16th Day of the Wind month. Half a month has already passed in the
Wind month, and the incoming month, the Light month, is about to
come.
Well, to be honest, it was partly because the past few months have been
unusually dense, and I even thought of "Eh? Six months haven't even
passed yet!?"…
I think I have felt lots of changes in me come in less than 5 months. I'm
not only looking forward to the future now, but recently, I felt like I've
also been able to adapt to the common sense of this world recently.
As expected, that would most probably be because I've already settled
my emotions… and that I've made a clear decision about what I'm going
to do in the future, and I guess you can say that I've broken through an
emotional barrier.
Well, I've certainly gone through a lot of changes since I came to this
world, but it isn't just me, as the people around me have changed a lot
too.
But well, there are things that don't change even if I try to change
them…
[…Hahhh…]
It's midnight and the date is about to change. I let out a sigh as I stood
in front of one of the rooms.
There was a faint light leaking out from underneath the door in front of
my gaze, proving that someone was in this room.
If this was someone's private room, I would have thought that they
were just staying up late but… The door that is currently in front of me
is the door to the ofice… In short, a room where you do work.
And the fact that this room has been in use for the longest time in the
mansion is, needless to say, a well-known fact… Well, it might be
obvious already, but the one inside is Lilia-san.
Seriously… Isn't she working a little too hard? The other day, when we
went on a trip together, we talked about how the both of us shouldn't
push ourselves too hard… Only a few days passed and she's already like
this.
I don't know if I should say that it's just like Lilia-san or not, but
seriously, I think her personality of being too serious is a problem.
Letting out a sigh in front of the door again, I walked away from the
place and started walking in the "opposite direction of my room".
A little after the date changed to the 17th day of the Wind month, I
knocked on the door of Lilia-san's ofice.
[…Yes? Come in.]
[Excuse me.]
[Eh? Kaito-san?]
Probably because she didn't expect that there would be someone
knocking on the door this late, a voice illed with curiosity called out
from behind the door.
After receiving Lilia-san's permission to enter, I opened the door and
walked in. It seems that Lilia-san didn't think it was me, as her eyes
opened wide and a surprised expression appeared on her face.
[…What's the matter? You're up at this hour.]
[No, that's more of my line here…]
[A- Ahaha…]
Muttering in response to Lilia-san, who curiously tilted her head as she
turned her reproaching eyes at me, Lilia-san wryly smiles with the
expression of a child whose prank has been discovered.
While letting out a sigh looking at such a Lilia-san, I take out the things
I've prepared in the dining room earlier from my magic box.
[…Here's something to refresh yourself. Please take a break for a
moment.]
[Eh? T- Thank you.]
[Sieg-san has taught me a few things but… please pardon me if it tastes
comparably crude.]
I've brought tea and cookies… Well, I made the tea, but the cookies are
bought from the bakery. It's impossible for me to bake cookies in a
short time, so I prepared the ones I have in my magic box.
Lilia-san seems to be a bit apologetic as she looks at the tea and cookies
I've prepared, and obediently following what I said, she stops
processing her paperwork and took a break.
By the way, I've prepared a warm cup of tea and cookies for her… It's
because I wanted to make her feel sleepy and get rested already but…
Well, I'm not really certain if she would feel sleepy after she ills up her
belly, so I could only hope that it happens.
[…It's very warm and delicious. Thank you.]
[That's good to hear… By the way, Lilia-san?]
[Yes?]
Looking at Lilia-san, who was smiling with relief after drinking tea, I
decided to cut to the chase.
[If I remember correctly… We talked about how the both of us will
refrain from pushing ourselves too hard, right?]
[Ahh. errr… This is, ummm…]
[Lilia-san, please don't look away.]
[N- No, I have some business that I really need to deal with as soon as
possible…]
Hearing my words, Lilia-san, who clearly looked lustered turned away
her gaze… That gesture of hers looks very cute, but now, there's an oni
appearing within my heart as I continue speaking.
[Heehhh… That must be quite the urgent business huh?]
[Y- Yes, that's right. Well, so, you just happened to see me when…]
[Lunamaria-san told me that most of the work that Lilia-san is doing
today is "work that Lilia-san didn't originally have to do" though…]
[......]
It may be that Lilia-san thought she was able to deceive me, but
unfortunately, I know that she worked until about the same time
yesterday and the day before that. I've also received word from
Lunamaria-san that the workaholic Lilia-san is going as far as do the
work that would normally be best left to her subordinates.
Hearing my words, Lilia-san begins to sweat profusely, and her gaze
restlessly move about, as if she was desperately trying to think of an
excuse.
[…Lilia-san?]
[Hyiiiihhhh!?]
[Is there something you want to say?]
[i- I'm sorry…]
Seeing Lilia-san bow her head, a loud sigh comes out of my mouth
again.
Seriously, I don't if I should say that she's too serious or not, and it's
troubling me as even though she had the habit of giving her
subordinates plenty of time off and breaks, she doesn't try to take a
break at all.
Well, that's just the way Lilia-san is… Fate-san, how about you try
following Lilia-san's footsteps for a bit?
[…Haahhh… Can't you lower your workload for a bit?]
[…Uuuuhh… Yes.]
[…Is there anything I can help with?]
[Eh?]
At any rate, this personality of Lilia-san already feels like a disease.
Even after she left them for a while, she'll probably start working late
again… At the times when Lunamaria-san isn't around, I'll check out on
her from time to time.
Anyway, regarding what she was working at tonight, as far as I can see,
there's still quite a lot left to do on her desk. I don't think I can be of
much help, but I still want to help her out with some things.
[Please don't hesitate and speak. Well, I may only end up being a
hindrance but… I can't just leave my important lover as she's pushing
herself, so please let me help you in any way I can.]
[…Ah, y- yes… then, ummm… can I ask you one thing?]
[Yes, anything you say.]
Hearing my serious words, Lilia-san looks half apologetic and half
happy, and as she slightly looks down, she murmurs.
When she conirmed that I nodded at her words, while she's making a
gesture where both of her index ingers were poking at each other,
Lilia-san spoke with a blush on her cheeks.
[…You don't have to do anything in particular… I- It's just, errr… C- Can
you please stay by my side?]
[Ehh?]
[I- If you do that, errr… I feel like I will be cheered up…]
[…Yes, understood. I'll stay with you as much as you like.]
It's a very cute and innocent request… So cute that I almost relexively
hugged Lilia-san, but I could see that work wouldn't progress that way
at all, and at worst, Lilia-san might pass out, so I irmly held back.
Then, before she inished her tea and returned to work, Lilia-san
prepared a chair for me… And sitting down in the chair provided next
to Lilia-san, who had started working already, I look at the serious
expression on her face as she goes over her paperwork.
Lilia-san goes on with her paperwork in silence, while occasionally
glancing back at me with a smile on her face.
As I continued to stare at Lilia-san work for a while, I suddenly felt a
soft touch on my hand that had been resting on my lap, and when I
looked down… I saw Lilia-san's hand, the one that isn't holding her pen,
was piled up over my hand.
[…Kaito-san.]
[Yes?]
[…Ummm, thank you.]
[No.]
[…Errr, also… Will you take a trip with me again sometime?]
[Yes. Anytime.]
[…Kaito-san.]
[Yes?]
[…I love you.]
[I love you too.]
Dear Mom, Dad——– Lilia-san is a very serious and hardworking
person, and she doesn't take a break at all. Even though there are some
troubling aspects of her… She's shy and cute, and even her little
gestures are overlowing with charm, and that's why I think——– That
there's something cute about her that I just can't leave alone.