Iris blushed amazed by Rosemary's remark, but the younger girl looked very serious.

‘I'm sorry, I surprised you.'

‘...a bit.'

‘But it is true. Sirius told me.'

Rosemary frequently spoke of Sirius, the Prime Minister. He had been with Ernest a long time, though, he was two years older than Ernest. He would have a good grasp of Ernest's love life.

Iris cautioned herself not to think of unnecessary things, although she thought it was rather strange.

Rosemary sat back and sighed, ‘I haven't heard it directly from him, but I think my brother isn't good with women because of our sisters.'

‘Hmm?'

Rosemary was the fifth Princess of Berghausen, she had four older sisters. The other sisters were already married into other royal families.
‘The other princesses…?'

‘Yes, we are not really close but…'

‘But…'

‘Our older sisters treated Ernest like their dogsbody - I think that is why.'

Hearing this, Iris had a slightly complicated feeling in her heart; whether one is of the royal family or the Reinfeldt family, having trouble with your siblings was the same in any home.

Iris sighed.

'Is that so ?'

‘Yes, but I don't know the details of what it is about women he cannot handle...but I think that if you choose to abandon him, elder brother will become a living corpse. You are the only woman he has ever chosen to be close to.'

Giving Iris a warm smile, she returned to concentrating on diligently sewing the handkerchief.

Rosemary, Iris decided, has grown up as a kind-hearted woman who loved her elder brother dearly.

She had thought, when she saw watched them dancing at the ball, that they got along well.

If only it were real.

If only Ernest's love for her was real. If the effect of the love potion were to end, and the deception were revealed, would Rosemary be hurt?

A sharp pain pierced through her chest. This pain was the evidence of her guilt. The crime of manipulating a person's mind did not affect only them, but their close people. Iris' violet eyes darkened.

But then Rosemary puffed up her cheeks in an expression of displeasure,

‘Unlike Sirius, who only sleeps around having one-night stands.'

‘Eh?'

‘When I tell him off, he tells me that I am only a child.'

Iris forgot about her own problems and looked at Rosemary. It looked as though she has been annoyed with Sirius for while. Her emotions were all over her face; even her angry face was pretty cute. Her expression fell and it looked like she was about to cry,

‘Even so, I love him.' she said with a trembling voice.

‘Rosemary.'

‘Even though I know I can't match up to him at all, I still like him…'

It was because of Sirius, she was clumsily trying hard with her embroidery, even though she could injure her fingers.

Rosemary had told her, the first time she visited Iris, she wanted to be the woman who captured the Prime Minister's heart, and she would do anything she could to capture him.

‘Don't worry about me, I'm fine. I will definitely make him love me.'

Her status was higher than the women of the country, she had an adorable appearance that made people was to protect and cosset her. She lived life without any inconvenience. She had everything but she did not hesitate to strive for heart of the person she wanted. Why did Rosemary's peach blossom laugh pierce the weak part of Iris' heart?

‘Why don't we first finish the handkerchief and amaze him?'

‘Yes, I will do my best. But Iris, I've messed up again.'

She said with a droop of her shoulders. Iris felt for the younger girl, and she put aside her work and went to sit near Rosemary and helped her detangle her knot.

They continued to work, not noticing the sun had gone down.

There was a knock on the door,

‘Rosemary, I'm coming in.'
Ernest entered without gaining permission, but Rosemary did not mind,

‘Hello, brother.' she said cheerfully,
‘What has happened?'

Iris had begun to become accustomed to his handsome face from staring at him every night. But even though she was used to him, she found herself blushing because she remembered Rosemary's words.

Ernest walked up to his sister and held up a lovely parcel, ‘A delivery from Sirius.'

Rosemary placed her embroidery aside and took the parcel.

Iris was familiar with the packaging. She watched as Rosemary opened the package and a sweet scent filled the room,

‘It's from Florentin!' she exclaimed.

‘I've heard that the bakery is popular in the city. He happened to be going by the store and bought it. Are you happy, Rosie?'

‘I am! Very happy! I have to thank Sirius when I see him.' She replied with a blossoming smile.

As Iris smiled watching her, she remembered that the Florentin shop had a lot of customers queuing for the shop's baked goods. She knew this because the tailor who she sold her lace to was situated on the same street as Florentin, and Iris usually saw a long line of people outside.

Could Sirius have waited there to buy the cake for her? If he had, it was rather different to the kind of person Iris had imagined he was. So although Rosemary was aware of his relationships with women, he may think of her differently. But it was hard to gauge the emotions of a person of a different age and gender.

‘I thought it smelled sweet, it made me crave something sweet.'

‘Is that so? That's unusual for you, brother. Did Sirius also get you something from Florentin?'

‘No, he did not. That is just for you.'

‘Ah, so…'

‘I have this with me.' Ernest said reaching into his pocket.

His words induced a slightly unpleasant premonition. He pulled out the pretty sweets bottle from the pocket of his jacket. He took a sweet in the palm of his hand as Rosemary watched him puzzled.

‘Ernest, that's looks like the sweets you used to like to eat every day.' Rosemary said innocently.

Although, it looked like simple sweets, they were actually a love potion, Iris thought.

Just before Ernest ate the sweet while staring directly at Rosemary, Iris rose from her seat and clung unto the sleeve of his jacket.

‘Ernest?'

He ate the sweet and turned to kiss Iris giving her a bit of the sweet.

Rosemary said something, but Ernest held Iris' slender waist with a self satisfied smile on his face while Iris blushed furiously.

Whenever Ernest ate the sweet thinking it was just sweets, Iris remembered her sin. She still didn't understand why her chest hurt so much. However the reason for this sadness did not reveal itself. Somewhere deep inside she didn't want to know.

She wondered, perhaps, if the shard of sweet he had given her would have an effect on her.