Chapter 40 - Visitors Again (2/2)

Mimosa rapidly fixes me up as far as makeup, and I hurry to the entrance way. However what is this? It is the first time the Duke has brought friends over.

“Welcome home, Duke!”

I go towards the entrance way in a half run.

As always the Duke is talking with Lotus but, today,

“Hello~ Madam!!”

“Excuse us for disturbing you~!”

“Wa! She is really a pretty person!”

“Uo~, she genuinely is~!”

“She is a dreamlike Madame~!!”

“Kyaa~, she is a beautiful person~!!”

There is a noisy crowd of people talking. Exactly how many people did he bring along? I mean, what is a ‘dreamlike madam’?! ……*cough* I have become unsettled.

In the normally peaceful entrance way, there are people wearing the knights uniform being noisy. No sooner than I show appearance in the entrance way, the knights surround me. How many people are there? There are also women.

“Uh, umm~!”

Wai, …  d o n o t  c r u s h m e !!

I am tall and thin but, I am surrounded by knights with better statures and builds than me and I have no way out!!

I am panicking when,

“Hey!! Do not swarm Viola!”

Saying this the Duke pulls me towards himself by my shoulder with a jerk and rescues me from the encircling net.

Ho. I’m saved.

“Wel… welcome back Duke! This is also very well-attended……”

I say welcome back again while looking up at his nearby beautiful face mixed with a wry smile,

“I am sorry it is without warning. They said they must come no matter what and would not listen…… They are my subordinates from the special duty division.”

The Duke is weary.

“Oh, is that so? Then we must show hospitality,” I say while looking out over the faces of the knights and, everyone’s whole face is smiling and they are nodding every moment. This feeling of being looked at with judgy eyes, is my persecution complex, right?

“No, it is okay to give them alcohol and drinking snacks instead,” The Duke gazes with half-open-eyes at the these knights.

“Huh~!? Leader is cruel~!!”

“Madam is an angel~!”

“Blow it up~!”

Wow, it is a storm of booing.

Well, for now I peel off the Duke’s hand that has been tightly embracing my shoulders *rip*,

“That’s not going to happen. They are people who assist the Duke so we will courteously show hospitality! Everyone, please wait just a minute in the salon. Rosa, please lead everyone to the salon.”

“Yes, Mistress,” I give out directions to one of the Duke’s nearby attending maids.

Immediately there is a huddle after the Duke and the knights are driven from the entrance way.

“Lotus, how many people were there in total?”

“Altogether there is 15.”

“As I thought! Thanks. Well then, please request Carthame to prepare the meal. To buy time something like hors d’oeuvres will be fine! Ah, also plenty of alcohol.”

“Certainly.”

As soon as I say this Lotus hurries to the kitchen. To see him off are the next instructions.

“Dahlia has arranged the maids but, today please send around some people to the salon as well.”

“Understood. I will also immediately prepare some tea.”

“Thanks!” saying this, Dahlia disappears in the direction of the servant dining room.

“Mimosa and I and, afterwards with the helpers from Dahlia, will show hospitality,”

I instruct the left-over Mimosa.

“Certainly.”