***
That afternoon.
Lelia patted the wrinkled cheeks of her grandmother, who had fallen asleep.
Before coming here, Lelia visited her grandfather and handed him the cure.
Her grandfather said he would give the medicine to her grandmother himself if she was ready.
Just in case, Lelia gave him a few extra pills. Of course, she let him know the precautions.
Grandma, who woke up, saw Lelia as Elizabeth in front of her.
“Elizabeth…? It’s Elizabeth.”
“Yes, I’m here…”
“My daughter….”
Lelia smiled so brightly that her lips hurt when she looked at her grandmother.
After taking care of this and that and having dinner together, the sky became dark.
“Lelia, is it because you’re here? I think she is in better shape than she was in Terren.”
At Aunt Atias’s words, Lelia smiled as if she was lucky.
[By the way…]
Lelia looked carefully at her aunt.
There were many things that Lelia had to do when she returned to the estate. But her uncle’s work was solved very easily thanks to his friends.
Originally, Uncle Carius went missing for an unknown reason, so she was going to stay at the castle for a while.
The problem was Aunt Atias.
[They said the gambler must have had a huge bill…]
The members of the senate council objected to Atias succeeding on the pretext of that.
But while Lelia was growing up here, she never felt that from her aunt.
It was not known whether it was thoroughly hidden by her aunt or a trick of the elders.
[I’m gonna have to look into it.]
However, it was quite difficult to hire someone who could secretly investigate this.
[I can’t ask my grandfather’s aides… Should I ask Romeo to do it?]
It occurred to her that Romeo would specialize in this. But…
[What if he thinks I’m suspicious? It’s harder to explain. I think I’ll find a way.]
She could hire a secret informant on the main street.
[I wish I could ask Alchemy…]
Lelia went back to her room and looked at the game menu.
Inspection in progress for large scale updates. Please look forward to the new Alchemy lottery (୨୧ ❛ᴗ❛)✧!
She still got the same message.
[No, you’re doing an inspection check for a few days. Without notice?]
It’s a big update, but isn’t that too much? There’s no way users can stay still.
It was frustrating because it was a game in the past where she was already dead.
[I wish you’d rewarded me.]
Lelia grumbled inwardly and stomped in anger.
But when she arrived in front of the room, someone was standing.
On closer inspection, he was a servant of the castle.
“Lady, Sir Carius is looking for you.”
At this hour?
“Uncle?”
“Yes, let’s go.”
Lelia followed Becky, who was with her and standing behind her, to the drawing room.
Becky opened the door for her, and as she walked inside, she saw uncle Carius with a welcoming look on his face.
By the way…
“……”
Kalix was sitting across from him.
It was her first encounter since the morning. Lelia approached her uncle, pretending awkwardly not to see him.
Her uncle, who knew nothing about this morning, made Lelia sit next to Kalix without knowing it.
“Hey, you guys look great together again!”
“……”
“……”
Kalix was expressionless, and Lelia bit her lips.
Shame on you, little ones.
Carius grinned inwardly and brought up his intentions.
“The reason I called you two is because… You know the banquet in a few days? All the family members will participate.”
“… Yes.”
When Lelia answered quietly, Carius coughed a lot and looked at Kalix and said.
“So I thought I’d ask you to escort Lelia.”
[Uncle!]
“Actually, whenever there was a banquet, Lelia’s escort was me… I’d like to take this opportunity to ask you since she hasn’t had an adult banquet yet.”
Lelia touched her forehead. Kalix listened to her uncle with a serious look.
“After the coming-of-age banquet, all kinds of bees will propose to Lelia. So you can take her as your partner out to the banquet before that and show it to them. Don’t let them propose for nothing.”
“Oh…”
[What do you understand?]
Lelia was dumbfounded to see Kalix nodding his head.
Uncle persuaded Kalix very logically and finally asked.
“Of course you’ll do it, won’t you?”
“… I see. Well, it’s not that difficult.”
“Okay, I knew it.”
“……”
Lelia looked at her uncle with a look of despair.
[Kalix thinks I’m a man now.]
While speaking with her eyes, her uncle winked as if to say it was okay. He seemed to think he’d notice soon anyway.
But Lelia’s idea was different.
Unlike other people, Kalix had seen things with his own eyes. Like the emperor, he’ll never think of her as a woman.
[What illusion did you see then?]
In the middle of this serious situation, Uncle Carius awkwardly rose up muttering, “Oh, by the way, I have some business! You two can talk for a while.”
Her uncle hurried out of the drawing room.
When they were the only two left in the drawing room, Kalix jumped up.
He put his hand on his heart as he walked to the window.
‘My heart feels weird again.’
This is what happens when Lelia is right next to him.
[T/N: He is still so dense T_T]
‘What the hell did that crossdresser do to me?’
A few days ago, he was like a real brother, but now he felt scared.
“Sir Kalix.”
When a soft voice came from behind, Kalix covered his ears.
‘Why is your voice so sweet?’
Looking at him, Lelia clicked her tongue.
“Childishly covering your ears?”
Lelia sighed and turned her head as if she was done. She really doesn’t know what’s going on…
But she had to say what she had to say.
[If Kalix were to talk like that again…?]
It didn’t matter if it was in front of her uncle or grandfather who knew she was dressed as a man. They’d understand.
But if he does it in front of uncle, aunt, grandmother, or even the vassals who don’t know it… What if he does that at a party? She had a throbbing headache.
Lelia eventually jumped to her feet and walked to Kalix.
Kalix turned reflexively, pulling his hands down at the approaching feeling he felt behind him.
Then he made an X-shaped arm like the last time and glanced at Lelia.
“What are you doing now?”
“Don’t come near me, you perv.”
“… Sir Kalix, why the hell are you doing this to me?”
“You too! How dare you ask me that?”
“……”
Lelia wondered how to start this conversation. She slowly opened her mouth. Kalix looked uncomfortable and looked down slightly avoiding her eyes.
“Please. You should say that only when it’s just like before. I don’t care if you insult me.”
“No… I insulted you?”
“I don’t care, but please don’t do that in front of my grandmother. As you know, my grandmother is not feeling well… I don’t want them to be shocked.”
Her eyes were teary when she thought her grandmother might receive a shock.
When Lelia lifted her head, Kalix’s heart dropped. The big eyes seemed to resent him.
“Uh… I got it.”
He answered too easily without realizing it.
“Thank you. You’re such a loyal brother.”
“… Don’t call me your brother.”
He was just trying to make her feel better.
‘What’s wrong with him?’
Before, Kalix loved the words.
‘You don’t want to hear it from a perv?’
It was good. Lelia closed her lips tightly.
She can’t explain everything to Kalix right now, but she was going to confess later and apologize.
“… I’m sorry.”
With that in mind, she apologized in advance, and Kalix turned around with a frown.
Kalix stared at the shining moon outside the window. His left sight was dark. It’s definitely dark…
Why does it feel like his dark eye becomes clear again when he looks at Lelia? Even though it can’t be true.
In a fit of nerves, Kalix stared at Lelia again.
“… What? what do you want to say?”
“No! Get away, get away!”
As he waved his hands and drove her away, Lelia hurried away and sat on the sofa.
Kalix glanced at her with a restless mind, wondering if the words were too harsh.
***
A few days later, the morning of the banquet day dawned.
As soon as she opened her eyes, she naturally checked the game menu as usual.
[Is the update over?]
As she pressed the menu window in a half-asleep state, her eyes opened wide.
The usual message was gone.
-Message of apology to the public-
I apologize for causing you concern over the long inspection. Update in progress, the server was fully reviewed due to an unknown server error. I’ll make sure that I can give you enough compensation. Thank you.
[I knew this would happen.]
She checked the next message with blurry eyes.
Large update is imminent! The inspection will be completed soon. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Scheduled time for inspection: 9:30 P.M.
Please look forward to a special pension lottery that will be even more refreshing! ✧*｡٩(ˊᗜˋ*)و✧*｡]
By that time, the banquet would be in full swing.
[I can check it out on the way.]
***
Lelia had to stay in her room all day until 6 P.M. when the banquet began.
She had participated in a banquet of this kind before, but it was the first time that it took so long to prepare.
The maids were determined to wash and dress Lelia like knights participating in the battlefield.
Because of their enthusiasm, Lelia couldn’t complain.
“……”
She just kept her mouth shut and watched the carriages come in from the window.
It seemed that the household lords were coming one by one.
***
***
That afternoon.
Lelia patted the wrinkled cheeks of her grandmother, who had fallen asleep.
Before coming here, Lelia visited her grandfather and handed him the cure.
Her grandfather said he would give the medicine to her grandmother himself if she was ready.
Just in case, Lelia gave him a few extra pills. Of course, she let him know the precautions.
Grandma, who woke up, saw Lelia as Elizabeth in front of her.
“Elizabeth…? It’s Elizabeth.”
“Yes, I’m here…”
“My daughter….”
Lelia smiled so brightly that her lips hurt when she looked at her grandmother.
After taking care of this and that and having dinner together, the sky became dark.
“Lelia, is it because you’re here? I think she is in better shape than she was in Terren.”
At Aunt Atias’s words, Lelia smiled as if she was lucky.
[By the way…]
Lelia looked carefully at her aunt.
There were many things that Lelia had to do when she returned to the estate. But her uncle’s work was solved very easily thanks to his friends.
Originally, Uncle Carius went missing for an unknown reason, so she was going to stay at the castle for a while.
The problem was Aunt Atias.
[They said the gambler must have had a huge bill…]
The members of the senate council objected to Atias succeeding on the pretext of that.
But while Lelia was growing up here, she never felt that from her aunt.
It was not known whether it was thoroughly hidden by her aunt or a trick of the elders.
[I’m gonna have to look into it.]
However, it was quite difficult to hire someone who could secretly investigate this.
[I can’t ask my grandfather’s aides… Should I ask Romeo to do it?]
It occurred to her that Romeo would specialize in this. But…
[What if he thinks I’m suspicious? It’s harder to explain. I think I’ll find a way.]
She could hire a secret informant on the main street.
[I wish I could ask Alchemy…]
Lelia went back to her room and looked at the game menu.
Inspection in progress for large scale updates. Please look forward to the new Alchemy lottery (୨୧ ❛ᴗ❛)✧!
She still got the same message.
[No, you’re doing an inspection check for a few days. Without notice?]
It’s a big update, but isn’t that too much? There’s no way users can stay still.
It was frustrating because it was a game in the past where she was already dead.
[I wish you’d rewarded me.]
Lelia grumbled inwardly and stomped in anger.
But when she arrived in front of the room, someone was standing.
On closer inspection, he was a servant of the castle.
“Lady, Sir Carius is looking for you.”
At this hour?
“Uncle?”
“Yes, let’s go.”
Lelia followed Becky, who was with her and standing behind her, to the drawing room.
Becky opened the door for her, and as she walked inside, she saw uncle Carius with a welcoming look on his face.
By the way…
“……”
Kalix was sitting across from him.
It was her first encounter since the morning. Lelia approached her uncle, pretending awkwardly not to see him.
Her uncle, who knew nothing about this morning, made Lelia sit next to Kalix without knowing it.
“Hey, you guys look great together again!”
“……”
“……”
Kalix was expressionless, and Lelia bit her lips.
Shame on you, little ones.
Carius grinned inwardly and brought up his intentions.
“The reason I called you two is because… You know the banquet in a few days? All the family members will participate.”
“… Yes.”
When Lelia answered quietly, Carius coughed a lot and looked at Kalix and said.
“So I thought I’d ask you to escort Lelia.”
[Uncle!]
“Actually, whenever there was a banquet, Lelia’s escort was me… I’d like to take this opportunity to ask you since she hasn’t had an adult banquet yet.”
Lelia touched her forehead. Kalix listened to her uncle with a serious look.
“After the coming-of-age banquet, all kinds of bees will propose to Lelia. So you can take her as your partner out to the banquet before that and show it to them. Don’t let them propose for nothing.”
“Oh…”
[What do you understand?]
Lelia was dumbfounded to see Kalix nodding his head.
Uncle persuaded Kalix very logically and finally asked.
“Of course you’ll do it, won’t you?”
“… I see. Well, it’s not that difficult.”
“Okay, I knew it.”
“……”
Lelia looked at her uncle with a look of despair.
[Kalix thinks I’m a man now.]
While speaking with her eyes, her uncle winked as if to say it was okay. He seemed to think he’d notice soon anyway.
But Lelia’s idea was different.
Unlike other people, Kalix had seen things with his own eyes. Like the emperor, he’ll never think of her as a woman.
[What illusion did you see then?]
In the middle of this serious situation, Uncle Carius awkwardly rose up muttering, “Oh, by the way, I have some business! You two can talk for a while.”
Her uncle hurried out of the drawing room.
When they were the only two left in the drawing room, Kalix jumped up.
He put his hand on his heart as he walked to the window.
‘My heart feels weird again.’
This is what happens when Lelia is right next to him.
[T/N: He is still so dense T_T]
‘What the hell did that crossdresser do to me?’
A few days ago, he was like a real brother, but now he felt scared.
“Sir Kalix.”
When a soft voice came from behind, Kalix covered his ears.
‘Why is your voice so sweet?’
Looking at him, Lelia clicked her tongue.
“Childishly covering your ears?”
Lelia sighed and turned her head as if she was done. She really doesn’t know what’s going on…
But she had to say what she had to say.
[If Kalix were to talk like that again…?]
It didn’t matter if it was in front of her uncle or grandfather who knew she was dressed as a man. They’d understand.
But if he does it in front of uncle, aunt, grandmother, or even the vassals who don’t know it… What if he does that at a party? She had a throbbing headache.
Lelia eventually jumped to her feet and walked to Kalix.
Kalix turned reflexively, pulling his hands down at the approaching feeling he felt behind him.
Then he made an X-shaped arm like the last time and glanced at Lelia.
“What are you doing now?”
“Don’t come near me, you perv.”
“… Sir Kalix, why the hell are you doing this to me?”
“You too! How dare you ask me that?”
“……”
Lelia wondered how to start this conversation. She slowly opened her mouth. Kalix looked uncomfortable and looked down slightly avoiding her eyes.
“Please. You should say that only when it’s just like before. I don’t care if you insult me.”
“No… I insulted you?”
“I don’t care, but please don’t do that in front of my grandmother. As you know, my grandmother is not feeling well… I don’t want them to be shocked.”
Her eyes were teary when she thought her grandmother might receive a shock.
When Lelia lifted her head, Kalix’s heart dropped. The big eyes seemed to resent him.
“Uh… I got it.”
He answered too easily without realizing it.
“Thank you. You’re such a loyal brother.”
“… Don’t call me your brother.”
He was just trying to make her feel better.
‘What’s wrong with him?’
Before, Kalix loved the words.
‘You don’t want to hear it from a perv?’
It was good. Lelia closed her lips tightly.
She can’t explain everything to Kalix right now, but she was going to confess later and apologize.
“… I’m sorry.”
With that in mind, she apologized in advance, and Kalix turned around with a frown.
Kalix stared at the shining moon outside the window. His left sight was dark. It’s definitely dark…
Why does it feel like his dark eye becomes clear again when he looks at Lelia? Even though it can’t be true.
In a fit of nerves, Kalix stared at Lelia again.
“… What? what do you want to say?”
“No! Get away, get away!”
As he waved his hands and drove her away, Lelia hurried away and sat on the sofa.
Kalix glanced at her with a restless mind, wondering if the words were too harsh.
***
A few days later, the morning of the banquet day dawned.
As soon as she opened her eyes, she naturally checked the game menu as usual.
[Is the update over?]
As she pressed the menu window in a half-asleep state, her eyes opened wide.
The usual message was gone.
-Message of apology to the public-
I apologize for causing you concern over the long inspection. Update in progress, the server was fully reviewed due to an unknown server error. I’ll make sure that I can give you enough compensation. Thank you.
[I knew this would happen.]
She checked the next message with blurry eyes.
Large update is imminent! The inspection will be completed soon. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Scheduled time for inspection: 9:30 P.M.
Please look forward to a special pension lottery that will be even more refreshing! ✧*｡٩(ˊᗜˋ*)و✧*｡]
By that time, the banquet would be in full swing.
[I can check it out on the way.]
***
Lelia had to stay in her room all day until 6 P.M. when the banquet began.
She had participated in a banquet of this kind before, but it was the first time that it took so long to prepare.
The maids were determined to wash and dress Lelia like knights participating in the battlefield.
Because of their enthusiasm, Lelia couldn’t complain.
“……”
She just kept her mouth shut and watched the carriages come in from the window.
It seemed that the household lords were coming one by one.
***
