Keeping Each Other in Check
Elizalina’s Side
“F-Felisiana-sama! Good evening! And it’s been a while!”
“Yes, it has been a while… I’m happy we could meet like this again.”
“I’m happy too! Felisiana-sama, you…”
In order to prevent the conversation between Lux and Felisiana from continuing too smoothly, Elizalina lifted her hands from the piano she had been facing and stood up, moving to stand beside Lux and face Felisiana as she spoke.
“Good evening, Felisiana-sama.”
When Elizalina greeted her in this way, deliberately speaking not as Elizalina but as Elina, Felisiana replied with a tone full of affectation.
“Eliza… no, Elina-sama, it is good to see that you are well.”
A message from Felisiana, implying that she had realized Elina’s true identity.
Huh, so Felisiana’s already figured out that I’m the one under this red hood… Well, considering what happened that morning with Violet, and the fact that I was the one who invited Lux to the luxury cruise ship party in the first place, I figured she might catch on. It’s not really that surprising.
Thinking this calmly to herself, she still continued to act as Elina rather than as the royal Elizalina, since Lux was right in front of her.
“Lovely Felisiana-sama, are you here alone today? I was sure you would have brought along a wonderful gentleman.”
“You jest. You know full well that I don’t have a fiancé, don’t you?”
“Even if they are not your fiancé, there are still many wonderful men around. Especially here at this venue, there should be plenty. Would you care to go and search for a partner for tonight’s party? If it is someone as lovely as you, Felisiana-sama, I am certain any gentleman would be more than happy to say yes.”
Felisiana was aware that Elizalina harbored feelings for Lux, just as she did. The formal language used by Elizalina, who normally never spoke to her in such a manner, combined with the context of her remarks, could only be interpreted as a deliberate provocation. In response, Felisiana spoke.
“That applies to you as well, Elina-sama. It’s such a shame your beautiful features are hidden beneath that hood. Why not take it off? I believe the other guests would be delighted too… or is there perhaps some reason you can’t remove it?”
“…!”
In this kingdom, it was generally known among the adult nobility that when Elizalina wore her red hood, she was acting incognito as Elina, separate from her duties as royalty. However, since guests from other countries were also present at this event, if Elizalina removed her hood now, people would no longer see her as the pianist in disguise. They would instead recognize her as the Second Princess Elizalina, and begin calling out her true name. If that happened, Lux would learn that Elina was actually Elizalina.
While Elizalina wasn’t too bothered about her identity being revealed, she believed that with Lux’s personality, things would go more smoothly if she continued interacting with him as Elina for now. Above all, she felt that the timing to reveal her true identity… was not now.
In response to Felisiana’s pointed provocation, Elizalina was about to escalate with a retort of her own and ignite the tension even more… but then.
“Both of you seem a bit different from how you usually are when talking with me… Could it be that you’re nervous about being at this luxury cruise ship party too?”
“…!”
“…!”
When Lux asked that, both Elizalina and Felisiana immediately regretted their behavior and quickly replied.
“N-No, not at all! I think you’re just imagining it, Lux.”
“Yes, I’m not acting any differently than usual, so don’t worry.”
“I see, that’s good to hear!”
Seeing Lux’s relieved smile, both Elizalina and Felisiana felt genuine relief from the bottom of their hearts.
This isn’t good. If I make Lux worry, it’ll all be for nothing. Now isn’t the time to be trading barbs with Felisiana.
Thinking this, Elizalina glanced at Felisiana with a look that conveyed the intent to temporarily call a truce. Felisiana responded with a nod.
After that, once Elizalina finished playing a few more pieces on the piano, the venue erupted into enthusiastic applause.
“Elina-san! Every piece you played was truly beautiful!”
“Thank you, Lux!”
“…”
As they began to wonder what to do next, both Elizalina and Felisiana started running through their thoughts… but then Lux’s next words brought their thoughts to a screeching halt.
“Felisiana-sama and Elina-san! If you’d like, would you both enjoy the luxury cruise ship party with me from here on out?”
Huh?