Chapter 54

"Clair!"

"...Aqua Steed, it's been a while."

As Aqua Steed stepped into Clair's domain with a rough voice, he was greeted with a soft laugh. Sensing that Clair was well-informed, Aqua Steed sighed.

Clair's domain, the Temple of the Sky.

Keith's castle is in the forest, Pearl's palace is under the sea, and Clair's temple stands tall in the sky. Even if one knew the way, it would be impossible for an ordinary human to reach it. Only Aqua Steed, blessed by the Sky Fairy King, can currently do so.

"It's quite a situation, isn't it?"

"If you think so, then it's fine that you came."

Clair, who had previously been dressed as a woman, now had a low voice and short hair, wearing men's clothing. He smiled coldly, "I don't like it."

Pushing his hair, which gradates from blue to white, behind his ear, he closed the book he was reading with a snap.

"I've been waiting here, you could have at least praised me for that."

"...I appreciate it."

Sighing inwardly, Clair told Aqua Steed to praise him for being in his temple. His tone was not as gentle as when he was dressed as a woman, but rather like a cold, icy air. Aqua Steed thought that it was quite impressive how well Clair had managed to live a life so different from his true nature. Usually, he stays in Pearl's palace, the Sea Fairy King's palace. Since Pearl fell asleep, Clair has been doing this. Considering how rarely he leaves Pearl's palace, it was only natural to nod in agreement.

"There are two major pieces of information I need. The reason Tiararose can't wake up and the prison where Olivia is supposedly being held."

"Tiararose can't wake up because the ring was forcibly removed. It needs time to adapt to the body."

"So it's the ring, then..."

Hearing Clair's words, Aqua Steed clenched his fist. He regretted his own weakness, thinking that if he had been stronger, this wouldn't have happened. Seeing this, Clair said, "It was just a bad situation."

"Indeed, that butler... Levi seems strong. But if we really fought, Aqua Steed would be stronger."

"Even if I won, it wouldn't mean anything."

"True, that makes sense."

Clair chuckled and continued, "We, the Fairy Kings, each have our own ring. They grant power and bestow blessings on their owners."

"The rings of the Fairy Kings, huh..."

The ring of the Forest Fairy King ensures the prosperity of his land.

The ring of the Sky Fairy King can use air vibrations to project one's voice over great distances.

The ring of the Sea Fairy King can neutralize any poison in liquids.

No one has ever possessed these rings, and they are highly sought after, Clair laughed.

"Didn't Tiararose put on the ring of the Sea Fairy King?"

Thinking that it was incorrect to say no one had ever possessed a ring, Clair quietly continued, "The ring needs time to adapt to the body. Therefore, Tiararose is not yet the owner of the ring, which is why she hasn't regained consciousness."

"I see."

Indeed, a ring with such immense power would naturally cause such issues.

"However—"

"?"

"Why Tiararose and Levi knew about that place is a mystery."

This was completely unexpected. Should he have been monitoring Tiararose more closely? Clair asked jokingly. Of course, doing so would anger Aqua Steed, so he never would. For now, the best course of action was to retrieve the ring.

"Then, the prison..."

"It doesn't seem to be in this country. The possibility of it being in another country is also slim. Do you know of any place humans can't access?"

"..."

Clair placed a finger to his lips and thought, "Hmm." A prison unknown to humans. If he were to give the conclusion first—there is one. However, it's a place that has never been disclosed to humans, and Clair himself hasn't been there in a long time. So, it should be impossible, but...

"Things that are out of the ordinary happen around Tiararose."

"What, suddenly?"

"Not really. Tiararose is unusual. Just being blessed by Keith is enough to show she's not an ordinary noble. I'm sure you understand that, Aqua Steed?"

"..."

Tiararose is the only one in the country blessed by the Forest Fairy. That alone is surprising, but she even captivated the Forest Fairy King. How could that not be abnormal?

"Wind, show me the current state of the prison on the board—"

Clair's voice summoned the wind, but his words were cut off. His usually expressionless face furrowed slightly.

—Bingo.

Judging by his reaction, it was a hit. At least one problem was solved, so it was a good start.

"She's there, then?"

"...Yes. But how did they get in? Only the three of us, the kings, know the way."

"Could another Fairy King have told someone?"

"Impossible."

Clair immediately denied Aqua Steed's question.

"That prison isn't that easy to access. It's designed so that even if a Fairy King is captured, they can't escape."

"Capture a king?"

"...Let's go. Olivia Ariadelle seems to be quite weak."

Aqua Steed was curious about the prison on the board, but seeing Clair casually avoid the topic, he interpreted it as something not to be discussed. More importantly, he was worried about Olivia's condition.

—It's understandable that the butler is desperate, but I won't forgive him for putting Tiararose in danger.

"Let's go to the prison. ...Ah, and take this, Aqua Steed."

"Huh?"

Clair threw something small in an arc. Catching it with both hands, Aqua Steed's eyes widened in surprise. What Clair had given him was a transparent ring, like the sky. It was wide and clearly made from an opal shaped into a ring.

But more importantly...

"Clair, this..."

"The ring of the Sky Fairy King."

"Why are you giving it to me?"

Given Clair's earlier tone, this wasn't something to be handed over casually. It certainly wasn't something to be thrown.

"Tiararose has the ring of Pearl, so I thought Aqua Steed should have a ring too."

"...I appreciate it."

Aqua Steed put the ring on his right thumb. Immediately, a tingling sensation overwhelmed him, and he hugged himself tightly. The power he received from Clair and Pearl was even greater than before. He hadn't expected it to be so overwhelming, and sweat formed on his forehead.

—Indeed, it would be bad to take it off before it adapts to my body. Perhaps Tiararose's sleep was a fortunate misfortune, Aqua Steed sighed.

"Let's go."

"Ah!"

Aqua Steed took Clair's hand, and the two of them transferred through the wind.

◇ ◇ ◇

The prison on the board.

It was a place once used by kings to claim their territories. Now, it's almost forgotten, even by the Fairy Kings.

Yet, there stood Olivia Ariadelle, the villainess of the sequel.

"I'm surprised someone could enter this place."

"That's Olivia, right?"

The spherical prison had cold water running through the bars. Floating in the air, a plant inside the prison bore fruit, perhaps as a small mercy.

"...Who are you?"

Olivia, who had been facing away, turned to look at Aqua Steed and Clair. Her usually lustrous rose-red hair had lost its shine. Her honey-green eyes, visible through her rimmed glasses, showed a lack of vitality, but not entirely.

"...Ah!"

"!?"

Olivia's eyes, which should have closed, suddenly widened. She quickly covered her mouth and crouched down. Puzzled by her strange behavior, Aqua Steed called out to her.

"I am Aqua Steed Marinforest. Is this Olivia Ariadelle?"

"Yes... I am Olivia Ariadelle."

"Why are you here—blood?"

"!"

Blood dripped from Olivia's hand. Thinking she shouldn't have been injured, Aqua Steed quickly ran to her and Clair. Before he could ask if she was okay, Olivia took out a handkerchief and quickly wiped the blood.

"I apologize for showing you such a sight. I'm fine now, Prince Aqua Steed, Prince Clair."

"Is that so..."

Olivia pressed her nose with the handkerchief and bowed to Aqua Steed and Clair. Despite being in prison, her grace remained.

—Nosebleed, huh.

"If you're fine, that's good."

Seeing Olivia's excited state, Aqua Steed concluded it was best not to press the issue. Behind him, Clair walked to the prison and stared at Olivia.

"Olivia Ariadelle, how do you know my name?"

A human shouldn't know a Fairy King's name. Under Clair's intense gaze, Olivia's shoulders trembled.

"I... I..."

"What?"

"To be called by Prince Clair... I...!"

I might die of happiness! Olivia pressed her nose again. Clair's cheek twitched, and he took a step back.

"Aqua Steed, this girl is strange."

"...Yes."

"She can't calm down, so let's leave it to Levi."

Clair snapped his fingers, and the wind brought Levi to the prison. Despite the sudden appearance, Levi quickly assessed the situation and ran to Olivia.

But Aqua Steed wouldn't allow it.

Drawing his sword, he pointed it at Levi's neck, threatening to cut him if he moved. His cold eyes fixed on Levi.

"Prince Aqua Steed."

"This is quite a relaxed situation, isn't it?"

"Not at all."

Levi smiled but kept his eyes on Olivia, not Aqua Steed. His desire to see her was palpable. However, such emotions were irrelevant to Aqua Steed. Blood trickled from the tip of the sword at Levi's throat.

"—Hand over the ring."

Aqua Steed's voice was chilling. Surprised by his own emotional reaction, he sneered. If Levi didn't hand over the ring, he would cut him. Levi raised his hands in surrender, showing the ring from his inner pocket. Aqua Steed handed it to Clair to verify its authenticity.

"...It's genuine."

"I see."

Aqua Steed sighed and released Levi. He wanted to punish him but knew it would delay their return to Tiararose. Suppressing his urge to kill, he sheathed his sword.

Levi ran to the prison and touched the bars with a loud clank, calling out to Olivia.

"Olivia...! I'm glad you're safe...!!"

"Levi! I... I...!"

Olivia and Levi touched fingers through the bars, tears of joy in their eyes—except they didn't.

"I met Prince Aqua Steed and Prince Clair! I'm so happy, I might die...!"

"I'm happy if you're happy, Olivia."

"Getting stuck in prison during the Lapis pilgrimage was a blessing...! But, Levi's hands are so cold!"

Their fingers, which had been touching, were cruelly pulled away by the cold water. If left too long, they would become numb and useless. Olivia was quickly instructed to let go, but she seemed determined to hold on. Indeed, she would have held on.

"Hey, Aqua Steed."

"What?"

"I don't really understand what's going on."

"Coincidentally, I was just thinking the same thing."

Olivia Ariadelle, the villainess of the sequel game.

Her hobby is visiting event spots.

I want to fix typos and errors gradually.

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