25 — A True Vow

Mr. Fisalis said “sorry”!? To me!? Well, well, well—first he spills his guts to the servants, and now he apologies to me!! What’s gotten into you today, Mr. Fisalis!?

I peered into his beautiful dark brown eyes. He was looking at me with a steady gaze, so I was sure he wasn’t pulling my leg.

And yet, unlike the servants, I’d never felt particularly put upon by him, so I didn’t think he really needed to apologize to me. I mean, he said he “tied me down” under those horrible terms, but he shouldered my family’s debt, and provided me with food, clothing, and shelter. And all I had to do in return was just accept that he had a mistress. If it hadn’t been a sweet deal, I wouldn’t have decided to be his show wife.

In fact, by rejecting his lover (or, I guess, getting rejected by her?) and turning to me instead, that was technically violating the deal. As a result, my fun “life as a wife” (read: life as a servant) was crumbling away right before my eyes. What’s that? I should think of this not as a violation of the deal, but as the start of a happy ending?

...Err, I guess my thoughts could use some sorting out. But anyway.

“I didn’t need you to apologize to me. I really don’t think anything of it. Granted, those terms may seem dastardly when taken by themselves, but there was plenty in it for me, so...”

Thanks to his generous act of shouldering our family debt, that little problem had been settled once and for all, and I was quite content to spend the rest of my life romance-free in exchange for the status and prestige of being a duchess. If that wasn’t an amazing deal, I don’t know what is!! In any case, I thought saying all of that would lessen his feelings of guilt, if only a little. And yet...

“Hearing that you think nothing of it... that’s the most painful thing of all...”

Ah, he’s getting teary-eyed. I need to patch things up! “It-It’s true that any lady who actually fancied you would think those terms unbearable. But I guess I just lost interest in men in general, so it really wasn’t a bother for me at all! The servants at the manor all treat me well, and I never felt lonely—even when you weren’t around, Mr. Fisalis!”

I could’ve continued by saying “Actually, I had more fun when you weren’t around” but if I had, he’d have been well and truly crushed.

Wait... that’s weird. His head’s only been hanging lower and lower the more I talk.

“You just shot me straight through the heart, but I shouldn’t bring that up now...” he muttered.

Huh? Did that fail to patch things up? Oh no, we can’t have that. I really need to cheer him up! “Ah, but, uhh, you’ve changed for the better recently, Mr. Fisalis! I mean, you totally asked Rohtas, Dahlia, and Mimosa what I like, didn’t you? What sorts of books I like, what sorts of food I like, all of that stuff. Dahlia clued me in to that fact, and I was so happy to hear that. And when the hubbub over that ‘new lover’ of yours was happening, you leaped in to quash that without caring about appearances.”

“I... uh, true, I guess...” Mr. Fisalis lifted his head back up, but he wasn’t looking me right in the eye, and he was scratching his cheek. Was he feeling shy? Before long, he stopped averting his gaze and looked me right in the eyes; clearly he’d screwed up his resolve. “...Right, so, how do you feel about me now?”

“I like you,” I said without delay. Mr. Fisalis’ eyes widened with wonderment, and suddenly he closed the distance between us.

Wow, he’s so close now, though.

“Really!?”

“Yep! You’re like family!”

“Huh? Not like... a husband...?”

“Just like family!”

Mr. Fisalis said nothing.

“You’re family to me, just like everybody at the manor!”

“...I see. So I’m family. But that’s progress. I’ll take it! Baby steps!” he murmured, staring.

I could hear him loud and clear, but I did him the favor of pretending not to.

“Oh, and when you took down those ruffians earlier, I started to think of you as dependable, too.”

“Did that make you feel closer to me?”

“It did!” I said, nodding enthusiastically.

His eyes softened. “Now I know that the way I phrased things wasn’t reaching you.”

“What do you mean?”

“Do you remember when I said ‘what I want most is for you to stand by my side, like a normal couple, without all this contract business’?”

“Huh? Uhh, umm, oh yeah, I remember! I do. Of course I do.” That must’ve been right after that big fight.

Mr. Fisalis saw right through me and reminded me. “I’m talking about the day we had that big discussion with Callie.”

Phew. I was on the money after all. I smirked, relieved.

“I also said something else later on. Something similar.”

“Uhhh...” When was this? I averted my gaze, trying to remember.

“Before I went off to war. The day I very nearly leaked intelligence to my treasured wife.”

Please don’t give me that impish smile, Mr. Fisalis. “Ah...” That did ring a bell... He said that in front of the chivalric order, right...?

“Do you remember now? I suppose it never made an impression on you, since I spoke of my feelings in such forgettable ways. So allow me to rephrase.”

“Rephrase?”

“Yes. You’ve become an incredibly important person to me, Viola. I love you. So from here on out, I’m going to shield you from harm. For the rest of time, in fact. And I think I’ll atone for my misdeeds by striving to make you feel thankful and blessed that you married me.”

Huh!? Say what now? Ah, once again, my emotions just can’t keep up with all this.

“Uhh, I mean... I already feel plenty happy with my life,” I replied nervously.

“Does that happy life involve me?” He smiled, but it seemed an evil smile.

I feel like he’s staring right into my soul. Man, he’s sharp today.

“...Aha ☆”

“I’d just like to become part of your happy life. Of course, I’d really like to be the center of it, but that’s not possible at the moment. I’m satisfied just being close to you. Earlier I said it’d be my atonement, but honestly I just want to be the one to make you happy, regardless.”

It looked as though my pasted-on grin wasn’t fooling anybody, because he smiled wryly in response to it. “You don’t have to atone for me. Like I said before, it really didn’t bother me at all.”

“Then I’ll be quietly atoning for myself. All I really want is to make your life a happy one by my own hand. That reminds me—putting a smile on your face involves keeping an orderly home, right? ‘Men who can easily manage their jobs, their territories, and their homes are so amazing’, right?”

“Huh?” Wait, I remember that line from somewhere...

“Wasn’t it you who said those words?” he said, grinning devilishly.

“Oh yeah!!!” If I recall, I, uhh, think I said that to my mother during the ceremony celebrating his return... no way, Mr. Fisalis—were you eavesdropping!? To think that casual remark would be overheard. I repeatedly opened and closed my mouth in surprise, not knowing what to say. If I’m not misremembering, Mr. Fisalis suddenly appeared from behind and startled me. He must’ve been listening in!

...You think he’s going to start working overtime? Nah.

Seeing me in my flustered state, Mr. Fisalis only chuckled even more. “That’s the reason I thought I’d do all the things I’d neglected to do by hiding myself away in my work. In addition to the fact that I need to make up for burdening Rohtas and the rest with my duties, of course.”

So that’s what set all this off, huh? Good for you, Mr. Fisalis! Welcome to normalcy. This change of heart is commendable.

“If you’ve really reformed, I’m sure everybody will be ecstatic!” Rohtas’ workload will diminish, for one, as will the servants’ anxiety levels. Two birds, one stone!!

“Reformed...” He smiled bitterly.

“You came out with all that mushy stuff out of nowhere earlier, so everybody was taken aback, but I bet that right around now, the meaning of your words will finally be sinking in, and they’ll be in an uproar!” Well, that said, I doubt they’d be dancing on the tables; maybe they’re at least holding back tears?

“I think that’s exaggerating a bit. But I’m sure Rohtas is using this as an opportunity to compile huge amounts of paperwork regarding the territory’s affairs.”

Mr. Fisalis must have pictured the mountains of papers, because his expression already looked exhausted. Of course, I too could easily picture Rohtas carrying over terrifyingly huge stacks of documents with an evil smile. In the not too distant future, I guess. “You’re not wrong.”

“Hahaha. Well, I’ll give it my best shot.”

“I’ll help out in any way I can!” I can hand out pearls of wisdom, as long as it’s the wisdom of the poor! As encouragement, I held one of his hands in my hands.

“Thank you. I appreciate it.”

“If you show everybody you mean it and these aren’t just empty words, they’ll be so relieved!” “Young sir, he’s back in action!” they’ll say. Also, I just really like calling him “young sir.” Hee hee!

“That’s what I’ll do. But I also need to be clear about my intentions. To the servants, and to you...” he said, looking at me with a serious expression once again.

What is it this time, I wonder?

Mr. Fisalis gently removed my hands from his, just so he could squeeze mine in his. Then he pulled my hand to his shapely lips. “I was lying when I said it at the wedding, but this time I say it from the heart. I, Duke Cercis Tinensis Fisalis, promise to love Viola Mangelica Fisalis, till the end of my days.” He slowly pressed a kiss to the back of my hand.

Huh!? ...Was that a wedding vow kiss just now!?

It’s the traditional kiss from wedding ceremonies in Flür! It happens after the affirmation to the priest (“Do you vow to love each other until death do you part?” “I do!”).

Ah, but we were both pretending back then... wait, that’s not what I should be thinking about right now!! He just kissed me!! Plus, he kissed me after saying the vows, so he must really mean it, right?

The memory of our wedding day rushed back to me. The state church within the royal palace, where few aside from royalty are ever allowed. I remembered his sparkling smile and the hand he stretched out to me. Both were insincere. And I recalled the extravagant, gorgeous dress and accessories I was decked out in, and how I smiled back “happily.”

The lavish wedding ceremony, where the great number of invitees showered us with both their blessings and their envy (yes, there was jealousy there too), was all a sham.

I’d said the vow back then, just like I was supposed to. But I hadn’t meant it, and my happiness was equally false. I’m sorry for deceiving you, Mr. Priest, Your Majesty—everyone at the ceremony! I feel kinda guilty about that now.

By contrast, we were now surrounded not by a stately church but a beautiful sunset glow. I had no dazzling dress, and there was no throng of party guests showering us with well wishes. He was simply gazing at me with frank eyes. So why was this striking such a chord in me? This time, the kiss represented his true intentions—his true vow.

Mr. Fisalis squeezed my hand once more. “You can give me your wedding vow kiss when you’re more certain of your feelings. I’ll be waiting,” he said, smiling tenderly.

“O... kay.” I may have told him he was “family” to me, but as of late... he was starting to be more than that. At first, I hadn’t cared much at all about where he was or what he was up to. I only started being remotely interested in him after his girlfriend had left. Then, I was worried when he went off to war, and at the military departure ceremony, I got huffy when he was treated differently than the infantry. Plus it really irritated me to see him surrounded by pretty ladies.

Unlike him, my experience levels with regard to romance were low, so I didn’t really know how to express these feelings. And now he’d changed because of me... or was it for me!? Whichever it was, all I knew for sure was that Mr. Fisalis was legitimately, genuinely trying to change.

Though we started off as a loveless show couple who got married out of personal convenience, he’d actually started caring about me at some point. He’d even broken things off with the mistress who had supposedly been so dear to him. He’d started to consider my feelings. He’d changed, albeit bit by bit.

And then to be hit with a vow of true love! He’d told me a bunch of times that I was important to him, that he treasured me, but I never thought for a second that he’d ever declare it this definitively and this suddenly! It was all too fast for a romance rookie like me! For real, hold your horses! My heart can’t take it yet!

(To Be Continued)