Beneath the Blue Roses

Nightfall…

The palace maids were finishing up their duties for the night, clearing dishes in the kitchen, sweeping the courtyard, and handling the royal family's laundry for the next day.

Meanwhile, the palace guards carried out their usual patrols around the Armed Palace, making sure the royal family was as safe as treasure guarded by a dragon.

In the Blue Rose Garden, a secluded estate within the Armed Palace, there was a grand gazebo. The garden was filled with blue roses… a unique color that released a cool aura when touched by moonlight, making the gazebo an ideal spot to relax or have a conversation at night.

This was where Prince Vritra and Princess Luciana were having their little meeting.

"God Vritra, please try this tea… I think you'll like it. I know you usually prefer red tea, but I decided to switch things up and make you some brown tea instead. It's a fresh new product shipped to us from the Sacred City of Naxos."

Princess Luciana's bright smile showed just how comfortable she had become around Prince Vritra. After all, there was no reason to fear the man who had protected her──being afraid would simply be ungrateful.

"I hope you enjoy it."

She carefully held up the teapot and poured some brown tea into Prince Vritra's cup.

Vritra picked up the cup and took a small sniff, appreciating the calming scent of the tea. "So, how did you know I enjoy red tea?" he asked, smiling gently at Luciana.

The princess set the teapot back on the table and bowed her head before replying.

"It's because I also enjoy red tea. In fact, I'm one of the few people in the Central Continent who actually drinks it. When I found out my stock had run out, I asked Esmeralda, and she told me you drank most of it."

Vritra nodded thoughtfully at her words. "So, you're saying I finished your tea?"

Luciana immediately waved her hands in panic, trying to dismiss the idea.

"N-, No, not at all, God Vritra! I'm just saying it's surprising that you're one of the few who appreciate the unique and acquired of red tea!"

In response, Vritra took another sip of his tea and stayed silent for a moment.

『Hmm… it seems she's still cautious around me.』

For Luciana, the pause felt like ages as she worried she had messed up.

Finally, Vritra spoke.

"As I've said before, you can afford to be comfortable around me. As long as it's not unwarranted insolence, I have no reason to punish you. And even if it were, a beautiful woman like you would receive leniency from me. So, feel free to relax. This is just a conversation about tea between two royals."

His calm words made Luciana feel at ease again, maybe even more so than before.

She realized that even when he made his earlier statement, he hadn't seemed offended.

『He really… isn't angry…』

He had spoken calmly and with a mild smile.

『Could it be that the young lord was just trying to… make a joke? No, no, that's a silly thought, Luciana.』

It was a difficult thought to swallow.

Vritra took another sip of his tea and gestured to the chair across from him without looking.

"Have a seat, and let's talk some more."

With a relieved smile, Luciana adjusted her frilly blue dress and took a seat to join him for tea.

Vritra kept a close eye on Princess Luciana as she gracefully poured herself some tea.

『It's not widely known on the Central Continent, but most people from the two ancient continents know that everyone who isn't a Deva or Asura hates the taste of red tea. It's a taste specific to our race.

『The reason she likes red tea is that she's part ancient god, being a God Vessel. I believe this reveal is supposed to come later in her story when Prince Lumis discovers she drinks a lot of red tea and connects it to its history.

『The fact that Lumis finds out about her dark secret creates a small rift in their relationship, but it ultimately makes their love stronger. Ugh, such clichéd romance.』

When Vritra noticed that his face was showing disgust, he quickly replaced it with his usual mild smile.

Next, he turned to Princess Luciana, who was staring at him with a look of admiration in her big, sparkling blue eyes.

"What's the matter, Luci? You look like you have something on your mind."

Luciana jumped a little at the question but tried to stay composed by fussing over her perfectly arranged hair.

"Um, I was just admiring God Vritra's appearance. I have to admit, before now, your features seemed quite plain to me. But now, they almost seem unforgettable. Maybe I didn't fully appreciate your charm before."

She felt awkward saying this.

『… Kyaaaaa! What am I doing? Father sent me here to persuade him to form an alliance with us, not to flirt with him for no reason!』

Her cheeks flushed slightly, and she kept her head down, staring at her reflection in the tea.

Vritra chuckled softly.

"With compliments like that, you'll have me blushing."

The charm of his deep voice sounded again.

Luciana's face lit up when she saw that Vritra took her compliment well.

『He… he actually appreciated my words?』

She managed to hide her excitement and play along.

"Oh, I'm sure you've heard similar things before, God Vritra. With a face like yours, I bet you have a circle of beautiful wives waiting for you back on the Hell Continent."

… Tee-hee!

She giggled as she spoke.

[The "heroine" Luciana Duranzia is becoming increasingly fond of you. She finds you calm and easy to be around, which is something she hasn't felt with the "hero" Lumis Deva.]

[Because of this, her affection for the host has experienced an increase by 30 points!]

[Lumis Deva's Fate Value has dropped by 10!]

[+10 Fate Value!]

Things were going smoothly, but Vritra knew he needed to do more to get the results he wanted.

"Luciana…"

"Yes, God Vritra?"

Princess Luciana spoke with much more eagerness, clearly showing that she was more interested in talking with him.

"Are you flattering me because you want me to favor your nation and form an alliance? Why are you so irritatingly desperate? Just weeks ago, you all laughed at the idea of an alliance with this young lord."

Vritra's sinister smile and smooth voice showed he knew exactly what he was doing.

However, Luciana was too panicked to notice.

She leaned forward with a worried face.

"I-, I would never dream of that, God Vritra! I'm just trying to have a conversation with you, to get to know you better. That's all. My modest beauty and limited mind could never convince someone like you! I just──!"

"Shut up…"

Luciana gasped loudly at Vritra's calm but chilling command and fell silent.

[The heroine knows her place: -20 Affection Points!]

Seeing this, Vritra smiled with his eyes gently closed and stood up to get a better view of the cool garden from the gazebo.

Princess Luciana was feeling very nervous.

『H-, How did he know──?!』

Her light makeup was barely staying in place as she sweat, and her body shook like a fragile creature in the cold of winter.

All she could see was Vritra's back.

The young Asura sipped his tea with a smirk.

"So, you would really dare to lie to me like I'm a child, despicable woman? Or are you seriously saying that you just want to compliment and flirt with someone as cruel and merciless as me, who has killed countless men, women, and children? That's how your old man describes me, anyway."

The gazebo fell silent.

Princess Luciana didn't dare reply.

『Did I make it too obvious? Father will be furious with me…』

She kept her head down, trying to hold back her tears and hide her gloomy face.

This was the perfect moment to act!

Vritra glanced at her from the corner of his eye.

"I have a question for you…"

The princess looked up, responding quickly, "Yes, God Vritra!"

"Now that I've shown you that I'm no fool and I know you were sent here by your father to try to persuade me into an alliance, I have just one question for you. What if I said I wouldn't form an alliance with your nation unless you became my wife?"

An evil grin appeared on Vritra's face.

"No, let's make it even more interesting… what if I said I wouldn't ally with your nation unless you became my meat toilet? What would you do then?"