20 — They’re Coming Back

My little property damage incident had cut me to the bone, but neither the servants nor Mr. Fisalis were mad at me, so I counted my blessings! And as long as they didn’t give me the boot, I’d continue to do my best at the manor, my determination fully renewed, starting that day.

I gave my undivided attention to window cleaning that day, duel-wielding a rag in each hand. I was working on the floor-to-ceiling glass wall, the one that let you see everything going on outside and let in so much sunshine. It was pretty routine for me, but as it was one big pricey sheet of glass, I decided to play it safe and only clean as far as my hand could reach from the ground.

So there I was, cleaning that massive window in the salon, polishing it until it shone like a diamond and my fingers hurt, when Rohtas appeared.

“Madam, a letter has arrived from Lord and Lady Fisalis.”

“Oh, my in-laws?”

I forgot to write them after they visited, so maybe they’re upset? I can just pretend I didn’t realize it when I write them back. I can say, ‘Ah ha ha ha, I received your letter just after I sent out my own! What are the chances?’ I schemed, but let’s just pretend you didn’t know that.

“Yes, Madam. I am told that they have been summoned to the Royal Palace and will thus be in the capital. They’ll be staying at the manor during their time here,” Rohtas explained. Rohtas always read the mail that was delivered to the manor unless it was confidential. I stopped wiping the window to take the letter from him and examine its contents. I scanned over the letter, finding that it read exactly as he’d summarized.

Plus one more major detail.

“They’re coming the day after tomorrow?” I stared at Rohtas.

“So it appears,” he replied calmly.

But that’s just two days away. What’s more, it’s already late afternoon today; it’ll be evening soon. Mr. Fisalis is probably almost home, so I won’t be able to start preparing for their arrival. So basically I have only a single day to get ready. Yet another thing I would’ve liked to have known about sooner!

“Does Mr. Fisalis know about this?”

“No, the letter was only just delivered, so I suspect he’s unaware. Unless another letter was sent to his place of work.”

“Okay. Well, I can’t start to prepare for them today since it’s almost evening, but... we should have enough time, so long as we have a whole day.” Every nook and cranny of the house was always polished, dusted, and swept, anyway. There was no reason to panic over some surprise guests!

“Of course, Madam.”

“So that just means preparing a guest room and discussing meal plans. Oh, that’s right. I’ll have to share my room with Mr. Fisalis again, won’t I?”

“Most likely, yes.”

“In that case, I’ll need a cot for my room! Could you have one brought up for me?”

“...Very well.” What came out of his mouth meant ‘yes,’ but his expression clearly said otherwise. “It looks as if you will be busy tomorrow.”

I let myself sink into the sofa, closed my eyes, and took a deep breath. I started to go over my plans for the next day in my head. We’ll have to be even more scrupulous with the cleaning, and I’ll need to swap out all the flower arrangements. I’ll need a lot of fresh flowers. Guess I had better ask Bellis to arrange some for me.

I told Mr. Fisalis about the letter when he got home that evening, but one had been sent to his work as well, so he already knew about his parents’ plans to visit.

“I’m sorry that they’re just dropping in so suddenly on you,” he apologized, looking crestfallen.

“It’s sudden, that’s for sure, but we should be able to make it work with a day to prepare. It is out of the blue, though. They let us know a week ahead, last time,” I commented, a little confused. I hadn’t said so without thinking about it first—I’d never do that—but Mr. Fisalis seemed to take it as a complaint.

“They had no choice. They received an urgent directive from the Royal Palace... about our territory, apparently. They explained it to me in the letter I got,” he said, raising a gently closed fist to his mouth in contemplation.

What he said didn’t seem like something I ought to pry into, so I ignored his mention of the reason for their summons.

No need to look so worried, Mr. Fisalis!

I changed the subject, to try to cheer him up.

“Oh, I see. Well, I’ll do my best to make sure everything is prepared to their liking. Oh, that reminds me, I’ll be sharing a room with you again, won’t I?” This was rather important, so I wanted to confirm it with him, just in case.

“That’s right,” he said, his frown turning upside down very quickly.

Well that was fast. Wonder what made him change his tune like that? Oh, well. Not important. Now that he’s confirmed we’ll be rooming together, that means I get to take the cot!

“Alright, we’ll do the same as last time. I’ll bring a cot up for me to use,” I told him, thinking it was obvious.

“Huhhh!?” Based on the way Mr. Fisalis’ voice cracked in response, however, it seemed I was mistaken. His disappointment was written all over his face: eyes wide and brows scrunched.

The way his face changed so quickly, he’s like a mime! Was he always this expressive? And what’s he unhappy about anyway? I’m the one who’s going to be in the cot, not him.

“I would’ve been fine sleeping on the sofa, but Rohtas strictly forbade me,” I explained reproachfully. I honestly don’t mind sleeping on either the cot or the sofa.

“I’d forbid it, too!” Mr. Fisalis replied, flatly.

So he doesn’t want me sleeping on the sofa, either. Okay.

“I’m bringing up a cot, though,” I reminded him.

“...Because of course there’s no other option here? Yeah, okay.”

He muttered something, but I couldn’t hear what.

Sheesh, you’re so stubborn, Mr. Fisalis.

The next day, after seeing Mr. Fisalis off to work, the servants and I gathered in the staff dining room for an emergency meeting. On the agenda, to no one’s surprise, was, ‘Preparing for Lord and Lady Fisalis’ Visit Tomorrow.’ All of the lower servants were sitting at the tables, under the watchful eye/instruction of Chairman Rohtas. It looked like the meeting had started without me (Why would they wait? It wasn’t like I was their boss, ha ha), but they were letting me join in the fun because I had threatened to cry if they didn’t!

“We had plenty of time to prepare the last time they visited, but we won’t have that luxury now. This time, we have been granted only one day. Everyone, brace yourselves to begin work immediately,” Rohtas declared briskly as he started the meeting.

“Yes sir!” everyone replied stiffly.

Rohtas bowed deeply in response.

“First on the agenda is cleaning. We are normally very fastidious with our cleaning, so we should not run into any problems there, but take care where care is due,” Rohtas addressed the group of servants who would be cleaning, to which they gave a ‘yes sir’ before leaving for their stations.

Rohtas then moved on to his next assignment.

“Those assigned to cleaning will also change all of the linens.”

“Yes sir!”

“Kitchen staff, order more ingredients than usual. We need to be able to fulfill any and all requests.”

“Bien sûr,” Cartham replied, bowing vigorously.

“There are no special requests for the gardening staff. Please go about your work as per usual.”

“Understood,” Bellis answered blandly, bowing.

There was a pause in the exchange between Rohtas and the servants, so I decided to speak up.

“Er, excuse me?” I raised my hand nervously, calling Rohtas’ attention.

“Yes, Madam?” he replied, permitting me to speak.

“I’d like to change out the flower arrangements in the house, so I need a large quantity of flowers. And I was hoping I could help Bellis arrange them, too.” I said.

“That’s fine with me,” replied Bellis.

“Alright then. Gardening team and Bellis, Madam will be assisting you with decorating,” Rohtas informed the gardeners of their updated assignment.

“Understood,” Bellis said with a bow.

“Could you, Madam, and the as-yet-unassigned maids also handle the other decorations, as well?” Rohtas inquired, looking my way.

“Why of course! I’d be more than happy to!” I answered him excitedly.

The meeting adjourned shortly thereafter and everyone left for their stations. More than ever, the manor was alive with a flurry of activity. Time usually passed slowly, but for that single day it was no longer the case. We had to be extra thorough in our cleaning and interior decorating choices.

Lady Fisalis wasn’t the kind of mother-in-law who would run a finger along the windowsill and exclaim, “Goodness, dust here, too?” but we still furiously scrubbed and polished every surface!

All of the flowers were switched out, as were the linens. There was a steady flow of tradesmen coming to and fro as well. Rohtas had some urgent paperwork or something that needed seeing to, and so had shut himself in his office.

I’m sure it has something to do with Mr. Fisalis’ parents’ visit. I don’t really know for sure, though, so I’ll just let him be.

The day went by in a flash as we ran around getting ready for my in-laws’ arrival. Before I knew it, it was already getting dark outside.

“Holy cow! It’s already evening! I’ve been so busy, I forgot to get changed.”

Not good, not good! I’m still in my maid’s uniform.

I rushed back to my room with Mimosa in tow.

“That was a close one,” she nodded. We’d both have some serious explaining to do if we both forgot and Mr. Fisalis came home to see me in a maid’s uniform!

“I think you ought to take a quick bath. You were working quite hard today,” Mimosa said as she headed to the bathroom to draw me a bath. I agreed to myself that I really had been working my butt off all day, so I did as she suggested.

It felt so refreshing to wash off the day’s sweat. I had just finished getting dressed again when there was a knock on my door. It was Mr. Fisalis’ maid.

“Master has returned, Madam and, er...”

Phew, just in time! But I was uneasy about the way the maid’s sentence trailed off.

“And...?” What could it be? “Mr. Fisalis is home now, right? Is there something else?” I inquired of the maid, once she came in.

“There...There are guests with him from the chivalric order...” she answered, seemingly embarrassed.

Who the heck is coming now, when we’re so busy!? ...Ahem. Mustn’t let my feelings get the best of me.

In my surprise at the maid’s reply, I flew out of my room in a panic, only to be greeted in the entryway by:

“Ahh! Madam! I haven’t seen you in so long!”

“You look lovely today, as well!”

“We’re here!” called Mr. Fisalis’ stunningly gorgeous lady knights.

“Yo, it’s Madam!”

“It’s like I’m dreaming again!”

“Still lookin’ hella cute!”

“What an angel!”

Mr. Fisalis’ male coworkers were inexplicably worked up.

“I’m home,” Mr. Fisalis finally said, with an expression that somehow came off as both embarrassed and refreshing as he surveyed the invasion into my freshly cleaned home.