Chapter 58

Suddenly, a question floated in Tiara Rose's mind: How will this sequel game end?

After all, in otome games, there are multiple ending routes prepared. The Lapis Lazuli ring has many ending routes, and there should be at least three routes for the same character.

—Should I ask Akari-sama?

"Let's have Filene set up the tea party."

Tiara Rose closed the book she was reading and rang the bell on the table to call Filene. It had been several days since the tea party Akari hosted, but her memory still hadn't returned. She felt a bit anxious, but Aquasteed told her it was fine to take it slow.

—How spoiled I am.

Physically, if I fell and hit my head, my memory might return! She thought and tried to do it, but Aquasteed stopped her with all his might. After that, she visited places she often went to with Aquasteed and tried to talk in the same situations. However, it only made her feel happy, and her memory didn't return.

◇ ◇ ◇

"Of course, when it comes to the ending of the Aquasteed route, there's only one!"

"Yes, yes! It's always so moving!"

"That's... true, isn't it..."

When she invited Akari to a tea party, an excited Olivia followed her. After dismissing the others, when she brought up the topic of the ending, the two of them became increasingly excited. While thinking how amazing it must be, she regretted not being able to play it.

"... Olivia-sama, you were also Japanese in your previous life, right?"

"Yes, I was. I'm a bit embarrassed..."

She explained that she had the memory of being Japanese from the moment she was reborn. Tiara Rose, who had her memory return near the end of the game, found it enviable but also thought it must have been difficult for her.

"Just, I couldn't play the role of the villainous lady well. I should have been crueler to Aishira-sama, but I'm not good at that kind of thing..."

"Did you intentionally act that way towards Aishira-sama?"

Unlike Tiara Rose, Olivia seemed to think she had to fulfill her role. She nodded and smiled wryly, saying, "Acting is difficult."

"Olivia-sama is the observer type. I want to play, so I go all out, but..."

"That's true. Interacting with the princes, who are characters, is too intimidating for me. I prefer to watch from a distance."

She was originally Aquasteed's fiancée, but she declined because she thought she would ascend if she stayed close to him, her favorite character. Tiara Rose thought she was a rather unusual lady.

Then, the topic returned to the ending.

"Still, we're already off the main route, aren't we?"

"Yes... The main route involves the three fairy kings working together to defeat the monster they sealed."

"... Pearl-sama is asleep, so we can't work together to defeat it, can we?"

Originally, the heroine Aishira couldn't get married, which meant there was no Aquasteed route, but no one mentioned that.

"By the way, where is the monster sealed?"

"Here."

"In the basement of this castle?"

"Wh-What!?"

Tiara Rose was so surprised that her eyes nearly popped out. She never imagined that such a place existed under where she lived. She immediately wondered if Aquasteed and the king knew about it.

"Actually, it's an event that happens when the heroine, Aishira-sama, receives blessings from all the fairy kings and obtains the ring."

"But Aishira-sama hasn't received blessings from any of the fairy kings."

"Moreover, Aquasteed is wearing an empty ring, which is irregular!"

That might be an interesting development, Akari said, getting excited. She wouldn't let this opportunity to see an unplayed episode pass. It would be difficult to stop her, as she was asserting it would be fun with shining eyes.

At the same time, Olivia also looked at her with an expectant gaze. Although she was playing the role of the villainous lady and didn't want to get involved, she must be curious about the unplayed episodes.

But, in reality, it wasn't the case.

"Tiara Rose-sama, Akari-sama. I really... want to go to the 'Sealed King's Room' in the basement here!"

"Yes, I want to see it too. Besides, Olivia-sama's hobby is visiting holy sites. You should definitely come to Lapis Lazuli next time."

"Yes! I would love to come!"

As the two of them got excited, Tiara Rose raised her voice, saying, "We can't just do that."

"It's fine. Tiara-sama must be curious too, right?"

"That's... true. But what if the monster's seal is broken?"

"Well, we'll have to do something about it."

"That's not possible."

A monster that the heroine, the ring, and the fairy kings must all work together to defeat. Could they defeat it with just the three of them? It was impossible.

"But if we just go to look... it's the only holy site I haven't visited, and it doesn't require the fairy kings' blessings."

"Olivia-sama..."

She had seen the castle and the garden during evening parties, but she couldn't go to the basement of the castle. She held back because it would cause trouble for the Duke of Ariadelle if something happened. It sounded very brave, but her desire was too big.

Just as Tiara Rose was at a loss, a clear voice echoed in the room.

"... You're having an interesting conversation."

"Clair-sama...!"

—Right, Clair-sama's weapon is information.

She had let her guard down because they had dismissed the others, but the fairy king of the sky couldn't shut down something related to sound.

—What should I do?

The one speaking was the fairy king of the sky, who had blessed Aquasteed. Strictly speaking, he was on Aquasteed's side, not Tiara Rose's. Cold sweat ran down her back, and she forced a smile.

As Tiara Rose was thinking about what to do, Akari, with a bright face, clapped her hands as if she had an idea.

"Clair-sama, let's go to the basement together! I want to go to the 'Sealed King's Room.'"

"... I'm impressed that you know about that place."

Ignoring Clair's question, "Who are you?" Akari whispered something to Clair.

—Akari-sama?

Just as she wondered what she was saying, Clair, after a moment of consideration, said, "Sure."

"Eh, Clair-sama...?"

"I'll go with Akari's proposal. Tiara Rose, don't you want to go to the basement of the castle?"

"I..."

Hearing Clair's question, she was at a loss for words. Her heart began to race, and she was overwhelmed by a sense of anxiety.

She clenched her hands in front of her chest and stared at Clair and the others.

"Tiara Rose?"

"... I'm scared. If I remember Aquasteed and lose my current memories..."

It's just a possibility, she added with a wry smile. However, she had heard many times in her previous life that when one loses their memory and remembers, the memories from the time of memory loss are also lost. This might be a special case, but there was no guarantee.

Therefore, the idea of moving forward in her current state felt—extremely terrifying.

"Tiara-sama... You were thinking about such things. I'm sorry I didn't realize your anxiety, even though we're best friends."

"No, don't worry, Akari-sama."

—If I could be as strong as Akari-sama.

If it were just about herself, she wouldn't think like this. She would try her hardest to recover her memory without any hesitation.

But.

She didn't want to forget her current relationship with Aquasteed...

"Tiara Rose, tears don't suit you."

"Clair-sama... I'm sorry."

"Be quiet."

Clair took out a handkerchief and wiped Tiara Rose's tears.

"Well, it's natural for Tiara Rose to be anxious. But, if you don't want to forget your current memories, then you shouldn't."

"Yes, that's a good idea."

"...?"

Clair and Akari quickly agreed, and Tiara Rose couldn't follow the conversation. When she tilted her head in confusion, Akari smiled and said, "It's fine!"

She felt very anxious, perhaps because of Akari's bright smile.

"If Clair-sama says it's fine, Aquasteed will probably give permission. Then, let's go right now!"

"Eh, right now...!?"

She was completely unprepared. There were so many things to consider, like what to do if the monster's seal was broken. She pressed her temples, feeling a headache coming on.

◇ ◇ ◇

A chill ran down Aquasteed's spine, and he sensed that trouble was coming.

"Aquasteed-sama, what's wrong?"

"An uninvited guest."

"?"

While checking documents in his office, the room's atmosphere suddenly changed.

Clair transferred in with a gentle breeze—fine, but then Akari also transferred in. Clair was fine, but Akari was nothing but trouble.

"Aquasteed-sama, Clair-sama, and Akari-sama... I'll prepare tea immediately—"

"That's not necessary! We're going right now."

"Yes..."

Elliot moved to prepare for their arrival, but Akari dismissed it. She stepped forward, and Aquasteed could feel a headache coming on as she started to explain that everything was already decided.

"... That's what it is."

"There's something in the basement of this castle. I can't allow it."

—He had never heard of anything in the basement.

Even his father, the king, wouldn't know. There was no way he could just say, "Let's go right now."

Seeing Aquasteed stubbornly shake his head, Akari puffed out her cheeks. But her face quickly turned serious, and she gave Aquasteed different information.

"... Even if the place to create the king's ring is there?"