Unexpected
“Eh…!? Y-You said coming closer, but if Florence-san actually does that, then…!”
When I imagined that, my face suddenly heated up, and I instinctively stepped back.
Seeing me like that, Florence-san gave a small laugh and then smiled gently as she said,
“I apologize, that may have been a bit too much of a tease. However, I wanted to make sure you remember once again that my feelings about wanting to be your wife are not a joke, Lux-sama.”
“I-I understand.”
Indeed, even though Florence-san had already brought up the engagement, I realized I hadn’t properly faced the matter until now.
Besides, I needed to seriously think not only about the engagement with Florence-san but also about the proposal from Felisiana-sama. But with Florence-san’s beautiful face so close, and those words causing me to imagine strange things, my head was a bit overwhelmed for a moment. While I was thinking that, Florence-san moved even closer and asked me,
“Lux-sama, your face is very red. Could it be that hearing that I will be your future wife makes you embarrassed?”
“Well, that’s part of it, but also… Florence-san is so beautiful, and having that beautiful face so close, well… um…”
As I hesitated about how to answer, Florence-san blushed and said,
“Fufu. Thank you for calling me beautiful. But Lux-sama, I think you yourself have a beautiful face and heart.”
“…!”
Hearing those words from Florence-san made my already flushed face grow even hotter, and I shyly showed my feelings to her. But Florence-san returned my embarrassment with a calm smile, showing a maturity beyond our years.
…To become a good lord in the future, I felt I should learn from this side of Florence-san.
A lord. If I agreed to Felisiana-sama’s engagement proposal, I would no longer be a lord.
“…”
For now, I decided to think about that part only after I properly decide how to respond to Felisiana-sama.
Rezamiliana’s Side
“As expected of the First Princess Rezamiliana-sama, to defeat all ten of us without even losing breath…”
Lately, Rezamiliana had been busy with her duties and unable to train her swordsmanship as much, but since the biggest recent work had been about the swordsmanship tournament, she was fitting in training sessions between them at the practice grounds, sparring with soldiers.
“Thanks to you all, I realized my body has gotten a bit rusty. Thank you. You may step back now.”
“Y-Yes, ma’am!”
When Rezamiliana said that, the ten soldiers answered and then…
“That was considered rusty?”
“The First Princess-sama is amazing as always.”
They left the training grounds murmuring like that.
“If Rodwell, my destined partner, is going to see my swordsmanship, I must improve my skills even more.”
With that thought in mind, she resumed practicing her swordsmanship on a stationary straw dummy. At that moment, Elizalina appeared at the training grounds and said to Rezamiliana,
“Rezamiliana-nee-sama, training your swordsmanship again? Isn’t it more often than before?”
Hearing that, Rezamiliana stopped her sword and replied to Elizalina,
“Ah, the chances to use the sword have decreased, so I got a little rusty.”
“Ah, I see! By the way, in the foreign negotiations, wasn’t there a man who suited you, Rezamiliana-nee-sama?”
“I’ve never looked at men from the standpoint of whether they suit me, but I have not found someone I would want to choose as a fiancé.”
“That makes sense! I’m glad to hear that!”
“I don’t understand what you’re talking about, but hurry back to your duties.”
“Okay, okay, I understand.”
Elizalina said that and left the training grounds.
“Really… Elizalina hasn’t changed at all.”
Troubled by Elizalina’s storm-like personality as always, Rezamiliana continued thinking after hearing the word “man.”
“I wonder what kind of sword Rodwell’s sword is… And Rodwell, what kind of impression will you have when you see my swordsmanship?”
Thinking about that, Rezamiliana could not stop training and kept practicing swordsmanship for a while.
Elizalina’s Side
After returning to her room to work, Elizalina sat in her chair and spoke in a bright voice,
“Ah, that’s a relief! Rezamiliana-nee-sama is kind to her family, and if she chose someone herself, she’d probably give everything for him. I was worried if she might get stuck with some weird guy in the foreign negotiations, but she seems so solid and dependable. Still, since that time will come someday, I should start thinking about it now. But well, I don’t think many guys will come along who can win over Rezamiliana-nee-sama, so it’s probably a long way off.”
While murmuring that, Elizalina started her duties.
…At that time, Elizalina still had no idea that Rezamiliana had met her true love, Lux, and had begun to be drawn to him.