The Reincarnated Thirty-Something Woman’s Otherworldly Reform Life
[A Stormy Birthday - Part 2]
Translated by: ME
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Around that time, Gerald was running through the castle corridors after receiving a message.
(Was that 'mouse' that got into the house the other day perhaps Gai?... I heard he was investigating neighboring countries. But still, his movements are quite fast? Father should be in his territory right now... Was he in the royal capital?)
He probably wouldn't imagine that a man over sixty had ridden almost non-stop for two days.
—He knew full well it wasn't physically impossible for him.
He simply never thought his father would go that far for a granddaughter he'd never even seen.
Today was supposed to be a normal day for the Gilmore family.
Gerald was at the castle. Wisteria was at a tea party at a friend's house.
Brian was at the knight order's training grounds, which he had recently been permitted to enter.
He went to the stables and borrowed a horse.
Swinging onto it with practiced ease, he lightly kicked its flanks and set off for the mansion at a gallop.
***
Tea had been brought to the salon, and the grandfather, uncle, and young girl were conversing peacefully.
Though the content wasn't exactly cheerful.
True to its name as the Flower Kingdom, this country was filled with blooms year-round, and rooms were often designed to offer views of the gardens.
From the Gilmore salon, one could see autumn roses at their peak, along with pansies, violas, oxalis, cockscomb, pinks, primroses, sweet alyssum... a riot of colorful flowers amidst the greenery.
「What does Magnolia usually do?」
「Let's shee... Since I'm under houshe arresht, I'm mostly in my room, embroidering.」
「「Houshe arresht...」」
The two adults repeated the words she uttered so matter-of-factly.
「It's true, the young lady's door is ridiculously heavy, ain't it?」
「Probably sho I can't get out freely by myshelf. I haven't checked properly, but I can open other roomsh. They went to the trouble and exshpenshe.」
「…………」
Gai was standing behind Servas and Claude, but every time he heard Magnolia's dialogue, which sounded like a comic duo's banter, Claude made a pained expression at the content.
「...Do you like embroidery?」
「No, not at all. It'sh training for the future (and a shource of income).」
「That's admirable! You're thinking ahead properly!」
Servas, appearance aside, had transformed into a kindly old man.
「Alsho, Lila... a maid, ish teaching me, and I've shtarted training.」
「That would be... the hammer-axe, right?... *Guh-fuu*...」
When she pointed to the hammer-axe fastened at her waist, Gai made a strange noise mid-sentence. Magnolia puffed out her cheeks slightly.
「Lila...?」
As if something had clicked, Claude confirmed, and she nodded, looking towards Lila, who was waiting by the wall.
The Azenda trio also followed her gaze.
Several servants were waiting by the wall in the room, attending to tea service or other tasks.
At the end of their gaze stood a chestnut-haired maid who seemed like a well-bred young lady.
「...Ah. 'Slashing Lila'... Why is she here?」
At the dangerous epithet Claude uttered, Magnolia nearly spat out her tea.
('Slashing Lila'!? What kind of scary name is that!!)
Servas muttered as if remembering.
「The daughter of Viscount Bernard, isn't she?... I thought she was going to become a knight under the East Wolf Marquis?」
Hearing her name mentioned, Lila stepped forward and bowed.
「...My apologies for the delayed greeting, given my status as a maid. I am Lila, daughter of Viscount Bernard. I have been assisting in caring for Lady Magnolia. A pleasure to make your acquaintance.」
「Lila ish engaged and will be married in shpring.」
「Yes. During my academy days, I was scheduled to enter the service of Marquis Pervonche, but my father arranged a marriage...」
「I see. The East Wolf Marquis must be disappointed to lose such a talent. But congratulations on your marriage.」
「Thank you.」
Lila smiled gently, bowed her head, and returned to her place by the wall.
Gai whispered an explanation.
「Lila here caught a villain in the city during her academy days. When she handed him over to the officials, the criminal resisted, so she used the weapon she had to shred his clothes to ribbons. That's why they call her 'Slashing Lila'.」
(Slashing...)
...She has such an air of a perfect lady, though...
You never can tell about people.
I suppose it's good it was just his clothes.
He added that she was famous in military circles. *If you shred someone's clothes in front of officials, I guess that would happen*, was all she could think.
***
...As if to cut off such random thoughts, the sound of hurried hoofbeats could be heard approaching from afar.
「...Seems he's returned.」
At Servas's words, Claude and Gai nodded slightly in return.
(They sent someone out earlier to inform Father...)
What was this? Was this the premonition of a conflict?
(...Is it about me?)
Did they hear about my situation from Gai and come here to try and improve it?
Suppressing a restless, itchy feeling, she rapidly considered how best to respond.
She knew nothing about the personalities or intentions of the people before her.
Even if she asked Gai, why had they decided to come here?
Moreover, he hadn't actually confronted Father and asked for his reasons.
(...I won't know just by thinking, will I? In times like these, you just have to play it by ear!)
Be flexible! Guts are a woman's weapon!
She gulped down the cooled tea in one go and let out a determined *Hmph!* through her nose.
***
When Gerald galloped up the mansion's approach, dismounted at the front entrance, the pale-faced head butler was waiting for him.
「Where is Father?」
「In the salon... with Lord Claude, Gai, and Lady Magnolia.」
Nodding, he handed his gloves to the butler and strode towards the salon.
(Now, how will he play this?)
...Ideally, he would have liked to settle everything before they found out, but it couldn't be helped.
***
When Gerald opened the salon door, he found a small, unexpectedly amiable tea party in progress.
Though for some reason, Magnolia's arms were full of dried meat.
「Well, Gerald. Long time no see.」
The sight of the large Servas drinking tea from a small (normal-sized) cup felt bizarre, but no one else seemed to mind.
「It has been a long time, Father. ...If you were coming, I would appreciate an advance notice? The household needs preparation to receive a Border Count, and I have schedules.」
As he spoke, he observed his brother Claude. He seemed to have no intention of interfering, strictly observing the proceedings quietly as usual.
「Nah, it's nothing.」
No sooner had he spoken than—
In an instant, the large body moved with incomprehensible speed towards Gerald, and a high metallic clang resonated through the room.
「...Hoh. Your skills haven't dulled, it seems?」
「...That's rather mean. Drawing swords inside the residence is usually forbidden, you know?」
Servas, grinning, pressed down with his sword as if looming over him, while Gerald parried the heavy blade with what seemed to a concealed sword-cane he had hidden somewhere.
(...What's with these two? The old man is something else, but Dad is surprisingly amazing too...)
Having completely missed their movements, Magnolia muttered to herself in her previous life's vernacular. It seemed her father being a martial type wasn't an exaggeration.
The younger servants were frozen, holding their breath.
Well, of course they would be.
If important people and even more important people suddenly started a sword fight right in front of you in a room, you'd be taken aback. Seriously taken aback.
In the tense atmosphere, Servas sheathed his sword and placed a hand on Gerald's shoulder with a *thump*.
「...I came intending to have a serious talk... to apologize.」
「Normally, if you attack someone before a talk or apology, it leads to a breakdown, doesn't it?」
「Well now, normally, you'd be dead, wouldn't you!?」
As Gai inconsiderately barged in, Gerald and Claude looked at him with pained expressions.
...That guy needs a little scolding.
Servas, as if it were nothing, sat down in the spot where Magnolia had been sitting just moments before and beckoned to his granddaughter.
Magnolia obediently went and sat next to her grandfather. *If you seek shelter, stand in the shadow of a great tree.*
「...An apology for what?」
Sitting down in the seat opposite Servas, he asked his father with a sigh.
Whoa. So we're starting here, not in a private room?
「For the matter of my favoritism and moving the territory.」
「Now? That was ten years ago...」
「Even if it's now.」
At the words spoken over his, Gerald urged him to continue with his gaze.
「I made you head of Gilmore because I thought you were worthy of the name. I had no ulterior motives. I apologize from the bottom of my heart for deeply hurting you due to my failure to explain properly. I am truly sorry.」
He bowed his head deeply.
While inwardly startled by the sight of his father being so straightforward and bowing his head, Gerald swallowed a small breath unnoticeably.
「My lack of words was due to my arrogance. You served well for the family, the house, and the people of the territory since you were little. It's late, but I thank you. Truly, thank you. ...And I'm sorry I couldn't understand your feelings of anxiety, loneliness, and confusion.」
「...Do you think you'll be forgiven just by apologizing?」
At Gerald's words, all the servants waiting by the wall opened their eyes in surprise.
They had probably assumed he would accept, as a matter of course.
—The fact that no one made a sound was perhaps commendable.
In the Ascald Kingdom, the head of household's words carry weight.
Even though they were both lords now, they were still father and son.
One could infer they thought it natural that if Servas bowed his head, he should be forgiven.
However, Servas, Claude, Magnolia, and even Gai all thought that if things could be settled this easily, the situation wouldn't have deteriorated to this extent.
Moreover, human feelings aren't made so that just because someone apologizes, and even if you think they're right, you can simply swallow it and say, "Oh, alright then."
「No. I'm not apologizing to be forgiven. I'm apologizing because I did something wrong. I'm apologizing because I must.」
「…………」
As if unable to gauge his true intent, Gerald watched his father carefully.
Servas thought about how to get through to the unfulfilled little child inside his son, to lighten the burden of years of resentment...
There wasn't much a parent could do. Especially now that he was an adult. There was probably nothing he could lend a hand with.
That said, he had no intention of resorting to petty tricks. He needed to lay everything out properly.
「The reason I didn't merge the territories into one was because I wanted to return Azenda to its land, as Azenda.」
「Return it?」
Servas thought about how to explain it for easier understanding. No, even if it wasn't understood, he had to convey the reason properly.
...His son was clever, so he would probably grasp his meaning even from his clumsy explanation, but he wanted to avoid any chance of it being misinterpreted again.
「It's true that I genuinely wanted to avoid becoming a Duke, but more than that, I didn't want to change Azenda.」
Gerald nodded slightly with a suspicious expression.
「As you know, the history of the Azenda Archduchy is that it has long served as a buffer state for neighboring countries. About twenty years ago, it was invaded and occupied by a coalition of desert countries and several small nations.」
「And our country, which shares a border, intervened and recaptured it, correct?」
Gerald responded as if reciting from a history book.
「Indeed. It was a terrible state. But even before that, swayed by the powers-that-be and the times, the people of Azenda have lived patiently through long years, in any era. I hold respect for that. I thought... no, the Gilmore thought that even if we protected it temporarily, it would be good if we could someday return it as it was to its people.」
「—So you wanted to avoid the territorial redrawings that the high-ups were considering back then because they could leave new problems and grudges when it came time to return it later?」
「That's right.」
Gerald lowered his eyelashes, slightly darker than his hair, and seemed to be thinking something.
If the borders were changed for a new territory, restoring them would be difficult in many ways. Because it was natural that if people moved, various things would change.
「...Why didn't you say that at the time?」
「...Even if I had, would such a thing normally be understood? Also, at the time, I wanted to disperse our power to avoid unnecessary scrutiny from those around us.」
「Scrutiny...?」
Servas looked into the distance as if recalling those days.
「If we gained Azenda and were promoted in rank, our house would gain more power than necessary. There were those who did not like that and were loudly asserting baseless rumors.... There was another thing; not a few people believed that members of the Archducal family were still alive and were plotting something with their faction.」
Gerald looked back on that time. It was the previous King who brought up the promotion, and the location was likely designated by the Royal Family.
...Well, he supposed it meant there were people who thought otherwise. Humans are creatures who see things the way they want to see them.
「...The members of the Archducal family all perished, didn't they? Or are some actually still alive?」
「People fear great power, son. Whether it exists or not, it's even worse if it's invisible. It was the times. Everyone was suspicious and fearful.」
「…………」
***
Magnolia watched her father, who wore an unconvinced expression, and her grandfather, who looked at him with sad eyes, trying to deal with him sincerely, and thought.
Regarding Gerald, whether the reasons were unjust or just, deeply entrenched feelings weren't something that could be easily satisfied just like that.
He had received a formal apology; deciding what to do from here on out was his choice.
—Generally, it would be best for things to be resolved amicably, but the heart is free. If he couldn't forgive, he didn't have to force himself.
Servas had designated Gerald as the head of the Gilmore family partly because his ability and qualities were unquestionable.
Far from being inadequate, it seemed he had decided that Gerald was the one.
Another reason was splitting the territory because he didn't want to be promoted to a Duke.
If a territory, even of a small nation, the size of the vast Gilmore lands were to merge, it would become an enormous domain. The King's trust was also deep. Moreover, it was a house with its own military strength.
There were people who feared the concentration of power in the Gilmore house within the country and those who imagined they were plotting independence or a coup, so he wanted to make it look like the territory was separated and dispersed.
Whether such a facade would work was unclear. It was like a drop in the bucket, but perhaps there was no other way.
Another reason was his desire to eventually restore the Azenda Archduchy to its original state.
Out of consideration for the people of that country who had endured for so long, he wanted to maintain its form so that it could be returned to its original state in the future.
But normally, such a thought wouldn't be understood.
A lord's job is to think about building up their territory and house.
Even if he explained he wanted to return it, not only would it not be understood, but it could even be misinterpreted as having divided loyalties, which is why he couldn't explain it well.
She didn't know if there were other things he couldn't say, or if this was all. But his sincere attitude made it clear that this was Servas's best effort at an explanation.
***
「I intend to keep apologizing for what I did and failed to do. But—」
At the following words, Gerald directed a sharp gaze at him.
「What you are doing to Magnolia is unacceptable.」
「So this is a lecture after all?」
Gerald said it dismissively, as if snorting.
「It is not. You must have had your own reasons and thoughts behind your actions, but they are beyond the bounds of comprehension.」
「Determining a child's treatment is a parent's right, is it not?」
「It is, but that doesn't mean you can do anything to the child. Isn't a parent's role to prepare a path for the child to be protected and find happiness?」
「Are you saying Magnolia is unhappy?」
「Wouldn't it appear so to an outside observer? So you're saying a life where she isn't given the name she deserves, has no debut, doesn't even eat meals together, has no interaction with any family member, and lives confined is a happy one?」
The quiet battle of words continued.
「You arbitrarily attach flaws to her and put her in a monastery; what do you intend to do after that? Do you think that will make Magnolia happy?」
「It's better than being used and discarded by the Royal Family. Not only that...」
He started to say something but stopped.
Servas looked at Gerald questioningly, but seeing his son's clenched fist, he spoke again.
「...Whatever you think of the Royal Family is your business. But no matter what reason you have, your treatment of Magnolia is wrong.」
「Are you in any position to say that?」
Their gazes were severe.
Though they didn't raise their voices, the density of the room's air seemed to increase, making it hard to breathe.
「Precisely because I made mistakes. And if family members are making the wrong choices, it is also because they are family that one must admonish them.」
Servas let out a small breath.
「You will regret it beyond measure. You, Gerald, who are 'the Gilmore among Gilmores.' But this current protection is not the Gilmore way! Gilmore is one who always becomes the shield for those they protect!」
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