12. It All Started with a Soirée

Once the mentally taxing tea party was over and done with, I went back to my room to catch some Zs. It was during my nap that Mr. Fisalis returned from his outing.

“Vi! Are you all right?! Are you feeling ill?!”

Shocked to find me sprawled limp over the sofa, he rushed over to my side and gathered me into his arms—but I was fine, of course. Just feeling a little fatigued.

“Welcome back. It’s no big deal... I’m just tired. I’ll be okay after a little nap.”

“Are you sure?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Well, good. We have an evening party to attend, so we’ve got a long night ahead of us.”

“That’s exactly why I need to charge my batteries while I can.”

“Fair point. Sorry to disturb you.”

“You’re good—don’t worry about it.”

Just do me a favor and leave me alone for a while.

I was indeed feeling better after a short doze, so I went straight to getting myself ready for the banquet. Just as Mr. Fisalis had said, there was going to be a party right after the dinner. That called for decking myself out in the finest of gowns.

My maids weren’t the type to take half-measures just because we were in an unfamiliar villa.

“Come now, Madam, let’s get you a quick, hot bath!”

“We’ve got all our usual treatments on hand!”

“You’re going to walk out of here looking like a million bucks!”

“Pardon me, Master Fisalis, but it would be quite uncouth of you to stand around and watch a lady get dressed. I must ask that you pass the time with Lord Fisalis or wherever else you care to go!”

“...Fine. I’ll be in the next room over.”

The delightful Spa Squad (Excursion Edition) wasted no time getting to work—and they kicked Mr. Fisalis out while they were at it. He also needs to get ready...but that shouldn’t take him too long, so I guess it’s no biggie. Oh, but Mother Fisalis is going to be dressing for the party next door (in Father Fisalis’s room), so won’t he just get thrown out a second time?

With my whole body polished from tip to toe, my hair pulled into a half updo, and my special effects makeup done, my transformation into Social Mode Viola was complete.

“I’ll be wearing the same jewelry as the last evening party, right?”

“That’s correct.”

Just as we’d discussed back in the Rohze manor, I was going to be reprising the necklace and earrings I’d worn to the party at the royal palace not too long ago. I had yet to get my hands on an accessory more valuable than those.

I wasn’t about to ask exactly how much they had cost. The minute I learned that, I’d be too terrified to walk out of the room wearing them.

My gown was designed to complement the hue of the sapphires. The abundance of frills gave it a lot of volume and its high waistline was embellished with gems, which made my legs look a lot longer than they really were! The decorative gems were arranged in the same design as my necklace, of course. These were just regular old Viola Sapphires, though. This was the first time I’d ever worn a dress with jewels sewn onto it...and I couldn’t help wondering how the heck this was supposed to go in the wash.

Now that my look was mostly complete, Mr. Fisalis came back to the room.

“You look as ravishing as ever, Vi!”

Here’s a tip: when your reaction is that over-the-top, it just seems like you’re lying!

“Our maids are just too good at what they do.”

“No, no, the fault lies with your own natural charm. Now look at what’ve you gone and done—I’m raring to boycott yet another party!”

“Ooh, shall we?!”

There we went with our good old routine.

The only thing different from usual is that Rohtas isn’t here to be our straight man. And without him around... Oho? Are we about to get away with playing hooky?

...Or so I had foolishly believed, but nothing in life is ever quite so easy.

“My goodness, you two never learn. I’m informing Rohtas when we get home.”

Stellaria had stepped up to fill in his shoes.

“Noo, don’t tattle on us! We’ll go be social, I promise!”

“Good. Come, Madam—we still need to put your jewelry on. Both my hands are otherwise occupied, so you’ll have to have Drosera assist you.”

“Okay, Madam Fisalis, turn around!”

Since Stellaria was busy putting the makeup away, Drosera helped put on my necklace and earrings.

My husband was getting himself changed beside us. Tonight he was looking sharp in a dark ensemble.

Makeup? Check. Hair? Check. Dress? Check. Jewelry? You betcha! And that’s everything on the checklist. I’m ready to roll.

Let’s do this thing!

* * *

With all the blood, sweat, and tears the Argenteia’s chef had poured into making our dinner, it was just as tasty as the previous night—but unfortunately, the portion size was just as overkill. This meal was going to call for pacing myself.

Tonight’s dinner was some sort of spin on the traditional local cuisine, and the grilled chicken entrée was mouthwateringly juicy. I was going to have to ask Cartham to try his hand at making it when I got home.

Just about everything was delicious except for the herb salad, which I left untouched because I couldn’t stomach the smell of it. But seriously, all it took was a whiff of it to make me nauseous? Some foods just don’t agree with you, I guess. Rest assured, I felt suitably guilty about it.

When the banquet was over, it was time for the ball. The band—which had stuck to playing soft, slow songs throughout our meal—transitioned into a fun, upbeat little bop.

Everyone spent the time however they pleased, whether that meant indulging in conversation or enjoying a dance.

Listen up, all you bachelors and bachelorettes! Don’t miss out on your chance to meet lots of new people! I wish you all the best of luck in finding that special someone!

“Well then, Duchess Fisalis,” said my husband. “Would you care to join me for a dance?”

“Hee hee—I most certainly would!”

If I was going to share my first dance with anyone, it had to be Mr. Fisalis!

I was charmed that he had followed all the proper etiquette in asking me out to the floor. With those brown eyes and sweet smile turned on her, there wasn’t a girl in the world who could tell him no. It drove me crazy how a hottie like him could make anything look good.

I took Mr. Fisalis’s hand, and the two of us began dancing in time to the slow-tempo song.

“I’d say we can back off on promoting our sapphires, wouldn’t you?” I brought up during our waltz. “Everyone has one already.”

Mr. Fisalis glanced around, really exercising his skill at looking closely without looking too closely. “That’s true. All the girls seem to be wearing a necklace similar to yours tonight.”

When he gave a nod of agreement, I added, “Though it’s more or less the same design, it’s more fashionable for them to put their own spin on it.”

“Huh, I see.”

I flaunted the knowledge I’d picked up from the tea party earlier that day.

Once the first song was over, Celosia came to ask me for a waltz.

“May I have the next dance, Duchess Fisalis?”

“Of course.”

“Make sure you lead her well, Celosia.”

“I was planning on it.”

We put some distance between ourselves and Mr. Fisalis for the moment.

From there on out, it was the usual evening party routine. Like always, the men looking to dance with me just kept coming and coming.

I spent the entire time I was away from my husband on the dance floor. This really was shaping up to be like every other soirée I’d been to.

After a while spent indulging in waltz after waltz, a certain Viscount Trifolium flashed me a smile mid-dance. “This would be my first time joining you on the dance floor.”

He was a friendly-looking fellow with his long, ash-blond hair tied back in a ponytail.

“I believe so, yes.”

“I suppose that’s no surprise, given how few soirées I attend.”

“I could say the same of myself.”

“That is how you earned the nickname of ‘The Illusory Belle.’ But no matter—the infrequency of your appearances only increases their value. Besides, even if I were to see you at an evening party, someone as lowly as myself could never hope to approach a lady so far above my station.”

“Oh, don’t say that!”

Though he looked lanky and sort of spineless at first glance, he sure knew how to sweet-talk a girl. But man, it had been a while since I’d last heard someone call me “The Illusory Belle”...

Between his deep, serene voice and suave demeanor, I had to wonder how this guy was still single. Considering he had yet to miss a beat despite the difficult tempo of the song currently playing, I could only assume he was a pretty good dancer too.

“But there aren’t quite as many people here today, so I took the plunge and came to say hello.”

“Oh, come now! No need to be shy back in Rohze either.”

And as we were dancing and partaking in mindless conversation...there suddenly came a loud CRASH from near my feet.

“What’s this?”

That was a pretty loud noise... Did something fall?

I glanced down out of curiosity—only to find that my necklace had fallen to the floor!

Whew, that’s a big load off my neck...NOT! Eeeek! That necklace cost an arm and a leg, and I dropped it! Ahhhh! It didn’t break, did it?! Please tell me the jewel didn’t get scratched!

I could practically hear the sound of the blood draining from my face.

“Oh dear. It seems my necklace fell.”

Though I was freaking the heck out on the inside, I made sure to school my voice and face when I paused our dance to pick it up.

No panicking. I was the picture of elegance.

“Oh no! Is it damaged?” the viscount asked, peering down at me as I scooped up the necklace.

“No—as far as I can tell, it looks fine.”

I was pretty sure it was okay, but I’d have to double-check when I was back in my room.

For now, I just had to put it back on...but alas, the clasp was too difficult for me to manage on my own.

The viscount must have guessed what the problem was when he saw me dithering with the jewelry in my hands. “Allow me to assist you,” he said, then took the handkerchief out of his breast pocket, wiped off the necklace both quickly and carefully, and came around behind me to fasten it back around my neck.

“I’m sorry for the trouble.”

“Don’t be. If anything, it was a privilege! Hmmm... Was the clasp not secured properly, I wonder?”

“Yeah, that must have been it. Thank you again.”

With that, we went back to dancing in time to the music.

The necklace slipped off one more time after that.

I’m so sick of this happening!

I was on the verge of tears. But of course, I wasn’t about to break down crying in front of a crowd of nobles.

Mr. Fisalis got concerned enough to come over to me. “What’s wrong?”

“The clasp on my necklace won’t stay closed, and the whole thing keeps falling to the floor. Now I’m beside myself worrying if the jewel’s going to crack the next time it happens.”

“I see—hm?”

Mr. Fisalis stared down at the necklace in my hands, arching his brows.

“What’s up?”

“...Nothing. Say, why don’t we call it a night? It’s getting late.”

“Sure. Sounds good to me.”

I was already feeling exhausted, considering my nerves had been shot since morning (mainly because of all that socializing). If I’d had to carry on mingling while I sat on pins and needles, I would’ve been done for!

* * *

After explaining the situation to the Argenteia family, we left the party early.

“Vi. Let me see your necklace.”

“Sure.”

As soon as we were back in our room, Mr. Fisalis began inspecting the accessory.

“...I knew it,” he muttered, his brow furrowing.

Knew what? Knew that it got damaged?!

“Did you find a scratch?”

I hadn’t dropped it on purpose, but it still pained me to think that I’d ruined a perfectly good gem.

Just as I was getting down on myself, certain that I’d damaged the goods, Mr. Fisalis muttered, “No, that’s not it. This is a fake.”

That comment hit me like a bolt from the blue.

A FAKE?!

“D-Did you just say it’s a fake?!”

“See here? The seal is all wrong, and if you take a closer look, you can tell that the gem itself is different too.”

When I looked at where Mr. Fisalis was pointing, I saw that there was indeed a mark engraved there—but it was the stamp of a Viola Sapphire, not a Viola Eye!

Considering the necklace had been made with a Viola Eye, if the seal didn’t indicate as much, that just didn’t add up. And though it was impossible to tell unless you held it up to the light, Mr. Fisalis was right that there was something off about the gem’s luster too. It was a subtle enough difference that I hadn’t noticed when I was wearing it.

“We checked it when it was first delivered to us from the jeweler; the seal was definitely there,” affirmed Stellaria, thinking back to when that had happened.

Mr. Fisalis nodded in response to the maid’s testimony. “Right. I even made sure to inspect it myself. In that case, when on earth could it have been switched out for this counterfeit?” he mused aloud, his expression taking a turn for the grim.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t think to pay any attention to the seal.”

If only I’d checked when I put it on this morning...

I was well past “the verge” of tears. My eyes were seriously watering.

“It’s not your fault, Vi. What about your earrings, by the way?”

“I don’t know. They never fell off, at least...”

“Let me take a look.”

“Go ahead.”

I took off one of my earrings and handed it over to my husband.

“Oh... This one is fine.”

Mr. Fisalis pressed a fist to his lips and fell deep into thought.

From the sound of it, my necklace was the only thing that had been swapped out for a fake. Now where on earth had the real one gone?!