In the midst of a large carriage that shakes with a faint tremor, I hold my head without having any impressions of the vehicle called a carriage that I am riding for the first time.
　It's a good idea to be able to have a good time with your friends.
　It seems that Mitsunaga has agreed to participate in the Hero's Festival, and when he heads to the royal palace as a guest of honor, he briefly greets Kusunoki-san and Yuzuki-san, and then gets into an extremely luxurious carriage. I wanted them to take me there too.

I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about this.　Are you okay?　If you're not feeling well, we'll take a break or something, but...
"Yeh, Dijovides.
'Miss, I'm sure Lady Miyama is still confused.

　This maid rambles on and on but she knows what's going on, but she thinks it's perfectly normal for her to play along.

It's not surprising. I'm not sure if it's the right thing for me to say, but please don't think too much about it. If it's something I can help you with, please don't hesitate to tell me. Of course, Aoi-san and Hina-san too.
Yes, sir.
Thank you.

　Lilia's kindness pierces my heart. My one thought is - how did this happen?　Lilia-san's house is full of women, or something like that, it doesn't feel like away from home. It's an environment that's too hard mode for me, who's been summoned to this side of the world, let alone the original world, to be alone.
　Was I being punished for doubting the kind Lilia-san?　Ugh, it would have been nice if the other high school boy I saw at the time had also come with me... or maybe I just felt like I was pushing his position away?　I'm sorry, would you mind taking over for me?

　In the end, no matter how much you worry about it, reality is not going to change, and after about half an hour, the carriage arrives at its destination...Lilia-san's house.
　The exterior of the house is obviously not large enough for an ordinary person to live in, but it's an exterior that clearly shows off the high status of her. In front of the double-opened gate, there is a female knight in armor, and it even looks like a kind of art.

　You pass through a beautiful garden and arrive at the entrance to the house - the correct way to call it a mansion - and get off the carriage and follow Lilia-san. As a commoner's selfish image, I imagined a line of servants lining up on both sides of the door to greet me when I opened it, but there's no such scene and I proceed down the corridor normally.
　Just like Lunamaria-san said, there really seems to be only women in this mansion, the people passing by, the people cleaning, all of them are women, and I'm clearly floating. I mean, I've been getting glances and cold glances from all over the place since a while ago, and my stomach is churning and sore!

....
Miss?
'Luna, it's lunchtime and I'm sure you're all exhausted from a lot of things. Let's have lunch first. You're on the right track?
Yeah, I thought you'd be ready to go.
Now, please.

　That's what Lilia-san tells us, and we're led to a large room, which is also large.......a large room that could hold dozens of people. It's true that we were summoned in the late afternoon, and since we hadn't taken an afternoon lecture, we are hungry. The fact that Kusunoki-san and Yuzuki-san came home at that time probably means that they had a half-day class, and I think that lunch is not yet available.
　When we were led to our seats, a person in a maid's uniform appeared out of nowhere and pulled out a chair for us. I think it's probably just my imagination that my chair is the only one that feels like it's been pulled a bit roughly.

''Oh, um, Lilia-san.......I don't have much table manners or anything....
'Oh, it's not exactly a dinner party, so don't worry about it, just eat as you see fit.

　Yuzuki-san lets out an anxious voice, while Lilia-san smiles kindly at her. To be honest, I don't know much about table manners either. I'm not sure if it's a good idea to use a knife or a fork from the outside or something like that, and I've never actually eaten a meal like that before.
　After a little while, women who look like waitresses bring in a silver domed tray that I've only seen on TV. And just as they are about to place it in front of us, we hear a voice.


'What?　Oh, miss?
Didn't you hear that?
No, no, but...

　It wasn't the gentle and calm voice from earlier, but a dignified voice that contained some sharpness.
　Hearing Lilia-san's words, the serving woman has a puzzled look on her face.

''........I want to make sure there is no misunderstanding, I am not 'asking' you.
'Yes, yes. Immediately....

　After receiving a voice even colder and sharper than before, the serving woman turns pale and hurriedly follows Lilia-san's instructions to replace the food.
　And when all the dishes are laid out, Lilia-san returns to her gentle smile and calls out to her again.

''Please enjoy your meal. I hope it suits your palate.
Oh, yes.
Thank you, sir.
Excuse me.

　Speaking of aristocratic cuisine, there was an image of a full course, but what came out was a stylish dish of bread, soup, salad and I don't know the name but it would be the main course. It looks very tasty, like a foreign version of set meals.
　A lot of people say that hard bread and salty soup and otherworldly dishes are not good in light novel otherworldly things, and in fact, that's what I was expecting - but it's delicious.
　The bread is usually soft and the soup has a gentle flavor similar to consommé, at least it's much better than the convenience store bento I used to eat.
　So I suddenly turned my gaze towards Lilia-san, and she was letting out a sigh after taking a bite of her food somewhat.

''........Luna, by the time lunch is finished.......''
I'm sorry, sir.

　After giving some whispered instructions to Luna Maria-san, she notices my gaze and gives me a gentle smile.

''How do you like the taste?''
'What?　Oh, it's so good.
I'm so glad you liked it.

　As my face unintentionally blushes with a smile like a flower blooming, Lunamaria-san, who has received some instructions, speaks to me in a whisper as she passes near me.

''.........Miyama-sama, I said something to startle you earlier, but.......well, it's okay to be at ease.''
What?
The young lady may be an omission, but she's a very intelligent person...

　After smiling at that, Lunamaria-san left the room. What is it?　I wonder if it has something to do with the fact that I switched the dishes earlier?












　For some reason I was the only one to ask Lilia-san, "May I have a moment of your time?" after lunch and after tea was served after dinner. So I was brought into another room.
　Again, my only thought was one word - how did this happen?
　The women are currently lined up in front of me. There are people in maid's clothes, people in armor, and people in work clothes. It's not an uncomfortable level, as all of the eyes of the dozens of women are focused on me.

''........it seems we've largely gathered.

　Lilia-san stands in front of me, unsure of what's going on, and quietly... and sharply stares at the women who have gathered.

''First of all, thank you for the sudden summons and the trouble you have caused us. It's probably best to say these things early on, so I'm leaving a minimum number of people to gather.

　I'm not trying to make my voice loud by any means. But Lilia-san's voice comes through well, as if it were echoing in the silence. The beautiful, dignified profile even felt as if her high level of elegance was being expressed as it was.

Now, let's talk about this Mr. Miyama Kite. He is indeed a man, but he is an important 'guest' that I personally invited. It's natural to be confused about how to deal with a man who doesn't usually invite people over. It would be a hardship on everyone.
....

　After Lilia-san told me that much, I finally understood what she was trying to say. I also understood why Luna Maria-san had described Lilia-san as an intelligent person.

'But let me be clear. Being a male I will not allow him to be disadvantaged because of it. To intentionally do so against him after these words you are tantamount to pointing your sword at me!

　Words so strong and intentional that they don't allow for a single rebuttal, they are swung down like a sword rightly in a quiet place. Oh, I'm ashamed of myself ... I'm ashamed of myself for thinking, even for a moment, that this person might be a bad person.

''Good?　No, not whether or not there was actual harm done. If you decide you're in the clear and I'm not there to stop you, I'm not going to stop you. That's all I have to say. We will each go back to work.

　When Lilia-san finished speaking, the women who had gathered returned to their posts, leaving me and Lilia-san alone in the room.

''I suppose this makes it a little easier to spend time with them.
Oh, uh, thank you.
It's not my intention to do so, but our family has become a boys' club, and some of them hate it just because it's a man. I'm sorry for causing you unnecessary trouble, Kite,
Oh, no.
'I guess it's because I don't have any male friends, after all, isn't it?　Hmm, maybe I'm not ladylike enough.

　Instead of the dignified expression that rightly called him a nobleman until just now, Lilia-san smiles bitterly like a child whose prank has been discovered somehow.
　I realized that it was a self-serving prejudice to say that nobles are bad people, etc. when summoned to another world. I'd rather feel like apologizing than me.

''........I think Lilia-san is a very kind and charming person, though.
"....!　Hmm, thank you. Now, I've kept Aoi and Hina waiting, so let's go back.

　I'm honestly not experienced enough in interpersonal relations to say witty lines. But the words of praise naturally came out of my mouth.
　I'm not going to be able to get to the point where I can't even get to the bottom of it.
　I'm sure this is the moment when I started to look forward to the year I'm about to spend.

''Come to think of it, did you end up having a lunch for me?
'Yes, I'm embarrassed to tell you this, but when I questioned the cook, he said that the only dish he was going to serve to Mr. Kite was of slightly poorer quality.
I see, but I don't think I would have known the difference if I'd eaten that.
I didn't understand it either.
"Huh?
'I knew it would be something like that when I saw how the serving staff reacted to it... but when I tried it, it was good. I guess I have no talent for food criticism.
Well, that's because I'm getting a great cook for you.
'Hmmm, yeah, I'm afraid my taste buds haven't quite caught up to the cook's skills.

　Dear Mother and Father - it's hard to be a loner in another world with all the women around you. But the duke who is taking care of me - he was a very good man.