The way Iris got excited over every little thing they did brought a smile to Cas’s lips. Even trying a few run of the mill drinks sounded like an exciting adventure when she spoke about it. Her endless zeal for everything life had to offer might have been a side effect of the fact that it was all new to her amnesiac brain, but he still thought it was fun to watch her light up any time he suggested something she couldn’t remember doing before. He was eager to see what she would do if she liked any of the beverages she tried that evening.

[color=#b97703]“I figured,”[/color] he grinned when she said she’d be a mess if she tried every drink. [color=#b97703]“But if you find out you’ve got a favorite, just let Martin know, and he’ll bring you a full glass of it.”[/color] Though he had no intention of getting her drunk, he was curious to find out what she was like after a couple shots. It was always entertaining to see what aspects of someone’s personality were brought out by alcohol. For the Aspirian prince, a few strong drinks made him loose lipped and competitive. It was why he knew it would have been a bad idea to have too many around Iris. The scandalous thoughts in his head wouldn’t stay there for long if he pushed his limits, and he wouldn’t care about getting between her and her boyfriend—if she had one—because he would only be focused on winning the prize right in front of him. It definitely wasn’t the best frame of mind to be in when he was sitting with a woman he was attracted to.

As she commented on the way other people tried to use the royal family, Cas nodded. Surprisingly, she hit the nail on the head. He wasn’t sure if she truly understood the weight of living in a world where everyone seemed to have ulterior motives, but the sympathy in her voice was evident. [color=#b97703]“I know,”[/color] he exhaled, his smile fading slightly. [color=#b97703]“But it’s not going to change. Everyone has their own agenda, and my family is the fastest way to make their dreams happen. Technically, my dad and I aren’t supposed to endorse any pet projects people come to us with, so the crown doesn’t show favoritism, but that’s never stopped them from trying to get a royal stamp of approval anyway.”[/color]

When Iris brightened again, he mirrored her expression. They weren’t making any spectacular plans for tomorrow, since they were just going to be exploring the capital, but her enthusiasm never failed to infect him. [color=#b97703]“Just don’t stop using them too quickly,”[/color] he advised when she complained about the crutches. [color=#b97703]“It would be even more of a pain if you landed yourself back in the hospital because you pushed yourself too hard.”[/color] He didn’t know much about puncture wounds like the ones she had, but he’d heard about other people busting open their stitches before they had fully healed. Just thinking about something like that happening to her made him shudder. He’d already seen more than enough blood for a lifetime the night he’d found her.

“Scotch sour, Your Highness.” Martin’s voice drew his thoughts from the morbid memory. The bartender had returned with a tray full of drinks and was now setting them down on their table. “And three samples for the lady.”

[color=#b97703]“Thanks, Martin,”[/color] Cas offered the servant a polite smile as he picked up his glass. The gold-colored drink had been garnished with a ribbon of orange peel, which he plucked out to more easily sip from the rim of the cup. Turning back to Iris, he raised his beverage in a toast, a playful smile curving his lip. [color=#b97703]“To new friendships and surviving dinner with my dad.”[/color]