A Grand Debut

Translated by: ME

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

*****

Early autumn had arrived.

The lingering summer heat was still intense, but a cool morning and evening breeze could be felt more frequently now. The heavy heads of wheat swaying in the wind had taken on a deep golden hue, making the transition of the seasons palpable.

「What shall we do for the parting gifts for the guests?」

Plum asked Magnolia for confirmation.

By now, the servants had mostly ceased to be surprised by the fact that the little girl of their master's house far exceeded the boundaries of an ordinary child. It was a testament to the fact that humans, no matter their age, are creatures of habit.

Over the past year, it had been proven time and again—to a painful degree—that she was a young girl with abilities that rivaled... no, easily surpassed those of a typical adult. With the help of others, she had executed and succeeded in numerous endeavors, guiding them toward their proper conclusions. It was better to treat her as an adult who simply happened to have the appearance of a child.

With that in mind, the staff had decided it was best to let her experience and practice as many things as possible to make them her own. Since she was a girl whose mother’s presence was effectively nonexistent, it was vital to provide as much training as possible in household management and the nuances of social etiquette. After all, the servants could sense that the young lady would likely never return to her biological parents' home.

While they couldn't replace her mother, she was a clever girl. They were confident that after a few tries, she would be able to think for herself. The servants were prepared to teach and support her to the best of their ability whenever she asked.

「Let's see. To showcase the current spirit of Azenda, I was thinking of making small jars of sauerkraut and pickled paprika, along with that 'Tuna' we made the other day. Would that be strange?」

「Oh my! That fish preserved in oil? It keeps well, so I'm sure everyone would be delighted.」

Plum’s face brightened with a smile.

---

Indeed, much like on Earth, the "Tuna" had become incredibly popular at both the western garrison and the manor. As expected, its long shelf life and versatility in various dishes were likely the main reasons for its success.

Magnolia recalled bringing some to the trading company for the staff meals; the response was so enthusiastic that they seemed ready to decide then and there that the next product for the health food squad should be tuna.

「Also, since it's a celebration, we should include some flower confections, right? ...If possible, I'd like to attach a small patchwork mat or something similar.」

Flower confections were a staple for celebrations. Jars of sauerkraut, tuna, and two types of pickles, with flower confections placed beside them. She would package them in a box along with simple table accessories like coasters or placemats that could be easily produced. It was a selection of items that embodied the results of Magnolia's year and a half in the territory.

In terms of format, it was similar to the "Uchiiwai" (reciprocal gift) sets common in Japan.

「My, oh my! That's wonderful!! We must make the arrangements immediately.」

Magnolia had actually already ordered somewhat stylish glass jars. She had anticipated that she would be asked about this.

She had already discussed the general plan with Servas and Claude and received their approval. She felt it was safer to pre-order items that take time, such as the glass bottles and decorative carved wooden boxes. She hadn't told Plum sooner only because she didn't want to rush the servants, who were already busy with business, territorial affairs, and various other logistical tasks.

Her lineup was based on what Plum had told her long ago regarding gifts: usually, flower confections in luxurious cases were prepared, and if the territory had specialties, those were sometimes added as well.

---

Servas had said a year ago that he would increase Magnolia's "value."

In this world, daughters were often viewed as pawns of the house. Specifically, they were used to link families through marriage.

However, if a woman possessed *too much power* in her own right, it became difficult to arrange a mediocre marriage for her.

Normally, a daughter of a noble house is advantageous in marriage because of her bloodline, family rank, and the potential support from her parents' home. But if she exceeds that scope and becomes someone indispensable to the territory, it is not easy to simply give her away.

—Because the territory itself will not let her go.

Furthermore, if marriage is a contract between families and territories, it is expected that the other party provides a proportional return to the bride's side.

Magnolia’s work with "Sailing Sickness" prevention and dietary therapy alone was a monumental achievement. She had identified the cause of a disease that no one had been able to solve for years and established practical methods for its prevention and treatment.

Add to that her participation in the reform and management of the territory, her contribution to the significantly increased crop yields, and the multiple successes of her business ventures... no ordinary man could easily claim he wished to marry her.

Of course, neither Servas nor Claude had any intention of forcing Magnolia into such a marriage in the first place.

They had taken this preparation period to create a "position more than sufficient" for her—one where she could overturn the flaw of an excessively late debut with her own strength, choose her own marriage partner to a certain extent, and refuse if she so desired. It was precisely because they believed she was capable of this that they had chosen to hold her debut now rather than immediately.

Magnolia herself understood Servas’s thinking. Claude likely felt the same way.
...While she had to resign herself to the fact that she would stand out a bit (?), she was honestly grateful.

They understood that for Magnolia, who possessed the sensibilities of a modern Japanese person, the life of a typical noblewoman would be suffocating.

---

「Then, let's officially place the order with the trading company. Shall we make the quantity a bit larger, just in case?」

「Yes. We also need to decide what kind of flower confections to use.」

The sauerkraut and pickled paprika would be ordered from the trading company. They would be paid to produce them properly. As for the tuna, should she have the company make it as practice, or make it herself?

The flower confections would be easy enough to order from a pastry shop.
...Plum would likely be more knowledgeable in that area, so Magnolia would simply listen to her advice.

Lily took notes as the two spoke. There were a mountain of things to do over the next two months—quantities, progress checks, and confirmations. Since these were gifts for invited guests, everything had to be handled with extreme care to avoid mistakes.

This was the big stage for her beloved young lady. As Magnolia’s sole personal maid, Lily was determined to give it her all. Even now, she was huffing through her nose with excitement.

「Still, inviting every single noble in Azenda is quite a feat.」

「There aren't that many nobles in Azenda. Since we'll likely be dealing with them frequently through business and other matters from now on, it probably serves as a formal introduction as well.」

Wow... this was quite large-scale.
It was likely Servas and Claude’s way of ensuring Magnolia was firmly rooted in Azenda.

「It will be held at the Azenda Palace, won't it?」

Lily confirmed.

The Azenda Palace. Back when this land was known as the Duchy of Azenda, it had served as the royal palace.

It was located in the northern district near the Holy Kingdom of Monteorona; both Lily and Magnolia would be visiting it for the first time. It was said to be a chalk-white palace situated on a slight elevation by a lakeside, surrounded by a green forest.

Because it wasn't suited for everyday use, it was apparently used as a guest house... which, given Azenda’s current situation, was practically synonymous with it not being used at all.

(What a waste. Though, I suppose living in a massive castle in the middle of the mountains would be inconvenient.)

When she first arrived in Azenda, she had wondered if it had been destroyed because it belonged to a defeated nation. However, she learned that Servas chose not to live there because it was inconvenient for daily life, and because he felt that living in the place where the Grand Duke of Azenda once resided might hurt the feelings of the local people.

While he could be completely blind when it came to Magnolia, she felt a tickle of amusement and affection realizing that, in his own way, he was a proper "Lord."

(...I guess I've completely grown fond of them, haven't I?)

She realized she had begun to feel a similar sense of kinship toward Servas, who expressed his affection so directly, and Claude, who tried to lead her properly with a mix of strictness and kindness.

Certainly, lately she had been more open with her emotions, pouting or acting spoiled. A firm sense of trust had taken root, a certainty that these two would accept her for who she was.

In moments like this, she couldn't help but feel that despite her thoughts, her heart was that of a child.
—To trust people so easily.

(Gramps aside, I don't even have a blood connection to Brother Claude. I wonder why I can trust them this much?)

It had only been about two years since she met them both.
Perhaps time didn't matter. Perhaps it was because she was being hit with unconditional affection. Does suspicion simply vanish in the face of true sincerity?

It wasn't bad.
Magnolia gave a wry smile at the part of herself that had come to think that way.

*****

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