Suspicion
Lux’s Side
“Thank you very much.”
I bowed as I expressed my gratitude to the customer who’d bought flowers.
After a moment, I raised my head and spoke to Florence-san.
“Elina-san still hasn’t come back. Is she really alright…”
“It’s possible she resolved the matter and went straight home.”
“If that’s true, I’d be really relieved…”
The duke’s servant and her, alone.
Even if Elina-san was incredibly intelligent, the duke’s servant had a huge advantage in physical strength.
If something happened and he tried to use violence…
“Florence-san, I’m sorry, but could I leave the shop to you for a while? I’ll go search for Elina-san.”
“If that’s how it is, I thought I should go instead of Lux-sama… but it seems that won’t be necessary.”
“Eh…”
I froze for a moment.
“Yep. I came to make my report.”
“What?”
A voice came from the stall next door, in the opposite direction of Florence-san. When I turned, I saw Elina-san wearing a red hood.
“Elina-san. You’re safe.”
“Of course. There’s no way someone like that could beat me.”
“I’m really glad.”
When I said that with feeling, Elina-san looked embarrassed.
“S-so you were that worried about me…”
“What happened with that man?”
After a short pause, Florence-san asked. Elina-san replied in a calm voice, as if switching her mood.
“He agreed not to bother you two again. It’s settled.”
“How did you convince him in such a short time?”
“That’s a secret. Anyway, he won’t touch either of you now, so relax.”
“Thank you, Elina-san.”
“No need to thank me. I’ve got something to do, so I’ll be going. It seems guards sent by the royal family are stationed around here today, so if something happens, you can rely on them.”
“Thank you for everything.”
After I thanked her, Elina-san gave a small wave, turned, and walked away.
“Elina-san’s such a kind person.”
“…”
Even though I said that, Florence-san watched Elina-san’s back with a suspicious look.
“Florence-san? Is something wrong?”
When I asked, Florence-san widened her eyes as if startled.
Then she gave a small smile and spoke gently like always.
“It’s nothing.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”
The same thing had happened earlier, yet something still felt off.
“Excuse me, may I have this flower?”
“Ah. Y-yes.”
A customer spoke to me just as I started thinking, so I focused on serving customers again.
Since I’d been doing unfamiliar customer service nonstop, I was physically tired.
Even so, the number of customers made me happy, and seeing their smiles when they bought flowers made any fatigue disappear.
While thinking that and continuing my work, people around us began murmuring for some reason.
I didn’t know why, but I kept serving the customer in front of me.
And then.
“I’d like to purchase some flowers, if that’s alright.”
“Yes. Which flo… huh?”
When I looked at the next customer’s face, I froze.
My voice wouldn’t come out.
Then, with surprise tightening my throat, I spoke the person’s name.
“F-Felisiana-sama?”