Chapter 34 - Contract Renewal (1/2)

Ch.34 Contract Renewal

While waving *bye-bye* behind her, Calendula leaves out the opposite side of the door, that Mimosa is holding open, like a really fresh gust of wind.

On the other hand, before my eyes, the Duke has stiffened like a hare depicted in a marble carving.

Without knowing what would be good to call out to Calendula, I silently see off that back and  Lotus and Dahlia also keep silent. These two people don’t have any sort of expression placed on their face so, there is no way of knowing how they feel.

Well.

What should I do with this solidified sculpture(Duke). He is serving as an entrance-way decorative stone statue.

Not.

His beautiful dark eyes are not focused on a point although they are open, his pupils also seem open. However, at this rate he will be standing in the entrance way forever and frozen like this. Not to mention that transporting this tall figured, wonderfully styled and nice Duke manually would be hard labour so, he must be removed by his own two legs. I flutter my hand in front of the Duke’s eyes.

“Duke, Duke? She ended up leaving? Is it okay not to chase after her~?”

O-i, is your consciousness there? My hand is swinging in a buzz. Whereupon the eyes, that until then were not clear wherever they looked, their radiance abruptly returns and then clashes with mine.

In that moment the Duke, who has suddenly returned from his small trip, is surprised and takes a step back.

*mugyuu!!* [Surprise]

“*guee*……” [speechlessness]                                      [T/N: both Onomatopoeia words]

Both of the Duke’s arms are gently wrapped around my body. Or, should I say, it is with all his strength, or should I say, that the feeling of being blocked by facing a stone wall is impressive. My soul or something is almost close to flying out! I think all my backbones have been taken away.

“Du… Duke!! It hurts, it hurts!!”

I beat the Duke’s back a lot with my hands, which I can just manage to move freely. I have a feeling that the only damage I can do is less than a neko punch[1] to the Duke, who trains regularly as a knight. It is vexing!

Not loosening up his grip at all I am in the situation of being tightly held and hugged close. I am struggling to mumble then,

“Viola!! I will not ask you to leave?!”

The Duke’s voice descends from overhead. It is not his usual calm, pleasing-to-the-ear voice, it is a voice oozing impatience and is a little raised.

“Huh?”

I stare with eyes of amazement *what, what did you say?* and, the strength of the arms embracing me furthermore gets intense. *squeeze* My back! Because my back is being bent!!

“Viola, let’s have the discussion once again! Not a marriage bound by a contract like up till now, one for the sake of being a properly married couple!!”

I will discuss this so please loosen your strength and please do not rub your cheek on my head!!

“We cannot easily have a talk here so, let us move to the reception room.”

No sooner than I say this, The Duke momentarily releases me, who he was hugging close, when this time he *lift* ends up holding me up in his arms. And then, like this, he is turning back to the reception room like it is nothing. But, why am I being carried with a princess hug?  Today my stomach and everywhere is not unhealthy though?

“Umm~, why are we moving with me held up in your arms?”

I worship the Duke’s beautiful countenance with upturned eyes. I modestly convey my feelings of doubt towards this situation but,

“It is in order so that Viola does not end up escaping,” the Duke declares, with an unusually serious expression, while looking at me who is slightly below. The clever eyes are as lovely as possible but, I think that there is no need to waste the loveliness in such a useless place.

I mean, I will not escape so sincerely please let me down! I feel like running away from Lotus, Dahlia and Mimosa’s lukewarm gazes!

“I will not escape and, the reception room is right there!”

I struggle *flap flap* to get let down.

“Well then it will be a moment longer. It is dangerous to struggle. Look, we have arrived.”

While exchanging this conversation, with the Duke’s long legs, we end up arriving at the reception room just like that.