Second

Leo felt a brief moment of terror when he heard those words, the words any husband wouldn't want to hear, 'We need to talk'. He immediately started thinking of everything he could've done to make her mad, but was drawing blanks for anything specific, so he started thinking of other things like neglecting her for work.

While Leo went into a small panic, Iris was confused at his reaction. She simply wanted to talk about his future with Alice, yet he seemed to immediately freak out when she said she wanted to talk. It was only a few minutes later that she realized the wording she used might have caused some kind of misunderstanding. She then hurriedly said,

"It's not anything bad, I just want to discuss what's going to happen with Alice." At her words she gestured to the person in question behind her in the carriage. Leo started to calm down at her words, and looked behind her at Alice. He himself didn't really have any plans for her, and felt worse with each step home, since she literally gave up everything just to follow him. Iris then said,

"Do you ever plan to accept her feelings for you?" Leo sighed, not knowing how to answer. After several moments of thinking, he said,

"I'm not the nobles of this world, I'm not the royalty, and I'm certainly not Arthur. I won't act like them and take any woman whose pretty or shows interest in me, and disregard the feelings of the one I swore to spend the rest of my life with." Iris had to fight the urge to tear up a little, as Leo pretty much declared he'd take her over all the women in the world. She kept herself from doing so however, and asked,

"What if the one you swore to is willing to accept it?" Leo suddenly blanked out, as he never expected a situation where his wife would try to get him with other women. He suddenly thought it might be a test, but discarded that thought since Iris wouldn't do such a thing. Before he could answer, Alice stood and said,

"I already accepted when I first met Iris that I wouldn't be first in your heart, but I hoped that there would be a place for me. I understand that you don't want to be compared to those like Arthur, but know that unlike them, I want to be with you." She then moved closer and wrapped her arms around Leo, and continued saying,

"I don't care if I'm only your second wife, or your concubine, or merely your mistress. All I wish for, is to be with you and to receive even a piece of your love, no matter the size." Leo's heart broke when he heard Alice's words. Plus since he heard about her past from her, he couldn't help but wonder how love deprived she was to go so far just for even a tiny bit of his affection. He turned to Iris, and saw her barely nod her head, showing she fully accepted Alice being in their family. He then wrapped his arms around her, and said,

"I don't need a concubine, or a mistress, if you're going to be mine then I won't accept any less than a wife, you deserve at least that much." When she heard his words, Alice looked up in surprise only to have her lips sealed by him. Behind her Iris split into a giant grin, as she was genuinely happy that Alice was accepted by Leo.

After being kissed Alice felt as if she would have no regrets in life anymore, and actually felt as if she was floating on air. Her feeling only became more prominent when she was led to Leo's bed, to sleep at his side as well. Though he already told her, she was a few years younger than him, so Leo wanted to wait until after her next birthday to marry her, and to actually "share a bed". She didn't mind though, as she cuddled up to his left side, and Iris was on his right.

As the three of them laid in bed together, a certain married couple snuck off to enjoy themselves as well. Though he didn't detect them leaving, Leo already figured Natalie and Jack would be sneaking off. He was caressing Iris's stomach, when he recalled the earlier conversation with Jack.

"Oh yeah, it looks as if our child will have a friend to grow up with." She looked at him confused, so he clarified,

"Apparently Natalie got motivated seeing you, and has been bugging Jack about having their own kid. He told me so after he showed up to the meeting today with messed up hair when they were supposed to be hunting together." As she processed his words, another grin spread across Iris's face, and she said,

"That's good, I've been wondering when she'd finally settle and start her own family. It's a little sad that I started before her, but at least she's trying now." They talked a little bit more before finally going to sleep for the night, though the only one who couldn't see to sleep, was Alice. Her heart was pounding all night as she snuggled up to Leo. The only dark thought she had, was that she was closer to finishing another of Venus's tasks.