Chapter 44 - Compromise?? (1/2)

Ch.44 Compromise??

The Duke who has come back from a two week business trip,

“I worked for two weeks with no break so, I snatched three days of holiday! It is a short time but I can relax.”

“Is that so?”

“It is only three days but, let’s take it easy”.

“There will be three days. Understood.”

“Well then, goodnight.”

“Goodnight.”

We have this not great, passing conversation and the Duke retires to his room.

The next day.

Maybe because the trip this time was very severe, the Duke has not woken even though it is close to midday.

“I wonder if he is okay.”

I ask while peeping over at the door of the Duke who I am concerned about all the same,

“He seem quite tired so, he must still be sleeping well”.

[someone] answers.

“Right. Well then, let us let him sleep without waking him up.”

“Certainly.”

Let sleeping dogs lie. …… but no, it is his long-awaited holiday so, I cannot be at ease like he, himself said!

I softly and quietly go away from the Duke’s room and go towards the main dining room downstairs. I do not know when the Duke will wake up so today, although t will be lonely, I will eat lunch by myself.

“After I eat lunch I will go see Bellis. Because I think there be a lot of flowers at their prime”

“Certainly.”

As expected when the Duke is here, the servant uniform is sealed up. I choose, and I am wearing, a dress from among the ones on hand with a comparatively easy-to-move, plain design. It is one of the outfits in my heavy rotation though. Well, even if this sets a little dirty it will be okay.

Even at lunch time the Duke has not woken up as before. How tired he must be. I become slightly worried wondering what kind of job it was.

Of course recovering your physical strength comes first so I will leave him alone like he is and I go out to the gardens together with Mimosa to look for Bellis.

It is a nice calm sunny day. Surely the flowers will have also bloomed beautifully!

“It is a shame I cannot garden but, I’ll settle for just looking at pretty flowers for now.”

“That is right. Ah, please do not leave the parasol!”

“It’s okay~!”

“You absolutely must not blemish your precious lovely skin!”

“Mimosa you are overprotective! So, I wonder where Bellis is?”

“Is he not likely in the greenhouse at this time?”

“As expected Mimosa! You have a hold on Bellis’ pattern of behaviour!”

Right, right, they are also a lovey-dovey married couple. I think there is less of a gap than the Carthame and Dahlia couple. While I am thinking the smiling-provoking ‘wow, they are lovey-dovey, these two people!’ I watch Mimosa with a broad grin, Mimosa’s face is slightly dyed with embarrassment. Oh, that’s so cute!!

We finally arrive at the greenhouse while Mimosa writhes in shame, as Mimosa said we discover the demon king…..rather Bellis.

There are many flowers in their prime so,

“This would be perfect for the entrance way!”

“How about these for the dining room?”

“I think this would be good for the reception room”

Etcetera Etcetera. The three of us hold up the flowers and carefully inspect this and that. I rarely invited anyone but, still, beautiful flowers are intended to end up being spontaneously picked for public spaces. Personally I like the large-flowered gorgeous ones but it is impossible to throw away the ones that have bloomed small and lovely so, those I have made into small bouquets and adorn my room with them. Uh huh, a life with flowers in it is a very charming one.

We complete the first stage of picking the flowers so, we take a small breather and decide to forcibly drag Bellis who says ‘I am fine’ to tea ‘now now, together’.

The weather is really good and the blue sky is dazzling to the eyes so, we will take a picnic break under the shade a tree in the garden.

A tea set and pastries are brought from the mansion, a rug is spread out and I immediately sit down. The degree of softness of the lawn makes a perfect nice cushion.

Mimosa prepares delicious tea and Carthame’s delicious pastries.

“Ah~what a happy tea time it is!

I close my eyes and, enjoy the fruity aroma of the tea when,

“Ah, Mistress, you forgot this in the greenhouse”

While saying this Bellis hands over the small bouquet from before. I planned to adorn my room with it and yet I was careless.

“Oh dear, how silly of me. Thanks, Bellis”

I say my thanks and I am about to accept the bouquet from Bellis when.

“Bellis!! What are you doing to Viola?!”

The sound of footsteps dashing this way *za, za, za [thud]* along with the Duke’s voice can be heard.

“““Master/Duke?”””