Chapter 48

Levi, the butler, stands before Tiara Roses.

There is no prior acquaintance, and it's suspicious that he immediately saw through her disguise. Most importantly, he knows about the fairies and the ring.

--- Could he be a main character from the sequel game?

If so, it makes sense that he knows many things. However, she had been told by Akari before that there was no character named Levi.

Even if not a main character, Tiara Roses decided to consider the possibility that he might be a supporting character.

"In fact, I am also looking for the Fairy King's ring. I know the way, but unfortunately, without the King's blessing, I cannot enter."

"…Who are you? My enemy?"

"No. I am Lady Olivia's butler."

Levi states that he is neither more nor less than that.

The silent atmosphere makes Tiara Roses swallow hard. Though suspicious, it is clear that he has information about the hidden stage.

"What is the Fairy King's ring?"

"Ah, are you suspicious of me? The Fairy King's ring is a ring created by the Fairy King. Each ring has its own power, and the owner can receive further blessings—so it is said. You should know this, right?"

"……"

It feels very much like a game event, Tiara Roses thinks.

However, she is also curious about why a lady's butler is acting alone. It seems unnatural for a butler to be in a completely unrelated character's position.

"Shall we go to the location of the hidden stage by the sea for now?"

Levi says that it's fine to just go and look, without entering the hidden stage. Thinking that this is a good idea, Tiara Roses nods. Since this is a lead on the information she found, it's best to follow it.

--- I need to probe why he knows this information.

There's also the possibility that he is a Japanese person who has reincarnated like herself.

"The hidden stage of the Sea Fairy King is supposed to be in that cove over there…"

"……"

--- Has he never been there directly?

His tone sounds like he heard it from someone, which makes Tiara Roses feel uneasy.

Walking on the white sand, she can see a complex cove in the distance. The sound of the calm waves grows louder, and beautiful corals come into view.

The sea and sand managed by Aishira are still as beautiful as ever, she thinks, admiring them. Though she is tempted to keep looking, she must now focus on finding the hidden stage.

Following Levi's guidance, "This way," she enters the cove.

Smaller fish swim freely compared to when they were on the beach, and the blue sea, combined with the coral, looks very colorful.

"The entrance to the hidden stage is supposed to be among the corals at the far end of the cove—but perhaps you didn't know that, Lady Tiara Roses, the villainous lady and the fiancée of Prince Aquasteed?"

"…You know a lot about me."

"There is no one who does not know the fiancée of the Crown Prince of this country."

The area becomes rocky, and Levi offers his hand to Tiara Roses. It seems he is escorting her to prevent her from falling, but she declines as she cannot determine if he is an enemy or an ally.

Levi heads towards the coral entrance without any concern. Since Tiara Roses did not respond, he took it as a sign that she did not know.

--- Well, I really don't know anything.

She sighs, thinking it might be better not to reveal too much.

"Behind this coral, right?"

"…It looks like an ordinary coral to me."

"Unfortunately, I don't know how to enter. Surely, Lady Tiara Roses can enter, can't you?"

The beautiful pink coral looks ordinary at first glance. However, if this is the entrance, there might be some mechanism.

Tiara Roses gently extends her hand and touches the coral.

"Ah…"

The coral should be cold, but the part she touched becomes warm. She instinctively pulls her hand away, and Levi looks at her, asking, "What's wrong?"

Since she said she couldn't enter without the blessing, Levi also touches the coral but does not feel the warmth.

When Tiara Roses touches the coral again, she feels a sensation as if her hand is sinking into something, and her hand enters the coral. It is clear that this is the hidden stage, and only she, blessed by the Sea Fairy King, can enter.

Just as Tiara Roses tells Levi that it's the right place, a bell-like, cute voice reaches her ears.

"Lady Tiara Roses?"

"…Lady Aishira."

Aishira, who was apparently tending to the sea, is walking towards them, saying, "I saw a figure…"

Tiara Roses is a bit disappointed that her disguise was seen through again. She wonders why everyone can see through her disguise so easily.

"…What are you doing here… Lady Olivia's butler?"

"Do you know him, Lady Aishira?"

"Yes. I have met Lady Olivia many times."

Aishira finds the unusual pairing of the two suspicious but does not ask deeply, wondering if it's appropriate for Tiara Roses to be alone with a man while Aquasteed is absent.

"I have confirmed what I needed to and will return. I would like to speak with Lady Tiara Roses again."

Levi, satisfied, touches the coral and turns around. Tiara Roses, who has no intention of getting deeply involved with Levi, says nothing.

However, Aishira speaks, either reading the situation or not.

"You are being disrespectful to Lady Tiara Roses, the fiancée of Prince Aquasteed."

"Lady Aishira?!"

Aishira, who is usually calm, seems to be upset that Tiara Roses was treated lightly, raising her voice.

She is angry that he is leaving before someone of higher status.

Seeing Aishira's reaction, Levi sighs.

"Raising your voice is unbecoming. I can hardly believe you are a duchess's daughter like my Lady Olivia."

"Wha…!"

"A sequel heroine who is not blessed by the Sea Fairy King is not an enemy of Olivia."

Levi leaves the cove as if delivering a parting shot.

Left behind are Aishira, who is staring with her mouth open, and Tiara Roses, who is trying to figure out who Levi really is.

◇ ◇ ◇

Accepting Aishira's offer to "send" her, Tiara Roses is in a carriage. Looking at Aishira, who is sitting opposite her, she notices that Aishira's expression is dark, perhaps still shocked by the earlier exchange.

"Lady Aishira… Who is Lady Olivia and her butler, Levi?"

"Did you not know, Lady Tiara Roses?"

"No, I was just taking a walk… and met Levi then."

When she explains that it was their first meeting, Aishira looks slightly relieved.

Then, Aishira slowly begins to talk about the two.

"Lady Olivia's Ariadelle Duchy and my family… are, to put it mildly, in opposition. I assume you know this, Lady Tiara Roses?"

"Yes, to some extent…"

"However, the bad relationship is only between the families. My relationship with Lady Olivia is not bad."

Aishira says they used to play together when they were young.

However, Olivia is a somewhat unusual lady, and she often takes her butler, Levi, on tours to various places.

These places include historical buildings and beautiful natural spots, but Olivia's destinations were often unusual. They included ordinary streams, small bakeries in the city, libraries, and even the Lapis Lazuli Kingdom. Aishira says they were not typical tourist spots.

"…This might not be something I should tell you, Lady Tiara Roses."

"Please tell me, Lady Aishira."

"Back when she was not yet ten, there was talk of making Lady Olivia the fiancée of Prince Aquasteed."

"!"

--- Wait, could it be?

"The King and the Duke of Ariadelle once made a betrothal without Lady Olivia's consent."

"Without her consent…?"

Tiara Roses thinks it is rather pitiful. Even if it was a political marriage that she couldn't refuse, it was still a matter of respect to inform the person involved.

However, she tilts her head in confusion.

"I didn't know Prince Aquasteed was engaged."

She is sure that when he came to study at the Royal Lapis Lazuli Academy, he had no fiancée. Moreover, if he did, it would be strange that Tiara Roses, who is now married to him, did not know.

"No, Lady Tiara Roses. They were indeed betrothed by their parents, but Lady Olivia strongly disliked it… and the engagement was dissolved within a week."

"Really… such a thing?"

Tiara Roses tilts her head, wondering what about Aquasteed could have been so unsatisfactory. She isn't sure if she would have married him if the engagement hadn't been dissolved.

"Yes. However, the reason is unknown… Perhaps she had someone she admired."

If that was the case, those unusual tours might have been dates, Aishira suggests.

Tiara Roses nods, thinking the person might have been Levi. He called Lady Olivia by her first name, despite being a butler.

--- No, more importantly.

"Is Lady Olivia the villainous lady from the sequel!?"

"Lady Tiara Roses? Sequel?"

"Ah, no, it's nothing, Lady Aishira… I was just surprised to learn that Prince Aquasteed had a fiancée…"

She lowers her head slightly, and Aishira agrees, "Yes, I understand."

Tiara Roses is now preoccupied with the villainous lady from the sequel she has discovered. It seems odd that Prince Aquasteed, the crown prince, was free in a dating game.

"However…"

"Lady Aishira?"

Aishira looks troubled, and Tiara Roses tilts her head, wondering if there is more.

When she encourages Aishira to continue, Aishira's brows furrow, as if she doesn't want to say more.

The only thing a villainous lady from a sequel would not want to say to the heroine from the sequel is—bullying the heroine.

Perhaps they were friends when they were young, but the bullying started recently.

"Has Lady Olivia done anything to you, Lady Aishira?"

"! …Yes. Lady Olivia seems to spread rumors about me regularly…"

"Rumors?"

"Not major ones. Recently, the sea is dirty, or I swim too much and my hair is dry, or I eat too many sweets and have gained weight… But, recently, I have indeed been eating too many of Lady Tiara Roses' delicious sweets."

While the rumors seem silly, if she is spreading bad rumors—Olivia is likely the villainous lady from the sequel.

Tiara Roses is not sure what Levi is planning, but since he seems to know about the game, she decides to visit Olivia's mansion to meet her.