CH 79

After returning to the Carruthers Residence, I sat down at my desk and let out a sigh. After that… I was wondering what Louisa would say, but in the end, she said nothing.

Because Helmut interrupted us and told us we had arrived at my home…

It would be weird if I said Helumt did something wrong, but the atmosphere then was gone, so we decided to send Louisa back home after dropping me off, and Helmut and Katharina accompanied Louisa in the carriage.

I wonder if Katharina and Louisa are talking about something in the carriage right now. Also, I will never forget Katharina’s face when she saw Helmut after he announced we’d arrived home.

Until now, I had thought that Helmut and Katharina were on good terms as siblings. I thought so, but when I remember Katharina’s eyes looking at Helmut today, I can’t help but wonder if she was really a good sister who adored her older brother. It was like she was looking at walking garbage…

No, let’s stop this. Don’t poke this too much. Moreover, when Helmut got that look from his, he desperately tried to get me off the carriage without hinting about what Katharina was upset about. What happened to those siblings…? No, that’s why you shouldn’t think about it… forget it. I haven’t seen anything.

In any case, I was able to reconcile with Louisa for the time being, and although it was gradual, I was able to talk normally with her. We’ve only met twice since we met again, so it’s probably impossible for us to suddenly become like the old days. From now on, it would be good to fill in the gaps that existed until now.

Knock-knock.

And now someone’s at my door. I told Isabella to come, so it’s probably her.

“Miss Flora, I’ve come to answer your summons,” Isabella said.

“Come in. I need to talk to you,” I said.

“Excuse me,” Isabella said.

She entered my room and now stood opposite me.

“There’s something I want you to investigate,” I said. “Oliver’s troops are already in the city, so could you postpone their returning to Caan territory and have them help?”

Oliver’s unit, who delivered the luggage while escorting the wagon train, was originally scheduled to return to Caan territory soon after this, but there’s something I’d like them to look a little into, first. There is a possibility that both manpower and security escorts will be needed, so it’s helpful to have skilled people who were right there.

“Of course,” Isabella said. “So, what do you want us to look into?”

“Please do a little research on the Bayen Duchy,” I said. “Then, the Arnhardt and Valtek Marquisates, and then…”

I ask Isabella to investigate the House of the quintet bullying me, and some of the people I’m also interested in.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s something trivial,” I said. “Whether it’s their recent successes, or who their families are close to, anything.”

“Understood,” Isabella said.

Isabella will do a good job investigating. I have told her she can use Helmut as well as Oliver. She might also use her connections through Victoria. If you use the information network of the Kruk Trading Firm, will they be able to find out a lot of details?

It’s still the first few days of school, but I’m worried about the future of my school life…

When I arrived at the school around the same time as yesterday, no one was there. And the next one to come after me is the group of five, who come a little earlier than the rest of the class.

“Wait! Why are you here already!” one of them yelled.

“Good day to you,” I said.

There will be no bullshit here. You were thinking of doing something stupid before I came anyway, right? Yesterday, I had a bad time, but if they were to have given up then, they wouldn’t have attacked me so blatantly from the start. The harassment of these guys is so strong that they are willing to go into a full-scale conflict with House Carruthers.

If you’re prepared for that, of course, there’s no way you’ll give up just because Helene warned them a little yesterday. If they didn’t have that kind of determination, they wouldn’t have been so blatant in their intentions.

I’m sure they were thinking of doing something on my desk today as well, but unfortunately, I’m already sitting down at it so they can’t do anything. As expected, if you throw something directly at me, there’s no way it will end peacefully. It must have been clear from yesterday that I’m not the kind of girl who easily cries and apologizes, and if we go that far, they’ll be completely outed as the bad guys. Or so I’d like to think.

Also, I can argue that they won’t repeat tampering with my desk like yesterday. The reason being, if they do it again like yesterday, it will end like yesterday, and we will have to wipe the desks that we soiled ourselves. If it’s absolutely possible for me to wipe it both down, I don’t think they’ll care how dirty it gets, but if by any chance it’s the same ruling as yesterday, we’ll end up wiping it up ourselves, so they can’t do it.

For the time being, the harassment in the morning seems to have ended in failure, and I’m relieved as the number of students gradually increases. The content of the class is still simple, but I can’t let my guard down too much. Education in this world seems to be quite advanced, so by the time you realize it, you might end up being left behind in class. Let’s study hard so that it doesn’t happen.

There was no harassment by the quintet. They were probably trying to do something in the morning, but they failed because I was there, so nothing happened after that. I don’t think they’d thought of harassing me so early in the school year with that much preparation behind it. They also have very frustrated looks on their faces, so they might come up with another move tomorrow…

I don’t leave my things on my desk, and unlike Japan, we don’t have indoor shoes, so we don’t have shoe lockers. If they wanted to harass me, they would probably try to tamper with my desk, but yesterday and today and I came first in class, so it ended in failure. They wouldn’t be so stupid to try to do the same thing tomorrow. Guess they’ll either come even earlier tomorrow or they’ll think of another harassment.

I’m not going to leave home any sooner than I am now. If the quintet came first tomorrow and vandalized my desk, I would have no choice but to praise them. If they go so out of their way to harass me first thing in the morning, I’ll compliment their dedication.

“Helmut, before you leave, please stop by Duke Kreff’s manor,” I said.

“Huh? Did you have an appointment? I’m sorry. I wasn’t aware of such plans,” Helmut said.

Normally, high-ranking aristocrats don’t rush into someone’s place without taking an appointment first. Well, not only in this world, but in modern society, it’s common sense to make an appointment and then visit, but in this medieval world, if you don’t make an appointment, you’ll just come up empty-handed.

Not only is it disrespectful to the other person, but it’s also impossible to know when and where they are at the moment, so you can’t meet them if you suddenly rush to them. Therefore, it is common sense to make an appointment in advance and then go to the appointed date and time.

“No, I didn’t make any prior promises,” I said. “I just want to have a little talk with His Grace, Dietrich, so I was just thinking of going to get an appointment to meet him later.”

Normally, I would write a letter and send someone to make an appointment. However, since I go to school and go outside anyway, it doesn’t take much time to go directly if I take a short detour on my way home. That’s why I just decided to stop by on my way home and make an appointment directly with his home.

“Huh? With Duke Dietrich? Not Lord Rutger?” Helmut asked.

“Yes?” I replied. “Why would I have business with Lord Rutger?”

I don’t quite understand Helmut’s question. Up until now, I have had important conversations with Duke Dietrich, but I have never had a proper conversation with Rutger. In this case, I think it would be nice if I could secretly ask Rutger directly for information, but it’s important enough to go out of my way to make an appointment with Rutger.

“No… understood,” Helmut said.

“…? Then, if you would please?” I said.

I felt that Helmut was slightly grinning but I ignored him and got into the carriage. From school, we headed for Manor Kreff.

After riding for a while, a familiar mansion came into view. I have visited Manor Kreff several times. I don’t want to get too deeply involved, but I have no choice but to be involved in business with Duke Dietrich, the prime minister of this country.

“Lady Flora, will you be going?” Helmut asked from the driver’s seat.

“We’ve already come this far,” I said. “I’m going.”

I got off the carriage after Helmut prepared the platform prepared, I was greeted by a butler of House Kreff who already knew me.

“Lady Flora, how are you this day?” the butler said. “Young Master Rutger has yet to return…”

Why does everyone think I have business with Rutger? I have no use for Rutger.

“I would like to meet with Duke Dietrich, so could you please let me know when he’s free?” I said.

“Ha… if that’s the case…” the butler said, about to check his master’s schedule.

“Wait,” Dietrich said as he came out. “My hands are free right now. Princess Flora, a pleasure to meet you. Please, come in.”

I wonder if he was listening behind the entrance since he appeared at this time. Just as I said that I had business with Dietrich, he came out as if on cue.

“Please excuse my sudden visit,” I said. “I never thought that Your Grace Dietrich would come personally. If you’ll let me know when would be a convenient day, I will return then.”

“No, no, it’s fine,” Dietrich said. “As I just said, I’m free right now. Come on in.”

This guy is… I’m trying to refuse, but he’s desperate to get me inside today… in the first place, there’s no way someone who could be the prime minister would be free at this time just before evening… if it was such a peaceful country, I wouldn’t be having such an easy time.

However, it would be rude to refuse anymore. It will save me time and effort compared to visiting again at a later date, so there is no doubt that I will be benefitting. While thanking Dietrich for his thoughtfulness, I entered Manor Kreff.

“Well then, why did you bother to stop by on your way home from school?” Dietrich asked.

Instead of the reception room, I was taken to a so-called living room, so I sat down facing Dietrich and he asked me that. I want him to hold up a minute. Why am I in the living room of Manor Kreff? Normally, it would be a reception room or an office. It’s impossible to be taken into the family’s living room unless it’s a relative or a very close relationship.

“Yes… actually, I wanted to ask Your Grace Dietrich about the relationship between Lady Helene of the Bayen Duchy and Prince Ludwig,” I said.

“Ah… ah~… I see… I see, so that’s why…” Dietrich said, the excitement on his face dropping all at once. “(Apologies, my son! It seems your father can’t act as a mediator between you and the princess…)”

As I stare at Dietrich, he cleared his throat and resumed talking.

“Ah~… Ahem. You needn’t worry about Lady Helene, Princess Flora,” Dietrich said.

No, I do need to. It’s probably pretty important.

“Then please tell me why I don’t need to worry about her,” I replied.

Dietrich is a successful prime minister, so if you simply ask him, he won’t tell you. Then, you can only attack from another angle.

“Well… you might be curious about the relationship between Prince Ludwig and Lady Helene, Princess Flora…” Dietrich said. “Lady Helene was the very first candidate for Prince Ludwig’s fiancee. After visiting House Bayen once, the engagement proposal was refused. As you know, after that, no matter how many marriage candidates they chose, Prince Ludwig would visit the other person’s residence once before turning them down. Until he met you that is, Princess Flora.

I see……. first of all… well… how long ago was that?

Since I was reincarnated and had memories of my previous life, I had something like a so-called ego from the time I was born. How long does it take a normal child to develop something that can be called an ego?

I was eight years old when Ludwig and I got engaged. Ludwig and the others are 1 year older than me. Will there be some level of sensibleness or cunning at the age of 5 or 6?

What if…if Ludwig and Helene, who met for the first time, were planning to marry each other… and what if you knew that it would always be disturbed by some factor…?

From the moment I met Ludwig, as a child his head had quite a lot of gears turning. Even if he wants to marry Helene, if he knows that something will always get in the way, he may first avoid the engagement with Helene temporarily and look for other means to secure a marriage. For example, he repeatedly brings up the idea of engagement with other families and refuses them…

And because there was a person who was convenient for the two of them to get married, in other words, is he using me to get married?

I can’t say for sure. But can a normal child, who is not a reincarnated person, be able to think that far when he is less than 10 years old? Or is there someone who has the wisdom for him?

It is useless……. no matter how much I think about it, it’s beyond my imagination. As long as there is no evidence, it is nothing more than conjecture, no, a fantasy. Perhaps even if I ask Dietrich anymore, I won’t be able to hear any useful words. I have no choice but to do something on my own after that.

As I was thinking about that, I heard footsteps running down the corridor, no, at a speed that could be called a sprint. And the living room door violently flies open.

“Is it true that the Country Girl is here!?”

As expected, Rutger the troublemaker jumps through the door he had blasted open with all his might.