Ch.46 Outing Date 

A carriage with the duke family’s crest on it, has come alongside the entrance way and, with the Duke’s escort, I board and we depart.

“Where are we going today?” I ask the Duke, who is sitting in front of me in a good mood, as the carriage starts to move *gotogoto[sound of hooves]*

“It is a secret for now” he says not telling me.

“Is that so?”

Well, where-ever is fine though. If it were to be said what a good place would be, without hesitation, I hope it would be delicious confectionery shop!

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I wonder where we’re going~as expected the rocking in high class carriages is gentle~it is so pleasant that I am likely to fall asleep~, I absentmindedly look at the scenery outside the window then, the carriage stops in front of a shop. I set aside the fact that if I had ridden a bit longer I might have fallen asleep.

“Now then, we have arrived at our first destination”, says the Duke, pulling my hand, as he descends from the carriage.

What I see when I descend the carriage is –the front of the main building for that super famous haute couture, the one that always makes my dresses.

I have lived in the capital since I was born so I have passed by the front of the store. Of course it was on foot. But it is nothing to boast about, never has one of my feet stepped inside.

“Du, Duke?”

In front of the store that I have passed, but haven’t entered till now, and furthermore flinching at the madame and the rest of the staff’s greeting, I unconsciously end up strongly grasping the arm of the Duke who is escorting me.

“It is good to show your face in the store once in awhile right? They also have ready-made things, let’s have a look!”

He is smiling kindly but, that ‘let’s have a look’ obviously includes ‘we will be buying’, right? It is absolutely unnecessary though [T/N: She have enough already]. Especially a dress or a dress or a dress and so on.

“A dress?”

I ask, looking diagonally up at the Duke.

“We have lots of casual clothes. Moreover we have various accessories. Out here is uncomfortable so please come inside,” the madame elegantly gestures at the store’s interior and instructs us so,

“Then, well……”

Although reluctantly, I go through the passage of staff who are welcoming with big smiles, and step into a super posh boutique for the first time in my life.

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“What kind of dress shall we make today?”

“That’s right. Of course, a design that promotes Viola’s beauty is prefered. It definitely is madame’s skill.”

“Well, ohoho Duke you are a sweet talker.”

I am guided timidly and, the minute that we sit down next to each other on a gorgeous couch, at the far end, that appears to be for the use of customers, some welcoming tea is also served quickly and, such a disquieting (in my opinion though) conversation unfolded between the Duke and the madame. Oi Duke. Are you going to say let’s have more dresses made? I say it often but in my closet and……*cough*, it’s tedious, I’ll omit the rest.

Well anyway, staying silent like this, things will get carried away and I will end up with dresses being made that I do not need! There is no need for extra expenses! I pull myself together and, I choose a break in their conversation and talk to the Duke,

“Ah, Duke? Before [I saw] there was a lovely shirt on display, how about it Duke? I thought it would suit you very well.”

When we were passing through the store there was a chic dark silk shirt that attractively caught my eye. Expenses for me are unnecessary so here, am I not shifting gears from me to the Duke?!

“Is that right?”

“Yes! Duke you are always busy and do not have time to choose clothes, right? By all means, how about you take this chance to have a look?”

I feel like one of the shop assistants in the boutique. Don’t forget a sweet zero yen smile!

“If you say so Viola……”

He seems a little dissatisfied but, it looks like he is as dissatisfied as he would have you believe. One more push, go, go!

“Certainly let’s have a look! Right, Madame?”

“Please, by all means. If you have time, even tailoring will be no problem,” Madame backs me up.

“Well then, shall we have a look for a little while?……”

At last the Duke stands up. Together, with me, we return back to the store interior.

I managed to completely change the flow of the conversation from a dress for me to looking for clothes for the Duke. Well done, me!!

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In the end The Duke, in addition to the one I recommended before, also chose another one, that is different in style and colour. In addition he also bought some bottoms and also bought a jacket, rather unenthusiastically I steadily wasted money.

“I am happy you chose this for me,” he said again with dazzling smile but, the only one I chose on my own was the first black shirt (it is a safe design popular with all people!), the rest I just roughly followed what the madame said and chose those. Yes.

“Is, is that so? Ohohohoho~”

I do not have anything like Mimosa’s sense~.

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“Well then, let’s take our leave now”

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After the luggage is loaded in the carriage, we board the carriage.

We immediately reached our next destination.

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“It is a restaurant started by the previous head chef of the whole of the royal palace when he retired”

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The one he is informing me about is a super high class famous restaurant, this also is a place everybody knows about. Its status is high and the prices are also expensive. It is a store that the royal family also often come to, travelling incognito.

Yes, here was also on my passing by route, if it was me up til now.

“……”

This store, which was remodeled from a former aristocrat’s villa, mercilessly brings out an atmosphere of ‘first-time customers[1] will be rejected’. It seems like the only one feeling this atmosphere is me as the Duke is quite unconcerned.

“Duke Physallis, Madam, I was expecting you,” a butler-style man gives a greeting in this direction from the lattice gates. It is an Oni-sama[T/N: older brother/man] with glossy rather short blonde hair that is neatly combed down. He is probably older than the Duke? His voice is low and is nice on the ears. ……it is not the case that I am admiring this Oni-sama who has a butler appeal. He was expecting us means that a reservation was made.

“Ah!!”

I unintentionally raise my voice at an occasion that came to mind.

“Is something wrong?”

The Duke is surprised at looks at me.

“N, no, it is nothing. Sorry”

“?”

Is that so? It was like this?”

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＊＊＊ Recollection・Just before departing the duke residence ＊＊＊

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“Mistress, please take this,” saying this Dahlia hands over two small paper cartridges.

“What’s it?”

“When you think ‘it’s no good’ please use this.”

“It’s no good?”

“Yes”

“……somehow or another I feel I know.”

If I sniff the odour *kunkun*, it smells of those medicinal plants from that time.

“In the beginning, please drink one. Then when you think even so it is ‘no good’ please drink another one,” Dahlia informs me of the instructions. Uh huh, dosage and administration are straightforward!

“Understood”

I gave a big nod while steadily looking at Dahlia’s eyes, and I drank one on the spot.

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……with the above, the recollection ended.

Dahlia and the others, knew that I would probably be eating out today. Because of that they have given me those powdered medicinal plants to have. Probably because it is expected that I will most likely encounter terror. I am full of tears at Dahlia and the other’s concern.

“Now then, shall we go? The food here is truly delicious!”

The Duke gallantly escorts me.

“……for me Carthame’s cooking is good”

I mumble.

“Eh? Did you say something?”

“No~?”

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Together with me being a small eater who will eat whatever (more than that I am anti-terrorist), I take only one or two mouthfuls of each [dish] but be that as it may it is gourmet food. Be that as it may they have used high  class ingredients. It is undisputedly delicious but as expected I end up having to drink the other medicine. I think he probably didn’t notice my bad condition. Because going further than I ever thought possible, while I still had room, I thoroughly stir the medicine in the water of the glass and drain it up while the Duke is looking away.

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Somehow the terrorists let me pass and, the meal safely comes to a close.

By now I’m longing for home but,

“Now, let’s go to the next one,” the Duke joyfully informs me. It seems he will not release me yet.

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The next place he takes me to, again different from promised, jeweler’s shop. I hear it is a popular shop among young people. Well, that is among the rich nobles though.

How long does this person want to shop? Even though I have lots of accessories I feel he will still buy some.

“This ring, is cute. Viola, how about you try putting it on?” he says and shows me a ring with lots of gems but, when I do the washing it will be a nuisance and, when I clean it will be a nuisance, in various scenes it will be a nuisance so it is rejected.

“It is lovely but I have enough at the moment”

“Really? Well then, necklace?”

“That also I had new ones made during the time of the evening party”

“Huh~, earrings……”

“Those also are made as a set with the necklaces?

“Umm~, well…….”

“Ah Duke? Over there, are some lovely cuff-links?”

Persistently……*cough*, I guide the Duke’s eyes that are enthusiastically looking here are there, to the cuff-links that are displayed in a showcase.

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“Aah, they are”

His gazes returns here after just a fleeting glance so,

“I think something like that go well with your shirt! Moreover it looks like it would also go with the shirt we bought today?”

I press him again. This time I have completely become a jewelry shop assistant!

“Would you like to try them on?”

The owner of this place who has been silently accompanying us till now, fires some cover fire. Thank you Madame and nice owner for the nice back-up!

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The Duke who was pleased with the cuffs, bought them at the shop. Again my shift change is a success.

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After that he took we to a cafe he has a membership, when we returned to the mansion it was completely evening time.

He didn’t take me to …….a confectionary shop…… I drive to the entrance with a distant look in my eyes.

Rather than some sort of date, I feel acutely that it was matching up to the Duke’s tastes.

But I am glad the Duke was in a good mood from beginning to end. Something mental has been greatly shaved though.

“Today was fun”

The Duke is in a good mood and greatly delighted,

“Is that so? I am glad we could go together”

I cannot honestly answer. Because I am totally exhausted. I am prone to tiredness and I urge on my tired eyes that are about to close and paste a smile on my face,

“Are you not interested in dress, jewelry or delicious food?”

He peers at my tired face and his in-a-good-mood face has a complete change is clouded with concern

“That’s right. I am not interested such things”

“I sensed that”

The Duke gives a bitter smile. Was my answer a bit too straightforward? I wonder if I said too much, I peep at the Duke’s pretty dark pupils, all of sudden his eyes tenderly narrow,

“Well then, next time I will properly research so let’s go on an outing again”

Incorrigibly another invitation. And what is this so called research?

“yes”

I give a half-hearted reply but, as a result, did I say show me what you’ve got……?