Chapter 35 - In the Midst of Negotiations! (1/2)

Ch.35 In the Midst of Negotiations!

‘Coexistence daily living’, ‘annulment of the decoration wife clause’, ‘lovers besides the Duke are prohibited’ –these have been laid out by the Duke in the contents of the contract reform but, this exceeds the category of reforming, is it just me who thinks that the new contract is now equivalent to a blank-paper annulment? ……well, although, whichever way is fine. In this way the number one worry of my family’s debt problem, has been settled under the form of ‘betrothal money’ so I have no problems.

The Duke also added,

“Socializing and the like; it is fine to do so only in the necessary spheres so please bear with it.”

One more addition is made. This is preparation in regards to my previous ‘optional’ remarks!

Shoot, have optional items also been firmly included?!  Oops……sorry, I got agitated.

“Understood.”

I crush my agitation and, answer as calm as possible. It seems like the Duke has not noticed my agitation and, gives a satisfied nod to my answer.

“That is all for now from me. If there is something we will discuss it when the occasion arises.”

“That is so,” with a sense of resignation I nod my head in assent when,

“Is there not anything from you?” unexpectedly the Duke asks my opinion.

“Conditions from me?”

I never thought that I would be asked such a thing, so, I blankly tilt my head to the side.

“That is correct. Is it not unfair to you if it is just conditions from me? Although in truth the best thing would be for you, Viola, to be by my side like a normal married couple, without such arrangements”, the Duke says while smiling faintly. Unexpectedly I have been fed swe~et words but, such things, I will ignore.

“……if that’s the case, it is about meals.”

Conditions from me? Requests? If I were to name those, there is only one. From now on, living with the Duke together everyday, means also sharing eating habits. This way will be mainly painful for me, so after a little thinking I open my mouth and ask.

The Duke’s shoulders drop at my great ignoring but, I proceed in the way of not seeing this also.

This time it is the Duke who is staring blankly at me suddenly speaking of meals.

“Meals, is it? Has there been some point that is unsatisfactory?”

His eyebrows quickly rise. Oh no. Again Carthame has ended up coming under false doubt!

“Nononono!! Unsatisfactory and the such are out of the question! Rather it is too extravagant and it is troublesome and yet, um ahh…”

I am denying the Duke’s misunderstanding in hot haste so, my mouth unintentionally ends up slipping.

“Too extravagant?”

The Duke again has a dubious face and is frowning at this sort of verbal slip of mine.

“No, um, that, more than enough is satisfactory but, for me it is too much. Particularly breakfast! No matter how you see it, that is too much, it is too wasteful.”

“Breakfast?”

“Yes. The quantity is the amount to ask ‘how many people is the meal for?’. Clearly it is impossible for me to eat that much, I will end up being forced to go to bed with a stomach-ache again.”

Evenings are fine. Eating at morning and noon, the stomach is properly working so, I can somehow combat it if it is a half portion. It is mornings that are the problem because my good quantity and good quality intestinal bacterias are still half asleep and have to work as soon as they get up for that breakfast. It is like the completely unarmed things are combating a dynamite opponent. I will probably end up breaking down before I am able to get accustomed to this lifestyle!