Touring the collection of otherworld dragon models with the jubilant Lilia-san proved far more fulfilling than I’d expected. Most of the dragons were undeniably cool, and seeing them life-sized gave the exhibition an incredible sense of scale.
Each display came with an informative plaque, making the experience both educational and entertaining. More than anything, though, Lilia-san’s obvious delight was infectious; seeing her so happy made me enjoy myself all the more.
"Phew... What marvelous dragons. Being able to witness the weight of their history and the path of their evolution truly makes me feel blessed."
"Haha, you really do look like you're having the time of your life, Lilia-san. Seeing you like this is a nice change of pace."
"I... I suppose I am being a bit more boisterous than usual. I normally strive to conduct myself as a proper lady, but—wait, Kaito-san?! What’s with that look? Are you suggesting that I’m typically not lady-like?"
"..."
Lilia-san certainly seemed fixated on maintaining the image of a refined lady. Whether it was when I first returned to this world or in various situations since, I’d often seen her consciously trying to act the part... but I rarely ever saw her keep it up for long.
"Well, I'm not exactly an expert on what makes someone 'lady-like,' but my personal impression of you is that you're not stuffy like other nobles. I mean that in a good way—you're very approachable."
"Aoi-san and Hina-san tell me that as well. While I appreciate being approachable and I cherish our current relationship, the fact that I lack a certain noble air is... well, a bit of a concern for me."
"But you only lack the bad parts of being a noble. I think it’s actually a point in your favor."
In all honesty, if someone asked me if she acted like a typical noble, I'd be hard-pressed to say yes. I’m sure she’s capable of the formal politesse and political maneuvering expected of her rank when she’s not around us, but to me, she was simply a kind, friendly person.
Upon hearing my words, Lilia-san crossed her arms and tilted her head with a complicated expression.
"......Hmm. As the head of the Ducal House, and as someone slightly older than you, I really wanted to project a more reliable image."
"Noble air aside, you’re already incredibly reliable, Lilia-san."
"Eh? R-Really?"
"Of course. It was the same during the Six Kings Festival, but whenever we all go out together, you’re always the one we look to. Aoi-chan, Hina-chan, and I... we all really rely on you."
"...I see. Th-Thank you."
A small smile played on her lips as she blushed with embarrassment. It was an undeniably cute sight. It wasn't that I found her unreliable; quite the opposite, actually. It was just that... well, she was constantly getting swept up in stomach pain incidents and other such troubles. Seeing her in those pitiable states was common, though since most of those were my fault, I kept that particular thought to myself.
"O-Okay... the mood is perfect... it has to be. The date is going well... I think. At this rate, I’ll definitely be able to take the lead this time... even a k-k-k-kiss might be... possible... probably... definitely..."
"Lilia-san?"
"Ah, no! It's nothing! Come on, let's move to the next area! I'm leading the way today, after all!"
"Oh, okay. Lead on."
I thought I’d heard her whispering something, but the words had been too quiet to catch. When I called out to her, she seemed a bit flustered as she grabbed my hand and tugged me along. She seemed even more tense than before, and although I found myself tilting my head in confusion, I followed her lead.
Serious-senpai: "This atmosphere... Lilia’s behavior... things are looking grim for next time. It’s time for Serious-senpai to make a cool exit—"
Doctor M: "...And where do you think you’re going?"
Serious-senpai: "Eep!"