Immediately
“D-die!? Do you think it’s permitted to say something like that to me, a member of a duke’s house!”
“Anyone who interferes with Lux has no right to live, whether they’re a noble or a commoner or even royalty, so yes, it’s permitted.”
“…!?”
The words spoken in a mechanical voice held only truth, and the duke’s face turned pale.
Feeling his death close at hand, he stopped acting defiant, held his hand out in front of him, and spoke.
“W-wait! You know about my connection to Lage and even my objective, so that means you must also be a noble, and of a very good lineage at that, right?”
“And if I am?”
“Right now this country is about to fall into a grave situation.”
The man continued, using exaggerated gestures.
“There haven’t been major effects yet, but following the academic exams and swordsmanship tournament, if during this commerce practicum at the noble academy and in any future events that boy from a count’s house ends up achieving good results, it could shake the standing of us high nobles!”
“…And?”
“If you’re a high noble as well, then together let’s restore the proper form nobles should take by teaching that count’s child his place!”
Perhaps feeling he had managed to steer things in his favor, the duke spoke with strength, as if the pale face and cold sweat from before had been a lie.
Elizalina listened to the end of his impassioned speech and then…
“…Haah.”
She let out a sigh.
Her reaction made the duke show a slightly confused expression.
“I kept quiet because I thought maybe you’d share some other information, but in the end that whole speech was worthless.”
“What…!? Even after hearing that, you still call it worthless!?”
“It’s worthless.”
She stated it firmly and continued in the same emotionless tone.
“You don’t even know how hard Lux works, how kind he is, or how diligent he is.”
Even this time, Lux studied hard in his own way to deal with negotiations he’s bad at. He worked even in a field that didn’t suit someone as gentle as him.
“There’s no way I’ll let that kindness and effort be hindered by something as ridiculous as noble privilege… No.”
That’s not it.
“I won’t let anyone get in Lux’s way. Anyone who tries, I’ll take care of every one of them… starting with you now.”
“W-what are you… Why go that far for some child of a count…”
Just as the duke said that.
Elizalina drew a bow from beneath her red hood in one smooth movement, and in the time it took to blink once she pulled the string and released an arrow toward the man.
“Gyaaaaaaaa!!”
It was close range, and her movements were polished.
Given the duke’s physique, which couldn’t be called fit even as flattery, there was no way he could avoid it, and he screamed as the arrow pierced him.
“Ah, because I was annoyed, I aimed at a spot that wouldn’t kill you instantly.”
That won’t do. This is a cleanup for Lux, and if it were Lux, he would never let even an enemy suffer.
Thinking that, Elizalina adjusted her aim.
“This is Lux’s kindness.”
Saying that, she released the arrow. The duke collapsed before he could even raise his voice and became a corpse instantly.
But in Elizalina’s mind, the dead man lying before her no longer existed.
She thought only of Lux, light returning to her eyes, and took the bouquet she had purchased earlier from her coat.
She hugged the bouquet gently, cheeks blushing, and murmured.
“Ahh, Lux… I love you… I’ll protect you forever and ever.”
After that, for a while.
Elizalina continued hugging the bouquet as if it were Lux, and continued to feel the love she held for him.