Chapter 341: Linking Arms
Lux’s Side
“Lux-sama… until the Third Princess and I cross swords, if it pleases you, would you spend this time with me?”
After seeing Elizalina-sama off.
Since Florence-san kindly said that.
I…
“Of course!”
When I nodded and replied.
Florence-san said, “Thank you,” and then.
Though she hesitated for a moment as if unsure whether to say it, she spoke.
“If you don’t mind… since this is a rare occasion, rather than simply walking beside you as usual… would it be alright if I linked arms with you?”
“…!”
At an event like this.
Linking arms with someone of the opposite sex is, among the nobility, considered a form of etiquette.
It does not necessarily indicate a romantic relationship, but there is no doubt that it shows closeness.
And to do that here, in a place with so many people, with Florence-san.
Even if it doesn’t necessarily indicate a romantic relationship, I haven’t even given my answer regarding the engagement yet, so do I really have the right to do something like that with Florence-san?
“…”
No, that’s not it!
Looking at Florence-san, who was gazing at me with gentle eyes, I said firmly in my heart.
Since Florence-san is saying she wants to link arms with me, what I should be thinking about right now is whether I want to respond to her feelings.
And that answer, I can give right away.
“Yes!”
Though I tensed up without meaning to when I replied.
I created a space between my body and my arm.
“Thank you very much, Lux-sama… then, excuse me.”
Saying that, Florence-san gently intertwined her arm with mine.
I felt the distance between me and Florence-san become even closer than when we walk side by side.
“Then, shall we go?”
“Understood…!”
After that, as Florence-san and I walked through the venue while matching even our pace.
I could hear many voices from around us as people looked in our direction.
“Isn’t that… the daughter of the Duke of Florence?”
“Oh, so that is…”
“I had heard that among the Florence ducal house, she especially possesses outstanding talent, but to also have such beauty…”
“However, at the same time, wasn’t it said that the daughter of the Florence ducal house has no interest in men… who is that man beside her?”
“Who knows… no, I feel like I’ve seen him somewhere before.”
“…That’s right, he’s the man who placed second in the swordsmanship tournament.”
“What…! In that swordsmanship tournament…”
So many people are talking about us!
I can hear so many voices that I can’t catch all of them.
But just thinking that the nobles and members of the royal family here are talking about us made me extremely nervous.
But…
“…”
Florence-san, who is linking arms with me right now, didn’t seem particularly concerned about the people around us.
“…Florence-san, you really are amazing, aren’t you?”
“Me… why do you feel that way?”
“No, well… it’s like, you’re used to this kind of setting, or rather, even linking arms with me in front of this many people, you don’t seem bothered at all.”
When I voiced what I was thinking.
Florence-san shook her head.
“It’s true that I don’t pay much attention to the gazes of others to begin with, but that’s not the only reason why I’m not concerned about them right now.”
“Huh…?”
“…Right now…”
Florence-san slightly tightened the arm she had linked with mine.
And then, with her cheeks dyed red, she continued.
“Right now… I’m simply happy to be like this with you, Lux-sama, and I can’t think about anything else.”
“…!”
At Florence-san’s expression and tone.
As I once again became aware that we were linking arms.
I too, right now.
Decided to focus only on the fact that I am linking arms with Florence-san like this, and to enjoy the time with her.