Unexpected
Elizalina’s Side
The moment Elizalina opened the door to the private room and saw Lux inside, she had the overwhelming urge to shout, “Lux~!!” But as Second Princess Elizalina-sama, this was supposed to be her first meeting with Lux. If she acted like that, it would create contradictions. So she held back her excitement.
Lux is totally frozen with that surprised look on his face. So cute! Well, of course he’d react like that. From his perspective, the Second Princess just showed up out of nowhere. Still, I have a few things I need to ask him, and he’s going to have to give me proper answers. I can’t let anything I did as Elina show, not even a hint. I have to carry myself only as the Second Princess.
With that determination in her heart, Elizalina stepped toward Lux. But then, without meaning to, she stopped walking.
A woman’s perfume?
“…”
The joy she had just felt at finally meeting Lux quickly faded. But with the small amount of composure she still had, she kept her feelings in check so they wouldn’t show on her face. Lux was watching her now.
Lux’s Side
As my thoughts ground to a halt, Elizalina-sama walked toward me. After one step, she paused and looked directly at me.
R-Right! Felisiana-sama had been so kind that I’d let my guard down, but Elizalina-sama is royalty. It’s incredibly rude to stay seated while a royal is standing.
I quickly got out of the chair and addressed her.
“Please forgive me! I didn’t realize how disrespectful it was for me to remain seated while you, Elizalina-sama, are standing!”
As I apologized with all sincerity, Elizalina-sama replied,
“…No, you don’t need to worry about that. Please lift your head and sit back down. I’ll sit in the chair beside you.”
Huh…?
Elizalina-sama and I, sitting across from each other at a table…?
I still couldn’t quite process what was happening, but I did as she asked and sat back down across from her.
“Hey, Lux.”
“Y-Yes!”
I wondered how she knew my name, but considering her role in national mediation, it wasn’t strange for her to know someone like me. I quickly answered, and Elizalina-sama looked into my eyes and asked,
“Was there anyone else in this room with you before I arrived?”
…Now that I was looking her in the eyes, I could tell. Unlike Felisiana-sama, she didn’t give off any sort of intimidation through her tone or manner. Yet just by meeting her gaze, I felt something I couldn’t quite describe. I could tell she was royalty.
And now she was asking whether someone else had been here.
Violet-san had asked me to keep her presence here a secret.
“Um…”
What should I do…? If I just said someone had been here, that wouldn’t reveal it was Violet-san. Would that be alright?
Or would it be better not to mention anyone at all? But what if Elizalina-sama was asking because she already had proof someone else had been here…
“It’s alright. Even if you don’t answer, I’ve already figured out most of it.”
“…Huh?”
“Someone besides you was here, and that person asked you not to tell anyone. That’s what happened, right?”
H-How can she be that accurate even though I haven’t said anything…?
“See? You’ve got that exact look. Like someone who’s just been completely exposed.”
“…!”
“I could pressure you for the name and remind you that lying to the Second Princess is a punishable offense. But doing that would put a lot of stress on you, so I’ll let it go. Pretty kind of me, right?”
…She hadn’t only seen through what I was thinking. She’d read my emotional state, too.
This must be the insight and conversation skill that make her able to mediate for an entire country.
She really was amazing… but still.
“I don’t think Elizalina-sama being kind is surprising at all. I believe that without kindness, you wouldn’t be able to mediate a nation’s affairs, even if it were your job.”
“…!”
When I said that, Elizalina-sama’s eyes widened.
“So… that’s really how you see me…”
Then, just for a moment, she blushed slightly and pursed her lips. After a short pause, she gave a small shake of her head, then spoke again in a calm voice and expression.
“Still… being alone with someone of the opposite sex in a private room during a formal event like the Royal Exchange doesn’t sound very proper, does it? So, what exactly were you doing here with that girl?”