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The Reincarnated Thirty-Something Woman’s Otherworldly Reform Life

[Return of the Guard Knight]

Translated by: ME

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

*****

When they returned to the fortress, the guard knight they had seen off yesterday was waiting in front of the gate.

It seemed he hadn't entered the fortress, but rather had spotted Hugo and Ethan astride their horses with the carriage and waited there for their arrival.

「...You're not the only knight left at headquarters, are you?」

Hugo looked at the knight who came every day with a complicated expression.

The guard knight held his breath with a face that looked about to cry, then hung his head dejectedly.

「Please tell the unit commander too... to send someone else.」

「If I say it, won't it look like you messed up?」

Swallowing a sigh at the valid advice, he turned to Ethan.

「...This is reportedly a report from the Investigation Department to Sir Berlioz.」

Saying so, he handed over an envelope. Ethan, leading his horse, nodded slightly and accepted it.

Next, he turned to Magnolia, who had been watching the exchange between the knights, and bowed toward the carriage window.

「This is addressed to you, Milady... from Lord Claude.」

Hearing the sender, Magnolia also made a weary face, feeling as if a lecture were leaking from the envelope.

「.......Thank you vewy much. I was thinking of witing a letter to ask Big Bwother a favor too. If you have no pwoblem with time, I want you to wait a little.」

「................ Understood.」

He probably intended to return immediately. He realized that if he dallied, he would get complaints from Ethan, if not Hugo.

After a long pause, the knight wore an expression that could only be described as regretful and bowed his head again.

***

Returning to her room, Magnolia hurriedly opened the letter.

Inside, written in methodical handwriting, were instructions not to cause trouble for the knights, not to go out alone, a notification that Servas had arrived safely in the Royal Capital, and a request to inform him of the outline once the situation had settled.

Incidentally, it also said to inform him about the trial balance sheet from the other day, as the calculation of labor costs would change depending on what kind of people she intended to use.

...His nagging wasn't appreciated, but it seemed he was worried about his small niece after all, and apparently, he would also tackle the trial balance sheet she had thrown at him as a request.

She had also been given paper and pens, likely deemed necessary, and she was grateful to be able to write somewhat freely.

She had been wondering how to procure writing tools, but since Servas and Claude found out that she had knowledge beyond that of an adult, let alone reading and writing, and she ended up helping with the administration of the territory, she was handed a hefty amount with the instruction to use them.

At a glance, it was generous, but it also meant they were going to work her that hard.

Magnolia ended the warnings with a single line, "I am aware," and wrote that she had actually met Paul and started dietary therapy, about the five people who fell ill on the merchant ship from the country of Ignis, and the content within the scope of her knowledge. Regarding the trial balance sheet, she wrote that she wanted to prioritize hiring people who would find it difficult to work elsewhere, the elderly, children, and those truly in need.

Incidentally, she added a request to investigate the Chamery Trading Company of the country of Ignis, its family, and background. She also decided to write asking if the name Ernest rang any bells in the country of Ignis.

(I don't know if diplomatic relations are that active, but if he's a big shot, something should come up.)

She added that Ernest of the Chamery Trading Company had advised her that it would be better to make it a business, that the trial balance sheet was originally for that purpose, and that although she was told they wanted to buy the product for the time being, she also wanted advice on how much to sell it for.

(Waaah, please don't get angry!)

Even though the contents inside should differ by fourteen years. She threw a mental jab at her uncle who was younger (on the inside) but overwhelmingly stronger.

***

Meanwhile, in the office, the adjutant brewed tea with his own hands and placed it in front of the fast-horse knight.

「You went home quickly yesterday and the day before, so we couldn't hear your story... Well, have some tea.」

Receiving the pressure of a smile that didn't reach the eyes, as if truth serum had been put in the tea, the knight's face twitched, and he swallowed hard with a gulp.

(Eek! Why me...!!)

He cursed his luck for the absolutely terrible timing.

It was always, always like this.

During the knight order exam, he sprained his ankle and passed as a reserve (barely slipping in), and missed the entrance ceremony due to a fever. Even after joining, something always happened at important times.

...Just when he thought things had settled down recently, he happened to be assigned to guard the Young Lady the other day, then almost got isolated, and because of that, he's been made to shuttle between the territorial capital and the west countless times in the last few days.

It started with him going back and forth as a messenger because he happened to be there, but today, while walking down the hallway, he encountered the head of the Investigation Department holding a letter and was told to take it to the Western Garrison Unit. Then, for some reason, Claude spoke to him personally, and when he wondered what it was, he was handed a letter for Magnolia.

...He didn't particularly dislike being a messenger, but with it continuing like this, he wondered what was going on. He couldn't help but suspiciously speculate that his usual bad timing was attracting something bad.

(Besides, it's the Young Lady...! I feel like every time I get involved, the story keeps getting bigger and bigger!!)

He was scared by the premonition that sooner or later, he would become so heavily involved that he wouldn't be able to move.

And the adjutant in front of him was emanating an unsettling atmosphere.

「...So? What do you know?」

Ethan narrowed his beautiful green eyes.

He spoke as if he knew something, but the questioned knight knew nothing and had no idea.

He hurriedly shook his head.

「I know nothing!! It's the truth!!」

「But you were hiding things about the Young Lady from us, weren't you?」

「That was just because if you knew a toddler was coming here... I thought you might get angry, so I just was vague about it!」

It's true! shouted the knight, and Hugo thought, that makes sense. The knight in front of them didn't look like he was lying. It was probably the truth.

Normally, one wouldn't think a toddler would speak logically enough to put adults to shame (albeit in baby talk), nor would one think she would bring information about Voyage Sickness that no one was supposed to know. Her handling of Paul, his mother, and the foreigner Ernest was proper, and didn't seem like that of a very small child.

A strange and extremely unnatural existence.

「...Is the Young Lady a hidden child of Lord Servas or Lord Gerald?」

At Hugo's words, the knight blinked.

「No, she appears to be Lord Gerald's legitimate child.」

Ethan, who had read the report, answered instead of the knight, handing the documents about Magnolia to Hugo.

「...Legitimate child, meaning official?」

Hugo looked at Ethan and the knight with disbelief.

「Why hasn't she been debuted...? If that's true, she would be a candidate for future Queen.」

「Who knows. It seems even the Knight Order Headquarters in the territorial capital doesn't know. After all, the Commander and Vice Commander apparently took custody of her from the Gilmore family about a week ago.」

Servas and Claude had no intention of hiding Magnolia's existence, but above all, it had only been a week since she moved. They were in the middle of discussing when would be a good time for her debut.

「...She doesn't look like she's in bad health.」

Voicing the reason for delaying a debut, Hugo tilted his head. Ethan sighed as if to say that didn't matter.

「Is the Margrave family probing for something in the Western Garrison Unit?」

Ethan cut straight to the core. However, the questioned knight tilted his head with a puzzled look.

「Huh?」

「I'm asking if they are using a small child to make us lower our guard and probe for something that doesn't exist.」

「No!」

Contrasting with his demeanor until now, the knight clearly voiced his denial.

「The Young Lady persuaded the adults who opposed her to come here, thinking her knowledge about Voyage Sickness might be useful. I happened to be guarding her when the topic came up, and I heard the conversation, so there is no mistake.」

Ethan looked at the knight suspiciously. The timid knight from before was gone; he stared straight at his superior, Ethan.

「It's not just the Young Lady. The footman boy, though small, persuaded his family to accompany her. The maid also offered to accompany the Young Lady herself, despite not knowing if it was contagious. It was completely coincidental that they came here in the first place. I don't think there is any such intention.」

While Magnolia was out in the territorial capital, notice of the Voyage Sickness outbreak came to the Lord's Mansion from the Western Garrison Unit. The day before, Claude and Magnolia had gone to Cruse, so it started with the idea of isolating them just to be safe.

The story Ethan was suggesting couldn't exist, and there were no such instructions. The knight thought that setting Magnolia aside, her two attendants, who looked like the picture of goodness, couldn't do such a thing.

「Both Lord Claude and Mr. Sebastian are very worried about the three of them coming here. Thinking 'what if'... If Lord Servas, who is in the Royal Capital, found out, I dread to think what would happen...」

Remembering Servas, who doted on his grandchild, the knight's spine froze.

His granddaughter was acting even while risking her life (since there was no proof it wasn't contagious, he would think so)... just getting grilled wouldn't be the end of it.

Hugo agreed, thinking that sounds right given the unexpectedly affectionate Servas, but Ethan still seemed unconvinced, tightening his shapely lips.

In the midst of this, there was a knock on the door.

After Hugo said "Come in," the person who entered was the subject of the rumors herself, Magnolia.

「Hm? What??」

There were sharp eyes, a desperate face, and a tired-looking back.

It was a slightly strange space, but since it didn't seem like she was being refused entry like last time, she walked tite-tite to finish her errand and held out a letter to the knight.

「Mr. Knight, pleashe give this to Big Bwother... Also, I wote it sho you can ask other people for help, not jusht you, okay?」

「Milady...!!」

Being exceptionally moved, she pulled back a little.

Being made to act as a messenger constantly, almost being isolated... Magnolia accepted his eccentric behavior (?) as understandable since it was indeed a misfortune.

「I musht be distuwbing you, sho excuse me.」

「Milady, I would like to ask you something briefly.」

Hugo decided to ask the Young Lady, who seemed capable of acting and speaking based on her own thoughts judging from her behavior over the past two days.

She could probably judge for herself what she shouldn't say.

Looking at the too-small figure in front of him, he murmured in his heart, I completely can't believe it, though.

「...Are you the child of Lord Gerald and Lady Wisteria of the Gilmore family?」

「Yesh, I am?」

At her attitude that seemed to say "So what?", the three were taken aback.

「...Why come to the Margrave territory?」

「Hmm... I'm a fweeloader.」

「Freeloader...」

Hugo blinked. A word completely unsuited for a marquess's daughter popped out.

Now, Magnolia wondered how much she should tell.

Ethan was probably grumbling about something. Even now, he had a severe look on his face.

After hesitating for a short while, she decided it would be better to say what she could because it was troublesome.

「Father... Marwquis Gilmore, for political weasons, sheems to have hidden my exishtence. If you want to know the detashed weason, pleashe ask Marwquis Gilmore diwectly. It sheems the Marwchionesh had no intewest in a usheless girl? I don't know the details either, sho pleashe ask her yourshelf.」

「「「......」」」

Even if they asked, it was doubtful they would tell.

「...Is your health alright?」

Seeing Hugo having difficulty speaking, she thought, Ah, the debut issue.

「I'm hale and hearty. Not having a debut is pwobably also due to the political weasons mentioned earlier. I don't know if I will do it late in the future or not, but I think that will be decided by discussion between both families or by Gwandfather's judgment.」

She looked at Ethan, who seemed to be silently observing Magnolia's every move.

「That part is pwobably a delicate issue. That ish becaush I am a girl of the Gilmore family, you undershtand? Pleashe do not leak it outside before the Lord's family's intentions are shettled. Anyhow, shinsh my pawents' home was cwamped, I came to live at the house of Gwandfather and Big Bwother, who knew of my exishtence and came to see me.」

The knight covered both ears with an expression that said he didn't want to hear. She understood the feeling.

「Is there anything elshe you want to ask?」

「Are you investigating us?」

Ethan cut right to the chase. Magnolia tilted her head.

「...Are you doing shomething you need to hide?」

「We aren't! That's why I'm asking to prevent needless suspicion.」

She looked at both Ethan and Hugo's faces.

(Man~, I'm glad they didn't ask about my knowledge.)

Magnolia opened her mouth in relief.

That would be harder to explain... no, impossible.

「Then, you should jusht be dignfied. In the firsht plache, if the two of them were shuspicious, wouldn't they avoid taking such a roundabout method? They would come all at onche, tighten the noose all at onche, and end it.」

In both metaphorical and physical senses, she added. The three thought, Indeed.

「I thought it would be better to shtay here for secuwity weasons, but if it bothers you that much, I will get lodgings outside. If it is convenient for you to keep watch, I will shtay here. For the time being, I plan to shtay in the west for a few days until Paul's condition shettles down.」

「...No, that won't be necessary. Thank you for answering frankly, even though it must have been difficult to say.」

Hugo exchanged glances with Ethan, seemingly deciding to wrap up the conversation.

Magnolia also nodded in agreement.

Good grief.

Magnolia, Hugo, and the knight all thought so and sighed.

*****

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