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～???