Chapter 15
At last the rainy season ended . I have never longed for sunny days this much! Despite Lotus sensei being a demon coach, in the dance lessons, I have steadily improved, and thanks to the full course brush up by Mimosa and her aesthetic troops (before I knew they were formed!), by the time the rainy season ended, I feel that my skin was able to unmasked . Yes, my complexion has certainly become better than before! My cheek also has elasticity? . Thanks to the dance lessons my usual posture improved as well? Yes, I am very very grateful . Is it regrettable that I will not show it to anybody? Showing it is not necessary .
While doing this, another month passed and it has become three months since I came to the duke house .
Knock, knock, knock .
“Excuse me”
I am decorating the reception room with flowers supplied from Bellis’ place when with a light knocking sound Lotus shows up .
“Oh, what’s the matter?”
Usually, Lotus secludes himself in his office and works, but he specially comes to where I am . I wonder what on earth the errand is? Thinking about it, it does not seem to be very good news .
“Yes, mistress . A little while ago this letter was delivered so I thought you might want to look over it so I brought it over . ”
While saying this, he hands over specially made stationery with the Physalis family crest I had seen before . ......even just staring I can feel the tendons in my right hand hurt! ......no that’s not it . Wh~ere did that shake-kuma figurine[1] go~ ......that is also different .
I fixedly stare at the traumatic envelope,
“It is from the previous duke . They would like to come and visit to see the state of affairs so they are inquiring about when would be best . ”
Explains Lotus .
“Oh, indeed! But this, I can not decide”
So that means the married couple, my parents-in-law come, I’ll have to act like ‘I am doing well with my husband!’ . It will be a very inconvenient thing,
“Yes”
“Let’s discuss it when the Duke comes back . ”
I say, but we have still only had lip service conversations~ . But this affects the contract so the Duke and I have to precisely bounce ideas off each other to obtain a fine-tuned integrated whole! I have enormous debt to get paid so I intend to do my job precisely and reliably!!
At the evening hour,
I hear from Mimosa that the Duke has returned, I change into plain clothing like always and hurry to the entrance .
There it seems Lotus has already finished report,
“I have heard the letter’s passage from Lotus . I am sorry for these circumstances but I will reply for it to be in one weeks time . ”
“Yes”
Because of the Duke’s circumstances I am able to have a comfortable servants life . Because I also don’t socialise, whenever I am free, arrangements have been brought on for when I do so bring it on!
“They will probably be staying for 2 to 3 days so I will be returning to stay here . ”
“Huh?!”
The married couple, my parents-in-law, also staying? Well, that is to be supposed, but it is completely beyond what I expected for the Duke to go as far as to return!
To my unintentional reply, the Duke tightly raises one eyebrow and,
“Is there something?”
He asks . There is......a inconvenience but I cannot say that!
“N, nononono! It is okay!”
I hurriedly affirm . And then giving one nod to my positive affirmation and the Duke set up a concrete plan .
“As my parents will stay in the parlor, it should be arranged that I stay in the married couple’s bedroom......”
The Duke looks a little awkward . His face is pensive like he has been hit the face with a fist, what are you thinking?!
“That is right . But I will bring a simple bed to the bedroom, so I will rest there . Duke . please use the bed . ”
If we want to show the appearance we have a good relationship, it out of the question for married couples to sleep in separate rooms . I also understand this much so I will not be upset if it is said that I have to share the same room with the Duke! But please pardon sharing the same bed .
To my as-usual-candid response, the Duke has a complicated expression .
“......I should be the one there, [T/N: on the simple bed]”
The Duke is trying to be thoughtful for once but,
“No, because it is okay”
I do not have pride but if I am left alone, I’m the owner of the ability to sleep on the couch or anywhere .
With a firm smile I overcome his resistance .
“......thank you very much . By the way, what is your pet name?”
After solving the bedroom problem, the Duke gently asked . What is this? I feel the subject suddenly jumped?
“It is Vii, but is something wrong?”
“I thought it shows people are close when they call each other by their pet name . ”
Oooh! As expected of the Duke . His ingenuity is rich,because certainly calling someone by their pet name it will be mistaken for increased intimacy!
“That is right . ”
“Well then, on the day I will call you that . ”
“Understood”
“You......”
“Me? I will call you Duke as usual?”[T/N: remember ‘Duke’ here can also mean ‘my husband’]
What is it? It seems ridiculous have such various disparities in marriage and to do things like childishly be called by pet names?
“......understood . Well then, in this I will . ”
The Duke gave a bitter smile .
The business meeting relating to my parents-in-law’ visitation of calamity finishes and as usual the Duke quickly turns back in order to return to the detached building .
“Well then, I will prepare the guest room and I will arrange a bed for Mistress’s room . ”
After seeing the Duke out, Lotus opens his mouth . As excepted he is a superior butler . While we were having our business meeting without saying anything, he silently took notes . I wondered if he had vanished into the air . Furthermore, even though while pretending not to listen he remembers every single word and phrase! He does good work!
“The guest room is troublesome so I will prepare it! Anything is good for the bed . If there is none, putting two couches together is good enough”
“......”
Lotus stays silent .
“What’s wrong?”
“Please let me prepare a bed!”
He’s smiling but, again there is an atmosphere of not being able to say consent or refuse .
“Ye,yes . understood!”
I became overwhelmed . [T/N: by Lotus]