Chance
Siana’s Side
Only five days remained until Lux would enter the noble academy.
In her room, Siana was deep in thought, mulling over every possible way to grow closer to Lux during that precious window—when a tall girl in a black hood arrived at her door.
“——Ojou-sama, might I have a word?”
“Wait, not now. I’m trying to figure out how to push things forward with Lux-kun before the academy starts—even if I can’t get us engaged in five days, I want to do what I can, so come back later.”
“I’m afraid I cannot. This comes as an order from your father.”
“…From Father?”
At that, Siana wavered slightly. But when she weighed the king—her own father—against Lux, it wasn’t even close. Lux held far more weight in her heart. She was about to dismiss the conversation entirely—until the girl in the black hood, clearly anticipating that, spoke up again.
“It seems he wishes to ask a favor of you, Ojou-sama. And when I heard the details, I thought—it might actually be quite beneficial to you as well.”
“…Beneficial to me?”
That caught her interest. This time, Siana truly lent her ear to the hooded girl, who continued without pause.
“Yes. He would like you to deliver the royal address at the upcoming entrance ceremony for the noble academy.”
“Me? …I’m not sure I understand the reasoning. Giving a speech at some academy doesn’t sound like anything that would benefit me——”
“Upon further inquiry, I learned that this particular academy is the one Rodwell-sama will be attending.”
“…! The noble academy Lux-kun is going to…?”
Siana’s thoughts ignited, racing in overdrive at this sudden, unexpected opportunity.
Her chances to stand before Lux not as a maid, but as the Third Princess Felisiana, were extremely rare.
Just one more appearance in that role was already a blessing—but delivering the official greeting meant she could speak to him, openly, as Felisiana.
If she could leave an impression of Felisiana on Lux’s memory during the entrance ceremony, then depending on how she handled things afterward, there might even be a way to interact with him further under that identity.
“…A huge opportunity for me, then.”
“Precisely.”
“…I’ll take it. Would you relay my answer to Father?”
“As you know, when direct acceptance is required——”
“It means I—the one being asked—have to go to the castle myself. Haaah, what a tedious system… Well, fine. Let’s go now.”
Afterward, as the two stepped outside the estate, they spotted Lux. The girl in the black hood immediately slipped away, vanishing without a trace.
Noticing Siana as she emerged, Lux waved and called out with a warm smile.
“Siana, are you here to tend the garden?”
“M-Master! Yes, that’s right! And what brings you out here, Master?”
As she moved toward him, Lux glanced over the many kinds of flowers blooming nearby and answered thoughtfully.
“I was just taking a break from studying… and came to look at these flowers you always care for. Whenever I see them, I think about how much effort you put in, and it makes me feel like I need to work even harder too.”
“I-I’m honored! But Master, no one knows better than I do how hard you already push yourself. I really think it’s okay for you to rest more!”
“I appreciate that… but I can’t afford to take it easy. As the eldest son of a count’s family, I have responsibilities to live up to.”
——Siana couldn’t help thinking it was a terrible waste for someone like Lux to be confined to a count’s household. From the bottom of her heart, she believed he was someone who should become king.
Of course, the desire to be engaged to him was part of it—but more than that, she had never met anyone else with such genuine ideals and unwavering kindness. It was those qualities, more than anything, that made her love him.
“As expected of you, Master…!”
“It’s not really something worth all that praise, but… thanks. Hearing that from you somehow gives me the energy to keep going. I think I’ll head back now and hit the books again.”
“Yes! I’ll be cheering for you!”
With that, Siana watched as Lux returned inside the estate.
Once he had gone, the girl in the black hood quietly reappeared before her.
“…For a noble, Rodwell-sama truly is a rare soul. So very kind.”
“Yes… Lux-kun isn’t someone who belongs in the nobility—he’s someone who should be king. And he’s the only boy I’ve ever wanted to marry. To make both of those dreams come true, I will make this speech at the entrance ceremony my turning point.”
“Indeed… From the shadows, I shall support you as best I can.”
As Siana’s love for Lux deepened, and the hooded girl once again felt the truth of his kindness, the two set off toward the royal castle, where the king awaited.