Chapter 38 - The Way of Settling a Great Fuss (2/2)

“Are you duchess Physallis?”

Someone calls out from my side.

“Yes? That’s right, but……”

I look a the owner of the voice and, a young woman, a complete stranger, is standing there. Is she a noble’s daughter from somewhere? I do not know her at all but, without caring about me who is staring blankly,

“*fuun [pshaw-laugh]*. You are re-ally ordinary. I wonder what is good about a ordinary woman[1] like you?”

The young woman says with a sneer placed on her lips, while she waves the fan in her hand *fuasafuasa [sound of fanning]. Moreover while she is at it, she runs her gaze from the scalp of my head to the end of my feet for a just~a second!

Wait, this is it, this! Is surely an event!

Last time at the evening party I received a dodge but, tonight it will be the real personal experience! Thank you, someplace’s noble’s daughter!

As you might expect from attaching a false charge to me, this noble woman is a pretty person. The bridge of her nose prettily passes by her large double-lidded indigo eyes and, her seasonal cherry like lips are glossy and beautiful. Her stature is slender and tall but, different from me she is well proportioned. I’m je..jealous……leaving that behind. She is full of the aura of a person with confidence in herself.

However.

“Very well. But I also have no inkling of what is good about me. By the way miss which noble’s daughter are you?”

I inform her without covering up the truth and,

“Hm, ah……! You do not know…me?”

Her facial expression is surprised, her indigo eyes open almost falling out. Hm? Are you such a celebrity?

“Yes, sorry. It is my first time meeting you? Or have I meet you somewhere?”

Although I think this is rude, the other person also had a rude manner of speaking so I will not be reserved!

“I am..this Argentea family’s eldest daughter, Verbena”

She closes her fan that she has been gracefully fanning until just a few minutes ago *bachin [whack]* and scowls at me.

Huh? But some time ago I greeted the children from here but, this person…..excuse me…Verbena, was not there?

“You were not there when we gave our greetings some time ago?”

“Some time ago……! You two came while I was not there for a moment!”

“Well, was it like that? That was impolite of us”

Ah-, she is such an arrogant……*cough*, high prided woman.

“It really was rude. Really I wonder what is good about such a child?”

She says with a amazed tone but, again what are these righteous words!! Opposite to Verbena’s threatening aura, I am trembling in excitement.

“It is true. I also have no inkling. You could directly ask the Duke? If you like I will accompany you”

“Huh?!”

“After all even if the Duke’s feelings are asked by me, how else are you supposed to know?”

Verbena looks like a deer in the headlights. Her beauty is spoiled. Did she think I would even cry? It is not likely. I am not such a character.

Verbena tightly grasps her fan trembling all over, at me who has no sign of collapsing at all.

“You, that’s enoug……”

In the instant the insult is part-way said with a low voice like something has fallen and is creeping on the ground,

“Ooh. What are you planning to do to my wife?” Saying this is the Duke who has softly entered between Verbena and I.

“Oh, Duke”

“Cercis!!”

Mine and Verbena’s voices accidentally overlap.

“Vi-. What was said by Verbena?”

The Duke turns just his head to me while protecting my back,

“Yes. She asked why you, Duke, chose me and, she wants to know what is good about someone like me”

I frankly tell him.

Whereupon Verbena who is startled by my overly frank words,

“Eh?, wai, what are you saying? O, ohohohohoho!”

Although beautiful face stiffens she laughs and tries to lie.

“Is that so? Verbena?”

“……”

Maybe thinking that it will be hard to cover up her lie, Verbena silently hangs her head in shame.

“What, such a thing, I will talk about as much as you like!”

The Duke suddenly gives a broad smile.

“ehh?”

“Huhh??”

Verbena raises her head in surprise. What is This Person saying?! I become like the straight man in a comedy.

In a way like *hiki-n[1]* without worrying about the frozen atmosphere, “Viola is, well to say the least, her greatest charm is probably her courage? Ah, she is courageous but she is not the type who is fickle. She is also level-headed and, despite being considerably younger than me……” The Duke ends up boast about me at last! Moreover it is furnished with a full face smile like ‘I cannot say anymore than this’! N-O-!! Someone stop him~!! What is this shy play!! No one says anything but, there are a lot of people around?  Up till now have they just been watching over our exchange with bated breath?

How long the conversation continued it is already unsure in my memory.

The Duke who is talking and smiling refreshingly is holding me around the shoulders, my soul ends up being sent somewhere by the shy play. In front of me is Verbena who is apologising while weeping “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, it’s enough. I’m sorry”