Parallel Lines
Floria’s Side
“…Florence.”
Felisiana spoke as she pressed her sword forward, calling Floria’s name in a mechanical voice.
“Move. Step aside.”
“I can’t step aside here…!”
Floria said that as she parried Felisiana’s sword.
Felisiana had been pushing the blade forward, enough that an ordinary swordsman would have lost balance.
But when her sword was parried, Felisiana immediately stopped applying force and took distance from Floria.
The two faced each other, and at the same time, the duke behind Floria spoke.
“D-duke Florence!”
The duke repeated himself from behind.
“You will save me, won’t you? As expected of the daughter of one of the most powerful ducal families in this country. I will repay you lat—”
“Do not speak nonsense.”
“W-what…?”
The duke looked confused at Floria’s cold words.
Floria erased her usual smile and spoke icily.
“I’m not acting with the intention of saving you. On the contrary, since you insulted Lux-sama, I don’t want to help you at all.”
“T-then why are you helping me now?”
“It’s for Lux-sama.”
Felisiana, who faced Floria, continued.
“I don’t understand why you would protect someone like that.”
“As I just said, I’m not protecting him. I only prevented his life from being taken unjustly.”
“Unjustly? That man insulted Lux-kun for a ridiculous reason. He even called Lux-kun foolish. If you love Lux-kun, it should be natural to want to punish that man, yet the fact that you do not means your love is only that mu—”
“I cannot forgive this man either. So we will judge him for his obstruction earlier, which could be seen as interference with business, and for past incidents he likely concealed through his authority over those of lower rank, including all of that.”
She continued.
“But whether Lux-sama desires this man’s life to be taken is another matter.”
“We discussed this before. Lux-kun is kind, so even if someone harms him, he will forgive them.”
“…”
“If we view those who harm Lux-kun the same way Lux-kun does, he will surely face danger someday.”
“I agree with parts of that view, but I insist there is no need to take his life. If he is to be judged, there are more appropriate ways.”
After speaking, the two quietly stared into each other’s eyes.
After a moment of silence, Felisiana spoke.
“No matter how far we go, we will remain parallel lines.”
“It seems so, but that doesn’t mean I intend to back down.”
“I see. But taking that man’s life is already decided.”
“So I am saying that such a thing…”
“Violet.”
“…!”
When Felisiana spoke that name, Floria let out a quiet gasp.
At the same time, Violet appeared beside Felisiana where no one had been before.
“Yes, Ojou-sama.”
“Hold Florence here.”
“Understood.”
With that, Felisiana approached Floria and the others.
“H-hiiiii!”
The man behind them cried out and ran deeper into the alley, fear etched on his face.
“Wait! Don’t move away from behind me…!”
Just as she spoke, Violet suddenly appeared directly before Floria and struck toward her rapier with a dagger. Floria blocked it.
Felisiana walked past them slowly.
“Third Princess! Violet-sama, step aside!”
“I am sorry, but I cannot.”
Violet pressed harder, trying to knock the rapier from Floria’s hand, so Floria once again took distance.
Far in Floria’s sight stood Felisiana, slowly following the man who ran deeper into the alley.
Before her stood Violet, shielding Felisiana’s back, and Floria faced Violet again.
Now she was an enemy, and at the same time, a friend.