"That depends on you. The princess did say to tell you that she knows the next gala's theme is evolution." Pyro explained patiently, "Well, even if I ask why princess would trust you, she's not one we can predict. I suspect she simply feels like telling you this as a temporary compromise."
"Really? That's very thoughtful of her! Thanks for the notice!" Kalim said with a wide smile.
Pryo wore a dry smile, "Thank the princess. Had she not told us the situation, we'd have no excuse to give our king should he discover some man or humans have attracted the queen's attention. Should that happen, he'd not hesitate to come after you. Although he's normally not present in gala's, he sincerely loves the queen. However, with all her undivided attention on you, he's already irked by this even setting aside all his paper works just staring at his crystal sphere even while knowing the queen is currently unwell. The princess's involvement was partly because she wanted to help the school avoid a disaster while also because she was sincerely absorbed by the passion of your poses being void of any half-hearted efforts."
Leona huffed with an annoyed expression on his face, "Whatever. That cheering was so loud, my ears are ringing. I'm gonna get some air.
"What?" Kalim looked to him in confusion, "But we have to wait for Ruggie's group at the greenhouse entrance!"
With a flick of his tail, Leona grumbled with a yawn, "I'll get to it when I get to it. The show's over. I'm doin' what I want from here on out."
With that, Leona vanished through the shrubbery.
"Huh, I wonder where's he going to rest..." Kalim questioned curiously.
"Probably to see the beastman. Remember, the sprinkler will be turning on soon." Pyro replied, "By the way, I'm Pyro. Royal retainer and right hand advisor of the king. In a way, I'm also one of the royal family's personal bodyguards. I arrived to make sure that everything goes as planned according to the princess, but it seems Maisey did not realize you are from the school and didn't help guide you over to the registrar. She's already long since discovered your plans a long time ago and awaited your arrival all so she can protect the queen from any struggles in her current condition."
"What is the queen's current illness?" Kalim questioned curiously in concern.
"Kalim! We can't ask that!" Jamil looked to him in shock.
"It's all right." Pyro smiled wryly, "Follow me. I'll explain what I'm allowed to on our way to the gates. Though I can't convey what is wrong with the queen. I hope you can understand."
"Really? Thanks a bunch!" Kalim smiled gratefully as they followed Pyro out.
"The queen isn't feeling all that well since arriving in the school. Normally, she wouldn't care for such a small magic stone and is very open minded. However, upon arriving, she's become a little obsessed with the stone for unknown reasons. When the princess saw this, she informed his majesty immediately and I was sent here to formulate a plan so that the gala does not break into chaos. Though with that being said, none of us can make replicas or have the heart to swap the stone from her majesty even when knowing she is not well." Pyro sighed, "Right now, our goal is to keep her in a good mood and assist you in getting back the stone as many times as it takes. I shouldn't be long before the queen realized that the stone has been swapped. At most, it'll buy some time. So, the princess plans to make an antidote for this and has reached out for assistance with an acquaintance. All that matters now is whether that person is willing to help or not. Her majesty's health is on the line. As for full compensation..."
Pyro sighed again, "The princess wouldn't say. However, she said she's already working on it and it'll be done in a few days after the gala. She's always one to keep surprises. Let's just hope she doesn't go too far and shock the entire world this time. It's just unfortunate the incident has occurred while she is still recovering her mana."
Jamil raised a brow curiously. Shock the world?
"Huh, I think I understand now. So the queen is acting unlike herself, and you need our help to prevent things from going real bad. To do that, we may have to take the stone back one more time, then?" Kalim summarized after hearing all this.
Pyro nodded, "That's right. If it's in a few weeks, then the theme would be evolution. It's right before the closing gala."
"I remember you mentioned that the princess was in a depression for a long time?" Jamil questioned curiously and carefully.
"That's right." Pyro nodded, "There's some details that can't be said, but, to put it simply, the princess was born with a physique that always puts her in a lot of pain and chill in her body. Eight years ago, her body was going through many drastic changes from mute to being blinded. After recovery, she became terribly depressed. In response, the queen sent her and Maisey out to explore the world, but she never got better. Today's performance got her feeling better to the point of wanting to join in for the opening for the first time in eight years. She's not a fan of power or wealth, but she loves entertainment and knowledge. So much so that she is seen as a living goddess of music and wisdom in our kingdom. However, neither of her talent has been shown in public for eight long years till now. You probably don't know this, but flowers blooming in the background was not our doing."
"What?!" Jamil looked to him in disbelief, "But, those flowers..."
Pyro sighed, "It's the princess. Whenever she is present, the plants and flora behave like conscious beings. They can shiver from fear or cold and bloom from happiness or shut themselves as though asleep in her presence. While she is our princess, the sages in Afternoon Savannah and Rose Queendom call her the Empress of Flower or Mother of Plants from a young age. Though we take that title seriously, her highness does not seem too keen on being called such things and seems rather unhappy to hear of it. If not angry..."
"Why is that?" Kalim tilted her head in confusion, "Wouldn't that be a good thing?"
"We don't know." Pyro responded rather gloomy as he did so, "She never answered."
.....
"C'mon, get a move on!"
"Could you slow down for five seconds, Ruggie?" Grim panted in exhaustion as he struggled to keep up with Ruggie and Yuu, "You're goin' too fast for me to keep up!"
Out of the blue, something cold and wet poured over the group of three much to their bewilderment as Grim cried out in horror, "Gah, COLD! Why's it rainin' all of a sudden?!"
Hearing this, Ruggie's eyes widen in horror upong hearing this and looked around, "Drats! That's not rain. It's the botanical garden sprinkler system. Crud. I forgot that the subtropical zone has simulated squalls!"
"What?!" Yuu's eyes widen in shock, "Isn't this the place Lotus specifically warned us about?!"
"Less complaining and more moving." Ruggie urged them to hurry, "If we don't act fast—"
"The water will wash off all our fairy dust!" Yuu finished hurriedly in a panic, "They'll find out we're not fae!"
Suddenly, Ruggie's ear perked up as his eyes widen in horror, "Uh-oh, someone's coming! Quick, let's hide for now."
As soon as they were dragged into the bushes, a group of three small water fairies with spears flew into the area before one of them paused in bewilderment, "What's this? There's an awful human stench around here! Did a human infiltrate our event? The audacity!"
Hearing this, the other fairy lifted his face sniffing the air before he scowled as well, "You're right! The smell's close by. Hey, where are you hiding?! Come out this instant!"
"Wuh-oh. I think we're about to be busted." Ruggie whispered in fear as Yuu and Grim couldn't help but shiver nervously which accidentally rustled the nearby bush.
The first fairy gasped upon hearing it and the scent the came along from the direction as he pointed in their direction, "Over here!"
"Hey. You."
"Hm?" The fairies turned around in bewilderment.
"Huh?!" Ruggie and Grim secretly looked through some open cracks in surprise by the familiar voice.
"That voice..." Yuu whispered in shock and relief, "It couldn't be..."
Seeing the fairies responded to his calls, the voice continued arrogantly, "You. Yes, you."
There was a sudden gasp as the second fairy exclaimed in a mix of surprise and awe, "Wait, it's you! The one whose show enveloped the whole venue in a swirl of incredible emotion... The noble fae of...wherever you're from!"
It was Leona who was still dry and covered in fairy dust! The lion beastman huffed rather disgruntled, "Look at me when I'm talking to you."
"Heeeyyy, Leona! Nice save!" Ruggie whispered a cheer softly as they watched this scene unfold.
Grim questioned curiously, "Did he come to bail us out?"
Ruggie nodded, "Safe bet."
In response to his call, the two snapped their attention to him in an instant instinctively as Leona continued irritably, "The water in my dressing room is lukewarm. I only drink cold water. Change it out. Now."
"Wow," Grim noted in admiration, "Leona can sell the fame monster act like nobody's business."
Ruggie shook his head and shattered their image of him with cold facts, "Oh, that's not an act. That's just Leona in his natural element."
The second fairy hesitated with a complicated expression, "B-but sir, I'm a guard—"
Leona scowled angrily as though he was about to boil over, "What's that? Are you telling me no?"