The Reincarnated Thirty-Something Woman’s Otherworldly Reform Life
[Let's Learn Something New!]
Translated by: ME
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*Prick, prick, prick, prick. Prick, prick, prick, prick, prick, prick.*
(Sighhhhh... What a pain~...)
Magnolia let out a small sigh as she embroidered.
Sewing, embroidery, lace-making. Some people even spin thread and weave tapestries, it seems. The handiwork of young ladies of old is impressive~.
But, probably, the quickest or easiest-to-approach method for someone of my position and status to earn pocket money is 'sewing,' so I have no choice but to master it.
While mentally reciting the foreign language vocabulary, historical timelines, laws, and other memorization items I've learned, I learn basic embroidery and sewing from Rosa.
It seems Rosa was a crafty girl.
After the encounter with Mother—ahem, Wisteria—and subsequently placing orders for underwear and other lacking linens, she immediately lent me her own embroidery hoop, gave me scrap fabric, and volunteered to teach me basic stitches and simple patterns.
She seems much happier seeing me sew like a proper noble young lady rather than being the eerie three-year-old who devours books.
Rosa was in a state of feverish excitement rarely seen (or the first I can remember).
Probably, from her daily words and actions, she seems to think Magnolia's proper path is something like 'a quiet, modest, obedient, cute, lovable girl who doesn't make excuses or talk back.'
Maybe it's consideration like, 'Since your family dislikes you, at least be adored by your future husband's family.' Or perhaps it's my parents' policy.
(But still, just smiling all the time? I wouldn't trust such a suspicious woman~.)
***
The Earth-era Magnolia, who shouldn't have been a crafty girl, still learned the basics in home economics class and had made a small item or two privately.
Moreover, after living alone for over ten years, mending and simple sewing were a cinch. Whether I liked it or not, I could do the basics, even if not skillfully.
...And that was the problem.
Seeing the little girl, learning for the first time, handling the needle so smoothly, Rosa's cheeks flushed, and she praised Magnolia unreservedly, a rare occurrence, and she caught fire.
The crafty girl became determined to teach all the skills she possessed, pushing me to do embroidery or lace-making whenever I had free time.
Oh dear...
However, for someone who knows the convenience of the invention called the sewing machine, the endless hand-sewing *prick prick* makes my eyes tired, my fingers ache, and my mood droop.
「...Okay, stop for a bit.」
I cut the embroidery thread in a low-energy voice.
Embroidering, lace-making. Embroidering, mending tears, embroidering. Embroidering, embroidering, lace-making, embroidering... (I'm exhausted).
In front of me, Rosa embroidered joyfully.
While sewing, she'd look at my hands or my stitches, offering advice or teaching new techniques. For hours.
Well, there's no entertainment... I can only think of it as killing time兼 vocational training. I'm getting lessons for free. I should be grateful... probably.
***
About half a month after starting lessons, I finally decided to take scissors to the outgrown clothes stored away.
I asked Rosa if outgrown dresses, which were starting to get a bit tight, were ever passed down to servants' children, and she said no. When I further asked if they should be saved in case a younger sister was born in the future, she was left speechless.
Huh?
But it's an era where hand-spinning thread is normal, right? Making fabric is hard, right?
Well, to be honest, the clothes I have probably aren't really fit to be passed down to others anyway.
It's just that Magnolia, who hasn't done anything wrong (probably), is receiving this treatment. I thought if the next child were a girl, they might tell her to wear hand-me-downs.
Even upon re-confirming, the answer was evasive, so I decided to prioritize current improvement/saving over future worries and boldly took up the scissors.
I first took apart the side-seam of the patchwork dress at the abdomen. I carefully sewed up the cut edges.
To make it usable up to a certain point even as I grow, I carefully unpicked one side of a panel and finished the edges.
I cut a large piece of scrap fabric (a room-wear from when I was even smaller, stored deep in the chest of drawers?) to roughly the same size as the panel, then attached lace and leftover flare pieces from other outgrown clothes in tiers, creating a sort of new panel, and joined it to the original skirt.
On the abdominal side, I left a small section unsewn and added buttons to make it easy to put on and take off.
I used leftover sleeve pieces from the dress to add flare to the hem and attached it. I sewed a wide ribbon and button loops to the abdominal section so the size can be adjusted freely.
After several days, the remake skirt was complete (Yay! Clap clap!!).
The flounced panel looks cute whether worn in the front or the back.
If you look closely, the seams are a bit wobbly, but it's hidden by the ruffles and lace (?) so it's probably fine.
It's a dubious construction method by a complete amateur, but as long as it's wearable, it's okay.
...Somehow it turned out more frilly than I expected, and this auntie feels embarrassed wearing it. But since I look like a beautiful little girl, maybe it's okay?
At least I can wear it with the blouses delivered earlier along with the practice fabric set.
And if I just get new blouses, this skirt can last for years... a while. Part of my SDGs and fund-saving activities.
However, it turned into such a lovely item that I grew anxious and checked with a beaming Lila and a starry-eyed Daisy.
「It's like this, but since I'll be wearing it mostly in the mansion, or rather, almost just in my room, it's okay, right?」
「Lady Magnolia, it's very cute!」
「...But with all these ruffles, isn't it a bit too much?」
「Eh-!! It would be fine even with more ruffles!?」
(Eeeeeh~~...?)
Lila and Daisy praised it highly, even raising their fists in excitement. It feels like overpraise.
I sense consideration and deference towards the young lady of the house they serve.
It's just an applied version of a remake skirt anyone could make, using old denim and scrap fabric from my Japan days. The drawback, unlike denim, is that you can't leave the edges raw. Due to the fabric's nature, all edges must be finished... What a pain...
I don't know if it's something a Marquis's daughter should wear, but well, given how things have been until now...
But, trousers for women—in this era, or rather, this world? Breeches? Trousers? (Should I say 'pants' or 'bottoms' since 'trousers' sounds too old-ladyish?) I wonder if they aren't allowed? I've never seen anyone wearing them, so probably not... Thinking of my previous life as a modern person, they seem so much easier to move in.
What about riding habits? Are women's riding habits skirts in this era? If I made riding trousers, would I get scolded?
For now, if I have the energy, next time I might cut open the back and add a nearly triangular, trapezoidal piece of fabric—is it called a fishtail or back flare? A dress with a panel of different fabric inserted around the middle of the back might be nice too. If I add soft, flowing fabric like chiffon, it should be cute.
...It's just a poor person's remake to add width to outgrown clothes for myself.
Now that I'm this accustomed, it seems I can soon start working on gifts for Lila and Daisy.
Mulling over such things, I diligently applied myself to sewing work and visiting the library, and reflected on the encounter with Wisteria.
From the demeanor and tone of my mother and her maids, whom I met for the first time in a while, I clearly and firmly understood the fact that I am deeply disliked for some unknown reason.
My self-study slowed down a bit, and I keenly felt the need to research the environment surrounding me... After all, this is a world headed straight for feudalism. Recalling the poisonings and assassinations of historical royalty and nobility, I felt a chill alone.
I wonder if there are books on antidotes in the library...?
I joined the lower servants' conversations when I met them, making small talk (?) and casually probing for information, and tried investigating the territory's history and family tree.
***
First, legally, the Ascald Kingdom generally has males inherit the family headship. This aspect isn't as strict as Earth's Salic law, but it's probably a similar system.
If there are only female heirs, it seems rare for a woman to inherit in the Ascald Kingdom; most often, the husband becomes the head and successor through marriage, or a male child is adopted from relatives.
At this point, it's clear that the priority as a child leans heavily towards my brother, Brian.
If Magnolia were a boy, she might have a role as a spare in case something happened to the eldest son.
But as a daughter, who realistically will almost never inherit, she's probably in a 'spare tire' position.
This goes without saying, and well, it's within expected range.
Even in Japan, before the constitution was revised, it was customary for the eldest son to inherit both the family headship and property. In this world where royalty and nobility run rampant, it wouldn't be surprising even if it followed old constitutions or Salic law-like rules.
That said, it's not that all female children are disliked.
They should basically be raised with care, and in fact, Wisteria, who dislikes Magnolia, was apparently raised being adored like a butterfly among flowers by her doting parents.
The former socialite, Wisteria, daughter of Count Burton, was famous in various ways, and numerous stories about her are known. When asked, people recounted countless episodes.
The eldest daughter of the prestigious Burton Count family.
She has two older brothers, but as the only daughter, she was raised doted on by her family. She's very good at acting spoiled. To be blunt, she's willful.
She appears fragile, but can be quite harsh towards other women.
She hates studying, but is quite adept at getting by in the world. Her grades were bad, and she barely advanced, so she was in a hurry to get married instead of attending the Royal Academy (upper division).
She loves high society.
She *loves* adorning herself. She's lazy except for socializing. She spends money like water.
She has a strong sense of elitism. She hardly ever visits the Gilmore territory (apparently not since the wedding). She probably just loves the capital where she can have glamorous social events.
She has volatile emotions and takes them out on her subordinates.
She's so incompetent that, despite being the Marquise, she isn't allowed to touch household management at all... and so on and so forth.
The crowning story is that, despite being a Count's daughter and beautiful, her name was once put forward as a candidate for the current King's Queen (apparently), but she went around boasting she would be Queen despite her poor qualities, and the talk died down immediately.
Yeah. There's nothing to like about her.
Not being smart is an individual difference; it can't be helped, and I don't particularly mind.
Because there are plenty of parents who are deeply loving and work or raise children earnestly, whether they're smart or not. Sure, realistically, grades and abilities might matter somewhat in life. But attitude and relationships are far more important and valuable.
(I'm not particularly smart either.)
And besides, if you're no good, shouldn't you at least *try*?
If you're allowed to live luxuriously, don't you think about doing something for the commoners or the territory?
Where is the spirit of *Noblesse Oblige*?
(You were just born into a good family by chance, without the skills to match, so what's with the elitist complex? You weren't *chosen*!)
Based on all the stories I've encountered so far, unfortunately, it seems I can't bring myself to like her as a parent.
The servants come from various positions and jobs, from commoners to the noble class.
I think there might be feelings of jealousy, envy, resentment, or spite towards the willful, beautiful mistress.
...So, the stories might be somewhat exaggerated. I won't take them at face value.
But the fact that I only hear uniformly negative words is also telling.
Recalling the one and only encounter, her behavior was rather... well.
Well, I think she probably has her own reasons, maybe a background or upbringing that made her that way... granting that.
But more than that, an instinctual alarm is blaring in my head, warning me it's better not to get too close.
Emergency! Emergency!! The 'be careful' kind, you know.
***
A while after the encounter, a maid assigned to the Marquise came, brought by Daisy with a stiff expression, saying she "wanted to talk." I think she was one of the maids who had teared up during the measuring.
She's the daughter of a Baron family that does business with Daisy's family, so they were already acquainted.
When I urged her to sit on the sofa, she introduced herself as Lily, bowed deeply, sat down, and began speaking haltingly.
Her family's finances aren't good, apparently, so she decided to become a maid to help the household, forgoing advancement to the Academy's upper division.
It seems there are various levels among nobles, and her family is struggling considerably.
At that time, her mother had once served the young Wisteria at the Burton Count family, so she went for an interview at the Burton house using that connection.
The Burton family is known for its gentle family style despite being prestigious, and her mother's consideration was that after Wisteria married, even a young, inexperienced girl could work without feeling intimidated.
But when it came down to it, for some reason, she was told to work at the Gilmore house, presumably because she was the daughter of a familiar (?) maid.
This was shortly after the baby (Magnolia) was born, and Count Burton apparently asked his son-in-law, the Marquis, to supplement the maids, thinking it must be tough with an older small child (Brian) as well.
「...Couldn't the Marquis house hire sufficient people?」
「No, the Lady should have more than the necessary number of attendants at any given time.」
She stated this clearly.
I see, I see. The head maid, the steward, and the told-off Marquis must have been surprised, I thought, my gaze growing distant.
Or is it normal for the wife's family to suddenly interfere in the personnel affairs of her marital home, or send people over?
Typically, I'd think bringing familiar maids upon marriage is normal, but somehow (though this girl seems different), depending on the case, it could be interpreted as the Burton family sending someone with ill intentions... Am I being too suspicious?
「Is Count Burton... not someone who reads the situation well...?」
At Magnolia's mutter, Rosa made a awkward face.
「...His Lordship is a gentle and steady person. However, he cherishes his daughter, the Lady, very, very much...」
Yeah. I get it. He's the type of dad who's extremely indulgent, the doting kind!
Despite that, in the several months I've been here, I've never met any of the doting Burton family.
Magnolia tilted her head. Normally, you'd think they'd dote on their daughter's child...
Are they the type who don't feel much affection for grandchildren? Or the 'children are cute but grandchildren are like strangers' type? Or do the Count and his family only acknowledge Brian?
The story continues.
"My mother heard about it and expressed reluctance... But, well, the Lady is very... insistent... Mother refused, saying that when she was tired, an inexperienced person like me might make a mistake. But she was asked repeatedly, 'Please do it,' and we couldn't refuse any longer, so I ended up serving here."
I see, I see. Her mother tried to gently refuse, thinking, 'She's willful and has a fierce temper; if my daughter gets bullied, it'll be unbearable,' but she was pushed aside forcefully...
When an Earl's family person 'requests' something from a Baron's family, especially one that's struggling, it's practically an order, isn't it...
「That sounds... rather sorry. Even though it's not your fault, my relative made unreasonable demands.」
Magnolia looked at Lily with a frown, her eyebrows forming a '八'.
「No! Not at all... The young lady has done nothing wrong!! It's just that I... I can't forgive it...!!!」
She raised her face with determination.
Her round eyes were moist, her lips pressed tightly together, and her face, trembling slightly, was bright red.
「Um... are you okay?」
I cautiously spoke to the trembling Lily, and she *slammed* both hands on the table.
「The fact that she, who was raised so pampered, neglects you, young lady! That she does nothing for the household, only busies herself with unnecessary socializing, that she only spends extravagantly...! That she would say such words to a young lady who shows such kind consideration to her own maids...!」
「Stop that! You're speaking out of turn!」
Rosa admonished the young lady with a strained face.
「...I'm sorry... I understand these are not words one should say about one's master. But!」
She raised her head, which had been bowed as if enduring, and looked squarely at Rosa.
「I cannot respect that person as a human being. She is not a parent... Even if I am punished, I will not retract my words!」
Silence fell. A heavy air flowed.
Rosa, who had admonished her due to her position, and Daisy, who was watching with frozen, prayerfully clasped hands, both remained tight-lipped.
Who is an ally? Who is acting based on someone's will? Magnolia pondered.
The gardener, the laundry maids. The kitchen helpers. The rumors among the maids, footmen, and stewards.
The general character profile they described matched the image of the mother that Lily portrayed.
'A willful, lazy, luxury-loving Marquise.'
The red-faced girl, pleading with a stiff expression, didn't seem to be lying.
First of all, what would she gain by lying to a mere three-year-old?
...I concluded that as long as I didn't give any compromising statements, there was no problem in listening.
「Thank you for getting angry on my behalf. However, if someone hears you speaking ill of her, you will be scolded. Both Rosa and Daisy spoke out of concern for me, so I ask you not to speak of this elsewhere.」
Looking at the troubled Rosa and the repeatedly, earnestly nodding Daisy, I reinforced the point with the little girl's teary & large, innocent eyes (※ our internal comparison).
Now then.
「Why am I so disliked?」
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