Chapter 1: The Kind-Hearted Noble

“…Hey, about the Noble Academy—”

“It’s not a place for royal princesses to attend.”

Lux might end up getting engaged to someone at the Noble Academy.

Faced with such a sudden and overwhelming problem, Siana felt a deep sense of urgency.

“I know that! Honestly… I just can’t understand why royals can’t attend a Noble Academy.”

“Isn’t it because, as the name suggests, it’s a school for nobles, not royalty?”

“That’s true, but it’s still unacceptable that royalty, who rank higher than nobles, can’t attend.”

Even so, Siana knew there was no point in saying such things here.

So, she took a moment to calm herself.

If things go on like this, Lux-kun might really find a fiancée other than me…

With that thought in mind, she paused briefly before speaking.

“Ideally, I’d like to get engaged to Lux-kun before he starts attending the Noble Academy.”

“If that could happen, it would indeed be ideal… but it seems quite difficult.”

“You’re right. It’d probably require some forceful measures.”

“Forceful measures… You mean using your royal authority to enforce an engagement?”

“Yes. But I absolutely don’t want to do that.”

Even if I got engaged to Lux-kun that way, it would be utterly meaningless.

She wanted to get engaged to Lux out of pure love.

She believed that a forced engagement would never lead to true love.

“In that case, we need to think about what to do moving forward.”

“The Noble Academy frequently interacts with us royals, holding regular events.”

“The royal exchange meetings, yes?”

“Exactly. If I could reveal that I’m Siana during one of those, it might help our relationship progress… but.”

In their current situation and relationship, if Siana, the exclusive maid, revealed she was actually the Third Princess Felisiana, Lux might be so shocked that he could even faint.

“At the very least, I’m not ready to reveal my identity yet. For now, maybe I’ll keep an eye on whether any girls are getting close to Lux-kun.”

“Keep an eye on him… You say?”

“Yes. And as his maid, I’ll build our relationship as someone close to him.”

“That seems like a wise decision.”

But then, she continued.

“The question is, Ojou-sama… will you really be able to just ‘keep an eye’ on things?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“For example, could you remain calm if you saw Rodell-sama talking happily with a woman other than you, Ojou-sama?”

“…Of course I could, naturally.”

Siana placed a hand on her chest, brimming with confidence.

“As the Third Princess Felisiana of this kingdom, I’ll maintain the dignity befitting my station.”

“…”

Hearing her response, Violet gave a small cough.

Then, in a high-pitched, adorable voice unimaginable from her usual calm tone, she said,

“Lux-sama~! You’re so cool~! Would you please consider getting engaged to me!?”

“…What are you doing?”

As Siana shot her a cold glare, Violet coughed lightly once more.

Then, in her usual calm tone, she said,

“I thought I’d act it out to make it easier to imagine.”

“…Ugh. Just stop it and disappear already.”

“Understood.”

“…”

Returning to her room, Siana wrote down a piece of advice titled ‘Five Things Master Should Be Cautious of After Enrolling in the Noble Academy’ on a piece of paper.

◇

“Master, may I have a moment?”

While I was organizing the bookshelves in my room, Siana approached me holding a piece of paper.

Maybe it’s some paperwork only I can handle.

“Yeah, what’s up?”

I placed the book I was holding on the desk and turned to face Siana.

“I’d like you to take a look at this paper, Master, if you could spare a moment.”

Taking the paper she handed me, I sat down on a chair and began reading it.

At the very top, it read:

‘Five Things Master Should Be Cautious of After Enrolling in the Noble Academy’

“…Siana, what’s this?”

“It’s something I put together with your future in mind, Master.”

“You went out of your way to do this for me… Thank you, Siana.”

“No! For you, Master, this is the least I could do!”

Feeling warmed by Siana’s bright expression, I immediately started reading the paper.

‘First, do not associate with barbaric individuals.’

I’m not sure if there are barbaric people at the Noble Academy, but maybe this includes overbearing types too.

…I don’t really want to judge people, but deciding who to associate with and who to avoid is definitely something I need to think about for the future.

Thanks to Siana, I was reminded of that as I moved my eyes to the following line.

‘Second, for the first month after enrollment, do not interact with women for personal reasons.’

“…Huh?”

Reading the second point, I couldn’t help but let out a puzzled sound.

“Master, is something wrong?”

Since Siana, who wrote this, was right beside me, I decided to ask for clarification.

“About the second point… What does it mean to not interact with women for a month?”

“Women who try to get close to you within the first month of enrollment are likely superficial, drawn to your status as an earl’s heir,”

She then continued,

“or to your wonderful appearance or future prospects.”

“…Isn’t it okay to start with that? If we get to know each other slowly afterward, we can learn about each other’s inner qualities too.”

“If you say so, Master… I apologize, I didn’t think it through enough.”

“No, I know you’re thinking about what’s best for me, so there’s no need to apologize.”

If it’s something Siana thought of for my sake, I want to follow through on all of it.

But… this one’s pretty tough, so it can’t be helped.

I moved on to the next point.

‘Third, report anyone who acts rudely or overbearingly toward Master.’

“The third point means I should also consider how to handle those who act high-handedly toward me, right, Siana?”

“Yes, exactly!”

“Got it… That makes sense.”

We’d touched on this earlier, so nodding in agreement felt natural. Siana, as my exclusive maid, might face the same mistreatment from those who act arrogantly toward me. Sharing information about such people would surely make us both feel safer.

“…Hehe.”

For a fleeting moment, I thought I heard Siana giggle softly. But it was so brief, I wondered if I’d imagined it. Brushing it off, I moved to the next point.

‘Fourth, do not associate with women who wear highly revealing clothing.’

“This fourth point seems as tricky as the second one, doesn’t it?” I said, explaining my reasoning. “At parties, women might wear more revealing clothes than usual, right?”

Siana’s voice darkened slightly. “The fourth point applies strictly to everyday situations, if you could understand it that way. Someone who regularly exposes themselves wouldn’t be a good match for you, Master.”

“…Okay, I understand.”

I wasn’t convinced that clothing alone determined compatibility, but surely Siana was worried about me. I turned to the final point.

‘Fifth, even if you find a woman with an attractive figure, never associate with her.’

…Huh?

“S-Siana?”

“Yes, what is it?”

“The fifth point… I don’t understand why I need to be cautious about this more than the others. Why is this something to watch out for?”

“It’s not good for your education, Master.”

“E-education…? I don’t really get it, but… does that mean I shouldn’t interact with you either, Siana?”

“…Huh?”

Surprised by her reaction, I voiced the genuine question that had been on my mind. “I know it’s not right to say this to you as my maid, but from my perspective, I think you have a beautiful figure as a woman.”

“…!?”

“But if I’m not supposed to talk to women with attractive figures after enrolling in the academy—”

“Forget the fifth point! Please forget it right now!!”

Flustered yet with a hint of joy in her voice, Siana interrupted me. Her cheeks flushed red as she nodded energetically.

“I-Is that okay?”

“Yes!”

…If Siana says it’s fine, I’ll forget the fifth point. So, the things I need to be cautious about are:

‘First, do not associate with barbaric individuals.’

‘Third, report anyone who acts rudely or overbearingly toward Master.’

Fourth, avoid associating with women who wear highly revealing clothing.

These three things.

“To think that Master sees me as a woman with an attractive figure… heh, hehe.”

For a while after that, Siana seemed a bit off for some reason. In any case, I resolved to keep these three points she’d prepared in mind from now on.

◇

Four days until Lux enrolls in the Noble Academy.

“—Ojou-sama, may I have a moment?”

Siana was deep in thought in her room, pondering how to advance her relationship with Lux before he enrolled, when Violet appeared.

“I’m thinking right now, so can it wait?”

“I’m afraid not. It’s an order from your father.”

“From Father? …No, it can wait.”

Though briefly tempted when told it was an order from her father, the king, Siana dismissed it. Lux was overwhelmingly more important.

As if expecting this, Violet continued without missing a beat. “Your father has a request for you, Ojou-sama.”

“A request for me…? He refused my engagement to Lux-kun, yet he has the nerve to ask something of me.”

“I understand your feelings, but I believe this matter might not be bad for you, Ojou-sama.”

“…Not bad for me?”

Finally, Siana turned her attention to Violet. Nodding, Violet continued, “It seems your father wishes for you to deliver a greeting as a royal at the Noble Academy’s entrance ceremony.”

“The entrance ceremony greeting, by me…!?”

An unexpected opportunity sent Siana’s mind racing. Chances to appear before Lux as the Third Princess Felisiana were rare. Even a single additional moment was precious, but this was the entrance ceremony—before other students, and more importantly, before any potential romantic rivals. She could make an impression as the Third Princess Felisiana in front of Lux.

“…This is a huge opportunity for me.”

“Indeed it is.”

“I’ll take it. Let’s head to the royal castle at once.”

“Understood.”

As they left the mansion, Lux noticed Siana and waved. “Siana! Are you here to tend to the garden?”

“Y-Yes! That’s right! What were you doing, Master?”

Approaching him, Siana asked, and Lux glanced at the colourful flowers before him.

“I was taking a study break and looking at the flowers you’ve been growing.” Lux’s slight smile carried a gentle warmth. “Looking at these flowers makes me feel like I can work hard like you, Siana.”

“I-I’m flattered!” Siana replied, her voice tinged with delight. “But I know better than anyone how hard you always work, Master, so you should take more breaks!”

“Thank you… But as the next head of the family, I have to work even harder.”

“…”

Seeing Lux speak so earnestly, Siana felt anew that confining him to managing an earl’s estate was a waste. Lux-kun is someone who should become a king. If she, the Third Princess Felisiana, married Lux, he could rise to that throne. To make the kindest person she knew a king—and above all, to love and be loved by the boy she adored—Felisiana had to be united with Lux.

As Siana reaffirmed this goal in her heart, Lux spoke again. “I’m going back to my room to study now.”

“Yes, I’m rooting for you! Please take care of yourself!”

“Thanks. Your support gives me even more motivation, so I’ll do my best.”

With a gentle smile, Lux turned and walked back into the mansion. At that moment, Violet appeared.

“…For a noble, he’s truly an exceptionally kind person, isn’t he? That Rodell-sama.”

“Yes. Lux-kun is someone who should be king, not just a lord.” And at the same time, the only boy in this world I love…

“I’ll make sure the entrance ceremony greeting leads to something more.”

“Yes… I’ll support you from the shadows.”

◇

Three days until I start at the academy, but something’s been on my mind. To address the issue, I went to Siana’s room.

“Siana, are you free right now?”

“Master!? Y-Yes! What is it!?” Her flustered voice came through as she quickly opened the door.

“You’ve seemed troubled by something lately, and I’ve been a bit worried about it.”

“…I’m happy you’re concerned, but I’m not troubled at all, so no need to worry!”

“Really? You’ve been deep in thought and jotting down notes here and there lately…”

“N-No, that’s not true!”

“…”

There’s no doubt about it—Siana is hiding something. What should I do? As her master, should I press further? Or is this something I should leave alone? Even though I’m her master, I don’t want to force my way into something Siana is uncomfortable with. But on the other hand, she might want to confide in me, but is holding back out of hesitation… If that’s the case, I want to be there for her.

As I hesitated, Siana spoke up. “…I heard a rumor that a member of the royal family will be attending the entrance ceremony this year.”

I wondered what this was about all of a sudden, but Siana’s demeanor hadn’t changed much. Could this topic be related to what’s been on her mind?

“A royal? I wonder who it’ll be.”

When it comes to royalty, there’s the king and queen, the First Princess, the Second Princess, and the Third Princess. From what she said, it’s unclear who exactly will be there.

“It’s… said to be the Third Princess, Felisiana-sama.”

Felisiana-sama. She’s the same age as Siana and me.

“Felisiana-sama is coming… Now I’m feeling even more nervous.”

Speaking of Felisiana-sama, she’s rumored to excel not only in academics and swordsmanship but also in cracking down on villains, contributing to the kingdom’s peace—an incredible person. I met her once when I was very young, but I don’t know what she’s like now.

“I wonder if Felisiana-sama is… a very serious and composed person,” I muttered, basing my impression on rumors.

Siana shook her head, her tone flustered. “N-No! I believe she’s someone with a bright smile and a very approachable demeanor!”

“That’d be nice… Well, I doubt I’d have any interaction with Felisiana-sama anyway.”

“…Would it be a bother, Master, if you had to interact with Felisiana-sama?” For some reason, Siana looked down with a somber expression as she asked.

Not understanding why, I simply spoke my mind. “No, I respect Felisiana-sama, and I wouldn’t find interacting with her a bother at all. Oh, but that doesn’t mean I’m underestimating her or thinking I could casually interact with someone as great as Felisiana-sama—”

“I understand, Master. You really are… Master.”

Siana smiled as she looked at me.

…Master is really Master?

“I’m just me, but… huh? What do you mean…?”

“That’s exactly what I mean.”

With that, Siana gave me a bright smile. I didn’t quite get it, but seeing her enjoy herself warmed my heart naturally.

◇

One day remained until I began attending the Noble Academy. Or rather, with night already here, once I slept and woke, the entrance ceremony would arrive. Excitement and anxiety swirled within me, but I’d done all I could to prepare. Now, I could only wait for the moment to come. With just the table lamp casting a soft glow, I gazed absently out the window.

A gentle knock sounded at my door.

“Who’s there?”

“It’s Siana… Are you still awake?”

“Yeah.”

“…I’m sorry, but could I have a moment of your time?”

“Sure.”

The knock had been soft, likely out of consideration not to wake me if I’d been asleep. I felt Siana’s kindness in that small gesture as she slowly opened the door and stepped inside, approaching my side.

It was rare for Siana to visit my room this late… or perhaps it wasn’t. “This might be the first time you’ve come to my room this late, Siana.”

“I kept it a secret from you, Master, but…” She paused, a faint smile playing on her lips.  “I’ve actually come a few times, even later at night, to see your sleeping face.”

“Huh!? R-Really!?”

Her sudden confession startled me, and Siana placed a hand to her mouth, chuckling softly. Then, turning her gaze toward the window, she said, “I thought you might be asleep tonight as well…” She hesitated before continuing in a gentle tone. “But if I truly wished for you to be asleep, I could’ve come even later, as I usually do. The reason I didn’t was because… I think I wanted to talk with you like this, Master.”

“You wanted to talk with me… That’s why you came to my room at this hour?”

“Yes. Or perhaps it’s more accurate to say I wanted to be by your side.”

“By my side…”

As she explained her reason, she glanced at me briefly before asking, “Starting tomorrow, you’ll be enrolling in the Noble Academy, right, Master?”

“Yeah.”

“That means… we might have fewer chances to talk like this from now on…” Her voice grew quieter, and in an almost strained whisper, she added, “When I think about that, I… I feel lonely.”

“…”

It must have taken considerable courage for her, as my maid, to admit such a feeling. That alone showed how deeply Siana felt this loneliness.

“Siana… It’s true that starting tomorrow, I’ll be at the academy, so we might not get to talk much during the day.”

“…”

“But we can make up for it by talking a lot at night, and since I might struggle with studies on my own, I’d love for you to help me when you’re free. That way, the loneliness might fade, don’t you think?”

“…!”

Looking into her eyes as I said this, Siana’s beautiful blue eyes sparkled like gems as she replied, “Thank you, Master! Everything I am exists for you! So whenever you need my help, please don’t hesitate to ask!”

“Yeah, thanks. It’s late, so go back to your room and rest well.”

“Yes! Thank you for your time! Good night!”

With a bow, Siana left my room. I had been grappling with all sorts of anxieties about starting at the Noble Academy, but thanks to Siana, those worries had vanished.

◇

Back in her room, Siana recalled Lux’s words, a soft smile spreading across her face. Violet, who had been waiting there, noticed and asked, “Ojou-sama, did Rodell-sama say something to make you happy?”

“Yes. I was able to bask directly in Lux-kun’s kindness…” Her voice carried the warmth filling her heart as she continued, “…Haah. I want to love Lux-kun not just as a maid but as the Third Princess Felisiana soon.”

“Tomorrow’s entrance ceremony, the first step toward that, is all set, isn’t it?”

“Of course. Everything’s in place.”

While growing closer to Lux as his maid, she had meticulously prepared for the entrance ceremony, where she could interact with him as Felisiana.

“If you’re that confident, Ojou-sama, it seems there’s no chance of failure.”

“Naturally… There’s only one thing that could cause a slip-up.”

“A cause for failure…?”

Siana paused briefly before answering. “Nerves.”

“…Pardon?”

“Because! Tomorrow will be the first time since childhood that I’ll appear before Lux-kun as the Third Princess Felisiana!”

“…”

“Just thinking about him seeing me as a princess makes me nervous, and if I had to speak on top of that, I—”

Afterward,

Violet sighed, watching Siana ramble on about her nerves, though she found it somewhat endearing.

That night, Felisiana had a dream. A dream of the day she first met Lux as a child, at her first party. Led by her father, the king, she exchanged greetings with one noble after another. “I am the Third Princess Felisiana. Pleased to make your acquaintance.” She responded politely, but she understood this was merely a place for making connections.

This is boring.

Adults and children alike, their base desires were all too transparent. Felisiana even felt disgust at how they fawned over her, their motives laid bare. Then, a man and woman dancing joyfully caught the corner of her eye.

“Hm? What’s wrong, Felisiana?” Her father followed her gaze and said, “Oh. That’s dancing. It’s something close men and women do together.”

“Close… men and women…”

“Yes. There’s even a legend that dancing in the castle’s ballroom leads to a future union.”

I doubt I’ll ever meet a man I can let my guard down with, and even if I did, that legend is just a fairy tale. In reality, it was likely just a ritual to reinforce political marriages.

“…”

This world was steeped in greed, but Felisiana had hoped that attending a party might show her some glimmer of light. That was her expectation… but. In the end, there’s nothing here either. As her father began talking with another man, her heart grew cold and closed off—

“Oh no, they’re not here either… W-What should I do?”

A boy about her height approached nearby, looking troubled as he scanned his surroundings. Bored, Felisiana walked up to him. “Is something troubling you?”

Startled by her sudden approach, the boy turned to her. “Y-Yes! I got separated from my father…”

“I see. Shall we look for him together?”

“Huh? I-Is that okay!?”

“Yes.”

I’m just bored being with Father anyway… Still, “Thank you so much!” What a cheerful boy… No, is he just acting this way because I’m a princess? Concluding as much without looking closely at his face, the two began walking.

“Where did you get separated?”

“Near where those people were dancing…”

“Then let’s head there first.”

When they arrived near the dancing crowd, a man approached with a calm voice. “There you are, Lux.”

“…! Father!!” Lux ran to him.

“I was worried. Don’t wander off again.”

“Yes!”

“…”

For a noble, they have a relatively gentle air… Or are they just acting this way because I’m here? Watching the two talk warmly with a cold heart, the man noticed Felisiana and said in a slightly flustered tone, “Felisiana-sama… I didn’t realize you were here. My apologies.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

There’s no point in me staying here anymore. Turning to head back to her father—at that moment, she heard Lux’s surprised voice from behind. “Felisiana-sama…!? Father! That’s the Third Princess!?”

“Yes. I thought you knew since you were together, but you didn’t?”

“When I told her I got separated from you, she kindly offered to help me look, but I had no idea she was Felisiana-sama!”

Hearing those words, Felisiana stopped in her tracks. Kind? Me? …And, “…” This boy didn’t know I was Felisiana? She had assumed Lux’s cheerful demeanor was because he knew she was the Third Princess. That’s why it hadn’t touched her heart—but if that was his genuine behavior from a pure heart…

“So, Lux, you haven’t properly introduced yourself to Felisiana-sama, have you?”

“Urgh… Y-You’re right!”

“It’s not too late. Go introduce yourself properly.”

“Y-Yes, Father! …Felisiana-sama!”

When Felisiana turned at Lux’s call, “I’m Lux Rodell of the Rodell earldom! Thank you so much for earlier!” He bowed as he introduced himself and expressed his gratitude, then lifted his head after a moment.

At that moment, Felisiana looked closely at Lux’s face for the first time. “…!” His eyes were so pure and beautiful, his bright expression radiating light. There was not the slightest trace of vileness there, only light.

“Felisiana-sama, is something wrong?”

She had been captivated by Lux’s gaze. When she stayed silent for a while, Lux’s father, puzzled, checked on her.

“N-No… It’s nothing.”

“I see. Well, we’ll be going now… Come on, Lux.”

“Yes! Felisiana-sama! Thank you so much!!”

Lux bowed again, then turned and left with his father.

“…Lux Rodell-kun.”

Muttering his name, Felisiana’s eyes caught the sight of a man and woman dancing nearby. Until moments ago, she had no interest in dancing whatsoever, but now, “I want to dance… with him, with Lux-kun.” Looking up at the man and woman dancing joyfully in their dresses, her eyes sparkled as she fervently wished to dance with Lux.

—That wish is one she still holds to this day.