Master
Siana’s Side
“M-Master!?”
Suddenly embraced tightly, Siana let out such a voice.
I never heard that I’d suddenly be hugged by L-Lux-kun! Of course, it makes me very happy, but I wasn’t prepared for it yet…!
Surprised by the unexpected turn of events, Siana’s cheeks flushed red with joy, and as she did, Lux, still holding her, turned his face toward hers and spoke.
“Siana, were you watching my match?”
“O-Of course! From the very beginning up to the match just now, I was watching your very cool figure, Master!”
Naturally, she did not tell Lux this, but in truth, she had not only been watching. In her heart, she had been cheering and shouting for Lux as he fought with a sword, a sight she could not normally see.
“W-Was I… cool, maybe?”
Thinking Lux looked cute as he said that somewhat bashfully, Siana opened her mouth to speak.
“Yes! Master, you were truly cool!!”
“Ah…! I’m glad… This way, at least a little, I was able to show a good side of myself to many people as your Master, and more than anything, to you, Siana.”
Hearing Lux say that with a smile pierced Siana straight through the heart.
S-So, so cute! Or rather, just knowing that he worked so hard for my sake makes me so happy I feel like screaming right now! Ahh, Lux-kun, you mustn’t… if you show me a face like that…
Even while utterly captivated by Lux’s expression, she somehow held back her feelings… and hugged Lux in return as she spoke.
“Master, you are more wonderful and cool than anyone else. You are the Master I wish to respect and support!”
“Siana… thank you.”
After they continued holding each other for a while, Lux spoke.
“I-It’s about time the next finals match begins, so I have to go.”
“Yes, that’s true.”
With those words from Lux, the two lowered their arms and released each other.
Then Lux said.
“My next opponent is Florence-san, so I don’t think it will go the same way as before… but even so, I’ll fight with everything I’ve got!”
“Yes! And I will cheer for you with all my strength as well!”
“Thank you!”
Saying that, Lux turned and walked away from the spot.
In my ideal, Lux-kun would defeat Florence, and I would get to see Lux-kun’s smile along with Florence’s defeated expression. But… I know it won’t be that easy.
“Still… I’m cheering for you, Lux-kun.”
Lux’s Side
After the slightly longer break between the semifinals and the finals ended, Rezamiliana-sama finally spoke.
“Now, we shall begin the final match of this sword tournament! From the Duke household, Floria Florence. From the Count household, Lux Rodwell. The two of you, move quickly to the center of the arena.”
At those words, Florence-san and I stood up at the same time, looked at each other, and spoke.
“Shall we go then, Lux-sama?”
“Y-Yes!”
Unlike Florence-san, who still showed no trace of nervousness even here in the finals, I responded in a somewhat tense voice.
Then, the two of us moved to the center of the arena and faced each other.
“…”
Standing face-to-face again like this, I could tell the atmosphere Florence-san gave off was truly different from all the others until now… It was the aura of someone very strong.
But… with Siana cheering me on, there’s no way I can lose so easily!
As I told myself that firmly in my heart to shake off my nervousness, Florence-san gave a small smile.
“Florence-san…?”
“Forgive me. Just the thought that I can cross swords with you, Lux-sama, in the finals of this grand sword tournament made me so happy that I spoke aloud without thinking.”
“Ah…! I also feel truly happy to be able to fight you, Florence-san, in the finals!”
After we exchanged our feelings about this final match, Rezamiliana-sama instructed us to ready our swords, so Florence-san and I raised our swords at the same time.
“Lux-sama… I will say this clearly once again… I love you.”
“E-Eh!?”
While I was greatly shocked by those sudden words, Florence-san continued.
“Since I have proposed marriage, it is only natural that I love you, Lux-sama. What I want to convey is that precisely because I love you, I will not hold back in this battle.”
“Ah…!”
Being told so suddenly that I was loved made me falter, but… if that’s what she means.
“Yes! Let’s fight seriously, Florence-san!”
“That gallant expression is also wonderful, Lux-sama… As your future wife, I will claim victory over you here.”
Just after Florence-san said that…
“Begin!”
At the sound of Rezamiliana-sama’s voice echoing through the arena, Florence-san and I kicked off the ground and began to cross swords.