31 — The Showdown!

Once Mr. Fisalis was tactfully sent on his way, our first Cercis Shift-free night in a long, long time could begin!

How long has it been since I could eat a servants’ meal for dinner? I’m so happy, I can’t help but smile a little!

I arrived at the servants’ dining room, having practically skipped my way there, where I found Dahlia lying in wait with the medicinal juice in her hands and a smile on her face.

“Please drink this before your meal, Madam,” she said with a grin.

Her smile that night was unusually frightening.

“Sure!”

When Dahlia has that look on her face, there’s no way I can say no! I took the juice from her right away. It had a pleasant, thick consistency.

Looks like this will be very potent. I have to drink this if I want my servants’ meal!

I chugged it down with one hand on my lower back. Girls get it done!

Girl power notwithstanding, it was made with ease of drinking in mind. I could tell that Dahlia had put a lot of consideration into the process.

Thanks, Dahlia.

My long-awaited dinner party with the maids followed. The meal that night was a Rovençal style tourteau. Another one of Cartham’s masterpieces, it was a healthy dish: a square pie packed with vegetables, cooked in a vinegary vegetable paste.

Ah, I missed eating in this dining room!

The maids were chatting excitedly as they ate, but I suddenly and surprisingly found myself thinking about Mr. Fisalis. Perhaps I had been too overbearing when I’d sent him back to the cottage. He’d actually seemed like he cared about me back there, and although I can’t say I feel the same, maybe I should have eaten with him... even if it was just a snack, I thought to myself.

His girlfriend, who he prefers over me, is at the cottage too, though. It’s not my place to barge in. Yeah, that would come off as inconsiderate.

“Is something the matter? Is your stomach still bothering you?” Mimosa asked with a worried expression. I guess I hadn’t said anything for a while.

“Oh, no. I feel great, thanks to those items that the purveyor of herbs at the royal palace graciously sent to me! I was just distracted by how good the food was! Ah ha,” I smiled in response.

I think it worked! I’m in the clear.

“You’re right! It is good, isn’t it?” she answered back unreservedly.

Yup, she has no idea.

The next morning:

I was eating my breakfast in the servants’ dining room as usual when ordinarily unflappable Dahlia came calling for me, flustered. “Madam, Master is here.”

“Huh?”

“He is in the entrance.”

“What!?”

So that’s what’s got her all worked up.

Mr. Fisalis usually leaves for work straight from the cottage without stopping by the main house, so what does he think he’s doing this morning? More importantly, I’m still in my uniform! At this point I should be glad that he didn’t just go straight to my (very empty) room!

“Put this on; it should provide you some camouflage,” Dahlia said as she draped a housecoat over my shoulders. When I closed the front tightly, no one could tell I was wearing my uniform.

Nice save, Dahlia!

I put on a face that hopefully said, “Oh, goodness, you caught me just as I was leaving the main dining room!” and hurried to where Mr. Fisalis was waiting.

“Good morning. I’m sorry to have kept you,” I greeted, as I trotted over to him.

“Good morning to you, as well. How are you feeling?” he replied when he saw me.

His expression visibly relaxed when he saw that I was in good spirits. And he gave no sign that he had noticed I had my uniform on under my housecoat.

And she’s... safe!

“I’ve completely recovered, all thanks to the herbs you gave me.” It really did work—that thick juice really did the trick.

Please excuse the face I just made when I remembered the bitter taste, though.

“I’m glad to hear that. I’ll inform His Majesty, too.”

“Oh, no, you don’t have...”

I doubt His Majesty wants to hear about a retainer’s wife’s tummy troubles.

“Are you sure? Alright, never mind. I’ll be home early again today, take care,” he said. His eyes crinkled as he smiled and he reached out to my cheek.

“What!? ...I mean, of course, I’ll be waiting.”

He was behaving so strangely that I’m sure my eyes widened in shock for a moment there, but I locked my knees and managed not to fall over! Hopefully I looked like I was smiling, although it was probably really awkward.

Mr. Fisalis was... completely fooled by my smile; he gave my cheek a single, gentle stroke before saying, “I’ll be going, then,” and jauntily made his way out, shutting the door behind him.

“...what was it he wanted?” I whispered to myself, staring at the door after he left.

My cheek felt warm where he’d touched it.

“I believe he was simply worried about you,” Dahlia replied.

“You’re probably right. That’s what it sounded like, anyway. I wonder what’s gotten into him.” I cocked my head in confusion.

I don’t think your show wife getting a stomach ache warrants that level of concern. It’d be a different story if his girlfriend was the one who’d fallen ill.

“Perhaps he’s grown to care for you?” Dahlia asked with a strained smile.

“He sure didn’t act like it up until now.”

Jeez. I can’t seem to wrap my head around his behavior lately.

It was raining that day, so we proceeded with the customary rainy day schedule.

It was quite a grueling schedule, consisting of a mid-morning dance lesson, a break for lunch followed by a spa session, and then another dance lesson until evening—all aimed at counteracting my overeating (or rather, its resultant weight gain)... but darn it if I wasn’t going to give it my all!

Thanks to Rohtas’ special training (read: hazing), I had learned to dance elegantly to any tune. I had mastered the basics enough to no longer require an imaginary cheerleading team just to stay upright. I had come so far! Even Dahlia complimented my improved posture and how beautifully I had started to carry myself. And having demonstrated as much at the evening party, I didn’t feel embarrassed to be praised.

As the Spa Squad—spearheaded by Mimosa—progressed further with my treatments, a ‘mud clay mask,’ a ‘skin brightening mask’... the list was getting longer and longer.

But when Commander Mimosa’s troops offered me a massage and I considered how much joy they seemed to get out of all the treatments they gave me, I couldn’t refuse them.

Besides, their efforts had done wonders for my complexion—my skin was smoother and more elastic than ever.

My full-course spa treatment was followed by my usual formal makeup.

Well aware that I still had another dance lesson afterwards, they applied makeup that could withstand sweat and tears.

Heavier than normal makeup, less recognizable than normal Viola.

Mimosa’s choices were based on the weather that day: “It’s so gloomy outside, so bright colors ought to do the trick.” She dressed me in a beautiful rose-hued dress that was light and not too restrictive before I headed off to my dance lesson.

I had already danced off whatever weight I’d put on from overeating the day before and, in fact, it felt like I’d shed some negative vibes along with the pounds, but I didn’t have the guts to boycott the upcoming lesson. After all, since a precedent has been set, I don’t know when I might be recruited to go to another evening party! I wonder if, in a way, I was lucky to have had that chance? ...Yeah, that was a surprisingly positive experience, if I do say so.

As Mimosa and I followed Dahlia to where my lesson was to be held, we passed by the entrance.

“Oh, you’re the head maid, right? So then... that must be the duchess,” said a familiar voice from somewhere nearby.

It was Calendula! It’s a raid!

“As I have informed you before, we would be more than happy for your company, but only if you give prior notice,” Dahlia said blankly as she moved between me and Calendula, shielding me.

Expressionless Dahlia was utterly terrifying.

“Oh, come now—no need to be so strict. I beg your pardon. Oh ho ho ho...” Calendula’s laugh was loud, but her smile didn’t reach her eyes.

She wore flawless makeup, as well as a black dress that showed off her ample breasts.

“In any case, do you have some sort of business with Madam?”

“No, I just wanted to introduce myself. She never seemed to be home when I dropped by, so I started to wonder if she actually existed,” she said with a cutting sidelong glance from the fan she held in front of her lips. That was uncalled for!

The truth that I was the lady of the house had finally been revealed.

Well, even if I’ve been exposed, she still doesn’t know that primped and powdered Duchess Fisalis is the same person as the lowly servant girl.

Calendula and Dahlia were glaring at each other (as I was glaring past Dahlia at Calendula) when Rohtas’ voice cut through the tense air. “Unfortunately, Madam is very busy, and is unable to meet with you at the moment. It is as Dahlia just said: if you had sent a message saying you wished to visit beforehand, we would have made time for you.”

His voice was like ice, completely different from his normal tone. He had most likely come to look for us after some time had passed and I hadn’t shown up for my lesson.

“Isn’t it odd that she’s never around to begin with? I mean, from what I hear, she doesn’t go to social events either. Where had she been all that time, I wonder,” Calendula glared at Rohtas, clearly at the end of her rope.

She normally gives up and leaves about now, but today she’s holding out.

Oh... could that be because she’s finally caught me?

Rohtas quietly stepped in front of Dahlia to square off against Calendula. “Her whereabouts are private information, strictly off limits to persons outside of the Fisalis family,” he told her bluntly, although I could not see his face.

“Well, I...” Calendula suddenly blushed as her perfectly sculpted eyebrows rose in surprise.

Clack!

She roughly snapped her fan shut.

Eeeeee! A witch!

We’ve angered a jealous witch! I hid behind Dahlia who was behind Rohtas to merely watch the two-against-one battle unfold.

Don’t be such a chicken.

I was about to join the battle when Dahlia’s hand shot out in front of me, a clear sign to not go any farther. For the moment, I had no choice but to stand back.

“This is a private affair, so please leave us be,” Rohtas said coldly, without so much as flinching or blinking at Calendula’s angry expression.

Can you hear him now, Calendula? Good!

Standing in the entrance behind Calendula, Mimosa held open the door and said simply, “Right this way!”

Weren’t you just behind me a minute ago, Mimosa? You’re like a ninja!

Calendula grasped her fan so tightly that her knuckles turned white. Just when it seemed like she was going to say something, her lips trembling alluringly, another new voice echoed through the entryway.

“They’re right, Callie. Could you please leave—for me?

Oh, I’ve heard this voice recently.