Chapter 36

A tea party was held in the form of a report from Aishira about her meeting with the Sea Fairy King.

In the reception room, there were cakes made by Tiara Rose and delicious black tea prepared.

The members were Tiara Rose, Aquasteed, and Aishira, because they were going to talk about the sea fairies who had been stealing Tiara Rose's sweets.

In front of the door, guards for Tiara Rose and Aquasteed stood.

However, the atmosphere of the tea party, which was nominally a report meeting, was not very good.

Tiara Rose was flustered by Aishira's gloomy mood. Aishira was shocked that the Sea Fairy King had not accepted her.

She was the one most loved by the sea fairies in this country and had been confident that she could get along well with the Fairy King.

"The Fairy King, you know. Even if the fairies like you, it's difficult to be accepted by the King. So, don't be discouraged."

"…Yes."

To Aishira, who nodded weakly, it seemed obvious that this was the case, as Aquasteed said.

"Lady Aishira… I am not well-liked by the sea fairies either."

"Thank you, Lady Tiara Rose."

Tiara Rose, who was loved by the fairies, including the Forest Fairy King, but disliked by the sea fairies, felt a bit lonely about this. However, she also thought it was presumptuous to want to be liked by all the fairies.

Of course, she had loved the otome game. She did have a desire to be liked by everyone. However, she had Aquasteed, her beloved. Tiara Rose did not want anything more.

"I met the Sea Fairy King, was sent away, and still thought of going back to the sea. Many times, many times…"

Aishira tightly gripped her hands on her lap. She spoke slowly, though it was difficult for her to do so.

"However, I was not allowed to reach the Fairy King's palace. No matter how deep I dove into the sea, there was only the sea, endlessly."

"……"

With tears welling in her eyes, Aishira, Tiara Rose gently offered a handkerchief. It might be impossible to tell her not to worry, but she hoped Aishira wouldn't dwell on it too much.

After thanking her, Aishira pressed the handkerchief to her eyes.

As a conclusion, nothing had been resolved—this was the current situation.

Tiara Rose was not too concerned about her sweets being stolen, but Aquasteed could not afford to be so complacent.

He was worried about what might happen in the future if his beloved wife's sweets continued to be stolen. It was best to eliminate any sources of uncertainty.

"I will take action on this matter—…Clair?"

"Clair-sama!"

Aishira had not been able to gather information, so Aquasteed decided to take action. Just as he was thinking this, the air in the room suddenly changed.

Quickly understanding what had happened, Aquasteed called out the name.

"Hehe, I came to play."

"Clair-sama!"

The one who appeared was Clair, the Sky Fairy King.

As Tiara Rose called out his name happily, another voice of complaint came from the side.

"What, you're ignoring me?"

"Keith!"

Clair, the Sky Fairy King, and Keith, the Forest Fairy King, had appeared simultaneously.

Tiara Rose let out a surprised cry, and Aishira shrank back at the appearance of such formidable figures.

"I heard you've been having tea with Clair recently. It's been a while, Tiara."

"It's been a while. I'm glad to meet the Forest Fairy King again—"

"No formal greetings. Well, it's good to see you happy."

Tiara Rose and Keith had not seen each other since the wedding.

Tiara Rose thought to greet the Fairy King properly, but Keith did not like formalities.

He plopped down in an empty chair, picked up the teapot on the table, and poured himself some tea.

While thinking that he could at least offer to pour tea for others, Tiara Rose smiled wryly, thinking it was just like Keith.

He drank it all in one go and placed the teacup down with a clink.

Clair scolded him for being rude, but Keith did not care.

"Anyway, you brought a souvenir today, right?"

"Since you're a Fairy King, can't you be a bit more polite? Oh, right. You brought coral tea today."

The two Fairy Kings continued their conversation without regard for anyone else.

Tiara Rose asked Filine, who was standing by, to prepare new teacups. She was curious about the type of tea she had never heard of before.

With great interest, she watched as Clair took out a package.

"Even though you're the Sky Fairy King, you brought coral tea?"

Aquasteed looked at Clair with a puzzled expression.

Fairy Kings were generally strongly connected to their respective domains—forest, sky, and sea. Coral, which lived in the sea, was in the domain of Pearl, the Sea Fairy King.

It was strange for Clair, the Sky Fairy King, to bring coral tea as a gift.

"Of course! Though, it's a gift from Pearl. It's delicious, so I thought I'd share it."

Clair took out a small piece of coral from the bag and dropped it into a newly prepared teacup. When she poured hot water over it, a fragrant sea scent and a sweet floral aroma filled the air.

Tiara Rose exclaimed in amazement, and Clair smiled.

"Isn't it? It's one of my favorites."

Clair, who looked very pleased, moved to Tiara Rose's side to explain that adding milk would also be delicious. However, she was blocked by Aquasteed, who had stood up and moved over.

He pulled Tiara Rose towards himself and shooed Clair away with his hand.

"A, Aquasteed-sama?!"

"Tiara is my wife. Don't get too close."

"Really, Aquasteed, you're so possessive."

Tiara Rose's heart raced at Aquasteed's childishly possessive behavior. He had never been so bold in public.

—Does he really dislike it so much that I get along with Clair-sama?

She wondered why, but could not come up with an answer. Tilted her head, she stayed in Aquasteed's embrace, feeling both embarrassed and happy.

"You really dote on her… Hehe, I'm envious."

Clair, having no choice, sat in another seat and prepared tea for everyone.

Aishira, feeling honored, received her cup and was amazed that coral could be used in this way. The coral in this country was best cultivated by Aishira.

However, she did not know how to make tea from coral. If she had been accepted by the Sea Fairy King, perhaps she could have done such things, and she felt disheartened.

"Here, here, Keith, take a seat. By the way, I suddenly dropped by, but were you busy?"

After setting everything up, Clair looked around.

Usually, the tea party was attended by Tiara Rose, Aquasteed, and Clair. Finding Aishira, an unexpected guest, she must have thought she had made a mistake.

Aquasteed shook his head as if to give up and said, "It's fine."

Just as they were about to start the tea party again, there was a small splash.

Everyone tilted their heads in confusion, and a small Sea Fairy King, Pearl, appeared in the teacup.

Only the Fairy Kings, Clair and Keith, and Aishira, who had visited the palace, knew about Pearl.

Aishira, who had not expected to see Pearl again, opened her eyes wide.

Clair smiled happily and lifted the teacup in which Pearl had appeared.

"Hehe, I thought using coral tea might bring her out."

"…"

However, Pearl only returned a sullen expression and did not say a word.

"Um, Clair-sama? Who is that…?"

"Oh, it's your first time, Tiara Rose. This is Pearl, the Sea Fairy King."

"!"

In the awkward atmosphere, Tiara Rose timidly spoke. Being told so casually that this was the Sea Fairy King made her heart race.

She had not expected to meet the Sea Fairy King. Aquasteed, too, seemed surprised, as he immediately stood up and bowed to Pearl.

However, Pearl ignored them and glared sharply at Clair.

"What are you telling me to do, Pearl? That's not good, you should respond to greetings…"

Clair asked, looking troubled, and Pearl finally spoke.

"Don't order me around! And don't dress like that, you man!!"

"Pearl…"

Tiara Rose let out a small gasp at the sudden revelation.

She had never imagined that the beautiful woman she had been having tea with was a man.

—But Aquasteed was jealous of Clair… Could it be that Aquasteed knew Clair was a man?

This hypothesis formed in Tiara Rose's mind.

That was why Aquasteed had told her not to meet Clair alone. If Clair had been a woman, he would not have said such an unreasonable thing.

—As expected of the Fairy Kings, they all have very strong personalities.

A handsome man, a beautiful woman, and a girl who calls herself "wara-wa." It was fitting for a popular otome game sequel. Thinking about it this way, the strong personalities made more sense.

"Clair, you idiot!"

"!"

Pearl said only that and disappeared back into the teacup with a splash.

Tiara Rose could only gape at the scene.

Then, in a slightly lower, more neutral voice, Clair whispered softly.

"I thought this form would make Pearl and I get along better, since she hates men."

This is a long-awaited update.

I'm sorry for the long wait!

I hope you enjoyed it.