Ch.38 The Way of Settling a Great Fuss

I am rescued from the womens group by Iris, I thought that it would be good to become wallflowers like this but, in the blink of an eye I end up being surrounded by the same noble’s daughters as last time. These people are participating in this evening party also!

I, who had absolutely no interest in who was participating, did not know but, surely everyone checked their invitations with each other before coming.

“Everyone, how do you do as well?”

I elegantly smile at the misses surrounding me, however, not a word was breathed about even having to frantically match names and faces in my mind, this a socialising skill!

The daughter of the Crocus count family, the daughter of Nasturtium marquis family, the daughter of the Columbine count family, I eagerly drag their names from the bottom of my memory. Unfortunately their first names…… yeah but good luck, my brain cells!

“Has it been since the evening party at the castle? Viola, I have not caught sight of your appearance since then, I was wondering what to do.”

Was the chubby one the Crocus count’s daughter?

“The Duke has also not come to evening parties at all.”

The one saying this is, seemingly well matched with me, lanky…..no excuse me, she is the long and slender daughter of the Nasturtium marquis.

Come to think of it, lately the Duke as not gone to evening parties and the like at all. Because for some reason he has been returning to the main building.

I mean, misses. How to you know my movements in such a way?

“Um~, how do you know this so well?”, I ask the question.

Then,

““““Because we usually participate in evening parties, of course!””””

They brightly laugh, ohohohoho~.

Uh huh, a true aristocrat is like this. It is outside my norm.

“But I cannot find a good way to meet you.”

“Right, right. Viola you are already married so we do not have a relationship but, it is big problem for us!”

““““right~!””””

It is unmarried women that are talking it over in sync. That is to say they also do not have a fiancé. They still have the desire to have a marriage from love, it seems they are dreamers. They are young maidens indeed.

It seems that participating in these sort of events also serves as marriage matchmaking for single young women and sons so, their antennas spread out here and there, and so various gossip probably comes in. Moreover it seems our bad percentage of participating in evening parties has been caught.

I earnestly bear the unintentional cramp in my face and,

“Is that so?~, therefore you had good knowledge of it~ ohohohoho~. The Duke has been busy with work so, by no means have we been able to participate in these sort of events,” I laugh. I cannot say ‘socialising is bothersome’, even if my mouth tears. The ends justifies the means.

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“If you cannot come to evening parties, would you be available for something like a tea party?”

I return my sense at the lovely Iris’ voice and, in it she is expecting something and the pupils of her almond eyes are sparkling *kirakira [twinkle]*

“A tea…party?

Where?

I blankly look slightly doubtful then,

“I have heard that the Duke family’s gardens are magnificent. I hope to see it on one occasion”

Iris sweetly smiles.

How did they know that the Duke family’s house gardens are wonderful? Currently visitors and the like are mostly not invited.

No, they are really wonderful? But it is the Devil king (Bellis)’s mighty work!

“The madame from ‘Haute Couture de Fleur’ told me.”

The one who answers my question is the daughter of the Columbine count family who has been only quietly listening to the conversation until now. I mean, did you read my mind?

‘Haute Couture de Fleur’ is the official name for the ultra-luxury brand that usually makes my dresses.

“Besides that also the owner of ‘Pommier’ said so”

‘Pommier’ is the super famous jewellery store that made my jewellery last time.

The contents of the leaked gossip of the duke household, that should be almost be secluded completely to just the premises (although it is not such a exaggerated thing), originated from the regular tradesmen!

Because it is not likely that the house servants, who are the owners of ultra first-class skills, would talk glibly about the mansion’s matters.

“Is that so? Um, I cannot decide at my own discretion so I will ask the Duke”

“Please do!”

I intend to indirectly say ‘see~you~later’ but

“……”

“……”

What is this?, the women are staring at me with *kirakira [twinkle]* eyes. It is not my imagination that I feel a silent pressure here also.

“……right now?”

“Yes. Right now!”

Is that right? Getting the Duke’s confirmation right away, they wish to come over to the duke household’s dwelling, so much?

Well, it is a well known fact that the Duke is an only child so it is improbable that there would be an ulterior motive like monopolizing on a marriage match with another young man from the duke family. The wish is to purely to come and have a good time at the duke household which rarely opens their doors.

“Understood. I will go ask the Duke and come”

Yield to the pressure of the *kirakira* eyes I decide to go look for the Duke in the party assembly hall that is teeming will lots of people.

However without any trouble I am able to discover the Duke. It is because of his sparkling, beautiful, superiorly tall stature so it would be more strange if he did not stand out.

The Duke is somewhat separated from me by a window. It is just men talking so I think of not wanting to approach, yet the pressure of ‘quickly, quickly’ is pushing me hard from behind

It can’t be helped, I commence moving towards the Duke a little,

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“Are you duchess Physallis?”

.

Someone calls out from my side.

“Yes? That’s right, but……”

I look a the owner of the voice and, a young woman, a complete stranger, is standing there. Is she a noble’s daughter from somewhere? I do not know her at all but, without caring about me who is staring blankly,

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“*fuun [pshaw-laugh]*. You are re-ally ordinary. I wonder what is good about a ordinary woman[1] like you?”

The young woman says with a sneer placed on her lips, while she waves the fan in her hand *fuasafuasa [sound of fanning]. Moreover while she is at it, she runs her gaze from the scalp of my head to the end of my feet for a just~a second!

Wait, this is it, this! Is surely an event!

Last time at the evening party I received a dodge but, tonight it will be the real personal experience! Thank you, someplace’s noble’s daughter!

As you might expect from attaching a false charge to me, this noble woman is a pretty person. The bridge of her nose prettily passes by her large double-lidded indigo eyes and, her seasonal cherry like lips are glossy and beautiful. Her stature is slender and tall but, different from me she is well proportioned. I’m je..jealous……leaving that behind. She is full of the aura of a person with confidence in herself.

.

However.

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“Very well. But I also have no inkling of what is good about me. By the way miss which noble’s daughter are you?”

.

I inform her without covering up the truth and,

“Hm, ah……! You do not know…me?”

Her facial expression is surprised, her indigo eyes open almost falling out. Hm? Are you such a celebrity?

“Yes, sorry. It is my first time meeting you? Or have I meet you somewhere?”

Although I think this is rude, the other person also had a rude manner of speaking so I will not be reserved!

“I am..this Argentea family’s eldest daughter, Verbena”

She closes her fan that she has been gracefully fanning until just a few minutes ago *bachin [whack]* and scowls at me.

Huh? But some time ago I greeted the children from here but, this person…..excuse me…Verbena, was not there?

“You were not there when we gave our greetings some time ago?”

“Some time ago……! You two came while I was not there for a moment!”

“Well, was it like that? That was impolite of us”

Ah-, she is such an arrogant……*cough*, high prided woman.

“It really was rude. Really I wonder what is good about such a child?”

She says with a amazed tone but, again what are these righteous words!! Opposite to Verbena’s threatening aura, I am trembling in excitement.

“It is true. I also have no inkling. You could directly ask the Duke? If you like I will accompany you”

“Huh?!”

“After all even if the Duke’s feelings are asked by me, how else are you supposed to know?”

Verbena looks like a deer in the headlights. Her beauty is spoiled. Did she think I would even cry? It is not likely. I am not such a character.

Verbena tightly grasps her fan trembling all over, at me who has no sign of collapsing at all.

“You, that’s enoug……”

In the instant the insult is part-way said with a low voice like something has fallen and is creeping on the ground,

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“Ooh. What are you planning to do to my wife?” Saying this is the Duke who has softly entered between Verbena and I.

“Oh, Duke”

“Cercis!!”

Mine and Verbena’s voices accidentally overlap.

“Vi-. What was said by Verbena?”

The Duke turns just his head to me while protecting my back,

“Yes. She asked why you, Duke, chose me and, she wants to know what is good about someone like me”

I frankly tell him.

Whereupon Verbena who is startled by my overly frank words,

“Eh?, wai, what are you saying? O, ohohohohoho!”

Although beautiful face stiffens she laughs and tries to lie.

“Is that so? Verbena?”

“……”

Maybe thinking that it will be hard to cover up her lie, Verbena silently hangs her head in shame.

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“What, such a thing, I will talk about as much as you like!”

.

The Duke suddenly gives a broad smile.

“ehh?”

“Huhh??”

.

Verbena raises her head in surprise. What is This Person saying?! I become like the straight man in a comedy.

In a way like *hiki-n[1]* without worrying about the frozen atmosphere, “Viola is, well to say the least, her greatest charm is probably her courage? Ah, she is courageous but she is not the type who is fickle. She is also level-headed and, despite being considerably younger than me……” The Duke ends up boast about me at last! Moreover it is furnished with a full face smile like ‘I cannot say anymore than this’! N-O-!! Someone stop him~!! What is this shy play!! No one says anything but, there are a lot of people around?  Up till now have they just been watching over our exchange with bated breath?

.

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How long the conversation continued it is already unsure in my memory.

The Duke who is talking and smiling refreshingly is holding me around the shoulders, my soul ends up being sent somewhere by the shy play. In front of me is Verbena who is apologising while weeping “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, it’s enough. I’m sorry”