Chapter 4 Searching For A Countermeasure
Several days had passed, and Sara's physical condition had recovered, but she was still holed up in her room. She had no intention of giving up on her revenge against her cousins, but it was clear that if she went outside without a plan, she would become a target for bullying again. She needed to take some kind of action.
This wasn't a simple problem that could be solved by telling an adult.
Her uncle and aunt looked down on Sara as a child of inferior blood, and their attitude was connected to her cousins' bullying. She didn't think it would be resolved even if she told someone.
Even Marquis Grandchester, who had taken Sara in, had only done so out of a sense of duty, and hadn't officially registered her as a member of the Grandchester family. He had simply told the servants, "This child is Arthur's daughter. I'll take care of her from now on. Give her the room Arthur used." and left it at that.
It was unlikely that her grandfather would go out of his way for Sara's sake. It was probably better to avoid causing trouble.
The servants were also unsure of how to treat Sara. Many of the servants working in the mansion were from lower noble families like Viscount or Baron, and they had complex feelings about Sara, who was treated like a lady despite being a commoner.
However, they decided to treat her as the young lady of the Marquis family for the time being, in order to avoid offending the Marquis and causing trouble later on. As a result, Maria became her exclusive maid. If Sara had been born and raised in the Marquis family, she would have had a wet nurse and attendants, even if her mother's status was low. Having only one exclusive maid was a rather ambiguous treatment.
If her unstable position as a member of the Marquis family were to clash with her cousins, who were legitimate members of the family, it would likely put Sara at a disadvantage.
'I'm definitely uncomfortable staying in the Marquis family like this, but if I run away, I can see that I'll just end up struggling to make a living, so...'
Growing up in the lower town, Sara knew what happened to kids without parents in this world. At best, they'd end up in an orphanage, and at worst, they'd become thieves or beggars in the slums. Unlike her past life, there was no well-established social system, and the orphanages in this world were terrible, lacking even basic necessities like clothes and food. As for the slums, she had been warned not to get close to them, so she had never set foot in one. It was probably even worse than the orphanage.
As long as she was in the Marquis household, she wouldn't have to worry about food, clothing, or shelter. She had nice clothes fitting her station, 3 meals a day, plus tea and snacks, and a spacious room with a comfortable bed. Even the commoners could enjoy a luxurious bath, and she could take one every day in the bathroom attached to her room.
However, Sara knew she couldn't stay like this forever.
'Probably, if my uncle becomes the next Marquis, I'll be kicked out of the house. I might be sold off as someone's concubine or wife.'
Her grandfather, the current Marquis Grandchester, was in his early 50s. He still had a bit of time before retirement, but in about 10 years, he would likely start thinking about it. By then, Sara would be of marriageable age.
Most noble marriages were political arrangements. Noble children were expected to marry someone who would benefit their family and produce heirs. Since they lived luxuriously on the taxes of their subjects, it was only natural to make a marriage that would bring good results to their territory.
Arthur had abandoned his status and family to elope with Adelia. From the Grandchester family's perspective, Arthur was an irresponsible man who had abandoned his duties and escaped, so they had no obligation to take care of Sara, the result of his actions.
In other words, being raised as a noble in the Grandchester household meant she had to contribute to the family or the territory in some way.
Noble daughters contributed to their families through marriage. They debuted in high society, were put on the marriage market, and tried to attract a better partner by dressing up and smiling.
Sara only has half the blood of a noble, so if you look at her lineage, her value is low. However, the Grandchester family has a history of producing people with exceptional beauty. Arthur was a young man with a refined face, and Adelia, despite being a commoner, was a beauty with many suitors.
In other words, Sara is an extremely beautiful girl. Her hair is a silver color with a hint of blue, her eyes are like jewels, her skin is translucent and white, and her small lips are pink even without makeup. She'll probably become even more beautiful when she reaches marriageable age.
Adding to that, she's also developed magic, so she's become a valuable commodity...?
'It's really pitiful being a noble's daughter. In a society that values bloodlines, I'm reminded of the thoroughbred auction I saw in my past life.'
You can't even decide your own marriage, let alone your way of life. Being a noble's daughter only seems to bring a life of luxury, but nothing more. After regaining her memories of her past life, she's come to think that she wants to live her life freely, like Sarasa, and make her own decisions.
'I want to maintain a minimum standard of living while living freely. It seems like a good idea to stay in the Grandchester household for a while, save up some money, and then leave. Of course, I should return the cost of my upbringing, but before that, I need to think of a way to distance myself from my cousins. Maybe I should move to the estate in the countryside?'
The lord of the Grandchester estate, her father's second brother Robert, lives there and serves as the governor. Since he's still single, he shouldn't have any children who are her cousins.
'Even if my second uncle is a bit annoying, he won't do childish bullying. If I just keep a low profile and avoid him, it'll be peaceful, right?'
Her cousins dislike the countryside and don't want to leave the capital. The Grandchester estate is a rich land with abundant water sources from the mountains, and a fertile area along the river that's perfect for growing crops.
The eldest son, Adam, is one thing, but the second son, Christopher, will likely become a deputy governor to assist his brother and eventually live in the territory. However, he doesn't seem to have any intention of interacting with the local influential people or their children. Even the eldest daughter, Chloe, said that you can't invite friends over to their rural home, calling it "an uninviting place to avoid the heat."
But she doesn't have any problems with food, clothing, or shelter, and she doesn't even meet with her relatives. The more she thinks about it, the more she thinks it's a good idea to move to the Grandchester estate and become independent.
'I need to build my strength while Grandfather is still healthy. To do that, I need knowledge.'
First, Sara decided to ask the Marquis for permission to move to Grandchester and provide her with opportunities to learn. In this world, even if you're a family member, you can't visit the lord's office without permission. So, she sent a message to the Marquis expressing her desire to meet with him and had the steward confirm the arrangements.
After a while, she received a response saying that she could meet with him after dinner, and until then, Sara decided to make a list of things she needed to do to improve her current situation.
'I need to be able to earn my own money, at the very least. As a member of the nobility, I need to know my manners, and I need to understand social etiquette. Considering the possibility of moving to another country, I need to learn foreign languages and gather information on international affairs. The problem is magic, but I've kept it a secret, so... Well, I'll think about that later.'
Sara was a diligent student. She graduated from a national university with a degree in economics and went on to work for a major corporation. After becoming a member of society, she even obtained an MBA in the United States and mastered multiple foreign languages, showing her strong desire to learn. Her work abilities were also high, and she held a prominent position among her peers. (She was a workaholic and had put off getting married...)
'First, I'll ask for permission to move to the territory and arrange for a tutor. I'll think about the rest once I'm settled in the territory. But this is a strategic retreat, and I won't give up on getting revenge!'
...It's a precarious stability.
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