Chapter 57

Akari, who had declared that it would definitely be a fun tea party, immediately rushed to the invitees without sending out invitations.

Immediate decision, immediate action, and at the speed of light... Tiara Rose could only give a wry smile.

Left in the room, Tiara Rose, Aquasteed, and Elliott all stared blankly and sighed.

"If Lady Akari says she will do it, she really will do it immediately. I will go and prepare for the tea party, so please stay with Lady Tiara Rose, Aquasteed."

"Ah, thank you."

Aquasteed, though exasperated, still asked Tiara Rose if it was okay to have a tea party, just in case she wasn’t feeling well.

"I’m fine. ...Besides, I want my memory to return as soon as possible."

"I see."

Aquasteed reached out and gently stroked Tiara Rose’s hair. She closed her eyes in pleasure, wishing this moment could last forever.

◇ ◇ ◇

That afternoon, Akari was smiling brightly, saying, "It’s a tea party!"

The gathered guests were Aishe, Keith, Clayre, and—Olivia. Everyone mentally facepalmed at Akari’s over-the-top satisfaction.

Aquasteed stood behind Tiara Rose, ready to step in if anything went wrong. Given the group, it was fine to skip the initial greetings.

Moreover, they would likely realize that Tiara Rose’s current state was known, and that was why the conversation was deliberately avoided.

"What, Tiara, you don’t remember?"

"...I remember Keith."

"You only forgot Aquasteed?"

Keith chuckled and took his seat first.

The tea party was set in a luxurious guest room. The coral chandelier gently illuminated the room, enhancing the color of the tea poured into the teacups. Tiara Rose welcomed the guests with shining eyes, admiring the sweets being brought in one after another.

"Welcome. Please make yourselves comfortable."

"Thank you for the invitation, Tiara Rose."

Clayre smiled and handed Tiara Rose a baked good, saying, "It’s a gift."

Tiara Rose’s face lit up, but she was surprised by Clayre’s appearance.

—She has stopped wearing women’s clothing.

Since Pearl is not awake, there’s no need for her to dress up for the woman-hating Clayre. However, it felt a bit sad.

Perhaps it’s because the glamour is reduced? Tiara Rose smiled and thanked Clayre for the baked good.

"Thank you, Lady Clayre. I have prepared your favorite tea."

"That’s wonderful."

Clayre smiled and sat next to Keith.

Next, Aishe approached Tiara Rose, looking uncomfortable. She must find it difficult to meet after her rude behavior towards Clayre at Pearl’s palace.

"Lady Tiara Rose... I don’t know what to say."

"It’s fine, Lady Aishe. Thank you for coming to this sudden tea party amidst your busy schedule."

"No, not at all. If I can be of any help, I’m always available."

Aishe, beloved by the sea fairies, is in charge of managing the sea and also works on improving fish and coral species, so she is very busy.

Thinking that Akari must have brought her without asking, Tiara Rose felt a headache coming on.

"Also, I brought a cake. Please try it."

"Thank you."

Aishe smiled, saying she had the cook prepare it. Tiara Rose, excited to see what kind of cake it was, handed it to Philine and asked her to prepare it for the tea party.

Aishe took her seat, and finally, Olivia appeared, pulled by Akari. She was holding a handkerchief to her nose but straightened up when she saw Tiara Rose.

"Pleased to meet you, Lady Tiara Rose. I am Olivia Ariadelle. It’s an honor to meet you."

"I am Tiara Rose Lapis Marinforest. I’m delighted to meet you, Lady Olivia."

She introduced herself with the name Aquasteed had taught her, feeling a bit ticklish and embarrassed.

—Hmm?

Then, she suddenly noticed.

Glancing at Akari, she saw her smiling. Looking at Aquasteed behind her, he was sighing, exhausted. It was clear that everything was Akari’s decision, and Tiara Rose gave a wry smile.

—Right, Lady Olivia is under house arrest. Her butler, Levi, is in prison.

Recalling what Aquasteed had explained, it might be good that Levi wasn’t brought, but Aquasteed didn’t say anything, so she must have given permission.

"I’m very sorry for the trouble we’ve caused."

"No, I’ve heard that Lady Olivia has been through a lot. Are you feeling well?"

"Yes, thank you for your concern."

Olivia smiled, saying, "You’re so kind."

"Let’s start the tea party, then!"

"Yes."

Nodding at Akari’s enthusiastic start, Tiara Rose and Aquasteed took their seats. The seating arrangement was: Aquasteed, Tiara Rose, Akari, Aishe, Olivia, Keith, and Clayre around a round table.

"Lady Tiara has lost some of her memories... I thought a tea party might help her remember, so I gathered everyone here."

"I’m sorry to take up your valuable time. Thank you."

Akari briefly explained the situation, and the tea party began in a relaxed atmosphere.

Aishe’s cake was cut, and Tiara Rose’s eyes sparkled. She hadn’t eaten sweets recently and was looking forward to having some. Suddenly, the atmosphere turned tense.

—Huh?

"...This cake isn’t delicious."

"I’m sorry... Lady Olivia."

Olivia, who had taken a bite, said coldly. Her previous cute demeanor was gone, and Tiara Rose couldn’t understand what had happened.

Aishe, sitting next to her, shuddered and immediately apologized.

—It’s really delicious, though.

Aishe’s cakes were always delicious, and Tiara Rose had always enjoyed them. She tilted her head, wondering why Olivia didn’t like it, and saw Akari, sitting next to her, with a gleam in her eyes.

—Ah, I get it.

She realized it. As expected, a small but forceful whisper reached Tiara Rose’s ears.

"Real villainess! I’m so happy to see Lady Tiara, who isn’t at all like a villainess, here!"

I’m not a villainess at all—Tiara Rose smiled wryly. If this is an event, or if Olivia is naturally like this, it’s hard to tell.

—But Lady Aishe said Lady Olivia doesn’t think highly of her.

The Pearlrand Duke Family, to which Aishe belongs, and the Ariadelle Duke Family, to which Olivia belongs, don’t get along well. It’s not surprising that Olivia dislikes Aishe, who is in charge of managing the sea.

As Tiara Rose hesitated, Aquasteed, unable to bear it, spoke up.

"Lady Olivia, don’t you think that’s enough? Lady Aishe is troubled."

"Well... Prince Aquasteed, you’re right. You and Lady Aishe are close, after all..."

Olivia glanced at Aishe and offered a brief apology.

"Tiara, you should have done more... no, much more to make me dislike you!"

"Lady Akari... I would never do such a thing."

Sighing at Akari’s whisper, Tiara Rose recalled the past.

Akari, the heroine, was always with Hartnights, Tiara Rose’s fiancé, and subtly led him to betray Tiara Rose.

—That was indeed the game’s scenario.

However, since Tiara Rose did nothing, Akari was the one who took on the villainess role. Thinking about it, she found it amusing.

Seeing this, Clayre and Keith interjected.

"...Tiara Rose and Akari are close, huh?"

"It’s hard to find a lady who matches Tiara Rose."

Due to her status as the prince’s fiancée, few ladies would casually talk to Tiara Rose.

The lady she gets along with the most in Marinforest is Aishe, but their relationship is more like a friendly acquaintance. Of course, Tiara Rose would like to become closer friends.

"That’s right, Tiara and I are best friends!"

Aishe declared proudly, puffing out her chest.

"I’m on Tiara’s side. I won’t tolerate anyone who becomes her enemy! Especially you, Aquasteed!"

"Me?"

Aquasteed, who wouldn’t become her enemy, looked at Akari with tired eyes. He touched Tiara Rose’s hair and said, "I won’t let her go."

"If that’s the case, it’s fine. If Tiara’s memory doesn’t return and she leaves... I’ll destroy Marinforest!"

"Lady Akari!"

Startled by the sudden threat, Tiara Rose scolded, "What are you saying!"

Akari, the heroine with powerful holy prayer abilities, could actually destroy Marinforest, so it wasn’t a laughing matter.

But—there was one man who laughed.

"Haha, you’re funny."

"Keith! This isn’t a laughing matter... Lady Akari, please stop making such jokes."

"I’m serious."

"Lady Akari...!"

Sighing again at Akari’s unperturbed expression, Tiara Rose decided to eat the cake instead.

—Ah, it’s really delicious.

◇ ◇ ◇

The tea party with the main members didn’t help Tiara Rose’s memory of Aquasteed return.

Though disappointed, Aquasteed decided it was fine since Tiara Rose seemed to enjoy it.

Tiara Rose, sleeping soundly in bed, looked happy, and he wanted to keep watching her.

"I thought about sharing a room... but maybe I can be a bit proud of myself."

Aquasteed had offered to sleep in a separate room, but Tiara Rose refused. Of course, she must have had a lot of internal conflict.

Still, she had asked him to stay as usual.

"Tiara..."

He gently stroked her hair, feeling a surge of affection.

Well, it’s time for me to sleep too. Just as he thought this, he felt a sense of unease and turned around.

"...!?"

The entrance was closed.

The door, the windows, there was no way to enter.

Yet, she was there.

Standing by the window, with the moonlit night sky behind her, she was smiling.

"Lady Akari... how did you get in here?"

What’s your purpose, Aquasteed narrowed his eyes.

Akari laughed, saying, "I’m not here to do anything evil. I’m Tiara’s best friend, so it’s natural to check on her."

"At this hour of the night?"

"Yes. I thought it would be good to talk about Tiara’s memory with you, Aquasteed."

"..."

Aquasteed looked at her suspiciously.

He had once used holy prayer to check on Tiara Rose, and Akari had said it was impossible, which he had found disappointing.

"...Tiara is the sea, and you are the sky. Both of you have the fairy king’s rings, which is impressive."

Her black eyes were fixed on the ring on Aquasteed’s finger.

Aquasteed saw Akari as an unpredictable presence. This situation was no different.

—How does a foreigner know about this ring?

Her fearless attitude towards the fairy king and her boldness.

And most importantly, her ability to enter the prince’s bedroom without a care. If she were an enemy, it would be a huge hassle... he sighed inwardly.

"So? You used holy prayer to transfer to my bedroom. Did you find a way to restore Tiara’s memory?"

"Not exactly... but I do know a way to restore it."

"...!"

The moment she said that, the room’s atmosphere changed.

He could feel the tension, and Akari smiled wryly, realizing how serious he was about Tiara Rose.

Aquasteed, who had been about to leave the bedroom, stopped in his tracks.

He wouldn’t leave Tiara Rose alone with another woman in his bedroom. Akari didn’t care about the location, but Aquasteed valued Tiara Rose that much.

"Something that even holy prayer can’t restore...?"

Aquasteed’s skeptical words were met with a nod.

Holy prayer isn’t omnipotent. While it’s nearly so, it’s mainly for advancing the game, and there’s little it can do for the sequel.

"I can’t restore it. Only you can, Aquasteed."

"Me?"

"Yes. It’s something only you can do. Even my holy prayer can’t match it. ...As Tiara’s best friend, it’s frustrating."

She added, "It’s very frustrating," and smiled sadly.

"You should create the king’s ring."

"Create a ring? Me?"

"Yes."

A king’s ring can have one special effect.

The sea ring makes one immune to poison. The sky ring amplifies sound, and the forest ring brings abundance.

—What kind of ring would Aquasteed create?

Aquasteed, who said it was impossible, was met with a laugh.

"My favorite main hero is strong."

So, it’s possible, she affirmed.

The lapis lazuli ring... the sequel’s Aquasteed route additional disk.

Tiara Rose, who was only told about the hidden stage, ended up entering the additional episode, which Akari found impressive. Of course, Tiara Rose, who had died before the release, didn’t know about the disk.

—This additional episode cost 10,000 yen.

If it comes true, it will surely be a great story, Akari was confident. Of course, since she’s only halfway in, it’s not certain if it will be a proper episode.

"But I’m glad you discovered this possibility, Tiara."

I’m glad it wasn’t Aishe.

Whispering this, Akari transferred out, leaving Aquasteed and Tiara Rose’s bedroom.