Chapter 424: The Taste of Tea
The next day.
When I woke up, I felt someone’s gaze from very close by.
When I looked toward it, Felisiana-sama’s beautiful face was there.
“Felisiana-sama… good morning.”
“Good morning, Lux-kun… did you sleep well last night?”
“Yes. With you by my side, Felisiana-sama, it felt warmer than sleeping alone, and I slept very well…”
“I’m glad to hear that… though…”
As she said that, Felisiana-sama wrapped her arms around me.
“I woke up a little earlier than you, Lux-kun, so while I was waiting for you to wake up, I had to resist the urge to hold you… it wasn’t easy.”
“Felisiana-sama…”
Of course, I hugged her back.
Then her expression softened with happiness.
“Waking up and finding you beside me, Lux-kun, and holding each other while sharing our feelings… I don’t know how many times I imagined a moment like this, but now it’s really happening… I’m truly happy.”
“Me too… being able to hold you like this in the morning fills me with happiness.”
“Lux-kun…”
After that, we stayed in each other’s arms for a while.
Then, deciding it was about time to go to breakfast, we opened the door.
Violet-san should be in Felisiana-sama’s room, so we could go together… just as I was thinking that,
“Good morning, Ojou-sama, Rodwell-sama.”
“…!? V-Violet-san…!?”
Violet-san, who had been standing in front of the room, bowed and greeted us the moment we stepped out.
“It seems breakfast is ready, so I would like for us to proceed to the dining hall together now. Would that be acceptable?”
“Y-yes! That’s what I was planning too, but… were you waiting here the whole time?”
“That is correct.”
As Violet-san nodded, Felisiana-sama added,
“When we stayed here before, we shared a room, so there weren’t many opportunities, but at the royal castle, Violet would usually wait in front of my room before I woke up. Since she slept in a different room today, and there’s no longer any issue with appearing before you, Lux-kun, she chose to do the same here.”
“I see…”
As a servant, Violet-san really is incredibly diligent.
As I was thinking that, Violet-san spoke.
“Of course, one reason is my duty as Ojou-sama’s attendant… however, the other reason is my desire to see the man I love… Rodwell-sama.”
“…!”
Loyalty and love.
It seemed Violet-san could carry both at once, balancing them naturally.
“I’m happy! Thank you for being considerate of Felisiana-sama and me yesterday and giving us time together… but I treasure and love you just as much, Violet-san, so please let me show you my love from now on.”
As I said that, I embraced Violet-san.
“Rodwell-sama…”
Violet-san embraced me in return.
We held each other for a short while… and then, once we took our seats in the dining hall,
“I’ll prepare the tea.”
“…! Thank you very much!”
Felisiana-sama poured tea into my cup, and I took a sip.
“…!”
It had the exact same taste as the tea Siana used to make for me.
Since Siana was Felisiana-sama, that might be obvious… but now I understand.
When I first visited the royal castle, Felisiana-sama said that if the day came when I could drink the tea she made, it would mean our relationship had grown closer…
This is what she meant.
What she once spoke of as a possibility had now become reality.
It felt a little strange, but at the same time, it made me very happy.
“How is it?”
“It’s very delicious! …Even when I was suffering, troubled, or in pain, whenever I drank the tea Siana… Felisiana-sama made, it made me feel like I could keep going, and it supported me so many times. And now, it’s become a flavor that reminds me of Siana, who is a part of you, and of you yourself, Felisiana-sama… it warms my heart. I want to keep drinking the tea you make forever.”
“…! As the one who made it, there’s no greater joy than hearing you say that, Lux-kun… of course, I’ll make it for you as many times as you like.”
“Felisiana-sama… thank you very much!”
After that,
I ate breakfast together with the two of them, drank the tea prepared by Felisiana-sama and Violet-san, and spent the day talking and studying… and then, a few days later,
At last, it became the day before the coronation.