But like a rollercoaster ride, the Empress, who had felt like she'd reached the peak only to drop suddenly, got alerted when Luca spoke.
He looked hesitant, but still continued either way.
"I think there are other, more important things. Because if it's romance, then it's important to consider the feelings of several people."
The boy spoke with the air of someone who had spent far too long pondering this, yet the truth was simple.
Luca, who had learned about love not from his first life but from the people around him now—most of all Xavier—was only pointing out what had been shown to him. The things that made him feel loved.
The disguised Empress leaned forward without realizing it. Her shadows stiffened behind their feeds, holding their collective breath. Every single one of them wanted to hang on to the next words.
Then Luca said, earnest and bright, "Well, it's very important to be honest with each other. Not only is it a sign of respect, but it's also a sign of trust."
