11 — Calendula Strikes!

One month passed in the blink of an eye as I spent every day thoroughly enjoying my life as a servant—I mean, as a married woman.

Mr. Fisalis and I were still estranged, but I had become great friends with the servants! You can’t say that we weren’t each going our own way.

I had gotten an explanation from Rohtas: whenever Mr. Fisalis came home, he first came to the house to talk to Rohtas before going to the cottage; that is to say, he didn’t go straight to the cottage.

So, for the time being, I decided that I’d meet him and welcome him home everyday.

Or, so I said, anyway.

“Welcome home.”

“Thank you. What did you do today?”

“Oh, I embroidered and whatnot.” A bald-faced lie.

I actually planted a new garden with the personal maids outside the salon. Embroidery? I haven’t done anything pointless like that since my first day here!

“That’s nice. I wish you only the best. Well, then.”

If there’s nothing else to discuss, meeting adjourned!?

Mr. Fisalis’ desire to get back to the cottage was written all over his face as he turned and left.

Jeez, even if you told him she was stringing him along, I feel like he’d say, ‘what string?’

Oh well... he was still more or less polite to me.

Of course, he always asked what I’d done that day when I came to greet him, but that’s all it was: being polite.

I’d never tell him that I’d been heartily enjoying my time here playing servant, so I sugarcoated my reply back to him—I’d been arranging flowers (i.e. changing out the flowers all over the house, which was, of course, part of cleaning) and walking in the garden (i.e. looking for flowers while I was weeding).

He gave my answer a satisfied smile and quickly made his way back to the cottage.

It was just basic conversation, but that was no problemo according to our contract.

In today’s search for a new flower vase, we found a spot being used as a storeroom. There was a whole bunch of furniture that wasn’t being used at the moment in storage there, not just vases.

I had entrusted Mimosa with finding the vase. Taking a look at what had been in storage, I asked, “Hey, Mimosa. Why is this furniture all in here? It just looks like stuff we could still use.” I ran my finger over a table, scooping up dust. Underneath where I had wiped, I could make out a beautiful parquet pattern.

In other words, an antique.

“Yes, Madam. This is furniture we did not use when we redid the salon. I’m told that this is all furniture that a previous lady of the house brought when she was married into the family,” Mimosa replied, without ceasing her quest to find a flower vase.

“Oh, wow, I see. It’s a pity, though, to hide such nice things away in here, even if we’re not using them.”

Picking up a nearby cloth, I wiped off the top of the table. My efforts revealed a cute parquet flower pattern all over the whole surface.

“Wow! Look how lovely this is!” I exclaimed.

At the sound of my voice, Mimosa turned around and, looking at my hand, herself exclaimed, “Goodness, you’re right! It does have a certain retro feel, doesn’t it?” with a smile.

All the other furniture I spotted was the same style as the table... chairs, chests, etc. They were old but lovely, and I fell in love with them immediately.

“I wonder if we couldn’t use these again...”

“Huh? Where would we put them?”

“In the salon.”

“All right.”

The room we were using as the salon was outfitted with matching furniture in subdued dark brown. The previous lady had the tastes of a mother-in-law in her late forties and chose her furniture accordingly, so, while it was subdued, it was also total overkill.

It’s comfortable enough as it is, but I’d like it to look fresher...

I mean, despite everything, I’m still a teenager, after all.

It’d be a waste to buy new furniture when there’s perfectly usable furniture right here, so let’s look it over!

I enthusiastically said, “I’m going to go talk to Rohtas and Dahlia!” as I rolled up my sleeves.

“Huh? Wait, Madam!”

Leaving Mimosa in the store room, I went off to find Dahlia and Rohtas.

On my way to Rohtas’ office on the second floor, no sooner had I approached the entryway of the house when I heard a woman’s voice.

“Oh, you there. Would you fetch Rohtas or Dahlia for me?”

When I looked in, I saw a beautiful woman I had never met before standing there. She gave me a strange feeling, and she had jet black hair and determined ruby red eyes. Excessive sex appeal practically wafted from her languid expression and voluptuous curves.

Good gracious. Who the heck is that? Certainly not an uninvited guest! This is the peerless Fisalis manor, after all. Whenever a guest arrives, Rohtas goes out to meet them. He’s the welcome wagon, in other words. And yet, this sexy lady is loitering in the doorway asking me to call the butler or the head maid.

For her to come in without being announced...

She must’ve snuck in.

I couldn’t help giving her a dubious look.

I guess I’ll have to call the guys at the gate and tell ’em that they can’t be letting people sneak in just because they’re pretty ladies.

I was mulling over the best way to respond when the memory of silently watching her flashed into my mind.

Hm.

Huh? Where have I seen her before?

Oh.

“Hey, you. I’m talking to you, you know. Call them, would you? You do work here, right? Don’t just stand there, get going. You useless girl,” she said to me with some irritation, as I stood there absentmindedly. This woman ordering me around was the same one who was being lovey-dovey with Mr. Fisalis the other day—none other than Miss Calendula!

“Y-Yes! Right away!!”

Phew!! Calendula didn’t recognize me, so I got away unnoticed! I quickly left the area and went to look for Rohtas and Dahlia, my original goal, with even more determination than before.

Unsociable as usual, Rohtas was hiding in his office, so I was able to get a hold of him right away.

Waiting until I heard a ‘yes’ in response to my frenzied knocking, I opened the door with a click. The very first thing out of my mouth, without so much as a hello, was, “Miss Calendula is in the vestibule!”

“Mr. Fisalis’ companion, you say?” Rohtas, ever composed, responded in a tone of voice that was the total opposite of my sputtering. He pushed the glasses he wore while working up the bridge his nose with his middle finger.

“Yes. She said to call for you or Dahlia.”

“I see. Of course. It would be best if you... were not present, Madam,” he said, giving me a careful look after he gently removed his glasses and put away the papers around him.

“It would? Well, I’m busy redoing a room, so I’ll go look for Dahlia, then!”

I mean, we’d have nothing to discuss if I was there, and Rohtas already said I shouldn’t go. Most importantly, Rohtas and Dahlia are the ones Calendula wants to see.

A bitter smile returned to my face as I tilted my head.

“...redoing a room? I see.” Once Rohtas understood, I took my leave from where I stood in front of his office.

...but.

Having found Dahlia shortly thereafter, I tried to go back to the storage room where Mimosa was waiting, but no matter which way I went, I’d have to pass by the front door. So I thought I’d just take a little peek at what was happening there while I was nearby.

Calendula and Rohtas were still talking.

I thought I’d just walk by and pretend not to recognize her, but sharp-eyed Rohtas caught sight of us and shot me a look that simply said, “Don’t you come over here.”

Instantly sensing what was happening, Dahlia pulled me behind a pillar, allowing us to watch the scene play out between Calendula and Rohtas.

The entryway was dead silent.

What’s that? No, I didn’t just happen to overhear what they said. I was intentionally listening in.

“It’s been a month since they got married, and I still haven’t introduced myself to his wife.”

“It does seem that way, Miss.”

“I was hoping I could meet her,” Calendula continued, trying to sway Rohtas. “Is she around?”

“Unfortunately, the Lady is occupied at the moment.”

“Is that so? Well I heard that she was plain and boring with no friends, so she doesn’t go out.”

“She is modest and sweet, and does not care to be the center of attention like you do.”

“You had better believe it. Now, where is she?”

“She is away attending to business at her parents’ home.”

“Ah, that’s too bad. And I had wanted to see just how plain she was, too. Oh, well. I’ll try again later.”

“Will you?”

Wow! This is quite a war of words! I can feel the electricity in the air!

Calendula came to see me!? Can you hear me now, Calendula? Good! I have nothing to say to you. In other words, this is the mistress showing up at the house uninvited. Are she and Mr. Fisalis having difficulties in their relationship? This must be what they mean by ‘love is a battlefield!’ Ahh, isn’t this exciting? I Can. Not. Wait to see what happens!

Rohtas was acting differently than usual, though.

He usually acts like a mild-mannered and amiable old man, but when faced with Calendula, he turns politely insolent. There’s something arrogant about her, though.

I mean, he’s always such an expressionless butler. You could practically see sparks flying off the daggers they were glaring at each other!

I got a much closer look at Calendula than I did when I watched her through the bushes at the cottage. She was gorgeous, with passionate, attention-grabbing ruby eyes and black, wavy hair reminiscent of a river undulating through the night.

On top of having a pretty face, her figure was out of this world!

Who could say whether it was pheromones or just plain sex appeal, but those really were the right words to describe her.

You couldn’t deny that there was something decadent about her; I suppose you could say she possessed a certain je ne sais quoi.

Dang, she’s well-proportioned and tall, too. About the same height as me, maybe.

She could probably captivate anyone once she started dancing.

I kind of understand how Mr. Fisalis must feel.

“You should be alright now,” Rohtas said to Dahlia and I, who were behind the pillar, shortly after Calendula left. His voice was back to its usual gentle tone, and I started to stand up from where I was crouched when I heard it.

“You didn’t really know I was back here, did you?” I said, watching the entrance now at full height.

“Indeed, for you appeared to be merely a young maid,” Rohtas replied back with a wry smile.

“Well, everything turned out okay then, huh?”

“I do wonder. She came here as a warning, so meeting you was not actually necessary, Madam.”

“A warning?”

“Yes. I believe the implication was that you are no threat to her position.”

“I’d have to be awfully bold to get in between the two of them, though.”

There’s no way I’m going to try to get in between them!

“...I surmise that she wants you to try to intervene, but,” mumbled Rohtas, unusually quiet. His voice was too soft for me to hear what he said next.

“Huh? What was that?”

“Nothing. At any rate, please leave the Master’s companion to me.”

I got the feeling that there was something hidden behind his gentle smile.

“There’s a lot I’m missing here, but okay, I’m on board. Thanks, Rohtas... now, Dahlia, let’s get to redoing that room!”

“...you do not waste any time, do you?” Rohtas and Dahlia replied in unison, sarcasm written across their faces.

Dinner, that night:

The hot topic in the dining room was Calendula’s sudden attack. Information travels fast among the servants, as you might expect.

“Madam, I heard that the Master’s companion marched right into the house today. I hope nothing unpleasant happened,” a personal maid asked me, worried. Rohtas nipped any ‘unpleasantness’ in the bud, though, so, surprisingly, we did actually avoid anything bad happening.

“It was fine. She didn’t seem to recognize me, and Rohtas took care of her for me.”

“I’m relieved to hear that. You must have looked like an innocent young maid in your uniform! Mimosa did a good job!”

Mimosa and the maid across from her high-fived.

No, the fact that I just don’t give off much of a Lady-of-the-House vibe is simply further proof that I’m way more suited to being a handmaid, I smiled bitterly to myself.

“Master’s companion is rather tempestuous, so she would probably be hard on you, Madam.”

“She doesn’t hold her tongue with the Master, either, so their arguments are intense, as well,” Mr. Fisalis’ off-duty personal maids gossiped with a frown.

Ohh, so he and Miss Calendula fight, do they!? Perhaps they’re one of those couples who thinks that the more they fight, the closer they are. More importantly, I shouldn’t get involved in a couple’s spat, right? Darn it, sidetracked, again.

“Is she hard on everyone?”

The chatter had quickly turned to how bad Mr. Fisalis and Calendula’s fights were, so they let me interject.

“No. They ignore us completely.”

“Granted, we gossip about them, of course. We serve the Fisalis family, after all, not her!”

“She throws things when she’s unhappy. Who does she think cleans up after her!? When she’s angry, she still completely ignores us, even when we’re right there cleaning.”

That Calendula has her personal maids trembling in fear when their mistress remembers some past slight.

I came to understand what a mean temper Miss Calendula had after hearing what the maids had to say and seeing her march into the house. She hadn’t formally met me yet, so for now, I’d just tuck this information away in the back of my mind.