Sense of Unease
After declaring the start of the royal council meeting, Rezamiliana continued.
“As I announced beforehand, today’s agenda is to decide which of us three will attend the third royal exchange gathering to be held soon at the noble academy.”
“Yes, yes, me! I want to go!”
Elizalina raised her hand boldly, without the slightest hesitation, and Rezamiliana responded.
“Elizalina, you attended the second royal exchange gathering, didn’t you?”
“But there was also the swordsmanship tournament, and it’s been about two months since then, right? So it shouldn’t matter that I went last time, should it?”
After Elizalina said that to Rezamiliana, Felisiana spoke up.
“If that is the case, since three months have passed since I attended the first royal exchange gathering, I believe I am more suited than Elizalina-neesama to participate in the third.”
Since Rezamiliana was present, Felisiana addressed her elder sister Elizalina in polite speech.
Well, of course she would interfere. But such a simple excuse can’t possibly get in the way of my desire to meet Lux.
Thinking that as she curved her lips into a small smile, Elizalina said,
“It’s true that if you only count the days, that makes sense. But Felisiana, you already went to the noble academy twice, once for the entrance ceremony and once for the first royal exchange gathering, didn’t you? If you also go again for the third, people might start to get the wrong idea about us.”
“That can be explained simply by saying that my elder sisters were busy.”
“But if people think we’re too busy to attend even a single-day exchange gathering, won’t that leave a bad impression?”
“…”
“…”
The two quietly held each other’s gaze.
No matter what Felisiana says, I’ll take it all in stride, and in the end I’ll be the one to attend the third royal exchange gathering. Then I’ll meet Lux and…
As Elizalina was thinking that, Rezamiliana spoke, breaking the silence.
“Sorry to interrupt your discussion, but I intend to attend the third royal exchange gathering myself.”
Felisiana’s eyes widened in surprise at that statement, and she spoke in confusion.
“Rezamiliana-neesama… you?”
Rezamiliana nodded in response.
“Yes. Felisiana attended the first royal exchange gathering, Elizalina attended the second, so it is only natural that I should attend the third.”
Since Rezamiliana, as the First Princess, was usually busy with foreign negotiations, other duties, and training, Felisiana had not expected her to join an event that did not necessarily require her presence. She seemed to have no counter to those words.
However, Elizalina had anticipated that the conversation might take such a turn, and she immediately gave the answer she had prepared.
“That’s true, but Rezamiliana-oneesama, you just finished a major event with the recent swordsmanship tournament, and you’re still busy now, aren’t you? So why not leave this to me!”
By saying that, Elizalina thought that since Rezamiliana had no particular attachment to the noble academy, she might prioritize her usual duties and say something like “I see… if you insist that much, then I’ll leave it to Elizalina this time.” She wasn’t sure it would go that conveniently, but at least she expected it would end up with either her or Felisiana being chosen. Yet…
“No, I appreciate the sentiment, but this time I will attend. At the last swordsmanship tournament, I noticed several promising swordsmen among the students at the noble academy, so I want to take the opportunity to speak with them.”
“You want to speak with them? You’d attend the royal exchange gathering just for that?”
“The royal exchange gatherings are meant for that purpose in the first place. Is there something wrong with that?”
“…”
It’s true that is their purpose, but… Rezamiliana-oneesama only ever takes part in such events when it’s absolutely necessary. For her to do so just for that reason…?
Though Elizalina felt a clear sense of unease, she could not put it into words. Rezamiliana looked at the two of them once before saying,
“If there are no objections, today’s royal council meeting will end here. Return to your duties.”
“…Yes.”
“Okaay.”
Elizalina and Felisiana left the conference room together.
Then Elizalina glanced sideways at Felisiana and thought,
Felisiana doesn’t seem to feel any unease at all. Because she truly respects Rezamiliana-oneesama, she just took her words at face value. I think she could show me that much respect too, though…
As she was thinking that, Felisiana spoke.
“This time neither of us got what we wanted, but I haven’t forgotten our conversation before we entered this conference room, so keep that in mind.”
Leaving only those words behind, she turned her back on Elizalina and walked away.
“Ah, great. Now I’ve only ended up needlessly earning Felisiana’s anger. But still, something about this bothers me, so maybe I’ll try probing Rezamiliana-oneesama next time.”
Muttering that to herself, Elizalina decided there was no point in staying any longer in front of the conference room. She left the place and, for the time being, returned quietly to her own room to carry out her duties.