Scenery
Lux’s Side
“E-Engaged!? Y-You mean between me and Felisiana-sama!?”
“Yes, that’s exactly what I mean.”
I was completely stunned by Felisiana-sama’s sudden words. Or rather, I was overwhelmed by emotions I couldn’t even begin to describe.
Did the third princess, Felisiana-sama, just propose an engagement to me?
I’m just a noble from a count’s household, only fifteen years old, and it’s not like I’ve accomplished anything particularly great. Yet Felisiana-sama said that to me…?
My mind and emotions couldn’t keep up at all. I was sure there were a lot of things I should be saying, but there was at least one thing I had to say no matter what. So I decided to tell Felisiana-sama what was on my mind.
“Um… I’m incredibly grateful that you would say something like that to me, Felisiana-sama, but… you and I…”
“If you’re about to say you’re turning me down because you think you’re not good enough for me, then I want you to stop right there. I’ve said it before, but Lux-kun, you work harder than anyone, you put in more effort than anyone, and you’re kinder than anyone when it comes to worrying about others. And if someone like you were to become a lord… no, if you were to be engaged to me, then you would become a fine king. I truly believe that you can become a great king, Lux-kun.”
“A k-king!? I’m already struggling just to become a proper lord of a count’s territory, and now you’re talking about being king…?”
“I believe you can do it, Lux-kun.”
In response to my hesitant words, Felisiana-sama looked straight at me with clear, unwavering eyes and declared it with confidence.
To be offered an engagement by Felisiana-sama, and on top of that, to be told that I might become a king if I accepted… My mind was struggling just to process what was right in front of me. Even so, at the very least, I knew one thing. It would be incredibly rude and wrong to reject such a sincere proposal from someone who believed in me so completely, just because I lacked confidence.
Also… it was something I had thought back when Felisiana-sama told me she believed I could become a good lord, but her words didn’t feel like vague imagination. They carried the weight of someone who had truly watched over me more closely than anyone else. I didn’t want to betray that kind of belief even more now.
“Being offered engagement by Felisiana-sama, and even being told I might become king… Considering all of that, I don’t think I can give you an answer right here and now. So I’m very sorry, but could you please give me some time to think about it?”
After saying that, I immediately added something, thinking that I couldn’t risk letting her misunderstand me.
“O-Of course! When I say I need to think, it’s not because I have any complaints about Felisiana-sama as a potential fiancée. If anything, it’s because it feels like too much for someone like me…”
“You don’t need to explain that, Lux-kun. I already understand. Who do you think you’re talking to?”
“…I’m sorry. Saying something like that to Felisiana-sama…”
As I began to speak, a strange feeling welled up inside me.
I didn’t know exactly what the feeling was, or how to describe it. But I was certain I felt something was off.
“Felisiana-sama, the last time we met was when we danced at the royal castle… right?”
“Yes, that’s right. Why do you ask?”
“I-It’s nothing! Please forget I said anything!”
While suppressing this unexplainable discomfort, I gave her that response.
Then Felisiana-sama looked at me quietly for a moment before speaking.
“In that case, Lux-kun, is it alright if I take that as a temporary hold on your answer?”
“Y-Yes… I’m truly sorry! Putting a proposal from you on hold like this…”
“It just means you’re taking it seriously, right? Then there’s nothing for me to criticize.”
As she said that, Felisiana-sama showed me a very gentle expression.
…Felisiana-sama’s gentle expression felt a little different from Florence-san’s or Elizalina-sama’s.
Of course, everyone has their own atmosphere, but Felisiana-sama’s gentle expression felt like she had always been quietly watching over me. I always avoided being conscious of this out of respect, but seeing her face like that made me feel unexpectedly happy.
To be honest, whenever I’m with Felisiana-sama, I often find myself confused about my own feelings. I feel incredibly comfortable around her, but I don’t really understand what that comfort means or where it comes from.
“Ah~! There you are, Lux~! Long time no see~!”
“…Huh?”
Just as I heard someone calling my name, I turned and saw Elizalina-sama and Violet-san.
“Elizalina-sama! Violet-san!”
The two of them came right up to where Felisiana-sama and I were, and we spent a short while chatting happily together.
…If only Siana were here too, this would be even better. That sort of wishful thinking is a bad habit of mine, but I can’t help it.
One day, I hope I can enjoy a moment like this with everyone present. That includes Siana, Florence-san, Elina-san, and Remina-san. It would be a perfect gathering.
As I stood on the luxurious cruise ship gliding across the beautiful moonlit sea, I dreamed of such a scene.