Chapter 24

In a room where sunlight streamed through the window, Tiara Rose was feeling down.

Not only had she failed to avoid the game's forced event, but she had also fled from Aquasteed and Aishira.

Even though she understood what she should do, she couldn't help but feel overwhelmed when she saw the two of them in the event...

"How can I become stronger?"

—Is Lady Aqua's heart still directed towards me?

During the game's event, her heart might even turn towards Aishira, the heroine. This thought filled her with anxiety.

"But I don't know the content of the game. So, I can only try my best to see Lady Aqua herself."

This time, she managed to recall the event by chance, but she knew nothing more. If Akari, who transferred from the previous game, knew, she shouldn't use that knowledge.

While having the game's information would certainly be advantageous for Tiara Rose, it would mean she couldn't look at Aquasteed straightforwardly.

"It's okay. Lady Aqua is looking at me."

As she tried to reassure herself, tears welled up in her eyes. However, she lifted her face to prevent them from falling.

Just as she was holding back, she felt her eyes being covered from behind.

—Huh?

Tensing up, she heard a chuckling voice from behind her.

It was clear that the hands covering her eyes belonged to the culprit, and Tiara Rose quickly turned around, calling out the name of the person who had covered her eyes.

"...Keith!"

"Is that guy making you cry again?"

"No, it's not that."

Keith's long, dark green hair brushed against Tiara Rose's cheek, and the tickling sensation stopped her tears.

Despite feeling angry at his sudden appearance, she sighed, knowing that it was futile to argue with the fairy king. Keith, though a bit of a joker, was the noble king of the fairies.

Denying Keith's words, Tiara Rose frowned.

"But your heart is crying. If you're in pain, you can come to me."

"...It's not that I was made to cry. I'm just overthinking things."

"Humans are always so complicated."

The free-spirited Keith wouldn't listen even if Tiara Rose told him not to come to her room. She didn't want to worry Aquasteed, and being alone with Keith wasn't her intention.

"Keith is as free as ever."

Chuckling, Tiara Rose decided to make tea.

She wasn't sure if Keith would like human tea, but it wouldn't be right not to offer it.

As the tea steamed and she poured it into the teacup, Keith nodded in satisfaction. It seemed he liked tea, and Tiara Rose felt relieved.

"Fairies like tea too?"

"Yes, especially the forest fairies. Flowers that bloom naturally make excellent tea. Next time, I'll treat you as a thank you."

"Thank you."

The tea in Tiara Rose's private room was not only her favorite but also a variety prepared by Aquasteed to ensure she could relax and feel comfortable.

"—Your tears seem to have stopped."

"...!"

After drinking the tea, Keith looked at Tiara Rose's face. He chuckled and took her hand.

Confused, Tiara Rose looked at Keith, who always acted suddenly.

"Let's go for now."

"Eh—? Go where?"

Keith pulled Tiara Rose towards him and used the teleportation magic without her consent.

—And immediately after, the sound of Aquasteed knocking on the door echoed.

He had been worried about Tiara Rose, who had suddenly run off, and had come to her room when he couldn't find her.

"...She's not here?"

Aquasteed's voice echoed in the quiet hallway. However, the knight guarding the room said, "She has returned."

—Is she crying?

Aquasteed's beloved princess rarely showed her vulnerability, and as a noble from another country, she often held back. Aquasteed wanted to protect her, but Tiara Rose, being excellent, rarely showed her true feelings.

"Let me in."

Aquasteed entered Tiara Rose's private room, which was even quieter than the hallway.

Looking around, he saw the steaming tea on the table, in a position that suggested Tiara Rose had been sitting while drinking it.

"...The fairy king?"

Aquasteed quickly concluded that the fairy king had taken Tiara Rose. He bit his lip, realizing that the fairy king had used teleportation magic to take her away.

Determined to bring her back, Aquasteed left the room to prepare.

◇ ◇ ◇

The Tree Gate, surrounded by trees, led to the fairy king's castle.

Colorful flowers bloomed, welcoming Tiara Rose. Fairies darted through the flowers, chirping and surrounding the fairy king.

"Hey, it's Tiara!"

"Welcome back, King!"

"What's going on?"

The forest fairies welcomed Keith, who had returned via teleportation. In his arms was Tiara Rose.

Amid the cheerful atmosphere, Tiara Rose was flustered.

"Keith, what's going on!"

"Don't shout."

The sudden teleportation had left Tiara Rose flustered.

Just like last time, she hadn't told Aquasteed anything. She couldn't afford to make the same mistake twice and asked to be sent back immediately, but Keith shook his head.

"You might not realize it, Tiara, but you look terrible. —Take a rest."

"That's not the point..."

"I won't do anything."

With a thud, Keith laid Tiara Rose on the bed and said, "Just rest." The fairies, chiming in with "Sleepy?" and "It's bad for your skin!" covered her with sheets.

"Ah, well... I appreciate your concern, but I'm fine."

"But your eyes are red!"

"Here, take this flower!"

The fairies insisted that Tiara Rose needed to rest. Her eyes were indeed red from lack of sleep and tears.

She wasn't feeling particularly energetic after the shock of the event.

"...Thank you. But I'll rest in my own room. Please send me back."

"No. You know how whimsical the forest fairies can be."

"Keith, but I..."

Keith gently placed his hand on Tiara Rose's head, and immediately, her vision went dark as she lost consciousness.

In a gentle, low voice, Keith said, "Rest for a while."

"...Sigh."

"You must have been through a lot to fall asleep so easily. Even though you're so vulnerable..."

Keith gently laid Tiara Rose on the bed and stroked her forehead, telling her to rest.

"King, what's wrong with Tiara?"

"Just tired. When she wakes up, play with her."

"Okay!"

The fairies, chirping happily, lay down with the sleeping Tiara Rose, deciding to take a nap with her.

Keith let them do as they pleased.

"...What a handful."

Keith sighed and left the room.

The fairies would take good care of Tiara Rose, so he had nothing to worry about.

—The beloved queen of the forest fairies.

In the Marin Forest Kingdom, three types of fairies lived: forest fairies, sea fairies, and sky fairies. Each type had its own king, who led the respective fairy race.

Fairy blessings could be bestowed upon humans whom the fairies favored.

Among them, the sea fairies were the most friendly towards humans, followed by the sky fairies, and lastly, the forest fairies.

The whimsical forest fairies rarely appeared before humans, and it was almost impossible for the fairy king to do so.

"I think the sea fairies favored a human named Aishira. Humans are complicated, and so are the sea fairies."

Keith didn't interfere with the sea fairies.

The sea fairies had a strong attachment to those they favored. When a girl loved by the sea fairies suffered, the sea turned red and murky, and the kingdom mourned.

Fish disappeared, and corals decayed. Since then, the Marin Forest Kingdom had been very cautious about how they treated humans favored by the fairies.

"I wonder when that was, a few hundred years ago?"

Keith stopped recalling the past, thinking it was too troublesome.

However, the kingdom placed more importance on humans favored by the sea fairies. No significant issues had arisen with the others.

Especially the forest fairies, who didn't have such strong attachments to humans.

"The next king, Aquasteed. Can he protect the country, the woman, the forest, the sea, and the sky?"

How many kings had ever achieved that?

Only a king recognized by all the fairy kings could be the true king of Marin Forest. Keith recalled that there had been one in the past.

Chuckling, Keith teleported to Aquasteed's location.

This time, it's Keith!

Don't worry, Aquasteed's turn will start next. I want to gradually increase the sweetness and head towards the finale!