[color=#b97703]“My God,”[/color] Cas rolled his eyes when Iris teased him by putting emphasis on his title again. [color=#b97703]“I’m starting to think I should have told you I was a servant.”[/color] Though he was only joking, he couldn’t help but imagine what that would have been like. Of course, the charade wouldn’t have lasted long, since his father had come downstairs to eat with them before she’d even spent one night at the mansion, but it might have been fun while it lasted. He enjoyed the perks that came with being the heir to the throne, but he’d also liked visiting her in the hospital when she’d had no recollection of who she was talking to. It had been relaxing to step off his metaphorical pedestal for once and talk to someone as an equal. It was too bad it was over now.

Following Iris over to the booth she had picked, he sat down across from her and folded his arms on the table in a laidback posture. From behind the counter, the servant on shift eyed them quizzically. Usually when the prince stopped by to have a drink—the king hadn’t even shown his face in this part of the castle in over a decade—he went straight to the bar, and he was almost always alone. It was strange for him to bring someone else here, especially a woman, and take a seat in a booth. However, the bartender still had a job to do, so he overcame his curiosity and stepped out to take their requests.

[color=#b97703]“Really?”[/color] Cas raised a brow in surprise when Iris said she’d never tasted wine before. [color=#b97703]“Are you sure you’re of age?”[/color] Though he was just poking fun at her, he did find it odd that she didn’t recognize wine. The tart drink was served at every formal event he’d ever been to, dinners and parties and whatever else the high borns in the capital wanted to put together. He probably drank it at least twenty times a year. [color=#b97703]“Maybe you preferred red.”[/color] That was the only explanation that made sense to him. The dom perignon that had been poured with their dinner wasn’t a favorite of everyone. It was an expensive bottle, but it had a sharper taste than the sweet red wines that some people favored.

“Your Highness,” the bartender greeted his prince with a courteous bow when he approached their table. “What can I get for you tonight?”

[color=#b97703]“Scotch sour,”[/color] he replied without a second thought. After a long and tense dinner with his father, he knew he wanted something that would take the edge off right away.

“Of course,” the bartender dipped his head in a curt but polite gesture before turning to Iris. “And for you, madam?”

Cas glanced at her as well, taking on a contemplative expression. [color=#b97703]“Do you remember what you liked to drink at all?”[/color] he asked. [color=#b97703]“If you want, Martin here could make you a few small samplers, so you could see which ones are familiar to you.”[/color]