12 — The Significance of the Sacks

12 — The Significance of the Sacks

After we showed Alkanna out, we all gathered again in the salon. We decided that we’d might as well eat the fruit that Mr. Fisalis so graciously sent.

“She brought so much... I swear I heard the floorboards creak when she put the bags down. Just how much did that boy cram in there? Oh well, Rohtas, open them up,” Father Fisalis said in wonder as he looked at the sacks.

“As you wish, sir.” Rohtas tried to untie the cords holding the sacks closed at my father-in-law’s request, but they were tied rather tightly and for all his ingenuity, Rohtas could not open them.

“Can’t open it? He tied them much too tightly... I see, yes. We didn’t get a report this time, either.”

“It’s that tradition,” Mother Fisalis murmured.

“The inspectors likely would have inspected the parcels based on what was written in any letter that came with it, so perhaps it really is just that,” Rohtas seemed to agree.

“You’re probably right. There should be an announcement soon, too,” said my father-in-law.

“That does seem likely, sir.”

My father-in-law confirmed something as he watched Rohtas grapple with the cords. My mother-in-law, who was in turn looking at my father-in-law, seemed to understand what he meant.

I can’t make heads or tails of what he and Rohtas are talking about. What’s the koji in “ano koji”? Is it some foreign language? Oh, wait, am I the only one who missed the memo? Crud.

Looks like I’m the only one who doesn’t understand, and I really, really have no clue what’s happening. Hello? Can someone fill me in? It’s really not that hard to make sure everyone’s on the same page, I said to myself helplessly at my lack of understanding.

“Oh, no need for you to worry about this, Vi,” my mother-in-law said, trying to soothe my nerves.

“Huh? Uh, but...” I tried to object when her attempt only made the situation more awkward for me.

“That’s right, it’s nothing for you to worry yourself over. Ah, yes. There was a letter for Viola, if I’m not mistaken. What was it he said?” Lord Fisalis commented offhandedly, neatly changing the subject.

Although I felt myself flush at the thought of Mr. Fisalis’ sappy letter, I nipped that train of thought in the bud and took it upon myself to introduce the various fruits.

After that, I received a letter from Mr. Fisalis every three or four days. They seemed to be sent at the same time as reports to the Royal Palace. I had no idea he was such a good correspondent and found it hard to write decent replies so frequently.

Every single one of his letters, without fail, were tooth-rottingly sweet. That poor inspector. After three weeks of this, I started to get a feel for his letters and my in-laws’ habits, and everything began to feel more natural, even though I couldn’t say that I liked it. I hate to say that I’d gotten used to it, but I kind of had!

My in-laws’ behavior, however, was much more unpredictable than Mr. Fisalis’. He had left for the palace in the morning and had not returned until evening, or even night sometimes, which had left us plenty of time to prepare for the Cercis Shift. My in-laws were nothing like that. They usually left in the morning and returned in the evening, but every so often they would come back in the afternoon. And then, on top of that, they often strolled in through the glass door facing the garden.

Just the other day, even, a servant ran into the main dining room while I was scrupulously polishing the silverware and told me, “Madam, the former duke and duchess are almost here!”

“Oh no!”

“Please hurry, Madam!”

Moments later, Mimosa was rushing to my side to do my hair and makeup. She undid my braids before pulling my hair up in an impromptu chignon. She secured the twist with a barrette and probably broke a world record for fastest updo. I was oohing and ahhing over Mimosa’s handiwork when my in-laws came in through the glass door.

“Why, hello there, Vi. What are you doing in the dining room?” Lady Fisalis asked.

“We saw you in here so we thought we’d stop by.”

I had just made it, but only within a hair’s breadth! I smiled widely back at them with vibrant cherry pink lips, courtesy of Mimosa.

“How are you today, Father Fisalis, Mother Fisalis? Dahlia has been giving me dining etiquette lessons today.”

“Madam has essentially mastered everything already, but daily brush ups are always important when one must be a perfect lady at all times,” Dahlia lied for me. Fortunately for us, she thought to tell it when our silverware was laid out on the table, as if ready for a meal. Judging from appearances, it certainly did seem that I was receiving a typical lady’s dining etiquette lesson from her!

“Oh, I see. You’ll be perfect in no time with Dahlia instructing you! Be sure to study hard!” Lady Fisalis sounded encouraging, although it hurt a little inside to deceive her.

“I suppose we’ll take another walk then. Sorry for barging in like that, Dahlia,” Lord Fisalis apologized briefly. Apparently they had nothing else on the schedule for the day.

“Not at all,” Dahlia replied as my in-laws left through that same glass door.

“Phew! That was a close one!” I sighed once the two of them were out of sight, finally dropping my proper wife act and already feeling worn out. “We had no time to prepare today, either.”

“Thank goodness we were already in here with the silverware out...” Mimosa added as the three of us collapsed into chairs.

“It’s almost thrilling, I guess you could say? Sneaking around to do our work so they don’t see us really gets your adrenaline pumping, right?” The feeling as if we were playing hide-and-seek, always on the verge of being caught, did kind of excited me.

“I don’t think so,” they replied bluntly in tandem. I was the odd one out... as usual.

Over a month after Mr. Fisalis had left for his campaign, news of the outbreak of war with the neighboring country spread across the capital. It seemed as though they had not been able to avoid conflict in the end.

Did the sack of fruit that had arrived a few days prior have some sort of connection to it all? My father-in-law had said, back when it had just arrived, that something would be made public soon.

We’re really about to go to war. I hope you’ll be alright, Mr. Fisalis...