Sisters
Then, feeling a sense of fear, the two looked at each other and spoke.
“Felisiana, where is Lux? Don’t tell me you took him somewhere while I was away?”
“That’s my line. While I was talking with nobles from other countries, wasn’t it you, Elizalina-nee-sama, who took Lux-kun somewhere?”
“I was just caught up in a dispute among our country’s nobles and had to mediate. After I left, where did you take Lux?”
“I mentioned it earlier, but I was also surrounded by foreign nobles who spoke to me as the Third Princess, so I couldn’t move. Because I was stuck in that crowd, I couldn’t even talk to Lux-kun, let alone see him.”
“Do you really think I’m going to believe that?”
Both of them were convinced that the other had taken Lux somewhere while they weren’t around. With a deep sigh, Siana finally spoke.
“Too bad for you, Elizalina-nee-sama… no matter what you were plotting, you won’t be able to separate me from Lux-kun.”
With those words, Siana began walking toward a certain spot. Elizalina followed behind with a dissatisfied expression.
Then, in an inconspicuous corner of the wall, there was a small piece of paper placed there. Siana picked it up. Perhaps suspicious of her actions, Elizalina questioned her.
“You walked all the way here like you knew there would be a piece of paper. What is that paper?”
When asked that, Siana showed the paper to Elizalina and replied.
“This was left by Violet. I had instructed Violet that if something were to happen to Lux-kun, she should prioritize him over me. But if she suddenly disappeared, I wouldn’t be able to respond properly either, so I also told her to leave a written note explaining the situation.”
“I see. Even if it’s easy to sneak in using the authority of the Third Princess, keeping constant watch over Lux in a bright and crowded place is quite difficult. As expected of Violet. Also, the fact that you gave her those instructions makes me proud of you, Felisiana, my little sister.”
“Even if you praise me, Elizalina-nee-sama, it doesn’t make me happy at all. Anyway, if we open this paper, it will become clear what exactly you did to Lux-kun.”
With that, Siana unfolded the note left by Violet.
Written on it was the following:
[After Elizalina-sama and Ojou-sama left Rodwell-sama’s side, he was approached by a woman whose clothing suggested she was likely from another country. At her suggestion, he ate some food. Then, as the two of them moved to a less crowded area, Rodwell-sama suddenly collapsed. It is likely a slow-acting sleeping drug. Several people then appeared, and together with the woman, they seemed to be trying to take Rodwell-sama away. I have begun tailing them and, if necessary, will eliminate them. I will rescue Rodwell-sama, so please wait in a safe location until his return.]
After reading it, Siana began to think.
A woman from another country? Even if she were to use forceful methods, I couldn’t imagine Elizalina-nee-sama going so far as to employ foreigners. There was no need for her to do that, since Elizalina-nee-sama had many nobles within the kingdom whom she could move freely. If that was the case, then…
“It seems a foreign woman made a move on Lux-kun. Her goal must be…”
“She’s probably trying to extract information about me and Felisiana from Lux, or use Lux, who is connected to both of us, as a bargaining chip for something. If it’s only the latter, that’s one thing, but if it’s the former, Lux could end up being harmed.”
“Exactly.”
Considering Lux’s personality, even if he were hurt, he would never reveal anything about Siana or Elizalina.
However, precisely because of that, if they didn’t rescue Lux immediately, he would continue to suffer. In the worst-case scenario, something irreversible could happen.
Imagining that, Siana’s eyes turned hollow, and in a lifeless voice, she said,
“I don’t know who it is, but if they did this to Lux-kun, then we have no choice but to take their life.”
In response to Siana’s words, Elizalina also spoke in the same hollow voice, her eyes just as vacant.
“Yeah, it doesn’t matter who they are. They did this to Lux, so we’re going to have to take a life in return.”
“In moments like this, things go more smoothly. That’s a relief.”
“I don’t usually feel it much, but maybe this is what it means to be sisters.”
Saying this while staring into each other’s vacant eyes, the two turned in the same direction and began walking. In the same flat, emotionless tone, they spoke in unison.
“Now then, let’s go carry out the punishment.”
“Yeah, let’s go take care of it.”