Chapter 66

After the dinner party, when Tiara Roses and Aquasteed returned to their room, Aka's maid soon visited them.

Philene dealt with the situation, but she couldn't help but exclaim in surprise at the unexpected event.

"Huh?"

"It's a gift from Lady Aka to Prince Aquasteed and Lady Tiara Roses."

"That's... but, it's quite a bit to accept..."

—What on earth is she thinking?

Philene felt a surge of anger but managed to smile to hide it.

The gift from Aka was a nightgown—pajamas. They were wrapped in a transparent bag that showed the inside, adorned with cute, colorful ribbons. The wrapping was the same as the gifts received from targets in the game. Of course, pajamas were never given as gifts in the game.

Confused, Philene hesitated, but Aka's maid, bound by her mistress's orders, couldn't back down.

"We also thought this was rather inappropriate..."

"..."

Ah, these maids must be suffering from serving such a woman... Philene felt a bit of sympathy for them.

"I'll accept it, but..."

"No, just that much is a great help..."

Seeing Aka's maids bow deeply, Philene sighed softly.

As Philene was wondering what to do, Tiara Roses, who had just finished her bath, asked, "What's going on?"

"Oh, it's a pajama gift from Lady Aka—!!"

—This wrapping is amazing!

Recognizing it instantly as the same wrapping method used in the game, Tiara Roses was so moved that she gasped. She smiled at Philene's puzzled look and took a deep breath to calm herself, hoping not to be noticed.

—Come to think of it, she mentioned a surprise later during the dinner party.

She quickly realized that these pajamas must be the surprise.

"Lady Tiara Roses... receiving something to wear at night..."

"Lady Aka and I have a plan for a girls' night. I'll accept mine, but Prince Aquasteed doesn't need his, so we'll return it."

"As you wish."

Tiara Roses gave instructions to Philene and moved to the bedroom to change. Aka's maids, relieved that they could at least return one, quietly withdrew.

◇ ◇ ◇

The chandelier was dimly lit, and various aromatherapy candles were placed around the room. A variety of sweets were prepared: cakes, macarons, cookies, madeleines, chocolates, and more. The aroma and warmth of the tea relaxed their bodies.

The pajamas Aka had prepared were long T-shirt types that reached below the knees. While such clothing was common in Japan, they were not sold here. Tiara Roses felt a sense of freshness.

The place where Tiara Roses was invited was Aka's bedroom. The girls' night gathering included Tiara Roses, Aka, Olivia, and Liliage, whom Tiara Roses had brought along. They all lay on the large bed, chatting casually.

"Lady Tiara Roses, it's been a while."

"Lady Olivia! I'm so happy to see you here."

After a brief greeting between Tiara Roses and Olivia, Aka blinked at Liliage, whom Tiara Roses was holding.

"Is it... not a stuffed animal?"

"Yes. I brought her to introduce her to you."

Aka immediately tilted her head and asked, "What is she?" Olivia also tilted her head, saying, "I've never seen an animal like this before."

"I'm Liliage, please call me Lili."

"She can talk... so cute!!"

"What is she? An animal...?"

Lili's fluffy cuteness raised Aka's excitement. She hugged Lili tightly, burying her face in the fluff and looking happy.

"Wait, Lady Aka! Lili is not someone to be hugged so casually!"

"Huh?"

Seeing Tiara Roses' breathless state, Aka and Olivia looked at Lili. They both tilted their heads again, probably thinking, "This character wasn't in the game, right?"

"Is she a fairy?"

"Indeed, that's a strong possibility... Well done, Lady Olivia!"

Aka nodded, and Liliage shook her head, saying, "No."

"I am Liliage Marinforest, Ferres' wife."

"Huh?"

Aka and Olivia's surprised voices overlapped as Liliage spoke with a shy smile.

"She is the first queen of Marinforest, Princess Ferres' wife."

"Another amazing person you know, Lady Tiara...!"

While listening to Tiara Roses' explanation, Aka exclaimed, "Impressive!"

"Seriously, Ferres was into non-human beings!?"

"I was surprised, but... it's not bad, is it?"

"Yes, it's not bad..."

The perfect first king must have had something unusual about him to be considered normal. If it was a non-human preference, they had to accept it, Aka said seriously.

"Um, excuse me..."

"Lili's fluffiness... I want to hug her forever."

"Ferres couldn't resist Lili's fluffiness either."

Aka and Olivia's conversation accelerated, their eyes sparkling.

"Wait, Lady Olivia... I just realized something!"

"What did you realize, Lady Aka?"

"As the first queen, she must be Aqua's great-grandmother. That means Aqua has non-human blood!"

"That's right...! But can a beast give birth to a human child?"

"Hehe, it's like... only transforming into a human during a full moon!!"

"Ah, I see!!"

"..."

Tiara Roses, who was holding Liliage, watched the two with a slightly distant look. She thought to herself that since it was a full moon tonight, Aka's theory was way off.

Liliage, looking flustered, couldn't follow their conversation and asked, "What's going on?"

"I'm human, even though I look like this now."

"!"

Liliage's confession made Aka and Olivia turn to her. They looked both impressed and a bit disappointed that she wasn't a non-human.

"Please don't be too rude to Lili..."

"I'm sorry."

"I was hasty, I apologize..."

The two hung their heads, and Liliage smiled, saying, "It's okay."

"But why are you here in Lapis Lazuli?"

"Perhaps to meet me?"

Olivia asked, and Aka interpreted it conveniently.

"Ferres' power is unstable..."

"Huh, what does that mean?"

"If left unchecked, it could cause great trouble for Marinforest."

That's why Liliage was accompanying them, Tiara Roses explained.

"Lili believes that an item from Ferres' parents' grave in Lapis Lazuli could help calm him."

"But so much time has passed. I don't know where the grave is, or if it even still exists."

Aka nodded in understanding.

Olivia, with the best memory of game knowledge among them, was the most likely to have new information about the current state of the country after the game.

"What a coincidence."

"Huh?"

"I wrote a letter to Lady Tiara. I sent it because I discovered an old grave."

"That's...!"

It was highly likely that it was Ferres' parents' grave. Liliage looked at Aka with hopeful eyes.

"I'm not sure if it's Ferres' parents' grave, but I felt a strange power there. I think it's an important place."

"I want to go, I want to go now! Please take me, Tiara Roses!!"

"Well, of course... but it's too dangerous at night, Lili."

They couldn't go alone, so Tiara Roses said it was impossible.

Going itself wasn't a problem. They would need guards and proper preparation. Since Aquasteed, who was recognized as a king by Ferres, should also go, they should wait until tomorrow.

Liliage nodded in understanding.

"I'm sorry for being so demanding."

"No, it's understandable that you're anxious."

"That's right. I'll go with you tomorrow, and we'll definitely get the item!"

"I'll have Levi investigate as well."

"Tiara Roses, Lady Aka, Lady Olivia... thank you."

Tears streamed down Liliage's eyes.

"I never thought anyone would be so kind to me. I just met Lady Aka and Lady Olivia..."

"No, there's no need to cry, Lili. You're so cute, please smile. Let's enjoy some sweets and relax for tomorrow!"

"Okay!"

Liliage nodded with a smile and bit into a macaron.

"I love these sweet macarons!"

"Of course, Lili! I love macarons too."

"Tiara, you love macarons too, right?"

"...Yes."

Olivia couldn't help but laugh at Aka's words, and everyone laughed together.

"Hehe, lying in bed and eating sweets... it's a luxury."

"In Japan, it was a normal daily routine, but in this world, it's considered bad manners."

"Exactly! The maids would scold us."

"Please don't do it, Lady Aka..."

This was only possible when they were alone. Tiara Roses and Olivia reminded Aka that it wasn't appropriate in front of the maids.

Seeing Aka immediately say, "I know," they felt a bit distant, thinking, "Oh, you've already been scolded by the maids, haven't you?"

"Even as the country develops and becomes prosperous... life becomes more restrictive."

"Lili..."

Liliage, who lived in a time 1500 years ago, when there was more nature and fairies and humans were closer, must have felt freer in the past compared to now.

"But... the current Marinforest is peaceful and warm, and I love it."

"Me too. I love Marinforest."

Aka and Olivia raised their hands, agreeing that they also loved Marinforest.

"Thank you, both of you."

Thus, Aka's sweet girls' night continued happily until late into the night.