Chapter 37

"Um..."

As the Sea Fairy King Pearl disappeared, the Sky Fairy King Clare looked dejected and lonely. The once enjoyable tea party fell into a solemn atmosphere, and Tiara Rose was flustered and anxious.

-- Could it be that Lady Clare likes Lady Pearl?

For the woman who despises men, she dressed up as a woman. Tiara Rose thought this was not something easily done. It seemed as if she was doing it with some affection.

"Really, you're so complicated."

"Aquasteed..."

Sighing, Aquasteed told Aisira to leave. It was not appropriate to let the daughter of a duke hear such matters. Besides, Aisira could not solve the current problem. Aquasteed had already come to this conclusion and decided there was no need to speak further.

After bowing and confirming Aisira's departure, Aquasteed sat back on the sofa. When she turned her gaze to Clare, who took a sip of tea and then began to speak.

"Well, as you can see, I'm a man."

"As you can see, you look like a woman."

"Oh..."

Clare laughed, twirling her hair with her fingers. She spoke as if she had forgotten that she was dressed as a woman. Perhaps the situation had become so normal that even she was not aware of it.

"I wasn't hiding it from Tiara Rose...," Clare continued, as she re-brewed the coral tea.

"No... Please don't worry about me. Besides, talking with you is enjoyable."

"Thank you, you're so kind."

"Is Tiara a good woman?"

"Very much so."

Keith laughed while drinking tea, and Aquasteed pulled Tiara Rose closer to her. She glared at the fairy king, warning him not to target her wife.

"Lady Aquasteed..."

"Tiara is too friendly with everyone."

"Hehe, if you don't hold her tight, she'll be taken away."

"Keith!"

-- What is this fairy king saying!

Tiara Rose, of course, was devoted to Aquasteed. The best way to avoid making Aquasteed anxious was to ensure she herself was not anxious. So, she warned Keith not to say anything unnecessary.

"Alright, so what will you do, Clare? Do you really like Pearl that much?"

"..."

At Keith's words, Tiara Rose held back her words. She thought it was not appropriate to interfere in the matters between Clare and Pearl.

-- Is it unrequited love for Lady Clare?

But from the looks of it, it might be mutual. As the Sky and Sea Fairy Kings, it might be difficult for them to meet frequently. It would be best if they didn't drift apart... She felt guilty for always being by Aquasteed's side.

"Don't look so down, Tiara Rose. I'm fine."

"! Lady Clare..."

Realizing her face had darkened, she hurriedly put on a smile. Aquasteed also reassured her, stroking her head and saying, "Don't worry about it."

But Tiara Rose couldn't help but be concerned. Before she could say anything, Aquasteed covered her mouth with a pastry.

"Mmm!"

"Tiara Rose, just enjoy the pastry and look happy."

Clare smiled and continued.

"Right. I like Pearl, but as you can see, Pearl hates men, right? So, I'm also disliked."

-- Absolutely, that's a misunderstanding!

She shouted in her heart, but with a mouth full of pastry, she couldn't speak. It seemed that Aquasteed and Keith shared the same thoughts, as they were seen laughing quietly.

"Well, his hatred of men is deep-seated. Dressing up as a woman won't make him like you."

"Right? But I did try my best."

"..."

Swallowing the pastry quickly, Tiara Rose was about to say, "That's not true," but Aquasteed's finger gently touched her lips.

"!"

"Shh, Tiara."

"Lady Aquasteed? But, if you say that, Lady Clare will..."

Unconsciously lowering her voice, she tilted her head, wondering why she shouldn't say it. She thought external encouragement was necessary for such a pair. However, Aquasteed did not agree.

"Fairy kings' matters are not something we humans can easily meddle in."

"That's... true, but..."

But wouldn't it be sad for both Clare and Pearl?

Tiara Rose, feeling down, looked at Clare and Keith arguing. She wished Pearl would realize he wasn't disliked sooner.

-- Besides, Keith could tell him!

Feeling frustrated, she sighed. But at the same time, she thought it wasn't good for an outsider like herself to interfere, even though they seemed like close friends.

"Really, Keith is so carefree."

"Hmph. I'm tired of troublesome matters."

"Your attitude is so enviable."

Sighing, Clare finished her tea and savored the cake recommended by Tiara Rose.

"It's fine. I'll continue to slowly close the distance with Pearl."

"Hehe, good luck with that."

Shaking her head, Clare indicated that they had talked enough.

Keith casually dismissed it as usual.

"Well, it's no use today. I'm going, Keith."

"Me too."

"Right. You two are still newlyweds, so it's not good for us to interfere too much, right?"

"...But you come here often."

When Aquasteed glared at Clare's words, Clare smiled.

"Oh, right. Should I give Pearl a gift? Tiara Rose, would you accompany me shopping soon?"

"You..."

"I'd be happy to, if you'd like."

Before Aquasteed could stop her, Tiara Rose nodded. Sighing, Aquasteed muttered, "I'll go too."

◇ ◇ ◇

The rare tea party with the three fairy kings ended, and Tiara Rose soaked in the bath to relax and wash away the day's fatigue.

"Huff..."

Submerging half her face in the water, she closed her eyes and puffed out her cheeks.

Her thoughts were on Clare and Pearl. She wished they could be more honest with each other.

-- No, maybe Lady Clare is too honest?

That's why she dressed up as a woman to get closer to Pearl.

"Love is so complicated..."

She herself had struggled a lot with Aquasteed. Clare must be struggling with Pearl, and Pearl too.

"Besides, being a man... I was surprised. He looked like a perfect beauty..."

She was somewhat shocked as a woman. Men could be so beautiful. In the world of otome games, everyone was too charming.

Then, a thought crossed her mind.

"Is Lord Pearl upset that I'm having a tea party with Lady Clare and the others?"

"Exactly!!"

"Ah!"

The moment Tiara Rose spoke, another voice echoed in the bathroom.

There was no need to wonder where it came from. Pearl, with a sullen face, appeared from the bathtub.

-- Could it be the Sea Fairy King himself!

Completely unexpected, she was surprised. Immediately, Aquasteed's voice called out to her, and footsteps could be heard. If she didn't do something, he would surely come to check on her.

She quickly called out, "It's nothing, I'm fine," to stop Aquasteed.

"Hmph! To cry out and have a man come immediately, what a privileged position you have."

"..."

Though Pearl was saying it sarcastically, his eyes showed envy.

Tiara Rose pondered what to do and decided to try talking normally.

"Lord Pearl, would you like to join us for a tea party?"

"What are you saying! I would never have tea with you!"

"I'll invite Lady Clare too. It will surely be fun. Lady Clare really wants to meet you."

"Hmph."

She invited him directly, but the answer was no. He wouldn't have tea with a mere human. She was puzzled, but since he had shown his face, Pearl must be concerned.

"Don't casually invite fairy kings to tea. Know your place!"

"Y-Yes..."

Keith and Clare had come to her, not the other way around. But Pearl wouldn't accept that. As the Sea Fairy King, what he said was as good as fact for the sea.

"I'll let it go today, but if it gets worse, I'll have my own plans!"

"Lady Pearl, I..."

"Be quiet! Don't defy the Sea Fairy King! Don't get any closer to the king or to Clare!"

"..."

Rapidly, Pearl disappeared.

She had made a promise to go shopping with Clare, but now she was at a loss.

"But, Lord Pearl is cuter than I thought."

Though he called himself a fairy king, he only mentioned Clare and one of the other two.

"I won't take Lady Clare from Lord Pearl. ...Maybe they will become a couple soon?"

Thinking this, she no longer cared about the past pastry thefts. She genuinely wanted to support those two.

Deciding to tell Aquasteed about meeting Pearl and cancel the shopping trip, she was about to leave the bath when she heard Pearl's voice. Aquasteed's face appeared.

"Tiara, are you al---"

"~!?"

She let out a silent scream and splashed water on Aquasteed. Embarrassed, her face turned red instantly.

It wasn't a lucky pervert, but a confirmed pervert.