The One Line
…She spoke alone with Elizalina-nee-sama? At an event like the Royal Exchange, being alone together wouldn’t happen unless someone deliberately arranged it. Just like I invited Lux-kun to the second floor, or like Violet, who somehow created the opportunity to be alone with him, even if I don’t know the exact details. No matter the method, they couldn’t have ended up alone without someone setting it up intentionally.
“…”
Siana decided to listen even more carefully to whatever Lux said next.
“What kind of conversation did you have with Elizalina-sama?”
When Siana asked Lux that question, he answered in the same gentle tone as always.
“Let’s see… what kind of conversation, huh? It wasn’t anything too special… I just talked with her and realized that Elizalina-sama is a kind person. That made me happy.”
Elizalina-nee-sama is kind…?
The Elizalina Siana knew was someone who manipulated her speech, expressions, and gestures with precision to guide people exactly the way she wanted. As a royal, she could be oddly laid-back, always ready to tease others whenever she had free time.
At the very least, based on everything she knew about Elizalina, Siana had never once thought of her as “kind.”
“Why did you think that Elizalina-sama was kind?”
Considering the possibility that Lux had been influenced by Elizalina’s conversational tactics, Siana asked the question. Lux replied with a gentle expression.
“Part of it was the way she spoke… but more than anything, I felt like each and every word she said carried warmth and kindness.”
Elizalina-nee-sama must have led Lux-kun to believe she was kind. The fact that she would do such a thing to Lux-kun makes me feel ashamed to call her my older sister.
Making Lux believe she was kind and deliberately giving him that impression was something Siana found unforgivable. Still, when it came to mediation, Elizalina often had to guide nobles in ways that worked to her advantage, depending on the negotiation.
So although it bothered her, Siana managed to accept it as a kind of occupational habit.
But that fleeting rationalization was shattered by Lux’s next words, which hit Siana like a thunderclap.
“Though I was a little surprised when Elizalina-sama suddenly hugged me. Maybe for her it was just a kind of greeting, but… I’m not used to being hugged by a woman, so it really caught me off guard.”
The shock was so great that Siana couldn’t speak for a moment.
She was hugged by Elizalina-nee-sama…?
Naturally, Lux had no reason to lie about something like this. More importantly, he wasn’t the kind of person who lied to begin with.
That meant Elizalina really had hugged Lux… but even so.
Elizalina-nee-sama had always claimed that no man was worthy of her, and she had always drawn a clear line.
While she might guide people through her words, expressions, and gestures, she had never once taken it as far as initiating physical contact.
Siana had witnessed Elizalina’s negotiations herself. And Elizalina had always said that none of the men she’d met so far were good enough for her, so there was no room for doubt.
That left only one possibility.
Even though Elizalina-nee-sama said she wouldn’t interfere in my love life, that must have been a lie. She’s been secretly investigating me, trying not to let me notice, and has figured out that Lux-kun is the one I have feelings for.
In order to steal Lux from Siana, Elizalina made him believe she was kind and left a lasting impression on him by hugging him.
With that interpretation, everything made sense.
Until now, I had mostly turned a blind eye to whatever Elizalina-nee-sama was doing. But this time, she has finally crossed the one line I absolutely cannot tolerate.
Thinking that, Siana felt her eyes beginning to go dull without realizing it.
“Siana? Is something wrong?”
When Lux called out to her, she decided to suppress her anger toward Elizalina for now. Hiding her true feelings, she responded as if nothing had happened.
“N-No, it’s nothing! I see, so that’s what happened!”
After that, she spent the rest of the time chatting pleasantly with Lux as usual, and eventually, both she and Lux returned to their respective rooms.
“…Violet.”
As soon as she entered her room, Siana called Violet’s name. Violet, who had already changed out of her Royal Exchange gown and back into her usual black hood, appeared before her.
“I’m here.”
When Violet said that upon appearing, Siana spoke in a flat voice, her eyes still vacant.
“Starting today, we’re going to begin making plans to punish Elizalina-nee-sama.”