Chapter 43 - Things Known By The Duke Now (1/2)

Ch.43 Things Known By The Duke Now

“It is sudden but after tomorrow I am going on a business trip,” the Duke hurriedly informed when we meet him in the usual hall for his arrival.

Several days after the attack of the entire knight troop.

“Huh? A business?”

It really is sudden, I tilt my head to the side.

“That’s right. It will be for around two weeks and, I have to go as far as the vicinity of the southern border. It will be lonely but please look after the mansion for me”.  The Duke narrows his lovely dark eyes quite acutely and, peeks at my eyes.

Mn, but it is uncomfortable.

Anyhow, until now, if there is a business trip Lotus just gives an after-report, ‘the Duke will be on a business trip for ○○days’ and yet why is it direct this time? Moreover the place of his post also? And then he says he wants for me to securely protect the residence in his absence but, that is within the range of my usual operations.

“Yes it will be okay! Lotus and Dahlia are also here so it will not be lonely!!”

The servants are also here, where will it be lonely?! In spite of my strong answer and sweet smile, the Duke is smiling with a doubtful expression. Even though he has a doubtful expression, it is still lovely, what a enviable appearance!

“That is right. I will rely on Lotus and Dahlia heavily so please let your mind be at ease.”

“Yes!”

Let’s send him off with a full face smile!

Exactly two weeks after that.

It has been like the time when the Duke lived entirely with his girlfriend in the detached building, and I have enjoyed the servant life. Cleaning, laundry, decoration. Pulling the garden grass and trimming flowers. For the three meals, it is a local cuisine harmoniously eaten in the servant dining room with the servants!

It seems like there was a number of party and tea party invitations but,

“I think it would be wise to not go to these.”

Lotus’s judgement filter was there so, I declined them saying, ‘The Duke is busy so this time, I beg your pardon☆’. From the start I wasn’t very sociable so, the people who were declined, feel at ease.

Like that spending it calmly and enjoyably the time ends up passing by just like that. Alas.

And then just like that two weeks ended up passing.

“Good morning, Mistress!”

If it was a guest Lotus would have called me to the entrance way but, the person there was the sparkly blonde haired One-sama from before.

“Well, Hello!”

Today, maybe because she has been entrusted with some mission, One-sama is adored in a dignified beauty. I admire the beauty of the One-sama in my heart and, ceremoniously One-sama hits her hand to her chest, executing a knights greeting.

“Today I have come to give a preliminary announcement. Our special division were able to finish our mission safely this time so the main body plans to return to the royal capital in the evening”, she states her message. Her mission for today was this, I guess.

“Well then, the Duke will proceed to the royal capital like that?”

“Yes, Leader will visit the royal capital like that and give this time’s report. After that there will be a modest dinner party as a reward and, then he will return home.”

“Understood. As a result the knight-sama you have also exhausted yourself, thank you for taking the time.”

“Well then, with this please excuse me,” she says and once more gives the greeting then she gallantly leaves the mansion.

“There will be a modest banquet? I wonder when will the Duke return?”

After enjoying dinner with the servants, I decide to wait for the Duke’s return in my room. As I do not know what time it will be, I thought it would be rude to go to bed before he returns, without permission.

I thought I would kill time doing an unfinished patchwork, while I have the needle and the cloth in my hand I ask Dahlia.

“If it is as usual, it will be fairly late, in the small hours in the morning,”

Is what she said.

“Yeah, still he shows no sign of having stayed up to the early hours of the morning though……”

During the day I move vigorously so my motto is early to bed early to rise. I do not have confidence in being able staying up late.

“Do you wish to nap for a little while? If he returns I will wake you up.”

“Uh huh, but if I end up sleeping halfway through I will not sleep afterwards”

Uh huh, my head is troubled with, what shall I do…. when,

*Konkonkonkon*!!

The bedroom door is hurriedly knocked on.

“It is Mimosa, Mistress! Master has returned!!”

The owner of the knocking is Mimosa, Dahlia opens the door and she tumbles in.

“Huh?! But it is not yet late at night, by any means?”

“Yes”

Dahlia also seems surprised.

“I, had dinner a little while ago, right?”

“Yes”

Duke, isn’t it too early?! …….*cohon [cough]*. If this is true I have to go greet him urgently!

My worries about staying up late and so on have been driven off at once though.

“The Duke, was there not a reward banquet for him at the palace at this time?”

I ask Mimosa while hurrying towards the entrance way in a half run,

“It appears that he he did not participate in that banquet”

“Huh?! Is such a thing allowed?!”

“I do not know that but……”

Anyway there is nothing we can do about him coming home. We hurry to the entrance way.

Seeing the Duke after two weeks, he is beautiful as usual but, maybe because he is tired, he is producing a vaguely listless aura. It is lovely in its own way.

“Welcome home, Duke!”

I rush over to the Duke who is talking to Lotus,

“Tadaima, I have returned! Aah, Viola. Have you been well?”

As soon as he said this, my field vision became pitch black.