The Reincarnated Thirty-Something Woman’s Otherworldly Reform Life
[A Stormy Birthday - Part 3]
Translated by: ME
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Whoa...
(Now they're going to start about me... Isn't this piling on a bit too much?)
It seemed like Gerald's attitude, which might have been softening, was about to firmly revert back.
...Was this really okay?
(...Still, both of them are being brutally frank, aren't they?)
By the wall remained the chief steward, Rosa (assigned to Magnolia), Lila (assigned to the guest rooms), and another maid, Daisy (assigned to the mansion).
Even though many present knew the circumstances, they had bluntly revealed everything from the plan to eventually send her to a monastery to even some criticism of the Royal Family.
(Hmm, wouldn't it have been better to do this in Father's room or to clear the room of people?)
She glanced at Claude. He wore a calm expression, but his eyes looked worried as he watched her. Though his perfectly composed features made him seem cold, he appeared to be a kind-hearted young man.
She was feeling a bit warm and fuzzy watching this when she heard voices outside the door.
There seemed to be some kind of argument. Could it be...?
This was the residential district. The sound of carriages was everyday background noise, so she hadn't paid it much mind, but could it be that the other family members who hadn't been home had returned...?
The moment she thought it, the door was flung wide open.
Everyone's attention shifted there, interrupting the conversation between Servas and Gerald.
「Grandfather! Uncle!」
Brian shouted, his cheeks flushed, as he entered the room.
He ran happily towards the two knights he admired, but when he saw Magnolia sitting there, he frowned.
「Magnolia, move from there!」
Without asking permission to enter, without a greeting. The way he immediately yelled at his little sister made everyone present grimace.
「Brian, greet them properly first.」
When scolded by his father, for some reason, her brother glared at Magnolia.
(Ugh, how unfair! It was Dad who said it, not me!!)
Then, with the rustling sound of a dress, Wisteria also made her entrance.
Dressed to the nines, as if to say, "I'm on point today, as always!" Being a noble lady was hard work.
Her deep peacock green dress looked splendid against her pale skin.
The delicate embroidery done with silver and gold thread was incredibly intricate.
Appropriate for daytime wear, it showed little skin, but was adorned with lavish lace instead.
And a luxurious gold necklace set with tiny diamonds covering her décolletage, along with the feather ornament adorning her head, were utterly Rococo in style.
For some reason, Gai was trembling behind Servas and Magnolia.
...*He's definitely thinking something unscrupulous*, Magnolia thought.
「Father-in-law, Lord Claude. Good day. To what do we owe this sudden visit?」
In a lovely voice, she uttered words laced with soft thorns.
***
A beautiful, clear autumn afternoon.
In a lovely salon overlooking a garden filled with beautiful blooming flowers.
The men with bitter expressions, a glowering boy. A gorgeously attired noblewoman with a sarcastic smile. The frozen servants.
And a trembling middle-aged man and a little girl holding a mountain of dried meat.
What *is* this?
As Magnolia gazed into the distance, feigning ignorance, Wisteria caught sight of her daughter out of the corner of her eye and frowned her willow-thin eyebrows with evident displeasure.
*Swish!!* With a sound, she opened her all-lace black fan, hiding her red lips.
「Why are *you* here? Looking like that, it's disgraceful. Return to your room at once!」
It was the voice of someone accustomed to giving orders with authority.
—The salon fell dead silent.
(...Whoa. If it's my birthday, what a birthday this is turning out to be? Likely one I'll remember for a lifetime.)
Magnolia tilted her head and looked at her father. His averted gaze probably meant he was thinking about how to handle this.
(More importantly, Wife, even in front of your in-laws and brother-in-law... Shouldn't you be admonishing him?)
She looked at her brother.
(Still glaring... This guy is surprisingly persistent. For a guy, he's pretty petty.)
She looked at her mother.
(Operating as usual even in front of her in-laws, huh. Quite the strong nerves.)
And then at the grandfather next to her.
...He seemed to be leaking a kinda dangerous aura...
She glanced, turning slightly.
...A demon. There was a demon...!!
***
———————.
A moment of hesitation.
Alright. Now's the time. The chance has arrived.
*Clap!* She brought her small hands together and stood up.
「Understood. Before things become irredeemable, let me wrap up this converstation.」
As she spoke, she handed the dried meat to Gai.
「Could you hold this for me?」
「Yes.」
Gai nodded obediently.
He looked at Magnolia's expression, seemed relieved, and then immediately started grinning.
(*This guy*. He's planning to sit back and watch the show, isn't he...)\
***
「Firsht, regarding the matter between Father and Grandfather, pleashe resolve that among yourshelevesh. Right now, I wish to discussh *my* shituation.」
As if saying "Look at this," she spread several sheets of paper on the table.
Seeing the contents, Gerald's eyes widened for a moment.
「This is...?」
Claude, who had been somewhat reserved since Gerald's return, finally spoke up.
「Theesh are extracts from the Gilmore family household expensesh for the pasht ten yearsh.」
Hearing Magnolia's words, the chief steward turned pale.
These were the copies she had brought from her room just in case.
「The originalsh are in the library. If you wish, you may later verify that the numbersh are accurate.... Mr. Chief Steward, pleashe ensure the evidence is not concealed or deshtroyed.」
She delivered this with the innocent eyes of a pure young child (※ according to us).
...The chief steward's face went from pale to white.
「This is... terrible.」
「The clothing allowance for Magnolia is 10 to 50 times less than Brian's every year... And Wisteria's is over a thousand times more...」
Claude and Servas were aghast at the figures recorded.
「...Who is this 'Primavera'?」
Hearing Claude's low voice say "Primavera," the maids who had turned to stone by the wall twitched! and looked around nervously.
It was a little funny.
The maids had recently developed Primavera-phobia.
「It'sh a cat.」
「A cat?」
Claude repeated, looking suspicious.
「It'sh Mother'sh cat.」
「「…………」」
The two from Azenda were dumbfounded and stared intently at the copies.
「His own daughter gets one-tenth of what a cat does...」
Servas's voice sounded sorrowful.
Yes, the cost of Primavera's grooming was about ten times Magnolia's clothing allowance.
Well, the cat is family too, to its owner.
To the owner, it might not feel that far off.
But well, from the grandfather who's never met the cat, I guess that's how it seems.
***
「In the Ascald Kingdom, daughters are not very useful as heirs. Looking at this, it seems I cannot even fulfill the role of a cherished object. Furthermore, considering my living conditions until now, while there may be no immediate danger to my life, it is difficult to say I am treated as family, and it is clear I am under house arrest. Judging from the plan to confine me in a monastery and then push me into a suitable family, it can be said that my family finds me a burden.... Well, if the plan was to sell me to perverts for enormous profit, that would be a different matter.」
「Cherished object... Perverts...」
Claude muttered in a low voice while looking at the copies.
The maids waiting by the wall shuddered.
「In short, I am unnecesshary. In such casesh, what is usually done? Generally, one sells or disposeshesh, correct?」
————The unnecessary are sold or discarded————
The disparity between the subject matter and the child's halting speech was so great that even the normally articulate Gerald was left speechless.
...Good, good.
While they're stunned, land the first blow. Press the advantage before they regain their senses.
Don't let them think. Take advantage of the confusion, line up shocking statements, and baffle them with difficult phrasing.
「When a child ish unwannted, they usually end up in an orphanage. Conversely, when 'purchashing' a young child from an orphanage, it generally costs two or three small silver coins, I am told.」
Everyone in the room gasped.
「I am shorry to ashk, but could you give me three small silver coins? When I grow up and work, I will shurely repay you.」
She made the request to Claude with her pure, innocent eye-beam. He handed them over without hesitation.
(I'm in your debt, very young Uncle.)
She then stepped forward in front of Gerald, took his large hand, and placed the silver coins in it.
*Clink.* They made a small sound as they rubbed together.
「There. This is the value of 'your child'.」
「…………」
For a moment, Magnolia also gazed quietly at Gerald, who was staring intently at the three silver coins.
「With this, I have been bought, and I will disapshear. The Marquis will no longer have me underfoot, the Marchioness and the Young Master will no longer have their moods spoiled.」
Wisteria, trembling with rage, *Hmph!* glared sharply at Magnolia.
「What an impertinent child! Deceitful and unpleasant!」
She turned sharply, her dress swirling, and made to leave the room quickly.
(Ah, jeez. Instead of apologizing, she gets angry and tries to sweep it under the rug?... She must be too embarrassed and proud to back down in front of her in-laws and the servants. But normally, wouldn't the standard procedure be to put on a good face for the audience and bully me later?)
If she needs a painful lesson to understand, then I'll have to give her a knuckle sandwich until she gets it.
Magnolia smiled sweetly. At her mother's retreating back.
「Marchioness.」
Called, she reflexively stopped. But she did not turn around.
Magnolia straightened her posture, spread her shabby skirt, and sank into an elegant curtsy. The curtsy of a lady she had practiced countless times in her spare time.
「Thank you very much for the trouble of giving birth to me. I sincerely pray from the bottom of my heart that your next pregnancy results in a son.」
In silence, Wisteria violently threw the fan she was holding onto the floor and left the room without looking back.
(And whatever you do, DON'T YOU DARE DO THE SAME THING TO THE NEXT CHILD!!)
「Farewell, 'Mother'.」
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