Charm
Lux’s Side
…Just as Florence-san pointed out, it does feel a little selfish for us to keep speaking with Felisiana-sama while others are around. But like she said herself, if I let that guilt weigh me down too much, I’d never be able to truly connect with anyone.
After mulling it over for a moment, I turned to face Florence-san, who had been standing behind me, and spoke.
“Florence-san, maybe just a little longer—huh?”
I meant to say something to Florence-san, but when I turned around, she was no longer there.
“Where did Florence-san go…?”
As confusion crept in, Felisiana-sama began to speak. I turned my attention back to her and listened closely.
“There was a moment earlier when the crowd got especially dense. Florence-san must have been swept away in it.”
“I see…”
She had been right behind me, so I didn’t notice anything at all.
“…Would it be alright if I went to look for her?”
“If that’s what you want, Lux-kun, then of course. But with this many students here, it might be quite difficult to find just one person.”
At her words, I glanced out across the ballroom.
“…”
It was true. In the midst of so many students and royals, searching for just Florence-san would be like chasing a shadow.
As I stood there, unsure what to do, Felisiana-sama looked into my eyes and smiled warmly.
“I don’t want to lose this rare chance to speak with you, Lux-kun. I wonder what you think about it?”
…That’s right.
I see Florence-san every day at the noble academy. But moments like this, with Felisiana-sama, are rare.
Opportunities to spend time with her are few and far between. And more than anything, she’s the one who said she didn’t want to let this moment slip away. I can’t just disregard that. Besides, I want to talk to her too.
“I want to talk with you too, Felisiana-sama!”
I said exactly what I felt, and Felisiana-sama beamed at me, her expression lighting up.
“Thank you, Lux-kun. It’s a little crowded here, so why don’t we head to the terrace on the second floor?”
“Y-Yes!”
Following Felisiana-sama’s gentle suggestion, the two of us made our way upstairs to the terrace.
It seemed everyone else had stayed downstairs, where the food and music were in full swing. The second floor was quiet, completely empty.
“Lux-kun, do you already have a fiancée?”
The question came unexpectedly, framed by the soft glow of the night-lit city behind her. Caught off guard, I fumbled to answer.
“N-No, I don’t!”
“I see… Is there someone you want to be engaged to?”
…Florence-san had said she wanted to be engaged to me. But if you asked whether I wanted that too… honestly, I just couldn’t bring myself to. It would feel too selfish.
“…No, there isn’t.”
“So among all the girls you’ve met, you’ve never found someone charming enough to want to be engaged to?”
At her gentle but pointed words, I quickly shook my head and replied.
“T-That’s not it! Even now, I think you’re incredibly charming, Felisiana-sama!”
“Ah…! D-Do you really think so?”
“Yes! I think you’re very charming!”
After a slight pause, Felisiana-sama tilted her head, curious.
“Would you mind… telling me what exactly you find charming about me? Just a little?”
“Of course! First of all, there’s your grace and presence. It’s obvious at a glance how much effort you’ve poured into serving this country as the third princess. That strength, that poise, it shows in everything, from your outstanding academics to your skill with a sword, and in all the other ways you contribute to the kingdom.”
“I… I see. Thank you.”
Felisiana-sama turned her face slightly, cheeks flushed red, but I wasn’t done yet.
“And then, there’s your elegance. Talking with you is genuinely fun, and you’re so beautiful, and—”
“T-That’s enough! You’ve said more than enough, Lux-kun… but thank you. It makes me happy.”
She looked a little embarrassed, but after taking a slow, steadying breath, her tone grew more composed.
“We’ve talked about this once before, haven’t we? You said it’s not that you don’t want to be engaged to me.”
“Right. I could never say I don’t want to be engaged to you. It would sound far too arrogant coming from someone like me.”
“Then… is it that you do want to be engaged to me?”
Me… engaged to Felisiana-sama. It wasn’t something I had even dared to imagine. But even before I could consider how I felt about it, there was a much more serious issue at hand.
“It’s not that I don’t want to be engaged to Felisiana-sama. But it’s not something I can allow myself to wish for. It’s not because you lack charm, if anything, it’s the opposite. You’re so much more accomplished and admirable than someone like me. That’s why I can’t even think of reaching for something like that.”
As I spoke, Felisiana-sama looked at me with such kindness and said softly,
“Lux-kun, you are incredibly charming too. So don’t speak about yourself as if you’re any less.”
“But I’m not charming at all—”
As I tried to protest, Felisiana-sama gently drew me into her arms and spoke again.
“Lux-kun, you work harder than anyone I know. You put in more effort, you wrestle with more worries, and that’s exactly the kind of person who becomes a truly wonderful lord. I promise you that.”
“Ah… Felisiana-sama…”
Why is that, I wonder.
We’ve barely met, and she can’t possibly know the details of my everyday life. And yet, her words felt like they came from someone who had been watching over me all along.
I fought hard to hold back the tears welling in my eyes… and for a while, I simply stayed there, quietly basking in Felisiana-sama’s warmth.