In the reception room of the 'Grail Chamber of Commerce', Odette was waiting for me.

''........It's been a long time. What in the world were you talking about?　And His Highness Iris and Yuki.
Sorry to keep you waiting. Odette.
Sorry. It took longer than I expected.
Well, I don't mind.

　Odette sighed with her cheekbones (cheekbones).
　In front of her is a plate with a sweet on it.

　A pancake with honey-dipped fruit on top. A pie with fruit kneaded into it. Tree nut cakes, and so on.
　Odette sat in her chair with a worried look on her face, only half touching them.

''I heard that the 'Grail Chamber of Commerce' has summoned the best pastry chef in the royal capital. I'm not going to be able to eat it all by myself. I'm tired of waiting.
I'm so sorry.
I don't mind, Your Highness. You will tell me a story, won't you?

　Odette said, and the general manager, Rodelia, rang the bell.
　After a while, the maids came in and made tea for me and Iris.
　When that was done, both Roderia and the maids left the room. They just said, "We will pay our respects.

　After it was only me, Iris and myself left in the room, Odette looked at me.

So, what happened to Iris's dream?
It was true.
........what?
In my previous life, I was the guardian deity of the village where Prince Iris lived, and he was a resident of that village. A lot of things happened to me in this time period and Princess Iris also had a lot of things happen to her that made her reincarnate in this time period.

　Odette has a pouty look on her face.
　The teacup she holds in her hand trembles, and tea spills out in trickles.
　But she doesn't even notice it.

　There's no way she can keep her former life a secret from Odette.
　She's heard about the dreams from Iris, and she knows about the coat of arms of The Grail Trading Company. She knows we spent a lot of time talking about it downstairs.
　I know that we spent a lot of time downstairs talking about it, and I'm sure I'll find out later on.

　Besides, the only reason I know what's going on with Iris is because of Odette.
　If she hadn't told me about the Grail Chamber of Commerce, neither I nor Iris would be here. Rodelia wouldn't have met me and I wouldn't have learned about the situation in the village.
　After all, I didn't want to deceive Odette after she had done so much for me.
　I'll trust Odette and talk to her here.

I'm not sure. Well.

　Odette waved her teacup in front of her.
　Then she turned to iris.

Iris no, Your Highness, Iris.
Yeah, really.

　Iris squeezed my hand.

........Yuki-sama was my My Lord," she said. I followed My Lord to this place.
'Yeah, yeah!
So, if it's possible, I'd like to marry into Yuki's side in the future.
'Ha, haaaaaaaaaaaah!
As far as I'm concerned, I don't care where I stand as long as I can be around Iris.
"...because you're talking like that again...
Um, Iris?　　Huh?　Heeeeeee!

　Odette has her head in her hands.
　It's not unreasonable.

　Reincarnation is not a normal thing, and I can't prove it. It's impossible for me to believe it.
　You know, Iris and I are not going to get away with this if she thinks I'm messing with Odette.

Okay.
Do you understand?
No, I don't really understand it, but I'll pretend I do!
Is that what you want...?
To be honest, I don't care about reincarnation, the past, or the village's guardian god. What is important is that my best friend Iris, who is my best friend, is planning to marry my companion Yuki. That's all I need to know.
That's great, Odette.
The Dukes of Surrey are a practical family. It's only natural that we start with what we can do.

　Odette sat up and looked straight at me.

'I understand, Yuki. The royal family chooses to marry their children to a nobleman of another country's royal family or a nobleman of the highest rank,
Yeah. So I'll raise our knighthood.
Huh?
''Apart from the holy sword, if we find two more 'ancient artifacts', the barons will become marquises. If possible, I'd like to be a bit more prestigious. That's why I might do some research on my own after I join the Magic Guild. I want Odette to miss that.
''I'm not asking for your help. It's just that when Yuki-sama and I enter Elysium, we'll sneak in some extra research.
I'll try not to bother Odette... hey.
'Moo!　Moo!　Moo Moo Moo!

　Odette has lost her temper!

''It's not a joke. You want me to rest in my quarters while Iris and Yuki are out investigating the giant dungeon 'Elysian'!　There's no way you can do that!
No, but Odette is not bothering me.
I'm not bothering you, sir!

　Softly, Odette lays her hands on top of each other.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work.

'I'm rather curious as a sorceress. Do you guys really have memories of your previous lives? Is Yuki really like a guardian goddess? Will you guys really be able to find the 'Ancient Artifacts'............................What kind of sorcerer are you if you don't find out?
Does that mean that you're going to cooperate with us?
I'd rather tell them to cooperate.

　Odette pulled me and Iris' hands to her chest.

'How can you stay out of something this interesting?'
Thanks. Odette.
But, Yuki. Rather than raise your baronial title, I think you'd be better off building a new house of nobility with 'Ancient Artifacts', wouldn't you?
Is that so...?
Think about it. A bastard who pushes the baronet's family up to the highest level of nobility and has a princess as his wife is very troublesome for his family to deal with.
You know what, Odette? I don't mind being in Yuki-sama's side room.
'Shut up because it's going to get more complicated. Iris.
Yes.
Anyway, Yuki, you should find four of the Ancient Artifacts and aim for the rank of a baronet from scratch. It's probably easier for you. Perhaps it will be easier for you.
I'll think about it.
And, of course, I'll keep the story to myself.
Thank you. Odette.

　Then we all looked out the window.
　The sun is starting to set before we know it.

　It's about time.
　Iris is out in the bushes. We can't stay out here much longer. We'd better get back.

　Odette and I let go of each other's hands, and Iris let go of mine, with a note of regret.

　Then we put on our robes and left the Grail Trading Company.

　The general manager, Rhodelia, bowed at the entrance until we were out of sight of each other.
　Long enough for the employees and the people passing by to stop in their tracks in horror.

　We walked through the nobleman's gate to the road that led to the quarters.
　By the gate, a white carriage was waiting for us. It was Mr. Barnes at the gyoja-dai.
　Mr. Barnes spotted us and pulled the carriage over to us.

Your Highness. "Your Highness, please hurry. We are long past our scheduled time. It would be bad news for your future if people find out that you are out here on the sly.
I'm sorry. I'll give you a hard time. Barnes.
I live toil for Your Highness, Your Highness. Come on. Quickly.

　Miss Burns gets down from the gyoza-dai and opens the carriage door.
　The manner in which Iris clutches the hem of her robe and gets into the carriage is that of an unmistakable princess and bears no resemblance to the movements of Alice, who was a village girl. Because in the first place, Alice had never even ridden in a carriage before.
　Even though she has memories of her past life, Iris is still a princess.......

''........Wait a minute. Barnes.

　But then Iris suddenly stopped moving.
　She ran towards me with a tentative pace.
　She was up close and personal, looking up at me.

He's not going to disappear, is he?

　That's what I said.

'You're not going to shut up and go away this time, are you?
No you won't.
Yes. I believe you.

　Satisfied with my answer, Iris nodded with a big smile on her face.
　And this time she got into the carriage and returned to the plot where the royal family lived.

I've never seen Iris' face like that before. I've never seen Iris' face like that before.
'Can I ask you something? Odette.
What is it?　Yuki.
I wonder what it's like to be His Highness Iris in the eyes of his best friend.
She looks like a princess.
Yeah.
'But she's a strong girl to the core. He knows what's most important to him, and he's willing to do anything to achieve it. I can't leave her alone.
You haven't changed.
"Hmm.
This is the part where you laugh.
No, no, no, no. I laugh at myself because I'm crazy.

　Odette nodded her head in annoyance.

'Because I'm beginning to believe the stories of your previous lives.



　While we were talking about this, we returned to our quarters.





　From Iris-Lestear's point of view.



　Iris was able to return to her room in the Rikyu Palace before dinner.

　The royal residence is divided into three parts.

　In the center is the royal palace where the king, his wife and his entourage live.

　In the east is the detached palace where the legitimate children of legitimate wives lived.
　On the west is the detached palace where the children born to the king's entourage live.

　Iris lives in the west wing of the palace.

　The building of the palace is large and has a large garden.

　My father visits me from time to time, and I don't feel particularly inconvenienced.
　Socializing with my other brothers and sisters is difficult, but I can manage it if I think of it as my duty as a person born into a royal family.
　I'm not particularly dissatisfied with it.

　In fact, I'm so occupied with one thing right now that there's no room for dissatisfaction or worry.

'....Yuki-sama........was my lord.

　Iris lay down on the bed and hugged her favorite pillow.

''My Lord. Lady Dean-Nosferatu. Alice's My Lord. Iris's Yuki-sama. Iris's, my favorite........

　Muttering, Iris covered her face, which turned bright red.

　Her heart was thumping. The heat in her body wouldn't subside.
　Everything about her was shaking with the joy of meeting My Lord.

　My mind is blank. I can barely remember what I said to him after we left the Grail Trading Company.
　I must have said something strange...
　I don't know if I've done anything to make Yuki hate me...
　These thoughts are spinning around and my body is spinning around on the bed.

　To be honest, Alice-Carmine's memory is still not fully acclimated.
　My memory is still halfway there, too. I can only remember a few years before My Lord died.

　So why does my heart feel so warm in my chest?

　When she was rescued from the 'Dark Bear' in the Barony's territory, Iris probably fell in love with Yuki at first sight.
　She wanted him to be by her side, she thought.
　That's why I declared him to be my guardian knight.
　I knew he was important to me.

I'm not going to be able to get rid of them. Yuki-sama my lord.

　When I think about Yuki, I feel like "Iris" and "Alice" in my mind are melting together.
　In the end, I found out that they are the same person, which is very embarrassing.
　This is because whether or not I remember it, it's the proof that I'm attracted to Yuki, so...

I don't think that's appropriate...
"Squeak.

　Suddenly, there was a strange cry outside the window.
　Iris jumped up from her bed and opened the window in her room.

　There was a bat.
　Dexterously hanging from the window frame, upside down, staring at Iris.

'Could it be that you are Yuki-sama's errand boy?'
Yes.
He speaks?
Do you understand?

　Princess Iris and the bats look at each other.

''This is a surprise! The words of the messenger should only be understood by your husband.
It's fate, isn't it?
'Is that so?'
'No, maybe I'm closer to Yuki-sama now that I've regained my memories of my previous life.
"This is a mess.
Nice to meet you, I'm Iris.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Neil. By the way, I'm a girl.
Be polite.
"No, no, no, it's my pleasure.

　Iris and Neil the bat exchange bows.

I have a message from your husband. Which would you like to tell him, the parchment or the words?
I'll take both, please.
"You're doing great.
If it's Yuki-sama's stuff, I'd like to touch it.
"Then let's start with words. It's the same with the parchment.

　Neil the bat walks into the room.
　Iris closes the window and curtains, then sits down on her bed.
　Neil lands on the back of her chair.

　With their faces close to each other, the princess and the bat begin to talk.

'First of all, let me tell you what's going to happen,'
Please.
"Neil was asked by his master to stay with His Highness. "to serve as a liaison between him and his master and to protect him.
'You have friends at Lady Rodelia's in the 'Grail Chamber of Commerce', don't you?
"Yes, sir. I can call you back.
I understand. I'm counting on you.
"And now, a message from your husband. He asked me to teach His Highness Iris some ancient magic that he knew about.
Ancient magic.
'He says he just needs to use it in front of me. The reason for that is, um...'
I understand. It's because you need it to explore 'Elysian' from now on. Yuki-sama just joined the "magic guild" and she should know very little about "ancient magic". That's why you want me to support you with my knowledge, right?
'That's about it. You get the idea. That's great!
It's the duty of my men to find out what my lord thinks.
"Have you been with us long?
Yes, 200 years ago.
'Oh!　I'm a senior.''
No, no, no. I'm rather envious of you, Mr. Neil.
Is that so?
Yes. If I become a messenger, I can be by Yuki-sama's side at all times.
Shall I tell you that?
No, no!　Please put it on hold. I was a little too open-minded. As a maiden, I would like to tell you that I chose my words a little more carefully.
"This is the end of the book. Well, I'll be waiting. Please think about it.
'What?　Huh?　Wait, wait a minute....

　For some reason, my face turns red.
　Neil, the bat, conveys words to Yuki.
　In other words, Iris is connected to Yuki through Neil.



　Yuki a secret communication between My Lord and himself.
　No one else can understand a bat's words. It's okay to say any embarrassing things.

　Like how Iris felt when they first met.
　Or how very embarrassed he was when he was treated by My Lord in a previous life.

　What I want to say is going to spew out of my head.
　But none of the words are too embarrassing to say.
　I don't know what I should look like the next time I meet Yuki.

　No, no, no, don't worry about it. Because from now on, My Lord and I are going to be friends for a long time--

"....!
"Why are you tingling? What's the matter with you? Mr. Iris.
It's nothing...

　It's not safe to go any further.
　Thinking that, Iris puts her lips to Neil's ear.

　Muttering a word or two, she completed the message to My Lord.
　He said he was going to call on time in the evening, so he asked her to tell him then.

　
　At night, in the dining room, I asked the maid, "Do you have a fever? And then we ate, and they were worried about us.
　I bathed in the hot water, changed my clothes, and then I put the blanket back on.

　In the end, I had to correct the message more than 10 times before I fell asleep.



　At night, in Yuki's room



Welcome back. Neil.
"I'm home. Master.
Did you get a message to Iris?
Of course I did. He said he had received the matter of the "ancient magic" for sure. It's just that in a few days, the knight escort ordination ceremony will take place, so he asked me if it's alright with you afterwards.
Yeah. Tell him that's all right. Can I leave a message for you later?
I have.
Yeah. Tell me about it.
"Versions 1 through 12 are available.
Why is there so much of it?
"Because she is a maiden, he says.
I want to hear all about it anyway.
I can't do that.
Why?
"Because she is a maiden, he says.
'Two hundred years later, I still don't know what Alice thinks...'
"Neil is understandable. It's a girl.
Just to confirm, is that message going to be a problem if you don't listen to it?
Not at all.
Okay.
And it's all pretty much the same.
What's he doing, Alice? No, Your Highness Iris.
"In the meantime, here's the final version.
Please do so.
'Well.... Kohan.''

　Neil the bat took a deep bow in front of me.

'I am grateful for the fate of seeing My Lord again. "I am grateful for the fate of our meeting again, and I hope you will use me as a vassal. I look forward to working with you forever.
...are all versions almost identical?
The same.
.... it's still Alice. That's the thing.
So Neil will go back to Miss Iris.
Thank you. And...

　I stopped Neil, who was about to fly away, and said, ''I've given you more 'Mystel Blood'.


I've given you more Myster Blood. You have to have a lot of strength and durability. I'm sure that you will use that power to protect Alice - or rather Iris - for sure.
"This is the place.


　And with that, Neil flew off into the night.