The royal decree arrived like a hammer.
Its echo lingered in Iris's ears long after the messenger left the Ashcroft residence.
A royal summons.Mandatory.Unavoidable.
Iris sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the sealed parchment.
"So," she exhaled, "this is how royalty says you have no choice."
Eena floated in front of her, tail swishing.
"You look like someone planning a disaster."
"I am," Iris replied calmly. "Just not mine."
She stood and began pacing.
"I can't refuse. If I do, it becomes treason. If I go… the story moves forward."
Eena tilted her head."So we ruin the date."
Iris stopped.
"…Ruin?"
"Yes," Eena said cheerfully. "Embarrassment. Awkwardness. Emotional shutdown. Make him regret summoning you."
Iris smiled faintly."I like the way you think."
They leaned close, whispering plans through the night—how Iris would act strange, blunt, unfeminine, uninterested.How she'd dismantle romance with logic and sarcasm.
"Tomorrow," Iris said firmly, "I end this nonsense."
Morning: Absolute Chaos
Morning exploded.
There was no gentle wake-up. No peaceful tea.
Instead—
Servants rushed in and out like ants in panic.Boxes stacked higher than Sehrain's patience.Gowns, jewels, silk shoes, perfume bottles, and ribbons invaded the room.
Sehrain looked on the verge of tears.
"Lady… this is not a date," she whispered. "This is a royal invasion."
"I didn't invite it," Iris muttered.
Before she could protest further—
A carriage arrived.
Royal crest.Golden wheels.Grantham insignia.
Sehrain opened the door.
"…Your Highness?!"
Iris turned—
And froze.
Crown Prince Ashley Grantham sat inside the carriage like he owned the air itself.
Calm.Perfect posture.Unreasonably handsome.
"You—?" Iris stared.
"Good morning, Lady Iris," he said smoothly. "I thought I'd escort you personally."
"That was not mentioned."
"It wasn't forbidden either."
Sehrain bowed so fast Iris feared her spine snapped.
The door closed.
Eena whispered inside Iris's mind:"Oh this is already a disaster. I love it."
The Carriage: Verbal Warfare
The carriage began moving.
Silence stretched.
Then—
"You planned to refuse me," Ashley said casually.
Iris blinked."…Excuse me?"
"You sent a refusal letter," he continued. "A very weak one."
"I was honest."
"No," he smiled faintly. "You were lazy."
She scoffed.
"Why summon me like this?"
"Because," he replied, "you're interesting."
"That's not a compliment."
"It is to me."
The carriage swayed gently.
"You don't act like someone in love," Ashley observed.
"Because I'm not."
A pause.
"And yet," he said, "you didn't deny the engagement."
"I'm choosing survival."
Ashley studied her face longer than necessary.
Eena sighed dramatically."He's staring like you're a puzzle missing one piece."
The Palace
The palace gates opened.
Iris stepped out—
And stopped breathing.
White marble gleamed under sunlight.Golden spires pierced the sky.Gardens bloomed like painted dreams.
"…It's beautiful," she thought."Too beautiful. Like heaven with rules."
Ashley watched her quietly, eyes sharp.
The Date That Refused to Die
Iris executed the plan.
She spoke bluntly.Ignored etiquette.Chose the wrong fork—deliberately.
She spilled tea.
Corrected a noble.
Walked ahead of Ashley.
At one point she sighed loudly and said,"This is exhausting."
And yet—
Ashley never frowned.
Instead, he looked entertained.
"You're enjoying this," Iris accused.
"Very much," he replied. "You're honest."
"That's not attractive."
"It is to me."
Eena screamed internally."This man is immune to embarrassment."
The Queen
Queen Mariana appeared like a storm wrapped in silk.
Iris bowed deeply.
The queen passed her—as if Iris were air.
Ashley stepped forward."Mother—"
The queen stopped.
"How is your health, Lady Iris?" she asked coolly."And the Duke? Still well?"
Iris answered politely.
"I heard about your contract with Prime Minister Ivan Charles," the queen said."How ambitious. Though I doubt you have the capability to complete it."
Ashley moved to speak—
But Iris answered first.
"With respect, Your Majesty," she said calmly,"capability is proven by results. The contract exists."
"That is my answer."
The queen's eyes sharpened.
She turned and left.
Eena whispered, impressed:"Oh. That was elegant murder."
Almost Free
Evening fell.
Iris returned home, tired to her bones.
"…I feel free," she murmured.
"Iris."
She turned.
Ashley stood behind her.
"What now?" she asked.
"I want to know," he said quietly,"why you keep pushing me away."
She laughed softly.
"Because I don't think I'm big enough for a crown prince," she said lightly."So please—spare me."
She stepped toward the carriage.
Ashley followed.
"I'll escort you."
"I can manage."
"It's my duty."
He climbed in beside her.
Iris sighed deeply.
"This date failed completely."
Ashley smiled.
"No," he said."It succeeded."
The carriage rolled forward.
And Iris realized—
She hadn't ruined the date.
She had only made the crown prince dangerously curious.
To be continued...