The Reincarnated Thirty-Something Woman’s Otherworldly Reform Life
[Father and Son's Conversation, and Farewell to Everyone]
Translated by: ME
-Horizontal.jpg)
「Aren't you going to scold him?」
The group that had moved to Gerald's office each took their seats, their thoughts drifting to the little girl they had just been with.
「What good would rubbing salt in the wounds of a guy who's that exhausted and wilted?」
Servas gave a wry smile and sipped his tea.
「Well, he can regret it all he wants.」
「I won't regret it. I wasn't doing anything I lacked the qualification to do... One only laments when one gains something worthy of lamentation.」
Listening to Gerald state his position dispassionately, Servas let out a sigh.
Watching Gerald's hand scribble away on the contract documents, he asked with a mix of sarcasm.
「You're as stubborn as ever... Shall I pay the expenses? Magnolia would probably feel more at ease that way.」
「......I don't need it. I have no intention of doing the kind of thing that girl is worried about, you see. More importantly, shall we repay Claude's debt?」
Taking his older brother's self-deprecating quip, Claude now gave a wry smile.
「Goodness, the debt was just a pretext to help my niece out.... She probably wouldn't have accepted it if I'd said 'I'll give it to you.' More importantly...」
Claude hesitated.
「What is it?」
「It's about that... 'pervert'...」
As soon as Gerald sensed what Claude was trying to say, he fixed him with a damp, heavy gaze.
「That, of all things, is surely impossible. That's just that girl's wild imagination... The plan was to send her off to a low-ranking noble in the countryside, someone tight-lipped and honest, with an increased dowry.」
「......I see.」
While feeling somewhat relieved, Claude wondered if he should confirm if things were really okay as they are. But... even if Gerald were to change his attitude, judging from the state of his sister-in-law and nephew, he didn't think the family would ever get along well, and so he fell silent. He truly thought it was better for there to be some time and distance for a while.
「......While it would ultimately become a flaw in the arrangement, I thought that if I hid her in a distant monastery and married her off to a low-ranking noble in the countryside, she would likely never come to the royal capital...」
「I can't say I don't understand what you're saying, but it's a distasteful method.」
Servas muttered, pulling and twisting his red hair, over and over.
It was precisely because he thought the Royal Family wouldn't listen even if he refused, that this was Gerald's judgment, he supposed.
「......In your eyes, is the Royal Family that bad?」
「...... I find it regrettable that the previous king passed away. For now, I intend to focus my efforts on governing my territory.」
「I see.」
Servas replied quietly.
Each of them thought about the future.
Around the same time, the news that Magnolia would be moving to the Azenda Margrave territory, relayed by Lily and Gai, had become known to many of the servants.
The news of the young lady's relocation, which was less like a spring breeze and more aptly compared to the first strong wind of spring, brought sadness, but was also welcomed with joy for her newfound freedom.
And in Magnolia's room, the maids and Magnolia were lamenting their parting.
Daisy had started crying loudly, and Lila looked as if she wanted to say she was worried from the bottom of her heart.
Rosa quietly watched the scene, taking it all in with her eyes.
「Magnolia-sama, debt is a no, no! We'll cover it for you, so please pay it back!」
「To be so small... will she really be alright...?」
Daisy said it with a feeling like 'That's dirty, spit it out!' which was funny.
Even though she was being serious, Magnolia found herself almost laughing.
「It's okay. (Probably) he just said that to match the situation° for me. Once I get money ready, I'll pay it back properly.」
「Is that so...?」
Seeing that they didn't seem convinced, a wry smile escaped her.
「More than that, I'm sorry that even though I intended to send you two off, I'm the one leaving first.」
Yes, she said, and handed Daisy and Lila each a maidenly cute pouch with their respective embroidery on it.
「Thank you for taking care of me until now. I'm sorry for being a bother.」
Whoosh—tears welled up in their eyes all at once.
「Waaaaaah, Magnolia-sama~!! Thaaank yooouuu!!」
...Whoa. A flood. Daisy's eyes are going to melt.
Entrusting the sobbing Daisy to Lila, who was trying to calm her while her own eyes were moist, Magnolia stood before Rosa.
「Rosa, thank you so much for everything until now, too. This is the embroidery you taught me. Here.」
A rose, 'Rosa' in Latin.
She handed her a handkerchief embroidered with a rose. Rosa hugged the handkerchief tightly and bowed her head deeply.
「I'm the one who... in many ways... was lacking... I'm so sorr...y...」
「You negotiated with Father and Mother about various things for me, didn't you? I caused you trouble.」
Seeing Rosa looking tormented by regret, crushed, Magnolia smiled bitterly.
「Grandfather should be able to make the detailed arrangements after this, but if things become quite difficult, you can have your persons taken in at the Azenda Margrave family's townhouse in the royal capital. I believe Father will surely show some consideration, but please remember this, in case something happens in a place his eyes don't reach.」
Because it was important, she told all three of them firmly.
Magnolia's luggage was surprisingly small.
A few dresses and negligees from the closet, several sets of underwear and socks. The wooden tag from Lady Daphne. Her sewing kit and handmade items, leftover fabric scraps. And the excerpt copies and contract she had sneaked in to make.
Having never gone anywhere, Magnolia didn't even have a bag, so she wrapped everything in a large cloth, slung it over her back, and tied it on.
The expensive-looking dresses she left behind. The borrowed slate she'd practiced on so much, too.
Everything that ought to remain with the Gilmore house, she left behind.
Even though it was her birthday, foreseeing that it would be a normal meal with no dinner party—or even a proper dinner prepared—she decided to depart from the mansion before the evening meal, so as not to let Servas find out and have his feelings hurt.
It might be possible to prepare food for a few more people even if it was a bit of a stretch, but it would hardly be a joyful dinner.
Even so, Claude thought they should take time for a family farewell and suggested it to Magnolia, but she said that since they'd never eaten a meal together before, and with everyone so furious, they probably wouldn't even sit at the same table, so he had no choice but to back down.
In front of the Gilmore mansion, as evening approached, a large number of servants had lined up.
In the mingling light of orange and deep navy blue, many figures cast long shadows.
Though they were servants, many were lower housemaids and men-servants, the kind who usually never caught their masters' eyes.
「Young Lady, this is the recipe for crispy potato and cheese bake.」
「Wah! Is it really okay!?」
「Yes. Please enjoy it over there as well.」
Receiving what should have been a precious recipe for a cook, Magnolia was delighted, practically floating with joy, which made everyone smile softly.
「These are pot holders and a pot holder° for you. Please use them, everyone in the kitchen.」
「......Thank you very much. We will treasure them.」
The head chef and the cooks bowed their heads with sorrowful faces.
「Young Lady, so you're really leaving.」
「It's a faraway place, isn't it...?」
The laundry aunties were sniffling, feeling melancholy.
It seemed they, who were day-servants, had dutifully waited for her even though it was past their time to go home.
「Un. Thank you for teaching me lots of things. Tea time was fun, too.」
「We felt the same way!」
As some people began to cry openly, Magnolia smiled, looking a little troubled.
「This is a sheet for tea time. If you spread this out and have a tea party, it'll be fun!」
It was a makeshift leisure sheet made by patchworking colorful leftover fabrics together.
「Did you make this, Young Lady!? You're as amazing as ever...」
「We're so happy. Thank you, Young Lady.」
「And from me, this.」
The old gardener slowly walked over and gave her a small package.
...Shaking the package produced a rustling sound.
「What's this?」
「They're plant seeds. If you get the chance, please take care of them.」
「Thank you. From me, this.」
It was a hat knitted from leftover yarn (received from Rosa) for the coming cold weather.
The old gardener slowly knelt down on one knee.
「Thank you very much. Young Lady, please take care of yourself.」
To his deeply wrinkled, hoarse voice, Magnolia smiled and nodded.
In the center, Gerald had come to see her off. There was no sign of her mother or her brother.
In their place, the head housekeeper, the head butler, and the head maid were all lined up together.
Magnolia straightened her posture and stood before her father.
「Marquis-sama... no, Father. Thank you for making the arrangements that allowed me to live until now.」
Gerald stared at his daughter, who was making an elegant bow, imprinting the sight on his eyes for a while.
「…………. You needn't worry about the maids. Take care of yourself.」
「Yes. You too, Father, please stay well.」
She once glanced in the direction of her mother's room and her brother's room, then took in everyone present with her eyes, finally looking at Daisy, Lila, and Rosa and smiling.
Magnolia bowed deeply.
「Thank you for everything until now. May everyone remain well.」
The assembled servants all bowed in return, lowering their heads deeply, deeply.
Led by her grandfather and uncle, her little sister boarded the carriage.
(That guy's the only one he cares about! Just where does he think he's going!?)
In the evening gloom, the carriage headed for the gate, beginning to make a light, clattering sound.
「...Why is Magnolia going out with Grandfather and them!? Is it an overnight trip? I wanted to talk to her too!!」
Brian, who had been in a state of extreme displeasure ever since coming out of the salon, questioned a nearby maid.
「That is not it. Magnolia-sama has become an orphan, bought herself out of servitude, and has decided to move to the Margrave's territory to live.」
「Huh, an orphan? Wasn't she Father and Mother's child!?」
The maid looked at Brian with a troubled expression.
「...The Young Lady is, of course, the child of your parents. But if parents die, or even if they are alive, if they deem the child unnecessary, commoners in particular are sometimes placed in orphanages. So, the Young Lady, thinking it was the same for her, chose to become an orphan herself, used money to buy her own freedom so no one could harm her person, and because she could no longer live here, she has gone to the Margrave's territory.」
「…………」
(Eh... she left? Bought herself? What does that mean... Can you just do that...?)
Oblivious to the sad looks in the maids' eyes, Brian stared blankly out the window.
Outside, the shadows of the tall trees grew darker, telling that night would soon be upon them.
The sound of the small carriage wheels had vanished, and only the shadow of a small carriage could be seen, far in the distance.
Thank you for reading. If you want to help my hobby please download and install LDP9 with my link down below. Just Click the small yellow LDPlayer Banner.
OR
Subscribe to my YouTube Channel
-Horizontal.jpg)
No comments:
Post a Comment