Mission
“Welcome home, Master.”
“Yeah, I’m back, Siana.”
Having arrived at the Rodwell household, Siana greeted Lux as he returned from the Royal Exchange.
Once the two of them entered Lux’s room, Siana turned to him with a question.
“Master, how was the Royal Exchange?”
“It was great. I got to see once again just how kind Felisiana-sama is… She told me I’d make a wonderful lord.”
“That’s wonderful to hear.”
As she responded, Siana couldn’t help but recall that she’d said the same words to Lux before. But deep down, what she truly wished to tell him wasn’t that he’d make a wonderful lord. What she truly believed was that he would make a magnificent king.
Yet, she knew that saying something so grand to the Lux of today would only come across as absurd. So she held those words back.
Quietly, she hoped that one day, the time would come when she could tell him how she really felt.
“Also, Felisiana-sama invited me to the royal castle.”
Lost in her thoughts, Siana quickly refocused as Lux continued speaking.
“I see… And how did you feel about that, Master?”
“I was surprised at first, but now that I’ve had time to think about it, I want to look forward to it, as something exciting. After all, Felisiana-sama extended the invitation herself.”
“Yes, I think that’s a wonderful way to approach it!”
Hearing Lux say that eased the tension in Siana’s heart.
If Lux was looking forward to it, then all she needed to do was ensure that the time they spent together would be enjoyable.
Just imagining it made her lips twitch upward in a smile she couldn’t quite suppress.
The conversation continued lightheartedly between them, until Lux suddenly said,
“Oh right… Siana, I know it’s still a bit off, but would you like to go out into town with me, just the two of us, on a day off?”
Siana blinked in momentary confusion at Lux’s unexpected offer, but quickly guessed his intention and responded.
“Into town…? Do you mean for some errands?”
Lux shook his head in reply.
“No, not for work or anything like that. I just thought… it might be nice to relax a bit, just the two of us.”
Siana’s thoughts ground to a halt.
She had accompanied Lux into town before, on errands or for official business. But never once had the goal simply been to relax together.
That’s why her mind froze, but only for a moment.
C-Could this be… what people call a date!? Y-Yes, that must be it! Even if Lux-kun didn’t mean it that way, going out together without any work involved means he wants to spend time not with me as a maid, but with me, Siana! When a man and a woman go into town on a day off, that’s what a date is, right!?
“Of course, only if you’re up for it… What do you think?”
A date… with Lux-kun! Wh-What should I wear!? A dress!? N-No, that would feel too formal. This isn’t about Felisiana, it’s about me as Siana! If I show up in a fancy dress, it’ll just feel awkward… But what kind of outfit would Lux-kun like to see me in!?
Her mind spinning with possibilities, Siana suddenly remembered that Lux was waiting for her response and quickly replied.
“Yes! I’d be delighted to go out with you, Master!”
“Really? I’m so glad. I’m already looking forward to it.”
“Y-Yes!”
After parting with Lux, Siana returned to her room, where she immediately launched into an excited tirade at Violet, who had been waiting for her there.
“Violet! It’s official. I’m going on a date with Lux-kun!”
Violet, calm as ever, responded in her usual composed tone.
“…You mean you and Rodwell-sama are going out somewhere together?”
“Exactly! I’m already so excited…”
Siana’s cheeks flushed as she spoke, but then her tone grew more serious.
“But… there’s one big problem.”
“A big problem…?”
“Yes. A serious one. I don’t know what kind of clothes Lux-kun likes!”
Violet, who had instinctively braced herself at the mention of a “serious” problem, blinked in mild disbelief at Siana’s declaration.
“I believe Rodwell-sama would be pleased with whatever you choose to wear, Ojou-sama.”
“I think so too… But it’s exactly because Lux-kun is so kind that I want to wear something that will truly make him happy!”
Siana said this with such conviction that even Violet, initially skeptical, nodded in agreement.
“…Then, do you mean to ask Rodwell-sama directly about his clothing preferences?”
“If I did that, it would ruin everything! That’d be like a magician revealing their tricks before the performance. No. I’m leaving that task to you.”
“…To me?”
Violet looked puzzled, but Siana nodded firmly and explained.
“Next time Lux-kun comes to the royal castle, I want you to ask him what kind of women’s fashion he likes. I could ask as Felisiana, but if Felisiana starts bringing up unrelated topics, it could interfere with how our relationship progresses. The signal will be when I excuse myself from the room.”
It was a sudden and strange request, but Violet had long since grown used to Siana’s impulsive schemes. Without missing a beat, she nodded as always.
“Understood.”
“I’m counting on you.”
And with that, the two began drafting their plan, to bring Lux and Felisiana closer during his upcoming visit to the royal castle.
Violet’s Side
For a while, Siana and Violet worked together on plans to deepen the bond between Lux and Felisiana at the royal castle. But when Siana left to attend to her duties as a maid, Violet remained in the room as instructed.
“…So the mission is to find out Rodwell-sama’s fashion preferences, is it?”
As she murmured this to herself, Lux’s words suddenly came back to her.
“I’d love to talk more with Violet-san as well!”
Words he’d said to Siana during the Royal Exchange.
“Even if it’s just a mission, I’m going to have the chance to speak with Rodwell-sama… I wonder, would he be happy to talk with someone like me?”
The moment she voiced the thought, Violet caught herself.
“N-No, that’s not it… This is purely about the mission. Whether Rodwell-sama is happy to speak with me or not, it doesn’t concern me. Besides, even if Rodwell-sama says he wants to talk to me, it’s not really ‘me’ he’s referring to… I mustn’t let these thoughts distract me. This is a mission, nothing more.”
Alone in Siana’s room, Violet quietly and resolutely reaffirmed that truth to herself.