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 office…… 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 office.
[……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 filled 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 fills 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 flustered 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 confirmed that I nodded at her words, while she’s making a gesture where both of her index fingers 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 reflexively 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 firmly held back.
Then, before she finished 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 overflowing with charm, and that’s why I think——– That there’s something cute about her that I just can’t leave alone.
<Afterword>
I like this unique bittersweet feeling of distance between the two of them.
And thus, that’s the end of Lilia’s arc. Well, I guess it’s still going to take a while for it to develop into a kiss, but just because they held hands, you could say that it’s progress.