The Entrance Celebration Party
Why is Felisiana-sama here…!?
That was my first thought. But then I looked around and realized—the party was filled with nobles, many far more prominent than me. People of high title and greater renown stood all around.
Yet Felisiana-sama bypassed every one of them and came straight to me. That could only mean one thing. The conclusion struck me in an instant, and I bowed deeply before her.
“I’m so sorry, Felisiana-sama! Did I do something rude just now without realizing it…!?”
“Huh…? Ah… Lux-kun, please, lift your head.”
I still didn’t know what I’d done, but I bowed with all the sincerity I could muster. Felisiana-sama responded gently, and at her words, I finally looked up.
She met my gaze with a soft expression and spoke again.
“I’m not upset with you, Lux-kun. That’s not why I came. I’m here as a surprise for the entrance celebration.”
“A sur… prise…? Right! Of course! There’s no way Felisiana-sama would go out of her way just for someone like me!”
“T-That’s not exactly what I meant, though…”
Realizing I’d been a little full of myself, I glanced around. All eyes were on Felisiana-sama.
“Hey, that’s Felisiana-sama!”
“It really is… And she’s even more beautiful up close…”
The murmurs spread, drawing more people in. One by one, they began to gather around us.
Judging by everyone’s reaction, the surprise was a success. Still, one thing nagged at me.
“I hope it’s not rude to ask, but… if this was meant to be a surprise, why did you come speak to me?”
“I was curious about the girl you were talking to earlier, Lux-kun. Just a little.”
As she spoke, Felisiana-sama turned her gaze to the blue-haired girl standing beside me.
“And you—what is your relationship with Lux-kun?”
For a moment, her eyes seemed unnervingly cold. But when I blinked and looked again, they had returned to their usual calm. Between the entrance ceremony, worrying about Siana, and now speaking directly with Felisiana-sama, maybe I was just more worn out than I realized.
“Lux Rodwell-sama and I have not developed a relationship that could be defined with a name. Today was the first time we’ve spoken.”
The blue-haired girl replied in her usual gentle tone, her expression serene.
Felisiana-sama gave a slight nod and responded in a composed voice.
“I see. Still, that dress you’re wearing—it looks like even the smallest shift might leave your chest completely exposed.”
“It was specifically designed to prevent such a thing from happening. There’s no need for concern, Third Princess.”
I’d been quietly worried about the same thing, but if that’s the case, then I suppose there’s no reason to be concerned.
“…”
Felisiana-sama seemed to reach the same conclusion. After a brief silence, her gaze drifted away from the blue-haired girl, then turned back to me as she began to speak.
“Lux-kun, if you’re free, I was wondering if—”
She trailed off mid-sentence and didn’t continue.
“…Felisiana-sama?”
I called out to her, and after lowering her eyes for a moment, she looked up and offered me a gentle smile.
“It’s nothing. I just need to greet the others nearby to wrap up the surprise. I’ll be heading off now. Let’s meet again sometime.”
“Y-Yes!”
I answered quickly, and she gave me one last smile before stepping away. After exchanging light greetings with the people gathered around, Felisiana-sama left the hall.
As soon as she departed, the crowd that had gathered around us dispersed, and the blue-haired girl turned to me.
“Does Lux Rodwell-sama have a personal connection with the Third Princess?”
“We just happened to talk once before this party. Aside from that, not really!”
“I see. In that case—would you mind if I joined you for the meal?”
“Yes, I’d be glad!”
And so, the blue-haired girl and I spent the rest of the celebration enjoying the delicious food together.
Siana’s Side
After leaving the celebration, Siana approached a tall girl wearing a black hood, standing quietly in the building’s shadow.
“…Why did you stop me?”
“You already know the answer, Ojou-sama.”
When Siana had looked away from the blue-haired girl, her gaze had settled on the dancers—which meant she had been planning to invite Lux.
But before she could, the hooded girl who lingered at the edge of her vision had intervened, and Siana had left the celebration without drawing any closer to him.
The reason was simple. In noble society, dancing with someone of the opposite sex usually signified a close bond—deep friendship, engagement, or romance. It wasn’t something the Third Princess should do impulsively.
“I know. I know I was getting emotional… But just thinking about Lux-kun growing closer to some other girl—”
“I understand how you feel, Ojou-sama. But you have a long road ahead. Acting rashly now won’t lead to anything good.”
“…You’re right. I’m sorry. I’m really glad you’re with me. At the very least, I managed to create a connection with Lux-kun today as Felisiana. From here on, there may be times when I’ll need you to take off that hood and help me more directly. You’re ready, aren’t you?”
“Yes. I will carry out any mission, without fail.”
“That’s what I wanted to hear. Now I need to go home and welcome Lux-kun back—not as an obligation, but because I want to be the one he sees. I’ll head back first. You stay here and keep an eye out. Watch for any girls who might try to get close to him.”
“Understood.”
At that, the hooded girl vanished from sight, and Siana left the noble academy behind, returning to the Rodwell family estate.