11 — The Invitation

That night:

I was relaxing in my room after dinner when there was a flurry of knocks on my door. Mr. Fisalis poked his head in.

“Viola! Will you go out somewhere with me tomorrow?”

Evidently, he had come specifically to invite me to go out.

“Hm? An outing?” I nearly fell from where I was seated on my sofa. I caught myself on the armrest in the nick of time, blinking in surprise. I was the only one who was caught off guard, though—Dahlia continued to prepare tea, and Mimosa my bath, as if nothing out of the ordinary had occurred.

When did this become the new normal? Anyone?

“Yes. I was just thinking that it would do us good to get out of the house every once in a while.” No sooner had he glided across the room on his long legs than he took it upon himself to sit down next to me and present me with one of his classic smiles. I swear I could see little stars twinkling around him when he did. If his smile was any brighter, I would have needed sunglasses.

‘Once in a while’? More like ‘for the first time ever.’ Just because he asked me to go on an outing after all this time, however, didn’t mean that I could answer with, ‘Who was it, again, that you went out with before?’

“There isn’t anywhere I particularly want to go, though, unless...?” What can I say—I like staying home. Curious why he was suggesting we go out now of all times, I tilted my head.

“No, I mean...you haven’t gone out since you arrived here, right? And there are so many confectionery shops and esteemed restaurants out there, all serving food that I’ve heard is absolutely delicious, that we should go see!” he went on enthusiastically, even though I gave zero indication of any interest.

I don’t particularly care about some fancy restaurant. If I don’t like gastrointestinal warfare at home, what makes you think I’d like it somewhere else? Besides, I’m perfectly satisfied with Cartham’s creations. If I’d go anywhere, it should come as no surprise that I’d prefer to pick up some affordable, fresh food at a market. But then again... I have to admit that a confectionery stop does have a certain appeal.

“Hmmm...” I murmured, considering the sweet allure of this potential confectionery shop. Mr. Fisalis didn’t fail to notice, either.

“Our destination tomorrow can be a surprise. Mimosa, I want you to show me your best work when you get Viola ready,” he directed her. I guess he took my silence as agreeing with him, because he had apparently decided for himself that we would go on an outing with zero input from me.

“Yes, sir!” Mimosa gleefully accepted the request (of how to dress me, like I was a doll or something) and answered with a grin that spanned from ear to ear.

It looks like all the votes that mattered have been counted, and we’re going on an outing, then. Roger that.

“Alright, tomorrow, then.”

“...Okay. Sleep well.” I bid him a good night as he retired to his own room, having just decided for me what I was going to do the next day.

But just before he reached my door, he suddenly turned back and said, “I’ll be sure to wake up at a reasonable time,” glancing between somewhere in my direction and out the door.

What does he think he’s sneaking a peek at?

“Okay, then I’ll let Cartham know so he can make the necessary arrangements for breakfast. Unless, you’re going to wake up earlier than usual? In that case, I’ll inform Rohtas...”

In either case, don’t hesitate to have Rohtas knock on your door to wake you up!

Mr. Fisalis effortlessly nipped my response in the bud, however, replying, “...No, I was going to wake up at my usual time...” before shuffling off to his room. I watched him go until he made it to his room, then returned to my own.

I’ve got to plan for tomorrow with Mimosa, now.

“What is he thinking, just deciding that we’re both going on an excursion tomorrow?” I muttered, mulling over what Mr. Fisalis could possibly have had in mind.

“It sounds like a date! Master and you at the confectionery, it’s D-A-T-I-N-G!”

“Are you serious? A date?” I squawked from my place on the sofa as Mimosa playfully urged me on.

“What should we do about a dress? Nothing too formal, of course. Let’s go with something tidy and youthful, appropriate for a young married woman. I had better rally the troops right away! Master wants to show his wife off to the whole world! This is the perfect call to arms.” She managed to get excited all on her own, with exactly zero input from me, too.

Someone, please stop her!

“Er, Mimosa. I don’t really want any spa treatments first thing in the morning.”

Alas, my pleas were in vain—no one else was going to stop her, so I had to do it myself. It seemed like I chose the wrong course of action, however, because she replied with a pleasant, “If we can’t do anything in the morning then, let’s start right now!”

“No, that’s not what I—Mimosa? Mimosaaa!”

Lost deep in her own world, Mimosa didn’t register that I did not want any spa treatments at all and sped out of my room to summon the Spa Squad.

“No, wait!” I called futilely as I watched her disappear down the hall.

“Mimosa truly puts her heart and soul into serving you, Madam, so please allow her to do so.”

“You’re missing the point!”

Dahlia said it with a strained little smile, but I can tell she meant ‘let’s get you cleaned up for Master.’ Her powers of persuasion are like nothing else.

Mimosa returned a moment later, and I was thoroughly primped and polished from head to toe courtesy of the Spa Squad, after which I slept very soundly.

The next day:

“Oh, wow! Your skin is so supple and smooth!”

“You’re right, it is!” I stared, fixated, into the mirror as Mimosa looked on from behind me with an expression of self-satisfaction.

Our plan was for me to have breakfast with Mr. Fisalis (who had managed to wake up at a reasonable time), get ready, and then go out. Mimosa selected a pale violet dress for me to wear about the town. Its refined silhouette made my lanky body look so elegant and put-together! I didn’t wear any extravagant jewelry, since I wasn’t going to a party or anything, but instead opted for a pretty choker made with purple stones arranged in a gradient. I wore my hair in a half updo for a more casual look.

Nothing about my appearance was too complicated, but I turned out really looking the part of an elegant young wife!

“You did it, again, Mimosa!” I praised her as I looked at what was practically a stranger staring back at me in the mirror.

“There wasn’t much that needed improving to begin with. All I had to do were a few touch-ups here and there,” I watched her reflection say.

There’s no need to be so humble, Mimosa!

Now dressed, I was about to head to the entrance when Dahlia said, “Take these with you, Madam,” and handed me two small packets of medicine.

“What are these for?”

“For when you find yourself in trouble,” Dahlia answered with an unusually stern look.

“In trouble?” What does she mean by that? Confused, I tilted my head.

“Yes, Madam. When do you suppose you might find yourself in trouble while you are with Master?”

“...I think I understand.” I sniffed the sachet; it smelled like a certain medicine from a certain incident.

Sure enough, it’s the dried and ground up leftovers of the medicinal herb Mr. Fisalis had brought me from the Royal Medicinal Garden when I was stricken with my last bout of gastrointestinal distress. Dahlia wants me to take it with me, to prevent that disaster from happening again. If it did happen again, I’d be toast if the servants weren’t around!

Once she was certain that I understood what she meant, she pointed to one of the packets and said, “Take one of them here before you go, just in case. If you run into trouble, take the remaining one then.” Then she showed me how to take the medicine.

It’s important to take the correct dose in the correct way!

“Got it!” I said, nodding, looking her squarely in the eye before I mixed the contents of one of the packets with some water and drank it there.

Yuckkk, it’s bitter.

Mr. Fisalis was already at the entrance when I arrived, ready and waiting for me. He was wearing a black shirt under a light gray jacket, white knee-length breeches, and boots the same shade of gray as his jacket. The ensemble was absolutely chic. His everyday knight’s uniform was impressive, for sure, but because his civilian outfit that day was so restrained, his natural beauty stood out even more. The snug fit of the clothes on his sinewy frame showed off every square inch of his toned body. He didn’t hide the shape of his body like I did, but instead used it to enhance the cut and design of his clothes. It was a subtle difference, but it made a big impact.

I might as well be wearing a potato sack, darn it! As dressed up and made up as I am, I still feel awkward at the thought of being compared to him. Nice clothes and hair can’t hold up against someone like him when you’re not that pretty to start with.

I wanted to shut myself back in my room, but Mr. Fisalis didn’t seem to notice.

Oh, no. Maybe I should have turned him down after all.

I was consumed by negative thoughts, being rather put off by how amazing he looked, but when Mr. Fisalis spotted me, he said, “Well now, you look even more beautiful than ever! I should have known I’d never stand a chance against you, no matter what I wear.” He flashed me a smile. All the sulky voice in my head could say, however, was that he was a fibber, and I was the one who never stood a chance.

I shouldn’t have expected anything less from my own inner narrator. It’s not like Mr. Fisalis can hear it, anyway.

“Why don’t we get going then?” he asked, all too happy to walk next to me as my escort.

Although it was a bit embarrassing for him to suddenly start treating me like a proper lady (er, wife?), I replied, “Yes, let’s go,” and wrapped my hand around his arm.