Ch.30 The Duke’s Interest?

They weren’t fighting?

Well then why does the Duke return here everyday?

“I wonder is there something here that attracts him?”

I inadvertently speak but, I suddenly feel eyes on me so I raise my face and, the maids are looking over here. They are staring~.

Still,

“Is it, me?”

I timidly try asking, along with the gesture of pointing at my nose.

Whereupon, is not everyone swinging their heads front-to-back in a big way?!! They are really *shake shake*!

“Well, that is right”

“Speaking of things that have changed here, of course it is Mistress and……”

“Mistress and, the mansion’s atmosphere”

The maids unanimously say. And then,

“Mistress, this is a chance for rehabilitation!”

The maids simultaneously lean their bodies forward.

“Reha, rehabilitation?!”

I am pushed by the maids vigor and unintentionally edge back in my chair.

“Rehabilitation in order to  have Master, who has ended up engrossed in a love affair, return to the original normal, splendid head of the family!”

“Huh?! ummm~?!

Yeah, maids. With my charms and ability, that seems impossible. Please do not gaze at me with such expecting eyes full of sparkle!

“Oh look, everyone. Rest time is ending soon. Please do not trouble Mistress with questions”

The one who said this and stopped the conversation is, Dahlia who has come  to call me. *smack smack*, she lightly claps her hands and everyone returns to reality.

““““ye~~~s””””

Saying this, everyone disperses, cup in hand. I have finished my light meal so I end my break. As I leave my seat with plate and cup in hand, Mimosa snatches them away . Dahlia watches this with a wry smile but,

“Some time ago there was a message from Master and, he will be returning home earlier than usual. I think for the sake of concern it would be better to already be quietly in your room”

A message was reported by way of Lotus.

“Well, is that so? Then I will maintain resting in my room”

To discover me aimlessly wandering in a servant uniform would be a disaster. Moreover today with the stomach-ache I was told to have complete bed rest. Which reminds me the intestinal terror has completely calmed down. Thank goodness.

“Yes”

With one nod, we continue with Dahlia leading and leave the dining room.

Even though I am in the room there is nothing special to do and am close to rotting away. I do not know when the Duke will return so, I am wriggling on the couch as usual when,

“Master has returned”

Mimosa turns up.

Today the way of announcement was really fast. The time is still on the verge of evening.

“Understood. I will go”

I say and stand up from the couch whereupon,

“Aah, today’s greeting is all right. Tadaima I have returned.

A voice that is not supposed to be heard here can be heard from behind Mimosa.

“Du, Duke?!”

I believe I have rolled off [the couch] rather than stood up. To that extent, it is because in here there is an extremely unnatural person!

Mimosa conveyed his approach then, the Duke enters inside the room with a gallant gait. The ends of his eyebrows are hanging a little, is he worried about me?

He holds me back by the hand, as I stand up (no, rather I have fallen down).

“How is your condition? I heard from the report that it did not grow worse and went towards recovery”

He says and, with his long legs he comes to where I’m sitting just like that and, kneeling across from me, he takes a quick look at my complexion. How shall I put it?, His face is close! I reflexively bend back a couple centimeters and endure it,

“Yes. Because the medicine was also effective and, as time passed it calmed down”

Although I am hit my his too-close-glittering-countenance and have broken into a cold sweat, I somehow or another am able to smile and answer!

“Glad to hear that. It is a relief you have recovered to the extent of being able to stroll in the garden”

His worried face clears up and, it has completely returned to his usual sparkling smile.

“Yes”

Lotus reported and changed ‘pulling weeds in the garden’ to ‘stroll in the garden’. I mean, is it not necessary to report as far as my actions? Well, it is fine though.

“However, just in case take this”

The Duke says and, holds out the thing in his hand to me.

From a glance it seems it is a small bouquet of tied up grass. I mean, there are no flowers. It is an extremely bright green grass bundle.

What am I to do with this.

I am not a cow, is this to eat? …….no, that is impossible.

The Duke gives a faint smile to me, who has become absent-minded,

“I received this from the medical garden inside the palace. They are nothing but medicinal plants effective for stomach-aches”

Saying this, he lets me take hold of the grass bunch rather the medicinal plant bunch.

“Oh, from the inside palace?”

“Yes that’s right”

The Duke smiles sweetly.

The medicinal garden inside the palace is a place where medicinal plants are perfectly pesticide-free and organically and carefully cultivated in detail and, they are of course for the medicine of the royal family.The medicine used in the royal palace is entirely cultivated there. It is a very rare item that ordinary people cannot obtain. He has obtained and been given super-precious medicinal plants from such a special place! Duke, did you abuse a little of your authority?

“Was it all right?”

I timidly try to ask.

“To this extent, it is nothing. The royal couple was also worried about you”

With a nonchalant smile he somehow speaks of inexcusable things. This person.

Huuuuuh? The royal couple?? For me those words are too detached from this life, already words will not come out.

I am startled and with my eyes wide open I open and close my mouth when,

“I unexpectedly met them in the medicine garden. When I said my wife has a stomach-ache they quickly gave them especially.”

Haa~!! He ended up saying as far as the stomach-ache?!! Yeah, if it had been a stomachache it would be fine but, if it was the case of it being said that I overate and was hit by gourmet food, I would never again be able personally meet them. Ah, but the Duke hasn’t known from the start. Thank goodness he does not know~!

“Is, is that so~”

Ahahahaha~, now only a dry smile comes out. [typo: the writer wrote ‘thirsty’ not ‘dry’ they sound the same]

“Dahlia, please make this into medicine”

“Certainly”

I hand over the medicinal plant bundle to Dahlia’s outstretched hand then, Dahlia leaves the room in order to make them into medicine. They are medicinal plants so, that will not be a medicated green juice…..it will make a medicine juice. Again I have to needlessly ready myself.

Staring after Dahlia leaving I do nothing when,

“What will you do for dinner today?”

The Duke questioned. As expected although it will be half portions I do not have the courage to eat gourmet food again. My stomach terrorist will just become active.

I mean I want to eat a simple meal.

“Today I will keep it quiet. I will leave it at just a light meal so, Duke, please, eat without reserve? It is inexcusable to do it alone so, shall it be prepared in the detached building?”

I try to say ‘please- return to the detached building’ in an indirect way. Because it is convenient for me that way.

“No, that, without having to go that far, I will eat alone. Moreover I am still worried, today I will also stay here.”

The Duke’s face, which up until now was sparkling and smiling changes into a stiff smile. The Duke. now not only dinner but staying too?

“No do not worry, like that. Today I rested all day so tomorrow I will return to normal”

“However……”

Looking up at my face his eyebrows are frowning. Duke, I thought you were a cat but, is it a dog? He seems like an animal with a droopy tail.

“If you have something I will go and report it at once”

Maybe unable to see such a Duke, Lotus sends a lifeboat. Uh, to assist who?

“……understood. Please have complete rest and quiet. Well then, see you tomorrow”

The Duke leaves slightly withered.