Chapter 59

The Great Marine Forest.

The underground of its royal castle is a powerful labyrinth—where the "Sealed King's Chamber" lies.

The dim corridor is filled with a slightly damp smell.

The walls, lined with inorganic gray bricks, emit a faint light. It must be some kind of magic, but no one pays it much mind.

Everyone is overwhelmed by the atmosphere of this place.

"I never thought there would be such a space under the castle..."

Aqua Steed sighs softly as he looks at the corridor before him. Dressed in knight's armor, unlike his usual attire, he gazes ahead, ready for whatever might come. Each of them has changed into more practical clothing for the occasion.

Eliot, holding a lamp, examines the castle's floor plan.

The underground passage must have been there since the castle was designed, but there are no traces of it anywhere.

"Given the long history of this country, there are hardly any records from the time of its founding. It's certainly a problem that no one knows about the underground of the royal castle."

"There's nothing we can do about it as humans."

Aqua Steed thinks that the fairies and their king must have been in charge of managing it.

In stark contrast to Aqua Steed's serious demeanor, a cheerful voice echoes through the corridor.

"Let's hurry up and go now!"

"Akari-sama, it's dangerous to run suddenly!"

"It's fine. Tiara-sama is just worried."

Akari, with her hair tied up and wearing half-pants for ease of movement, smiles. Her face clearly shows her excitement about the underground passage of the royal castle.

"It shouldn't be that dangerous, so it's fine."

"Even Olivia-sama..."

Tiara Rose sighs. If they say it's not dangerous, there must be some danger, she thinks. She hopes they can reach the Sealed King's Chamber without anyone getting hurt. She is particularly worried about Akari and Olivia.

"Well, let's go."

Eliot walks at the front with a wry smile. Behind him are Akari and Olivia, followed by Tiara Rose. Aqua Steed and Clayre bring up the rear, with the less combat-capable women in the middle.

After walking for a while, the corridor splits into two paths.

Eliot ponders which way to go, but soon, Akari and Olivia speak in unison.

"Right!"

"...Is that the power of Akari-sama's holy prayer?"

Eliot looks at Akari with a puzzled expression, wondering how she knows the way. Akari, however, nods as if it's no big deal. Tiara Rose wryly thinks about how convenient the power of holy prayer is. At the same time, she envies Akari and Olivia for having played the hidden stage of the fairy king in their previous lives.

◇ ◇ ◇

After about an hour of walking, they see light at the end of the long corridor. Luxurious lamps shaped like flowers illuminate the area on either side of a grand door, which is adorned with carvings of fairies protecting something.

"It really exists..."

Eliot, who had been skeptical, opens his mouth in surprise upon reaching the destination. He immediately takes notes in his notebook.

—Everyone is enthusiastic.

While it is concerning that this is an event stage from a game, Tiara Rose thinks it wasn't necessary to come here so suddenly. She feels guilty for involving Aqua Steed and Clayre, especially since she has caused them so much trouble by losing her memory.

"Come on, Tiara-sama! Your memory will surely return here."

"Eh...?"

Akari grabs Tiara Rose's hand and reaches for the door. The door opens smoothly, revealing a room with a single altar in the center. The circular room is adorned with murals depicting humans and fairies living happily together.

The Sealed King's Chamber, which had so easily welcomed Tiara Rose and the others.

"...Who's there?"

"Eh?"

Aqua Steed, who had been staring at the altar, suddenly speaks. His gaze is fixed on the central altar, but he senses no one there. As Tiara Rose wonders what he means, Akari and Olivia gasp.

—Ah, so it's part of the game's story.

Clayre's expression doesn't change, so it's hard to tell, but Eliot looks confused and doesn't see it. The two women, who are secretly excited, also don't notice.

"Akari-sama, is this...?"

"Shh, Tiara-sama!"

"..."

Akari's warning brings silence to the chamber. Aqua Steed, thinking it's a good time, contemplates the ring that will restore Tiara Rose's memory.

No, rather—

—This is where the ring can be created.

He doesn't know why he thinks this, but his instincts tell him it's true.

"...It's been years... maybe even millennia since a guest has come here."

"You are—"

"Welcome, my descendant."

The man interrupts Aqua Steed's question with a smile. He has the same dark blue hair tied back and flowing forward, and his white clothing, which gives a sense of age, is complemented by a long mantle that spreads on the floor.

His unreadable smile seems almost contrasting to himself.

"Are you a king from several generations ago in Marine Forest...?"

"More precisely, the first king."

"Felus Marine Forest"

Aqua Steed immediately calls out the name, and the man responds with "Well done." The name of the first king is not something he would forget.

"Felus, it's been a while."

"Ah, Felus is still as energetic as ever."

"!"

They seem to know each other, but Aqua Steed quickly realizes it's not unusual. Unlike humans, the fairy king has lived for a long time. It wouldn't be surprising if he had been alive since before Marine Forest was founded. Clayre, who calls him by his nickname, looks happy.

—This means they must be quite close.

In the past, fairies and humans were much more intimate. Aqua Steed believes this was due to the power of the kings. They must have made much more effort to be loved by the fairies. The books in the castle are all old, with few new ones. As the first king, this is to be expected. He built Marine Forest and gained the recognition of the fairy kings. Respect is the only word that comes to mind for Aqua Steed.

"Felus, the child with the ring of Clayre is my descendant. Who is the child with the Pearl ring?"

"My queen."

"Ah, right, I haven't asked your names yet."

Felus looks between Aqua Steed and Tiara Rose, then extends his hand. As they shake hands, Aqua Steed introduces himself and bows.

"Aqua Steed. Yes, it's a good name."

"Thank you."

"And this is Tiara Rose. She is the only one blessed by Keith, which is quite impressive."

Felus looks at Tiara Rose in surprise and laughs, "Has Keith become more gentle?"

"No, he hasn't."

"I thought so!"

Felus claps and laughs, looking much more innocent than before. Aqua Steed observes him quietly, wondering which is his true self, and then considers why the first king, Felus, is here.

—He's not a sealed monster.

Perhaps he's guarding the monster, or maybe he's involved in creating the ring. It could be both.

"—Well then."

Snap.

Felus snaps his fingers, and the altar in the center instantly transforms into a throne. Aqua Steed, hearing the gasps of Tiara Rose and the others, remains on guard. He doesn't sense any malice, but he can't read Felus's intentions.

—This is the first time I've found a cheerful smile so terrifying.

"It's inconvenient that not everyone can see me."

"Felus is a ghost, so only certain people can see him."

Clayre responds to Felus's complaint. Aqua Steed nods, realizing that it makes sense. No one could have lived for such a long time in the flesh.

"Aqua Steed Marine Forest."

"Yes."

"Here, you can create the ring. That's why you came, right?"

Felus's clear voice leaves no room for denial. Aqua Steed's answer is of course yes, but as the crown prince, he has to confirm a few things.

"Before that, one thing. I heard there's a monster here, but—"

"Don't worry. The seal is strong, so it won't happen."

"I see."

Relieved, Aqua Steed looks straight at Felus.

"Tiara Rose has lost her memory while wearing the ring of the Sea Fairy King. ...I want to obtain the king's ring to restore her memory."

Creating a ring for just one woman might be rejected, but looking at Felus, Aqua Steed feels he wouldn't say such a thing. He senses that Felus is a broad-minded person who doesn't get caught up in small details.

"Sure."

Felus immediately agrees and beckons him over. Aqua Steed kneels before the throne, and Felus smiles in satisfaction before calling Tiara Rose. Since the ring is for her, it's better to create it with her present, he says, looking at Aqua Steed.

Clayre brings Tiara Rose over and places a hand on her shoulder.

"Um...?"

Confused but obedient, Tiara Rose follows. Suddenly, her hair floats as a breeze blows through the room, and she opens her eyes wide at the person who appears before her.

"—Another Aqua-sama?"

"I am Felus Marine Forest, the first king of this country, Tiara Rose."

"Ah! I apologize. I am Tiara Rose Lapis Marine Forest."

She immediately performs the highest form of greeting and kneels.

"Let's end the formalities. Shall we create the ring?"

—This isn't the ending, is it?

Felus, who announces the creation of the ring, smiles like Aqua Steed. He looks so happy that it's hard to believe a monster is sealed here.

"Ah, right. Tiara Rose must be worried too."

"Um...?"

"Don't worry about the monster. It's sealed, so it won't come out."

"I see..."

Felus says he's glad to think about Marine Forest.

"While Clayre is touching you, you can see and hear me."

"Understood. Clayre-sama, I'm sorry for the inconvenience."

"It's fine."

After watching their exchange, Felus calls Tiara Rose to stand next to Aqua Steed.

"Tiara Rose, extend your left hand to Aqua Steed."

Tiara Rose nods and extends her left hand. Aqua Steed takes it and gently kisses the back of her hand. His gentle and serious eyes make him seem like a different person. The tense atmosphere is palpable, and she swallows hard.

Clayre removes her hand from Tiara Rose's shoulder and tells her to close her eyes, which she does obediently. In the darkness, she can only feel the warmth of Aqua Steed's touch. Her heart beats loudly, and she hopes no one else can hear it.

"In the name of Felus Marine Forest, I grant the king's ring to Aqua Steed Marine Forest."

Aqua Steed's fingertips trace Tiara Rose's left ring finger, where her wedding ring is already placed. She feels the presence of another ring on her finger, now wearing two rings.

"The words of the vow—do you know them?"

The voice of the first king, Felus, encourages Aqua Steed.

"By the star that watches over the land of Marine Forest, I, Aqua Steed Marine Forest, swear here. Even if the shooting star and the land that supports the country should perish, the ring will never lose its shine—"

As Aqua Steed finishes the vow, the ring on Tiara Rose's left ring finger glows brightly.