Inside the slightly shaking carriage, I could not even think of coming up with a comment for my first experience riding a carriage. All I could do was to worry.
By the way, we are currently moving towards Lilia-san's house, and the members who received an explanation from her earlier are all in the carriage.
It looks like Mitsunaga-kun agreed to participate in the Hero Festival, and would go to the palace as a state guest. After he lightly greeted Kusunoki-san and Yuzuki-san with goodbyes, he went off on a very extravagant carriage. I only wished that he took me with him.
"...uhm, Kaito-san? Are you alright? If you do not feel good, we could take a break..." (Lilia)
"No, I am fine?"
"My Lady, I believe that Miyama-sama is still confused."
This maid, so shamelessly... she knows why, but she won't say it!
"I see, he cannot be blamed. Although these might not be the words of that suits the one created the cause, and could not even apologize properly... please do not worry too much. Please tell me if there is anything I could help you. Of course, that goes the same with Aoi-san and Hina-san."
"Yes."
"Thank you very much."
Lilia-san's kindness is piercing through my heart. What I'm feeling in a nutshellーーwhy did it become like this? Lilia-san's house is full of women. I'm feeling so away. Not to mention my previous world, I'm going to be alone even after being summoned here. This environment is too much.
Is this the punishment for doubting the kind Lilia-san? Uu, if only that other high school student that I saw before came as well... I mean, don't tell me that I robbed him of his position? I'll apologize, so can you exchange places with me now?
In the end, worrying about it had no way of changing the reality, and after 30 minutes in the carriage... we arrived at the destination, Lilia-san's house.
Its size is clearly not something that a common person would live in, vividly showing how high her status is. There are female knights wearing armors in front of the widely opened gate, and it even looks like art.
We passed through the beautifully maintained courtyardーーreaching the entrance of the structure that is worthy of calling a mansion, and followed Lilia-san in getting off the carriage. In my commoner's distinctive imagination, I thought that there would be servants welcoming her back aligned by the sides, but I did not see such a scene while we normally advanced through the corridors.
Just like Lunamaria-san had said, there really seemed to be only women in this mansion, and all of the people we passed by, were clearly women. I feel completely out of place. I mean, they're looking at me with cold gazes so much that it almost physically hurts!
"..."
"My Lady?"
"Luna, it is already lunch... everyone must be tired now. Let us eat lunch first. It should be ready?"
"Yes, I believe it will be immediately served."
"Well then, I'll leave that to you."
Lilia-san said so, and guided us to another wide... room that could be used by tens of people. It was exactly before lunch when we were summoned, and I didn't take lectures for the afternoon, so I'm quite hungry. Since Kusunoki-san and Yuzuki-san were on their way back home at that time, they probably only have half a day for their lessons, so I think they haven't taken their lunch.
When we were about to take our seats, servants wearing maid clothes almost naturally pulled the chairs for us. For some reason, I felt like my chair was pulled in a not so kind way, but I think it's just me.
"U-Uhm, Lilia-san... I, I'm not good with table manners..."
"Ahh, it is alright. It is not like we are at a formal banquet, so please eat as comfortably as you wish."
Lilia-san showed a gentle smile towards Yuzuki-san who voiced that out anxiously. Honestly, I'm clueless about table manners too. All that I know is using the fork and knife starting from the outside. That's the degree of my knowledge, and in fact, I never tried to eat like that.
After a while, female servers that I think I saw similarly on tv appeared, carrying a tray with a silver dome cover. And at the timing when it was about to be served in front of us, a voice called out.
"... exchange my meal with Kaito-san'sーーwith that man over there."
"Eh? M-My Lady?"
"Did you not hear me?
"N-No, but..."
That voice was not the kind one that I heard earlier, but a graceful voice that somewhat felt sharp.
Hearing Lilia-san's words, the female server showed a hesitant expression.
"...I shall say this so you would not misunderstand. I am not 'asking' you. I am 'ordering' you...do you understand what that means?"
"Y-Yes. As My Lady wishes..."
Receiving a colder and sharper voice than earlier, the female server's face paled and quickly abided to Lilia-san's order and exchanged the food.
And after the food were all served, Lilia-san's kind smile returned and called out to us once again.
"Please, enjoy your meal. I hope it would fit your taste."
"Ah, yes."
"Itadakimasu."
"Let's eat."
I have an image of being served a full course when you talk about food for nobles, but what came out was bread, soup, salad, and the main dish that sounds very fancy, though I didn't understand what it meant. It's like a foreign-style set meal, and it was very delicious.
There are many otherworldly cuisines that is described as not delicious in isekai light novels, with the most popular being hard bread and too-much-salt soups, and I was also expecting that, butーーthe food I'm eating right now is delicious.
The bread is soft enough, the soup tastes like consommé, and the least I could say is it is far more delicious compared the convenience store bento that I've eaten.
Oh, there, suddenly I instinctively looked at Lilia-san's direction. Lilia-san took a spoonful, but after eating that, she sighed.
"...Luna, before the lunch ends..."
"...as you wish."
After she gave Lunamaria-san a command with a quiet voice, she noticed my gaze and returned me a gentle smile.
"How is the food?"
"Eh? Ah, it's very delicious."
"I am relieved that it suits your taste."
Lunamaria-san who received some order silently told me while she passed by, while I blushed seeing the smile that seemed like a blooming flower.
"...Miyama-sama, although I have said things that surprised you earlier... well, please be at ease. It is alright."
"Eh?"
"Although My Lady is clumsy sometimes, she is very wise..."
After smiling after she finished speaking, Lunamaria-san left the room. I wonder what that was about? Did it have something to do with exchanging the food earlier?
After lunch ended and the after-meal tea is served, for some reason, Lilia-san asked me "Is it alright to borrow some of your time?", and brought me to another room.
And my comment once againーーwhy did it become like this?
Right now, there are women standing in a straight line in front of me. There are those wearing maid clothes, there are those who are wearing armor, and those who are wearing their respective working clothes. The eyes of those tens of women were all pointing towards me, so I can't even describe how uncomfortable it is.
"...it would seem that most have gathered."
Lilia-san stood in front of me who is completely clueless on what's going on, and silently... but sharply, she stared at those women.
"First of all, I am sorry for the suddenly calling all of you. It is because it would only be better to say this at the beginning, so I asked all of you to gather, while leaving some, but enough people to do your work."
I can swear that she did not use a loud voice. But, Lilia-san's voice echoed throughout the silence. Looking at her beautiful and elegant face from the side, I could even feel the elegance coming from her disposition.
"Well, about the main problem... concerning Miyama Kaito-sama. It is true that he is male, but he is also a very important 'guest' that I have invited. Towards such gender that I rarely invite, it is only natural for you to be confused about how to treat them. It must have been very hard to all of you."
"..."
After listening that far, I finally understand what Lilia-san is trying to say. I also understood the reason why Lunamaria-san described Lilia-san wise.
"However, I must say this clearly to you. Even if he is male... treating him with injustice for such reason, I shall never allow it. After hearing these words, if things of such kind were to be intentionally done to him... it is equal to pointing your sword at me!"
Her words were filled with a strong will that would not allow any objections. It was as if a sword came swinging down within the silence. Ahhh, how shameful of me... how shameful it is to think that I have once thought that she is a bad person.
"Do you understand? It does not matter whether there is damage done or none. Even if it is on the range that you yourselves think that there is no problem, if I think that it is... I shall show no mercy. That's all. Return to your respective jobs."
After Lilia-san finished speaking, the gathered women went back to their work, and only Lilia-san and I were left behind the room.
"With this, I believe that it should make it more comfortable for you."
"Ah, uhh, thank you very much."
"No, it should be me who should apologize... although it was not intentionally, our House started to have airs that make it seem to ban males, and there might also be some among us that might hate you just for the fact that you are a male. I could only say sorry to Kaito-san who might've felt uncomfortable."
"Ah, no."
"I wonder if... it's because I don't have male friends? Mmm, it might be because I lack the charm as a lady."
Lilia-san's dignified and noble expression disappeared, and showed a bitter yet mischievous smile.
I now know that thinking of nobles in an isekai are all evil is just my prejudice. I rather felt that it should be me who should apologize.
"...I think that, Lilia-san is a very kind and charming though."
"...!! Fufu, thank you very much. Well, Aoi-san and Hina-san must be waiting. Let's return."
Honestly, I'm not that rich in interpersonal experiences to say clever and sensible lines. But, simple words of praise naturally fell out of my mouth.
Following Lilia-san who showed a slightly surprised smile then giggled cheerfully, I also left the room.
Come to think of itーーit might be this instant that made me look forward to the next year that I would spend in this world.
"By the way, was there a problem in my lunch earlier?"
"...Yes. It is very shameful, but when I 'kindly' asked the cook, it looks like they used lesser quality ingredients, with only Kaito-san's portion."
"I see... but, I think I wouldn't have known the difference even if I ate that."
"...I also couldn't tell the difference."
"Eh?"
"From the server's reaction, I believed that it was like that, but... even after eating it, it tasted good. I do not seem to have the talent to be a food critic."
"Ahaha, that's... it must be fortunate to have such a wonderful cook."
"Fufufu, yes. Unfortunately, my tongue could not catch up with the cook's cooking skill."
Dear Mother, Fatherーーthere's only women in the surroundings near me in this world, it's so hard being a loner. But, the Duke-sama that is taking care of meーーshe was a very good person.