15 — The Mission!

At long last, the rainy season was over.

Oh, how I longed for sunny days like these!

Thanks to Demon Instructor Rohtas’ dance lessons, my dancing ability had skyrocketed, and thanks to the full beauty treatments on behalf of the Spa Army (which came together in no time flat!) spearheaded by Mimosa, I felt like they’d revealed a whole new me by the end of the rainy season.

My complexion certainly looks better than it did before! My cheeks are soft. My posture has improved from the dance lessons. I’m very, very grateful.

It’s too bad no one has gotten a look at me. Not that I need anyone to see me, though.

Another month had passed as I went through this process, making for a total of three months at the duke’s residence.

“Pardon me.” I was decorating the salon with flowers from Bellis when there was a faint knock; Rohtas appeared in the doorway.

“What is it?”

Rohtas, who usually shut himself away in his office, had come to see me.

Whatever could it be? Thinking of everything that had happened up until now, I suspected bad news and put on a fake smile, bracing myself.

“A letter arrived for you, Madam. I thought you would want to read it, so I brought it with me.” Handing over the letter as he said so, I saw that it was written on custom stationery with the Fisalis family crest.

Even just looking at it made the tendons in my right arm hurt! ...No, that wasn’t what was causing it.

Just what did I do with that statue of the bear with the fish, anyway?

...nope, not thinking about those thank-you notes anymore.

I stared at the trauma-inducing envelope without taking it.

“It is from your predecessors. They have been waiting to come and see you, and they would like to know when would be a good time,” Rohtas summarized for me with a wry smile.

I had met my in-laws at the wedding. That had been my first time seeing them, actually, but I was so busy running around at the time that I was only able to give them a most basic introduction; since they returned straight home to their own territory afterwards without stopping at the Fisalis manor, I did not have the opportunity to talk with them then, either.

I had sent them a letter, both as a thank-you note and an introduction, but since then, I hadn’t written any courtesy letters.

Maybe they thought I was an inconsiderate bride.

Well, it’s too late to worry about that.

“Oh, that’s right! But this isn’t something I can decide by myself.”

And then when they show up, it’ll be time for the ol’ “why yes, we are getting along great” act, won’t it?

“Of course, Madam.”

“I’ll talk it over with Mr. Fisalis when he gets home.”

Granted, up until now I’ve only had the most basic, empty conversations with him.

We have no choice but to collaborate to make this work, since it’s related to our contract! And considering that he paid off that huge debt for my family, I intend to abide by the terms of that contract down to the letter!

That evening:

Mimosa let me know when Mr. Fisalis returned home, at which point I changed into my usual simple clothes and rushed to the entrance.

But Rohtas had already finished his daily report, and before I could welcome Mr. Fisalis home, he said, “Rohtas told me about the letter. My apologies for any inconvenience I may cause you, but I’ll tell my parents that they can visit in a week.”

It was a very straightforward way of informing me that he had made the decision without my input.

Bravo, just what I would expect from someone who treated our wedding like a business transaction!

With no objections, I just replied, “Sure.”

Because, you know, that carefree attitude I’ve adopted as a pretend servant now also extends to his convenience. I don’t have to socialize, and I have tons of free time, after all, so I should just play ball when he decides to make my plans for me!

The next words out of his mouth, however, surprised me.

“They will probably stay here for two or three days, so I’ll have to come to the manor after work.”

I did a double-take in shock. My eyes must have opened up as wide as they could go.

“What!?”

So my in-laws are staying over after all?

Well, that’s to be expected, but for Mr. Fisalis to actually come to the main house—that’s completely unexpected!

Mr. Fisalis raised both brows at the obviously incredulous tone to the response I let slip.

“Is something the matter?” he asked.

It’s incredibly inconvenient for me... but I can’t say that!

“Nothing! Nothing at all! That’s fine with me!” I denied, in a panic.

Now that he had my agreement, he nodded and said, a little awkwardly, “Well then, they’ll stay in the guest room. I suppose I’ll have to stay in the master bedroom,” as he put his hand over his mouth, apparently thinking about something.

“Right. I’ll bring up a cot for the master bedroom, then. I’ll sleep there. Please help yourself to the bed.”

So long as we wanted to look like we got along, separate bedrooms were out of the question. That much I was sure of, so even though we’d be sharing a room, I wasn’t going to let myself get worked up! Still, sleeping in the same bed as him was going to be a hard pass from me.

Same as ever, my candid answer prompted that unreadable expression to reappear on his face.

Mr. Fisalis was silent for a moment.

“But as a man of honor, I could never forgive myself for allowing a lady to sacrifice her comfort on my behalf. I will take the cot...” he finally said, declining my offer.

“Oh, no, it’s no trouble at all; please, go ahead! Would you like me to change the sheets to some fresh ones? Or should I bring your pillow over from the cottage?” I forged ahead with a smile.

What if he’s not able to sleep on a different pillow? Or he doesn’t like my sheets? I need to cover all my bases for him! What about me, you ask? I’m not proud of it, but if left to my own devices, I can fall asleep anywhere!

“...my apologies, but what name do you prefer to go by?” Mr. Fisalis suddenly asked, the moment we settled the question of sleeping arrangements.

What the...? How’d you switch topics so fast?

“Vi, if that’s alright with you,” I replied with a tilt of my head. I had my doubts about his intentions. He was wearing a suggestive smile, as if he was planning something.

“I was just thinking that we would appear to be more intimate if I called you by a nickname.”

Oh, of course! I should have expected as much from a reconnaissance agent! You clever man. We’d certainly appear waaay more intimate if we called each other nicknames!

“Good idea!”

“I’ll call you that when my parents come over, then.”

“Sure.”

“And you...”

“Me? I was just going to call you Mr. Fisalis like I usually do.”

Is there a problem with that? I mean, isn’t this whole thing, this woefully mismatched marriage and the childish nicknames all a little ridiculous? Surely that’s not where you draw the line.

I told him as much. “...Understood,” he replied. “Well, then.” A forced smile.

Once we finished our briefing on the incoming invasion, Mr. Fisalis turned and rushed off to the cottage as per usual.

“I will make ready the guest room for the Master’s parents and prepare your bedroom, Madam,” Rohtas said after watching Mr. Fisalis leave.

On top of things, as always, Rohtas.

He hadn’t said a single word during the discussion between Mr. Fisalis and I, but he had taken mental notes. He was so quiet I practically forgot he was there.

I almost wondered if he had really just vanished into thin air.

Nevertheless, even though he acted like he wasn’t listening, he had memorized every single word! Excellent work, as always!

“Leave the guest room to me, since I’ve already started to decorate it! Do whatever you think needs to be done in my room. I should be fine if you just shove two sofas together, if there aren’t any up there already.”

Rohtas was silent.

“What’s wrong?”

“Please use the bed!”

He was smiling, but, like before, I got the feeling that he would brook no argument.

“I-if you say so!” I couldn’t help but cringe.