Chapter 359 Cool Duo
Marg and Millie's guest room has 2 bedrooms, a spacious living room, a small dining area, a maid's room, and a mini kitchen. Of course, there's also a private bathroom and toilet. To be honest, this guest room is about the same size as Sarasa's apartment from her past life, but it's still the second highest grade of guest room at Maiden's Tower.
The highest grade room belongs to Rihito, but it only has one bedroom. However, that bedroom is quite large. Adam's guest room has the same layout as Marg's, but due to the arrangement of the rooms, it gets a bit less sunlight.
All the rooms are decorated in a noble style, and the vintage furniture is beautifully polished. They are rooms that would be perfectly fine for high-ranking nobles to stay in. It's easy to understand why commoners like Alicia and Amelia might feel a bit uncomfortable here.
When Sara entered the guest room, Marg was drinking warm milk in the living space. Her movements were very graceful, proving that she was a noble lady. She wore a simple nightgown with a cute frilly gown over it, and warm-looking slippers on her feet. At this point, no one would mistake her for a boy.
"Are you okay staying up?"
"Yes, my fever has almost gone down. It felt really nice to soak in a hot bath for the first time in a while."
"That's good to hear. But don't push yourself too hard."
"Thank you. By the way, was there something you forgot to mention?"
"Actually, Father... um, Sir Robert, the second son of Marquis Grandchester, and his fiancée, Lady Rebecca Orson, along with Scott Grandchester, are here to visit."
Marg tilted her head.
"Scott? The one from Sir Jeffrey's place?"
"Yes. I've heard that you've met before."
"I have. We're both distant relatives of the Grandchester family, and we're only a year apart in age. We should have crossed paths a few times. We're not that close, though."
Marg quietly set her cup back on the table and smiled gracefully.
"So, you're here to check if I'm the real deal, right?"
"That's exactly right. If you really are the daughter of Viscount Radford, the Grandchester family will take you in and provide a governess for you. Of course, if you want, you can continue attending Miss Cordelia's private school. Ah, but Miss Cordelia's private school will become an academy next year."
"Will they educate Millie too?"
"Of course. Both of you are daughters of Viscount Radford. Plus, if either Marg or Millie gets married in the future, they intend to pass on the title of Viscount to that person."
"But if you're trying to hide your father's crime, wouldn't the brother inherit the Viscount title when he returns?"
Sara knew that their father and brother had already been killed, but she hadn't told Marg yet. She would have to tell her someday, but she didn't feel ready to do so while she was still unwell.
"I think it's different for the family not to question their sins and to forgive them. Viscount Radford and his eldest son are the main culprits in the embezzlement case. The amount of damage known so far exceeds 30,000 Dallas. There are many bureaucrats involved, so we don't really know how much money Viscount Radford and the others actually got, but I believe they are destined to be imprisoned indefinitely unless they repay the entire amount of damages."
"That's true... There's no doubt they committed a crime. In that case, I want the Viscount title to go to Millie's husband."
"Is that okay with you, Marg?"
"I want to be a merchant!"
"Um... Didn't you want to be a bureaucrat?"
"I knew I couldn't do physical labor even while cross-dressing, so I thought I would become a bureaucrat like my father and brother. I didn't want to make things hard for Millie. But then, Miss Cordelia found out I was a girl, and she said I couldn't take the academy entrance exam. So I was really worried about what to do."
"Hmm. The only one who would be fooled into thinking you're a boy is silly Adam, right?"
"Not really. Girls just don't cut their hair short..."
Marg showed a slightly downcast expression.
"Are you regretting cutting your hair?"
"No. I know how girls are treated in the slums. But it's true that as a Viscount's daughter, my situation is terrible. I'm glad I was protected before cutting Millie's hair."
"Marg, you don't have to endure it. It must have been hard for you, right?"
Marg's eyes were watery, but she still didn't break down in tears.
"It was really sad, and I really hated it. I thought I would never see my old friends again, and I thought I wouldn't get to wear a dress anymore. I was even discussing the debutante outfit with my mother..."
"I see. That must have been tough. You worked really hard, Marg."
Sara moved closer to Marg and started to stroke her hair, using light magic to heal it. Marg's hair was a strawberry blonde, with more red than Chloe's. It seemed she had dyed it a dark color when it was short, as there were still some black tips left.
"Oh wow, I didn't know Marg had this hair color."
"Huh?"
Until Sara mentioned it, Marg hadn't realized her hair had grown. When she looked up at the comment, she noticed her unkempt long hair was covering her face, and she quickly grabbed her hair.
"W-What does this mean?"
"It's probably an application of healing magic. If you're going back to being a Viscount's daughter, I thought it would be a problem if it stayed short. Was it a bother?"
"Of course not!"
This time, Marg raised her voice and started to cry.
"Waaah, Sara, thank you so much!"
"It's okay now. I'll fix your hair later."
"Okay."
"I prepared a lot of dresses too."
"Really?"
"I have plenty of dresses for you and Millie. Soon, the Sophia Merchant Guild will have a fashion department, so these are just samples. Chloe is really excited, and I think we should take the social scene by storm with the Grandchester girls' style."
"I really want to do that too!"
"Let's prepare for your debut together, Marg. The Sophia Merchant Guild is fully backing you up."
"Uwaaaaaaaah! Saraaaaaaa!"
Marg had probably been holding back her tears for a long time. She hugged Sara and, as if a dam had broken, cried loudly. Sara gently patted Marg's back.
A few minutes later, Marg stopped crying and suddenly had a serious expression. She quietly stood up from the sofa and curtsied to Sara.
"Sara Grandchester-sama, please, hire me at the Sophia Merchant Guild. From what I've heard, you are connected to them, right?"
'Oh, so that's how it is.'
"Marg, first, let's sit down and you can lift your head. You seem serious, so we should talk properly."
"Understood."
"And your eyes are puffy, so let me fix that."
Sara used healing magic to restore the area around Marg's eyes.
"First, it's still a time for studying. After you finish various lessons, you should choose the path you really want to take. If your desire to work at the Sophia Merchant Guild doesn't change and you can show that you have the skills, I will help you properly."
"Yay!"
"You should also receive proper lady training. Most of the customers at the Sophia Merchant Guild are nobles or wealthy people. Not everyone can receive lady training. If you have the opportunity to learn, you should make the most of it."
"W-Well, I understand!"
"Sophia Merchant Guild's products are not just offered to Avalon, but also to the royal family of the neighboring country, Roisen. If you only have basic manners, you won't be trusted with important tasks. Since Marg is a Viscount's daughter, it might be good for you to aim for Lady Orson, who is also a Viscount's daughter. If you can reach that level, I would gladly recommend you to the Sophia Merchant Guild."
"I understand. I'll do my best!"
'What I really mean by 'mother's level' is actually the level of queen training.'
Sara, who was eager for education, demanded a high level without question. However, she felt that Marg could master it.
"But why do you want to work at the Sophia Merchant Guild? You're going back to being a Viscount's daughter, and since you're under the protection of the Grandchester family, you could probably arrange a good marriage."
"To be honest, I was unhappy when I was a Viscount's daughter. My father was desperate to marry me and Millie off to high-ranking nobles. But I wanted to marry someone I loved."
"Hmm. That's quite unconventional for a noble daughter."
"Is it? I think everyone secretly feels that way but gives up. My father and brother made us go through terrible things. I learned painfully that if the head of a noble family is foolish, the whole family can end up in trouble. I made a decision in the stinky, dirty slums. I will decide my own life and say I like what I like. I won't let others control everything anymore."
Having spent nearly 2 years in the slums, Marg had grown into a strong girl, unlike what one would expect from a noble daughter.
'I see, if she has such a strong determination, she must have worked really hard on her studies. Even if Miss Cordelia made her give up as a bureaucrat, she would probably end up working in some merchant guild anyway. I feel like she would have come to the Sophia Merchant Guild even if left alone.'
"I've kept them waiting long enough, so I want to call my father and Scott soon. Is that okay?"
"By the way, I've been curious, does Sara call Sir Robert 'Father'?"
"Ah, Father is getting married to Lady Orson next year, and at that time, I will officially become their adopted daughter."
"Wait, the coward finally proposed!?"
"Wow, is it that famous?"
"People related to Grandchester definitely know about it. Even the commoners in the capital know."
"I thought so."
"Lady Orson also agreed quite well."
"I heard she punched him hard enough to make him bleed."
"If that's all that happened, then he's lucky."
"Right? I think Mother has a bit of bad taste in men."
"But they will be your adoptive parents, right?"
"They are good people. But I absolutely refuse to marry such a coward."
"Really? I think it would be fine if you were the one in charge. He is devoted, after all."
"I see, that's one way to think about it."
Sara and Marg looked at each other and laughed together.
"But this world isn't just Grandchester, and there must be plenty of good men out there. Besides, I won't live my life depending on a man!"
"Oh, Marg, you're so cool!"
"That's great! It's way better than being called cute or beautiful. Plus, Sara, you're pretty cool too!"
"Yeah, we're cool girls!"
After laughing together for a while, Sara called Maria first. Then, she had Marg loosely tie up her hair before inviting Robert and the others into the guest room.
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