18 — We’ve Come So Far

The morning after the party. Mr. Fisalis left for work, while his parents were called to the castle by the King and Queen.

I’d stayed up so late socializing that I was still tired even the next day. But luckily, no one else was home!

“I’m just gonna relax today. Once I get some flowers from the greenhouse and decorate the manor, I’ll have lunch outside since the weather is so nice. I might even take a nap, too! My garden would probably be the best for that, wouldn’t it?” The flowers are at their most beautiful right now, and no one can get in my way there!

“Sometimes it’s good to do things like that. I’ll have everything prepared.”

“Thanks, Stellaria. Please do. Mimosa and I will head to the greenhouse!”

“Alright.”

“Let’s get going~!”

With my day planned out, I headed to the greenhouse with Mimosa. And just like always, we got some beautiful flowers from Bellis and decorated the manor, the cottage, and my own room. Fresh flowers are the best! They make you feel so much better. Even though decorating with flowers was a simple job, it took a lot of time to get to each of the important rooms in our huge manor!

Once we finished and headed towards my garden, we found Stellaria had already finished her preparations there. We must’ve taken longer than I thought. A fluffy blanket lay on the grass covered with tons of pillows, all under a parasol to keep the sun off my face. It was definitely somewhere I could relax!

The andreanums I’d planted with Mr. Fisalis a while ago were growing wonderfully. I’d been a bit worried about how they would take to the climate and temperature, but it looked like they were doing fine.

“I was so shocked at the party last night. Miss Verbena went from super-fancy to all natural.”

“That is the trend now, after all. Since the Argenteias’ daughter is so tuned in to the latest fashions, she was probably one of the first adopters of the new style.”

“I see~”

Bellis brought lunch to us from the manor, and the four of us ate it together. Then we chatted about the party and the flowers; when I got sleepy, I took a nice nap. It was a pretty calm day for me!

Thanks to that, my fatigue is gone! I’ll be able to work tomorrow☆

Mr. Fisalis and my in-laws came home in the evening. I was all rested up from spending the day relaxing, so I greeted them all cheerfully.

“I’m home. You look happy today.”

“Yep! I spent some time taking it easy!”

“You were exhausted last night, so I’m glad. And you being in a good mood makes me feel less exhausted, too.”

“Oh, Mr. Fisalis~”

He smiled at me. Now I’ve gotta give him my twenty dollar smile back!

While we were smiling at each other:

“Ehem. Don’t forget we’re here, too,” Father Fisalis popped in with a forced cough, reminding me of their existence. I’d completely forgotten!

“Welcome back, Father and Mother Fisalis!”

“I’m glad you two are so close! Just watching you cheers me up!”

“Ah, ahahahaha...”

“Ufufufu! But changing the subject. It’s sudden, but we’re being called to the palace tomorrow.”

She’s saying it like it’s sudden, but you were just there today, weren’t you? It’s not sudden if you go every day.

Seeing my blank look, she clarified, “I don’t mean just me, but us—you and I, Vi! The princesses want to talk to you. They want you to come for tea tomorrow.”

“What, me!?”

That really was sudden! The PRINCESSES! I’d only ever seen people that high up from afar. How was I supposed to have tea with them!? And TOMORROW? I mean, yes, I’m not doing anything special, but there’s cleaning and laundry I want to get done! And wait, are palace tea parties always decided the day before!?

Since I was so flustered, Mr. Fisalis asked the obvious question for me. “That is quite sudden. Is something the matter?”

“They’d heard about the party last night and were all saying how much they wanted to see you and the sapphires. They actually burst into my tea with the Queen to ask me directly.”

So the princesses went straight to Mother Fisalis to ask, and this is all about the sapphires, too. Doesn’t look like I can get out of this one.

I looked up at Mr. Fisalis hesitantly, but he just gave me a little forced smile back.

“...I have nothing planned, so that should be fine.” My reaction was a bit delayed, but I’m proud that I managed to respond so well.

“It is a tea party with the princesses, but since it’s private, you shouldn’t go all out. How about a dark blue to match the sapphires? Ah, why not wear the dress you wore to the repatriation ceremony? It’s tidy, dark blue, and the design is gorgeous. It should work perfectly.”

As per Stellaria’s suggestions, my dark blue dress made another appearance.

Since she thought it might be hard for me to go to the palace alone, my goddess of a mother-in-law was accompanying me.

My stomach started churning before we left, so I called for Dahlia, asking for the usual medicine.

“Alright. Take one dose with you.”

“Thank you!”

And then my stomach medicine made another appearance, too.

The garden where they’d held that farewell party at the beginning of the war was now being used as a picnic space. The trees had all been trimmed, the roses grown into arches, and despite how elaborate everything was, it all still seemed quite natural. It was truly a calming, healing garden. So this is what the palace is like! I was astonished, since it was my first time there.

We sat down first, and then Her Majesty and the princesses came out to see us. I was so nervous, since it was the first time I’d ever seen them up close! But since I couldn’t afford to make any mistakes, I pumped myself up.

The first princess, Artemisia, was twenty. The second princess, Elettaria, was eighteen. The youngest princess, Myristica, was sixteen. And, though he wasn’t here, their much younger brother, Dianthus, the Crown Prince, was only five. I’m doing good! That much is basic knowledge for any citizen!

Dredging up their names and ages from the depths of my brain, I tried matching them to the faces before me. I’d only ever seen them from afar, but I knew... I thought I knew, at least.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. My name is Viola,” I said, standing to give a nervous lady’s greeting.

“We know! Since we’re in private, don’t worry about all that uptight stuff!”

“Can I call you Viola?”

“What do people call you as a nickname? Vi? How cute!”

I was shocked by how friendly the princesses were all of a sudden. I’d only ever seen them sitting with perfect composure, so I’d been a bit afraid. I mean, beautiful people look kind of cold when they’re being all prim and proper, don’t they? But they were so cute when they smiled.

No, no. No matter how friendly they are, and how private a setting this is, of course I’m gonna be nervous meeting actual princesses. And this is our first meeting, too! Mother Fisalis, save meeee~!

I looked to my mother-in-law for help, but...

“Don’t worry~! All the princesses are delightful girls.”

“That’s right. Please make friends with them.”

Not just Mother Fisalis, but even Her Majesty encouraged me. That wasn’t what I wanted, but...! “Thank you very much...” I’ll just try to make the best of it, I guess...

“We’ve finally met you. Tell us aaaaaall about it today!”

“About what?”

“The sapphires, and the duke—just, everything!”

“Ah~ Hahaha... Okay...”

Since it was just us, these very much not prim and proper princesses were extremely direct.

Once we had sat down and our tea had been served, the chats began. And of course, the first topic was the sapphires.

“Are these the sapphires everyone is talking about?”

“Yes.”

“They’re called ‘Viola Sapphires,’ right?”

“...Yes.”

They were all staring at my necklace. They looked from the necklace, to the earrings, and then to my eyes. Having three beautiful girls who took after their mother staring at my chest... It was surreal. And incredibly embarrassing. I’d never had anyone stare so obviously at my chest before!

And I knew exactly why they were looking at both the sapphires and my eyes. I know! My eyes aren’t nearly as pretty a color as these sapphires. Mr. Fisalis named them, not me! I objected! Ahhhh, I just wanna crawl into a hole somewhere!

“‘Viola Sapphires’ is such a wonderful name. Why, they really do look exactly like your eyes,” the first princess said with a sigh. Wait, does she have some sort of vision problem!?

“I’d love to get one for myself the moment you produce a few more.”

“Um, I’m sure we will. I’ll let my husband know.”

I made a little mental note that any new sapphires should go right to the princesses. I have to tell Rohtas when I get home. Huh? Of course I’d go to Rohtas rather than Mr. Fisalis!

“So, did you marry the duke for love?”

“No.”

“So it was a political marriage?”

“Of a sort...”

“Wow! How did you get him to fall in love with you so deeply, if it was just a political match?”

Since we were finished talking about the sapphires, the first princess changed the topic. And she went right into the difficult questions, too! Technically, it was more of a straight up contractual marriage than a political one. But the details didn’t matter, since I couldn’t really exactly tell them about all of that. Whatever you called it, there wasn’t a sliver of love to be found in there.

But how did it get to Mr. Fisalis being called a devoted husband? Everywhere I went, people were telling me he loved me, or that he treasured me. I’m the one who wants to know why he loves me so much! What happened to all those rules we laid out?

How did I get him to love me so much? I didn’t do anything. I just did as my contract specified, hiding away in the manor and enjoying my servant—or rather, my lady of the house life.

“Um, I’m really not sure what it was...”

“Hmm, so you did it without even thinking about it, huh? It’s gotta be about what’s on the inside, then. Have you been improving yourself?”

Improving myself? I’ve improved at sweeping and window washing, but... “I haven’t really been doing anything special, no.”

“What do you normally do at home?”

Great... Now the second princess is coming in with hard questions, too!

Back at the manor, I clean, do laundry, and play around in my garden. I work alongside the servants. Ah, but lately I’ve been dashing through the halls all dressed up, or learning martial arts, knife play, escaping ropes, and picking locks more than anything. But there’s no way I can tell them that.

Oh—since it’s all orchestrated by Rohtas, maybe I could just say I’ve been studying lately? No, no, wait. Studying is something I should’ve been done with ages ago. I can’t admit I’m only getting around to it now.

“—Hmm, well, I putter around the house,” I answered, coming up with and rejecting a few other things before settling on a safe answer.

“What do you mean, putter around the house?”

Of course! Of course, they had to pry just when I thought I’d successfully evaded the question!

“Um, I like flowers, so I decorate the manor with them. And... I give instructions to the servants.”

“Do you manage anything in the duchy?”

“I leave all of that to my husband. Mainly, I just take care of things at home.”

Fufufu. I did a good job, there! I sure do take care of things at home. I like flowers, so I don’t just decorate with them, but grow some myself! And I don’t really give the servants any orders, but instead get orders from them (for cleaning and laundry). And I plan out our meal menu with Cartham in the kitchen. That counts!

The princesses all looked impressed.

“I thought most noblewomen just went to tea parties, held evening parties, and played around,” the third princess said, surprised, but I was more surprised at her idea of what noblewomen were like.

That’s just some noblewomen, not all! At least, not the poor ones! Or wait, I’m a high-class noblewoman now, aren’t I?

“Um... I’m not very good with those kinds of things...” I tried to brush it off with a smile. And by “not very good,” I mean “terrible.”

Then...

“I see. So you keep busy at home.”

“Socializing isn’t all there is to it, huh?”

“That delicacy of hers must make him want to protect her.”

All three princesses seemed to have gotten the same idea. What that idea was, I couldn’t say. And just who here was “delicate”, anyway? I really didn’t understand anything, personally, but I forced a smile anyway.

“We’ll all end up in strictly political marriages, after all. We want to be happy too, so we thought maybe you could teach us a few things about how to make your husband fall in love with you.”

“Since you’re so popular in high society and all!”

“Even Mother told us to look at you and learn how to be real ladies.”

So that’s why they were asking me all of those questions. And the queen must have meant look at me for what NOT to do! I fought back the urge to give them a wry smile.

But I managed to keep my socializing face on! I just kept saying “yes” and “oh my” every once in a while, and asked for more info when things felt right, and I didn’t forget to change the subject a few times☆

While I listened to them talk, I drank my tea and enjoyed their delicious sweets. Cartham’s sweets are delicious, but the palace chefs used different recipes, and they were delicious. I should get the recipe...

Just as I thought more about the sweets, the first princess asked me a question after watching me drink my tea. “You move beautifully. Did you have a special teacher?”

“Not quite a teacher but, yes. She’s very strict.”

And she wasn’t a fancy tutor, but a maid.

Next, the second princess asked, “You’re great at dancing too. Do you have a teacher for that, as well?”

“Yes, kind of. He’s INCREDIBLY strict.” I’m sorry for putting so much emphasis on the ‘incredibly’ part.

“So lessons work better if they’re really challenging...” Both the first and second princesses heaved big sighs.

“The lessons are hard, but if you work hard too, you’ll build up your confidence!” I rushed to comfort the withering princesses.

“I see,” they nodded deeply. I’m glad I could help!

“So you can’t just focus on looks.”

“The point is to be dependable, but still show a little bit of vulnerability.”

“Is that the ‘gap’ everyone thinks is so charming?”

“I’m so glad we got to talk to you today, Viola.”

“Really?”

“Yes, it was very helpful!”

“I can see why Mother told us to learn how to be ladies from you!”

“That’s...” Way too much praise!

When I rushed to deny it, they just said my humble side was great too. There was nothing I could do.

They kept getting rowdier and even asked me to stay for dinner, but for some reason Mr. Fisalis came swooping in to refuse on my behalf and put an end to things.

“You want your wifey back, Duke?” teased the first princess.

“Yes, I do,” he replied with a refreshing smile. Please, at least have a bit of shame! Look at how the princesses are grinning at us now!

When we said goodbye, all three of them started miming wolf whistles behind the queen’s back (since they’d get in trouble for being vulgar if she saw, of course☆).

To think that an average poor noble girl like me would become friends with princesses. I never could have imagined it just a few short years ago. I’ve come really far.