Chapter 32 - Monologue (1/2)

Ch.32 Monologue

“Calen, can you please leave?”

Is not the one who has entered while giving this reminder, the Duke?! Well, of course. Today he has returned early as announced.

“Cercis!”

“I mentioned it many times. It seems the time has come for me too to come to my senses.”

The Duke shows a serious face that is different than usual, to Calendula who has quickly turned her head. His normal way of smiling is now not there.

He straightforwardly looks at Calendula with those dark beautiful eyes.

“I have received good from you, Calen. However, I can say, with confidence, things as they are, are not good”

It would be better if they had the conversation of their two-people-world by themselves. Lotus, Dahlia, Mimosa and I have been quite left behind by the Duke and Calendula, who have completely entered their two-people-world,

“Shall we leave this place for a bit?”

“I think so” Dahlia and I whisperingly discuss when, the Duke says,

“Please all of you listen to this as well”

What good ears he has, even though we were exchanging with fairly concealed voices.

It can’t be helped,

“Yes”

I reluctantly nod my head.

It is really like a lover’s quarrel. What kind of Batsu game[1] is this, being present at a lover’s quarrel!

“All along I have been running away from the heavy responsibility called ‘The duke family’. I had to reliably protect this household[2] alone. ……it was lonely. However I was unable to perceive this loneliness around me. It was a dilemma,”

while steadily staring at Calendula, the Duke began his monologue.

Ah, but I feel I have heard this speech somewhere, ah, was it Dahlia who said as such? Dahlia and other’s conjectures are kind of right on the money!

“Around me everyone could only see me as ‘the heir to the duke family’. No-one would look at me as just me. At that time Calen said ‘duke family heir? What is that, is it something delicious?” and laughed it away.”

“Fufu, there was also such a thing,”

The Duke unintentionally smiles sadly but, Calendula said very nice words! Did those words end up shooting through his heart, *throb*?. Is that right?

“Life with Calen was pleasure-filled and enjoyable. Such things as me being heir or the duke family, and my responsibility I completely ended up abandoning.”

The moment they heard those words, Lotus and Dahlia firmly grasped their hands into a fists. Uh huh, this part has been difficult for you all!

“Even approaching the main building was unpleasant. Until now it was probably a reaction to the feelings of oppression,” letting his gaze fall, the Duke is chewing his lips.

From here Calendula’s face cannot be seen but, she is quiet and listening to the Duke’s speech.

“I could not help being surprised at the change of the mansion that I had stepped into after a long time. The servants are lively, it is overflowing with flowers and light, and more than anything it seemed enjoyable,” saying this the Duke turns his gaze towards me. Hm? What is it?

“After Viola came, this mansion has changed.”

unh? Me?

Following the Duke’s gaze, Calendula also looks at me.

“Until then this mansion has seemed only cold and inhuman but, things appear warm and human.”

It was, because I kept at diligently cleaned, did laundry and decorated everyday!