The Reincarnated Thirty-Something Woman’s Otherworldly Reform Life
[Claude's Tribulation]
Translated by: ME
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If you haven't read the previous part, I'd be happy if you could read it as well.
A large, black horse with a blue cast to its coat led the way, galloping ahead. Two bay horses followed in a line behind it.
The trees tinged with autumn colors and the brilliantly clear blue sky should have been a feast for the eyes, but, unjustly, they simply streamed past along with the swirling clouds of dust.
Claude occasionally glanced back, seeming concerned about Gai, who was retracing the same route they had just covered in two days of near-sleepless travel, stopping only to rest the horses. Gai himself watched him with a wry smile.
***
Claude was pondering how this matter should be resolved.
It would be good if Father and Brother reconciled and the child's treatment improved, but even if it did improve, it wasn't as simple as that solving everything.
Once his niece grew a little older and could understand various judgments, she would surely realize the full extent of what had been done to her.
It was easy to imagine that causing an even greater rift than the one between his father and brother.
While generally in Ascald, parents had the right to decide their child's upbringing, considering what he'd heard about his sister-in-law and nephew, he doubted anyone would find happiness even if they continued living together as they were.
(Should I suggest having her adopted by a lower-ranking noble...?)
Of course, only if his opinion was sought.
Having her taken in as an adopted daughter by a trusted noble family, and then holding her debut once her 'health improved,' would probably be the most peaceful pattern.
If she were the child of a lower noble, she would likely have little contact with the Royal Family.
(However, if she closely resembles Grandmother, it would be impossible to hide her Gilmore blood... This is quite a deadlock...)
His handsome face took on the expression of someone who had bitten into a sour bug.
Moreover, even if Father was partly at fault, using that as a reason to intentionally make an innocent child unhappy was going too far.
(But why?)
The various reports, so uncharacteristic of his brother, left him with a strange sense of unease.
It was probably too late to say anything now, but...
—Or perhaps, she could inherit Azenda.
Originally, the one who should have inherited everything from Father was his brother.
He, Claude, could simply return to being the 'eldest son of a Baron family.'
It was inevitable that Father would object... but if he was absolutely opposed, Claude could simply establish a branch family himself as things stood now.
She was a legitimate child of the Gilmore main line.
The issue of her name remained... but if she, as a woman, were to inherit the family headship, she would likely achieve accomplishments significant enough to overshadow such concerns. And if she turned out to be a perfectly ordinary person, they could simply choose a marriage partner who understood the circumstances.
Either way, if it seemed the matter could be contained within the Gilmore Marquis household, there would be no need for him to intervene excessively. If it seemed unlikely to be resolved, he could just offer it as one suggestion.
***
Just before the point where the mountain path met the main highway, Servas's horse slowed its pace.
A little further ahead was the provincial city of Santana.
—Was he finally planning to get an inn after all that hard riding?
Claude and Gai also slowed down, puzzled.
Servas hung his head.
Servas trembled.
(Is he trembling at the consequences of his own actions...?)
Just as Claude, looking suspicious, was about to call out to him, Servas turned to face them with tremendous force.
*Swoosh!!!* ...He could have sworn he saw the wind.
The two men recoiled slightly and looked at Servas's panicked face.
「What should I do...!!」
「...What is the matter?」
Servas brought his face uncomfortably close to Claude's and shouted, sounding desperate.
「It's her birthday! I forgot to prepare a present!!」
「「...Huh?」」
「A gift! A gift! ...What does a four-year-old girl want!? I'm surrounded by nothing but men, I have no idea!」
「…………」
Gai was grinning, watching his master's amusing predicament.
But Claude remained silent, directing a cold stare at Servas, who was tearing at his hair.
His perfectly composed face, when wrapped in a chill, looked incredibly ruthless.
「...I don't know. It doesn't matter.」
A frigid, low voice rang out. Simultaneously, an even lower voice rebutted him with enough force to spray spit.
「It *does* matter! That's why you're unpopular!!」
「Now, now, young master Claude *is* popular, you know.」
Gai refuted Servas. It was true—good family, good looks, good ability, good wealth.
Claude, now nineteen, had always been the object of unmarried young ladies' envy. As a target for marriage, he lacked nothing! He was constantly stared at with glittering, intense eyes to the point of finding it tiresome...
「Don't call me 'young master.' That doesn't matter either.」
「Wouldn't something like preserved dried meat or, say, a general antidote for emergencies make her happy?」
「I understand the dried meat, but an antidote... Poison!? Is someone poisoning her!?」
「Please don't shout on the main road. ...Gai, is that the case?」
「Nah, she's just a sharp young lady. Seems she was researching it just in case, you know.」
It was hard to tell whether this ambiguous answer was a relief or a cause for furrowed brows.
「Also, Father, four-year-olds, boys or girls, generally don't want dried meat.」
「But it's tasty.」
「You'd get sick of it if it was all you had.」
A middle-aged large man, a small man, and a young large man—when these three gathered, they were unexpectedly noisy.
...And this was a public thoroughfare.
「Hey, get out of the way!」
A demon-lad—ahem—a lady pulling a handcart from behind scolded them vigorously.
She had a terrifying face. Their spines instinctively snapped straight.
「「「Sorry!... Ma'am.」」」
The men made themselves small, apologized in quiet voices, and meekly moved to the side of the road.
They were only halfway to the royal capital.
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