Chapter 3.3 (2/2)

“Back when I used to work at Lady Miku’s mansion, I would often feel this way. I had the highest quality of material to work with, but…. After Lady Miku left, she also disappeared without a trace. She was like a princess that had come straight out of a picture book…. A girl of unmatched beauty~”

“Who’re you calling a princess!”

“…… Huh?”

“Ah…. No, I mean….”

“It’s alright, there’s no need to worry. You’re plenty cute yourself, Master Len! Ah, but when I look closely, there’s something about you which resembles that girl in a way.”

Being stared at from such a close distance, an unpleasant sweat rolled down my back. Don’t tell me… she’s noticed? Hiding my slight anxiety, I feigned anger and avoided the topic.

“Do you think there’s any man that would be happy to be called cute?”

“Ohh~ It would seem that you just didn’t catch my joke, did you? Rest a.s.sured, Master Len, you have the proper charming appeal of a male, as you should.”

“……”

“Ah, shall I tell you something good?”

“Something good?”

“That beautiful girl who often came to visit at the mansion—she was such a friendly one.”

“……. Oh, I see. I’m not really interested.”

“Ah~ Could this be jealousy I am sensing—?”

“……!!”

Wait just a minute. There’s no way that I could be feeling jealousy towards my former self… It wasn’t something I could say out loud, so I kept that comeback to myself.

“Ohh~ I’m so popular; it’s just so troubling!”

“………… What?”

“You were jealous of the relations.h.i.+p that I had with that girl before, right? But not to worry! I am the tailoring maid of only this mansion now!”

“……”

Lily was getting worked up all on her own. It seemed cold to dampen her mood, so I decided not to say that I’d thought she’d meant Miku and “Rin.”

“Who ever said I was jealous? Geez. Still…. I’ll be counting on you from now on, too, Lily.”

I was certain that Lily hadn’t noticed. Of course she hadn’t. No matter how similar our faces were, men and woman differed from each other in every aspect, especially their bodies. She, who had tailored this outfit, should understand that better than anyone.

“Of course! If I can be of any use, then please, don’t hesitate in asking for my help.”

Her warm words, and gentle gaze were enough to bring tears to my eyes.

“To think that Master Len would need me so much to regard me as his soul mate….. I, Lily, have been deeply moved…..! I must continue to meet those expectations from now on…..”

For some reason…. The tears that had been about to fall completely vanished. I had a bad feeling.

“And, with that said! Here it is~! It’s time to get dressed~! Come now, please continue to rely on me to your heart’s content~”

“Gyaaah—! I knew it’d end up like this!! Mikuuu—! Help meeee———!!”

“Ohh—! Now wait just a moment! How disgraceful, to call for help from a lady. It is not becoming of a gentleman~”

Lily was, after all, Lily. No matter how depressed you were, just having her nearby would naturally cheer you up. And also, she was just a little…. No, considerably merciless towards men.

Miku and the maids, who must have heard the noise, were gathered together in the hall downstairs and chattering with their own noise, as if to encourage Lily’s dress-up game rather than save me from it. Feeling a slight annoyance at this “away” feeling in a mansion full of women, I peered downstairs to complain at them.

“““Happy Birthday, Master Len~!!”””

There was a sudden burst of crackers and a shower of flowers. The group of people gathered in the hall had already started toasting with wine, as if unable to wait any longer.

“…. Even though I hadn’t even come out yet, honestly….”

I broke into a smile as I saw everyone enjoying themselves. That’s right, I was the star today. It was the anniversary of the day I’d started my life as Len.

“Alright! Everyone, let’s have some fun today! We’ll dance, sing, drink, and then…..”

“Len,”

Before I’d noticed, Miku was standing beside me. She was holding a small, wrapped box.

“Happy birthday. …. Thank you…. for being born….”

“…… Miku,”

Thank you, I told her. Today, even if only for today, I’d forget about everything else, and enjoy the festivities.

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