13. The Country of Chocolate

While eating the breakfast Aquasteed had brought to the room, TiaraRose recalled the events of the previous night. Slowly, her face began to heat up.

—To think that Aqua’s purpose for this trip is simply to spoil me!!

The objective she had managed to pry out of him afterward was incredibly sweet. No work, nothing of the sort. She had been pampered before, but he had declared that on this trip, he intended to spoil her even more.

—I wonder if I can handle being spoiled that much.

She had already felt herself melting many times from Aquasteed’s sweetness, yet he said even more was waiting. Just thinking about it made her feel like she might lose her composure.

Seeing TiaraRose eating her bread with a bright red face, Aquasteed gave a small chuckle.

“I’m happy my love is reaching you, Tiara.”

“Oh, Aqua…”

Embarrassed further from the start of the morning, TiaraRose’s face was scarlet. Aquasteed picked up a strawberry dipped in chocolate and brought it to her lips.

“Tiara, say ‘aah’.”

“…I think that is a bit too much spoiling.”

Despite saying so, TiaraRose opened her mouth and let him feed her. Immediately, the rich sweetness of the chocolate and the tartness of the strawberry spread through her mouth.

“Delicious!”

“I’m glad.”

TiaraRose figured this kind of sweet breakfast would continue throughout the trip… but she thought she might truly be overcome by embarrassment.

“Wow, how cute! Aqua, they’re selling sundries with chocolate motifs.”

“You’re right. There are so many varieties. It’s like they’re holding actual sweets.”

After breakfast, TiaraRose and Aquasteed headed out to sightsee in the city. They leisurely looked at stalls and shops that caught their eye, taking in the scenery. Just walking through the town was quite fun. The cityscape, different from Marineforest, also served as a reference for someone involved in national affairs.

Currently, they were walking along a street lined with stalls on the main thoroughfare, but there were so many things she wanted that it was a struggle. The streets were bustling and full of life, with many people eating while they walked. There were many stalls, and some people were busy preparing something.

“I wonder if that pouch would suit Lucia? Oh, that pen over there would be good for Luca and Rio.”

Watching TiaraRose eagerly trying to make purchases, Aquasteed laughed.

“If you buy that much now, you won’t be able to carry it all. The world tour has only just begun, and we have plans to visit other countries.”

If they were to return to Marineforest, it would only be for an urgent matter. In such a case, they could be contacted via magic. Barring that, their return would likely be in a few years.

“That said, we don’t have to carry them; we could send souvenirs from this city…”

Hearing Aquasteed’s words, TiaraRose started.

“True, even if I buy many souvenirs now, I can’t carry them. But if I send them from every city, Lucia and the others might be exasperated…”

TiaraRose gave a wry smile and decided to pass on items unless she liked them immensely. It would be better to send them to LuciaRose and the others once she had gathered a few. Alternatively, it sounded fun to buy them when they stopped by again on the way back.

“Then, shall we go look at the view?”

“Good idea.”

TiaraRose and Aquasteed held hands as they climbed the slopes and stairs of the town. At the top of the slope was a plateau, and rumor had it the view from there was magnificent. After climbing a stone staircase for about thirty minutes, they arrived at the plateau.

“Haa, haa… Climbing stairs the whole way is quite a feat.”

TiaraRose was out of breath, but Aquasteed’s breathing wasn’t labored at all. Seeing that, TiaraRose thought she might need to train herself as well. She would likely gain some stamina while traveling, but she felt it would be better to strengthen herself a bit more.

—I don’t want my lack of stamina to be a burden to Aqua.

While TiaraRose was thinking about starting muscle training before her bath tonight, Aquasteed called out, “Look at that.”

“Eh? Waaah… the flower field spreading below is wonderful.”

The view from the plateau overlooked the cityscape they had just been in, with a wide flower field spreading out right beside it. Colorful flowers were in bloom, and she could see children running around and playing. It was a sight that made it obvious at a glance that it was a prosperous, good country.

“Tiara, over here.”

“Thank you.”

Aquasteed spread a handkerchief on a bench, and TiaraRose sat down. Sitting nestled together and gazing at the view, they were able to spend a relaxing time that felt almost too fulfilling.

“Looking at such a wonderful view makes me want to show it to Lucia and the others. It feels like we’re the only ones being extravagant…”

When TiaraRose said that, Aquasteed nodded in agreement.

“Royalty inevitably have their movements restricted. It’s rare for them to spend time as freely as we are. However, it might be good if we can make it so the children can travel freely someday, too.”

“Yes.”

Indeed, once they returned from their trip, they could take over the work for Stillca and the others. That way, the children could go to various countries. Since TiaraRose and her husband were still young due to the power of the starry sky, they could support Stillca and the others for a long time yet.

As they talked and looked at the scenery, someone called out, “Are you sightseeing?” Looking over, an elderly woman had just finished climbing the stairs.

“Hello. We came from Marineforest.”

“Hello.”

“Oh, you came from another country. It must have been difficult coming such a long way.”

The elderly woman smiled warmly as she walked slowly, leaning on a cane. Ahead of her was a small wooden house.

“By any chance, do you live in that house?”

—Living at the top of these stairs must be very difficult.

Even TiaraRose had climbed them while gasping. For an elderly woman, these stairs surely weren’t easy. It seemed the woman immediately guessed TiaraRose’s thoughts.

“I’ve already gotten used to climbing the stairs.”

With a chuckle, she invited them: “If you like, would you care for some tea?”

TiaraRose and Aquasteed exchanged a look and, though hesitant, decided to accept: “By all means.”

“I’m home.”

“Oh, welcome ba— wait, customers?”

Upon entering the woman’s house, there was a young man in his mid-twenties. He was wearing an apron and seemed to be in the middle of some task.

“Yes. They said they came from Marineforest. They were looking at the view on the bench, so I invited them for tea.”

The woman said this and introduced the young man.

“This is my youngest son, Cliff. …Oh, I haven’t introduced myself yet, either. I am Maria.”

“I am Tiara.”

“I am Aqua.”

“What lovely names.”

When traveling, TiaraRose and Aquasteed made it a rule to use “Tiara” and “Aqua” rather than their full names. Otherwise, some might realize they were Marineforest royalty. Though, of course, some might realize it just from “Tiara” and “Aqua.”

“Well then, I’ll brew some tea.”

Cliff urged them to sit and prepared tea in the kitchen right next to the round dining table. Maria’s house was a warm, single-story detached home. Many flowers decorated the bay window, and the sweet scent of chocolate filled the house. Was the other scent reaching her nose honey? TiaraRose immediately took a liking to this space, which felt saturated with the smell of her favorite sweets.

“What a cute house, and it has such a sweet, lovely scent.”

“Oh, I’m glad to hear it. Thank you, Tiara-san.”

While waiting at the table and talking with Maria, Cliff brought over tea and honey-chocolate he had made himself. It was a sweet that combined honey and chocolate; apparently, honey was poured over the chocolate, which was then chilled and processed.

“Wow… there are methods for sweets like this, too.”

Since it was a rare sweet, TiaraRose couldn’t help but observe it. She wanted to try making it as soon as she returned to Marineforest, and she also wanted to try various kinds while in this city.

—The things to look forward to in this city have increased by one.

Taking a bite, the sweetness of the chocolate and honey spread through her mouth, filling her with happiness.

“Mm, it’s very delicious.”

Seeing TiaraRose eating with a smile, Aquasteed’s expression softened. When TiaraRose was happy, Aquasteed was happy as well.

“I’m glad you say so.”

“Did you make this, Cliff-san?”

“Yeah, he’s a confectioner.”

At Cliff’s unexpected profession, TiaraRose’s eyes sparkled.

“What a wonderful profession! I love sweets.”

What luck, to meet someone who makes sweets. TiaraRose became dying to talk shop.

“Um, if it’s alright, may I ask how to make this sweet? …Ah, but it’s not good to ask a professional such a thing, is it? It must be a secret recipe…”

As TiaraRose was trying hard to restrain herself from asking, Cliff laughed out loud.

“It’s not something I’m hiding, so I’ll teac—”

“Eh!? Is it okay!? Please do!!”

TiaraRose replied instantaneously to Cliff’s words. Cliff laughed again, perhaps because her enthusiasm was so unexpected.

“I don’t mind at all.”

Saying so, Cliff stood in front of the kitchen. “I make the sweets here.”

When TiaraRose eagerly went to the kitchen, it was a dream-like space with all the ingredients for sweets gathered there.

“Wow, this tool isn’t in Marineforest. Oh, this one is the same. Over here, we have a different, improved version.”

“Heh. So there are different tools in different countries.”

Cliff found it interesting and took notes while nodding “I see” to TiaraRose’s explanations. He seemed to be thinking of trying them out next time.

“In our country, we use this as the main tool.”

“Ah, that’s…”

Both seemed to be hardcore sweets lovers, and the conversation became lively. However, as technical terms and tool names for sweets-making flew back and forth, there was much Aquasteed didn’t understand. Although he sometimes helped TiaraRose with her baking, he was basically the one who did the eating.

TiaraRose, looking so happy as she talked and received instruction on sweets-making, was absolutely adorable just to watch. As Aquasteed watched over her while drinking his tea, Maria spoke to him. “By the way, there’s going to be a festival.”

“It’s a national festival, so if you have time, please be sure to see it.”

“A festival?”

“Yes. It’s called the Chocolate Festival.”

According to Maria, it would be held starting the day after tomorrow. Aquasteed recalled seeing many places in the city making elaborate preparations.

“Come to think of it, I’ve heard of it before.”

Since there had been no specific invitation for guests, he had never participated as part of his work.

“Many visitors come from other countries, too.”

“I’d been thinking for a long time that I wanted to come with Tiara, so it was perfect timing.”

“That’s good to hear.”

The Chocolate Festival is a festival to decide the best chocolate in the country. Confectioners compete with their skills to be recognized by the King. For the year until the next festival, they are praised as the “Chocolate King” of the nation. It is a great honor, and the chosen person’s chocolate workshop sees endless queues.

“By any chance, are you participating as well, Cliff-san?”

He, who was enthusiastically talking about chocolate with TiaraRose in the kitchen, was surely quite the sweets lover.

“Yeah. I’m doing a lot of trial and error, but who knows? Many amazing people will be participating…”

A Chocolate Festival where many people participate is not something one can win easily. Cliff was working desperately every day, but it seemed to be quite difficult.

“In addition to the competition, stalls are set up to sell chocolate. After all, it has to be a chocolate loved by the people of the city.”

“That… sounds difficult.”

Chocolate for the competition, plus chocolate for the sales stall. With both, the preparations seemed to be quite a task.

As Aquasteed and the others were talking, TiaraRose’s excited voice could be heard. “A Chocolate Festival!?”

She must have heard from Cliff. TiaraRose looked over with sparkling eyes.

“Aqua, I… I’d like to try running my own sweets stall. What do you think?”

“That sounds fun,” Aquasteed immediately nodded in agreement, though he was surprised.

End of 223