Chapter 374: Sincere Thoughts
Lux’s Side
“You seem to be deep in thought. Is something troubling you?”
“!”
That morning, after arriving at the noble academy,
As I sat down thinking about the matter of engagements, Florence-san, seated beside me, spoke to me.
“N-no! I’m fine!”
I answered reflexively, but after watching me for a moment, Florence-san spoke again.
“…Is it about the engagement?”
“…!”
“So I was right.”
“…Yes.”
If I tried to hide it, it would only cause unnecessary worry, so I nodded honestly.
Being with Siana yesterday warmed my heart, and it felt like I might have realized something during that time.
But as for who I should become engaged to, Felisiana-sama, Florence-san, Elizalina-sama, or Rezamiliana-sama… I still couldn’t find an answer at all.
“Following myself and the Third Princess, even the Second Princess has proposed an engagement to Lux-sama, so it’s only natural you’d feel troubled.”
“Yes… Florence-san, Felisiana-sama, and Elizalina-sama are all such wonderful women that I feel they’re far too good for me… huh?”
The way Florence-san said it so naturally, I almost let it pass as if it were obvious.
But then I realized she had just said something incredible, so I asked again.
“Did you just say the Second Princess…?”
“Yes, I did.”
“!? H-how do you know that Elizalina-sama proposed an engagement to me!?”
Judging from her reaction, it seemed she didn’t know about Rezamiliana-sama’s proposal yesterday.
But I still couldn’t understand how she knew about Elizalina-sama, so I asked in surprise.
Florence-san answered calmly.
“It would take a long time to explain in detail, so to keep it brief… I heard it directly from the Second Princess during the Fourth Royal Exchange Gathering the other day.”
“…!”
Come to think of it, there was a moment when both Florence-san and Elizalina-sama had disappeared from the venue during that gathering… so it must have been then.
“I see… if Elizalina-sama said it herself, then it shouldn’t cause any trouble for me to say it as well, so I’ll be clear… just as you said, I received a proposal of engagement from Elizalina-sama.”
If she weren’t the Second Princess of this country, I should have told Florence-san, who has also proposed to me, right after it happened.
As I made that clear, Florence-san nodded slowly.
Then she continued.
“And because of that, you’re even more troubled over who to choose… is that correct?”
“Yes… to be more precise…!”
I almost continued, but quickly stopped myself.
“…Lux-sama? What is it?”
Seeing me hesitate, Florence-san called out, and I spoke again.
“I-I’m sorry! I’m usually helped by many people, but for this matter, I think I need to come to an answer on my own first, so I can’t say more than this…”
“…I see, that’s a very sincere way of thinking, very much like you, Lux-sama…”
“However,” she continued,
Florence-san moved closer until our shoulders touched,
And placing her hand over mine, she spoke gently.
“Precisely because it’s something difficult to resolve alone… would you allow me to stay by your side, as someone who loves you, Lux-sama?”