Chapter 368: A Woman’s Scent
Rezamiliana’s Side
After holding Lux in an embrace in the throne room for a while,
Eventually, Rezamiliana let go of him, and the two of them made their way together to the front of the royal castle.
“Rodwell, if you go straight for a bit from here, I’ve prepared a carriage for you to return to your estate… please use that on your way back.”
“! Thank you very much!”
Seeing Lux’s smiling face as he said that, Rezamiliana felt a deep affection for him.
She wanted to embrace him again, like she had just moments ago.
That thought nearly crossed her mind, but she somehow restrained those feelings and spoke.
“Thank you for accompanying me today… I’m still a little unaccustomed to wearing a dress like this… but being told by you that I’m beautiful made me truly happy.”
“Rezamiliana-sama… no, I should be the one thanking you for today! I got to see you in your dress up close, we talked so much, and also, that you love… lo-love… me…”
Watching Lux stumble over his words in embarrassment, she found him just as endearing as ever.
“If you can’t say it, then I’ll say it for you as many times as needed.”
Then, Rezamiliana gently placed her left hand on Lux’s cheek.
“I love you.”
“…!”
Hearing those words again, Lux’s face flushed red all at once.
“Hehe, there’s still so much love I want to convey, but it’s getting late… let’s leave it at this for today.”
“O-okay! I’ll think carefully about my answer and give you a proper reply another day!”
“Mm.”
“Well then… excuse me!”
After saying that, Lux turned his back to Rezamiliana,
And left the front of the royal castle.
Watching his back as he departed, Rezamiliana murmured softly.
“Rodwell… with this love of mine, I will… definitely…”
Lux’s Side
Inside the carriage Rezamiliana-sama had prepared for me to return to my estate,
I tried to start thinking all at once about the things I had been avoiding earlier.
Felisiana-sama, Florence-san, and Elizalina-sama.
And now, on top of those three, even Rezamiliana-sama herself had said she wanted to be engaged to me, so there were many things I needed to think about.
There were… but.
“I love you.”
The words Rezamiliana-sama said earlier lingered so strongly in my mind that I couldn’t begin to think at all…!
The way she looked straight at me with those dignified, beautiful eyes, and spoke in that gentle voice filled with affection.
It stayed in my head far more than I expected, and in the end, I couldn’t gather my thoughts at all during the carriage ride.
And just like that, I returned to the Count Rodwell family’s estate.
Then…
“Welcome back, Master!”
Siana, as always, bowed her head and greeted me.
“I’m home, Siana.”
When I responded with my usual greeting, Siana raised her head.
“It’s already quite dark outside, so I was worried something might have happened to you… but seeing you return safely puts me greatly at ease!”
“I see… sorry for making you worry.”
“No! Not at all! However, what business did you have today…”
As she said that, Siana stepped closer to me…
But when she reached a certain distance, she suddenly stopped.
“Siana…? What’s wrong?”
Finding it strange, I called out to her.
Siana lowered her gaze slightly and muttered a single phrase…
“A woman’s… scent…?”
She whispered quietly.