Chapter 343: The Place of Resolution
Felisiana’s Side
Felisiana, stepping out before the people gathered at the center of the dance hall, first searched for Lux.
There was no particular intention behind it.
But if Lux was there, looking for him was, for Felisiana, an almost unconscious, reflexive act.
“…!”
Then, at the very front of the crowd.
She found Lux at the center of it, but.
Elizalina was standing beside him.
Just because neither Florence nor I am there, you stand next to Lux-kun…!
As Felisiana directed a gaze filled with killing intent toward Elizalina.
Noticing it, Elizalina smiled and gave a small wave.
“…”
Fine… if you try anything strange with Lux-kun while blending into the crowd, then at that point, I’ll simply join the mock battle as well and cut down Elizalina-anesama under the guise of an accident.
Calling it an accident might be pushing it, but unless she thinks of it to that extent, Felisiana cannot accept the reality of Elizalina standing beside Lux.
“Everyone!”
Elizalina stepped forward and turned to face the crowd.
Looking over them.
“Once again, thank you all for coming today to this Fourth Royal Exchange Gathering, and to this first-ever opportunity for exchange through crossing swords between royalty and students of the noble academy!”
Elizalina spoke brightly, then continued as she gestured toward Felisiana.
“Here today, we have the Third Princess Felisiana, who is with us, and this person…”
In response to her words.
Appearing from the opposite side of Felisiana was a beautiful blue-haired girl.
“The daughter of the Florence ducal house, Floria Florence!”
As Elizalina said this while gesturing toward Florence.
The gathered crowd raised their voices one after another.
“The daughter of that Florence ducal house…!”
“She won the swordsmanship tournament, didn’t she…?”
“Even if she is the Third Princess Felisiana-sama, will she be alright…?”
Amid the growing commotion.
Felisiana and Florence exchanged words as they looked into each other’s eyes.
“Florence, do you understand why I arranged this place today?”
“Yes, of course.”
With the surroundings in an uproar.
And since there was already some distance between them and the crowd, and neither of them raised their voices.
Their conversation would not reach anyone else.
“Third Princess, here… you intend to settle things with me, correct?”
“Yes. Since you understand, this will be quick… until now, I’ve tried various means, but… to prove that your way cannot protect Lux-kun, in the end, this is the fastest way.”
“Certainly, if I were to lose here, then I would no longer be able to claim that I have a way to protect Lux-sama without staining my hands with blood against Third Princess… before even the matter of whether my hands are stained with blood, in terms of the strength required to protect Lux-sama, I would have been defeated by Third Princess.”
However, she continued.
“The same applies to you, Third Princess… if you are defeated by me, who denies your way of thinking and holds an opposing view, then you must acknowledge that your previous beliefs and actions were mistaken.”
“If I were to lose, then I would have no choice but to accept that… however… I have no intention of losing.”
“That is the same for both of us.”
After that, the two fell silent as they stared at one another.
“The excitement in the hall is building, so I believe it is time to begin!”
Then, Elizalina instructed both sides to ready their swords.
She raised her hand once, then brought it down.
“Begin!”
She gave the signal.
In the next instant, the two closed the distance between them at a speed imperceptible to ordinary people.
And, with firm resolve held in their hearts, they began to cross swords.