Sage Monarch

Translated by: Ash Proofread by: Chocolatehare

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.

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Several days after the attack of the entire knight troop.

"Huh? A business?"

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

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"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.

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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!

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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 gra.s.s and tr.i.m.m.i.n.g 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 pa.s.sing by just like that. Alas.

And then just like that two weeks ended up pa.s.sing.

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"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, h.e.l.lo!"

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.

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"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

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*!!

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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.

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"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 partic.i.p.ate 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.

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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.

"Huh? eh? Du, Duke?!"

Yes. It is total darkness because of being suddenly hugged by the Duke. I am panicking at this sudden thing.

"I have come home safely! I wanted to see you,sooner, Viola, so I finished quickly with just a report and ditched the banquet!"

He releases me a little and while peering at my face he says this with a smile but, is such a thing allowed?!

"No, hold, just a moment?! You said you ditched it!"

"Aah, it is okay? I was a little tired from the travel and felt unwell."

Liar. You seem very healthy.

"Moreover my subordinates were also, as expected, now totally exhausted so, the banquet will be on another day."

It is a group boycott? Well, it wasn't really ditching so I feel relieved.

"Is, is that so? ……well then, Duke, you have not eaten dinner yet, right?"

It sounds to me that a banquet wasn't held.

"Yes, that is right. As for me, Viola……"

"I will immediately tell Carthame and he will prepare!!"

I came close to hearing the Duke's somewhat questionable utterance but, I ignore it. Ignore!

*beri* I peel the Duke's arms off and,

"For now please wait in the reception room!"

I push the Duke who is for some reason hanging his head crestfallen, into the reception room.

I leave the reception room, and just as I was about go to Carthame who is probably in the kitchens when I suddenly encounter the person himself.

"Oh, Carthame! Were you not in the kitchen?"

"I returned to my room for a moment to do an errand but, I was summoned by Dahlia and I was just returning to the kitchen."

*Pachin*, Carthame closes one eye. Yeah yeah, a wink is not necessary there. Well, this is Carthame's modus operandi so really it doesn't concern me.

"Oh, is that so. The Duke's dinner is suddenly needed. I wonder will it be okay even after now?"

"It will be no problem at all! Please wait a moment, Madam!"

On his charming smiling face he has a sweet smile and just like that, he nimbly takes my hand and with a refined gesture, He *Chu-s* the back of my hand! [T/N: 'Chu is in English in the raws, haha]. He is as elegant as ever. Aah, already like this have I, who has lost my embarra.s.sment about it, ended up losing my innocence?! ……it is not something to lament about. This is also a commonplace event so,

"It is sudden so sorry? Well then, I will leave it up to–"

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"Viola? Who are you talking wi…..haaa?! Carthame!! What are you doing!?"

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Covering my words is the Duke's voice showing his face from the reception room. Halfway through, the Duke's usual composure is now evaporated, and his true self has been completely revealed.

What the Duke witnessed right at that moment was surely Carthame dropping a kiss on my hand! In a second his gaze is sharp and the Duke is now glaring at Carthame as if to shooting him to death.

"Du. Duke!"

Despite me rus.h.i.+ng to call out to the Duke, who is showing off such a dangerous atmosphere, he is still glaring at Carthame,

"Viola is my wife! And she a master to you, Carthame!? You seduce such a Viola?!

It is declared in a cold voice that it seems to freeze the surroundings.

To such a absurd utterance from our point of view,

""Huhh?! Never!!""

Me and Carthame's voices unintentionally harmonize.

"What? Viola, you also stick up for Carthame?"

The Duke's, now weapon-like sharp gaze is stuck on me. There is intensity when a beauty gets angry and my spine unintentionally trembles,

"I am not sticking up or anything, also isn't there noy any reason for Carthame to seduce me?!"

I say while the Duke,whose eyes are carrying a dangerous light, steadily stares at me with his dark eyes.

"Why do you say that?!"

Maybe unable to stand me sticking up for Carthame, the Duke raises his voice more and more.

"After all, He has Dahlia as his beloved wife? Isn't it highly unlikely that he will look at me?!!"

"……ha?"

"'ha?'"

At my words, the Duke's att.i.tude up until now disperses with a whack. I also end up getting flabbergasted at the Duke who is also flabbergasted. Timidly, I say slowly in an easy-to-understand manner,

"……umm, by some chance, Duke, did you not know that Carthame and Dahlia are a married couple?"

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"……is that the truth? I didn't know……"

He awkwardly averts his eyes.

"Because when Dahlia and I got married, Master you were still little," Carthame says so as to stick up for the Duke.

However, I haven't yet said enough!

"Moreover Carthame's skins.h.i.+p is merely a greeting. I was also in a flutter at first but there is not a woman in this mansion who responds to it?"

"Is that so?"

"That is the way it is!"

I am meaninglessly puffed up with pride. After taking a long hard look at such a me, the Duke removes his gaze and faces Carthame again,

"Well then, Carthame."

"What is it, Master?" Carthame respectfully lowers his gaze and bows.

After seeing this satisfied,

"From now on skins.h.i.+p with Viola is banned," he says sternly.

And Carthame who was told, gives an immediate reply with a very nice smile,

"Certainly!"

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I do not understand why Carthame gave an immediate answer with such a nice smile. I never said it, but I, do not steal people??

T/N: Hey guys sorry these are a bit late been quite busy at my new job. Hope you enjoy!