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The Reincarnated Thirty-Something Woman’s Otherworldly Reform Life

[Interlude: The Butler and the Young Lady's Brilliant Battle of Wits? (Sebastian's Perspective)]

Translated by: ME

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The Azenda Margrave House is busy from the morning.

Although the actual family name is the Gilmore family, to distinguish it from the main Gilmore family of the Gilmore territory, they often call themselves the "Margrave Family."

The patriarch, Lord Servas, is sixty this year, but he is still active as a Marshal and is constantly being ordered to handle miscellaneous tasks.

He is currently on a business trip to the Royal Palace in the Royal Capital, albeit reluctantly.

The heir and second son, Lord Claude, has turned nineteen. While belonging to the Gilmore Knights and serving as Vice Commander, he spends his days busily helping with the administration of the territory.

...He is very talented and beautiful, but he seems fed up with the young ladies who flock to him because he is too beautiful, so he has shut out almost all social interactions.

Reality is a difficult thing.

And just the other day... six days ago, Lady Magnolia, a young lady raised in hiding by the main Gilmore family, joined our house. Since two mornings ago, she has been participating in knight training accompanied by her footman (planned), Dean. After breakfast, she goes to the office to study (?) or rather help with the administration of the territory, and spends her afternoons embroidering or reading.

When her guardians are at the mansion, she studies and helps with the territory and administration again.

And she manages these activities to fit the convenience of Dean, who is two years older than her and hired as her playmate, and plays for him.

Yes, not being played with, but "playing for him."

...What is to be done about this splendid reversal of positions?

Dean's grandmother, the Head Maid Plum, and I are holding our heads in our hands over this situation where, despite the intention of consideration, it looks like she's babysitting him.

It seems she is also teaching Dean, who wasn't very motivated to study, and making him write something on the ground while playing.

She is an extremely brilliant young lady. Just a few days ago, I was surprised to see a letter addressed to the Countess who took care of her, but that was just the beginning.

Even though she asked for the location of the library the other day and I thought I had to buy picture books for her... when I casually checked the library, she was sitting tiny on a chair, calmly reading history books and specialized documents meant for adults.

...When I confirmed if there were any books she wanted, she replied that books with travelogues or information about various places, books on food and spices, and books that explain the characteristics of other countries would be good.

...She seemed to be independently showing interest not only in domestic and territorial affairs but even overseas.

Furthermore, when she was in the office.

She was sitting on Lord Servas's lap, but when she peeked at the financial statement that had come up from a local region in front of her, she said something like, "This is wrong here," so Lord Claude ordered her to check other documents as well. Three days ago, a desk for the Young Lady was brought into the office.

...By the way, the Young Lady just turned four the other day.

Yesterday she went for a long ride with Lord Claude... but it seemed the two of them messed up something.

Their clothes were gritty with sand, and when asked, the two of them swiftly averted their eyes.

Did they stick their necks into some trouble at their destination...?

Well, since Lord Claude, one of the leading knights of the Gilmore Knights, is with her, I don't think she would get injured easily, but it is not proper for a lady to stick her neck into trouble.

Her knowledge seems to be directed toward food as well.

...The kitchen staff, who were handed unfamiliar tropical fruits wrapped in a large cloth by the two as souvenirs from the ride, were at a loss as to what to do with the contents.

As soon as she heard about it from Lily, the maid attached to the Young Lady who moved with her, the Young Lady moved her small feet tite-tite quickly to the kitchen and was giving them instructions on something.

This morning, chilled cut fruit and a sweet bread mixed with fruit called "Banana Scone" were served for the employees' meal. We enjoyed them very much.

And now, I am confronting the Young Lady.

「Where is the gwaves of our anceshtors? I want to go visit the gwaves of Gwandmother and the others.」

「...It is a bit far, so let us confirm with Lord Servas at a later date.」

Thinking about various things, I avoid a clear statement.

If she goes while Lord Servas is away on a reluctant business trip, I can only imagine the Master sulking later, and I judged it wouldn't be good if something happened.

The Young Lady stared at me with her beautiful ibis-colored eyes and tilted her head.

「Alsho, I want to go to the church... Is there nothing like Sunday servish in Ascald or Azenda?」

There are countries that believe in indigenous gods, but on the continent, most countries believe in the "Orthodox Church," which worships the gods deeply related to each country (the Flower Goddess in the case of the Ascald Kingdom) and the Almighty Great God who bundles those gods.

「...There is, but the Masters of this house are not very devout.」

Perhaps because they sometimes kill people, they—especially Lord Servas—rarely pray to the gods.

Conversely, thinking that one would seek salvation after seeing difficult situations or cruel behavior is likely the thought of an ordinary person.

「There is a small chapel in the east detached building of the mansion. The Madams used to pray there daily.」

Since there is a chapel in the mansion, as an excuse when asked by a priest, the stance is that the busy Masters also pray there daily.

Note that it is true that the Madam and the Grand Madam used it, but it is just an excuse after all. As far as I know, the Masters have never prayed there even once.

So I suggest she pray there.

「What do the shervants do?」

The Young Lady, who doesn't seem willing to back down, pushes forward aggressively while showing a questioning posture.

...Kuh! She is pushing with quite a cute face.

「...On Sunday mornings, we take turns visiting for worship, and some use the chapel in the detached building.」

「Then, I wonder if I could join that gwoup?」

「There are issues of security as well. If something were to happen to your precious self, it would be dangerous.」

How should I put it... I just feel that the moment I nod yes, she will do something.

Call it a steward's intuition, but I feel the same presence as when Lord Servas, Lord Gerald, or occasionally Lord Claude mess up.

The Young Lady tilts her head to the other side.

「...I shee. That's unfoWtunate. Sho there ish no knight who would eshcort me jusht for a little bit? Then, how is chawity work handled? Even though this ish a lord's houshe, shurely you don't jusht hand over money and goods and end it there?」

「...The Masters are busy...」

She hits a sore spot.

...While the Madams were alive, they regularly visited various places, consoled orphanages and relief houses, and provided soup kitchens.

It is a noble's duty and the role of the lord's family.

「Lady Magnolia, you have just arrived here recently.」

「Yesh. That's why, to get ushed to it as shoon as posshible, I think it would be good to intewact with the people of the tewwitowy and go out to town?」

「You are still small, Lady Magnolia. You need support personnel, and the other party will have their own circumstances.」

「...I shee. Sho there ish no one to shupport me...? Even though I can wite and wead letters of wequest myshelf...」

She sighs softly with a sad face and nods slightly.

「I thought I could be of help to Gwandfather and Big Bwother Claude who are bushy, but it can't be helped...」

(I won...!)

I feel some guilt, but I won!!

...However.

The gazes of the servants passing through the hallway are extremely painful.

Being the steward, most of them stay silent, but they cast glances as if to say, "You should just take her."

They watch while carrying linens, watch while cleaning. Watch while arranging flowers.

Dean, who came to pick her up to play just a while ago, is fidgeting with something a little distance away.

The Young Lady asks the attendant boy about his state, telling him to speak up.

「Dean, what's wong?」

「I... No, how about going together with someone from my family!」

((((((He said it!!))))))

The boy who doesn't know adult discretion threw a bomb.

The steward furrows his brows grandly inside without changing his complexion or expression, while the Young Lady, though making a slightly surprised face, must be thinking "Just as planned."

If I'm not careful... the steward thinks that keeping the boy in this place might itself be the Young Lady's strategy.

No. Boy Dean is unexpectedly clever despite his appearance.

He knows well enough for a six-year-old that he shouldn't oppose the steward and should at most just cast glances. Normally, he is a six-year-old who can read the room.

However, he is now the Young Lady's absolute ally.

He feels indebted for various things, she is kind, and above all, she is very cute.

She is much prettier than the daughter of a certain Count family, who is said to be the most beautiful in the territorial capital and troubles Lord Claude by clinging to him.

Or rather, Dean has never seen anyone more beautiful than Magnolia.

Anyway, the boy was determined that even if he incurred some displeasure, he had to side with the Young Lady no matter what!

Above all, if it were truly dangerous, Dean wouldn't agree either, but it's just going to church. Normally, there is nothing dangerous about it.

「If you're worried, I'll ask if someone from the knight order can guard us!」

「......」

「I'll ask!!」

Thinking he wasn't heard, he tilts his head a little and tries saying it in a louder voice than before.

(...I can hear you, Dean Palmore...)

Now, what to do?

This is a desperate pinch for me. A perfect chance has arrived for them.

「...What happened?」

Lily, who must have been preparing tea, arrived and looked around wonderingly at the steward making a bitter face with a smile (skillful), the Young Lady looking triumphant while acting demure, the footman boy who seemed to be breathing roughly fun-fun!, and the passing servants.

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