Chapter 76

I initially thought Countess Monterracy was going to be a troublesome guest, but things actually turned out quite well. We’re getting hand-me-down boys’ uniforms from the Royal Academy, a pony is coming twice a week complete with a riding instructor, and it seems my cousin—an active-duty knight—will be coaching us in swordsmanship. Well, I’ll manage my expectations and wait and see on that last one. Aunt Amalia probably decided that on her own, and Sir Saries is likely very busy.

I endure my father’s resentful glares and eat my lunch. Yes, the food situation in the Granger household has improved significantly.

Romano lettuce and turnip potage, bread that is still brown but soft, and a small steak accompanied by plenty of sautéed winter vegetables. For one’s health, this amount of meat is just right. It’s better to have more vegetables anyway!

“I don’t think I can finish all this meat.”

After all, I eat luxurious meals every day in the high-class dining hall (the Salon). Sautéed vegetables are plenty for me. A small steak isn’t quite enough for two growing boys. Nasius hesitates out of politeness, but Henry’s eyes light up.

“Big sister, are you sure?” How adorable!

“Yes, the potage and bread have made me quite full. Besides, there’s a lot of sautéed vegetables too.”

Giving the boys my meat is the same as when I first reincarnated here, but the difference now is that I actually am full.

In the afternoon, I spend time in the drawing room practicing dance and Hanon exercises, which I couldn’t do earlier because of the visitor.

“First-year dances use simple steps, so I think you’ll learn them quickly, Nasius.”

I play Hanon on the piano while having the two of them practice their steps. They couldn’t be any cuter. Ah, bliss!

Next is Hanon practice. Henry has mastered his scales, so I have him play simple nursery rhymes.

“You’re doing great. Let’s play some finger exercises too.”

Compared to nursery rhymes, the Hanon exercise book that the original Patience owned is quite tedious. However, you can’t improve unless your fingers move correctly.

“Big sister, aren’t there any more fun exercise songs?”

Nasius has already mastered the exercises I wrote out, leaving only the boring ones Patience already had.

“True… well, let’s compose a few songs during winter break. I wonder if it’s okay if they’re a little more difficult?”

Nasius nods happily. Ugh, so cute. Big sister will write as many songs as you want! Maybe some anime songs would be good. Or maybe Burgmüller’s piano practice book… I wonder if I remember them?

After finishing dance and piano practice, we plant strawberry seedlings in the greenhouse.

“Now we can eat strawberries!” Henry loves strawberries, after all.

“Yes, let’s cast a spell so they grow big.”

I put a little power into it and chant, “Grow big!” and the runners begin to spread.

“We protect these extended runners with straw, right?”

“You remember well, Nasius. That’s right; strawberries are sensitive to the cold, so let’s tuck them in with a straw blanket.”

Studying with my brothers, working in the greenhouse… winter break is heaven! Or so I was thinking… but “great joy is often followed by sorrow!” Just when I was feeling grateful to Aunt Amalia for being somewhat useful… she really was a troublesome guest.

“My Lady, you have a visitor.”

Mary came to call me. I’m so annoyed!

“Who is it?” Who is here to disturb my paradise?!

“It is Viscountess Maxwell. She is the Viscount’s second older sister.”

Mary’s tone makes it clear she’s not a fan. While Countess Monterracy at least provided some aid toward repaying the debt and gave us old uniforms and clothes, this Viscountess Maxwell apparently did nothing for us.

“Tell me, how many siblings does Father have?”

I don’t want my precious winter vacation ruined.

“His sisters are Countess Monterracy, Viscountess Maxwell, and Countess Northcote.”

It seems my father was the youngest child with three older sisters. They all married into fairly prestigious families. The Granger family might have been a good house once, even without land—before Father was dismissed, anyway. The mansion is grand and stands in a prime location.

Since I had been working with soil in the greenhouse, I clean up using lifestyle magic and enter the drawing room. Ah, Father already looks exhausted. I wonder if his second sister, visiting for the first time in ages, gave him a lecture too.

“Patience, this is Viscountess Charlotte Maxwell. Greet your aunt.”

Aunt Charlotte, who is thinner than Aunt Amalia, looks at me with sharp eyes. Is she sizing me up? Or does she just have a mean look?

“I am Patience. It is a pleasure to meet you for the first time.”

I’ll greet her politely. For now, at least.

“My, you look exactly like Julianne. I hear you have no contact with the Earl of Capecot’s family over there, which is quite a problem.”

Father hurriedly stops Aunt Charlotte.

“About that… anyway, Sister, what brings you here today? You didn’t even come to Julianne’s funeral.”

Ah, a jab from Father. So Aunt Amalia did come to the funeral.

“I was at our estate at the time. Besides, you surely understand that sometimes it’s impossible to travel in the winter.”

She’s making excuses, but she seems to feel a bit guilty.

“As usual, you have no consideration for others. That’s why you remain dismissed and without a job. Our eldest sister was shocked, you know. She said you were neglecting the education of your sons.”

As I thought, she came here after getting information from Aunt Amalia. It’s the sisters’ network.

“When I heard that Patience was performing her duties as Princess Margaret’s lady-in-waiting so admirably, I worried that a father alone wouldn’t be able to dress her properly. You’re a failure as a parent for not remarrying.”

Remarriage, huh… I’d rather he just got a job. It would be a problem if a stepmother bullied my brothers. I thought she was just an aunt who said unpleasant things, but surprisingly, Aunt Charlotte gave me a generous gift of silk fabric. It was piled high in a large wardrobe.

“The Maxwell Viscounty is a small territory east of Romano, but my husband puts all his effort into developing industries for the people. This silk fabric is a specialty of the Maxwell region. Let me tell you, you mustn’t sell this to buy books. Use this to make dresses for yourself.”

She makes prickly, sarcastic remarks and seems to have some grudge against my mother’s family, the house of the Earl of Capecot, but I’m happy for the fabric.

“Thank you, Aunt.”

I offer my thanks sincerely.

“No, I have no daughters of my own, so I should have looked after you more.”

I thought she might not be a bad person after all, but she’s still a handful.

“Furthermore, I believe Liliana will be visiting you. That girl will surely make unreasonable demands, but it’s best if you accept them.”

Father made a sour face. I wonder what “unreasonable” means.

While I was tilting my head in confusion, Aunt Charlotte gave a little chuckle.

“Patience really does look just like Julianne. If that incident hadn’t happened, the House of Capecot surely would have taken you under their protection.”

Father looks bitter. Did he have a falling out with Mother’s family too?

“Well, the Earl of Capecot is a vassal of Marquess Copperfield, so it couldn’t be helped. My family, with land in the East, aren’t vassals, but we couldn’t get too close publicly either.”

Is this Aunt Charlotte’s way of apologizing? Now that I’ve become Princess Margaret’s lady-in-waiting, has the atmosphere changed so that it’s okay to associate with us? I don’t understand the common sense of this world.

In any case, I wonder what kind of unreasonable demand Liliana, Countess Northcote, is coming to make. It’s not a request for a loan, is it? If I’m told it’s “best to accept,” it must be something doable but troublesome. I really don’t want anyone else disturbing my winter vacation with my brothers.