Conflict
Felisiana’s Side
Felisiana, who had walked with the duke into an alley, stopped.
The duke also halted and looked around as he spoke.
“H-here? Are we going to talk in such a filthy place? There must be a more suitable location for us…”
“No. For you, this place is more than enough.”
“W-what…?”
The duke, who believed Felisiana had been friendly until now, let out a confused voice at her sudden harsh words.
Felisiana let out a deep sigh, then spoke in a cold tone.
“Lux-kun isn’t here, so I can finally say what I want. There are many things I want to tell you.”
“T-things you want to tell me…?”
“Yes. First, concerning what you said about Lux-kun being foolish…”
Her eyes turned vacant and her voice became mechanical.
“You are the foolish one. Because you called Lux-kun foolish, you are going to die.”
“D-d-die!? W-what are you saying!”
“Let me correct myself. There are several other reasons why you will die.”
“O-other reasons…?”
Cold sweat ran down his face. His confident expression from moments earlier was gone.
“Earlier, you said you were educating Lux-kun.”
“Y-yes. If a child of a count family, whose rank is lower than mine, doesn’t understand the noble system that forms the foundation of this country, then as a duke it is proper to teach him… besides, why does Felisiana-sama care so much about that count child…”
“Let me teach you something good.”
Felisiana stepped closer, her eyes filled with emptiness.
“Rank means nothing. In this country, Lux-kun is first. Because you harmed Lux-kun, you will die here.”
“W-w… what are you saying! How could I die because of that count child! Th-that is it.”
The duke gestured desperately, trying to win Felisiana’s favor.
“F-Felisiana-sama, let us make a deal. I will pay an amount that count child couldn’t repay in his entire life, so please spare me. Forget that count child, and from today on, since we have met, we can form a good…”
When Felisiana placed her sword at his neck, he let out a frightened voice.
She paid no attention to his fear and spoke in a flat tone.
“For me to abandon Lux-kun… it has been a long time since I felt such anger. For you to anger me this much, does that mean you wish to die soon? If so, instead of talking for so long, you should have just said from the beginning that you wanted to die. As you wish, I will let you die now.”
“W-wait! Are you serious about taking my life!?”
“Yes. Interfering with royalty alone is already a heavy crime, and your words just now… in addition, you are connected to Lage, and you tried to stop Lux-kun from succeeding any further, which led you to such a foolish act. There is no saving you.”
“…! P-please… have mercy…”
“You said that bloodlines are absolute, didn’t you? I cannot understand that belief, but if you truly believe so, then you should die feeling honored that I, a member of the royal family, am taking your life.”
Felisiana removed the sword from his neck, then swung it with force to cut him down. But…
Just before the blade touched him…
“Third Princess…! As long as I am here, I will never permit such an act!”
Floria stopped Felisiana’s sword and declared that strongly.