Ch.11 Attack☆

Through enjoying the complete servant life……I mean, the wife-life everyday, in the blink of an eye, a month passed. As usual we are an estranged couple, but I have become thoroughly good friends with the servants! Do not say I’ve gone in the wrong direction☆

From what I know about when the Duke returns home from business trips, it seems the Duke always, when he returns home, first comes to the main building, talks with Lotus then proceeds to the detached building. It looks like he doesn’t return straight to the detached building.

So, I also make sure to go greet him every day just in case.

Even though I say that,

“Welcome back”

“I have just returned. What have you been doing today?”

“Today I did things like embroidery”,

I downright lie. The maids and I renovated the salon curtains☆ embroidery? After coming to the duke house, I have not done such a impractical thing since the first day!

“That is good. Today also above all else passed without any accidents. Well then”

For sure the Duke does treat me courteously. He does ask what I do every day but surely this is a social nicety. I cannot spill that I am enjoying the servant-like life so report my doings in a suitable way like ‘I arranged flowers’ (I replaced all the flowers in the house. A part of the cleaning) or ‘I went for a stroll in the garden’ (I picked flowers from the garden. These were also for decorating the house).

After this happens, he gives a satisfied looking smile, and quickly returns to the detached building.

We only have this amount but because our contract, this problem is no problem!

Today I was taken along to a place used as a storehouse to look for new flower vases.

This doesn’t just store vases, there is also various kinds of household items. I entrust the vase searching to Mimosa while I look the things placed in here.

“Hey, Mimosa. Why are these furniture placed here? Aren’t they barely used things?”

I ask Mimosa while running my finger through the dust on the table before me. Below the wiped dust a beautiful parquet wood carving can be seen. It is a so-called antique.

“Yes, this is furniture not used at the time of the previous renovation of the reception room. I heard they are things the previous mistress had at the time she married into the family”

Answered Mimosa while picking out a vase.

“Really? Is that so? They are nice so they can still be used so it’s a pity they are placed in such a place”.

I pick up a cloth placed nearby and quickly wipe the top of the desk. What appears is a pretty flower-like design on the upper surface.

“Well! Isn’t that pretty!”

I involuntarily exclaim.

Mimosa turning her head to those words, took a quick look at my handy word and,

“Yes it really is! There is a taste for retro at the moment”

She agreed while smiling.

Looking at the other furniture, there is only things with similar designs to the table. Things like chairs, chests etc.

They are retro but the designs are lovely and I immediately pleased with them.

“I wonder if this can be used again”

“Huh? Where?”

“In the reception room”.

“Indeed”.

The reception room used at the moment is consistently furnished by matching and exceptionally dark furniture. It matches inconspicuously, because this was the single preference of the previous mistress, my so to speak mother-in-law in her mid-forties, but is too subdued. Comfort is good but I want a bit more youthfulness…… Even though for the time being I may appear like a lively teenager.

I couldn’t do it because it would be a waste to buy new furniture but because these things are here.

I roughly roll up my sleeves and,

“Let me just go discuss this with Lotus and Dahlia!”

Leaving Mimosa in the storage room, I go out to find those two people.

Just as I enter the entrance,

“Oh, you there. I wonder if you could go call Lotus or Dahlia”

I hear a female call out to me.

Good gracious! This is the ruling power, the Physalis duke house. On the occasion of a visitor possibly coming, Lotus is supposed to be the first to go out. Or perhaps I should say, supposed to greet them. Yet the owner of this voice stood alone at the entrance and tells me to call the butler or a head-maid. Entering without guidance……

Isn’t that trespassing?

I can’t help becoming suspicious. Hey! Guardsmen people, it’s bad ,a pretty lady was allowed to easily trespass. Oh? I seen this person before.

Ah.

“You. I’m telling you. Quickly go and call them”

While speaking slightly annoyed, is it not who was completely devoted to the duke the other day, Calendula!

“Ye,yes! Right away!!”

Safe!! Calendula does not know me so it ended with no quarrel! I quickly leave the situation, along with my original intention, go looking for Lotus and Dahlia with a more fighting spirit than before.

Happily Lotus is in his office so I am immediately able to find him.

I knock in a hurry and as soon as I hear the reply ‘yes’, I open the door with gusto.

“Calendula is pushing in at the entrance!”

Without any preface the first thing that I said after opened my mouth was to inform Lotus of this.

“Calendula is?

Contrary to my excitement, Lotus pushed his silver-rimmed glasses, used for work up, with his middle finger with complete composure.

“Yes. I was told call Lotus or Dahlia”.

“Is that so. Understood. Mistress……it would be better not to come”

Said Lotus to me while slowly removing his glasses and putting the documents on hand in simple order.

“Ah, is that so? Well, then, I am busy with room rearranging so I’ll go and look for Dahlia”

I have nothing to talk about (T/N: with Calendula), even if there is nothing it is fine. The first things to do go to Lotus and Dahlia?

Tilting his head to one side and he returned a bitter smile

“……room rearranging? Understood”

Then, in front of the room I seperate from Lotus.

…… but.

I found Dahlia right after that, so we were returning to the storage room where Mimosa is waiting but, no matter what, we had to go through the entrance.

In there Lotus and Calendula are still talking.

I thought I could pass through without being recognized but Lotus easily discover mine and Dahlia’s figures and we exchange looks. Well, in short saying ‘don’t come over now’

Dahlia sensed it in a moment and drew me to a pillar, so we decide to watch over the two people’s situation for a short time.

The entrance falls deadly silent.

Oh? I don’t have to strain my ears, because I can hear it as I please☆

“Even though a month has passed I have yet to give my greetings to the mistress”

“That is correct”

“So, I wonder if the mistress is in? By all means I would like to meet her”

“Unfortunately, the mistress is occupied at the moment”.

“Oh, I heard she does not do social things?”

“Yes. However, today she has business at her parents house, she is currently out”.

“Oh! That is bad luck. It can’t be helped, well then I will, on another day”.

“Please do so”.

Ooh, Calendula came to meet me! Since it is important I will say it again, but even if we meet there is nothing to talk about? Or rather, the mistress intruded into the main residence for this?

Is this a so-called fighting scene? Eek! Viva☆it is a fighting scene! Ah, is my excitement leaking out?

However, Lotus’ attitude is different as always.

Always, his attitude towards others is like a soft and kind uncle but his attitude to Calendula is superficially polite but rude in intent.

Calendula also gives off a haughty feeling, the room’s atmosphere is strained!

Looking at Calendula closer than before, she has passionate red colour eyes and midnight wavy river-like hair. She is the beauty I thought. Also she has a nice hourglass body, oh my gosh, is she a seductive alien?!!

Adjectives like pheromones or sexy are perfect for her. I cannot deny it is somewhat decadent. Shall I say she is a ennui[1] beauty?

She is slender and tall. I wonder if she is about the same height as me. If this kind of person was to dance, anyone would probably be very captivated~ I can understand a little of the Duke’s feelings.

Dahlia and I see their exchange from the shadow of the pillar, but a short while after Calendula leaves,

“It is now safe”

He said, our bodies loosening at Lotus’s normal soft voice

“As a matter of fact she was not aware it was me~”

I watch the entrance in a imposing stance.

“Yes. Because she could only see a sweet maid”,

Lotus answered with a wry smile.

“Well, Calendula has been warned not to attack you. It is not necessary for her to meet mistress. Because we will deal with it”.

“Got it. Please take care of it……so, Dahlia, room rearranging~!”

““……that switched over quickly……””

Once again Lotus and Dahlia are smiling wryly☆

Authors note:

Thank you for today as well（*＾－＾*）

What I imagine is, Viola is around 169 cm, Calendula is around 170 cm. For woman they are tall☆

T/N:

[1] Ennui (アンニュイ) is a word derived from french meaning: haughty, deadpan, bored, disinterested.