I sat in the swaying carriage, head in my hands, oblivious to the novelty of my first-ever carriage ride.
We were currently en route to Lilia-san’s private residence. Every member of the group who had just received the world briefing was present—except for one.
Mitsunaga-kun had apparently accepted his role in the Hero Festival. After a brief, polite farewell to Kusunoki-san and Yuzuki-san, he had departed for the Royal Palace in a carriage so luxurious it made ours look like a common wagon. I couldn't help but wish he’d taken me with him.
"……Um, Kaito-san? Are you all right? If you’re feeling unwell, we can stop to rest……"
"N-no, I’m fine."
"My Lady, Lord Miyama is likely just still in a state of confusion," Lunamaria added.
This maid and her silver tongue…… She knew exactly what was wrong, yet she stood there feigning ignorance with a perfectly straight face.
"I see. That’s only natural," Lilia-san said. "I am the one who caused this situation, and I have yet to offer a proper apology, so it may not be my place to say this…… but please, try not to dwell on it too much. If there is anything I can do to help, just say the word. That goes for you too, Aoi-san, Hina-san."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Thank you very much."
Lilia-san’s kindness stung. My mind kept looping back to a single question: how did it come to this? Her household was comprised entirely of women; I was going to be an outsider in every sense of the word. I had been a loner back in my original world, and now I had been summoned across dimensions only to be dropped into "Hard Mode."
Was this some kind of divine punishment for doubting Lilia-san’s intentions? I wished that other high school boy I’d seen at the summoning had come with us. Actually, had I somehow taken his spot? If I could find him, I’d apologize and trade places in a heartbeat.
Despite my internal fretting, reality remained unchanged. After a thirty-minute drive, we reached our destination: Lilia-san’s home.
The scale of the place was staggering, a vivid reminder of her high social standing. It was far beyond anything a commoner could ever dream of owning. Two female knights in polished armor stood guard before the double-leaf gates, their presence lending the estate an air of artistic regality.
We passed through a meticulously manicured garden and arrived at the entrance of the house—though "manor" or "mansion" felt more appropriate. I followed Lilia-san out of the carriage. Based on my limited knowledge of the upper class, I had half-expected the doors to fly open to reveal two rows of servants bowing in unison, but the reality was more subdued. We simply entered and walked down the hallway.
Lunamaria-san hadn't been exaggerating; the manor was exclusively populated by women. Every person we passed, from the guards to the maids cleaning the floors, was female. I stuck out like a sore thumb. Worse yet, I could feel cold, judgmental gazes prickling my skin from every direction. My stomach began to knot with stress.
"……"
"My Lady?" Lunamaria asked, noticing Lilia-san pause.
"Luna, it’s nearly noon…… and I’m sure our guests are exhausted after everything they’ve been through. Let’s have lunch first. Has the word been passed to the kitchen?"
"Yes, it should be ready momentarily."
"Then, if you please."
Following Lilia-san’s lead, we were guided into a dining hall large enough to seat dozens of people. We had been summoned in the early afternoon, and since I hadn't eaten before my scheduled lectures, I was starving. Kusunoki-san and Yuzuki-san had likely been on their way home from school, so they were probably in the same boat.
As we moved to take our assigned seats, maids appeared as if from thin air to pull out our chairs. I couldn't help but notice that my chair was pulled out with a certain…… lack of grace compared to the others. I told myself it was just my imagination.
"U-um, Lilia-san…… I don’t really know anything about table manners," Yuzuki-san admitted, her voice trembling.
"Oh, don’t worry about that. This isn't a formal banquet. Please, just eat however you find most comfortable," Lilia-san replied with a reassuring smile.
I felt a wave of relief. My own knowledge of etiquette was limited to "work from the outside in with the silverware," and even that was purely theoretical.
A few moments later, servers arrived carrying silver, dome-shaped trays like something out of a luxury hotel commercial. But just as they prepared to set the plates down, a sharp voice cut through the room.
"……Wait. Swap my plate with the one you’re about to serve Kaito-san."
"Eh? M-my Lady?" the server stammered.
"Did you not hear me?"
"N-no, but……"
The voice wasn't the gentle, melodic one I had grown used to. It was dignified, sharp, and carried an undeniable weight of authority. The server looked visibly shaken.
"……Let me be clear so there is no misunderstanding," Lilia-san continued. "I am not making a request. I am giving an order. You understand the difference, don't you?"
"Y-yes! At once……"
The server turned pale under Lilia-san’s cold, piercing gaze and scrambled to swap the dishes as instructed.
Once the food was finally laid out, Lilia-san’s expression softened back into its usual kind smile. "Please, enjoy. I hope it suits your palate."
"Ah, yes."
"Thank you for the meal."
"Excuse me."
I’d expected a grueling multi-course affair, but the meal was relatively straightforward: fresh bread, soup, salad, and an elegant main course I couldn't identify. It looked like a high-end European set meal.
Light novels usually depicted isekai food as either bland or bizarrely seasoned, but this was delicious. The bread was soft, and the soup had a delicate, savory flavor similar to a high-quality consommé. It was infinitely better than the convenience store bento boxes I usually lived on.
However, when I glanced over at Lilia-san, I saw her take a single bite and let out a quiet, heavy sigh.
"……Luna, when we finish lunch……" she whispered.
"……Understood," Lunamaria replied.
Lilia-san noticed me watching her and quickly offered a gentle smile. "Is the taste to your liking?"
"Eh? Oh, yes, it’s wonderful."
"I’m glad to hear it."
As she beamed at me, Lunamaria-san passed by my chair to carry out some instruction. She leaned down and whispered into my ear.
"……Lord Miyama, I may have startled you earlier with my warnings, but you can relax."
"Huh?"
"My Lady can be a bit airheaded at times, but she is far more observant than she lets on."
With a cryptic smile, Lunamaria-san left the room. I wondered if this had something to do with the dish swap.
Once lunch was over and tea had been served, Lilia-san turned to me. "Kaito-san, could I have a moment of your time?"
She led me to a separate hall, and I found myself once again wondering how I’d ended up in this situation.
Waiting for us was a literal army of women. There were maids, knights in full plate armor, and women in sturdy work clothes. Dozens of them. Every single pair of eyes was locked onto me. The atmosphere was beyond uncomfortable; it was suffocating.
"……It seems most of you are present," Lilia-san said, stepping in front of me. She surveyed the room with a quiet, sharp intensity.
"First, thank you for gathering on such short notice. I felt this needed to be addressed immediately, so I’ve called everyone who isn't on essential duty."
She didn't shout, but her voice commanded the silence of the room. Her profile was elegant yet fierce, radiating the natural dignity of a high-ranking noble.
"Now, to the matter at hand. Regarding Lord Miyama Kaito. He is indeed a man, but he is a precious guest whom I have personally invited into this home. I understand that hosting a male guest is a rarity for this household and that many of you may be unsure how to conduct yourselves. I know it places a burden on you."
"……"
As she spoke, I finally realized what she was doing. I understood why Lunamaria-san had called her wise.
"However, let me make this perfectly clear. I will not tolerate any person under my roof mistreating him or causing him grief simply because of his gender. If, after hearing these words, any of you intentionally seek to slight him…… you should consider it the same as baring a blade against me personally!"
Her words fell like a heavy sword stroke, leaving no room for argument. I felt a sudden, sharp pang of guilt. I felt pathetic for ever thinking, even for a second, that this woman might be a villain.
"Is that understood? I do not care if there is 'actual' harm or not. Even if you believe your actions are within the bounds of your duties, if I deem them inappropriate, I will show no mercy. That is all. Return to your posts."
The crowd dispersed immediately, leaving only Lilia-san and me in the room.
"There. I believe that should make your stay a bit more comfortable," she said, turning to me.
"Ah, um, thank you. Really."
"No, I should be the one apologizing. It wasn't intentional, but this house has become something of a 'no-men-allowed' zone over the years. Some of my staff have developed a genuine loathing for men. I’m sorry you had to deal with that stress, Kaito-san."
"No, it’s fine, really."
"I suppose it’s my fault for not having any male friends," she said, her regal aura vanishing as she gave a self-deprecating little laugh. "Perhaps I simply lack the charm of a true lady."
She looked less like a Duchess and more like a girl who’d just told a bad joke. The stereotype of the "evil noble" was nothing more than my own prejudice.
"……I think you’re a very kind and charming person, Lilia-san," I said. The words slipped out before I could overthink them.
"……! Fufu, thank you. Now, we’ve kept Aoi-san and Hina-san waiting long enough. Shall we?"
She looked surprised for a heartbeat, then gave me a radiant, genuinely happy smile before leading the way out.
Thinking back on it now, that might have been the exact moment I realized I was actually going to enjoy the year ahead of me.
"By the way," I asked as we walked, "was there actually something wrong with my lunch?"
"Yes. It’s embarrassing to admit, but when I questioned the chef, it turned out they had intentionally used lower-quality ingredients for your plate."
"I see…… though honestly, I probably wouldn't have known the difference."
"……I couldn't tell either, to be honest."
"Huh?"
"I suspected as much based on the server’s behavior, but even after I swapped them, the food tasted perfectly fine to me. I suppose I have no future as a gourmet critic."
"Ahaha, well, that just means you employ very talented chefs."
"Fufufu, true. It seems my palate simply isn't a match for my chef’s spite."
Dear Mother, Father—
Being a loner in a house full of women is a challenge. But the Duchess looking after me…… she’s a very good person.