Alone Time with Iris, But No Dating on My Mind
Even though Iris and I ended up spending enough alone time together to make Estelle furious, that didn't mean I was treating it like a date. Of course not.
"Oh, this one's a good price. Let's get it."
I was purely focused on shopping, and with my self-imposed mission to bring Iris and Estelle together, I was making an extra effort not to let any impure thoughts creep in.
"Ah, yes! You're so thrifty, Theo-nim, and no matter when I see you, you're always impressive."
Of course, Iris wasn't feeling the same way either. 'How did this turn into a total two-person date...!'
Anyone looking would see it wasn't a date at all—just regular shopping—yet her heart raced at every moment, thrilling her.
"Nah, what can I say. It's just one of the virtues you need to live as a commoner."
Even when Iris complimented me, I replied that any commoner would have the same skill, but she knew better. Not everyone took it for granted.
No matter how sheltered she was as the crown princess, Iris had more curiosity about the world than you'd think. She'd even snuck out for a day as a kid without her father knowing and mingled with commoners before.
"You're always so humble, Theo-nim."
"Am I? Maybe it's just 'cause I'm not used to compliments."
Iris tilted her head at that. Theo's parents were tough but always clear about praise when it was due. For someone raised like that to say he wasn't used to compliments struck her as odd.
But for me, less than a year in this body, it was unavoidable. Before possessing him, I'd been an orphan—no one around to praise me even when I did well.
I'd let it slip without thinking, unaware it hinted at my past.
"Anyway, I think we've covered the market. Got everything we need, so shall we go pick up Estelle?"
I said with a smile.
"Yes, sounds good."
She answered casually, but Iris felt a pang of regret. Time alone with Theo was rare, after all.
We usually stuck together as a trio with Estelle, or he spent time solo, but never just one of us. This shopping trip was a fluke.
"Theo-nim... do you have no thoughts about dating?"
Unable to read his mind despite our obvious feelings, Iris cautiously asked.
"Dating? Hmm, not the right time yet."
Not the right time? We were barely twenty, prime age to dream of lovers and dates.
Most academy students fantasized about it, and even nobles often dated freely there before marrying—common among academy grads, unlike arranged marriages elsewhere. The academy instilled equality.
"I still have a lot to do... how to put it. Um, with you and Estelle around, I don't get lonely."
Having a lot to do perfectly summed up my stance. Saving the world came first—no time for my own romance or marriage.
To do that, I needed to pair Iris and Estelle, keeping me busy.
But not feeling lonely with them was true too. I'd expected tension and pain, but I genuinely enjoyed our time now.
'Come to think of it, stuff always happens when we're together, so loneliness never crosses my mind.'
Iris, unaware, took it as a shock.
'So... we're not even dating candidates in his eyes.'
No dating plans, no loneliness thanks to us. It sounded like his feelings for us were purely platonic—nothing more, nothing less.
Inevitable she'd be stunned.
'...But I like him.'
From first sight, an inexplicable pull; her feelings were unmistakably romantic.
"Ah, there's Estelle! Estelle! Over here!"
As we talked, I spotted Estelle and called out loudly. Back to three, Iris forced her emotions down.
Hmm, what to say. Ever since that chat alone with Iris at the market, she'd been off.
"Iris, you okay?"
"……."
"Iris?"
"Yes? Ah, yes...! I'm fine...!"
She kept zoning out, lost in thought.
"Iris, don't make people uncomfortable. Spit it out if you have something to say."
Even Estelle's sharp tone got a mild response.
"Ah, sorry. Nothing specific."
"Estelle, doesn't Iris seem weird?"
The awkwardness got to me first, so I asked Estelle about it.
Normally, she'd trash-talk: 'Iris is always weird. Only she's normal.' But...
"...Yeah. Did something happen?"
Even Estelle worried— this was unprecedented for Iris.
"...No, nothing special."
We'd just chatted normally, touched on dating, but nothing big.
"The only unusual talk was about dating, I guess..."
"Dating? You two talked about dating?"
I mentioned the one odd bit, and Estelle yelped in surprise.
Iris stayed unresponsive.
"What did you talk about...?!"
Estelle suddenly looked anxious too. Ah, right—lesbian mode, so they'd end up together. Me intruding might unsettle her.
"Nothing much. She asked if I was thinking about dating, and I said no."
I summarized simply for Estelle.
"Ah, so Theo-nim has zero thoughts about... dating?"
Her question mirrored Iris's exactly.
"Yeah, lots to do."
"What kind of stuff?"
Unlike with Iris, Estelle probed deeper.
"Hmm~ Various things. Gotta ace academy exams? Improve swordsmanship and magic too."
The real priority—pairing you two, averting bad end, saving world—wasn't sayable, so I picked surface stuff.
"Can't you do that while dating?"
"Ah, so you want me to date, Estelle?"
They were so insistent; I'd thought they didn't care, but maybe they worried I'd end up alone.
"Yes! Of course!"
Oh, nailed it. They're too sweet, worrying like this—even for close friends.
"Well, someday. After handling priorities, yeah—I want to date, marry, the works."
Lots of priorities meant not now. I'm not asexual; of course I want romance with someone pretty and sweet.
"So, not now, but opportunity exists?"
"Opportunity? What kind?"
"I mean, chance for you to date...?"
"Sure...? Wait, that's not for me to decide..."
Dating opportunity for me? That's overkill, girl...
I'd been solo in past life too, never properly hit on... Ah, right. Life's like that. No claps without hands. Maybe no one wants me...?
Shit...