Chapter 162 - 7

After the barrier disappeared, the only people left in that place were Ziel and Princess Aishia. Since Ziel came to help her, Princess Aishia had not spoken to him. She just silently lowered her head and didn't dare to look at him directly.

"Don't you know how dangerous it is for a Princess to wander alone on the beach wearing such clothes?" Ziel asked and broke their silence.

"That… if I don't do this, I won't be able to meet you." Princess Aishia spoke in a low voice. She kept her head down like a little girl afraid of being scolded.

"Can't you go with Freya?" Ziel still doesn't know if Princess Freya and Princess Aishia's relationship is not okay.

"I can't do that because my relationship with Freya is not good." Princess Aishia shook her head and rejected Ziel's proposal.

"What is the reason for that? Is it because of me?" Ziel asks her again, but suddenly he realizes from Princess Aishia's reaction that the reason their relationship has deteriorated is because of himself.

Princess Aishia was silent and didn't dare to answer. But Ziel already knew without having to hear an answer from her.

"Make up with her. I'm sure Freya doesn't want your relationship to be like that either." Ziel spoke nonchalantly. Whether she wants to listen to it or not, it's up to Princess Aishia.

"That… I can't." Princess Aishia flatly refused.

"All right. However, I can only remind you of one thing. Freya is one of the most important people to me. If you have bad intentions towards her, then I will not hesitate to act harshly on you." Ziel said coldly to Princess Aishia.

Princess Aishia trembled after hearing Ziel's statement. She felt her chest hurt a lot. She didn't imagine Ziel would say that to her.

"Why? Why are you treating her so special!? I have everything she has! I got to know you first! Why not me!? Why!?" Princess Aishia couldn't hold back her tears anymore. She had been holding back her complaints for the past few months since they had returned from the Elven Kingdom. But she finally vented her anger after seeing the intimate scene between Princess Freya and Ziel. She also felt hurt by his words. Luckily Ziel had put up an isolation barrier so no one could hear Princess Aishia's screams.

"So what you mean is... I have to accept you and not Freya? Is that so?" Ziel asked her back.

"Yes!" Princess Aishia answered him firmly.

"Why should I accept you? Is it because you got to know me first that I have to accept you? Is it because you have what Freya has that I have to accept you? Was it just because of that?" Ziel asked him again, and he repeated what Princess Aishia had said.

"Yes..." This time Princess Aishia answered hesitantly.

"I don't know on what basis you think like that. The thing I know is that Freya has been approaching me ever since I first entered the academy. She still approached me when she knew I already had someone beside me. Freya was not hostile to her but instead befriended her. She still wants to be with me even though she has to share with other women. Do you think I can turn her down? Do you think you are more worthy than her? You can't even see a girl getting too close to me, can you?" Ziel is not angry after hearing Princess Aishia's selfishness. He told all these things to her so that Princess Aishia would know the truth behind his relationship with Princess Freya.

"What!?" Princess Aishia was surprised after hearing Ziel's explanation. She didn't expect Princess Freya to sacrifice to that extent, and she felt unworthy of being compared to her. At this time, she just realized what Princess Freya had done to chase the person she loved.

"I...I don't deserve you." Princess Aishia said it heavily.

"It's good that you understand." Ziel intended to remove the barrier and return to Clara and the other girls. He carried a bag full of canned drinks he had bought for the girls. He still didn't know where the Cirlus Kingdom could reproduce such canned beverages, including the swimsuit they also sold to other kingdoms. Ziel didn't have time to find out.

"But! But I won't give up on you! I can also do what Freya can do!" Princess Aishia said with determination. There was no sadness on his face anymore. After hearing what Ziel said about Princess Freya, her rivalry was even more intense. Ziel was silent for a while after hearing her declaration.

"Whatever. You can do as you please." Zel shook his head. He thought telling her that would make her give up, but his words had the opposite effect.

"I will prove to you that I am not inferior to Freya! Be it my determination or my love for you…." Princess Freya spoke in a firm voice. But she lowered her voice in the last sentence. Her face was flushed with embarrassment for forcing herself to say that. 

"Well, we don't need to talk about that for now. You'd better come with me than walk alone on the beach. Don't forget to make up with Freya later." Ziel removed the barrier he had created and left the place.

"I understand!" Princess Aishia nodded slightly and walked after him with a smile on her face. On the way, Princess Aishia kept glancing at Ziel like she wanted to ask something but hesitated to say it.

"What is it?" Ziel asked her first. He had noticed that Princess Aishia had been looking at him many times.

"Ziel... The person who was beside you before Freya, that person is Miss Kalya, isn't it?" Princess Aishia finally courageously to ask him even though she already knew the answer.

"Please refrain from calling me by that name in front of Miss Clara. For the answer to your question, haven't you seen it from that place?" Ziel asked her back.

"I understand. I did see it. However, I would like to hear the answer directly from you." Princess Aishia averted her gaze from Ziel because she felt caught stalking on him.

"Yeah, you're right. That person is Kalya." Ziel nodded and gave an honest answer.

"Is that so? How long have you been in a relationship?" Princess Aishia asked with a curious and gloomy face. Ziel noticed the change in expression on her face.

"Not long after entering the academy. Isn't it hard to accept a man who already has another woman beside him?" Ziel is still trying to make Princess Aishia give up.

"It is..." Princess Aishia realized her mistake after hearing Ziel's question. Although she said she could do what Princess Freya had done, it wasn't that easy in reality. After knowing it, she still felt jealous, and that feeling was reflected on her face.

"I understand. You don't have to force yourself to answer it. You also don't need to maintain your rivalry with Freya. I'm sure it's not as easy as it looks. I don't want you to hurt yourself." Ziel looks like he cares about Princess Aishia. But actually, he is trying to make Princess Aishia give up chasing after him for his convenience.

"Impossible! I will never give up! And this is not because of my rivalry with Freya, but purely because of my feelings for you! I don't care how much it hurts. But I'm sure I can do it because my feelings are not inferior to Freya or Miss Kalya!" Princess Aishia stubbornly refuses Ziel's suggestion. Her face looked grave, and the jealousy she had previously felt was gone and replaced by a strong determination.

"Well...well..." Ziel didn't speak further. He thought what he said would be useless after seeing the expression on her face.

Coincidentally, Clara and the other girls had just rested when Ziel arrived at the place. The girls gave him a complicated look after seeing Ziel back together with Princess Aishia. Especially Kalya and Princess Freya.

"Ken, where have you been? Why are you together with Princess Aishia?" Clara asked Ziel curiously.

"I bought a drink for you. But on the way back, I met Princess Aishia, who was lost and being bullied by a man from the demon race." Ziel answered honestly, except for the part where Princess Aishia got lost. He distributed the drinks he had bought to the girls.

"Ooh, is that so?" Princess Freya narrowed her eyes at Princess Aishia. She believed what Ziel said, but she didn't believe in Princess Aishia.

"Yes. What Zi...Ken said is true." Princess Aishia almost called Ziel by another name.

"Hmm... okay. Rather than wandering the beach alone, you'd better be with us, Princess Aishia." Clara pouted after Ziel brought another girl to the place.

"You can call me Aishia. I don't need honorifics for my fellow academy students. If that doesn't interfere with your enjoyment, then I'd be happy to join you." Princess Aishia smiled in response to Clara's invitation.

"Of course, you won't disturb us. Right, Iris?" Clara smiled and asked the opinion of Princess Iris next to her.

"Oh... yes, of course. You can join us." Princess Iris was still thinking about why Princess Aishia came with Ziel, but Clara surprised her with a sudden question.

"Then, let's continue our game! We still have a little time before lunch." Clara smiled widely and pulled Princess Iris back to the shore.

"Wait, Clara! I can walk alone!" Princess Iris inevitably has to follow Clara, who looks very excited. Lilith strolled, following them from behind. After they left, there was only Ziel, Princess Freya, Princess Aishia, and Kalya in that place.

"So, what are you doing here? You can't just wander around the beach alone and get lost, can you?" Princess Freya asked Princess Aishia with a prickly tone.

"Of course not. I came here on purpose to look for Ziel. If you can, why can't I?" Princess Aishia smiled, provoking Princess Freya.

"Eh? I didn't think you would admit it right away." Princess Freya was surprised by the answer given by Princess Aishia. She thought that Princess Aishia would refute her words.

"Not only do I dare to admit it, but I also dare to challenge the two of you! I will never lose to you guys! In any case, I'm not inferior to you, including my feelings for Ziel!" Princess Aishia bravely declared war on Princess Freya and Kalya. Her words made them freeze in shock.

"But before that..." Princess Aishia suddenly hugged Princess Freya.

"I'm sorry for my attitude to you so far, Freya." Princess Aishia whispered in Princess Freya's ear. Princess Freya's body stiffened upon hearing that but quickly relaxed.

"Of course, I will forgive you because you are a crybaby childhood friend of mine. But don't expect us to give you Ziel. Can you win his heart? it depends on your ability." Princess Freya chuckled and hugged Princess Aishia back. 

"I can make him fall in love with me. I will prove that my feelings are not inferior to anyone and can stand on an equal footing with you." Princess Aishia's eyes became wet after hearing Princess Freya forgive her. 

Kalya smiled when she saw the warm scene between childhood friends in front of her. She slowly linked her hands to his. Then she drew closer to Ziel and clung to him naturally.

"Looks like you've caught the attention of other girls." Kalya teases him.

"Did you think I would do that on purpose? I've even advised her many times to give up and forget her feelings." Ziel shrugged his shoulders helplessly.

"I know it. But please promise me. No matter what happens, I will still be number one for you, and you must stay with me forever." Kalya suddenly hugs Ziel. She feels his position is threatened with more girls like Ziel.

"I promise to you." Ziel said to her without any hesitation.

"Thank you." Kalya smiled sweetly. Ziel's answer made her fear disappear, and her heart calmed down. But their intimacy was interrupted by the screams of the two girls in front of them.

"Sister Kalya! Isn't that cheating!?" Princess Freya shouted at Kalya. She started calling sister to Kalya ever since they returned from the Elven Kingdom. But she called her that only when there was no one else but them.

"You took a chance while we were chatting!?" Princess Aishia also complained to her. Ziel and Kalya looked at each other and sighed in unison with their situation.

***

Somewhere in the sea within the Demon Kingdom's territory, a tsunami suddenly occurred accompanied by someone's angry scream.

"Who would dare to barge into this place and make all my research creatures flee!?" The sound of that person's scream echoed in the sky, and hundreds of golden thunderbolts flashed into the ocean.