At the Ducal House of Albert in the capital of the Kingdom of Sinfonia, Lilia sat in her office, savoring a moment of peace. She had finally finished her paperwork and was enjoying a cup of black tea brewed by Lunamaria.
A short while later, Sieglinde, who had also finished her duties, joined them. The three best friends naturally drifted into a casual conversation.
"Speaking of the party, Miyama-sama seems to be putting quite a bit of effort into the preparations. You, on the other hand, seem remarkably relaxed this time, Milady?"
"Well, it doesn't really involve me directly this time. Since Kaito-san is the host, I doubt it will be anything like a formal noble’s gathering. Besides, I am already acquainted with almost everyone Kaito-san knows. It isn't as if I have to worry about the stress of making first-time introductions to anyone."
"That is true. You have already met all the Six Kings and even the Supreme Gods. From that perspective, a party full of familiar faces must feel quite easy for you, Lili."
Sieglinde nodded in agreement as she listened to Lilia’s explanation. Of course, it wasn't as if Lilia had absolutely nothing to do, and the mere fact that the Six Kings and Supreme Gods were attending the same party was enough to make anyone a little tense.
However, this wasn't like the Founding Anniversary Festival, where she had been forced to handle everything alone in Kaito’s absence. This time, Kaito was the one hosting.
Naturally, the Six Kings, the Supreme Gods, Shallow Vernal, and Eden were all there to see Kaito. He would undoubtedly be the center of attention, and the probability of Lilia having to spend long periods attending to them was low.
Furthermore, she wouldn't have to face the nerves of introducing herself to world-class figures for the first time. For Lilia, the situation felt quite carefree.
"So, given the circumstances, I plan to attend simply as a guest and enjoy the party at my own pace."
"……Hmm. I wonder what this feeling is… Sieg, what do you make of this?"
As Lilia sipped her tea with a serene smile, Lunamaria watched her with a skeptical look. She leaned toward Sieglinde and whispered the question under her breath.
Lilia’s logic was perfectly sound, and Lunamaria had no real grounds to refute it. However, a nagging sensation was undeniably welling up in her chest.
Sieglinde shared that unease, answering with a conflicted expression. "I’m not sure. Her reasoning is sound, and I can understand why she feels that way… but whenever Lili acts this relaxed, I can't help but feel like a massive blow is about to land on her."
"Exactly. I can't point to anything specific, but I have a feeling something is lurking…"
Lunamaria and Sieglinde—as expected of best friends who had been with Lilia for years—were spot on with their prediction.
It was true that Lilia had already interacted with the Six Kings and the Supreme Gods, but the idea that she wouldn't need to make new introductions was a dangerously naive perception.
The guests Lilia currently had in mind were those who had attended Kaito’s housewarming party. She had completely overlooked one crucial detail.
In the time between the housewarming party and now, Kaito had become acquainted with every single one of the Six Kings' Executives. Furthermore, Lilia’s fame preceded her even in the Demon Realm, and many among the Six Kings' Executives were intensely interested in her.
Up until now, several of them had held back from visiting her directly. Since Lilia was so close to Kaito and lived right next door, they feared that an unannounced visit might cause trouble for both of them.
Such individuals would almost certainly seek to interact with Lilia on this occasion. The Six Kings and Supreme Gods would surely gather around Kaito, and since the executives couldn't very well intrude there, it was obvious where the next point of concentration would be. Lilia, currently blissfully unaware of the storm gathering on the horizon, was perhaps happy in a sense.
Serious-senpai: "Eh? No, but Lilia is also quite acquainted with the Six Kings' Executives, so surely it won't be that big of a deal..."
???: "They're almost all first-time meetings with our perverts, though."
Serious-senpai: "...Lilia, it's over."