Chapter 85: Barrier to Love
…After releasing me from her embrace, Elizalina-sama placed her hand on the doorknob and spoke.
“I had a great time talking with you, Lux… I really wanted to talk more, but since this is the Royal Exchange, I should head back to the venue soon.”
When Elizalina-sama said that, I quickly got down from my chair, stood up, turned to face her, and bowed as I spoke.
“Yes! Elizalina-sama, it was truly a pleasure speaking with you today. Thank you very much!”
“Same here, Lux… See you again.”
Her words made me so happy that I instinctively looked up. Elizalina-sama met my gaze and smiled warmly before leaving the room.
“That person… is this country’s Second Princess, Elizalina-sama…”
She was incredibly easy to talk to, but at the same time, she possessed the dignity of royalty and the insight and communication skills needed to mediate for the country.
She’s the Second Princess, and… Felisiana-sama’s elder sister.
Their atmospheres were completely different, but both Felisiana-sama and Elizalina-sama had their own distinct kind of dignity.
“…They were both truly kind people.”
With those two serving as princesses, I was certain the future of this country would head in a very positive direction.
But we couldn’t leave everything to the royals. I had to do my part as a noble too… and to do that, I needed to work even harder.
“…I wonder what kind of person the First Princess is.”
Having spoken directly with the Third Princess, Felisiana-sama, and the Second Princess, Elizalina-sama, that question naturally came to mind.
If I remembered right, she was supposed to be very mature and dignified, highly educated, skilled in swordsmanship, and even involved in both economic flow and international diplomacy. Just having the chance to speak with Felisiana-sama and Elizalina-sama felt like a miracle. I didn’t know if I’d ever get to speak with the First Princess, but I was really looking forward to the day I might.
Elizalina’s Side
As she walked down the corridor from the private room where Lux had been to the ballroom where the Royal Exchange was taking place.
Ahh, why does just a short conversation with Lux leave me feeling so happy? He said so many sweet things… Truly, that kind, cool, and adorable Lux should never get caught up in anything strange. I need to devote myself even more seriously to my role as mediator from now on.
As she recalled her conversation with Lux, Elizalina’s heart brimmed with joy… but at the same time, another thought entered her mind.
…Still, to think there’s a girl among the royal affiliates who would bring Lux into a private room.
Lux hadn’t said he was brought in, but knowing his personality, it was hard to imagine him inviting someone to a private room in the middle of the Royal Exchange. On the other hand, if he had been invited, it was easy to believe he wouldn’t have refused. Judging by how he had acted earlier, Elizalina was convinced that Lux hadn’t invited the girl, but had been invited by her.
For someone like Lux, who can’t keep secrets, to be told to stay silent must mean she really doesn’t want her identity revealed. I probably could have pressed Lux and gotten her name, but that would only make him blame himself. I’m not going to do that. I’ll find out myself who this royal affiliate was that invited Lux to a private room.
Since she was seriously thinking about a future with Lux, Elizalina was already prepared for obstacles to love to appear.
I will never let Lux be led astray by some unknown woman. I’ll be the one to make him happy, and I’ll find happiness with him too.
With that thought firm in her heart, Elizalina decided that once today’s Royal Exchange was over, she would immediately begin narrowing down the royal affiliates who might have had contact with Lux.
Violet’s Side
While talking with Lux, Violet sensed someone approaching their private room from the hallway and immediately used the escape route she had prepared in advance to slip out.
She had chosen that room specifically because her prior research had confirmed it included an escape route.
She had originally planned to stay a little longer and eavesdrop on the conversation between Lux and the unknown person approaching, but she reconsidered. There was too great a risk that her presence might be detected.
“I wonder if Rodwell-sama is keeping my presence a secret.”
Of course, it wasn’t that she thought Lux would go back on his word.
But knowing his personality, it was easy to understand that he wasn’t good at keeping secrets, which was why she voiced that concern.
“It was my mistake to put Rodwell-sama in a situation where he had to keep something hidden. Even if he couldn’t keep my presence secret, I have no right to blame him. If it becomes too much of a burden for him, it might be better for everything to come to light.”
Violet set aside her current concerns for now and instead reflected on the time she had just spent with Lux.
“He said my tea was his favorite, and once again, he said that someone like me was beautiful… The way he drank my tea so happily made me want to serve it to him every day. I want to hear him call me beautiful more often. I want to be wanted by him… How am I supposed to reconcile those feelings with the ones I have for Ojou-sama, and with my desire for her to find happiness with Rodwell-sama?”
Since the day she met Lux, new questions had constantly been rising in her mind… but because she had fallen in love with him, even that confusion felt like something truly joyful.
Lux’s Side
Not long after Elizalina-sama left the room, I found myself rushing down the hallway toward the ballroom where the Royal Exchange was taking place.
I had suddenly remembered a promise I’d made, one I had completely forgotten while talking with Violet-san and Elizalina-sama.
That promise… was to meet Florence-san on the second floor of the ballroom twenty minutes later.
How much time had passed since then? I had spoken with Violet-san, then with Elizalina-sama. I wasn’t sure of the exact time, but right now, all I could do was hurry to the second floor as fast as possible.
Carrying the weight of my guilt, I picked up my pace and headed for the second floor.