Bonds
Siana’s Side
When Siana saw Lux stroking Floria’s head just as she had asked, her eyes instantly brimmed with murderous intent, and her hand moved to the hilt of her sword.
She knows I can’t act forcefully because I’m a maid right now… Maybe it would be better to just cut this woman down right this instant.
Just as she was about to draw her sword from its sheath, she managed to restrain herself and let go of the weapon.
Calm down, me… I can’t cause a scene in public like this, especially not right in front of Lux-kun.
Regaining her composure, Siana addressed Lux, who was still stroking Floria’s head, all while maintaining the appearance of being merely his attendant.
“Master! If we remain here like this by the roadside, we may start to draw attention, so I believe it would be best to proceed to our destination soon!”
“Ah, yeah, you’re right.”
When Siana said that, Lux responded with a slightly flustered tone and pulled his hand away from Floria’s head.
Then, Lux gently asked Floria,
“Florence-san, was that good enough for you…?”
“Yes, thank you very much… It was extremely soothing. I felt as though I had just experienced true bliss.”
Floria responded with a very peaceful expression and a joyful voice.
His hand touched that woman… Honestly, I want to wash it clean right now, but I can’t act strangely here, so I have no choice but to endure.
“W-Well then, shall we get going?”
“Yes.”
“…Understood!”
As Lux said that, Siana and Floria replied in unison, and the three of them headed together to the pancake shop. Along the way, Siana devoted every ounce of her focus to suppressing her murderous intent toward Floria.
Lux’s Side
After the three of us arrived at the pancake shop and took our seats, we ordered pancakes and tea. After a short wait, our pancakes and tea arrived.
“They look absolutely delicious!”
“Yes!”
“Indeed, they look very appetizing.”
“Let’s dig in right away!”
And so, the three of us each took our first bite of pancake almost at the same time. The pancakes were topped with butter and maple syrup, wonderfully sweet, and the batter was excellent. Since they were freshly made, the insides were incredibly fluffy.
“I’ve never had pancakes this delicious before!”
“Same here!”
“Just as the rumors said, they’re exquisite.”
Then, we took a sip of the tea in our cups. The tea had a rich depth and left a pleasant aftertaste. It was very tasty.
“The tea is delicious too.”
“Indeed, it seems they’re using very fine tea leaves.”
“Everything here is of such high quality. You can really feel that this is the economic capital of the nation. It’s wonderful!”
“You’re right, Siana… If either you or Florence-san brewed this tea, I feel like it might become even more delicious.”
“…!”
“…!”
Also, Violet-san… Speaking of which, it’s been a while since I’ve seen her, so I’d really like to see her again. Just as I was thinking that, I reflected on what I had just said and immediately followed up.
“S-Sorry! That was a rude thing to say to the staff here. Of course, the tea brewed by the people at this shop is also very delicious! I just thought, somehow, that it might taste even better if you two made it…”
“There’s no need to apologize or explain, Lux-sama. I understood exactly what you meant… And being told that by you makes me truly happy.”
“Me too! Master, next time I’ll be sure to brew tea for you using these tea leaves!”
“I will also brew it for you, so when the time comes, please feel free to drink as much of my tea as you’d like.”
“Siana, Florence-san… Thank you both so much!”
I thanked them while feeling deeply moved to have such kind women close by. Traveling to a foreign country with the two of them made me feel as though our bond had grown even stronger.
We’re going home tomorrow… Fun times really do pass in the blink of an eye. But I’m genuinely happy to have felt even more connected to the two of them than ever before, and the three of us continued enjoying our pancakes and tea together in high spirits.
Elizalina’s Side
The only one of the three princesses who had been ordered to stay behind in her homeland, Elizalina, was lying on her bed in her room, clutching a pillow as she muttered.
“Seriously, Felisiana really went all out. She used the daughter of the Florence family to lure Lux away under the pretense of a trip abroad, just to keep me from seeing him. But that scheme is about to end. According to the intel I gathered, Lux should be returning tomorrow. I can’t wait to see him. Lux… Lux… I love you so much. Aaah, I wish tomorrow would come faster!”
After that, Elizalina remained on her bed for a while, her head filled completely with thoughts of Lux.