The Night Before the Commerce Practicum
Felisiana’s Side
“…I mentioned before that while watching over Rodwell-sama, I confirmed about five male students behaving suspiciously around him. It seems Florence-sama has already dealt with those individuals.”
“I see.”
After receiving Violet’s report once Lux had finished classes at the noble academy, Siana continued in an exasperated tone.
“That woman probably didn’t take their lives, did she? Anyone who tries to harm Lux-kun has no right to keep living.”
After a brief pause, Violet replied.
“However, it appears they were successfully neutralized. Rather than focusing on those individuals, I believe our attention should be on tomorrow’s commerce practicum.”
“Yes, I know. No matter what happens tomorrow, I’ll protect Lux-kun.”
“Yes, Ojou-sama.”
Elizalina’s Side
“Tomorrow’s finally Lux’s commerce practicum day!”
Elizalina let her cheerful voice echo through her room and kept going.
“I’m so excited! I wonder if Lux can properly do what I taught him. His memory’s amazing, but with his personality, negotiations might be tough. If he can’t do it and gets discouraged, I’ll make sure to comfort him!”
She wasn’t only thinking about the commerce practicum itself, but about what would come afterward as well.
Still, she didn’t forget the practicum.
“Oh, right! From what I’ve heard, the noble academy’s commerce practicum is ranked by sales, right? Then does that mean I can pour money into Lux’s shop? I heard it’s a flower shop, but maybe Lux will recommend flowers to me. There’s no way I could refuse. If Lux recommends something, I’d definitely end up buying everything!”
After indulging in her fantasies about tomorrow for a while, Elizalina’s cheeks flushed as she spoke longingly.
“Ah, Lux… it’s almost time. Once the commerce practicum’s over and that moment comes, I’ll finally be able to stand proudly by your side whenever I want. I’m really looking forward to all the time we’ll spend together.”
Rezamiliana’s Side
Under the moonlit night sky,
Rezamiliana swung her sword in the royal castle’s training grounds.
To an outside observer, her swordplay might’ve looked as sharp as ever. To Rezamiliana herself, though, it felt several degrees duller than usual.
“…”
She stopped swinging her sword for a moment and spoke in a dark tone.
“This won’t do. Even though I decided to give up on you, I still…”
In unguarded moments, Lux’s face surfaced in her mind.
For Rezamiliana, who’d lived her life without being swayed by emotion, to be tossed about by her feelings to this extent showed just how deeply she cared for Lux.
…But no matter how she felt, it no longer mattered.
No matter what Rezamiliana felt, she’d never be joined with Lux.
“When I see you tomorrow at the commerce practicum and speak with you, I’ll take that as my farewell and forget about you. For the sake of this country as well, I have to forget.”
Telling herself this was the best choice, Rezamiliana began swinging her sword once more.
“…”
Each time she swung it, Lux’s face rose unbidden in her mind.
“…For me to forget you…”
But reality was merciless.
As the first princess, Rezamiliana couldn’t place her own feelings above the nation.
Feeling powerless before that unavoidable truth, she continued to swing her sword desperately, as if trying to resist that helplessness.
And then, at last,
The day of the commerce practicum arrived, the day when everyone’s intentions surrounding Lux would collide.