14 — Plans for the Day

14 — Plans for the Day

The day after news of Aurantia’s declaration of war spread across the capital:

I had paused to think after another unhappy breakfast alone in the dining room when Rohtas came in and said, rather stiffly, “Pardon my intrusion, Madam, but I would like to go over today’s schedule with you.”

“Wha—?” I replied, unable to stop the stupid sound from leaving my mouth. I was especially not cut out for my job as a duchess that morning.

I didn’t think I had anything planned that was important enough for my butler to formally remind me of it in the morning. He doesn’t need to be so formal if it’s just a guest or something. He couldn’t possibly mean to tell me ‘today you will be pulling weeds all morning and then, after lunch, we shall sneak you in with the other maids to assist with the laundry,’ right? Or killing time with the new hires, or something?

What could it be, then? Why’s he being so polite?

“About. Today’s. Schedule. Madam,” Rohtas repeated at me, enunciating each word, when I only stared back at him blankly. His tone brought me back to reality frightfully fast.

“Aren’t we back to normal, though? I pull some weeds, pick flowers to decorate the manor with, do that, and then clean and help dry the sheets, if no one’s around to see me?” I asked him, just to be sure, but he silently shook his head and replied:

“No, Madam. There is a state function today, so you will have to attend.”

“...What?! Nobody told me about that!” That information came out of nowhere. What the heck!

It was a shock to my system, like a cold shower in the early morning, but Rohtas did not seem to notice and carried on matter-of-factly.

“There is to be a deployment ceremony this morning at the Royal Palace before the king and queen. When that is finished, a military rally will be held as a sort of luncheon. I understand it will be in the form of a garden party.”

Hold up. What’s a deployment ceremony? And a military rally? I sure would have appreciated an earlier warning about a state function! Why did you foist this on me all of a sudden?! I mean, this means I have to go out in public, right?! But Mr. Fisalis isn’t even here—he’s away on business. Do they expect me to go to this event by myself?

...Umm... ahem. Get it together.

I was positively reeling with anxiety. It was almost like a large question mark floated over my head as I stood there gaping at the thought of attending a public event.

“It was mentioned in yesterday’s royal decree,” Rohtas said calmly.

“Oh... I... I thought that decree didn’t concern me... I just assumed only Lord and Lady Fisalis needed to read it.” Not to mention Lady Fisalis also made origami out of it. I didn’t even have a chance to read it.

“Please calm down, Madam,” Dahlia said, unable to stand idly by while I had a panic attack, as she handed me some water. Oh, thanks, this will help.

“The deployment ceremony is the tradition in which His Majesty gives the official command to the Ministry of War to dispatch the troops. Only after receiving his official command can the army march out,” Rohtas explained to me as I drank the cup of water.

The Minister of War was the one with the most responsibility in the military and also the highest ranking commander. The royal guard and frontline troops were organized beneath him, with Mr. Fisalis’ special division being part of the frontline troops. There was much more to his position, but I’ll just leave you with that.

“Huh? Isn’t Mr. Fisalis’ division already at work down there?” What’s the point of an official dispatching ceremony when soldiers are already on the scene?

“Master’s unit is an exception. The military cannot be deployed en masse without an official command. A ceremony was performed earlier for a much smaller, limited number of soldiers.”

“Oh, I see.”

“Since war has actually been declared now, however, a more ostentatious ceremony is to be held to inspire the soldiers.”

“That makes sense,” I nodded in agreement.

“Common etiquette dictates that the head of the family should be the one to attend, but since Master is unfortunately absent, you will have to go in his stead...” Rohtas said with a meaningful glance my way.

“Nononononononono, there’s no way!” I interrupted, panicking at the thought of having to go as Mr. Fisalis’ replacement and waving my hands frantically. I very much wanted to convey how much my entire being rejected his suggestion.

“...I thought you might say that, so I suppose the former duke and duchess may attend instead,” he continued after a pause, with a smile.

“...Why didn’t you just say that from the start...” You did that on purpose, Rohtas! That was premeditated!

He ignored my bitter glare back at him, his beautiful smile never faltering.

“The rally is meant to be a get-together for the soldiers about to be deployed. The platoon commanders will be participating too, so there will be a great many people there. The women’s corp will be in attendance as well.”

“I see.” So it’s like a party? I stared off into space, recalling how poorly I performed at social events. But, still, it’s a wife’s duty to advance her husband’s social status while he’s away—there’s no point in trying to change something that can’t be changed (according to my mother-in-law). I can’t refuse to go. I need to just suck it up.

Rohtas smiled a little stiffly as I thought it over.

“If it is any comfort, the former duchess and your own mother will be in attendance, too,” he encouraged me.

I didn’t have to go to the deployment ceremony, but if I chose to, I would have to be at the palace before noon. And moreover, since it would be a party, I would have to be dressed to the nines.

“Mimosa, do I have a dress I could wear to the party today?” If anyone had memorized the contents of my dressing room, it was her.

“...Hmmm... I believe so. Bright colors would be best for a garden party. And for jewelry... The ruby necklace and earrings gifted to you by the former duchess are ready. What do you say to those?” she answered without hesitation—almost as if she was picturing the inside of my dressing room, based on how she would pause every so often as she spoke.

Something about her mood was a little off. Or rather... she wasn’t acting like her usual self. Normally, Mimosa could rattle off the contents of every square inch of my dressing room, ready for anything the day could throw at me fashion-wise. It wasn’t like her to be confused or falter. Even more than that, though, her whole expression would usually change at the mention of jewelry. I didn’t keep my accessories on as strict of a rotation as my regular clothes, after all! When I took a hard look at her, her color did not look good either.

“Is something wrong, Mimosa?” Her color was fine yesterday. She handled my in-laws’ sudden appearance just fine, too.

“No, not at all, Madam,” Mimosa replied with a dim smile that certainly did not suggest that everything was okay.

“Madam is right. You seem somewhat different today,” Dahlia spoke up in a worried tone, also looking at Mimosa.

“See? Something isn’t right. Are you tired?” Have I been working her too hard lately? Oh no, I’d feel absolutely terrible if that was the reason. I’m sorry, Mimosaaaa!

When I moved to get a better look at her face, her eyes began to dart around the room in embarrassment.

“No, it’s not that... Oh! But don’t come any closer, Madam, lest you catch it!” she answered in confusion, suddenly realizing that she might be ill and drawing away from me.

“I won’t. Have you been feeling sick since this morning?”

“Yes. But I felt only a tiny bit feverish and a little sluggish, so I thought I would be fine so I got ready for work... I’m terribly sorry. It was foolish of me.”

I noticed Dahlia’s gaze harden ever so slightly as Mimosa hung her head in shame.

“It’s no problem! I’m pretty resilient against illness. Expect stomach problems,” I quickly tried to reassure her. I’m not one to lie in bed all day! ...Eek, I mean, I don’t get colds very easily. ‘Early to bed, early to rise, and always make sure to exercise’ is my motto, and that keeps me plenty healthy!

“Pardon me?”

“Oh, nothing, just talking to myself.”

“A-Alright. It’s inconsiderate of you to show up for work while sick. I’ll speak to you later, Mimosa, but for now, go back to your room,” Dahlia said sternly, although with a familiar pat on Mimosa’s shoulder.

“Dahlia’s right. You shouldn’t push yourself if you’re not feeling well. Go rest. Rohtas,” Rohtas took a step nearer from where he had been quietly watching. “Let Bellis know what’s going on.”

“As you wish, Madam,” Rohtas said with a bow before exiting the dining room.

“Okay then, girls,” I said to the maids who had been standing by after they had served me my breakfast. “Would you make sure Mimosa gets to her room okay?”

“Yes, Madam.”

Not that she can’t walk there herself, but I just wouldn’t want her to fall if she got lightheaded!

And so Mimosa retired to her room on the third floor under the watchful eyes of the other maids.

“I hope she’ll be okay,” I said to Dahlia as we watched the door to the dining room close.

“I’ll call for the family physician later. In the meantime, we must get you ready for your trip to the—”

Just then, I realized something crucial.

“AHHHHH” I yelled hysterically, both hands to my face.

“Madam?” Dahlia asked, startled at my sudden outburst, her eyes wide.

“If Mimosa’s gone, who’s going to do my makeup?!”

I can’t show up at the Royal Palace of all places bare-faced!