Ch.37 Socialising is a Aristocrat’s Job

Now that it has come to be that the Duke returns to the main building everyday, the number of people welcoming him home has slightly increased and the Master shift has been normalized. These have gradually become ordinary.

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“A invitation to a party has come”

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The Duke quickly says on returning home, while holding out a white envelope.

Woah, what is this Deja vu?

Thinking this, I accept the envelope while my cheeks cramp, I end up hurriedly turning it over and checking if it is the usual coat of arms!

On the envelope was not the usual coat of arms, it was different. It is still sealed with a famous house’s coat of arms.

The Duke watches my reaction to the wax seal of the coat of arms while smiling and,

“This it is not from the palace. It is a written invitation from the duke house of Argentea,”

he gives a supplementary explanation.

“The duke house of Argentea, is it?”

I look up at the Duke’s face which is higher than mine and blink my eyes several times.

The duke house of Argentea are noted aristocrats next to the Physallis household. They are equal to the Physallis household and compared to a poor noble family like mine they are an existence high above the clouds.

“Yes. I said that I would not insist on you socialising but, please do not refuse this place. We have had a friendship with that house since long ago, also the sons there are my childhood friends”, the Duke slightly lowers his eyebrows and gives me a request.

“Was it like that? Understood.”

If there is such circumstances then not even I cannot refuse. Well I am also not eager though.

Seeing me nod my head back-and-forward, the Duke seems relieved and returns to his usual archaic smile and says,

“That’s good. The evening party is two weeks from now. Aah, your dress has to be newly made!”

“yess?”

Again This Person has made a wasteful utterance!

I lightly open my eyes to the Duke’s wealthy socialite speech. The dresses in the clothing room  that I have not yet worn are like a mountain (it is not a expression of exaggeration!) and the dress I wore last time to the evening party I have still only worn once. I think it would be fine if it were remade or something?

“I will make a request to the madame again. What colour should it be this time?”

Contrary to my non-wasteful soul, the Duke is already full of intention to make things new. I am beginning to be deluded by that entrancing, sparkling face. Uh, hey, is it his intention to have matching couple outfits again?! We will appear as a painfully sickly sweet couple so I wish to refuse it with all my energy!

“Nononono, can you please wait ju~~st a minute?”

I hurriedly put the brakes on the Duke who is already ready to talk with the haute couture madame.

“What is it?”

“I do not need it to be made new again. There a heap of new dresses and, there is also the dress that was made last time?”

“You cannot wear such a dress that you have worn once before! Moreover the things in the house are dresses for home wear”, the Duke declares. His eyes that have been smiling silly are stretched as far as possible but, I cry at the gap in values at this declaration of the dresses made with an abundance of all the highest grade fabrics such as silk, chiffon, antique lace and the like, are ‘home wear’.

“Uu~. It would be fine if we remade them though~”

I protest with somewhat watery eyes but,

“You may say you want it remade but, will you tailor it this time? It is a present from me so please accept it without reservations”

I end up being rejected by the Duke whose face has completely changed from being stretched imposingly into a full face smile.

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In the end after that,

“He said he will give it so let’s accept it! What kind of design will it be this time?~”

Mimosa rubs her hands together with a ‘I will decorate her with all my power’-somehow predatory-like smile ‘kufufufufu~’,

“It is the Duke’s intention so, Mistress there is nothing to worry about.”

I am soothed by Dahlia who has made ‘now, now calm down’ delicious tea and comforts me.

“Sigh. I will presume on his goodwill.”

Although I say this, I diligently start remaking the dress from last time. Even though I will not be wearing it this time, there will be sometime to wear it, right? and, if I like I can give it to my younger sister. I will not waste it!

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And now the night of the evening party.

I am wearing a slightly calm violet dress. Again it is a gem of all the haute couture madame and Mimosa’s might. This is also a design that more than covers my flat chest. It switches up below the chest, the silhouette elegantly drapes out, the design is already at the level of worship, madame!

It is the wish of the Duke, who is escorting me next door, to be ‘a perfect pair this time again’ but, there I do my best to avoid him and, I do not commit myself to the technique of matching our colours everywhere.

We turn towards the assembly hall of the evening party, after giving our greetings to the host of tonight, the married couple of the Argentea family, and to their sons, the Duke’s childhood friends. Tonight also, I am ready just in case I am faced with the false charge ‘someone like you!’. Come at me anytime!

When we tread one step into the assembly, at once everyone’s gazes fly over the Duke and I. Ah~seriously, you are burning with your gazes so~please~stop~!

However as if maybe dodging my readiness, I am broken by dance invitations from gentlemen regardless of age.

“Duchess today you are also beautiful. Well, will you dance one song with me?” and,

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Women’s group invitations from a bunch of madams.

“Leave the men alone and come chat with us.”

For the time being, with the mind of ‘this is socialising, this is a aristocrat’s job’, to every invitation I answer “with pleasure” and smile sweetly!

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While I am working hard at my socialising job, it seems the Duke is also busy dancing and chatting while also tentatively watching over with me with a anxious gaze.

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I am dancing with intense concentration, ‘don’t make a wrong step’, ‘don’t miss a beat’ when,

“However, Duchess you are skilled at dancing”

My gentleman partner praises me. Um, can you not talk to me too much? Because I will take the wrong step!

“Is that so? Am I not frantic with not making mistakes?”

This is serious. Things like chatting while dance, for me this is a fairly high class skill. Because it is at the level of doing things like not letting the recent smiling mask pasted on at length to come unstuck!

“That is not the case. There is no one who is handling dancing so easily with such composure,” says this partner, smiling. Sorry, I forgot his name.

“It is very kind of you to give your praise,” I hide my eyes and feeling slightly awkward like I show shyness.

“Most likely you have learnt from a good dance teacher”

“Yes, a demon……”

“Demon?!”

“No, it is nothing! Ohohohoho~ He is a extremely good teacher!”

“Right.”

Dangerous, dangerous. ‘Demon coach’ or the likes of that slipped out.

I cover my verbal slip with a laugh and, afterwards I am able to safely finish dancing while talking harmlessly. Let’s be careful.

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In the women’s groups with the madams, it is only people who seem are not too different in age to my mother, it is now more of a ‘ladies group’ than a ‘women’s group’. Everyone is kind but, what should I say? Is it a generation gap? The conversations don’t meet? Because they like gardening but it is only as far as bonsai trees, I do not yet have a desire for that yet!

I casually take a glass to moisten my dry throat and I am drinking, with my mind flying off somewhere when,

“Mistress, your conduct is very pretty.”

My actions are praised by a countess from such-and-such a place (I cannot remember her name).

“Is that so?”

I do not remember doing such praiseworthy like things so I look slightly doubtful.

“Yes, Mistress your conduct is very elegant in its entirety! It is to the extent of wanting my daughter to also follow your example,” so-and-so marchioness (similar to before) also declares her thoughts of agreement and, gives a big nod.

“Undoubtedly it has assuredly been firmly attached to your body,” says the countess again. It has been attached to my body or perhaps I should say, it has been driven in……

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Anyway the harvest of today’s evening party. It has been confirmed that the ‘rainy day customs’ in their entirety have not been pointless. I must respect the servants! Yeah, it is good I listened to everyone’s words! I will follow them from now also!

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While doing this and that I interject my aidzuchi[1] into the madams’ conversation when,

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“Viola, it has been a while!”

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My name is called from behind me with a voice like a nice bright bell passing by. Oh? I have a memory of hearing this voice? I turn my head back while thinking this and, there is Iris from the Sanguinea marquee house, who I was acquainted with at several intervals at the evening party last time, narrowing her almond eyes in delight.

Today also she has a lovely baby blue fluttering dress. Uh huh, she is not different from my impression of her the other day!

“Well, Iris. how do you do? ……everyone, please excuse me for a little while.”

After I excuse myself from the ‘ladies group’ with a single word, I go towards Iris’s spot.

T/N: [1] 相槌 – aidzuchi speech used when listening to a person speak in Japanese to “show” you are “listening” (not necessarily understanding), it is mostly things like ‘yes’ ‘uh huh’ etc.