Heart
Lux’s Side
“There were so many amazing things, weren’t there?”
“Yes! There were so many things that looked like they’d make the mansion even more beautiful!”
“Yeah.”
After browsing through the decoration shops, Siana and I were casually walking near the outskirts of town, talking about our impressions.
…It’s about time I gave Siana the clothes I got her as a gift.
Having made that decision, I suggested something to Siana.
“Siana, do you want to go to a spot with a nice view of the town?”
“Understood!… M-Master.”
Siana immediately nodded at my suggestion, but when she addressed me, she fell silent with a slightly embarrassed expression.
“Siana? Is something wrong?”
When I asked, Siana responded.
“Um… back at the decoration shop, there was something that caught my eye for a moment. May I go back to check it again?”
“Ah, if that’s the case, I’ll come with you.”
“N-No! It’ll only take a moment, so please wait here, Master!”
“O-Oh? If that’s how it is… okay, I’ll wait here.”
“Thank you very much!”
Saying that, Siana quickly walked back toward the town.
I decided to pass the time until Siana returned by looking at the many flowers blooming here on the outskirts.
Siana’s Side
Once she arrived at a spot out of Lux’s line of sight from the outskirts, Siana murmured a single word.
“Violet.”
As soon as she spoke the name, Violet appeared before her, wearing a black hood.
“Yes, Ojou-sama… For you to summon me during your rare outing together, even interrupting it, does that mean something urgent has happened? From what I’ve observed, there doesn’t seem to be any danger around Rodwell-sama…”
Violet, considering the possibility that she may have been at fault, spoke in a somber tone.
To the worried Violet, Siana spoke.
“It’s not dangerous, but it’s definitely urgent.”
“…What exactly is it about?”
When Violet asked, Siana said,
“I-I really want to try holding Lux-kun’s hand. But if I just suddenly say that, I don’t know how he’ll take it, so I want you to think of a way I can naturally hold hands with him right now.”
Violet, who had been worried she might be responsible for something serious, found herself utterly taken aback by Siana’s request.
Then, with a look of exasperation, she said,
“I think you could just take his hand. Rodwell-sama would surely accept it.”
“W-Wait a minute! Can’t you take this a little more seriously?!”
“I am being completely serious.”
“Violeeet!!”
After that, Siana and Violet bickered for a short while.
Floria’s Side
Floria was in a ten-on-one fight, but those ten, seemingly following orders from a woman in a pink hood, didn’t strike her with lethal force. It seemed they were trying to subdue her without causing pain.
And since they weren’t going for lethal attacks, even against ten opponents, Floria’s skill with her rapier allowed her to manage. Ignoring her usual instinct to avoid inflicting fatal wounds, she focused solely on draining their stamina and staying unharmed herself.
That said, stamina was wearing down not only for the ten opponents but for Floria as well. Up to this point, she had avoided taking any hits, but it wouldn’t be surprising if that soon changed.
As she was thinking that, the woman in the pink hood came out of the building where three male students had been and returned to Floria’s side, then spoke.
“Wow… Even if no one’s trying to kill you, to face ten people and stay completely unharmed? That’s pretty impressive.”
Floria heard the words, but instead of responding to the compliment, she pointed out the unsettling fact that the pink-hooded woman had returned from the building as if nothing had happened.
“If you’ve come out… then those three inside must be…”
“Yeah, I took care of them.”
“…Do you understand what it is you’ve done?”
“I do… Though I’m not sure you’d understand, sometimes things need to be dealt with.”
“I understand there are times when such actions may be necessary… However, this wasn’t one of them. They were already powerless, unable to act on any further intent. They should have been judged instead.”
When Floria said that, the pink-hooded woman replied with heavy words.
“Power grows over time, and so does the desire for revenge. I’ve seen many people fall into ugly conflicts that way, which is why I understand.”
“…Just who are you…”
“There’s nothing left for me here, so, goodbye.”
As Floria tried once more to question her identity, the pink-hooded woman and the ten armored individuals vanished from the scene.
“I…”
Floria, overwhelmed by her own powerlessness, began walking aimlessly.
…She didn’t even know how far she had walked, but when she looked down as she walked, she saw flowers blooming there.
“…Even at times like this, just seeing flowers really does calm the heart.”
Floria murmured with a small smile.
What I want now is someone who can lift the darkness from my heart. If only Lux-sama would appear before me.
Floria sighed at herself for entertaining such a delusion… but then,
A voice came from nearby.
“Huh… Florence-san?”
Lux-sama’s voice… If I’m hearing hallucinations now, I must be even more mentally worn down than I thought.
“I never imagined I’d run into you out here in the outskirts, Floria-san.”
Even as she thought that, Lux’s voice drew nearer… and soon, it was coming from right beside her.
“Um, Floria-san…? Is something wrong?”
Lux’s worried voice called out, but Floria gave no response. Even though she was sure it was only a hallucination, she turned toward the voice. And there, standing in front of her, was Lux.
No, maybe this too is an illusion… But even if it is, I…!
Floria gently embraced Lux, whose figure had entered her field of vision.
“F-Florence-san…!?”
When she felt Lux’s touch and clearly heard his surprised voice, Floria realized it wasn’t a hallucination. Lux was truly there before her. Smiling with joy, she said,
“Lux-sama, you truly are… someone who always fills my heart with happiness.”
“Huh…?”
Lux had no idea what was going on, but even that confusion made him all the more endearing, and Floria gently held him for a little while longer.