Control
In the royal castle’s entrance hall, surrounding Siana and Violet, dozens of soldiers stood firmly armed with armor and weapons.
The fact that these soldiers were summoned specifically to confront Siana and Violet meant they were highly trained. Dozens of such elite troops.
Upon seeing the scene, Siana spoke without the slightest trace of fear.
“Given that I specified the entrance hall of the royal castle, I fully expected Elizalina-nee-sama to prepare something like this… But even so, I chose this place so that Violet and I could ensure we had control.”
“Control?”
Elizalina echoed the word, prompting Siana to respond.
“No matter how many well-trained soldiers are present, tens, even hundreds, in a situation where Elizalina-nee-sama’s life is in our hands, they’re nothing more than armed statues. They can’t move. In other words, at this very moment, Violet and I hold control.”
Simply put, if they declared that attacking them would result in Elizalina’s death, her subordinates would be unable to act, unable to risk their master’s life.
Had this been a straightforward battle, the overwhelming difference in numbers might have decided the outcome. But Violet, who had time and again stained her hands in blood for Siana and for this nation, now had Elizalina’s life firmly in her grasp. At that point, the conclusion was already determined.
With that intent, Siana addressed Elizalina, who replied,
“It’s true, if what Felisiana just said were completely accurate, then the soldiers I prepared would indeed have no role here… But lying isn’t a good look, you know?”
“…What do you mean by that?”
“Did you really think I’d believe a lie like Felisiana and Violet holding control in this situation?”
Elizalina, her arms restrained by Violet and a dagger pressed against her throat, no matter how skilled she was with a bow, couldn’t wield it in this state. She couldn’t defeat Violet through sheer physical strength or martial prowess.
And yet, in that situation, with hollow eyes and a faint upward curl of her lips, Elizalina spoke in a flat voice.
Then, her gaze shifted to the dagger at her throat as she continued.
“This is just a little game. Sure, Felisiana and Violet could kill me at any moment right now, but you won’t. You never intended to take my life.”
“No, if Elizalina-nee-sama refuses to apologize and withdraw from this matter…”
“You can’t kill me. If I disappear, this country collapses. You’re smart, Felisiana, so I know you understand without me saying it. I don’t know what kind of plans you’ve made for the future, but if I die, those plans will inevitably fall apart. That’s why you can’t take my life. That’s why you don’t hold control in this situation. I do, because I have the greater numbers.”
Elizalina said this while staring into Siana’s eyes.
“…”
Seeing Siana fall silent, Elizalina seemed to grow certain of her victory. Her voice returned to its usual tone, the lifelessness gone.
“Really, Felisiana, since you were little, you always fall just short in moments like this. It’s kind of cute, though.”
If Siana’s reason for being here had nothing to do with Lux, she likely would have had no choice but to quietly surrender to Elizalina.
“But you know, I don’t really want to blow this whole thing out of proportion. If Felisiana just backs down, I won’t do anything either. I think this whole mess is just bad timing. Your plans and my goals just happened to clash during the Royal Exchange.”
But Siana was here because Elizalina broke her promise not to interfere in her love life and involved herself with Lux.
“So I’d like you to think of this as letting your older sister save face, just this once.”
“I can’t do that.”
Elizalina seemed shocked by Siana’s unexpected words.
“If it were something else, maybe, even if you broke your promise, I might not have gotten this angry. But not this time. This one, I absolutely cannot forgive.”
“…Broke a promise? Felisiana, what are you talking about?”
“Violet.”
Just as Elizalina had said earlier, Siana’s initial intent had been appropriate punishment: forcing Elizalina to yield and stop meddling with Lux.
But in case she couldn’t carry out that appropriate punishment, she had prepared another option.
Siana spoke after calling Violet’s name.
“If we leave things as they are, there’s no telling what Elizalina-nee-sama might do to him in the future. That’s why…”
“There is no need for further explanation. I swore to do anything for the happiness of Ojou-sama and for him as well. Therefore, I have no objections to your will, Ojou-sama.”
“I see. Then…”
Siana turned to Elizalina and spoke with hollow eyes and a flat tone.
“Elizalina-nee-sama, it seems you’ll have to disappear here and now.”
All for Lux-kun’s sake.