Winter Solstice
【Lucil】
“I-I-I… did what you asked.”
【Lobelia】
“…”
******* Earlier… *******
【Lucil】
“It’s nearly your birthday.”
【Lobelia】
“What?”
【Lucil】
“Your birthday. You said you were born on the solstice.”
【Lobelia】
“Ahh, that’s right. I forgot.”
【Lucil】
“...”
【Lobelia】
“More importantly, when is your birthday?”
【Lucil】
“November 30th.”
【Lobelia】
“What? Then it’s already passed. Why didn’t you say something?”
【Lucil】
“...”
【Lobelia】
“Don’t tell me you forgot.”
【Lucil】
“Sh-Shut up! You forgot about yours too!”
【Lobelia】
“...Did you really forget?”
【Lucil】
“Agh! Ugh… Wh-What do you want?”
【Lobelia】
“Hm?”
【Lucil】
“You know, for your birthday.”
【Lobelia】
“What, you intend to give me a present?”
【Lucil】
“Yeah.”
【Lobelia】
“Oh, how kind of you. I’ve not received a present in so very long.”
【Lucil】
“Really? Then what do you want? Anything is fine.”
【Lobelia】
“Hmmm…”
【Lucil】
“Wh-What? Don’t look at me like that.”
【Lobelia】
“I already have what I want, so I don’t need anything else.”
【Lucil】
“...”
【Lobelia】
“Don’t make that face. Very well, then. How about you wrap yourself in a ribbon and lie down in my bed? I’d appreciate that very much.”
【Lucil】
“Huh?”
【Lobelia】
“Best if you aren’t wearing any clothes.”
******* Back to the present… *******
【Lobelia】
“......... Pfft… Ha… Heh. I didn’t think you’d take me seriously!”
【Lucil】
“................................................”
【Lobelia】
“What? I’m not laughing at you.”
【Lucil】
“You are definitely laughing at me!!!!!!!”
【Lobelia】
“Ahahahahahahahahaha!”
【Lucil】
“Don’t laugh!! Enough already!!!”
【Lobelia】
“My apologies. Don’t be too cross with me. This is the best present I’ve ever received… pffffthaha.”
【Lucil】
“Rrrgghhh…”
【Lobelia】
“Where did you even find that ribbon? Heheheh.”
【Lucil】
“I asked your familiar if there were any ribbons around here and he brought me this fabric!”
【Lobelia】
“I see. Then did you do the wrapping all by yourself?”
【Lucil】
“How could I have done this to myself!?”
【Lobelia】
“Ahahahaha! Oh, so you’ve been struggling to break free, hmmm? Heheh… You were wriggling about so much I’d thought you were back at it, enjoying some ‘quality time’ with yourself again.”
【Lucil】
“Sh-Shut up!”
【Lobelia】
“Oh, the look on your face when you spotted me… Your stammering… Heheheh. ‘I-I-I did what you asked!’ How could I possibly contain myself?”
【Lucil】
“Sh-Shut the fuck up already! Your familiar is poorly trained!”
【Lobelia】
“I suppose so. But he’s thoughtful in his own way. He was merely trying to help. Don’t be too upset with him.”
【Lucil】
“...”
【Lobelia】
“That ribbon was woven by a giantess, Lucil.”
【Lucil】
“A giant? …So this is really a ribbon? It’s not just a strip of fabric?”
【Lobelia】
“Yes. It’s just the right size for a giantess.”
【Lucil】
“Ahh… Don’t touch me.”
【Lobelia】
“It resembles silk in appearance, but it was in fact woven from the threads of spiders raised by titans. Wrapped up in such fine fabric, ordinary weapons shall not so much as graze your skin.”
【Lucil】
“I know that. I figured it out when I got stuck like this! It even repels magic! I don’t know if it’ll work against strong spells, but…”
【Lobelia】
“Have you inspected the flow of magic about it?”
【Lucil】
“Yeah.”
【Lobelia】
“I see. Then I shall give it to you. Think of it as my first birthday present to you. I’ll have it made into clothing so you can wear it, and dye it the same color as your cloak.”
【Lucil】
“...”
【Lobelia】
“Are you dissatisfied?”
【Lucil】
“No, that’s not it… It’s just, it seems so valuable.”
【Lobelia】
“Mm. I suppose I’ll have you out of your clothes as soon as you put them on, anyway.”
【Lucil】
“Tailor it for me.”
【Lobelia】
“Heheh! All right, so I shall. You can look forward to it. Heheh. Heheh, hahaha!”
【Lucil】
“…You seem to be enjoying yourself…”
【Lobelia】
“Yes, I am. Hahaha!”
【Lucil】
“………If you like it, then… it’s fine…”
【Lobelia】
“Don’t be so sullen, Lucil. In any case, what would you like for your second present? I’ll give you anything you want, however much of it you desire.”
【Lucil】
“It’s your birthday, you know.”
【Lobelia】
“Ah, that’s right.”
【Lucil】
“…Then give me a kiss.”
【Lobelia】
“Hmph.”
【Lucil】
“Wh-What? You said I could have whatever I wanted.”
【Lobelia】
“As you wish, my sorcerer.”
******* The End *******
Happy Birthday Lobelia!
