Chapter 352: Miracle
Pink hood.
After several months.
Hearing those words, the memory from that time resurfaces whether she wants it to or not.
The memory of when she tried to resist, to prevent the lives of the three male students, Zolma Zordan and the others, from being taken… only to be surrounded by ten people, left helpless as she watched those three lose their lives.
“The Second Princess was… that person?”
“That’s right… well, I didn’t realize that was you either, Florence, so I’m actually pretty surprised right now.”
So the person wearing the pink hood was the Second Princess.
It might sound sudden and far-fetched, yet Florence found herself strangely convinced.
If that person was the Second Princess, then I can understand the weight behind her words, as if she’s seen a world steeped in blood.
“Even so, I see… if that girl was you, Florence, then our ways of thinking are completely different.”
“It would seem so… I believe Lux-sama’s will should be respected above all else, but Your Highness—”
“I think Lux’s will is important too, but what matters most is Lux’s life.”
“As a means of protecting that life, would you not seek methods other than staining your hands with blood?”
“I would, but there are times when things have to be dealt with… come to think of it, we had a similar exchange right after I dealt with those three male students before… back then, you said, ‘I understand there are times when such actions are necessary… however, it shouldn’t have been necessary that time, they had already been judged and no longer had the power to take any action,’ but with that kind of thinking, you won’t be able to protect Lux.”
Just like before, her words carried the same weight.
Elizalina spoke with a tone filled with conviction.
“…Why can you say that so definitively?”
“…Because I’ve seen more humans than anyone else.”
“…!”
“I don’t know how you see it, Florence, but it really is a miracle among miracles, you know? A boy born into a count’s family, excelling in both academics and the sword, and yet growing up to be that kind… but when someone shines that brightly, the shadow they cast is just as large.”
And then she continued.
“If you want to be with Lux, then no matter what happens, you have to be able to protect him from that shadow… I understand your way of thinking, but… with that way of thinking, you won’t be able to protect Lux.”
“…”
Different from Felisiana, yet similarly rooted in experience and certainty, Elizalina’s unwavering conviction.
However,
“…I too have my own conviction… I will protect Lux-sama to the very end, using methods you would all reject.”
“Oh? Well, there’s only one thing I want to say.”
Saying that, Elizalina closed the distance between herself and Florence.
Fixing her gaze on her, she spoke.
“The one who will be united with Lux and make him happy is me… that’s the one thing I’ll never yield to anyone.”
That intensity.
Different from Felisiana and Rezamiliana, yet still conveying that she was, after all, a member of the royal family.
“I see… however, I have no intention of yielding either.”
“Yeah, that’s fine… and… after talking about all that, this might be a bit sudden, but there’s actually something I wanted to discuss with you today.”
“…Something the Second Princess wishes to discuss with me?”
Tilting her head at Elizalina, who had returned to her usual tone, Florence watched as she nodded.
“Right, right. It’s a bit complicated, so it’s hard to explain everything here right now, but… anyway… Florence, I want you to join forces with us until a certain matter is resolved.”