Cinderella Did Not Leave Her Shoe Chapter 13-15
Makoto Takahashi...again! pintrest
13 Volker: Slender or
Glamorous
Thin
She is too thin.
Her body in my arms was as fairy
light as before. I didn’t have to bother with more than one arm, and she fit
comfortably leaving loads of room.
The Viscount didn’t eat much, so
surely Lady Fredericka did not eat much more as well. (Zuben: that’s what you
think)
I’m afraid I will break her, so I
could not hold her closer.
I was surprised that the Viscount,
who had said he would come round to play when he had time, really appeared at the
training grounds. But the surprise at his appearance was over taken by the
sight of Lady Fredericka in his wake. She was wearing a simple green dress that
suited her well. Her soft golden hair was shining in the sun, and swaying
fluffily. She was beautiful in her natural glow; she didn’t need any extra
accessories.
The sight of her beauty left me
speechless, my heart became full, and then I seemed to have said something
stupid and hurt her. She said something and gave a lonesome smile. That smile
filled my heart. While I was wondering how to speak to her, Lady Fredericka’s
expression fell and she ran off.
‘Excuse me,’ I said to the viscount
and went after Fredericka. While it is not good for her to run like that... her
running figure looked lovely (Zuben: Beyond smitten, dude). As I called out to
her, she tripped. I immediately caught her.
‘Are you alright?’ I asked.
‘Well…yes.’ She replied.
‘Thank you for saving me.’ She said.
Her ears, neck and face were gently stained with vermilion. This was what Zuzie
had been talking about, how adorable!
I had missed her, I thought, as I
took her to the command tent. But I was conscious of the silence between us,
and I was sorry that we were meeting in a place like this. It was break time,
the soldiers were resting, or entertaining visitors and rebuilding broken
practice tools.
‘Fredericka, what were you doing?’
her father asked when we returned to the tent.
There, the Viscount was sitting
comfortably, getting served tea by Nicolo, my adjutant. The Viscount looked
like it was only natural for him to be there, and Nicolo, who was my adjutant,
was acting as his servant. (Zuben: Dude, there has been a Castley take-over and
you didn’t notice)
‘You can put me down now,’ she said
quietly pushing against my chest, but I did not feel like she was being totally
resistant to me. But I did not want to let her go, I want to hold her and
cuddle her to me. (Zuben: Kyuu!)
‘I’m sorry father; I didn’t want to
be in the way of your discussion. So I decided to walk around.’
I remembered her gradually
retreating backside. Did you remember you were going to fall? You had your
hands on your cheeks and tripped.
Did you know, Lady Fredericka, that
when you fell the slender nape of your neck was exposed? (Zuben: And I want to chomp down on it)
Why did you put your golden hair in
so high? That tempting nape would be revealed just by the wind blowing! It was
a hairstyle that could not be managed in a crisis! (Zuben: What does that
mean?) As I thought of more suitable hairstyles for Fredericka, the Viscount
gave me grin implying I should put his daughter down.
The Viscount did not stop grinning.
Nicolo was behaving more distant that usual, (Zuben: The Viscount is poaching
your aide) I did not mind. Lady Fredericka had a basket in her hands. Could it
be that inside it were Lady Fredericka’s handmade sandwiches? (Zuben: General,
don’t expire from joy)
The Viscount said it was a reward
for working hard. Lady Fredericka’s eyes widened at her father’s words. They
had come to deliver it, and did not intend on bothering every one. Though break
time was nearly up, I will have it after we were done.
‘Thank you for the food.’ I said.
The Viscount and Lady Fredericka
made to leave,
‘Do your best,’ Lady Fredericka
said in parting. As she lowered her head and walked away, her hair dancing
softly. My chest tightened so much I thought I was going to be dizzy. (Zuben:
Enough to faint?)
I will do my best for you,
Fredericka!
I feel like I have reached the
point of no return. My instincts told me this euphoria would be hard to
replace.
14 Conversation between
Father and Daughter
‘Father,’ I called as we made our
way back to town. I had a lot to ask, but for now I wanted to know, ‘How is it
that you are friendly with General Brennan?’
Instead of answering, he gave an
indignant sputter and looked at me as though I had been bad, ‘Frederica, you…’
he began to say, but he sighed and muttered to himself, ‘something is wrong
somewhere.’
He shifted in his seat, adjusted
his clothes and crossed his legs.
‘I just became friends with General
Brennan.’ He said finally with a smile. It was a suspicious smile. I didn’t
want to be on the bad side of my father when he had that smile on. I pouted and
turned away,
‘I would like to be on friendly
terms with the general too.’
I feel deeply beholden to the
General, I wonder if it was due to his integrity. I also feel comfortable when
I am near him. What do you do day to day? What do you think about? What do you
like and dislike? I want to know everything about him. I am being greedy. I was
afraid of approaching him, just in case he began to find me annoying.
I know my reputation is in tatters
right now. There were rumours of me being a bad woman who didn't know her place, a
nouveau riche chit with ideas above her station. But the thought that the
general might think of me as someone like that makes my heart hurt. But even if that
wasn’t the case, the way he carried me earlier, it was like he was carrying a
child.
It couldn’t be helped, from the
General’s point of view, I am a child.
It seems that the General is not
yet married. It’s not like he couldn’t get married, but he must be to busy too.
If he tried, it wouldn’t be hard; he was such a nice person. He could have his pick of beautiful women,
and then he will marry and then I will be forgotten.
Be forgotten…
I feel queasy. (Zuben: Well you
were working yourself up into a lather, dear)
‘You want to talk to the General?
Do you think he wants to talk to you?’ Father asked smiling his mean smile,
resting his chin on his hand while his elbow rested on the window frame of the
carriage.
‘What about you father, what do you
have to talk about with General Brennan?’
‘I can provide…useful information to
the general.’ (Zuben: Bad father! LOL)
I had nothing to reply to that. Of
course, Father would use “information” as a commodity. (Zuben: You should ask
what information, Fredericka) Fresh and correct information is the most
important commodity. (Zuben: It certainly is) However, it is unclear what kind
of information Father would have that the general would want to buy. (Zuben:
Stop over thinking it)
If you want to sell father
information, you’re going to have good value. It is a matter of supply and
demand, and interpersonal communication. As for me? I’m not good at it, but I
have been told Mother was very good at the art.
I should study more.
Between the General and I, we do not
have the opportunity to develop it.
‘Well I also have goods. I love the
General, only I can offer that. There!’
But when I turn, Father isn’t
laughing.
What do you love about General
Brennan who is not even interested in you? His look seemed to be saying.
‘Well, maybe.’ He said instead.
My face got hot as a blush stole
over me. Maybe – maybe not? Well loving the general is impossible for my
father, but not for me.
Oh, what should I do? I’m happy. I
tried to keep down the smile that wanted to steal my face, but father suddenly
said,
‘It’s not good. Father does not
approve. There is a large difference in age! And also physique!’
Hmm? Why was he shouting?
‘Is the difference in age and
physique related to making sandwiches? Or maybe the amount of mayonnaise to
use?’
Hm? (Zuben: What are you talking
about?)
Well, the General must eat a lot,
so it would be hard to make that many. But I already gave him a basket full? I
decide to make sandwiches for General Brennan. Father? Father who?
‘I’m happy that General Brennan
likes what I made. Even if it isn’t sold, I will still do it.’ I will also make
it for father. Because I am happy father likes the sandwiches, too.
The first time I made it, he had
been angry.
Father collapsed on the back rest
in a slovenly manner and smiled. I mimicked him and smiled back.
‘Well, it’s true that the general likes your
sandwiches.’
He told me that he had shared the
sandwiches with General Brennan when they had lunch together.
‘Fredericka, do you want
something?’ he asked with an expression that said he wanted to spoil me. He
also looked a bit tired.
‘Oh, then I would like to go to
“Kalome”’ I reply excitedly
He nodded and got the attention of
the coachman to tell him of the impromptu stop.
‘Let me think a bit,’ he said and
then closed his eyes.
It was silent in the carriage.
15 Volker: Night of the Moonlight Gra.s.s
(Zuben: Don’t ask me what the t.i.tle
means. It’s what the play they go to see is called)
Volker…
I return home exhausted from the
day’s activities. Zuzie handed me a slip of paper. I looked at him in askance,
‘It is a flyer for a play that has
become popular with the Ladies of Society.’
I read the flyer; the font was
pretty, there was a woman dancing under an arch in the moonlight. The actors
and the theatre were perfect.
‘Very good, get tickets for this.’
Xavier bowed, just as he was about
to turn to go, he stopped and asked, ‘Would you like me to buy box seats?’
‘…Yes. Just us.’
In a box seat, there would be a
chance for an ambiguous atmosphere. Even though is seems a misunderstanding
will work…what?
In case of things needing to be
proper, we can sit in the seats in front. If there are no objections, we could
sit on the couch set a bit back from the balcony, the stage can be seen well
but we would be out of view of other people.
I looked at Xavier, who had a
slight smile on his face, as though he knew what I was thinking. I coughed and
turned away, and there was a small laugh. I turned back to protest but my
capable butler was now where to be seen.
(Zuben: What would a j.a.panese
Western Historical be without its capable butlers? h.e.l.l what would any
historical?)
Although it bothered me, I was
responsible for Xavier’s behaviour. When I was younger, I was never able to
commit to matchmaker meetings. I was just a young soldier, and so I used to
refuse, stating I was busy. Before I noticed it, I was still unmarried at this
age. (Zuben: y’all marry too young anyhoo)
It seems that my unmarried state is
giving my family a headache. My parents want to embrace their grand children. (Zuben:
So do my parents)
There were still families who
wanted their daughters to marry me. And there were the one night stands with
ladies that wanted to play with fire…no wait, that’s not what is important
right now. (Zuben: Aww, we want to hear of your s.e.xy past)
Right now, what is important is the
possibility of becoming an item with Lady Fredericka. Even if Viscount Castley
would not like it.
Lady Fredericka was seventeen,
eighteen years younger than me. But this did not make any difference to me. And
there was no mistake she would still be skittish after her engagement
abandonment. There was no way a beautiful girl with her future ahead of her
would fall into the arms of a crude soldier like me.
Yet…
The thought of her doesn’t leave my
mind.
I can’t forget the feeling I had when
I first saw her. I had thought she was a fairy, but she didn’t vanish from my
arms. The feeling of her in my arms would not disappear. At our next meeting, I
was totally captured by her sweet and caring manner, and her innocent smile.
And the other day, after I ate her
sandwiches for lunch though they were not at the level of a proper cook like
the Viscount said, I realised not just my heart but my stomach had been
captured.
I sent the basket back with a
letter of thanks, flowers and chocolate from a popular sweet shop in the
castle, according to Xavier. A courtesy letter returned with homemade cakes and
tarts. I had to write a letter of appreciation, so I ate all the cakes myself.
It seemed that she had refrained from making them too sweet, so that someone
like me who didn’t like sweets could eat them. Xavier had been amazed. My chest
became hot at such kind attention.
I finally decided to ask her to the
theatre like I had promised.
♢
Checking that it was recess for the
House of Lords, I went to find Viscount Castley. I found him relaxing in the garden;
he sat up when he saw me. Checking there was no one else about, I took out the
flyer.
‘h.e.l.lo General, are you also on a
break?’ the Viscount asked. He looked sleepy. I smiled and said,
‘I wanted to invite Lady Fredericka
to the theatre. Is this alright?’
The Viscount Castley who has become
a friend, told me a lot about Lady Fredericka. The food she likes, what she did
from day to day, her childhood mishaps. I couldn’t help but smile thinking of
listening to the adorable episodes. It would be unreasonable to invite
Fredericka without her father’s knowledge. It would be like betrayal.
But Fredericka’s position is very
shaky. Though she was no longer engaged to the heir to Duke Cajes, for her to
appear in society with a much older man who is not her fiancé; would fuel
another spate of rumours about her.
If her father did not agree, I
would ask him again another time.
The Viscount rubbed his jaw while
looking at me. This was his habit when he was thinking. (Zuben: Or pretending
to think)
‘Well, we just need to do something
eye catching. Let’s meet in the cafeteria for lunch. Tell Nicolo not to bother
reserving a table for us. It would be better to have people around. I have
something to say. Do you agree?’
Agree? Why would I not agree?
Without waiting for my reply, the
Viscount rose to leave. Before he returned to the halls he asked, ‘Which play?
Have you bought tickets?’
‘Yes, I bought tickets for the
night after tomorrow. The play is “Night of the Moonlight Gra.s.s”’
The play seemed to be a love story
and the moonlight gra.s.s shining in the dark between the lovers (Zuben: Or
something of the like. Sounds like a snoozer)
The Viscount nodded and quickly
returned to the chambers.
I remained there a while, taking deep
breaths, relieved that the Viscount did not refuse me outright. I returned to
my office.
♢
‘Oh I’m in trouble.’ The Viscount
said with his head in his hands. There was a cup of tea beside him. We had just
finished our lunch. The cafeteria was filled with other people.
‘What has happened, or is there
some difficult agenda in the House?’
‘No, I had promised my daughter I
would take her to a play, but I forgot about it and now I have an important
business meeting for the same evening,’
What was he talking about? Had he
promised to take Fredericka to the play as well?
‘Which play?’ I asked.
‘That popular one, Night of the
Moonlight Gra.s.s. I’ve bought the tickets. My daughter really wants to go. What
to do?’
Is this a small show for the
benefit of the others? (Zuben: Smart man)
‘That’s unfortunate, isn’t it?’ I
replied, ‘What about your wife?’
‘My wife is going with me to my
meeting. I feel bad; my daughter’s reputation is in a bad way, she will have to
go to the play alone.’ The Viscount said with a shrug.
He didn’t openly glare, but I could
feel it burning in the edges of his eyes, (Zuben: Not so smart man)
‘I guess.’
I swallowed anger as I drink my
black tea.
‘Oh General, can I ask you a
favour?’ (Zuben: Sorry daddy, you have an idiot pair on your hands)
It came!
I wonder how I should agree to
this.
‘I will not fail Lady Fredericka’s reputation;
I will take good care of her. ‘
I bowed to the Viscount.
Does this mean the odds are good?
Zuben: Did you know Viscount is p.r.o.nounced Vai'count? The s is silent!
I did not (⸝⸝⸝ ≧ㅿ＼⸝⸝⸝)LOL. I am happy I'm a curious person.
Hope you all are having good times!
If not; the dark tunnel may be long, but there is light at the end of it. Keep well.