It took a considerable amount of time, but Lilia-san eventually regained her composure. Once she was back on her feet, we moved to Rei-san’s house to hear about the Main Festival scheduled for that evening.
“To put it simply, the Main Festival is one massive banquet,” Rei-san explained. “There’s unlimited food and drink for everyone as we give thanks for the year’s harvest. Since the World King is attending this year, I expect it will be even more extravagant than usual.”
“I see. So we can just relax and enjoy the food, then?”
“...Well, that’s true for Lilia-chan and the others, but you’re a different story.”
“Eh?”
The Main Festival sounded like a pleasant way to cap off the somewhat hectic Treasure Tree Festival—a chance for everyone to eat and chat. I had been looking forward to a relaxing evening, but for some reason, Rei-san was staring at me with a very solemn expression.
“Miyama-kun, you are the winner of the Harvest Festival. That means once the initial greetings are over at the Main Festival, you have to spend the night in the Spirit Forest.”
“...This is the first I’m hearing of this.”
“I’m sorry. Honestly, I didn't think any of you would actually win until yesterday, so it slipped my mind.”
“Regarding this stay in the forest... what are the sleeping arrangements?”
“There’s a shrine.”
“A shrine!?”
Apparently, it was tradition for the winner of the Harvest Festival to spend a night in the forest alongside the spirits.
For a Spirit Mage, being allowed to stay in the forest was supposedly a massive honor. From my perspective, however, it felt like I was being kicked out of the party early to go live in the woods.
Besides, a shrine? No matter how you looked at it, that wasn't a facility intended for sleeping. There certainly wouldn't be any bedding provided. This was, for all intents and purposes, a night of mandatory camping.
“Um, what about my physical safety?”
“You’ll be fine. The spirits will protect the winner during their stay, and with the World King here this year, I doubt anything could go wrong even in the worst-case scenario.”
“...I see.”
How did it come to this? Winning was supposed to be a good thing, yet I felt like I was being handed a punishment game.
“Luna, please prepare some blankets for him,” Lilia-san instructed.
“As you wish, Milady.”
“Miyama-san, hang in there.”
“Senpai, you can do it! Fight!”
It seemed my night outdoors was already a settled matter. I offered everyone a strained smile as they threw words of comfort and encouragement my way, then let out a heavy sigh. There was no point in worrying about the camping trip any further. Dwelling on it only led to negative thoughts about the cold, so I decided to push it out of my head entirely.
We spent a while chatting until the sound of the doorbell announced a visitor.
“Oh? I wonder who that could be?” Rei-san muttered as he stood up and headed to the entrance.
When he opened the door and saw the guest standing there, his legs gave out and he collapsed in a heap.
“Pardon the intrusion.”
“—!? K-K-K-K-World King-sama!?”
The visitor was none other than Lilliwood-san. Rei-san was obviously stunned, and the rest of us were equally shocked. Lilliwood-san looked at the flabbergasted Rei-san and then toward us, offering a faint smile before bowing her head.
“I apologize for the sudden visit.”
“N-N-No! Not at all! Please, welcome to our... humble home!”
“Once the Main Festival begins, I will be quite busy. I wanted to take this opportunity to properly greet the noble who is looking after Kaito-san.”
“—!?”
Upon hearing Lilliwood-san’s calm words, Lilia-san’s back straightened with a visible jolt. Noticing the movement, Lilliwood-san shifted her gaze toward her and walked over.
“Oh? Are you not... Princess Lilianne?”
“Hyai! Ah, no—I mean, I currently go by Lilia Albert.”
“I see. I have seen you several times at the Royal Palace, but this is our first time speaking like this. As you may know, I am Lilliwood Yggdrasil. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
“Y-Ye-Ye-Yes! Likewise!”
Faced with Lilliwood-san, Lilia-san was stiff with a level of tension that was almost painful to watch. It had been the same when she met Kuro, but I suppose her reaction made sense. Even for a Duke, meeting one of the Six Kings was an incredibly rare event.
Admittedly, I had met three of them in just over a month, so I didn't share that sense of them being untouchable, but that was only because my situation was abnormal. Lilia-san’s reaction was the rational one.
“...Lunamaria-san, who is Lilianne?” I whispered.
“It was Milady’s name before she received her title. Lilianne Rea Sinfonia—her name from back when she was a princess. She changed it to Lilia Albert when she became a Duke.”
“I see.”
Lilia-san had mentioned before that she had no intention of succeeding to the throne, so changing her name after leaving the palace was likely her way of declaring that resolve.
“Duchess Lilia, I am pleased to meet you. I truly apologize for barging in without an appointment.”
“N-No! Not at all! It’s perfectly fine!”
“Thank you. Having met Kaito-san and spent time with him, I have grown quite fond of his character. I hope to maintain a close relationship with him from now on—and, of course, with you as well, Duchess Lilia.”
“H-H-H-Yes! I am... t-t-t-truly honored!”
Lilliwood-san was being polite and gentle, but her extreme humility only made things worse. Lilia-san looked completely overwhelmed by a mix of trepidation and confusion.
“...Lunamaria-san, has Lilia-san always been this bad when she’s flustered?”
“She’s basically a serious, stiff-necked person at heart, so she’s terrible with sudden developments. Honestly, she only panics this badly once a year or so.”
“I see...”
So her tendency to lose control once she started panicking was a deep-seated personality trait. And apparently, she didn’t normally panic like this...
The fact that I’d seen her in this state multiple times in a single month meant I was subjecting her to one impossible situation after another. I felt a sudden, sharp pang of guilt. Lilia-san, I am truly, truly sorry.
“I would like to visit your manor at a later date to speak further, if that would be acceptable?”
“Y-Yes! O-O-Of course, at your convenience!”
“Thank you. I look forward to our future friendship, Duchess Lilia. Again, please accept my apologies for the sudden intrusion.”
Lilliwood-san bowed her head deeply. It was a gesture that perfectly reflected her kind nature, but for Lilia-san—who had just been bowed to by one of the Six Kings—it was the final straw.
“Hyai!? Ah, awawa... World King-sama, p-please raise your head! S-S-Someone like me doesn't deserve... awawa... kyuu~”
“—!?”
“Milady!?”
Lilia-san reached her critical limit. Steam practically rising from her head, she rolled her eyes and collapsed. Lunamaria-san rushed to her side in a panic.
“Milady! Pull yourself together!”
“What happened!? Is she unwell? In that case, I shall provide a Fruit of the World Tree—”
“World King-sama!? Please, have mercy! That would be the finishing blow!”
“Eh? Eeh?”
Seeing Lilia-san lose consciousness, Lilliwood-san hurriedly tried to pull out a Fruit of the World Tree, but Lunamaria-san stopped her with a look of pure desperation. She was right—if Lilia-san were forced to accept another legendary fruit in this state, it really would be the end of her sanity. Even if Lilliwood-san’s intentions were entirely benevolent...
Dear Mother, Father— Lilliwood-san dropped by to introduce herself to Lilia-san. It was a predictable outcome, I suppose, but just as I thought—Lilia-san fainted.