Chapter 344: Method
The two, crossing swords amid the cheers.
First, Felisiana swung her sword, and Florence skillfully parried it in a highly refined exchange.
And Felisiana and Florence spoke at the same time.
“…You seem quite adept at deflecting… are you planning to avert your eyes from the responsibility required to protect Lux-kun in the same way?”
“Third Princess, despite your words about protecting Lux-sama, I can feel from your sword a strong intent to cut down your opponent.”
“To protect, the power to cut down is necessary.”
“Why can you not understand that there are other ways besides that…!”
“To completely protect Lux-kun, there are no other ways… precisely because there are no other ways, taking lives is necessary.”
“That is not the case… and even if it were, protecting Lux-sama in a way that Lux-sama himself would not accept is something that must never be allowed!”
Declaring that strongly, Florence forcefully parried Felisiana’s sword in a way that disrupted both of their balance.
Because of that, the two created distance between them once.
But that was precisely Florence’s aim.
“…!”
Then, as she closed the distance, Florence thrust her rapier at high speed, and Felisiana began to block it.
(Having won the swordsmanship tournament and even fought a match with Rezamiliana-anesama, Florence’s swordsmanship truly is the real thing.)
However, the ones Felisiana had crossed swords with since long ago were that same Rezamiliana and Violet.
She would not be defeated so easily, and while continuing to withstand Florence’s fierce assault, she spoke.
“Because Lux-kun is kind, if you wish to love and protect him, then you must also have a dark heart to that extent… just how many times must I say this for you to understand!”
Declaring that strongly, Felisiana, just like Florence, thrust her sword.
By striking it against Florence’s rapier, she halted its movement.
Judging that remaining in a halted exchange would put her at a disadvantage, Florence took distance.
And in a calm tone.
“Such a thing is something I will never come to understand… it must never be allowed for lives to be lost because of feelings for Lux-sama.”
“They are not just any lives. The ones I take are the lives of those who tried to harm Lux-kun… or are you saying that the lives of such people are more important than Lux-kun’s life… if so, then I will never allow you to speak of loving Lux-kun again.”
“That is not what I am saying… besides, can someone like you, who disregards Lux-sama’s feelings, truly claim to have love for Lux-sama?”
“Precisely because I have love, I will protect Lux-kun no matter what methods I use.”
“As I said earlier, why can you not consider another method…”
As she was about to continue.
Florence paused, then readjusted her grip on her rapier.
“No… it seems that with Third Princess, this can only be settled not with words, but by crossing swords.”
“That seems to be the case.”
Then, Felisiana also readied her sword once more.
“We will settle this here today, Florence! I will win here and prove that I am the one worthy of Lux-kun!”
“No, from now on I will remain by Lux-sama’s side… therefore, Third Princess, here today, you will sever those feelings you hold for Lux-sama!”
After exchanging those words.
The two once again began to cross swords.