Chapter 110: Eyes
When the pale-faced, overweight man fell silent, Siana spoke in the same emotionless voice as before.
“A wise decision. Then let’s begin. You will now answer the questions I ask… Of course, I have no intention of wasting time on meaningless exchanges. If you wish to prolong your life even slightly, then answer truthfully and without deception.”
After Siana gave that warning, the overweight man nodded, his face still pale.
Then, Siana continued.
“Now let me ask you this. Why did you approach me?”
If he had spoken to her after realizing she was actually the Third Princess Feliciana, then Siana needed to know how he had learned her identity, or if he had approached her while knowing it, then for what purpose. Even though she felt the chances of her identity being seen through were slim, she asked just in case.
In response, the overweight man answered.
“Because I thought you were a fine woman.”
Although she realized her identity had not been exposed, the answer was disappointing enough to cause Siana to feel let down.
“Hey, why’s someone like you working as that brat’s maid? If you don’t have any other place to work, I’ll pay you as much as you want… Hiiek!”
Hearing that, Siana pulled her sword away from the man’s neck with vacant eyes and was about to swing it down toward another, non-lethal part of his body, but Violet stepped in, blocking Siana’s sword with her dagger and spoke.
“Ojou-sama, please remain calm. That area may not be lethal, but the excessive pain might send him into shock and cause him to lose consciousness. If this were the usual situation, that might still be acceptable. But right now, we must return to Rodwell-sama as quickly as possible. So, if you must take action, please do so at his neck.”
“…”
Persuaded by Violet’s words, Siana stopped her downward swing and instead placed the sword back at the overweight man’s neck as she spoke.
“I believe I already told you that if you opened your mouth without my permission again, I would take your life.”
Seeing the look in her eyes, the overweight man truly believed his life was about to end and opened his mouth in hopes of increasing the chances of surviving, even slightly.
“W-Wait! I’m a member of a Duke household, you know! That means I have a certain degree of freedom around this area… So, come on, let’s talk about this. I can—”
“I don’t care about that foolish talk. There’s only one more thing I want to ask you.”
As Siana said this, the overweight man waited for her next words.
Then, Siana immediately asked.
“Why did you attack him?”
“…Because he was in my way.”
After the overweight man gave his answer, Siana asked her next question without pause.
“Even though he clearly had more combat ability than you and showed no intention of resisting, how could you bring yourself to attack someone like that so one-sidedly?”
“Hah? He didn’t fight back because he knew I’m a noble from a Duke household. It’s just plain self-preservation, nothing more.”
“I see. So, you couldn’t even recognize his kindness for what it was.”
At the end of that exchange, Siana murmured with complete indifference.
At that point, there was no disappointment or disgust left in her. She was truly devoid of emotion.
Next, Siana turned to speak to Violet.
“Hey, Violet… If that woman had been here, would she have tried to stop what we’re about to do?”
That woman… Would Floria Florence have tried to stop Siana and Violet?
When asked that, Violet nodded and gave her answer.
“I believe she would have. Because this is not the course of action that Rodwell-sama would have desired.”
“Someone who cannot even recognize Lux-kun’s kindness and continues to attack him one-sidedly… What meaning is there in allowing such a person to live?”
“For Florence-sama, what takes priority above life itself is preserving the form of action that Rodwell-sama would wish for.”
“I really can’t understand that kind of thinking… If she tries to apply Lux-kun’s gentle values even to villains, then she won’t even be able to protect Lux-kun from them in the first place. Lux-kun doesn’t have the mindset to deal with evil at all… If she keeps doing things her way, she’ll never be able to truly protect Lux-kun.”
After declaring this, Siana once again turned her gaze toward the overweight man.
“I’ve heard enough… Do you have any last words?”
“L-Last words…? W-wait, yeah, right. You can have money, land, food, anything you want—”
Siana cut down the overweight man as he begged for his life.
“Pathetic until the very end. Violet, take care of the cleanup.”
“As you command, Ojou-sama.”
The procedures in a foreign country differed slightly from those in their homeland, but Violet had been prepared in advance for this sort of situation. She responded without the slightest hesitation.
“Then, I’ll return to Lux-kun now.”
“Yes, Ojou-sama. I will head over immediately after the cleanup is complete.”
“Alright.”
After that exchange, Siana immediately left the alleyway and made her way toward the accessory shop where Lux was waiting.
Florence, there are fools in this world who can’t even recognize Lux-kun’s kindness… If you choose to show mercy to such fools and spare their lives, then you’re valuing their lives more than Lux-kun’s… Can you really say you love Lux-kun if that’s the case? Sooner or later, I’ll have to settle things with you.
Even as she sensed that a confrontation with Floria was inevitable, Siana’s mind quickly moved on to other thoughts.
Lux-kun… You’re so kind… You didn’t even get angry at that fool, and you protected me while still thinking about the store… Lux-kun, from now on, I’ll always be by your side, protecting you.
As she thought about Lux, Siana’s once-vacant eyes had returned to normal, and just like that, she walked back toward the accessory shop where Lux was.