Chapter 26
Looking back at the caller, there are four young ladies . I say young ladies, but I do not know which house’s . It is my first time meeting them .
The voice that called out to me, was a young lady wearing a cute fluttering pink dress . She stepped out in front so she is probably the leader type?
No . Is this the promised event?! Will it not probably be ill-speech, something like ‘It is strange for someone like you matched with the Duke!’?! Eh? Is it not exciting? No no, do not be absurd!
“Ye, yes . That is correct?”
I reply, my eyes slightly shaking with a hesitating flavour . And after that I wait excited for what kind of rule-of-right words fly out but .
“Wow! You are a more lovely person than the rumours!”
She says and her slightly slanted almonds eyes narrow and she smiles .
I want to give praise to me who did not fall senseless .
“The Duke, is dreamy to such a degree so, are you not struggling in many ways?”
The one who seems concerned, by her manner of speaking, like she is somehow implying something in a roundabout way, is the pink fluttering young lady who came up to talk to me . She is called Iris daughter of Sanguinea marquis house . At first sight she has severe looking almond eyes, but there is charm when she makes them narrow . She is a level-headed beautiful person, but it makes we wonder how about her dress preferences . She told me she is older than me by two years .
“Yes, well……”
I answer with an ironic smile to this hard to answer question . How should I put it? I am not struggling, rather I am allowed to do as I please . However, if it was an ordinary lady it would be an unbearable state of affairs, but I do not struggle with that either, so I say nothing .
“The rumours, right . I have heard a lot……”
The one who said this difficult thing to talk about to me, looks at me with upturned eyes . She is the plump, charming daughter of the Crocus count house .
Certainly, if I was a fretful type wife it would be severe state of existing . But I have the servants, and instead, is the Duke not needed? Or so I have been thinking lately? That is why .
“It is okay . The Duke is a very kind person”
*Ufufufu*, this time let’s give a fleeting ironic smile .
Now I notice it, where are the malicious ladies prepared for war, rather I am surrounded by nice ladies . Huhー? There was supposed to be a fighting scene? Fighting scene, where are you?
I incline my head in doubt in my heart at the harmonious atmosphere; it is very far apart from my anticipations, rather my expectations .
“At usual parties, that, it seems he escorts a different person”
Ah～, they know about Her existence .
“Despite being married, I am a bit worried, wondering if that is okay”
“Well”
It seems normal . Complaining that the Duke should do better .
“I think [she] is meddlesome”
“He has such a beautiful wife and he escorts another person, something is wrong with him!”
I see, the ladies are favourable to the sympathy vote! Beautiful or lovely are thoroughly social courtesies, so on this occasion I will splendidly ignore it .
Our speech and conduct does not particularly have an ulterior motive or such, so we are chattering as we are .
It appears that everyone knew that the Duke went out to evening parties with Her . Therefore, it seems they wanted to refrain from a marriage with the very rich, dreamy and elite because of how, with it, it would be very likely, they would be slighted . The plan was to give up with my whole energy, but it seems that is not necessary . And more and more concerned ‘I wonder if you are okay?’ voices are being raised for me who was placed in such a situation . In reality it is a contract marriage with every expectation involved, so there is no such bitter emotion, but I cannot say such a thing at this place even if my mouth bursts!
“Oh, ohohoho～”
Let’s give an acceptable laugh!
Well then, it is disappointing there was no fight scene but we finished without an unnecessary fight so shall we say it is good .
For a while the five of us talked about various things harmoniously but,
“Aah, Viー . Here you are . I was looking for you”
The Duke said, approaching, having finished his conversation with his subordinate . Aah, I forgot this person’s existence again . It is a bad habit!
“Sorry . I was having an enjoyable conversation with everyone here”
I introduce the ladies to the Duke who is approaching here . It seems the Duke did not know the ladies, and while standing next to me and embracing my back,
“Is that so . My wife has been in your care . From now on also please continue to get along well”
He says with his usual glittering smile floating . Speaking of the reaction of the nearby ladies who saw this! Has it not became ‘Blush～～～’ before my eyes?! Certainly the Duke’s smile has this much destructive power . ……popularity
““““Ye, yes～～～!!””””
Heart eyes are probably what these are . Although, to their own husbands they think ‘[mine’s] a little ne～” because even if I am purely ornamental he is the best . It is a quick change in their behaviour .
From the sympathy votes, the favourable interactions I have everywhere, I go in the hall, it results in me ending up looking around searching for ‘where is the fighting scene～?’ . And yet I had long been prepared for this～
Eventually,
“Shall we dance?”
the Duke invited me . Come to think of it we have just been eating and drinking and chattering, and we have not danced at all . At the beginning of the lesson I thought ‘but I will not be going to a place to show this off!’ and yet, well, just as Lotus says, ‘there was no loss at being prepared’ . Foresight, as expected of Lotus, he is a superior……, I’ve said that enough, right .
After dancing several pieces with the Duke, regardless of age, one by one, ‘Shall we dance?’ [T/N: originally in english] came . I didn’t refuse and continued dancing as is . How many dances, how many people I danced with, already I cannot definitely recall . I feel I have done a lifetime of dancing . But one thing I can say is, I have cultivated physical strength from doing habitual housework, and thanks to Lotus’s strict demon-teaching I finish without losing face . No rather I could be praised for being skillful . I am grateful to Lotus!
While I am dancing with other people, the Duke is having a friendly chat with his friends and workmates, however it seems he is exactly mindful of my person, and our eyes meet intermittently . Everytime he gives a smile, but it is okay, I do not make a mistake! Because I will perfectly play my part to the end!
When my back is gradually starting to ache, still the next invitation comes . As expected it might be relentless～ and I secretly hesitate then,
“Around now my wife will be getting tired, so please return her”
The Duke says, taking my back extremely naturally . Oooh, Duke! Nice Follow up!! Thanks to that I was able to successfully finish up the dance . Thanks thanks .
And then I take a drink and a pause .
*“fuuuu～～～”*
Champagne after dancing is the best! I can’t stand this fizziness～!![T/N: because it is so good] it soaks in throughout my body～! While thinking about the old man joke I am savoring the champagne when,
“ I expect you are probably tired? Thank you for accompanying me . Now shall we leave?”
Maybe because I was very amusing, the Duke is looking at me while softly making his dark eyes narrow, chuckling and smiling . Ah, I was seen . This is a bit embarrassing . But it is good to be a natural person in this way～
“Yes . I would be glad to”
After this reply, this time I slightly keep up appearances and drain the champagne with a graceful gesture .
With this, at last, the optional event is at an end!
When we arrive at the mansion, it has become quite late .
“““Welcome home”””
And yet Lotus, Dahlia and Mimosa have come to greet us at the entrance way . Aah, I feel like I have come home～!!
“Tadaima[1] we have returned”
“Tadaima, I am sorry it is late”
We enter a step into the entrance way and, Mimosa takes our coats .
With this there will be a goodnight farewell to the Duke and afterwards it is time for sleeping . Let’s persist for a bit longer!
Thinking this, I turn round to the Duke to give the farewell .
“Many thanks for today . Aah, Lotus . Today, it is already late, so I will be sleeping here . Please prepare the room . ”
First, the word of thanks he said are for me . After that are words released to Lotus who is in waiting .
Huhー? Am I too tired and am having an auditory hallucination again～???