Filled with Lux
Lux’s Side
“Eh!? Huh? Wh-what’s going on!?”
Just now, while I was riding in a moving carriage, the door suddenly opened, and someone wearing a red hood hugged me. I was so shocked that I asked the person clinging to me that question.
“Ahh, Lux’s body, Lux’s voice, Lux’s reaction…”
Instead of answering me, the person mumbled something softly, as if whispering to herself. Judging by her build, she was probably a woman.
Also, although I couldn’t quite make out what she had said in that small voice, I recognized the tone and the red hood.
“Could it be… Elina-san?”
When I asked that, the person in the red hood removed it and replied.
“Correct!”
Just as I’d guessed, it really was Elina-san. When she pulled down the hood, her beautiful face appeared beneath it.
“I knew it… It was just so sudden that I got really startled.”
“Sorry about that. I just really, really wanted to see you, Lux.”
“I-I appreciate you saying that, but, um… could you please let go of me for now?”
When I said that, Elina-san continued holding me and looked up at me with upturned eyes as she spoke.
“Is it a bother for you if I hug you, Lux?”
A bother…!?
I wasn’t sure what to do and felt a bit troubled, but it wasn’t enough to call it a bother. So, in order not to hurt Elina-san’s feelings, I shook my head and replied.
“N-No, it’s not a bother at all, so please don’t worry about that!”
When I said that, Elina-san smiled gently while keeping her eyes on mine.
“Geez, if you don’t tell me properly when something bothers you, what if I were a really bad woman? You never know what could happen.”
A bad woman…?
I didn’t really get it, but…
“I’ve spent enough time with you, Elina-san, to know very well that you’re not a bad person. So I think it’s fine.”
“Ah…”
Even though I didn’t fully understand, I expressed what I did know for sure, and Elina-san blushed as she exclaimed loudly.
“I was about to let go, but then you said something that makes me want to hug you even more!”
“H-Huh…?”
I didn’t really understand what she meant, but then Elina-san continued hugging me for a short while. After she let go, she opened her mouth to speak.
“I’ve got a performance scheduled soon where I’ll be playing piano on a luxury cruise ship. If you’d like, would you come with me, Lux? As my guest?”
“Wait, wh-what? A luxury cruise ship? And piano!?”
“Yeah, someone requested it, so I agreed.”
Elina-san said it so casually, but to me it sounded like a huge deal. Luxury cruise ships are amazing places with many people from duke families and even nobles from other countries. I’ve only ever been on one once as a child.
And more than that, Elina-san being asked to perform piano there… Just how amazing is she?
Setting that aside…
“I really appreciate the invitation, but I think someone like me going on a luxury cruise ship would only trouble the other guests…”
“It wouldn’t! And if anyone dares say otherwise, I’ll get angry on your behalf, so don’t worry!”
“B-But still…”
“Just knowing you’re there watching will give me so much more motivation! Please!”
As she said that, Elina-san grabbed my right hand with both of hers.
She was begging me this much. I couldn’t bring myself to refuse her.
“Alright, in that case, I’d be happy to go watch your performance.”
“Really!? Yay!”
Overjoyed, Elina-san let go of my hand and raised both arms in celebration. Then she added something.
“I’ve got work after this, but I think if Lux cheered me on, I’d feel even more motivated for that too.”
“Of course I’ll cheer you on! Good luck!”
“Ahh, thank you so much, Lux!”
After saying that, Elina-san opened the carriage door.
“E-Elina-san!? Don’t tell me, are you planning to jump out while it’s still moving?”
“Yep! It’s not that high even though we’re in motion, so I’ll be fine! Bye, Lux. Thanks so much for cheering me on! I’ll send you a letter with the date I’ll be performing on the cruise ship, so please check it, okay?”
With those words, Elina-san tried to jump out of the carriage. I grabbed her wrist.
“Ah! Lux…?”
“If you got injured, even by accident, it would be terrible. I’ll ask the coachman to stop the carriage, so please wait a moment.”
“You don’t need to worry that much. I might not look it, but I’m actually pretty athletic…”
“No, I won’t allow it. I care about you, Elina-san, and I don’t want you getting hurt, not even a little. Please, understand.”
When I said that seriously, Elina-san opened her eyes wide and stopped trying to jump out of the carriage. She blushed and replied.
“If you’re going to say something like that, Lux, then I guess I’ll do as you say.”
“Thank you! I’ll have the carriage stopped right away, so just wait a bit.”
After saying that, I asked the coachman to stop the carriage once. Then, after getting off, Elina-san waved at me and spoke.
“See you later, Lux!”
“Yes, see you!”
After that exchange, the carriage started moving again.
Talking with Elina-san so early in the morning was surprising, but the luxury cruise ship… I felt excited that I now had something else to look forward to.
Elizalina’s Side
Elizalina kept watching until the carriage carrying Lux was out of sight. As she began walking, she reflected on Lux from earlier.
“What was with that Lux just now…? He’s usually so gentle and calm, but when he thought I might be in danger, he got so serious. He really does care about me…”
While continuing to mumble, Elizalina placed her hand over her wrist, where Lux had firmly, though not painfully, grabbed her.
“Lux’s hands are so big… Well, of course they are. He’s a boy and has trained with the sword… That look on his face was so cool… He cheered me on for work, and now we’re going to the cruise ship together too… Eh? What am I supposed to do…?”
Lux is so cool.
“Honestly, really…”
Lux is so kind.
I love Lux.
“All I can think about is Lux…”
I want to protect Lux.
I want to stay with Lux.
I want to get engaged to Lux.
“I can’t stop thinking…”
Whispering sweetly, Elizalina blushed as she rode the carriage to the royal castle. During that time, her mind was filled entirely with thoughts of Lux.