Chapter 43

"…………"

"Pearl"

Clair's voice, as cold as if it were colder than the bottom of the sea, echoed through Pearl's palace.

At the sound, the sea fairy queen, Pearl, who was the master of the palace, shuddered.

The severe voice she had never heard before seemed to lower the temperature of the sea.

Always, Clair, who was gentle and calm, would never get angry no matter what Pearl did. But now, she—no, he was angry.

"Clair"

Pearl called his name as if squeezing it out.

Clair smiled at being called by name, but his eyes did not smile. He looked at Pearl with a silent, smiling face, and when he suddenly swept his beautiful hair, it changed from its usual form to a clear, straight blue. The dress, which had been a woman's, became a neat man's, revealing the true form of Clair.

Anyone who saw him would think he looked like the sky itself.

"Since Pearl said she disliked men, I stayed in a woman's form—but... is it okay now?"

"……"

Not understanding what he meant by "okay now," Pearl took a step back.

She felt afraid of Clair.

"Well, I... "

"Pearl. We, the fairy kings, are not blamed for causing natural disasters. Sometimes, it might be necessary."

As Clair continued speaking, he slowly approached Pearl.

"But—"

Clair squatted down to meet Pearl's eyes, who was sitting.

"—It's not good to involve humans in our affairs, is it?"

"……!"

Pearl felt a warmth in her eyes.

She wondered why she had to go through such things. Of course, it was because of her own rash actions.

—Why do I have to suffer like this?

As she stared blankly at the angry Clair, Pearl recalled the recent events.

Everything went wrong because Tiara Roses came to this country. It was strange that the villainess from the previous game existed in the sequel.

However, in this world where everyone lived, no one cared about such things.

The sea fairies were the first to take action.

It started from their selfish desire for their beloved Aisheira to be happy. They thought Aisheira would be happy if she were with Aquasteed.

But it was impossible to separate the deeply in love Tiara Roses and Aquasteed.

Pearl didn't really care about this matter.

Then, the next contact was with Clair.

Pearl thought they would eventually meet since Clair was blessing Aquasteed. However, she never expected to become so intimate with him.

"……"

"Pearl?"

—I thought fairy kings were lonely, but it seems I was the only one who was lonely.

Seeing Clair and Keith laugh happily, Pearl gradually felt depressed. She wondered if she could also become friends with humans, but it seemed like a fairy tale.

"I'm fine on my own."

With emotionless eyes, Pearl told Clair this.

Clair gritted his teeth, not wanting this answer. Pearl, who should be the most longing for companionship, was putting up a strong front and isolating herself.

But, it couldn't be helped. As Clair sighed, the door to the room they were in opened with a bang.

"Princess Pearl!"

"Uuuu... "

"It's not Elliott, but Aisheira Pearl-Land."

Clair was the first to react, surprised.

Aisheira was fine since she was closest to the sea, but the focus should be on Elliott, whose face was in a terrible state.

Then, they remembered that he had taken a love potion.

"Please, can you give us a potion to negate the effects of the love potion?"

"……"

Pearl looked at the two of them silently in response to Aisheira's words.

"Why doesn't Elliott, who has power, make Aisheira his own?"

"Pearl!"

"! C-Clair-sama?"

Surprised by his different appearance, Aisheira was momentarily taken aback but quickly returned her gaze to Pearl. She tried to convey that manipulating human hearts with drugs was wrong.

Elliott, however, said, "It's not that."

"I am too far below her in status. ... The person I like is a noble."

"Elliott..."

Aisheira and Clair were taken aback by this heartfelt confession. They didn't know who Elliott's love interest was, but the status difference was indeed a high barrier.

Clair smiled in a troubled manner, and Pearl, who had been sitting, stood up and thrust a fan at Elliott.

"Why do you care about such a status difference? If you are a man, you should have the strength to protect the woman you love!"

"……!"

Pearl, who had never raised her voice so loudly before, glared at Elliott.

"Men care too much about status. He also said we couldn't be together because of our different statuses. He said he didn't want to forget me and would take my name. I don't need such half-hearted feelings...!"

Large tears, like pearls, fell from Pearl's eyes.

Aisheira was startled. Pearl had said someone had taken her name.

—My name is Aisheira Pearl-Land.

The family that bears Pearl's name and is loved by the sea fairies.

—Does this mean that a long time ago, an old man proposed to Pearl and was refused?

Aisheira had never heard such a story, and the recent generations had lived in peace. She thought it must have been a very long time ago.

—If it's true... how cruel.

To see the man she loved get married and pass on his name through generations. Aisheira thought it was understandable that Pearl would dislike her.

However, Pearl allowed the sea fairies to bless her, and the sea had always been calm.

—Is it because of Clair-sama?

When Aisheira glanced at Clair, she saw a very pained expression, confirming that he knew about Pearl's situation.

"...... I'm sorry. I will be stronger."

"!"

"Elliott, your tears..."

Hearing Pearl's words, Elliott stopped crying. His eyes now held a strong will, and the color of being under the influence of the love potion was gone.

"It seems the effect has worn off."

"Yes."

"Then, go—go to the one you should love."

"!?!"

Elliott, who had said he wouldn't mention the status difference anymore, looked at Pearl with determination. Satisfied, Pearl smiled and gently teleported Elliott away.

After looking at Clair and Aisheira a few times, she took a deep breath and spoke.

"... I'm sorry for causing trouble. I treated Aisheira badly and made humans experience great fear."

"No, no... Princess Pearl. I received the sea's blessing without knowing anything—please forgive me."

"It's fine. I was too indifferent to humans."

Pearl smiled with a faint smile.

Then, she turned her gaze to Clair.

"Clair... Thank you for always watching over me, even though I'm like this. I thought I had forgotten that man and only thought of you—but I'm a poor king."

"You're not to blame for this. You were just used by a bad man. It's better to forget him quickly."

"Wh-What?"

Clair's large hand gently patted Pearl's hair.

Sighing deeply, he put his hands on his hips and thought. Even though there were reasons, Clair believed this time he had gone too far.

If no one had been affected, it might have just been a petty jealousy.

"I didn't know you loved me so much that you would cause a tsunami. I thought you disliked me."

"! I, I...!!"

Clair's words made Pearl shake her head frantically, and her hair ornament jingled.

"But, Pearl. You need to be aware of what you've done. As the sky fairy king, Clair, I will—"

"Please wait!!"

Clair was about to declare a punishment on Pearl, but Aisheira interrupted him before he could finish.

"... Aisheira Pearl-Land, this is not something humans should interfere with?"

"I understand... but—"

Clair, whose words had been cut off, answered Aisheira in a low voice, different from the one he used with Pearl. Despite the monotone, Aisheira took a deep breath and spoke to Clair.

"Can I take the punishment for Princess Pearl...?"

"! What are you saying, Aisheira? I don't need such pity!"

"……"

Unlike Pearl, who immediately objected, Clair remained silent, prompting Aisheira to continue.

"I didn't know, but I bear Princess Pearl's name. Can the punishment for Princess Pearl be that I serve her...?"

"Are you telling me to serve a human?"

A tense atmosphere filled the room.

Undeterred, Aisheira nodded. She believed that serving her would be a lighter punishment than receiving it from the fairy king. Additionally, the sea fairy king's power could be temporarily used by the human side, which was a significant advantage.

Though her decision included such considerations, she truly believed it was the best for Pearl.

The book will be released in 2 days!

Thank you very much for your support.

The book version starts from Aquasteed's perspective!

This is a subtle piece of information.