Chapter 49

Tiara Rose was waiting for the carriage to take her to the castle, and the one who greeted her with a radiant smile was none other than the Crown Prince.

-- Wow, Aqua is really, really angry...

She had managed to sneak out, but she couldn't sneak back in. Well, it had been a rather long time, so the possibility of being caught was high either way.

"Welcome back, Tiara."

"I've returned..."

"Are you feeling better now?"

"......Yes, completely."

Come to think of it, she had said she was unwell and was going to bed. Tiara Rose's face tensed as she could only manage to return a smile to Aquasteed. Behind Aquasteed, Filine was also waiting, smiling sweetly. Tiara Rose could feel her endless anger and sincerely apologized.

To make up for worrying the two, she thought about making some sweets as an apology. As she was about to turn her eyes toward her kitchen, she noticed a "Do Not Enter" sign at the entrance.

"You shouldn't overexert yourself until you're fully recovered."

Aquasteed said this with a smile, gently stroking Tiara Rose's hair.

"For a while, we'll focus on a diet of vegetables and other foods that are good for your health, Lady Tiara Rose."

Filine also smiled, as if to add to the pressure.

"......Yes."

-- I never thought sweets would be banned.

Making them was fine; she could endure it. But being forbidden from eating them as well... She felt like crying alone in her room, but Tiara Rose loved both sweets and otome games.

Would she give up the hidden stage of the Fairy King for sweets?

Would she give up sweets for the otome game?

If asked which to choose, Tiara Rose sighed quietly, hoping Aquasteed and Filine wouldn't notice.

Aquasteed dismissed Filine, and Tiara Rose sat on the sofa. Aquasteed sat next to her and looked at her intently.

"What's the matter?"

"I thought it was quite refreshing. I never imagined Tiara would dress like this."

"Oh..."

Unlike her usual beautiful dress, she was wearing a disguise, a simple dress, and even a pair of glasses. It must have given a very different impression, even though she was immediately recognized as Tiara Rose.

Tiara Rose stood up from the sofa, spun around once, and bowed, smiling shyly. "How do I look?"

It was easier to move in a dress, but the different outfit made her feel out of place standing next to Aquasteed. She thought it might look like a commoner and a prince, but from an outsider's perspective, it would only look like a noble princess playing around.

"So, why did you sneak out of the castle, Tiara?"

Aquasteed took Tiara Rose's hand and had her sit on his lap. She had been relieved that he wouldn't ask for a reason, but that wasn't the case. However, she couldn't honestly say she was looking for the hidden stage of the Fairy King.

As she was trying to figure out what to say, Aquasteed entwined his fingers in her hair and waited silently.

-- Ugh, the pressure!

Even as her eyes darted around, Aquasteed's beautiful golden eyes stared at her intently. His fingers, which had been playing with her hair, traced her shoulder, neck, and finally her cheek.

As she squirmed, a low voice whispered in her ear, "No, you can't."

"Aqua...?"

"I thought you were a gentle princess, but you're like a free bird that flies away easily."

"I'm sorry for worrying you. I just wanted to learn more about the Fairy King and this country."

She explained that she wanted to see things for herself, without revealing her true purpose. She really did want to know, so it wasn't a lie.

"I'm glad you care about this country, Tiara."

Aquasteed's fingers caressed her cheek, and he said, "Oh, right," as if he had a brilliant idea. His expression, which had been unhappy, brightened.

"Hey, Tiara. How about we go on a date?"

"Huh?"

The word "date" made her blink in surprise. Going out together was something that had only happened a few times. The thought of it being fun made her heart race. She nodded eagerly and declared, "I want to go on a date with you, Aqua!"

"Then it's settled."

◇ ◇ ◇

A few days later, after adjusting their schedules, Tiara Rose and Aquasteed went on a date in the city. Although the guards were a bit far away, it was still exciting to go out while hiding their identities. They held hands, and Tiara Rose remembered the early days when they first came to Marine Forest.

The city was already beautiful, but now it was even more so.

"Hasn't it become much more vibrant?"

"Yes. It's a bit embarrassing, but..."

Thanks to the blessing of the Forest Fairy King, Tiara Rose had bloomed beautiful pink flowers. These flowers were designated as the national flower of Marine Forest and were now planted throughout the city. However, the flowers hadn't yet spread throughout the entire city, and many people were still planting and decorating with them.

-- I never thought a flower would bear my name.

The "Tiara Rose" flower was sweet, and many people wanted to grow it and use it as a seasoning in cooking. Tiara Rose herself was doing the same, and she was delighted that her flower could contribute to the development of cooking and confectionery.

"Maybe there will be more sweets made with flowers..."

"Tiara really loves sweets, doesn't she?"

"Oh, I'm at it again..."

She had already bought a single "Tiara Rose" flower from a florist, and Aquasteed placed it in her hair, saying, "You look cute," but also, "No sweets yet," with a smile.

Since sneaking out of the castle, Tiara Rose hadn't eaten or made any sweets. It wasn't as bad as withdrawal, but she found herself thinking about sweets more often.

"Well, I still find such a Tiara cute..."

"Aqua--!"

As Tiara Rose looked around, Aquasteed pulled her arm and gently kissed her lips. It was just a moment, but they were in the middle of the city, and many people had seen them. Seeing Tiara Rose's face turn red and trembling, Aquasteed chuckled.

"To me, Tiara is sweeter than any sweet."

"~!"

Saying that Tiara was sweeter than cake, Aquasteed laughed. Even without such words, Tiara Rose found Aquasteed sweeter and more beloved than any sweet. But saying it out loud was too embarrassing.

-- Aqua is so unfair.

Does he have no sense of shame? She thought such impolite things. When she stared at him, he returned a playful smile.

-- No, I love him.

Completely at Aquasteed's pace, but she liked it, so she couldn't do anything about it.

-- But, ah.

"Tiara?"

When she was lost in thought, Aquasteed called out to her, asking what was wrong. She chuckled and responded playfully.

"I thought it was refreshing to see a different side of Aqua, not the one I usually see in the castle."

"Really?"

"Yes. The Aqua in the castle is cool and handsome, but the one who is more playful and cute in the city is also adorable."

She touched the flower she had received from Aquasteed, explaining that she usually keeps her hair and dress neatly arranged. Now, both of them were dressed casually, and while they might be mistaken for nobles, no one would recognize them as the Crown Prince and his wife. This made them both excited.

"Only Tiara calls me cute."

"Of course, I don't want anyone else to call Aqua cute!"

Puffing out her cheeks, she declared that this was something she wouldn't give up.

"Because it's a wife's privilege."

"Oh, I'm in trouble. My wife is too cute."

"Aqua--huh?"

As they walked and playfully teased each other, Tiara Rose saw something. Over Aquasteed's shoulder, on a roof with a brick roof, a worker was planting "Tiara Rose" flowers. A pile of bricks on the roof wobbled and was about to fall--no, it had already fallen. It moved in slow motion in Tiara Rose's vision, and she couldn't speak. Below the roof, a small child was playing, and if nothing was done, the child would be seriously injured.

-- Aqua, no, it's too late!

Seeing Tiara Rose's reaction, Aquasteed quickly turned around. He understood the situation, but Tiara Rose was already a step ahead.

"Sea's blessing, protect the child...!"

Tiara Rose stretched out her hand and ran under the child. Though she wasn't good at magic, she relied on the protection blessed by the sea. A transparent water membrane formed, enveloping the child. The falling bricks hit the water shield and fell to the ground.

"Phew, thank goodness..."

She managed to stop the bricks from hitting the child. She was amazed by the power of the sea's blessing she had received from Pearl. Relieved, she sat down on the spot. Aquasteed quickly ran to her and lifted her up.

Instantly.

Cheers erupted from the crowd. Everyone was amazed by the incredible magic and rejoiced at the child's safety, praising Tiara Rose.

"Wow, young lady! You have such incredible power!"

"Thank you for saving my son...!"

"No... I'm glad no one was hurt."

While still in Aquasteed's arms, she responded to the people. The workers who had been on the roof also came down and apologized profusely to Tiara Rose and the children. They admitted to their negligence and promised to be more careful to prevent it from happening again.

"I'm fine, so please apologize to the children."

"Yes...! Thank you so much for saving them!"

They immediately went to the children and their parents, and the situation was resolved. Aquasteed's arms tightened around Tiara Rose, and when she tilted her head in confusion, she saw a look of helplessness on his face.

"Aqua?"

"Are you okay, Tiara? Did using your power make you feel strange or tired?"

"I'm fine. Thank you, Aqua."

Aquasteed gently stroked Tiara Rose's hair, relieved.