Friendly Relations
Looking at Floria’s outstretched hand, Violet spoke as if reminiscing about something.
“In the past, the Ojou-sama also once extended her hand to me like that, and I took it… Therefore, I am sorry, but I cannot take Florence-sama’s hand.”
“…I see.”
Floria murmured that in a small voice and tried to withdraw her hand… but…
“However, in another form, I may be able to join hands with you.”
Hearing those words, Floria stopped pulling her hand back.
Then, Violet continued speaking.
“This is also connected to what I wanted to ask as a request for a deal… Florence-sama, if you are willing, would you not build a friendly relationship with me from now on?”
“With Violet-sama, a friendly relationship…?”
“Yes. Of course, as stated in the conditions when we decided to make a deal, if this goes against Florence-sama’s feelings, then please refuse.”
“…”
Though she had hoped Violet would stop staining her hands with blood for Lux’s sake, Floria had never considered building a friendly relationship with her.
But now, when Violet was actually saying she wanted to build a friendly relationship, if asked whether any unpleasant feelings arose in response, the answer was no.
On the contrary… somewhere in her heart, she felt happy about it.
“I understand… However, if in the future Violet-sama, together with the Third Princess, tries to stain your hands with blood for Lux-sama’s sake, I will not hesitate to oppose you.”
By saying this, she conveyed her strong will that building a friendly relationship did not mean she would forgive everything.
In response, Violet nodded.
“That is fine… Then, except for such emergencies, let us deepen our friendly relationship from now on.”
With those words, Violet took hold of Floria’s outstretched hand, and the two exchanged a handshake.
It was a different way of shaking hands than I had expected, but this is fine in its own way.
Before long, after they let go of each other’s hands, Violet spoke again.
“For today, I think I shall take my leave around here, but one thing… When Florence-sama spoke of this deal before, regarding what you would ask of me, you said, ‘From the start, I never intended to make a request that would affect Violet-sama’s duties.’ If that is so, then if you had won, may I ask what kind of request you were planning to make of me?”
From the flow of the conversation earlier, it seemed like the wish might have been to ask Violet to stop staining her hands with blood for Lux’s sake. But that would go against the condition of not affecting Violet’s duties as Felisiana’s maid.
In that case, Violet wondered what kind of wish Floria had intended to convey, and so she asked. Floria then said,
“It is nothing significant, but… before, Lux-sama said that the tea Violet-sama brews is delicious, so I was thinking of asking you to teach me how to brew tea.”
“…I see… In that case, the next time we meet, I will teach you how to brew tea.”
Surprised by those words, Floria widened her eyes and asked.
“Y-You would?”
“Yes. Since I have declared that we will build a friendly relationship, for something like that I will cooperate even without a deal.”
“Thank you very much, Violet-sama.”
Smiling softly at Violet’s kindness and expressing her gratitude, Floria then heard Violet say, “Well then, for tonight, I shall excuse myself here,” and Violet disappeared from the spot.
Though she had many thoughts, the fact that from now on she might be able to brew tea that Lux would find even more delicious, and that she had begun building a friendly relationship with Violet, made Floria happy.
Then, imagining Lux, she smiled softly and murmured.
“Lux-sama… So that I may become a woman worthy of standing by the side of someone with such a beautiful heart as yours, I will continue to devote myself to improving.”
Lux’s Side
I had been thinking about whether to become engaged to Florence-san or Felisiana-sama… but my thoughts just kept going around in circles, and no answer was coming out.
“…For now, I will rest today and think about it again from tomorrow.”
With that, I decided to sleep a little earlier than usual today.
…I had been struggling greatly over whether to accept the engagement talks from Florence-san or from Felisiana-sama… but at that time, I still had no idea that more engagement talks would be coming my way.