Ch.22 Evening Party is an Option

The Duke’s whimsy has continued since then, in the end of one month he is returning here almost everyday.

Everyday, only Lotus meets the Duke on his return.

Simultaneously while Lotus goes towards the entrance way either Dahlia or Mimosa comes to call me.

By all rights the butler and maids should have to greet all together, but look! in our case I think it is special? The Duke leaves immediately after ‘affairs communication’ with Lotus, so a long time ago the Duke himself said ‘everyone not greeting is fine’. The Duke. It was important so he said it twice. So it does not mean they are lacking in their greeting. The other servants are pressed by dinner preparations and such, well, they are doing various jobs. But lately, however, around when the Duke returns, around the entrance way the servants from here and there come to observe the  situation. Because they have to do the shift according to the Duke’s speech!

The Duke’s,

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“Today here……”

As soon as they heard those words, ‘Master’s shift as come~in!!’ that soundless voice  flies around. As always the Duke is the only one not to notice. Ignorance is bliss.

Seated at breakfast,

“But how did it come to be that it rapidly approached this direction~?”

This question unintentionally came out of my mouth, while I poked at today’s lovely delicious salad.

So so. Eating in the servant dining room as ended up being only for breakfast and lunch. I am quite heartbroken. And the topic with the servants lately is  solely this. Rather it is consumed by this.

“He did not fight or something with companion-sama?”

Mimosa says carelessly, while tearing bread with all her might.

“Ah~ Companion-sama, has been displeased lately, right~’

Said the maid attached to the Duke.

“That’s right~”

“Seems like it”

“There hasn’t been any kind of outburst of anger towards us, however the atmosphere has been tense”

“Oh~, that’s difficult”

“So it is inevitable that service days here at the main residence are enjoyable.”

“I agree, I agree”

Said several maids. Uh huh, this variety is probable. But this is things about the detached building.

“Well, whatever we do we will go at our pace”

It is not necessary to be influenced by the other side! Because instead my concern with this could be conflict with the contract!

“““ye-s”””

That Evening.

The minute the Duke took a seat at the dining table, Lotus and the waitress maids brought in soup. Today is also a high speed dinner. Good luck kitchen!

As always, the Duke has a unhappy or dubious face at the high speed but,

“Lotus. From here on progress the meal a bit more slowly. Convey this also to Carthame”

The Duke said facing Lotus, who putting it  down without a sound, served the soup in front of the Duke.

“Is it so hasty?”

“Yes, hasty. There is not even time to enjoy conversation”

“Is it like that?”

The Duke is sullen at Lotus, who is acting innocent. Oh no. At last it ended up being pointed out.

This was a high speed dinner that Carthame and such did with great effort taking in the situation and they made this smart move and yet. Che. ……ah, I ended up flustered.

Because however the Duke is this Duke house’s head for the present?  The Duke’s order is above my instructions? Lotus and such have no choice but to listen.

In the actual hierarchy the Duke is excluded, but superficially he is in the high-end.

I mean, there is no need to enjoy dinner slowly? ……em, it is disturbed again.

“Please do it like that from today”

“Certainly”

I listen to the Duke and Lotus’ conversation like it is somebody else’s problem, but I suddenly came to my senses. Ah~. what on earth is good to say?

Well then, in the end, the anxiety in my heart ends, today also like always, from the dessert hit, the conversation begun. hoh.

“Today what did you do?”

It begins from the usual fixed form conversation

“Today it was raining so I had dancing lessons with Lotus”

Yeah, yeah. As usual the rainy day schedule continues. Of course there is also the full course esthetic due to the ‘esthetic troops’ after dancing! Relating to the esthetic I omitted.

“Is that so? I think Lotus would be a good teacher?

The Duke said while gently smiling.

“Yes”

But to be exact he is a demon coach. Today also I awkwardly became muddled up.

“So today’s entrance way flowers were not replaced”

The Duke’s pretty exceptionally dark eyes look directly here.

“?”

Eh? The entrance way flowers? I incline my head to the side blankly, then

“They were the same as yesterday”

The Duke’s said, looking down elegantly at his tea cup as he brings it to his mouth.

I am surprised at the Duke noticing that the entrance way flowers had not been changed!

Today was the rainy day schedule, so I could not do the household things. But I am a little happy he noticed those pretty flowers!

“Ah, yes, that is so. Because today I could not go to Bellis’s area”

I am surprised and answer while unintentionally staring at the Duke but,

“Is that so?”

Hmmm, the Duke said while draining his tea. More than that it seems it is the conversation end.

Oh. It seems the Duke dislikes Bellis. Previously when it is a Bellis conversation, it felt like he became ill humoured. He is a good-looking mutual, I wonder if there is somehow the existence of a rival-like mentality? I think perhaps it is the Duke’s one-way traffic.

And, like that, the cup is returned to the saucer and,

“Well then, good night”

Saying that preparations were made for him to return and he returned home.

The next morning, I turned up in the servants dining room to take breakfast and Carthame rushed over.

“Mada~me, I am sorry”

He says and quickly giving my hand a chu [T/N: kissing noise]. It is a firm chu with a extremely exaggerated grief-stricken expression. As usual, an elegant technique. Already I do not notice it. Finally it seems I have adapted!

I firmly recover the hand that Carthame has taken,

“Well, it is not Carthame’s fault. Oh-boy. From now on I have to enjoy the conversation”

What is this forced feeling, having to forcibly enjoy it, I wonder how do I do that?

“I cannot fill it bit by bit to the degree I have up until today, but we will prepare as much as we can”

Carthame says while winking at me hanging my head.

“Yes, please do so”

Today trustworthiness can be seen, in Carthame.

The style of dinner being eaten here everyday, and after that returning to the detached building has not changed. And as usual with the ‘yes, today also was strange~’ feeling,

““““Have a good night, master!””””

The servants smiling faces, are always top grade☆

The detached building’s Calendula, has come intruding here several times since then.

At first, for sure, she kept up a smiling face, but lately she is not even hiding the displeasure. I have been caught at the entrance way again, but within Calendula, I am probably categorized as ‘a useless young girl’. I am only told to go call Lotus or Dahlia. And she does not recognises me as the mistress herself at all. Well, recognising would be more strange. Because at any rate the uniformed me is a young girl who is extremely ordinary and has no merit anywhere.

Calendula surely wants to say ‘this, thieving cat!!’ to the Mistress (me). Me, who thinks I want to hear those rule of right and striking words, is probably idly curious?!

But if I let her say that after this, it will be a ‘I guess this somber and large cat is a hindrance here but I am tied firmly like a pet cat~’ feeling. Ah, normal cats are not tied.

Well, at present that kind of fighting scene does not develop.

Because the capable Lotus always turns her away at the front door. Ah~, every time I am sorry.

Or perhaps I should say, around this time today I think if they are fighting (this, is everyone at the main residences opinion) the Duke should quickly reconcile and return over there.

But.

The Duke’s whimsy is still continuing contrary to our speculation, and further development is expected.

I hear of the Duke’s return and go towards the entrance way, the Duke hands over one letter envelope.

“What is this?”

The envelope is a pleasant-to-touch, high quality white paper, pretending to be commonplace. The address is to the Duke. Turning it around looking, it is sealed with gold beeswax.

This seal, is a coat of arms I have seen somewhere~ ……that’s not it, isn’t this the royal family’s coat of arms! This is not a certain shojo manga. I do not have any relationship with the royal family and such, so I look up at the Duke in a hurry from the super famous coat of arms I know,

“It is a written invitation from the royal palace. This time it has been decided to hold a evening party, and the invitation has come for you and I”

The Duke informed me with a faint smile

“Huh?! A evening, party?

Pachi, pachi, pachi! I blink repeatedly.

I mean, it has been just 4 months after getting married. However, we have never gone out to such a meeting. Did they invite the wrong people?

I have become very blank.

“Yes that is right. So you will come with me?

He said extremely naturally with a gentle smile but.

“U~mmm, but I wonder is this an option?”

I unintentionally ended up answering this way.

Author’s note:

The Duke is struggling at the  main house (haha)