The Best
Lux’s Side
“Lux-sama, may I have a moment of your time?”
Just as I had finished getting ready to leave, I heard Florence-san’s voice from outside my room.
“Yes, of course!”
“Thank you.”
With that, Florence-san slowly opened the door and stepped into my room.
She should have been with Siana, though…
“Florence-san, did you need something from me?”
When I asked her this as she walked straight up to me after entering, she nodded and said,
“There is something I would like to ask you, Lux-sama. I only need you to answer it.”
“Understood! If it’s something I can answer, I’ll answer anything, so please don’t hesitate to ask!”
“Thank you. Then I will take you at your word.”
After saying that and pausing for a moment, Florence-san spoke.
“Of all the teas you have ever had, Lux-sama, whose tea did you find the most delicious?”
“Eh…?”
The completely unexpected question caught me off guard.
“Before you answer, let me first say this. Please be honest with me and tell me without holding back out of consideration.”
Honestly… I searched my memories for every time in my life someone had brewed tea for me and I had drunk it.
I am, after all, a noble from a count’s family, so over the past fifteen years I have had tea brewed for me by many different people, in many different places.
Among them, the ones I found particularly delicious were, as expected, from Siana, Florence-san, and Violet-san. If I had to choose the best among the three…
“…Florence-san, before I answer, let me just say this. I truly love the tea you brew, and every time you make tea for me, I enjoy it very much.”
“Thank you… but in that case, does that mean I am not number one?”
“Well, um… s-sorry…”
Feeling bad, I apologized to her, but Florence-san shook her head and said,
“Please don’t apologize. I am still inexperienced. I simply must continue to improve.”
Looking at her as she spoke so earnestly, I gave my answer to her question.
“…Of all the teas I’ve ever had, Violet-san’s was, at least for me, the most delicious.”
“…And this Violet-san, what kind of person is she?”
“Violet-san is Felisiana-sama’s maid! She’s very kind and a good person!”
“A maid… so that’s how it is…”
Florence-san murmured something in a small voice.
Then, this time in a voice I could hear, she said,
“Lux-sama, after the swordsmanship tournament is over, may I visit your mansion after school for a while to work on brewing tea that suits your tastes?”
“Eh…!?”
Just as I was trying to process her words, there was a knock on my door.
“Master, may I come into your room?”
It was Siana’s voice.
“Sure, go ahead.”
Still puzzled by Florence-san’s words, I answered Siana, and she walked over to where we were.
“What were you two talking about just now?”
“Uh, well, Florence-san was saying that after the swordsmanship tournament, she wants to come to the mansion every day after school…”
“W-Why did the conversation turn into that!?”
Surprised, Siana closed the distance between herself and Florence-san, and the two began speaking in voices too quiet for me to hear.
“What are you thinking? You already spend time with Lux-kun during noble academy hours. Don’t you think it’s greedy to want to see him after school too?”
“I am not acting out of personal desire. I simply wish to improve at making tea that can satisfy Lux-sama more.”
“But that will mean I have less time to spend with Lux-kun, won’t it?”
“That would actually be to my advantage.”
I couldn’t hear what they were talking about, but Florence-san took a step forward, faced me, and spoke.
“Lux-sama, have you considered my earlier proposal?”
“I-I’m fine with it! How about you, Siana?”
“…If Master says so, then I am fine with it as well!”
“Thank you, Siana.”
When I thanked her, Siana pressed her lips together in a pleased smile.
Then Florence-san also smiled happily and said,
“Thank you both… I am looking forward to the swordsmanship tournament, but now I have something to look forward to afterward as well.”
“Yes! At first I was a little confused when I heard it, but if it means I can drink lots of the tea you brew for me, Florence-san, then I’m really looking forward to it!”
After that, Siana and I saw Florence-san off as she left in her carriage, then the two of us went back into my room together.
And then… Siana puffed out her cheeks, looking a little sulky.