Royal Castle Entrance
Elizalina’s Side
Three days ago, after hearing that Lux had received a marriage proposal, Elizalina returned to the royal castle and immediately found a document about the person who had scored full marks on the noble academy’s academic exam.
“Floria Florence…”
Upon seeing that name, Elizalina sensed trouble.
The Duke Florence house was one of the cornerstones of this nation. If it were to collapse for any reason, the country would inevitably suffer some degree of damage. In other words, dealing with Floria Florence would not be easy.
“To think the daughter of the Duke Florence would propose to Lux… and on top of that, he seems to have a very good impression of her… But judging from the situation, Lux probably still only sees her as a friend, so I guess I don’t need to worry too much about that.”
That said, although the Duke Florence house differed slightly in nature from the Count Rodwell house, which was known for its good character, it was also fundamentally a house of virtue.
Thinking about the fact that this girl came from such a house, and that if she were eliminated Lux would be heartbroken, Elizalina felt hesitant to act, even if this girl stood in the way of her own romantic path.
“…Still, there’s no point dwelling on Floria forever. For all I know, I might have to give up on my love with Lux after today.”
Even as she said that, Elizalina had absolutely no intention of giving up.
Because she could mostly guess what Felisiana was planning, Elizalina intended to turn that against her and force her to surrender.
Elizalina didn’t know exactly why Felisiana was trying to get involved with Lux, but she believed that at the very least, Felisiana wasn’t truly fixated on him.
Most likely, it was just part of a plan limited to the time of the Royal Exchange. At worst, if the relationship between Elizalina and Lux were to be exposed, Felisiana might be trying to interfere as a petty act of revenge. That was the extent of it.
But even then, the latter didn’t really seem like something Felisiana would do. If there were a more likely explanation, it would be the former.
“Well, still… I suppose it’s about time I taught Felisiana that, as an older sister, sometimes you have to know when to back off… heh.”
Muttering to herself like that, Elizalina headed to the castle entrance, where Felisiana had told her to meet.
Siana’s Side
A few minutes after Siana arrived at the royal castle entrance, Elizalina appeared, her bright pink hair tied in two bunches. She wore a red outfit with an exposed chest and a matching red skirt with a slit.
“Oh? I thought Violet would be here too, but she’s not?”
“Yes. This is a conversation between just the two of us.”
“It sounded like a lie, but since it’s my cute little sister saying it, I guess I have to believe her~.”
With those words, Elizalina approached Siana wearing a bright expression. She stopped at a distance where she could have touched her if she stretched out her arm and spoke.
“So? Felisiana, why are you doing something like this today?”
“Something like this?”
“Don’t play dumb. You chose tonight because it’s the day before our elder sister returns from foreign negotiations, and it’s a time when there’s little chance of being seen. You did it so you could act rough, didn’t you?”
Siana felt, as always, that her elder sister’s insight was impressive.
Judging by expression and tone alone, Elizalina didn’t seem like someone with sharp perception, but that wasn’t the case.
In truth, she was more quick-witted than anyone, and more accurate at reading people’s minds than anyone. And Siana fully understood that Elizalina had already seen through what she was planning to do.
“As expected of you, Elizalina-nee-sama. To grasp my intentions from just that much information.”
“Oh no~ I guessed right~ How scary~ So I’m going to get roughed up by Felisiana now? I’m such a delicate girl, this is scary~.”
Faced with Elizalina’s attitude, which clashed entirely with her own, and with her having broken her word not to get involved in her love life, Siana responded with empty eyes and a flat, emotionless voice.
“Let me make this clear. I have absolutely no intention of playing along with your nonsense today… I’m here to punish you, Elizalina-nee-sama.”
Even hearing that, Elizalina’s demeanor didn’t change as she replied.
“Did I do something worth being punished for~? I don’t recall causing you any trouble, Felisiana~.”
Realizing that Elizalina wouldn’t drop her carefree attitude, Siana glanced toward the chandelier above the castle entrance, where Violet was hidden. In the next moment, Violet appeared wearing a black hood, and restrained Elizalina’s arms while pressing a dagger to her throat.
“…Oh?”
Now that the situation had changed, Elizalina’s expression and tone finally took on a more serious edge.
Then, Elizalina continued.
“Felisiana, do you understand what it means to do something like this? If you stop now, I’ll let it go as just a little mischief from my cute little sister. But if you don’t, then there’s no turning back.”
A conflict between these two sisters would obviously not end as a mere sibling quarrel.
Once things reached that point, there would be no way to retreat. The Second Princess and the Third Princess would be locked in open conflict.
If it came to that, it could become a crisis that shook the kingdom.
In response to Elizalina’s warning, Siana spoke.
“I have no intention of backing down.”
Hearing her say that clearly, Elizalina next addressed the person holding a dagger to her neck.
“Hey, Violet. Isn’t it your job to stop Felisiana when she goes out of control like this?”
The black hood obscured Violet’s face, but very few people could move with such precision and coordinate with Siana so well.
So when Elizalina addressed the hooded figure, certain it was Violet, she received a reply.
“You’re absolutely right… But I must admit, I too have let my emotions get the better of me this time.”
“I see… Then I guess we’ll have to finish this.”
As Elizalina said that, dozens of soldiers suddenly appeared, surrounding the castle entrance.
Then, with empty eyes and a flat, emotionless voice, Elizalina spoke again.
“If you’re going to get in my way, then I’ll have to deal with the both of you.”