Chapter 86: Apology
…When I arrived on the second floor of the ballroom, I saw Florence-san standing alone near the staircase.
I quickly made my way over to her, bowed my head deeply, and spoke in a loud voice.
“I’m so sorry, Florence-san!”
When I said that, Florence-san responded in a gentle voice.
“It’s only a slight delay. I’m not concerned at all, so please raise your head, Lux-sama.”
Grateful for her kindness, I lifted my head.
Florence-san really was an incredibly kind person.
But… if it was just a “slight” delay, maybe not as much time had passed as I thought?
Thinking that, I glanced at the ornate clock in the ballroom… and saw that about forty minutes had passed since the Royal Exchange had begun.
We had made that promise right at the start of the Royal Exchange, so…
“Twenty minutes…!?”
Realizing I had kept her waiting for a full twenty minutes, I bowed my head again and apologized.
“I’m really sorry!”
“As I said, I don’t mind such a small thing at all, so please don’t worry about it, Lux-sama.”
As she said that, I raised my head and replied.
“Even so! I won’t feel right unless I do something to make it up to you. Could I please apologize in some other way?”
“An apology, you say… but nothing comes to mind in particular…”
As she began to say that, Florence-san paused for a moment.
Then she spoke again.
“…For this apology, would anything at all truly be acceptable?”
“Yes! If it’s something I can do, then anything is fine!”
When I said that, Florence-san replied.
“In that case… on a holiday, would you be willing to go out into town with me, just the two of us?”
“I-Is that really all you want?”
“Yes. To me, there’s nothing I would want more.”
I wondered whether something like that could really count as an apology. Or rather, going out with Florence-san was something I’d genuinely look forward to, so I couldn’t help but question whether it even qualified as atonement. But since Florence-san herself said that’s what she wanted, I couldn’t bring myself to refuse.
“Understood. If that’s what you want, Florence-san, then I’ll count that as my apology.”
“Thank you very much.”
Florence-san smiled warmly, then turned her gaze toward the first floor and spoke.
“Please look, Lux-sama… There are people here enjoying conversation, others enjoying food, and some enjoying music or dancing.”
I followed her gaze toward the first floor.
“Yes… It feels cheerful and lively. I really like it.”
“I feel the same. This bright atmosphere suits you so well, Lux-sama. And seeing you enjoying yourself in a place like this, I want to keep watching over you like that from now on.”
“…From now on?”
“Yes… Though it hasn’t happened yet, I mean as Lux-sama’s fiancée… and eventually, as Lux-sama’s wife.”
“W-Wife…!?”
When that word came out of Florence-san’s mouth, I instinctively took a step back and raised my voice. But she smiled and stepped closer as she spoke.
“Yes. If we become engaged, I will be Lux-sama’s wife someday, and Lux-sama will be my husband.”
“Th-That’s true, but… I-I don’t think I can get engaged to you, Florence-san!”
“If there’s anything about me that you’re dissatisfied with, please don’t hesitate to tell me.”
“Th-There’s nothing about you I’m dissatisfied with! If anything, I’m the one who’s still lacking in so many ways… But even setting that aside, if I got engaged to you, Florence-san, wouldn’t that mean I’d have to inherit the Duke Florence Household in the future?”
“That’s correct.”
“I’m still struggling just to prepare myself to become the lord of a count house, and now you’re talking about a duke house… the Duke Florence Household, no less…”
“Whatever are you saying? Someone like you, Lux-sama, could even become king…”
As she said that, Florence-san suddenly stopped herself.
After a short pause, she continued.
“I believe that you, Lux-sama, could easily serve as the head of the Duke Florence Household.”
That moment of hesitation lingered in my mind, but I quickly responded to her words.
“E-Easily is absolutely impossible!”
“Fufu. It’s only been two months since you enrolled in the noble academy. I can hardly wait for the day we’re engaged, Lux-sama.”
“F-Florence-san! That’s embarrassing…!”
My father told me to find someone to get engaged to during my time at the noble academy, so I knew I had to find someone I truly wanted to marry.
I knew I had to… but even before worrying about titles or my own shortcomings, just talking about things like that with a girl, or entering that kind of relationship, was already too embarrassing…!
As I thought about that, I spent the rest of the Second Royal Exchange chatting idly with Florence-san.
Siana’s Side
After the Second Royal Exchange ended and Lux returned home, Siana immediately came out to greet him.
“Welcome home, Master!”
“I’m back, Siana.”
“How was the Royal Exchange today?”
If any woman had gotten close to Lux, or if there had been any threat to his safety, Siana would need to take action.
She asked the question to gather that information, but Lux, completely unaware of her intent, replied with his usual gentle voice and expression.
“It was a lot of fun. I got to speak with Violet-san, the maid of the Third Princess Felisiana-sama.”
So Violet, you were able to spend time with Lux-kun. I’m curious about how close you two became, but for now, listening to Lux-kun is the priority.
Siana continued to listen attentively to Lux’s story.
“And I talked a lot with Florence-san too.”
That woman again, always clinging to Lux-kun. It’s infuriating, but knowing her, she probably didn’t do anything that would bother Lux-kun, so I don’t need to dwell on it.
Then Lux said something that made Siana question her own ears.
“All of that happened at the Royal Exchange, but what left the strongest impression on me was getting to talk one-on-one with the Second Princess, Elizalina-sama.”
Hearing that, Siana’s eyes widened in shock.