Resonance
“A-Are you really okay with this?”
As Floria was thinking that, the man who had stolen Lux’s wallet asked Lux in a flustered voice.
In response, Lux spoke with a very gentle smile.
“Yes, please feel free to use it… It’s not an especially large sum, but I don’t think it’s small either. If the five of you talk it over, I believe you could start up a business again.”
“…! Are you saying you’re giving us… another chance?”
“I don’t mean to sound like I’m looking down on you by saying that I’m giving you a chance. But if you failed in business, that must mean there was something you wanted to do, right? In that case, I just felt this might be some kind of fate, and I wanted to do what I could. Also, if I have money and there are people struggling right in front of me, I don’t want to turn a blind eye.”
Hearing Lux speak in that gentle tone, the man who had stolen his wallet bowed his head and said,
“I’m sorry for stealing from you! And thank you! I swear on my life I’ll never do something like this again. I’ll earn money through honest business and come repay the favor!”
“Me too!”
“Same here!”
“Me as well!”
Then, as if encouraged by that, the other three men also raised their voices and bowed. After a short pause, the final man followed suit, bowing as he spoke in agreement.
“N-No, there’s no need to repay me or anything…”
“Right… Tell us your name, please!”
If the man still had any ill intent, Floria had planned to tell Lux not to share his name. But from what she could see, he no longer seemed like someone who would do anything wrong, so she remained silent, and Lux spoke.
“My name is Lux Rodwell… Ah, I did tell you my name, but really, you don’t have to worry about repaying me.”
“Alright, guys! To repay Rodwell-san’s kindness, we’re going to make it work this time for sure!”
“YEAHHHH!!”
“Uh, um… okay…”
Lux looked troubled by the men’s loud enthusiasm, but the one who had stolen his wallet spoke up again.
“Rodwell-san! We want to start our new business right away, so we’ll head out for today! We’ll definitely come find you again someday, and when we do, let us treat you to something really expensive!”
“S-Something expensive!? No, really, that’s not…”
“Thank you so much for everything today!!”
With those words, the man who had stolen Lux’s wallet bowed deeply, and the five of them left.
“S-Something expensive… W-What should I do…”
Seeing Lux worrying for such an adorably sincere reason, Floria gave a gentle smile and said,
“Fufu, I think it’s fine to just accept it. They truly want to repay Lux-sama’s kindness from the heart.”
“I didn’t mean to put them in my debt or anything. But if that day ever comes, then, just as you said, Florence-san, I’ll take it as a sign of fate and accept it.”
“Yes, I think that would be just right.”
After that, as they made their way back to the mansion where they were staying, Lux and Floria enjoyed walking down the main street. But then, Floria came to a stop and said,
“Forgive me, Lux-sama… Would you mind waiting for me for a little while inside that shop over there?”
“Eh? Yes, of course, I don’t mind. Are you going somewhere?”
“Yes, but it will truly only be for a short while, so please don’t worry.”
“Got it! That shop looks like it sells flowers and such, so I’ll take a look and see if there are any that might suit the garden at my mansion!”
“That sounds lovely. I would be happy to help Lux-sama look for them afterward as well.”
“Yes! I’d really appreciate that!”
After that exchange, Floria parted from Lux and hurried after the five men from earlier.
Fortunately, it seems four of them responded to Lux-sama’s kindness and truly changed their ways. But… there was one who still seemed a little suspicious.
Questioning people, doubting them.
Those are things Lux, who doesn’t know how to doubt others, cannot do.
But Floria believes that is perfectly fine. In order to protect Lux’s pure heart, she would be the one to cover for the part of him that is both his charm and his vulnerability.
Siana is probably thinking something similar, but her method is vastly different from Floria’s.
Floria could never accept Siana’s approach, which is built on the assumption of taking lives in order to protect Lux.
“By doing the things Lux-sama cannot do, I will protect his purity. Third Princess, your methods are not fitting for someone who wishes to remain by Lux-sama’s side. I will prove that by protecting Lux-sama in the proper way.”