Chapter 14

Tiara Roses received an explanation of what was to come from Aquasteed.

She was to return to her home country in ten days, and on that occasion, she would also be taken back for her bridal training.

She felt a moment of relief, but soon Philine conducted a final check and began to meticulously plan with Duke Clementier.

There’s no need to be so thorough, Tiara Roses thought, but she was genuinely happy and excited.

—It’s such a relief that Lady Aqua didn’t get engaged to the heroine!

This was the only thought on her mind today.

Tiara Roses, who had been condemned by Akari and Hartnights, was certainly hurt. However, it was just a game scenario, after all.

Tiara Roses, who had begun to be cherished by Aquasteed, thought this way.

However, her relief was short-lived.

An unexpected turn of events unfolded in the middle of the night.

“...Huh?”

As Tiara Roses was about to fall asleep, a brilliant light flashed in her room.

Though it was just a moment, it was enough to wake her up.

“This magic can be used for teleportation within the country. Convenient. ...Ah, good evening.”

“...Lady Akari?”

Suddenly, Akari, who was supposed to be in the castle, appeared in Tiara Roses' room.

Wasn’t she supposed to be under house arrest as the game’s heroine?

“I’ve been thinking a lot about things.”

—What does she mean by that?

Tiara Roses called out Akari’s name, but she continued speaking without a care. Tiara Roses frowned and sat up in bed to face her.

“Lady Tiara. —Are you Japanese?”

“...!”

“Because, you were the only one who was different from the game. Lord Hartnights, Lord Mogriss, Lord Clive, and the teacher, everyone, everything went according to the events. But in the end, nothing went well at all!!”

The conclusion she reached was that Tiara Roses, who had changed the game’s scenario, was someone like herself.

Indeed, that wasn’t wrong. However, was it correct to firmly label the reincarnated Tiara Roses as Japanese?

Her hair and eye color were not those of a Japanese person.

“Um... Lady Akari, I don’t understand what you mean.”

“You don’t have to pretend. You were supposed to get married to Lord Hartnights and live happily ever after, but then Lady Aqua appeared. I was so surprised...! I thought it would be Lord Hartnights, my second favorite, since he was the main target in the sequel. But if I could marry Lady Aqua, of course, I’d choose Lady Aqua!!”

In other words, Akari preferred Aquasteed over Hartnights.

She must have come here to tell Tiara Roses to break up with Aquasteed. As Tiara Roses thought this, Akari quietly looked at her.

“...?”

“...”

What is going on? Tiara Roses tilted her head in confusion.

However, the next moment, her body shook in shock at Akari’s words.

“Lady Tiara, you probably don’t know much about the sequel, do you? The cute heroine in the Marine Forest and Lady Aqua’s events.”

This was the information Tiara Roses, who didn’t know the sequel’s content, desperately wanted. Especially about the heroine who would be targeting Aquasteed.

Seeing Tiara Roses’ reaction, Akari smiled and said, “I knew it!”

“I tried to test you, and I’m glad you fell for it. But Lady Tiara’s appearance is the same as the game’s Tiara Roses. What’s going on?”

“...Reincarnation. I have memories of playing this game as a Japanese person. That’s all.”

Resigned, Tiara Roses explained, and Akari nodded in amazement.

“So, you mean your previous life was Japanese? Hmm, hmm, hmm?”

“?”

“Did you die without playing the sequel...?”

“...Yes.”

Akari predicted what had happened when Tiara Roses’ previous life ended. Since there was no point in hiding it, she nodded, and Akari was greatly surprised.

She covered her mouth and muttered, “That’s impossible.”

It was too late to be surprised, as she was already dead. There was nothing that could be done about it.

—Of course, I wanted to play the sequel and collect Lady Aqua’s stills!!

It was a desperate wish. There must have been so many beautiful stills and heart-pounding events.

Feeling a slight murderous intent towards Akari, who had played it thoroughly, she said, “Leave me alone.” —But Akari wasn’t listening.

Suddenly, she went to Tiara Roses, grabbed her hand, and began to speak rapidly with tears in her eyes.

“Poor you! Lady Tiara, it’s so sad that you didn’t play the sequel!! It’s such a wonderful otome game, there’s nothing like it! Of course, Lord Hartnights is wonderful, but Lady Aqua is even more wonderful. The sequel’s heroine has a solid name and character. She’s a duchess’s daughter named Aishira from the Marine Forest. She meets Lady Aqua at sea when he’s tired of his forced engagement. The stills are incredibly beautiful, and I’ve played it so many times. Unlike me, she’s not adopted by a viscount from a commoner, so her life is stable... I wish I had come to this world as the sequel’s heroine! Sigh...”

“...”

Akari spoke so much that Tiara Roses was taken aback. She talked about how much she loved Aquasteed, and Tiara Roses managed to learn some information about the sequel’s heroine, which was fortunate.

“Um. So, why are you here, Lady Akari?”

“Hmm? Oh, right. Actually, my engagement to Lord Hartnights has been officially decided.”

—Yeah, I know.

“And, as you might know, I can use the Holy Prayer.”

“...”

“So, if I tell Lady Aqua about it, I can marry my beloved Lady Aqua without any problems. You know how important this power is in this world, don’t you?”

Nodding, Akari continued to explain her plan.

Tiara Roses realized a gap in the information she knew.

—Does Lady Aqua know that Lady Akari can use the Holy Prayer?

When she heard the news during the day, nothing was mentioned about this. The engagement between Hartnights and Akari, and the fact that Hartnights wouldn’t become king. That’s all she heard.

Why did they choose Akari as the fiancée? She wasn’t told the reason. Of course, it was possible that they were considerate of Tiara Roses, who looked worried.

However, there was also the possibility that Aquasteed didn’t know. Tiara Roses trembled with anxiety at the two possibilities.

“So, Lady Tiara, please break up with Lady Aqua.”

“No.”

Akari bluntly told her to break up, but Tiara Roses immediately responded. She was even surprised that the words came out so quickly.

“...! Why? It’s fine!! Because, you didn’t play the sequel, right? So, you don’t have as much attachment to Lady Aqua as I do. I love Lady Aqua so much, and I’ve played it so many times!”

Suddenly raising her voice, Akari shouted, “That’s not fair!”

However, Tiara Roses, who was told this, couldn’t remain silent. She looked at Akari sternly.

“Lady Aqua is not a game. She’s a person living in this world!”

“So what? Of course, I know that.”

“This way of thinking ignores Lady Aqua’s will.”

“...What are you talking about? Lady Aqua is royalty, and I have the Holy Prayer. Getting married is common sense in this world.”

Tiara Roses bit her lip tightly at Akari’s words.

Marriage between a Holy Prayer user and royalty was a common sense in this world. Akari’s words were unreasonable, but they were in line with the world’s logic.

“See, you can’t say anything, can you? That’s because you know it’s true. As the prince of a great nation, Lady Aqua would definitely choose me.”

“...But, Lady Akari, you’re already engaged to Prince Hartnights. A great nation can’t just snatch you away.”

“I haven’t agreed to the engagement yet. The king decided it on his own. So, if I tell Lady Aqua about my power and ask for protection, it will be fine. So, please—...”

Akari’s plan was to go to the Marine Forest under the guise of protection and then marry Aquasteed. It wasn’t easy to escape from this country, but as the prince of a great nation, Aquasteed could make it possible.

The sudden turn of events gave Tiara Roses another wave of anxiety.

Akari smiled slyly and extended her hand towards Tiara Roses.

—What? Is she trying to use magic...?

Startled, but the heroine Akari possessed immense magical power. On the other hand, Tiara Roses, in the role of the villainess, didn’t have much magic.

A crackle of lightning shot from Akari’s hand. Tiara Roses shuddered and stepped back. She had no way to defend herself.

Even if she used a defensive spell, the difference in magical power was too great to block it.

“I thought about a scenario where Lady Tiara gets injured, and the engagement is dissolved.”

“...”

Akari smiled sweetly, a genuinely good smile.

If Tiara Roses kept backing away, she would hit the wall. She could go to the next room through the door next to her, but she couldn’t turn her back, not knowing when the attack spell would come.

“It’s okay, just a little injury. For Lady Aqua and me, a few months of bed rest will be fine, so don’t worry.”

“That’s not acceptable!”

“I’m the heroine, so I’ll definitely have a happy ending in the end.”

A bright flash of lightning, and Akari said, “For Lady Aqua and my happiness, please.”

“Thunder, strike!”

In response to Akari’s voice, a large bolt of lightning shot straight at Tiara Roses. With no way to defend herself, she tried to shield her body with her hands, but it was clear that it wouldn’t work.

Bracing for the impact, Tiara Roses closed her eyes tightly, but— the impact never came.

“Huh...?”

What’s going on? She opened her eyes cautiously.

What she saw was a protective barrier spell gently protecting Tiara Roses. Of course, Tiara Roses couldn’t use such a powerful barrier spell to completely block Akari’s magic.

Then, who—?

“I’m glad I made it in time.”

“Lady Aqua!”

Aquasteed hugged Tiara Roses from behind.

It seemed he had entered the room through the door, and his father was also there.

All the thoughts about why Aquasteed was here, why he chose Akari, and whether she would die from the attack spell had flown out of her mind.

The fact that Aquasteed had come to save her was enough to satisfy her.

“This is... I didn’t expect Lady Akari to really be here.”

“Miss Akari, of course, you will explain, right?”

“...”

Akari was surprised by the sudden appearance of her beloved Aquasteed and Duke Clementier.

Of course, she understood that Duke Clementier, who lived in the same mansion, would come running due to the commotion. But Aquasteed lived in the castle. It was impossible for him to be here.

“Why...”

Therefore, the word that escaped from Akari’s mouth was a question.

Faced with the stern gaze of the two, Akari quickly remembered her original plan.

“It’s not like that, Lady Aqua! I’ve awakened to the power of the Holy Prayer. But, I’m being forced into an engagement with Lord Hartnights... Lady Aqua, please help me. I don’t want to stay in this country. Please take me to your country.”

Akari was confident that she would be useful and beneficial to the great nation of the Marine Forest.

So, if Aquasteed knew she was a Holy Prayer user, he would choose her. This was her certainty.

“What a presumptuous thing to say. Lady Akari, you like Prince Hartnights, don’t you? No one will believe you if you say such things now.”

“Duke Clementier, please be quiet. I’m talking to Lady Aqua!”

Akari spoke assertively to Duke Clementier, who entered the room late.

She looked straight at Aquasteed, urging him to choose her quickly.

Among them, Tiara Roses was overwhelmed by an immense fear.

What if Aquasteed chose Akari? Or what if he took Akari back to his country under the guise of protection?

Such unpleasant thoughts circled in her mind.

“Lady Aqua might not know, but I recently awakened to the Holy Prayer. So, please take me to the Marine Forest. With me, the country will develop and flourish.”

“No, that’s not...!”

“Tiara?”

Reacting to Akari’s words, which seemed to say, “Take my hand quickly,” Tiara Roses immediately refused and clung to Aquasteed’s clothes. Aquasteed, of course, responded gently, stroking her head to comfort her.

“I know.”

“Eh—?”

At Aquasteed’s calm voice, both Tiara Roses and Akari spoke in unison.

The room fell silent, and Aquasteed’s words echoed clearly.

“I, of course, know that Miss Akari is a Holy Prayer user.”

“Then, why didn’t you choose me as your fiancée...?”

“—I don’t want to be underestimated. I can develop the country even without the Holy Prayer.”

“...!”

Everyone in the room held their breath.

The words of Aquasteed, the prince of a great nation, were heavy, quiet, and dignified.

“So, I don’t need Miss Akari.”

Aquasteed’s clear rejection shocked everyone.

He had declared that the Holy Prayer was unnecessary. He had dismissed the existence that every country desperately wanted.

“I have Tiara. I don’t need any other woman besides her.”

“A, Lady Aqua...”

“I’m sorry for being late to save you?”

Smiling gently, Aquasteed kissed her forehead as if touching a treasure.

He then carried Tiara Roses in his arms, holding her protectively. “I’m glad I made it in time,” he whispered, but the words were too soft for Tiara Roses to hear.

“It’s a lie... That’s a lie. Not being chosen by me...”

Seeing Akari, who was sitting on the floor, repeating the words in a daze, Aquasteed gave a cold order.

Immediately, several knights entered the room and arrested Akari. They installed a magical device to prevent her from using her powers and took her to the castle.

Although Tiara Roses thought she might scream, Akari went quietly, deeply hurt by being rejected by her beloved Aquasteed.

“Thank you, Lady Aqua.”

“I’m glad you’re safe. Are you hurt?”

“No. Lady Aqua came, so I’m not hurt.”

Smiling softly, Tiara Roses rested her head on Aquasteed’s chest. The tension had drained out of her, and she was suddenly very tired.

Trying to lift her head, thinking it was inappropriate, but Aquasteed stopped her.

“?”

“Stay like that. After what happened, it’s fine to be a bit more clingy.”

—Besides, being carried like a princess... It’s embarrassing, but I’m happy.

Tiara Roses, who was always afraid of being too clingy and making Aquasteed dislike her, felt her heart race.

As a villainess who was supposed to be exiled, every action she took was out of fear.

But now, she could finally relax.

Aquasteed had clearly chosen Tiara Roses over Akari in this situation. How could she express this overwhelming feeling?

—Happiness, perhaps.

Thinking this, Tiara Roses finally managed to smile from the bottom of her heart.

It was a bit long... wasn’t it?

Thank you for all the comments.

I’ve read them all, and they are very encouraging!

(I haven’t been able to reply, though...)