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The Reincarnated Thirty-Something Woman’s Otherworldly Reform Life

[Magnolia Afterwards]

Translated by: ME

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*****

The die was cast.

Magnolia vaguely contemplated how the eyes of her good-natured grandfather and uncle would change when they looked at her now.

The faces they had made earlier—surprised, complicated... and indescribable—floated in her mind.

(This appearance is troublesome enough, and on top of that, I’m from another world. Whether they believe me or not, I’m nothing but trouble...)

However, it didn't seem possible to keep deceiving them.

...Even if she had chosen to deceive them, she had no confidence she could keep it up successfully.

(If they're going to find out, sooner is better. The wounds will be shallower.)

If she lied for a long time, perhaps she could have nurtured a bond and trust strong enough to withstand such a revelation.

...But the reverse was also true.

(—By lying for a long time, I might just end up hurting them more deeply, right?)

Her feelings were messier than she expected.

(We’ve only known each other for a few days, so why...)

Outside the window, a high, blue sky stretched out. It was a pleasantly clear autumn day.

Was this the feeling of the original Magnolia seeking a family? Or was it the feeling of the adult Magnolia, who had become attached to the warmth of a family she hadn't felt in a long time?

Having something taken away once it has been given is painful. She recognized that feeling and smiled wryly.

Perhaps because they had accepted Magnolia so generously, she had let her guard down. She had unfastened the armor around her heart.

Despite the short time, a relationship where she didn't have to keep up appearances had been exceptionally comfortable.

However, since she had anticipated that this might happen if she exposed her secret, she didn't have time to be depressed.

If they accepted it and didn't change, she would live as she was and live for the sake of the territory.

...If that didn't come true, and it became too painful for both sides, she would slip out of the mansion at night, stop making excuses, and flee to the easiest country to infiltrate.

It would surely be decided within the next few days.

When she returned to her room, Lily looked at Magnolia’s face and spoke worriedly.

「...Lady Magnolia, is something the matter? You look pale.」

「Yeah. I'm okay.」

Glancing around the room, she saw Dean, who must have come for his job as her "playmate," standing awkwardly and looking at Magnolia with concern as well.

「Dean, you’re here. Are your shtudies over for today?」

Dean, turning six, was apparently in the midst of an intense study period, coupled with his sudden recruitment to help at the Lord's mansion.

He was spending his days busily for a six-year-old, learning deportment, letters, manners, and helping with tasks to become a footman.

It seemed his education took place between his duties, but since Magnolia had just moved in and things were unsettled, they were doing it flexibly while keeping a close eye on the situation.

「No. At breakfast, you... Lady Magnolia, you looked like you were having a hard time, so I came to see how you were.」

(Tiny children trying their best are just so cute.)

Her body was four, but her mental age was old enough to be his mother.

Although he was introduced as a playmate, Magnolia felt completely like a guardian.

「I shee, I shee. Thank you. Do you wanna play to cwear your head? Or go back to shtudying?」

She looked up at Dean's face, which was slightly above hers, and tilted her head.

「What are you going to do, Lady Magnolia?」

「I wash planning to go to the libwary. Wanna go together? Or do you wanna play shomething elshe?」

Technically, his role wasn't about whether Dean wanted to do it or not, but rather to "play at whatever the Young Lady wants to play."

Hearing "library," Dean grimaced for a split second.

「Are you going to study?」

「Hmm, well, I guesh? Shomething like shtudying, maybe?」

Dean clenched his small fists and thought about something.

Then, he shook his head slightly.

「...Then, I'm okay. Once I study more and can read properly, I'll go with you.」

「I shee. You shure work hard.」

Perhaps feeling bad about disturbing Magnolia, Dean left the room looking as if he was reluctant to go.

「...Come to think of it, Lily, do you know where the libwary ish?」

「Yes. I thought you might say that, so I asked and got the details perfectly!」

Lily grinned and gave a thumbs up.

「Ohh~. Ash expected of Lily!」

At Magnolia's teasing tone, Lily giggled.

(I wonder what happened to Lady Magnolia...)

When her small mistress entered the room, her face had been paler than Lily had ever seen it.

(Did something happen with Lord Servas and Lord Claude?)

After breakfast, the three of them had cleared the room to talk.

The small mistress, who had been shunned at her birth home, had gained the alliance of her grandfather, the "Demon General" and legendary knight, and her uncle, the handsome but unsociable master swordsman known as the "Black Lion of Azenda."

It was a whirlwind of developments that Lily didn't fully understand, but before she knew it, they had fled the neglectful family home and come to this Azenda Margrave territory.

Lily was originally a maid to Magnolia's mother, Wisteria, but she had forcefully pleaded with Magnolia, Servas, and Claude to let her tag along to this frontier land.

Her small mistress was now doted upon by her muscle-bound grandfather—a far cry from her treatment at home—and was being attended to diligently by the scary-looking, handsome uncle with the sour face.

Her mistress, too, was not frightened by the boisterous mass of muscle but remained cheerful, and while she seemed exasperated by the unsociable uncle's shyness, saying "yes, yes," she looked at him with eyes full of affection.

(I hope it's nothing serious...)

May her small mistress's modest happiness not be broken—

Lily prayed to God in her heart.

「...I shall go bring some drinks, alright?」

「Yesh. Thank you. If you like, you should resht too, Lily.」

Considerate words returned as always.

—Even if she asked, her mistress wouldn't tell her.

Although they hadn't known each other long, Lily felt that while her small mistress usually had a tolerant and open personality, there was a line she absolutely would not let anyone cross.

Lily decided to step out to give Magnolia some time alone.

Magnolia walked around the library, checking the room.

Although slightly smaller than the library at the Gilmore house, it was still abundantly stocked with books.

Surprisingly, many books related to arts such as music and painting caught her eye.

Looking up, she saw colorful stained glass near the ceiling. Various flowers were depicted in intricate and minute detail.

Sound-dampening carpets lay at her feet.

There was a ladder for reaching books on high shelves.

Bookshelves built high up to the ceiling. A large, sturdy-looking executive desk. Bundles of paper and many wooden tags, likely used for notes. A glass inkpot and quill pen—

Normally, she would take her time looking around, but for now, she decided to prioritize searching for what she needed.

Something that would explain the state of the territory and neighboring countries. And maps.

Like the Gilmore family, the Azenda Margrave house was a martial family of commanders, so there were many precise maps.

Magnolia spread them out on the desk and looked for maps focused on the south.

Since the North had magical beasts and insects, Magnolia could not cross it. She needed to know a route to escape as safely and quickly as possible.

(Worst case, if I can't figure it out or there are no candidates, I'll head west to the port and sneak onto a ship.)

She searched the collection for books that would show the situation of each country in recent years as much as possible.

Even though the war had ended and peace had come, there would be various agendas, financial situations, and even national characteristics to consider.

Given her origins, it would be meaningless if her identity was exposed and she was used as a hostage.

A place with a gentle national character and little ill will toward the Ascald Kingdom.

It is good to have things to think about.

Without getting lost, she would simply think and move to lead herself to a solution.

(With this feeling, maybe I was busy in Japan too.)

She didn't know who she was or what job she did. Judging by her lack of extreme knowledge, she could guess it wasn't a highly specialized job like a researcher or a craftsman.

(...Japan, huh.)

Thinking about it again, she felt like she had come to a ridiculously far place, and her footing felt unsteady.

Someday. Would the "Japanese me" ever wake up?

Would she ever return to her original self?

*****

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