Love
Lux’s Side
“Good morning, Lux-sama.”
“Good morning, Florence-san!”
…After the holiday.
When I arrived at the noble academy, Florence-san and I exchanged our usual greetings.
Then, as I sat down beside her, since she was already in her seat, Florence-san spoke.
“It has been since the holiday… at that time, I was very surprised to see you and the Third Princess together in town.”
“I was also truly surprised, since I never expected to run into you, Florence-san.”
After a brief exchange, Florence-san paused for a moment before asking.
“That day you spent together, whose suggestion was it?”
“It was Felisiana-sama’s. She sent me a letter saying that since we had not been able to meet much lately, she wanted to.”
“…I see.”
Nodding as if she had accepted something, Florence-san murmured that, then continued.
“It is not because I saw you with the Third Princess, but… I would also like to spend some time with you soon, Lux-sama.”
“…!”
Even though there are many things I need to think carefully about, the fact that Florence-san wants to spend time with me makes me honestly happy. Overcome by that feeling, I let out a sound without meaning to, then quickly nodded and said.
“Understood! The swordsmanship tournament has ended, and things have settled down quite a bit lately, so let’s definitely spend time together! Shall we go out into town somewhere?”
When I asked that, Florence-san shook her head and replied.
“No, this time I would like us to truly get to know each other better… I was thinking of having a sleepover with you, Lux-sama.”
“Eh!?”
A… a sleepover…!?
“Of course, I would never force such a thing… but when I think about the future, about being joined with you, Lux-sama, I thought it would be good if I could spend a whole day with you even now.”
A sleepover with Florence-san… just thinking about it makes me nervous, but… since Florence-san is thinking about our future together to this extent, there is no way I could possibly run away from it.
“If that is the case… let’s do it!”
“Ah! Is that truly alright?”
“Yes!”
“Thank you, Lux-sama.”
Smiling gently as she said that, Florence-san and I then discussed when and at which mansion we would have the sleepover.
Rezamiliana’s Side
…A few days after the start of the week, in the royal castle’s dining hall.
At the center of the long table, Rezamiliana and Elizalina sat facing each other, eating lunch.
“The food from high-class restaurants in town is delicious too, but as expected, the chefs in the royal castle pay attention to each and every ingredient, so the taste is consistently superb!”
“That is true.”
While giving that reply to Elizalina, who spoke brightly and at length as usual, Rezamiliana brought up what had been on her mind about her.
“It seems you have been rather busy for some time now. Has there been some problem with your duties?”
“Ah, it is true that I have been busy, but since I am cute and clever, I have been perfectly mediating every time trouble comes up, so it is not as if there has been any problem with my work, you know?”
“I see. Then why have you been so busy?”
“Even if it is you, Rezamiliana-oneesama, that is still a secret for now.”
Since the start of the week, Rezamiliana had been bothered by how Elizalina was active even outside her official duties, but for the moment she accepted that since there were no problems with her work.
Then, after a brief pause, Elizalina spoke in a calmer tone.
“Hey, Onee-sama… if there is something you want too, then instead of overthinking things, you should go and get it… otherwise, someone else might take it away.”
Those words from Elizalina, whose atmosphere seemed a little different from usual, strangely lingered in Rezamiliana’s mind, and she murmured softly.
“…Something I want, huh.”
Right now, the thing I want most… is not power or wealth.
As she thought that and closed her eyes, behind her eyelids appeared the image of Lux.
Yes… it is you, Rodwell… I want you. But… I see… if things stay like this, you will be taken away by someone else.
While Rezamiliana was thinking that with her eyes closed, Elizalina spoke again in her usual bright tone.
“Just kidding. Words like that are just meddlesome for you, are they not, Onee-sama?”
“…No.”
I want to be by your side, supporting you… not anyone else, but with my own hands, I want to lead you to happiness… I see, so this feeling is…
Slowly opening her eyes wide, Rezamiliana declared firmly.
“Thanks to you, I can see what I must do now.”
This feeling, of wishing to bring happiness not with anyone else’s hand but with my own, is love… Rodwell… I will make sure that with my own hands, I bring you happiness.