Elizalina’s Feelings
Elizalina’s Side
My relationship with Lux… If I were to explain it to Rezamiliana-onee-sama, how should I put it?
If Elizalina were to suddenly say right now that she wanted to be engaged to Lux, Rezamiliana would most likely take it as one of Elizalina’s usual jokes. And even if she did not, given that Elizalina had never once shown even the slightest hint of a fiancé before, Rezamiliana herself might be thrown into confusion at the sudden revelation that she had a prospective one.
In that case, maybe for now I should just say that I have some connection with Lux, so that if I bring up wanting to be engaged to him later, it will not feel unnatural.
Thinking all this in an instant, Elizalina opened her mouth to answer Rezamiliana’s question.
“Lux is my friend, you see. Look, it’s already been weeks since then, but remember I went to the royal exchange gathering at the noble academy? At that time, I spoke with Lux, and we became close. That’s how it is!”
“I see.”
Having fulfilled her duty of explaining her relationship with Lux, Elizalina now spoke not with words calculated for future implications, but simply with the feelings she had always held in her heart.
“So then, so then, was Lux doing well?”
“Ah, he was not unwell. His swordsmanship was good, and his personality was gentle and mild-mannered, making him truly easy to teach.”
“I see~! I’m glad to hear he’s the same as always~!”
Whenever I hear that Lux is working hard, it makes me feel like I need to try even harder too! Ahh! I want to see him soon!
“Until now, aside from matters concerning mediation, I don’t recall you ever speaking about men. You seem quite taken with Rodwell.”
“Of course I am! Because I’ve never seen a boy so cool, so cute, and so kind, not even with all the people I’ve met in this kingdom.”
Hearing those words, Rezamiliana fell silent for a moment.
I really want to live together with him soon. Eating breakfast together, watching over Lux while he studies, teaching him if there’s something he doesn’t understand, and even being together when bathing or sleeping! Just imagining such an ideal life makes me so happy…
As Elizalina thought these things in her heart, Rezamiliana opened her mouth and spoke.
“Elizalina… If, hypothetically, the person you desired already had someone who had proposed engagement to him, what would you do?”
“…Eh!? R-Rezamiliana-onee-sama is talking about romance!?”
Elizalina was deeply shocked at something that had never happened before, but Rezamiliana spoke calmly.
“I simply thought that, once in a while, speaking of such hypotheticals might be good.”
“Hehh…”
A hypothetical story, huh… Normally I’d think it meant Rezamiliana-onee-sama had someone she liked, but I can’t imagine that Rezamiliana-onee-sama would fall for just any man. So this really must be a hypothetical.
“If that’s the case, I’ll play along! Umm, in short, it’s like asking what you’d do if the person you like already had someone else who liked them, right?”
“Put simply, yes.”
For Elizalina, the answer had already been decided from her current circumstances, but she hesitated a little over whether she should really say it outright to Rezamiliana, who valued discipline so highly.
Then, after thinking it through, Elizalina decided that if she did not answer honestly here, it would only prove she was hiding something shameful. So she replied without hesitation.
“Even if I had to eliminate that person, I would be the one to be with the person I love… I think.”
“Eliminate, huh… Even as a joke, you use quite a dangerous word for a love story.”
“…Rezamiliana-onee-sama, did that sound like a joke to you?”
Elizalina suddenly asked this with vacant eyes, but Rezamiliana nodded without hesitation as she answered.
“Yes. Those are not words befitting a royal, who must serve as an example to the people. If it were not a joke, that would be troubling.”
I thought I should answer honestly because of my feelings, and also to see how Rezamiliana-onee-sama would react, but… as expected, that’s the reply I got… Maybe even Rezamiliana-onee-sama’s overly rigid way of thinking would soften if she were ever to fall in love with someone as much as I do now… For the time being though, I’d better not provoke her unnecessarily.
Elizalina stopped looking vacant and returned her eyes to normal, then spoke in a bright tone.
“Ahaha, you’re right~! Of course it was a joke, so don’t worry!”
“That is good, then.”
“Yep! Well, I’ve got work to do, so good luck with yours too, Onee-sama~!”
Saying that, Elizalina waved to Rezamiliana, left her room, and while walking down the corridor of the royal castle, she murmured in her heart.
It’s probably because of all the practice for the sword tournament, but lately I’ve barely been able to see Lux except around the time of that luxury cruise ship. It’s really hard… Ahh, at this rate, if I keep not seeing Lux, I don’t think I’ll be able to hold myself back much longer…
As she thought this and imagined Lux, Elizalina felt happy just from that, her cheeks turning red as the corners of her mouth lifted.