The 13th day of the Month of Wind arrived. Our vacation at the Karel summer resort—where Lilia-san and I had unexpectedly ended up staying alone—had finally come to an end. Though it had started with a major incident, the rest of the trip was incredibly peaceful and enjoyable. Both Lilia-san and I managed to fully achieve our original goal of getting some much-needed rest.
More than anything else, however, the greatest takeaway was that the awkward tension between us since Amalie-san’s party had been successfully resolved.
Ever since the party, and even after we had officially become a couple, Lilia-san had always seemed slightly on edge, making it difficult for our conversations to flow. But after spending three days together in Karel, she seemed to find a sense of inner peace. By the time we headed home, we were talking as comfortably as we always had—actually, we were even closer than before.
In that sense, I suppose I should even be grateful to Lunamaria-san for pulling the strings behind the scenes.
Of course, the moment we stepped through the front door, Lilia-san slapped Lunamaria-san with such force that she was "buried in the wall." I honestly had no idea it was physically possible for a human being to be embedded halfway into solid masonry.
Lunamaria-san was perfectly fine and acting like her usual self an hour later, but the people of this world really are built differently. If I ever took a slap like that, my head would literally go flying. I’ll have to be extra careful never to make Lilia-san that angry.
"Alright, Bell, you’re all clean."
"Gau!"
"Thanks for the help, Rin."
"Kyui!"
I finished brushing Bell as these thoughts drifted through my mind.
After thanking Rin, she hopped into my arms. I sat down on the lawn, leaning back against Bell while he lay prone. Bell’s fur was one of my points of pride; because I never skipped a day of washing and brushing him, he was incredibly soft and silky to the touch.
I fed Rin some dried meat as a reward for her help. As I sat there, sinking into Bell’s fluffy coat, I heard footsteps approaching. It was Sieg-san.
"Good work, Kaito-san."
"You too, Sieg-san. Is your guard duty over?"
"Yes. I was on the night shift this time, so I just finished a moment ago."
Sieg-san greeted me with a gentle smile and handed me a drink. She then asked if she could sit beside me. I had no reason to refuse, so I readily agreed. She sat on the grass with elegant poise and leaned back against Bell just as I was doing.
"Haa... Bell-chan’s fur really does feel wonderful."
"It does, doesn't it? I make sure to brush him every single day."
"Gau!"
We chatted idly for a while. Rin finished her dried meat and climbed into my lap. With a full stomach and the warm sun beating down, she curled into a ball and promptly fell asleep. Bell wasn't sleeping yet, but he looked so relaxed that he was likely on the verge of dozing off himself.
It was certainly perfect weather for a nap. I could definitely understand the temptation.
"...Fua... Ah, excuse me."
"It's alright. You were up all night, Sieg-san. It’s only natural to be sleepy."
Sieg-san let out a small, adorable yawn and rubbed her eyes. Seeing her look so drowsy was quite endearing.
"Why don't you just take a nap right here?" I suggested.
"That... is a very tempting proposal."
"Oh, but before you do..."
"What is it, Kaito-sa—?"
I decided the timing was right. I reached into my Magic Box and pulled out a small wooden case—the music box I had made specifically for her.
Sieg-san looked completely caught off guard. Her eyes widened as she stared at the box I had placed in her hands.
"...What is this?"
"It’s a music box."
"A music box? But I thought you gave that to Lili..."
"Ah, yes. This one is different from the one I gave Lilia-san. You’re always looking out for me, Sieg-san, and you helped me out so much with the preparations for the party. This is a thank-you gift."
Sieg-san looked back and forth between my face and the gift several times. Unlike the one I gave Lilia-san, this music box was decorated primarily with green gems like emeralds. When activated, the light from the Magic Crystals would project the crest of the Elf Race—the sacred tree and the bow.
Since I hadn't had much time and wasn't sure where to search for raw materials, I had used gems purchased from a shop, but I had put a lot of thought into the design.
As for the song, I had asked Alice to compose something that suited Sieg-san. It was a beautiful piece that evoked the feeling of vast, lush nature, with a finish that felt like an old folk song.
"Can I... really have this? I didn't feel like I did anything that deserved such a gift..."
"That’s not true at all. You took care of Bell and Rin while I was busy, and you always brought me snacks that were easy to eat while I was working. I was only able to work as hard as I did because of your support. Thank you, truly."
"...!"
When I expressed my sincere gratitude, Sieg-san’s face transformed into an expression of pure, radiant joy. She clutched the music box to her chest with both hands as if it were the most precious thing in the world.
"Thank you... so much. I will treasure it forever."
"I'm glad to hear it."
"I... I don't know what to do. I’m so happy that I can’t find the right words."
Her cheeks flushed a deep red and her eyes grew misty. She looked around as if searching for something to say, but in the end, she simply looked down, shook her head, and gently leaned her head against my shoulder.
I felt the soft sway of her beautiful red hair and the comforting weight on my shoulder. Then, in a tiny, quiet voice, Sieg-san spoke.
"I hope I’m not being a bother... but could I stay like this for a little while? I just want to be close to you right now."
"Of course. You’re not a bother at all. It actually makes me quite happy."
"...Thank you."
Sieg-san closed her eyes and smiled as she leaned against me. A comfortable silence settled over us, and my heart felt full.
"This is nice..."
"Yes..."
No more words were needed. We simply sat there, basking in the security of each other’s presence, surrendering ourselves to the warm sunlight and the gentle breeze.
Dear Mother, Father— Now that I’m back from the resort, I think the timing is right to start delivering thanks to everyone who helped me out. First was Sieg-san... and I think I managed to convey my gratitude.