Chapter 10-12 (2/2)

Today, my clothes were serviceable

and business like I was going out withhis

business thing, we could stop by the jewellery store I like I haven’t been

recently

♢

‘We’re going to play with the

General today’ My father suddenly announced in the carriage

Eh? Why?

‘…Because I a the

groundwork,’ Fathermy eyes for some reason He fixedly

looked out of theWhat? Laying the groundwork for what? Was it

necessary to lay groundwork to see a play?

‘Yes, that’s fine, but…’

When I thought about it after, I

decided the general’s invitation to the play had only been out of politeness There

was no reason for hiether, he

had asked what I did at o out these

days, but I like going to see plays Then he said, he also liked watching plays

when he was free I wonder if he just said that because he was trying to make

childish me feel at ease, and he was nearly as old as my father

But, I like him…no

Maybe it did not matter

I absently stroked the back of my

hand

‘You’ve been doing that a lot

lately’ I heard father say I looked up to find hi me I looked down

at my hands,

‘I didn’t notice’ I shook my hands

out I was embarrassed father had noticed it, for some reason

This habit was childish

‘What kind of sandwiches did you make

today?’ he asked changing the subject

I patted the large picnic basket

beside me, ‘Cream cheese and salmon, thick cut bacon and potato salad, shrimp

and avocado’

Father had asked me make lots of

sandwiches for soh, it was not for work I wondered

if I made too much Usually a noble lady like myself did not step foot in the

kitchen, but it didn’t matter if it was normal or not It was nice to be able

toas I’

anyone, it’s good Right?

‘Did you make roast beef?’

‘Yes Father, because you said you

like it’

But Father gave a vague reply and

went back to looking out theagain

What rong with him today? Was

he depressed? Male menopause? (Zuben: pffft hahahaha)

12 Slender or Glamorous

(2)

Our carriage rode on for a while

We passed the city centre, then through the suburbs, then farther and farther

away fro for a picnic? Are we

going to eat outside? But I don’t feel like the scenery here was good

As I look out the e were

getting farther away froe with Father

or was it an i

Why isn’t father telling me

anything today?

I turn to look at him, but his eyes

were closed and he was still Was he thinking? I should be quiet and not

disturb him

After a soe

slowed down There were hs and snorts of horses I

looked out theto see a lot of people dressed in ar

different weapons It looked like a training ground

What is going on?

Our steward came to open the

carriage door, and father and I stepped out with the basket in my hands

We walked along a fence that had

been e tent dominated the

landscape surrounded by sroup of soldiers outside

the large tent

‘Father, what are we doing here?’ I

asked nervously But he only winked and waved at the group

‘Hey, I’m here!’ he shouted The

group turned to the sound of roup

looked surprised

‘Viscount Castley?’

‘You look like you’re working

hard’ Father replied

Hm?!

Is it justoverly familiar? It was rare to see father like this

‘hello, General Brennan’ I greeted

with a curtsey But General Brennan wrinkled his brow, frowned and bent over

Seeing the General not want to even

look at(Zuben: Quick! Faint! He'll carry you) But instead I

pasted a smile on my face,

‘I’ll just be over there Please be

at ease, don’t mind me’ I said as I went blindly in some direction that was

away from him(Zuben: Silly Fredericka)

‘Fre-Fredericka!’ he called

I didn’t look back at the agonised

sound of his voice I could hear

We must be here because of some

important work

Father usually talked to me about

his work and his schedule when he wasn’t busy He also usually asked for my

opinion, and he listened to me properly There was constructive criticism when

I rong and didn’t think things through properly, and when I had a good

idea, he would praise me and utilise the idea But he did not tell me about

this,

‘Lady…’

ItI could

not be privy to

But why did he bring ? Was

it a test? To understand the distinction between truth and fiction?

When I think of it he ht have

said ‘co like that? Walking

about with all this thoughts in racing about inwhere I was going, and I tripped and fell flat on my face?

‘Fuuu…!’ My yell is like I’m on my

deathbed I do not kno to scream cutely…(Zuben: Is there a cute way to scream?)

At the , I was

caught by a strong armoured arm I was turned over to see the armour I just saw

earlier

‘You’re fine…’ I heard whispered from above my

head

♢