19 — Once a Wallflower, Now a Rose Among Daisies

19 — Once a Wallflower, Now a Rose Among Daisies

Dun dun DUN!

My happy place, my promised land—WALLS are nowhere to be seen!

Please forgive me for bringing down this sun-drenched, laughter-filled scene. I’m just processing my shock.

Fortunately, I snapped back to reality when the other guests filing by started to glance my way.

Oh no, I’m probably weirding people out standing here frozen in terror by the gate! This is not the way Mimosa wanted me to stand out! And I want to avoid standing out in any fashion at all costs!

Taking the drink I was offered as I entered the venue proper, I scolded myself for getting in the way earlier, and walked over to the area where the party was being held.

Parasols dotted the crowd under the warm midday sun, and chairs had been provided at tables. It looked like a good spot for chatting, snacking, and also taking a break from chatting and snacking. Not that standing and talking was out of the question, of course.

There was also live music provided by an orchestra, and people who felt so inclined were dancing.

There were a great many bigwigs from all over the kingdom—especially high-ranking knights and soldiers—mixed in among the guests, but the garden was big enough that it did not feel cramped. Everyone was scattered about in different spots in groups of two or three.

There were food and drinks set out next to the garden entrance near the palace, where you could pick whatever you wanted. You could also ask one of the servants floating around to bring you something, but I still wasn’t used to the idea of doing that, so I went and helped myself.

Oh, wait, I should watch how much I’m eating today, huh. Wouldn’t want a stomach emergency in a place like this, I thought to myself. I nonchalantly scanned the crowds for my parents, but it looked like they still weren’t there. You were the one always telling me not to be late, Father!

But now that my last ray of hope, my mother-in-law, had been abducted by that mob of noblewomen, I had to find somewhere to hide myself away. I listened to her advice about socializing, but there was no way I could make small talk with anyone there by myself when I didn’t know anyone, much less if someone asked me to dance! I’m just not cut out for this.

...No, no, no. Stop thinking like that. Just relax. No one expects you to do that. The important part is that you’re here. You already fulfilled your obligation to show up.

Okay, now that you’ve calmed down, look for a place to hide!

Yes, I’ll set up camp at the table farthest from the center of the crowd and let myself vanish into thin air.

So with that goal in mind, I set out to find a seat. Unfortunately, all of the seats had already been taken by elderly people deep in conversation with each other. I wasn’t so determined to disappear that I’d hassle an elder out of their seat—after all, it was common courtesy for people my age to give up their seats to older people. Thus, Operation Table Takeover came to a sudden end.

I walked around the venue, drink in hand, as I searched for some cover I could use in place of a wall. Just how many people are here that I don’t recognize a single one of them even after all this searching? There’s too many, look harder! ...Yeesh, now I’m mad at myself.

Meanwhile:

Multiple ladies and gentlemen who recognized me from the previous three parties I had attended said hello to me, but I, tragically, did not recognize a single one of them. Please forgive me.

“How good to see you again, Duchess Fisalis!”

“You look as beautiful as always. May I ask you to dance with me to the next song?”

I gave these lovely people the best replies I could manage—that is to say, lukewarm ones—as I wandered the party venue. Then, I spotted Miss Iris and some other ladies a ways away.

Finally, someone I know, said a voice in my head, but...

“Which unit might you belong to?”

“Oh, I belong to ◯◯ unit.”

“Ah, so then you’re to depart for the battlefield. I wish you well.”

“Thank you, it’s an honor to have a lovely lady like you worry about me.”

Just my luck. Upon closer inspection, Miss Iris and the other ladies had been approached by a handsome knight. She’s very forward, that Miss Iris! I see she’s just as outgoing today as ever!

The three ladies with her were talking to other people as well, and it seems like they were having a good time. So naturally, I gave up on going over to say hi to them. I know how to read a room, at least! ...Usually. Besides, it felt kind of nice to just watch them in secret for a little while.

Keep up the good work and you’ll be a lovely wife in no time, Miss Iris. Er, that sounds more like something I should be telling myself.

So, there were no empty seats, nor any walls. With nowhere else to turn, I made my way toward the edge of the venue. It looked like the best spot for people-watching, even though people-watching was not what I was supposed to be focusing on . For the time being, however, finding an inconspicuous place to stand was my top priority, so I stopped there for a moment and looked around.

“There you are, you pretty young thing. You had me quite confused back there when you suddenly disappeared, my beautiful little fairy.”

Whoawhoawhoa! What—What’s going on?! Whoever’s saying that is even sappier than Mr. Fisalis, I gagged when I heard the sweet nothings come from directly behind me. The voice sounded like it belonged to a man, low and sultry. I could understand if it was an evening party, maybe, but... what is he thinking, using his bedroom voice like that in broad daylight?! Oh, sorry, I just felt a chill run down my back.

Whatever it was that was unfolding behind me sounded like a young man laughing seductively and an enthralled young woman. For that reason, I think I’m going to inch away, absolutely not peeking over my shoulder... and then once there’s some distance between me and them, get back to people-watching!

Once I had crept far enough away that I couldn’t hear them anymore—Who does that in the middle of the day? Ew!—I surveyed the crowd one more time. When I saw a new promising inconspicuous spot, I decided to make a break for it, but...

“Excuse me, Miss. There’s something I’d like you to hear,” said someone, just as they grabbed my upper arm.

Hold up. That’s the gross whisperer, isn’t it? What could he want with me? Does that mean that sickly-sweet smooth talk from a minute ago was aimed at me?!

“...I think you have me mistaken for someone else,” I replied, cheek twitching as I tried to smile, running over what I’d just heard in my mind.

“No, I was talking to you. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss. I don’t think I’ve seen you before.” It was indeed a man, tall and slightly tanned, wearing a knight’s uniform. His pearly white teeth sparkled when he smiled.

Who the heck is this guy? I wondered, shaken up yet again. I can’t keep letting this happen. Dahlia would scold me for letting myself get bent out of shape all the time: ‘a proper lady doesn’t lose control of herself!’ Ugh, I don’t want to be thinking about Dahlia now, too!

Er, we’re not talking about Dahlia now, though. We’re talking about this guy.

I gave the shady knight a once-over, but was positive I’d never met him before. Well, he did say this was his first time meeting me. It’s no wonder: when it comes to my social life, I’m practically a ghost! I don’t like going out, and since I have a statement in writing from Mr. Fisalis saying that I don’t need to, I’ve been whiling away my days as his happy hermit bride, so of course this man hasn’t seen me before.

That wasn’t something I would admit, though, so I said, “I don’t come out to these events very often...” and gave a vague little laugh. I gently brushed his hand off of my arm and tried to walk away, but apparently I had misread him, and he put his hand back. He was a persistent one. I pushed his hand harder.

“The same goes for me,” he continued on smiling. “I’m just a knight, so I’m no good at parties like this, either.”

Hey, no, don’t you sneakily put your other hand over mine while I’m still trying to peel your first hand off of me! I glared at him reproachfully.

In terms of appearance, he was a handsome man with blond hair and blue eyes, tall and slim of build. But the way he talked—utterly vapid, insincere flattery—came off as unpleasant and coercive. Unfortunately for him, it engulfed his otherwise striking figure in a stinking miasma of disappointment.

Do you feel me clawing at your hand? Take a hint, buddy. Fortunately, he doesn’t hold a candle to my good-looking but good-for-nothing husband. I guess there is some benefit to spending so much time with Mr. Fisalis.

Argh, that cursed man is too attractive for his own good. Whenever I meet a man now, not only do I inevitably compare him to Mr. Fisalis, but Mr. Fisalis always comes out on top! And Mr. Fisalis is more than just a pretty face. He’s the kind of person who writes letters mushy enough to make even career inspectors squirm! Can you do that, mister? ...What? Yeah, I’m bragging about how terrible my husband is. What’re you gonna do about it?

Okay. We’re going to pretend you didn’t read that.

The man’s uniform was a different color than Mr. Fisalis’, so I was sure he was in a different division. In contrast to Mr. Fisalis’ navy blue uniform, this man’s was mostly deep green. Not to mention that Mr. Fisalis’ entire unit wasn’t even in town. Plus, the people in his special division already knew me, so they wouldn’t say something like ‘it’s a pleasure to meet you,’ even if I didn’t recognize them... and more importantly, they didn’t call me ‘miss.’

I could easily tell, based on his uniform and everything else that... er, no, that’s presumptuous of me. I only really noticed that his uniform was a different color.

“Oh?” I replied vaguely. You say you’re no good at parties? I can’t imagine wh—

My train of thought was interrupted when another knight wearing a uniform the same color as his appeared out of nowhere next to him.

“Yowza, ●●! That’s a pretty little lady you got there!”

The smooth-talking knight scowled briefly at the other before schooling his features back to how they were before.

“I just met her. She was just so cute, I couldn’t stop myself from talking to her.”

“Ohhh. Yeah, we’d definitely remember a face like yours if we’d met you before, even just once. Haven’t seen you around. I’m ●●● from the First Company. I’m the ◻◻◻, and I do all the △△△. This fellow’s in the same company,” the second knight said, introducing himself.

“Uh huh.”

Seeing an opportunity, the smooth-talking knight introduced himself, too.

“My apologies for not introducing myself. I ××× for the same company he does. I am ○○○. I’m pleased to make your acquaintance.”

“Uh huh.” I didn’t ask.

I wasn’t listening too hard to what they were saying, so most of it went in one ear and out the other and all I really caught was ‘First Company.’ It wasn’t my fault that I did not care to make their acquaintance. They said their names, too, but I didn’t catch those, either, focused as I was on wondering when they would let me go.

“Oh, hey! A cute girl!”

“Looks like you caught yourself a lovely little lady!”

One by one, more knights in the same uniform were gathering around us.

“You can call me ×××!”

“And I’m △△△!”

They each introduced themselves, but by that point, I was at my limit and just wanted them to disappear. Before I knew it, however, I was surrounded by men in deep green uniforms. They were all rather forward, too. What I wouldn’t give to be surrounded by the lovely ladies in the Bombshell Trio right now.

Unable to blend into a wall or escape to the edges of the party, I had become a flash of orange in a sea of green.

Aaaaah! This must be what it feels like to be popular! ...I hate it! Mr. Fisalis always stepped in and saved me when I got ambushed, but now he’s not here and I have nowhere to run. Whaddaya know, I thought of something else nice about him.

“Oh, speaking of which, we haven’t asked the young lady her own name yet,” the smooth-talking knight said, as though he only just now noticed. Putting his hand to his chest and elegantly bowing in the knight’s salute (I had gotten used to seeing it after all the messages the lady knights delivered!), he asked, “Might I have the privilege of knowing your name?”

I wanna gag! His words are like a sticky bun caught in the back of my throat! He’s actually giving me heartburn! His words had the opposite of their intended effect on me; rather than swoon, any passion in my body turned to ice.

I don’t want to give this sorry excuse for a man my name! I screamed in my head. But alas, I didn’t get the sense that they’d let me go without me telling them my name. Just when I feared I wasn’t going to make it out alive, however:

“There you are! I found you, Duchess Fisalis!”

My savior has arrived!

The wall of green around me parted like the Red Sea and on the other side I spotted the face of a man I recognized.

...Er, who are you again?

I knew I had seen him before, but couldn’t remember his name. It was like my brain was in a fog.

“Consul Argenteia!” someone within the green wall shouted.

Ohhh, that’s right! That’s where I know him from! Way to go, Random Knight!

“Oh, you’re Duke Argenteia’s...!” I still couldn’t remember exactly what his relationship was to the Argenteias, so I left my sentence unfinished in a way I hoped read more as surprise than forgetfulness. However, I was pretty sure he was the second eldest son of the family. I had a vague memory of meeting him at the Argenteias’ soiree.

It was Miss Verbena who had made the strongest impression, so all I could remember of her brothers, more or less, was that they were present that night, although I recalled that they spoke to Mr. Fisalis like they knew him well.

Oh, yes, I think he was a childhood friend of Mr. Fisalis, right? But of course I can’t remember his name!

“The former duchess lost track of you and has been looking all over,” Consul Argenteia said pushing the knights aside and cheerfully striding up to me.

“She has?” I asked, staring a little out of sheer relief at seeing a familiar face, as he ripped the smooth-talking knight’s hand from my arm. Thank. God.

“...Duchess... Fisalis...?” Shock and fright were written across smooth-talker’s face, as well as those of the knights beside him.

“Yes, that’s me. I’m Cercis Tinensis Fisalis’ wife,” I asserted, a little embarrassedly, but glad that I managed to remember his full name. I didn’t want to tell them my own name, so I just used his instead. They should know who he is.

“Don’t tell me you didn’t know who she was? This is the wife of Duke Fisalis, the commander of the Special Ops Division,” the consul said, extricating me from my green dungeon and shooting the smooth-talker a cold glare.

“This is the first time I’ve met her, so...” he said as the color drained from his face.

“Oh, really? Ah, well, he, the duke, doesn’t exactly force her into the limelight,” the consul smiled meaningfully as the wall parted for him again.

He definitely intentionally emphasized ‘duke’ there even though I’m technically the one choosing to stay out of the spotlight. I really had no room to complain, though, so I didn’t say that out loud.

I know I said it before but, Consul Argenteia wasn’t exactly wrong: I rarely went out, and although Mr. Fisalis’ coworkers had been at the few parties I had attended, those gatherings had been nowhere as big as this one. So there had to have been some people at the rally who knew of the duchess (i.e. me), but wouldn’t recognize her.

“Th-This girl... this lady is... the rumored Duchess Fisalis...”

“No way! This is the first time I’ve seen her up close.”

“She’s like everything you’d ever want in a wife!” they all whispered. What’s with everyone calling me a ‘dream wife’ or whatever? I wish they’d give up on that joke!

The mere mention of the duke (complete with a knowing smirk on the consul’s part) seemed to have an immediate effect—everyone, not just the smooth-talker, turned white as a sheet and said: “I-I’m very sorry, Madam!” before scattering like baby spiders.

They have good reason to. I’d be embarrassed, too, if I called someone a ‘dream wife’!