1 — He’s Going on a Campaign

1 — He’s Going on a Campaign

“I’ll be returning to the south,” Mr. Fisalis told me.

We were in the salon back at the manor. He’d asked for privacy, and now even Rohtas was nowhere to be seen.

Back in the carriage, we’d seemed to come to a mutual conclusion that we shouldn’t talk too much there about his campaign, so we’d switched the topic to something more lighthearted for the ride home. Besides, we couldn’t be sure who on the street might overhear us. In the confusion of having that news broken to me and then suddenly changing topics, however, I had completely forgotten what we were talking about.

For many reasons, then, home was indeed the best place to talk about it, one of them being that the manor was practically an impenetrable fortress of secrets!

Mr. Fisalis returned to his earlier explanation after making himself comfortable on the sofa and letting out a soft sigh. He was looking at me from where he was sitting at my side, leaning away from me.

That can’t be good for your back. Isn’t it harder to talk that way? Why not sit across from me, I thought to myself, wondering why he had sat down next to me when there was another huge sofa across from me. It was a perfectly comfortable sofa, that other one, and yet he was still glued to my hip. Well, technically there was still considerable space between us, but why did he want to be so close to me all the time? It came as quite the surprise, even though I had become somewhat used to his habits.

Maybe he’s sticking so close to me to keep Cartham away? That pesky chef can’t cling to me if he’s already clinging. Oh well, that’s a question for another time.

I think I mentioned it before, but Mr. Fisalis’ work is top secret. So even when he told me where he was going for business trips, it was always vague—just like earlier when he’d said where he was going for the campaign. The fact that he decided to let me in on where he’s going, even if it’s just giving me a general idea, suggests that he thinks of me as family!

...Well, actually I guess the fact that he told me about—or rather, took me to his secret base (or whatever that was)—was already proof of that.

“To the south, you say?”

“Yeah. The situation down there has gotten tense. We’ve been keeping an eye on it for a long time now,” he explained simply.

Come to think of it, he has been pretty busy lately with all his business trips and cheatings— I mean, meetings. Secret meetings. And I’ve seen him on several occasions reading official papers looking really grim, too. And since I’ve never been privy to the details of his work, I’ve just ignored the whole subject. Let it blow right by me like a gust of wind, so to speak.

But the capital was like the embodiment of safe and sound. You never heard about wars or skirmishes anywhere; it just wasn’t that kind of place. Even our gossipy tradesman never mentioned anything like that, nor was there any lack of supplies coming into or going out of the city. There were no signs of unrest anywhere, and yet...?

“Really? I had no idea.”

No matter how I looked at it, the world seemed to be carrying on as normal, so it was hard to believe what Mr. Fisalis was saying all of a sudden. I must have looked confused, because he said then:

“That’s understandable—the situation hasn’t been made public yet. The only ones who know currently are the military and the government’s top brass.”

He said it all very casually, but it made me shiver to hear such dire news! Way to share the burden with me... No, that’s no way to think. Pull yourself together, girl.

“So this is an actual campaign, right? Not a business trip.”

“Er, well. It looks like there’s been increased activity in that area lately, and considering what we’ve already gathered from intel...”

“Does this mean there’s going to be a war?” There had always been frequent skirmishes near the southern border, but since it was far from the capital, and I didn’t personally know any soldiers headed off to fight, I wasn’t really informed. Moreover, since skirmishes were a common occurrence at the border, the citizens here weren’t all that worried. In fact, it didn’t seem like they cared at all.

Oh, but it was one of those fights at the border that had delayed our wedding! It seemed like that kingdom to the south was always starting something. That was big news, so even I’d heard about it. They certainly are hot-blooded down there. What troublesome neighbors we have! Can’t they find some other way to let off steam? Maybe they could use all that energy to power machines?

... Okay, I don’t know if that’s actually possible.

...Nevermind, there are more important things to think about now.

“It’s hard to tell at this stage. Still, it looks pretty likely, and that’s exactly why we’re going.”

I assume Mr. Fisalis’ unit is going there to gather more information, and then control what gets out to the press based on what they find.

“Oh, okay.”

“That’s also why I don’t know for sure at the moment when I’ll be able to come back. In a month, at the earliest. Probably,” he said, casting his gaze to the floor. Based on how he sighed, it didn’t seem like he was eager to spend time away from home.

A month-long campaign sounded like back-breaking work. I could not imagine that he would find a four-course dinner— Ahem, all of everyday life’s wonderful blessings wherever he was headed. Mustn’t forget my family’s motto: extravagance is the real enemy. If it was me being sent to some remote location, I bet I’d be just fine with the food. Still, he was probably in for a rough time, considering that silver spoon in his mouth wasn’t going to get much use. Thoughts and prayers.

“Will your work be difficult?”

“Yeah. If we’re stuck down there for long, anyway... but I don’t know how long we’ll be out there. It might end up like it did when we were supposed to get married.”

“I sure hope not!” That did sound like extremely tough work! It made we want to sigh, too.

Perhaps ruminating over what was to come, Mr. Fisalis’ handsome face was colored with anxiety. His downturned eyelashes were so long I could make out the trembling shadow they cast over his cheekbones!

He must have been under terrible pressure, knowing that the fate of the kingdom rested on the shoulders of his division. But I was always hearing how good he was at his job (mainly from the Bombshell Trio)! Everyone under him was the cream of the crop, too, so I was sure they would succeed!

Clenching my fist, I stared back into his eyes and rallied my spirits. For some reason, he chose right then to cover my clenched hand with his own.

“Viola, I’m trusting you to look after the place while I’m away. Keep everything nice for me, for when I come back,” he said firmly as he gazed back into my own eyes. The grim set to his jaw and glint in his eye as he said it were almost breathtaking. I was losing myself in them. He said it while looking right at me...

Hold on there, Mr. Fisalis. You’ve been away this whole time, and yet you’ve only just now noticed who’s been running the place in your absence?!

I was this close to saying that out loud. I literally had to cover my mouth to keep the words from spilling out. I can’t be sugar, spice, and everything nice, all the time✰ I took a deep breath (or maybe ‘swallowed my anger’ is a better way of putting it) and calmed myself.

“But of course! I’m not alone, after all. I’ve got Rohtas, and Dahlia and Mimosa, Bellis, Cartham, and everyone else, so I’m sure I’ll be fine. We’ll aaaaall look after the manor!”

He stared back in silence.

“I won’t be lonely, I mean. So don’t worry about me, focus on your work instead!” I promised him, hoping my smile looked more ‘you can count on me’ than ‘who do you think you’re talking to?’

Was it just my imagination then, or did Mr. Fisalis look like he was holding back tears? The fact that he still managed to look hot when he was about to cry made me want to cry myself.

Should I try one of my twenty dollar smiles? Will that make him feel better?

He looked at me for a second with those sad, tear-soaked eyes. And then, as if he was suddenly filled with glorious purpose (and I, filled with shock), he proclaimed:

“Damn it! I can’t let this turn into some drawn-out battle! I’m gonna do whatever it takes to wrap all this up as quickly as possible, so please! Wait for me!”

The feeling that we might have actually been having a moment flew off into space when his entire mood did a one-eighty and the steely gleam returned to his eyes. I could barely keep up with his pace.

What the heck, Mr. Fisalis? What just happened?

I could do little else but gape up at him.