A Perfect Refuge?
True to her declaration, Floria first proposed improvements to the Merchants’ Guild to Raziel and began implementing them.
She introduced the document-sorting system I had been using and created a file of template letters sorted by type.
She fixed the issue where each guild member had their own way of writing letters.
Next, she unified the delivery slips for goods sent from the villages, had them woodblock-printed, and mailed them to each village together with sample entries.
Based on past data, she created line graphs and bar graphs for each product so that sales trends could be understood at a glance month by month, and thanks to those and other improvements, the guild’s work began running smoothly and overtime decreased dramatically.
The guild members were worshiping her like a goddess.
She did all this in just five days.
“Floria, what is the meaning of this?”
After receiving my letter, Duke Clondale and Raphael came rushing to Westland in a panic.
I thought the Duke was too busy to come, yet here he is.
"I’m in the middle of proposing to Reinhardt and asking him to make me his wife."
“No, seriously, how did it come to that?”
I explained to Duke Clondale and Raphael everything she had told my family.
As he listened, the Duke’s expression grew tighter and more displeased.
"Duke Grande only ever talks about his adopted daughter—the younger sister—not his own daughter. It’s something he could understand if he simply investigated, yet he refuses to look into anything. At this rate, there’s a very high possibility he’ll marry me off somewhere outrageous."
Calling her own father “Duke”…
“But even so…”
"You may investigate whether what I say is true or false. I don’t mind."
Floria was bold.
“Fine. I’ll look into it, so come to my house.”
"No."
“What did you say?”
"As long as there’s a chance Duke Grande could smooth-talk you and force me to return, I refuse."
“Then what should be done?”
"Make me your adopted daughter, Uncle. If you do that, it will be easier for me to marry into this house."
Floria… so that’s where you’re steering this after all.
“Duke Clondale, we will look after Miss Floria until this matter is resolved. If you tried to forcefully take her back and something happened, we would also feel responsible.”
“Actually, Young Lady Floria has been helping with the work. She even proposed ways to improve efficiency, and both the guild and Reinhardt’s subordinates are delighted.”
My parents began saying things that clearly supported Floria.
"I am helping with the work. If I’m to become Reinhardt’s wife, I must be someone useful to the household."
Floria looked extremely pleased with herself.
“Work efficiency?”
Of course he’d be interested.
“Father, let’s hear about the work efficiency improvements later. Floria, even if Reinhardt’s letter stated all this, I want to know why you’re so fixated on someone you met for the first time.”
"It’s simple. Neither the Empire nor Uncle can treat Reinhardt poorly, correct? They wouldn’t want to anger Atre or Lucas."
A perfect refuge—she’s saying this is a place no one can recklessly interfere with?
That’s absolutely not true. The royal family meddles with my house constantly.
"Besides, Reinhardt and everyone in Westland listened to me properly. Even when they offered advice, they never forced anything on me."
“You know Reinhardt will be the next head of Westland?”
"Eh? There’s a legitimate son, isn’t there?"
Floria turned toward me and asked.
“My brother is to be adopted into another house, so… yes, though I’m not thrilled about it.”
"In that case, my becoming an adopted daughter would be even more advantageous for Uncle, wouldn’t it?"
In the end, Floria won, and it was decided she would continue staying at our house.
Duke Clondale and Raphael bowed their heads to us, and Father apologized for making their young lady work.
But he also said she was helping immensely.
The Duke wanted to know about the improvements Floria had made, so he and Floria went to the Merchants’ Guild.
Raphael stayed behind.
“Reinhardt, I’m truly sorry. I never imagined Floria would come all the way to Westland…”
He doesn’t know about reincarnators, so it can’t be helped.
“I was suddenly told to become the heir, so I was feeling down… but I’ve been so overwhelmed by all this that I haven’t had time to brood.”
“I also had no idea my cousin was this sharp or this capable of action.”
When the Duke returned from the guild, he said he would confirm things quickly and then come back again.
But Floria insisted firmly, "Uncle, when we meet next time, please bring the adoption papers with you."
What do you think about this chapter?
