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1. The Time at the Royal Ball
Iris’s royal ball was supposed to be a night of grace, glamour, and formalities. As the crown princess, she had to be the center of attention—but the moment she stepped onto the balcony with her best friends, she was distracted.
There, across the garden, in the shadows of the moonlight, stood Mephisto. His deep, piercing gaze was fixed on her, but it wasn’t just any look. It was a knowing glance that made her heart race.
"Iris, are you okay?" Talia asked, her voice a mixture of concern and confusion as she watched Iris’ distracted expression.
Iris, caught in the moment, quickly snapped back to reality. “Yeah, I’m fine! Just... lost in thought,” she said, trying to mask the blush creeping up her neck.
Mephisto, ever the provocateur, winked from across the garden. Iris quickly turned away, trying to hide the nervous smile tugging at her lips. Her heart pounded. If anyone noticed, it would be over.
2. The Time They Almost Kissed in the Hallway
It was late at night after a long day of training, and Iris was wandering the palace hallways, trying to clear her mind. Her thoughts were consumed by the growing feelings for the one person she wasn’t supposed to be with—Mephisto.
As if by fate, their paths crossed in the quiet corridor. His black cape fluttered behind him as he leaned against the wall with a smirk. “Can’t sleep, princess?”
“I—” Iris started to say something, but then she saw the way his eyes softened, his usual arrogance replaced with something tender.
The space between them was minimal now, the tension thick in the air. Mephisto’s voice lowered. “You don’t have to hide from me, Iris. Not anymore.”
Before she knew it, her breath caught in her throat, and she was stepping closer. He reached out to touch her cheek, his hand warm against her cool skin. It felt like the world had stopped. Just as their lips almost met, the distant sound of footsteps echoed through the hallway.
"Iris!" Talia’s voice rang out, echoing through the hall.
Iris and Mephisto quickly pulled away, and the moment was gone. She turned to Talia with a nervous laugh. "Hey, Talia! What’s up?"
Talia eyed her suspiciously but didn’t comment. They both knew there was something Iris was hiding, but neither of them dared to ask directly.
3. The Time Mephisto Almost Revealed Everything at the Battle
Iris was leading her team against an attack from the evil forces, but as she wielded her power, she felt a familiar presence behind her. Mephisto had come to help, or maybe just to make things more complicated.
The battle raged on as he floated above the chaos, sending magic bolts and taunting their enemies. His eyes, though, never left Iris. He was too obvious this time.
“I see you, princess. Don’t think I’ll let you win so easily.” Mephisto called out in his usual mischievous tone, but his smirk faded when he met her gaze.
It was too much. The way their eyes locked, the power they shared—it was electric. The two were undeniably in sync, and at that very moment, Iris nearly lost control of her magic. It spiraled into a powerful burst of light that sent enemies flying, but also caught the attention of the whole team.
“Did you see that?” Talia asked, frowning as she glanced between Iris and Mephisto.
“Yeah, that was... way too much power for one person,” Amaru added, clearly suspicious.
Iris quickly shook her head, trying to keep things cool. "It’s nothing, just... focus on the battle, okay?"
Mephisto, always the playful one, grinned widely. “She’s just getting stronger, nothing to worry about.” His tone was too playful, too knowing, and Iris shot him a glare. He was dangerously close to letting something slip.
4. The Time the Mirror Almost Gave Them Away
The enchanted mirror was one of Iris's most trusted possessions, but it could also be a curse if she wasn’t careful. One evening, she was standing in front of it, lost in her thoughts when Mephisto appeared behind her, startling her.
“You know, princess, I always thought you’d look better if you smiled more.”
Iris spun around, surprised by his sudden presence. “Mephisto! You scared me!”
He grinned, taking a step closer. “I can tell. You’ve been avoiding me. Are you sure you don’t want to tell your friends about us?”
Iris’s heart stopped. She glanced at the mirror, which, instead of reflecting her image, seemed to show both of them locked in an embrace. The magic of the mirror had always been a bit unpredictable, and it was as if the mirror was aware of their secret.
“I can’t, Mephisto,” Iris whispered, panicked. “If anyone sees this—if anyone knows—it’s over.”
Mephisto sighed dramatically but with a hint of humor. “Always so dramatic, princess. One day, you’ll have to tell them.”
Just as Iris was about to respond, the door creaked open, and Talia’s voice echoed from the hallway. “Iris, are you okay in there?”
Mephisto vanished in a puff of smoke, leaving Iris to stand before the mirror, her heart racing.
5. The Time They Couldn’t Keep the Secret Any Longer
The secret couldn’t last forever. One evening, after another close call and too many stolen glances, Iris found herself cornered. Her friends—Talia, Auriana, and even Carissa—were all gathered in the royal study, talking about a new threat they needed to prepare for.
But Iris’s mind wasn’t on the danger. It was on the constant ache of keeping her relationship with Mephisto a secret. How long could they keep this up?
"Alright, Iris," Talia said, her tone serious. "What’s going on with you? You’ve been acting weird lately. Are you hiding something?"
Iris opened her mouth to say something but paused. Mephisto had appeared behind her, this time without his usual arrogance. There was a sincerity in his eyes, and it was clear he was done hiding.
“Maybe it’s time to stop pretending,” Mephisto said quietly, stepping into the room fully. His presence, usually so commanding, was subdued but no less intense.
Everyone turned to look at him in shock.
“Iris and I… we’ve been seeing each other,” Mephisto continued. “It’s been secret, but it doesn’t have to be anymore.”
Iris felt her heart racing, a mixture of fear and relief flooding through her. It was out. The truth was finally out in the open.
Talia and Auriana exchanged glances, but it was Talia who spoke first. “I knew something was up with you two! You’ve been acting different lately.”
Iris took a deep breath. “We didn’t want to put anyone in danger, but we can’t keep lying anymore.”
There was a moment of silence, then Carissa, with her usual deadpan expression, spoke. “Finally. I’ve been waiting for this.”
And just like that, the secret was no longer theirs to keep, but for the first time, Iris felt a weight lift off her shoulders. No more hiding. No more pretending.
End