HowDeadTL: Chapter 1 Part 29

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The Reincarnated Thirty-Something Woman’s Otherworldly Reform Life

[into slumber]

Translated by: ME

Treat me to a Ko-Fi to give me more motivation!!!

Author's note:

With this story, Chapter One is now complete.

After some interludes will follow at a later date, the story will continue in Chapter Two.

Thank you very much for reading.

I would be happy if you continue to read on.

The late autumn night arrives surprisingly early.
The sky, which had been crimson until just a moment ago, had grown much darker, with small stars beginning to twinkle.

Before they knew it, a carriage from the Azenda Margrave family had been delivered to replace the overworked horse that had been driven beyond the range of a long-distance ride. They boarded it together with her grandfather and uncle, and were now slowly making their way through the royal capital, under escort... no, simply riding slowly.

「Um, are we going straight to Azenda like this?」

Next to Claude, Magnolia tilted her head slightly.
She had placed the furoshiki bundle she was carrying on her back onto her lap and was sitting demurely.

「No, we have to let Gai rest. He's been going for four days without sleep or rest.」

A low voice came from beside her.
Four days without sleep or rest? Three all-nighters? Four? Whoa...

(What's that? Where did the Labor Standards Law (it probably doesn't exist) go!? That's a way too black company work environment!!)

She silently pressed her hands together in a gesture of respect towards Gai, who was driving the carriage.
Looking down at Magnolia, who was trembling in horror at the workplace environment, Claude frowned with displeasure.

「Who do you think is to blame for that? We haven't slept for two days either. We'll stay one night at the townhouse and then head back.」
「Is it my fault???」

Magnolia, not quite grasping the reasoning, tilted her head dramatically.

「For Magnolia's sake, I wouldn't rest even for a week or a month!」

Servas, who seemed well on his way to becoming a complete doting grandfather, was looking at Magnolia with an intensity that suggested he might start wriggling.
...Scary. And the carriage shouldn't be small, but it feels cramped!!

The elegant carriage, meant for four people, felt strangely oppressive despite being spacious, because the muscular Servas and the tall Claude were riding together.

「Father, please consider your age.」
「Ah! Girls are just so wonderful!」
「「......」」

Claude and Magnolia both looked at Servas with deadpan expressions, as the situation was getting slightly creepy.

I see.
Because until now he's been surrounded by his somewhat large son, his large son, his large grandson, and burly knights, he's caught the disease where a small girl looks like a hamster or something...

「Umm. Since we have some time, could we stop by the Campbell商会°?」
「Are you going to buy something?」
「No, I just want to pay a quick greeting.」
「A greeting?」

The two guardians looked at Magnolia curiously.

The Campbell商会° is a fairly popular clothing store in the royal capital.
They handle a wide range of items, from things commoners can splurge a little on to noble attire.
Usually, stores often separate commoner-oriented and noble-oriented shops, but the Campbell商会° apparently does not separate them, with the motto that both can coexist with moderation and good sense.

Once the carriage was stopped in front of the Campbell商会°, Magnolia questioned herself whether it was okay to enter the store in her current clothing.

「What's wrong, Magnolia?」

Her grandfather and uncle looked back at her curiously.

Hmm. Is it okay for this double dose of intimidation and intimidation to enter??
The storefront... or rather, the exterior looked like a chic overseas *maison*.
Her eyes, against her will, were drawn to the sparklingly polished windows.

(Well, I'm just going to say a quick hello. If I hide in the shadow of these two large men, maybe I won't be seen.)

Guardians are to be treated as walls or pillars.
While she hesitated for a moment, a woman with a calm demeanor who seemed to be the person in charge came out from inside, opening the door.

「My, Margrave Azenda. ...It's been a long time, Magnolia-sama.」

Being called upon with a gentle smile as their eyes met, she bowed slightly for now.
Judging by her manner, she seemed to know her, so Magnolia searched her memory; if they had met, it was probably during a fitting.

「Do you have business with our store?」
「I would like to see the guild master, Simon-sama. I don't have an appointment. If he is busy, even just a message...」

Instead of making a displeased face at the sudden visit, she smiled and said,

「Understood. I will check now if he is available to meet you. Please allow me to show you to the reception room.」

Saying so, she led them to a reception room in the back.
The two men, who were probably accustomed to VIP treatment, relaxed completely and looked around the room.

Just as the served tea reached the perfect drinking temperature, Simon arrived looking flustered.

「My apologies for keeping you waiting. I am the guild master, Simon Campbell.」
「Good evening. My apologies for this sudden visit.」

After greeting Servas and Claude as well, Simon turned back to face Magnolia.

「...You have business with me, you say? How may I be of service?」
「I will be going to the Azenda Margrave territory for a little while. When the clothes I ordered the other day are ready, I would like you to send them there.」

It would be too sad if they were just left at the mansion... or thrown in the trash after going to the trouble of making them.
As if sensing Magnolia's feelings, Simon nodded readily.

「Understood.」
「Also, does this store purchase handmade goods?」
「Yes, we do. Of course, it depends on the quality of the item...」

Hearing Simon's reply, she took several pouches from the bundle she was carrying and lined them up on the table.
They were in colors like colorful pink, light blue, and yellow—colors that young girls would likely prefer.

Using fabric suitable for dresses to make pouches, and then layering organza or chiffon over them. The bottom is left unstitched, only the top is attached, making it fluffy like a skirt.
When you tighten the pouch string, it looks just like a small dress.
By using ribbons like satin for the strings, you can also make it look like a bow tied at the waist, making it as cute as a real dress.

「!!」
「If you make them from leftover dress fabric, they can be matching. Also, you can choose a dress you admire and make a pouch version, you see.」

Smiling brightly, Magnolia brought out additional pouches.
Small flower patterns, stripes, polka dots. Plain ones that, upon closer inspection, have patterns emerging from the weave...

「These are made from much more affordable dress fabrics. Like an apron, you sandwich a small white cloth in the center and only stitch the top.」

Similarly, when you pull the string tight, it looks like an apron is attached.
It resembles the kind of dresses commoners wear. The aprons also vary—square ones, ones with rounded hems, long ones, ones with frills.

「These are quite nice... Would you be willing to sell them to us?」
「Yes. How much would they be?」
「For these four, five large copper coins altogether. For six, one small silver coin and five large copper coins. How does that sound?」

Whoa. That's a much higher price compared to the handkerchiefs.
(The dress-style ones are double... five and five large copper coins. Plus one small silver coin, so two small silver coins total...)

It seemed like a fairly ambitious price setting. She was grateful.
But, she was still one small silver coin short...

「Let's go with that, please. Also, please look at this one.」

A pouch was made from a fabric like crimson velvet, with many layers of organza layered over it like a real petticoat. Over that, the crimson fabric was layered again.
Looking closely, it was adorned with very fine embroidery, with beads scattered here and there like jewels.

While being the same product, it had become something so beautiful it could be called decorative.

Simon let out a deep, admiring sigh.

The designs were cute, so they would probably sell well to young girls.
By changing the fabric and design, the price range could also be adjusted.

This deluxe version should appeal to adults as well.

And furthermore, despite saying she had just started her lessons the other day, this level of handiwork...
The products were neatly sewn, sufficiently viable for sale.
It would make more sense if one said a maid had thought of it and made it.

「...Did you make this, Magnolia-sama?」
「Of course?」

Magnolia replied, looking puzzled.
Simon stared intently, carefully checking the fabric used, then looked at the embroidery and beads.

When she first started her handicraft practice, the maids who saw the skirt she remade gave her various leftover fabrics for her next project.
This high-quality dress fabric was from Daisy. The beads were from Lila.
The organza and ribbons were cheap remnants of various kinds, which Lily helped pick out and buy for her.
After selling handkerchiefs a few times, she had managed to get a tiny bit of seed money.

In between making the now-familiar handkerchiefs, she had been creating prototypes for escape funds.
She remembered that in her previous life, there was something called a 'towel dress' made from towels, and since the pouch shape also resembled a skirt, she tried to see if she could make something.

「For this one, how about one small silver coin?」
Simon placed three small silver coins in total for all the items in front of Magnolia.
「Yes, please.」

They both smiled; the deal was settled.
The thought crossed Magnolia's mind—just how much did he plan to sell the one small silver coin item for?—but she decided not to say anything unnecessary.

「Will you be making more?」
「Probably, that's the plan.」
「Then, when you have more finished, please do not hesitate to contact our store.」
「...I would like to, but Azenda is far away.」

Simon, with his usual smile, said,

「I have connections there and travel back and forth often. If it is not an imposition, I shall occasionally call at your residence to pay my respects.」

After being seen off politely, the three of them left the store.
Once they boarded the carriage again, Magnolia immediately turned towards Claude.

「Yes. Here are the three small silver coins I borrowed, plus interest.」
「Interest...」

Adding the coins she received from the Campbell guild master earlier, she took out a small leather bag from her chest, removed three small copper coins, and placed a total of six coins in his large palm.

「Yes. With this, the debt is cleared.」

Claude looked intently back and forth between the coins in his palm and Magnolia.
...Given it was his niece, he had thought she would probably pay him back someday. But it seems she paid him back not when she grew up, but on the very same day. And she even included interest, however small.

「Is this really okay, Magnolia?」

Servas asked his granddaughter, who was rubbing her eyes.
Probably sleepy from being rocked by the carriage while tired.
Today must have been a tense day for her.

「It's fine... It's best to repay debts quickly... Besides, for a while... I won't be earning... in the forest... so... I have no... funds...」

She must be tired. She was nodding off, her head dipping. Claude gently patted her on the back.

「Forest? To live...?」
「...For hunting... and gathering...」

At this outrageous statement, Servas and Claude exchanged looks and shared a wry smile.

「Sleep for a while.」

Lulled by the gentle rocking and warmth, Magnolia had closed her eyes before she knew it.
Enveloped gently, protectively, in a slightly hard but sturdy arm, a gentle finger smoothed her disheveled hair and tucked it behind her ear.
Then, the sound of regular breathing could be heard.

「...She really was planning to run away.」
「Even though I thought 'surely not', the fact that she's truly capable of it is something else.」

Claude let out a small sigh and lightly flicked the warhammer tied to his hip with a cord.
Servas gazed affectionately at his granddaughter sleeping before him.

「A frighteningly clever child. And she has fortitude.」
「...And she has a good personality too, seen in how she compares us to cats.」
「Perhaps she takes after Gerald in that regard.」

A soft, low laugh echoed in the carriage.
The townhouse they were returning to came into view.

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