Terror
Siana’s Side
“…Felisiana-sama! Elina-san! There are a lot of delicious-looking dishes over there, so if it’s all right with you two, would you like to eat together?”
“Yes.”
“Sure, Lux!”
“Thank you very much!”
Lux said this with a smile and began walking toward the table where the food was arranged, so Siana and Elizalina also started walking to follow him.
Ah, Lux-kun is just so adorable… If he wants to eat delicious food that badly, I would gladly let him eat as much as he wants…
“…”
Siana approached Elizalina, who was walking beside her, and spoke in a voice low enough that only Elizalina could hear, so that Lux would not hear.
“Elizalina-nee-sama, you are officially participating in this luxury cruise party, aren’t you? Is it really okay for you to be hiding your identity like this?”
“It’s fine. I’ll formally participate later as Second Princess Elizalina… More importantly, I’m temporarily calling a truce, but you’re in the way of me and Lux being alone together, so could you go somewhere else for now?”
“Those are my words.”
Siana had Violet standing by just in case something happened, and she had considered forcibly separating Elizalina from Lux if it came to that. However, such a move would attract too much attention at the party venue, so she couldn’t use that tactic.
If only I could take Lux-kun and Elizalina-nee-sama somewhere with fewer people…
While Siana was thinking such things, Lux arrived at the table where the food was arranged. As a result, Siana and Elizalina, who had followed him, also arrived at the same table.
“Here are your plates and forks.”
“Thank you, Lux-kun.”
“Thanks, Lux!”
The two of them thanked Lux after he handed them plates and forks, and Lux looked happy as he then took his own plate and fork.
Then, as each of them put food on their plates, the three of them began eating together… or so it seemed.
“This salad and this meat, everything is delicious! Luxury cruise ships are really amazing! It might be strange to say this just based on the food, but I’m really glad I came on this cruise today!”
Seeing Lux eating so deliciously, hearing his cheerful voice, and watching his somehow cute and lovable smile, Siana and Elizalina completely stopped moving their hands to eat.
If Lux-kun is this happy, then I’d like to invite him to another similar party… Or maybe I should just hire the chef from this luxury cruise party.
While Siana was lost in her thoughts, and likely Elizalina was too, Lux spoke.
“Felisiana-sama, Elina-san, aren’t you eating? Or rather… I-I’m sorry! I ended up eating before the two of you!!”
“You don’t have to worry about that. I was just about to start eating too.”
“Yeah yeah! You really don’t have to worry about stuff like that!”
“I-I’m glad to hear that.”
As Lux spoke with relief, Siana and Elizalina resumed eating for the time being so as not to cause Lux any unnecessary concern.
After the three of them finished their plates, they began sharing their impressions.
“Yeah, it was pretty tasty~!”
“To me, it tasted so good that ‘pretty tasty’ doesn’t even begin to describe it!”
“Indeed, as expected of a luxury cruise party’s cuisine.”
As they were exchanging impressions, Elizalina was approached by a man who, while not quite elderly, was likely a noble of some age.
“Elina-sama, may I have a moment of your time?”
“Could you come back later? I’m a bit tied up right now.”
She responded as such, but the man continued speaking in a voice that only Elizalina could hear… though Siana, who was intentionally listening closely, could also hear it.
“There’s a bit of trouble over there… It involves the dukes, and if left unattended, it may eventually affect Princess Elizalina’s mediation efforts.”
“…! Of all times…”
Elizalina briefly cast a regretful glance at Siana, then quickly composed herself and spoke to Lux.
“Sorry, Lux. Do you mind waiting for me a little? I’ll really be back soon.”
“Got it! And you don’t need to apologize for something like that! I’m not sure what’s going on, but good luck!”
“Thanks, Lux! I’ll do my best!”
Saying that, Elizalina left the area.
Watching Elizalina’s retreating back, Siana had a thought.
How convenient that Elizalina-nee-sama is gone now… With this, I can finally tell Lux-kun what I originally intended to… But since there are too many people around here, I need to take him somewhere we can be alone.
“Lux-kun, from now on…”
Siana was about to invite Lux to a place where they could be alone…
“Are you the Third Princess of this country, Felisiana-sama!?”
A man, who appeared to be a noble from another country, approached and interrupted her. Then, other people also noticed Siana’s presence and began gathering around her to speak.
“Y-You all…”
“Felisiana-sama! Please don’t worry about me, just let me know when you’re done!”
Though Lux kindly called out to Siana from within the crowd that had formed around her, Siana’s mind was no longer focused on that.
Even though Elizalina-nee-sama had finally left, I can’t believe this is happening… It can’t be helped, so I’ll keep in mind to wrap this up quickly while still handling things at a bare minimum level as Third Princess Felisiana.
After Siana finished giving the minimum response to each person so as not to lower the royal family’s impression, she immediately returned to where Lux had been… At the same moment, Elizalina also returned to the same place, and the two of them said at the same time,
“Lux-kun!”
“Lux!”
However, Lux, who should have been there, was nowhere to be seen…
“Lux…kun?”
“Lux…?”
Siana and Elizalina, who usually never felt fear, experienced a rare moment of fear.