Chapter 32

Ch . 32 Monologue

“Calen, can you please leave?”

Is not the one who has entered while giving this reminder, the Duke?! Well, of course . Today he has returned early as announced .

“Cercis!”

“I mentioned it many times . It seems the time has come for me too to come to my senses . ”

The Duke shows a serious face that is different than usual, to Calendula who has quickly turned her head . His normal way of smiling is now not there .

He straightforwardly looks at Calendula with those dark beautiful eyes .

“I have received good from you, Calen . However, I can say, with confidence, things as they are, are not good”

It would be better if they had the conversation of their two-people-world by themselves . Lotus, Dahlia, Mimosa and I have been quite left behind by the Duke and Calendula, who have completely entered their two-people-world,

“Shall we leave this place for a bit?”

“I think so” Dahlia and I whisperingly discuss when, the Duke says,

“Please all of you listen to this as well”

What good ears he has, even though we were exchanging with fairly concealed voices .

It can’t be helped,

“Yes”

I reluctantly nod my head .

It is really like a lover’s quarrel . What kind of Batsu game[1] is this, being present at a lover’s quarrel!

“All along I have been running away from the heavy responsibility called ‘The duke family’ . I had to reliably protect this household[2] alone . ……it was lonely . However I was unable to perceive this loneliness around me . It was a dilemma,”

while steadily staring at Calendula, the Duke began his monologue .

Ah, but I feel I have heard this speech somewhere, ah, was it Dahlia who said as such? Dahlia and other’s conjectures are kind of right on the money!

“Around me everyone could only see me as ‘the heir to the duke family’ . No-one would look at me as just me . At that time Calen said ‘duke family heir? What is that, is it something delicious?” and laughed it away . ”

“Fufu, there was also such a thing,”

The Duke unintentionally smiles sadly but, Calendula said very nice words! Did those words end up shooting through his heart, *throb*? . Is that right?

“Life with Calen was pleasure-filled and enjoyable . Such things as me being heir or the duke family, and my responsibility I completely ended up abandoning . ”

The moment they heard those words, Lotus and Dahlia firmly grasped their hands into a fists . Uh huh, this part has been difficult for you all!

“Even approaching the main building was unpleasant . Until now it was probably a reaction to the feelings of oppression,” letting his gaze fall, the Duke is chewing his lips .

From here Calendula’s face cannot be seen but, she is quiet and listening to the Duke’s speech .

“I could not help being surprised at the change of the mansion that I had stepped into after a long time . The servants are lively, it is overflowing with flowers and light, and more than anything it seemed enjoyable,” saying this the Duke turns his gaze towards me . Hm? What is it?

“After Viola came, this mansion has changed . ”

unh? Me?

Following the Duke’s gaze, Calendula also looks at me .

“Until then this mansion has seemed only cold and inhuman but, things appear warm and human . ”

It was, because I kept at diligently cleaned, did laundry and decorated everyday!

“At first, I became interested in Viola, who was easy-going and easily handling the responsibility of ‘the noble duke family’s mistress’, that I had selfishly pushed on her . ”

Dear me! Was his interest attracted by such a point?

“And then, I wanted to know more about Viola and through increasing the time we passed together, I have begun to have a favourable impression towards the figure who is supporting the duke household without acting stiffly . ”

Well, it has proceeded from the level of ‘interest’ to ‘favourable impression’! However, ‘supporting the duke household’ is overestimating things . Rather, as the mistress of the household, I have just been enjoying spending it as a servant so, I involuntarily end up being bashful at the excessive praise .

“She was lived modestly without demanding anything even if I do not care if she does and, she has spared no effort for the sake of improving her skills”

That would be the dance lessons? Mimosa’s esthetic things? Both were by coercion though…… well that’s fine .

“Oh, in that case, does it not look like I have been just demanding without doing anything?”

Calendula is giving a offended intense gaze .

“Actually the one who gave without refusing is me . However, has it not only been wasteful?”

In opposition to that gaze, the Duke is also makes his eyes scrutinising .

“That’s right!”

“Viola has not even been demanding? She is a person who even if I buy something as a gift it would still be an excess so she would end up refraining . ”

“An… and?”

“Even though I took her out to a evening party that she did not feel like going to, she managed to be perfectly sociable . As a dignified duchess . As soon as you did not feel like doing it you gave up dancing, and flatly refused invitations . ”

“Obviously . I have had enough of socializing, and the like, where such consideration is [needed to be] taken”

*Hohohohoho*, Calendula laughs .

“That’s right . I also thought that before but, after looking at Viola, I thought ‘that’s not right’ . Overdoing it is not necessary, however, the minimum manners are necessary . Viola took perfect consideration to her surroundings, in high society, which it seems she surely does not like”

Ooh, Duke! Here is a place which I greatky wish to agree to .

Hereupon recieving these words,

“But, it is a society that has not relation to me” Calendula said while smiling fearlessly *nii* .

“That’s right . So as I said I think I should come to my senses,”

In contrast to Calendula, *fu*, the Duke really acutely narrows his eyes .

“Oh”

To such change in the Duke’s expression, some time ago her smiling face stiffened, with half opened eyes staring at the Duke, Calendula is grasping her folding fan in her hand *tightly* .

“I believe I want to protect Viola who has bravely kept at it without resenting me who has forced demon-like terms on her and neglected her . So, Calendula, let’s break up . ”

The Duke stares directly at Calendula’s ruby eyes and, clearly declares this .

Huhhhh?! He is breaking up with his girlfriend?!

Wait a minute, there is various [people] panicking!!

T/N:

[1] A Batsu game is a game in which the winner forces the loser to undergo a punishment, which usually involves experiencing or doing something unpleasant .

[2] 家 – Also means lineage, family, family name, house ect .