Chapter 47

Tiararose has a small, dedicated garden that Aquasteed gave her.

The garden, planted with colorful roses, has been growing into a beautiful place day by day, including the pink flowers that Tiararose has bloomed. Of course, the gardener is there, but the forest fairies also come to play and take care of the plants every day.

At the entrance to the garden stands Tarmo, the guard, and near the table where Tiararose sits, Filine, the maid, stands by.

There, while having a tea party, Tiararose was looking at the old map of Marinforest that Tarmo had brought her. She placed the current map next to it and was searching for the differences between the past and present.

"Sure enough, the city has become much larger compared to the past."

It has grown more than a round larger, and the increase in the population is visible. Additionally, the villages around the capital have also increased. Thinking about the peaceful development, one can see the skill of the royal family.

—From now on, I will also be a part of it.

Thinking about it, she feels a bit bewildered, but with Aquasteed, she feels that things will somehow work out.

While looking at the map, she realizes that the mountain behind the castle where she currently lives and its surroundings have not changed since ancient times. This is where the forest fairy king Keith lives, so it makes sense that humans have not touched it.

"But, normally, no one should know that this is Keith's territory."

Perhaps it is a place that is difficult to interfere with. It is also quite possible that it is left as is because it is land owned by the royal family. Besides, unlike the king, the fairies often show their faces and may have given some instructions.

Thinking about it, Tiararose considers the strategy of visiting each place that catches her attention.

While she is thinking about where to start, she hears Filine calling her. Turning around, she sees that Aquasteed has just finished his work and is showing up.

"Aqua-sama! Thank you for your hard work."

"Thank you, Tiararose. I heard you were looking at the old map. Did you find anything interesting?"

"Well, not really..."

She smiles a little awkwardly, and Aquasteed smiles and says, "Is that so?" He sits in a chair and looks at the map, narrowing his eyes nostalgically.

"The area around this castle hasn't changed much. It's connected to the forest where the fairy king Keith lives, so no one has probably touched it. This is royal land."

"Royal land... So, the place where the fairy king lives is managed by the royal family?"

It seems that Tiararose's guess was correct, as Aquasteed nods in response. He explains that regarding the land where the fairy king lives, not only are towns and villages prohibited, but also the construction of buildings. Therefore, the area has been managed by the royal family for generations.

—So, the royal family knows where the fairy king lives?

Indeed, when she was kidnapped by Keith, Aquasteed found the location and came to rescue her. Thinking about it, there must be some records left. However, she remembers that there was nothing like that in the library, and she convinces herself that such important documents would not be placed where anyone could access them.

"Rather than management, it's about making sure the fairy king can live comfortably. Not interfering with nature has been a rule since ancient times."

"Indeed, fairies prefer nature."

Aquasteed nods while drinking tea, and then, with a cheerful laugh, the forest fairies appear.

"It's Tiararose!"

"Oh, I know this! The map!"

"Good afternoon. It's impressive that you know about the map."

Seeing the fairies looking at the map spread out with excitement, she thinks they know quite a lot. When she points to the current location, they respond energetically, "I know it!"

"The map was taught to us by the king!"

"By Keith? He seems to be thorough despite his rough appearance..."

Tiararose, impressed, asks the fairies what else they have been taught. Aquasteed, who was also interested in the fairies' knowledge, listens quietly.

Flapping their small wings, the fairies try to recall what they know.

"By the way, the first thing I learned was about the ring!"

"Ring?"

"Yes, there's an important ring! The ring is like the one Tiararose is wearing!"

Looking at Tiararose's left ring finger, they proudly point out, "This is the ring, right?" Her gesture is so cute that she can't help but laugh.

—But, the ring is intriguing.

This game is about the Lapis Lazuli "ring," so it's clear that it's an important item. At the wedding, the man gives the woman a ring.

Surely, the ring that the fairies learn about first from the king must be significant—Tiararose concludes this on her own.

"What kind of ring is it?"

"I don't know, but it's something important to the king!"

"Keith's...?"

It's definitely important, but she wanted to know its purpose. However, the fairies didn't know anything more, so Tiararose reluctantly gave up on asking further.

—So, I have to look at the map and search for suspicious places.

She stares at the map, focusing on the mountains and the sea. Unfortunately, she couldn't guess anything about the sky.

"...Tiararose, are you thinking about something?"

"Huh..."

Seeing Tiararose looking at the map intently, Aquasteed senses that something is up. He peers into her face and asks, "Is there somewhere you want to go?"

Her heart skips a beat, but she carefully shakes her head to hide her thoughts.

"Tiararose, is there somewhere you want to go? By the way, there's a room only the king can enter..."

"The fairy king's castle has various rooms, doesn't it?"

"Yes!"

Tiararose, who had given up on the ring information, is startled to hear about the room only the fairy king can enter. She thinks it must be the hidden stage.

"Absolutely. If you take my Tiararose to the fairy king without permission, I won't forgive you next time."

"Aqua is scary~"

"We won't take her~"

Holding Tiararose's hand, Aquasteed kisses the back of it. The small kiss sound makes her face turn slightly red.

"Aqua-sama..."

"Tiararose is so cute, I always want to touch you."

Saying this, he kisses her cheek, making her ears turn red as well.

◇ ◇ ◇

After the tea party, Tiararose sneaked out of the castle in the evening.

She told Filine that she was tired and wanted to rest, asking her to leave her alone.

Instead of her usual dress, she changed into a simple dress and boots. Wearing a knee-length dress for the first time since her reincarnation, she felt a little excited.

Her long, fluffy honey-pink hair, which stands out, was tied up to reduce its volume. For a disguise, she decided to wear fake glasses, completing her look.

"Yes, with this, no one should recognize me easily!"

Though she looked like a noble in disguise, Tiararose was very satisfied with her appearance. Nodding in approval, she quietly slipped out of the room through the window to avoid being seen by Tarmo.

"The first place to go is the sea..."

The forest is closer and walkable, but the risk of being seen by Keith is high. Since Tiararose is going to a place where the heroine should go, she wanted to avoid being seen by anyone else.

Since this is not an event for the villainess, she decided to take a modest approach.

"Is Pearl-sama alright?"

Because Tiararose and Aquasteed blessed her, the sea fairy king Pearl is sleeping. Thinking that she won't wake up for a while, Tiararose decided to search the hidden stage in the sea first.

Since the main character, the king, is sleeping, there should be no problem even if the villainess is there. If it were the heroine, Aishira, the sea fairy king's awakening event might occur.

"Being a villainess, I can move more freely..."

Usually, she goes to the sea in a carriage prepared for her, but since she came out secretly this time, no one prepared a carriage for her. She quietly left the castle and took a public carriage to the sea.

The beautiful sea spread out before her as usual, but the beach was planted with Tiararose flowers, which grew due to Tiararose's power. The flowers are named after her, so they are called Tiararose flowers.

Seeing the flowers growing vigorously, she noticed a man in a butler's uniform standing near the sea.

—Who is he?

This sea is near Aishira's mansion, but he is not a butler who works there. With black hair and rose-red eyes, he seems about to enter the sea, but is he okay?

Tilting her head, she decides to ignore him to avoid being recognized.

Just as she was about to pass by quietly and look around the sea, the butler turned around and opened his rose-red eyes wide. He opened his mouth wide and stared at Tiararose.

She almost flinched but, as a lady, she held back and only smiled and nodded. Deciding not to get involved, she tried to leave quickly, but her steps stopped when she heard his words.

"The Lapis Lazuri villainess...?"

"Huh...?"

—Why does he know about the villainess?

Her body shook involuntarily, and the man seemed to be convinced by this and approached Tiararose.

Trying to run away, but the man's steps were faster. Realizing it was no good, Tiararose called out.

"Who are you?"

"! I apologize for my rudeness, my lady. I am Olivia's butler, Levi. I am looking for the fairy king's ring. Could you help me? The villainess blessed by the fairy king..."

—Does he know about the fairy king's ring?

Thinking about who Olivia is, Tiararose recalls that she knows all the nobles in the country. The only lady who comes to mind is one.

Olivia Ariaadel. A duchess's daughter, with whom she has no particular connection.