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, Liliasan'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 toomuch-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. Liliasan 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 Liliasan 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.