An Unprecedented Situation
“Rodwell-sama doesn’t want to be engaged to Ojou-sama… —Well, that does make sense.”
“What!?”
Siana stared, stunned by how easily the girl in the black hood had accepted it as fact.
It wasn’t just shock—she simply couldn’t accept it.
“How can you just take that at face value!? You know what kind of person Lux-kun is, don’t you? He doesn’t care about noble titles—no, even if he were just an ordinary commoner with no rank at all, Lux-kun wouldn’t say something like, ‘I don’t want to be engaged.’ He’d say, ‘If they have a kind heart, maybe I’d want to be engaged.’ That’s who he is! And now that same Lux-kun was asked if he wanted to be engaged to me, and he flat-out said no!? Do you have any idea how completely abnormal that is!?”
“I understand. Please, Ojou-sama, take a moment to calm yourself.”
“There’s no way I can calm down!”
For Siana, being engaged to Lux wasn’t just a hope. It was the very core of her life’s purpose. Naturally, that engagement meant sharing joyful days with him, and living surrounded by his warmth and affection.
Her current efforts—to improve her academic skills, to train in swordsmanship, to guide the country toward a better future—yes, part of that came from her duties as royalty. But even those royal responsibilities were, in part, motivated by Lux. She wanted to build a country where he could live freely, without burden. Where he could smile every day. Where they could spend their time together, peacefully and without constraint.
So when Lux said he didn’t want to be engaged to her, there was no world in which Siana could simply remain composed.
“Was I not attractive enough? Or did he think I was just acting high and mighty because I’m royalty?”
“When it comes to Rodwell-sama, you truly lose your usual clarity. It’s hard to believe you’re the same flawless Ojou-sama. But if I may say so, I don’t believe it’s either of those reasons.”
“Then what is it?”
“To put it simply… Rodwell-sama is weighing himself against you.”
“Weighing himself…?”
“Rodwell-sama, born into a count’s household and only fifteen, won’t really begin exercising his authority as a lord until after he graduates from the noble academy. It’s not strange, then, that he hasn’t built any public achievements yet. Compared to that, Ojou-sama—while your success comes from remarkable effort and natural brilliance—you’ve had opportunities to act from a much younger age. And you’ve already amassed many accomplishments. I imagine Rodwell-sama sees that, and believes that someone like him being engaged to someone like you just isn’t realistic.”
“But… to me, just having Lux-kun exist makes him more precious than every other living being.”
And at the same time, Siana thought of something else.
There are nobles who do nothing, who look down on others simply because of their birth—completely unlike Lux. If only she could take a fraction of that empty pride and pass it on to someone like him, who deserves to hold his head high.
But the very reason that’s impossible is Lux’s kindness. And that kindness is also what makes Lux Rodwell the only man in the world Siana could ever love. As her thoughts began to spiral in an endless loop, she forced herself to stop.
“Haah… What am I even supposed to do?”
“Right now, I believe Rodwell-sama sees the Third Princess, Felisiana-sama, as someone far above him. So much so that he probably thinks she wouldn’t even acknowledge his existence.”
“That’s quite the problem, because I, on the other hand, only have eyes for Lux-kun…”
“…From this point forward, the only option may be to deepen your connection with Rodwell-sama as Princess Felisiana-sama.”
“But if I try to approach Lux-kun personally, I’ll stand out… And if that happens, Father will find out I’ve been meeting with him.”
“Fortunately, the current head of the Rodwell family has understood your circumstances since the time you were hired as a maid in their household. So long as you’re within the Rodwell estate, you should be able to interact with Rodwell-sama.”
“You’re right… —We should begin planning. It’s time to make a move.”
Everything they had discussed so far was important—but one other thing still weighed on Siana’s mind.
“…By the way, how did the mission go?”
“Yes. Rodwell-sama spent the evening dining and enjoying music with a blue-haired woman named Floria Florence-sama. Aside from that, there were a few who cast glances at them, but no direct contact was made.”
“I see… She’s from a ducal family, isn’t she? She didn’t try to seduce Lux-kun with that shamelessly exposed chest of hers, did she?”
“From a third-party perspective, nothing that overt occurred. That said, she could have used more subtle tactics, like manipulating her gaze—it’s hard to say for certain.”
“…If she’s from a ducal house, then there should be some consolidated records. I want you to investigate the Florence family, and keep watch over Lux-kun at the noble academy. If anything around him changes, report to me immediately.”
“Understood.”
And so, Siana and the girl in the black hood began formulating their plan.
A plan for Princess Felisiana to visit the Rodwell estate and draw closer to Lux.
And it wouldn’t be long before that plan began to take shape.