The Same Person
In response to Elizalina, who had said something that could easily be taken as a warning, Siana replied.
“There’s no need for such warnings. I assure you, I have no intention of getting in the way of your romance, Elizalina-neesama, so please don’t worry.”
Hearing Siana’s words, Elizalina stopped staring blankly. Her eyes lit up again as she smiled and spoke.
“I thought so~! I figured you might at least try to sniff around about me using Violet or something, even if not outright interfere, but I guess I jumped to conclusions~”
“Yes, it was a bit of a hasty assumption on your part, Elizalina-neesama.”
Siana replied without a trace of agitation. Her response was so composed that it truly seemed like Elizalina had simply misunderstood.
Then, with a calm demeanor, Elizalina continued.
“I’ll keep mediating for the country’s sake, just like always, so you don’t have to worry, or is that another one of my hasty assumptions?”
“…No, I haven’t been concerned about that at all.”
“Ahaha~! I thought so~”
Watching Elizalina laugh in front of her, Siana felt, yet again, that she could not afford to let her guard down.
Elizalina’s insight ran deep. It felt as though she could see straight into her heart.
Just as Siana was silently reevaluating Elizalina’s sharpness more highly than ever before, Elizalina spoke up again, as if something had just occurred to her.
“Ah! Hey, hey, Felisiana, do we still have the noble academy’s records in the archive?”
“…I believe we do, but why are you interested in those records?”
Elizalina had just claimed she wasn’t going to interfere in Siana’s love life, but what if that was a lie and she already saw through her relationship with Lux? What if she was trying to dig up something about Lux through the noble academy’s records? If that were the case, Siana would need to act quickly. With those thoughts in mind, she asked, but Elizalina’s answer was completely different from what Siana expected.
“You know, the royal exchange at the noble academy. You went for the entrance ceremony and the first exchange meeting, but if you go three times in a row, it’s going to make me and our older sister look bad, right? But our sister’s still caught up with contracts and dealings with foreign powers, like always, so I was thinking maybe I should go next time… And if I’m going, I figured I should be informed.”
…The royal exchange was one of the few precious opportunities where Siana, as Felisiana, could meet Lux.
She didn’t want to give them up if she could help it. However, if she insisted on going again and denied Elizalina’s suggestion, it would undoubtedly make Siana’s behavior seem suspicious in Elizalina’s eyes.
She might start to think Siana was fixated on the noble academy, and then wonder why. Could it be that the person Siana once said she wanted to marry was someone at the academy?
If it came to that, Siana’s future plans would certainly suffer. Weighing all of that in her mind, Siana nodded and replied.
“I see. That does sound like a very wise decision.”
“Thanks~! Still… Felisiana, you’re so quiet today. Last time we met, you were terrifying.”
“That’s because last time, you said something that sounded like you might harm the man I love. I had to respond appropriately. But at the end of the day, I’m still your little sister, Elizalina-neesama.”
“Then, what if I were to say something similar again?”
“In that case…”
Like Elizalina earlier, Siana spoke with hollow eyes.
“As I said before, I won’t show mercy.”
“Scary~! But honestly, if someone were about to hurt him, I think I’d feel the same way. Either way, if it comes to that, it’s going to turn into a civil war between the Second and Third Princesses~! Ugh, all my work to maintain peace in this country would go to waste~!”
“That doesn’t matter. As long as he’s safe, I’m satisfied.”
“Before, I used to think it was foolish to be so attached to one man when there are so many out there…”
Elizalina, now mirroring Siana’s hollow expression, said softly.
“But now I feel the same. As long as he’s with me, I couldn’t care less about the country.”
“How rare for us to agree on something.”
“Isn’t it?”
After staring at each other in silence for a while, the two sisters let their empty expressions fade. Then Siana spoke.
“Well then, Elizalina-neesama, I’ll be taking my leave now.”
“Okay~! Me too~! See you later, Felisiana, Violet~!”
As Elizalina said that, Siana and Violet both bowed their heads to her. Elizalina began walking away, but halfway through, she turned back and addressed Siana.
“Oh right, Felisiana. I’ll keep quiet about you bringing a man into the royal castle, so just play along if it comes up, okay?”
“…Understood.”
Hearing that reply from Siana, Elizalina gave her a smile and this time truly walked off.
“…I really thought I’d done everything I could to keep that from getting out that day, but I guess, as long as it’s the royal castle, there’s only so much a Third Princess like me can do.”
“That may be true. Still, the Second Princess-sama’s intellect and insight are not to be underestimated.”
“Exactly… For now, it really does seem like Elizalina-neesama has no intention of interfering in my love life, but if she changes her mind and decides to do something to Lux-kun, I’d better prepare countermeasures just in case.”
“Understood.”
After that, Siana and Violet boarded a carriage headed for the Rodwell family estate.
At that time, neither the Second Princess Elizalina nor the Third Princess Felisiana had any idea that the one they each held dear… was the same person.