1. I’m Not Upset

1. I’m Not Upset

Despite the fact that I’d ruined the mood of our peaceful little tea party, I was able to say goodbye with a smile, at least. Special Skill: Business Face☆

I gave the girls a cute wave and a little “bye-bye” as I stepped into the carriage, pretending I was fine, but dropped the act as soon as I was out of sight. The mental fatigue of a tea party and the explosive topic of another woman ready to marry my husband hit me all at once, and I collapsed back onto the seat. Dahlia would get mad at me if she saw, but she’s not here, so I’m good.

But man, that was a shock. Was I the only one who hadn’t known? Did Rohtas know? What about Dahlia or Stellaria? I hadn’t gotten a sense of what had happened from what Miss Verbena had told me, so I decided I’d ask them once I got home. All in all, I really just wanted to be back!

As I abandoned myself to the comfortable swaying of the carriage, the manor came into view. The dignified stone building, with its imposing appearance that really made you feel its history, just gave me this sense of security. I felt like I was home.

Oh, hey, I’m so used to the Fisalis manor that it’s registering as my actual home! Of course it is, though. I mean, I barely ever leave it.

As the carriage drove along the walls surrounding the manor, the main entrance soon came into view. When we approached, the iron gate with its delicately carved reliefs swung open from the inside thanks to the gatekeeper. The carriage slowed down, and we quietly slipped inside the walls. I was finally back in my own territory.

And, as always, all of the servants were lining the entranceway to welcome me home. When I saw that, what little energy I had left completely vanished. I went totally limp.

“Welcome home, Madam. Are you all right? Have you fallen ill?” Poor Rohtas, who had opened the door for me, got quite a shock when he saw me completely flopped over with exhaustion inside and quickly moved to hold me up.

“I’m just a bit tired,“ I replied, stepping outside with his help.

Seeing how wobbly I was, even with assistance, Dahlia and Stellaria rushed over as well.

“Madam, are you all right?” Dahlia asked, helping to support me.

“I think my nerves were stretched a bit thin, maybe? I’m just a little bit tired, I promise~”

“I don’t think a simple tea party should have exhausted you to the point of looking ill... We’ll want to hear all about it from you, so please, come inside. Would you prefer to go to the salon or straight to your own room?”

“Hmm... I’ve got some things I want to ask you guys, so the salon.” I’ve gotta ask them about the princess deal, after all.

“As you wish. Stellaria, help Dahlia hold Madam up in my place. All of the other maids, please prepare a blanket and something warm to drink in the salon.”

“Yes, sir!”

At Rohtas’s orders, the maids all promptly went to work. Just seeing how normally everyone was acting back home was a relief. I was still dead on my feet, though.

After I was half-carried to the salon, I took a little break with some warm herbal tea first. Then I flopped down on the sofa while Dahlia covered me with a blanket. Oh, it just felt so great, I nearly fell asleep there. But I couldn’t! Can’t ask questions when you’re asleep, after all!

“I didn’t know anything about Aurantia’s princess wanting to marry Mr. Fisalis...” I murmured, wrapped up snugly in my blanket.

“The Master intentionally kept it from you so as to keep you from worrying,” Rohtas said, a bitter smile on his lips.

“So you knew about it, Rohtas?”

“More or less. But neither His Majesty the King nor Master himself paid it any heed. They refused the offer immediately.”

“Yeah, that’s what Miss Verbena said. But I wish someone would have told me something, you know? It was open enough information for Miss Verbena to find out from her brothers, right? That means it wasn’t a huge secret.”

Now that I knew how Mr. Fisalis felt about me, I couldn’t get all worked up about someone wanting to marry him, much less act like I would have at the beginning of our relationship.

“Please understand that Master is trying to protect you.”

“Actually, him hiding it just makes me kinda suspicious that something else is going on.”

“Please, Madam.”

“...Fiiiine. I will graciously accept it as Mr. Fisalis trying to protect me,” I conceded, my lips naturally puckering out a little bit when Rohtas admonished me. Oh, that might have sounded like I was pouting when I’m actually pretty sad about this.

While I was thinking to myself, everyone around me started giggling. Yes, I know I’m acting like a kid. Ugh...

Once Rohtas got over his chuckles, he spoke up again. “Ah. Master has asked that I inform you that he will be home late again tonight and to eat dinner without him.”

“Okaaay. I understand!”

It was the same thing I’d been hearing every night lately. I don’t think I’ve actually seen Mr. Fisalis at all for a while, have I?

As I was relaxing in the salon, my in-laws came running to check on me, having heard the fuss, I guess you’d call it. They looked worried when they saw me lying on the sofa.

Mother Fisalis gave me a big hug, the beautiful face she’d passed down to Mr. Fisalis clouded over with anxiousness. “Oh, Vi! That must have been quite a shock. Are you okay? Don’t worry, that stupid proposal was already turned down!” she cried, trying to comfort me.

“That’s right, you’re our only daughter-in-law, Viola! Both Cercis and His Majesty were absolutely disgusted by the idea. Everything’s already been rejected, so you have nothing to worry about,” Father Fisalis continued.

But, uh, rather than worrying about whether or not it had been accepted, I was more upset by the fact that I hadn’t been told about it at all. But telling them that wouldn’t do much good, would it?

“Yeah... You’re right! I’m fine now. Thank you both so much,” I said, giving them my usual smile in an attempt to keep them from worrying any more than they were already.

“Cercis will be home late again tonight, won’t he? You must be so lonely, eating all by yourself, so we’ll have dinner with you here tonight. Is that all right, Rohtas?”

“Yes, of course.”

Seemingly placated by my twenty dollar smile, Mother Fisalis decided they’d have their dinner in the manor proper. Being all on my lonesome is indeed lonely, so I probably would’ve just headed down to the servant’s dining room for my supper—whoops, that’s supposed to be a secret! Nodding at Mother Fisalis’s request, Rohtas had all three of our meals brought to the main dining room.

Now, after going to a tea party when I’m not used to them AND learning about Mr. Fisalis’s (already rejected) possible marriage, combined with all the stress from getting so upset over it, I was absolutely pooped. Since my husband wouldn’t be home until late again today, I got all ready to sleep and lazed about in my bed, eyelids becoming heavier and heavier. Ah, the moment you start nodding off feels so great~! But just as I pulled my blankets over my head, thinking I’d sleep like a log until morning...

A light knock echoed through the room.

Wait, someone is knocking on my bedroom door? That almost never happens this late at night. Is there some sort of emergency?

“What’s that?” I asked Stellaria, who was on standby beside my bed.

“I don’t know...” she replied, looking confused.

Hoping that nothing big had happened, I called out for whoever it was to open the door.

“Madam, Master has returned!” Rosa, Mr. Fisalis’s personal maid, rushed in.

“What?! Mr. Fisalis is home?”

“Yes!”

I shot out of bed. Was he seriously home?! I mean, yeah, just because he said he’d be late didn’t mean that he would never get here, but this was a bit of a weird time to arrive. Since he’d specifically said he’d be “late”, I thought I’d be fast asleep by the time he got in. This was super early comparatively. Or, wait...

“Oh... I’ve gotta get up and see him, don’t I?”

“Yes, you should.”

“But I’m in my jammies,” I complained, looking down at myself.

“Yes, you are,“ Rosa nodded, smiling wryly.

I was nearly asleep, okay?! As I was starting to wonder if I should change, Stellaria spoke up.

“Putting a shawl on should be enough, Madam. Here you go,” she said, handing me a large stole. Great follow-up, Stellaria! I quickly wrapped it around myself.

But why was he waking me up at such a weird time instead of just letting me sleep like usual? Had something happened? I mean, it’s probably fine, but...

“Is he already here?”

“Yes. He’s speaking with Rohtas in the entranceway.”

“Oooh~ I’ve gotta rush, then!”

Well, if he was already here and I’d already gotten out of bed, I guess I had no choice.

Tightening the stole around me so my pajamas weren’t visible, the three of us made a mad dash for the entrance.