimaced deeply, "I will have to stay for a lot longer while En will be here until Father either releases him or the party ends,"

Wincing at that, Iris frowned, "That-But-" She pursed her lips, "I don't want to leave you two..."

"We'll be just fine," Kouen assured her while offering his arm, "After all, we've had to deal with this for years,"

"While this is your first party here in Kou for all that you've likely dealt with many in the past three years thanks to Lord Habi," Koumei stepped beside them as they began heading for the door, "So relax,"

Looking as if she wanted to argue, Iris finally released a low sigh and nodded, "I...I still don't like it, but you two know better than me when it comes to this situation."

Once she'd returned to Koumei's palace and gotten cleaned up, the dress Iris had worn found its way into the hands of a maid and she changed into a soft nightgown. Despite the draw of her bed, she grabbed a thick robe and one of the many books she'd been trying to read before heading downstairs to the sitting room that lay not far from the front door. Dropping into one of the plush seats that were settled in the room, she curled up with the thick tome she'd chosen and settled in to read as a fire crackled in the nearby fireplace.

As the night wore on and hours grew longer, the palace settled into a hushed stillness. The crackling flames in the fireplace cast a warm glow, creating a dance of shadows that played along the walls. Iris, ensconced in the plush chair, was a solitary figure in this intimate theater of light. The aroma of burning wood lingered in the air was a comforting scent that wrapped around her like a blanket. Stories jumped from the pages of her book, the glittering stars above finally had their tales woven in ink and paper.

Despite the fatigue that clung to her, Iris clung to wakefulness. She had promised herself to stay awake until Koumei came home, but found herself struggling with each passing hour. The staff, dutiful in their concern, had voiced their reservations about her choice to wait for Koumei. Yet, undeterred, she found solace in the quietude of the sitting room. The robe she wore, thick and luxurious, added a layer of comfort to the night. Visiting for a brief moment to drop off documents, Chuu'un had only lingered long enough to gift her with a knowing look.

As the hours passed and her weariness grew, Iris's eyelids grew heavier and she found it struggle to hold her body up. Ever so slowly, she found herself slipping back into the armchair. Head laying on one of the chair's plush arms as her body curled up, the words on each page grew increasingly blurry until her eyes slid shut and wouldn't open as the book slipped from her tired fingers. As she unwittingly gave in to the need to rest, the last thing she heard was a dull thud as the heavy tome hit the ground.

However long she stayed asleep, Iris wasn't sure. She only knew that her next moments of awareness came as someone picked her up. Letting out a low sound as her groggy mind registered the feeling of being carried, she forced her eyes open. She found herself met with the sight of Koumei's face not far from hers. Head against something firm and the sound of a beating heart soothing resonated against her ear, it took her a few very confusing moments to realize he was carrying her.

Voice groggy and somewhat husky from sleep, she murmured, "Koumei?"

Steps jolting a bit, Koumei glanced down at her with a warm look in his eyes, "Iris," He sounded somewhat amused, "Somehow, I can't find it in me to be surprised that you tried to stay up until I got home."

Blushing at those words, Iris looked away from him even as embarrassment, gratitude, and vulnerability shifted within her, "I...I didn't want you to be alone..."

"I appreciate that, Iris," Koumei's voice was soft, "But you didn't have to,"

"I wanted to," Iris found herself laying her head back against his chest once more as tiredness started to resettle in, "I...I hated it..."

There was a long moment of silence as a door creaked open, Koumei gently set Iris down though didn't pull away from her, "Iris..."

Keeping her eyes away from him, Iris blamed the lack of proper sleep for actually admitting this, "I was always alone until school...even then...even then, it wasn't my friends came along that I wasn't," She felt tears burn at her eyes, "And then we came here with the jackass separating us. I just...I don't want anyone to be alone-"

Gently tracing his fingers along the side of her face, Koumei tilted her chin back to meet his gaze, "You're not alone anymore, Iris. And even if it might seem like it, I'm not either," He offered her a gentle smile as his thumb wiped at the tears that had managed to fall, "Though, I do appreciate you trying to keep me from being alone."

Warmth gathered in her chest, Iris nodded slowly, "Okay..."

"Get some sleep, Iris," Koumei pulled away from her after another moment, "I'll see you in the morning,"

"See you in the morning, Koumei," Iris murmured though reached out to grasp his hand as he went to turn away.

Glancing at her in confusion, Koumei asked her, "Iris-"

Standing from her bed, Iris pressed a kiss to his cheek and then stepped back, a shy smile playing on her lips, "Thank you for carrying me up here...and goodnight, Koumei."

Gaze lingering on her for a long moment, Koumei seemed to contemplate something before deciding against it as he simply smiled, "Goodnight, Iris."

Turning away from her, Koumei turned and quietly left the room, closing the door behind him. Pulling back the covers and finally getting into bed properly, Irist found the events of the evening replaying in her mind. Unease swept through her as she thought of Gyokuen, the woman unsettled her far more than she'd expected. The warning she'd been given had not been enough at all. And dealing with politics not as herself was exhausting, she could do it though which was pleasantly surprising for all that it had been putting her to sleep halfway through. Interacting with both Kouen and Koumei the entire night had put a new spin on things, she had seen them acting as full princes for the first time instead of what they'd shown her so far.

Despite knowing this was the case, it had honestly shocked Iris a little bit. It revealed that there was more to both of them than they'd revealed and made her want to find out just what hadn't been shown to her yet. Eyes closing as sleep called on her once more, she breathed out a low sigh while wondering just which of their siblings she'd meet next or if she would be encountering Hakuei again anytime soon.