Chapter 35

Since Tiara Roses and Claire met, the two of them have been having tea parties quite often.

After the second time, Aquasteed insisted on being invited as well, so the three of them became even more lively.

Today, they are having a tea party in Tiara Roses' private garden.

"Really, Aquasteed. It was supposed to be a girls' day with Tiara Roses. It's ruined when a guy joins in!"

"You say that often..."

Clair took a bite of a cookie and looked at Aquasteed with a deadpan expression, complaining about the ruined girls' day.

Whenever Clair comes, Tarmo immediately calls Aquasteed, and the three of them end up having a tea party.

Tiara Roses can only give a wry smile at the sight of the two.

"I am happy to have tea with the two of you."

"Oh, Tiara Roses, you're such a good girl!"

Clair moved to hug Tiara Roses, but Aquasteed quickly blocked her and hugged Tiara Roses herself.

—How embarrassing!

Her heart races at the sudden action. Moreover, it's not good to be hugged in front of Clair. It's embarrassing, and she wishes such things would only happen when they are alone.

"Lady Aquasteed, it's embarrassing..."

"But, you look happy, don't you?"

"Ugh..."

It's even more embarrassing that she can't deny it.

Because, if something is happy, it's happy. —But, it's not good to do this in front of Clair. Pushing against Aquasteed's chest, she finally manages to pull away.

Aquasteed's comment, which is both disappointed and not at all disappointed, is typical. Indeed, such incidents happen quite often. This prince doesn't care about other people's gazes at all.

"Really, you two are so lovey-dovey. It's unfair that it's always Aquasteed."

"Don't get too close to Tiara. My cute Tiara will diminish."

"She won't diminish!"

Clair says this with exasperation, but Aquasteed doesn't back down at all.

It's very happy to be loved, but Tiara Roses' days are challenging because her heart races so much every day.

◇◇◇

With a bubbling sound, Aishira swam deeper into the sea.

She is conducting research to report to Aquasteed about the sea fairies. The vast ocean is like Aishira's garden, but it is still nature, and it's very heavy for her small body.

When she asked the sea fairies not to steal Tiara Roses' sweets, they didn't listen.

If that's the case, she has no choice but to ask the Sea Fairy King directly.

Meeting the king is very difficult.

It's often thought that since Keith and Clair can visit Tiara Roses easily, meeting the king would be easy, but it's actually a long and arduous journey.

"Can I meet him...?"

Aishira has never met the Fairy King before.

She has confidence that she is loved by the sea fairies, but whether she can meet the king is uncertain. The probability is not high, she thinks.

The path—

To reach the Sea Fairy King's residence, one must dive deep into the sea. For a normal human, it would be very difficult to reach due to water pressure.

The first condition is the blessing of the sea fairies, and one must know the path to the king's location.

Even if both conditions are met, the possibility of meeting the king is low.

"…This is the deepest I've ever dived into the sea."

Unlike the parts closer to the surface, the deep sea is dark and quiet.

However, Aishira saw a palace in her field of vision.

It was like a dragon palace, and Aishira's eyes widened.

The castle where the Sea Fairy King resides spread out before her.

"Amazing… I didn't know there was such a palace at the bottom of the sea."

Suppressing her racing heart, Aishira approached the palace. Thinking that the Sea Fairy King is here, her body tensed and wouldn't move properly.

—But, I have to try for Lady Tiara Roses.

Gripping her fist tightly, she knocked on the door. Praying for a response, the door slowly and silently opened, and she felt relieved that she was welcomed.

"Good."

Looking around, there were no fairies in sight.

The room was silent and empty. …Is this a sign to proceed? Interpreting it that way, Aishira moved forward.

Inside the palace, there was no seawater.

The air was the same as on land, and the environment was comfortable. The furnishings, made of sparkling coral, were all of high quality.

However, water channels were installed on both sides of the corridors. Aishira thought they were probably made for the newly born fairies who are weak and dislike air.

As Aishira moved forward, the doors opened in sync with her steps. It seemed to be showing her the way. Following the open doors, she came to a grand door.

"Is this the King's chamber?"

The magnificent door, decorated in gold, exuded a solemn atmosphere just by its presence. Even though nothing had been done, the pressure was overwhelmingly strong.

—Without a doubt, the Sea Fairy King is here.

With this conviction, Aishira put her hand on the door and gently opened it.

Waiting for her was the Fairy King, as she had imagined.

Sitting on a crimson throne, his eyes were fixed on Aishira.

"Welcome, Aishira."

"…! I-I am Aishira Pearlrand."

"Hmm. I am the Sea Fairy King, Pearl. Well done for coming to this palace."

Aishira immediately knelt and greeted the Sea Fairy King, Pearl.

Saying it was no trouble, Pearl covered her mouth with a fan.

Her straight silver hair was cut to her shoulders, and her eyes, like those of other fairy kings, shone gold. The layered kimono dress accentuated her silver color.

—Beautiful.

That was all Aishira could say to describe her.

A fragile beauty, one could say. She looked about the same age as Aishira. Perhaps her actual age was much older, and Aishira felt a slight sense of familiarity.

"—So, what is your business?"

"Y-Yes! I humbly request to speak about… the consort of our country's prince, Aquasteed Marinforest, Lady Tiara Roses Lapis Marinforest."

Aishira explained that the sea fairies were taking Tiara Roses' sweets without permission, causing trouble. She was careful not to be rude and provided detailed information.

After listening to the entire story, Pearl closed her fan and covered her mouth.

"…Hmm. The sweets you speak of, are they those?"

"Eh—!!"

Suddenly, the fan gracefully drew an arc, pointing to a certain spot. Following its path, Aishira's gaze landed on Tiara Roses' sweets, discarded in a trash can.

She gasped, but Aishira couldn't say anything to blame Pearl. If she angered her, the sea of this country would become turbulent.

That must never happen.

"…! W-Why such a thing…?"

"Unfortunately, I greatly dislike that Tiara Roses."

Gathering her courage, Aishira asked for a reason.

The answer was as she had expected.

—But, why does Lady Pearl dislike Lady Tiara Roses?

Since this didn't happen before, she must have started disliking her recently. This thought crossed Aishira's mind.

"Why do you dislike Lady Tiara Roses? Is it because I have feelings for Lord Aquasteed…?"

The sea fairies know that Aishira likes Aquasteed.

They also know that Aquasteed and Tiara Roses are married and that they originally loved each other.

Therefore, Pearl hates Tiara Roses for taking Aquasteed from her.

Hearing Aishira's words, Pearl laughed through her nose.

"Aishira. Just because you received the fairies' blessing and came here, don't think you will receive mine!"

"—! I-I am very sorry."

Suddenly, a sharp pressure dominated the area.

Realizing it was Pearl's power, Aishira understood that her question was wrong. Sweat trickled down her back, and her kneeling body trembled.

—Does Lady Pearl not really dislike Lady Tiara Roses?

Although neither confirmed nor denied, Pearl's words didn't indicate a dislike for Tiara Roses. Aishira thought she wasn't a being moved by such petty human emotions.

"By the way, Aishira."

"Y-Yes!"

"Do you know much about Tiara Roses' surroundings?"

"…? S-Some…"

Caught off guard by the sudden question, Aishira was anxious. She didn't think Tiara Roses was a topic of particular interest.

When it came to surroundings, she could only think of Aquasteed. However, Pearl shouldn't be concerned about Aishira's love life.

"Hmm. Can you tell me about Claire?"

"C-Claire? I'm sorry, I don't know who that is."

—Who?

Tiara Roses' head maid is Filine, and her guard is Tarmo. Among Aquasteed's aides, there is no one named Claire. Moreover, there is no one named Claire among the nobles of this country. As a duchess's daughter, Aishira knows all the nobles of this country.

Sighing, Pearl opened her fan.

"What a pity. I opened the path here, but you are of no use."

"I am very sorry…"

"Well, it's fine. Claire said she would come here for tea, but she hasn't shown up at all!"

Shaking her lustrous silver hair, Pearl stood up from her throne.

—Did Lady Tiara Roses take someone named Claire from her?

But, she doesn't know who Claire is. She should check with Aquasteed to see if he knows.

"If you have no information, that's enough. —Go back."

"—!?"

Pearl's cold eyes and words.

Aishira was instantly sent back from the bottom of the sea to the surface—...

The Sea Fairy King has appeared!

And a little announcement.

I've been given a space at the Summer Comiket!

I'm thinking of making a free paper for "The Villainess is Doted on by the Prince of the Neighboring Country."

I've uploaded the details in my activity report, so if you're going to Summer Comiket, please come by!