Rosy’s plans
“Teacher, nobles govern their territories, right?”
“That’s right. They govern the land they were given by the king. It’s there that the population lives.”
“The citizens have to pay taxes to their rulers, right?”
“Well, well. You are quite knowledgeable. The citizens pay taxes to the ones that govern the territory and in turn are allowed to live there.”
They are allowed to live? I think it’s quite a strange expression.
“Then we’re living by using those taxes, right?”
“Yes, some do. It’s different for each house. There are some that run a business company, others are in the finance business.”
In other words, trade and money lending. I see.
“Young miss, you’ll become the queen, standing above these kinds of nobles. It’s the greatest honor in this kingdom.”
As expected of the tutor my mother hired. She is just as bad.
I tried asking the lecturer but it’s just as bad. There’s no one that can be my ally in this place. They are all no good. But I gathered quite a lot of bad information.
“Sebasu, there is something I want you to tell me.”
I caught Sebasu when father had gone out for work.
“What is the matter, young miss?”
“A little while ago you told me about the arranged marriage, right. Who came with the proposal? Which side was the one with the higher standing?”
“Young miss…”
“Tell me the truth. Don’t hide anything.”
There is no longer any need to act like a child. My family’s fate depends on this. If I don’t do something nothing will change. If you want to change something you have to act.
I grabbed the coat of Sebasu, who had squatted down just like that one time. Maybe he sensed that my drive this time was the real thing, after closing his eyes once, he started talking.
“The madam is from the Cabanel house, that is also a count peerage but the Randall house has a better status because they have produced a queen in the past.”
“I see. Then, was father the one who pushed for the marriage?”
“Yes. At that time a recommendation came from the marquis family the Cabanel house was close to, so the master had no choice.”
“A marquis house. Do mother’s family still have a relationship with the marquis family?”
“How should I put this. The madam has become estranged from her family.”
I see.
“They had given up on mother, hadn’t they? Father had mother tactfully pushed on himself, right?”
“Young miss, where on earth did you learn these kinds of …?”
“If you read books you can get a lot of knowledge, you now.”
I did study.
“I have an idea as to why mother has become estranged from her family. More importantly, what about father’s parents? Are my and Oscar’s grandparents around?”
That’s right. I don’t know anything about my relatives. No one would tell me anything about my grandparents.
Maybe I asked something unexpected since Sebasu’s eyes widened in surprise.
“After passing his position to the master, the previous count has spent his time in a villa at the outskirts of the territory.”
“I don’t remember ever meeting them though. Do they perhaps…”
“No, there’s nothing like that. The reason why you have not met before is…”
“I see. That is also mother’s doing. Did they quarrel over a difference in educational policy?”
“Young miss…”
“That’s how it is, huh. If so, then there is no problem with me going to meet them.”
“Young miss, what on earth are you thinking…”
“You are father’s ally, so cooperate with me. In order to protect this count house of ours.”
―――――――――――――
“Oscar”
Recently I’ve started entering my little brother’s room without knocking. He may be only 3-years-old but he proved to be quite smart. Because of that I jokingly taught him the letters but he ended up remembering them, so now we’re reading books together. But because it would be bad if our bodies get stiff, we play hide and seek to move our bodies. Whatever mother says I no longer have any obligation to follow. I’m not scared of the noh-mask maid either.
The time has come for our steady preparations to come to fruition. From here on is the one-in-a lifetime critical moment.
“Oscar, listen to me.”
“What is it, Older sister?”
These days Oscar no longer shows wariness like when we first met. The wet nurse Rita is always watching over us warmly.
“Would you be sad if mother was not around?”
“Mother? Who is that?”
Sorry, Oscar…even though she is your real biological mother…this kind of situation is really strange after all….
“Let’s cooperate and live strongly even if mother disappears.”
Rita showed a puzzled expression at what I was saying but still didn’t interrupt me.
“Rita. It has been decided that you’ll come with us as our guardian. Tomorrow we’ll be heading to the previous count’s villa, so make your preparations.”
“Understood, young miss.”
“Make sure mother doesn’t notice, alright.”
“Yes.”
The day we were to leave for the villa.
Since mother was attending a tea party as usual it made leaving easy. Since if she were to find out she’ll definitely get in our way.
Oscar, Rita and I boarded the carriage and Sebasu came to see us off. The carriage was prepared by my grandfather when Sebasu contacted them to let them know I would be visiting them.
The Randall territory is located southeast from the royal capital. We needed two days by carriage to reach the villa. We stayed the night at an inn that has a good relationship with our family and after that we finally reached our destination.
Inside the carriage I was stroking my bag. It’s inside it.
“Rosemary, Oscar, welcome!”
“You did well in coming here.”
I could not mistake the people who came to welcome us as anyone else but our grandparents. I could see my father’s face in my grandfather and my grandmother had the same hair color as me.
“Grandfather, grandmother, we’ll be in your care.”
“We’ll be in your care.”
“Well, well. Such polite children.”
“Now, now. Come inside. We’ve prepared delicious snacks for you.”
“Yes.”
Holding Oscar’s hand, I entered the villa. From the start our grandparents hadn’t stop smiling at us.
After the calm dinner Oscar took a bath and departed for the world of dreams. It’s time for me to go to bed too but I can’t do that right now. I have to fulfill the real purpose of coming to meet my grandparents.
“So? What is it that you wanted to talk to us?”
“I’ll say it frankly. I want you to drive the madam out of the count’s family.”
As expected, after hearing that their five-year-old granddaughter wants to chase out her mother from home, they were left speechless.
“I don’t intend to blame you. I know the reason for why you’ve become estranged from the main house. It’s natural for you not to know our family’s current circumstances.”
“Rosy, exactly what is going on?”
I told them of the disastrous situation our family is in without sparing any of the facts. Of course, what happened at the palace too. My grandparents’ expressions became severe as they listened to me talk.
“Grandfather, grandmother, please take a look at this.”
The thing I took out from the mansion to serve as proof of my accusations.
This is it.
“These are mother’s wasteful spending bills during these five years. If this kind of expenditure continues our house’s fortune would only continue to decrease. In the first place, the fortune that has been accumulated by the previous generations, is not meant to be used like this, right? Using the money from the citizens’ taxes like they are water for self-indulgence is preposterous.
I heard about my grandparents’ character from Sebasu. From the moment I heard that they dislike an extravagant lifestyle like my mother’s I was certain that they could become my allies.
Even if I make a ruckus, there’s nothing a little kid like myself can do. That’s why I have to find allies first. Gathering information and preparing proof, then finding a powerful backer to take care of things.
Looking at the expenditure bills I presented as proof, my grandfather clicked his tongue with quite the vigor.
“Even so, Rosy, you know quite well of this kind of official documents.”
“Sebasu taught me.”
“Is that so…”
“Grandmother, Oscar is a genius, you know. Even though he is only 3, he made something like a castle from building blocks after all. Also he can already read.”
“Maa, is that so?”
“He is a promising heir, grandmother.”
“Seem so.”
“Rosy, I understand the situation. You’ve done your best till now.”
“…Yes, grandfather.”
“It’s already quite late, so go to bed. I’ll hold onto these.”
“Yes, grandfather, grandmother. Good night.”
“Good night.” “Good night, Rosy.”
――Now my family should start to change.
Finishing my task coupled with the trip’s fatigue let me sleep like the dead.
―――――
“Dear… to think things had become this bad…”
“Indeed. Carlos probably can’t handle her. She’s the kind of evil woman that can show disrespect even to my child after all. It was a mistake to welcome her as a bride after all.”
“But our grandchildren were raised properly, though.”
“Aaa. It’s a miracle. To have grown up without being tainted by that evil woman is a godsend.”
“Indeed it’s like that.”
――――――
The next day a letter from Sebasu came.
After finding that her children were nowhere to be found and finding out about our whereabouts, she had started screeching about why she was not informed. As I thought if she knew about my plans she would’ve definitely gotten in the way.
As for father he seems to have accepted it calmly. It’s father after all. I am sure he was aware. He hasn’t been part of the high society for nothing.
The truth is that, that day when I got a shock and my physical condition got worse after learning the truth, after receiving the coachman’s report, father came to the carriage to take a look at my condition. When he saw I was trying to cover up something he gently patted my head.
My grandparents were preparing to go to the royal capital. It seems it’s a good time since there are no urgent domestic affairs so we headed to the main house together.
Finally, the reformation of the count’s house would be starting.
Rosy’s plans
“Teacher, nobles govern their territories, right?”
“That’s right. They govern the land they were given by the king. It’s there that the population lives.”
“The citizens have to pay taxes to their rulers, right?”
“Well, well. You are quite knowledgeable. The citizens pay taxes to the ones that govern the territory and in turn are allowed to live there.”
They are allowed to live? I think it’s quite a strange expression.
“Then we’re living by using those taxes, right?”
“Yes, some do. It’s different for each house. There are some that run a business company, others are in the finance business.”
In other words, trade and money lending. I see.
“Young miss, you’ll become the queen, standing above these kinds of nobles. It’s the greatest honor in this kingdom.”
As expected of the tutor my mother hired. She is just as bad.
I tried asking the lecturer but it’s just as bad. There’s no one that can be my ally in this place. They are all no good. But I gathered quite a lot of bad information.
“Sebasu, there is something I want you to tell me.”
I caught Sebasu when father had gone out for work.
“What is the matter, young miss?”
“A little while ago you told me about the arranged marriage, right. Who came with the proposal? Which side was the one with the higher standing?”
“Young miss…”
“Tell me the truth. Don’t hide anything.”
There is no longer any need to act like a child. My family’s fate depends on this. If I don’t do something nothing will change. If you want to change something you have to act.
I grabbed the coat of Sebasu, who had squatted down just like that one time. Maybe he sensed that my drive this time was the real thing, after closing his eyes once, he started talking.
“The madam is from the Cabanel house, that is also a count peerage but the Randall house has a better status because they have produced a queen in the past.”
“I see. Then, was father the one who pushed for the marriage?”
“Yes. At that time a recommendation came from the marquis family the Cabanel house was close to, so the master had no choice.”
“A marquis house. Do mother’s family still have a relationship with the marquis family?”
“How should I put this. The madam has become estranged from her family.”
I see.
“They had given up on mother, hadn’t they? Father had mother tactfully pushed on himself, right?”
“Young miss, where on earth did you learn these kinds of …?”
“If you read books you can get a lot of knowledge, you now.”
I did study.
“I have an idea as to why mother has become estranged from her family. More importantly, what about father’s parents? Are my and Oscar’s grandparents around?”
That’s right. I don’t know anything about my relatives. No one would tell me anything about my grandparents.
Maybe I asked something unexpected since Sebasu’s eyes widened in surprise.
“After passing his position to the master, the previous count has spent his time in a villa at the outskirts of the territory.”
“I don’t remember ever meeting them though. Do they perhaps…”
“No, there’s nothing like that. The reason why you have not met before is…”
“I see. That is also mother’s doing. Did they quarrel over a difference in educational policy?”
“Young miss…”
“That’s how it is, huh. If so, then there is no problem with me going to meet them.”
“Young miss, what on earth are you thinking…”
“You are father’s ally, so cooperate with me. In order to protect this count house of ours.”
―――――――――――――
“Oscar”
Recently I’ve started entering my little brother’s room without knocking. He may be only 3-years-old but he proved to be quite smart. Because of that I jokingly taught him the letters but he ended up remembering them, so now we’re reading books together. But because it would be bad if our bodies get stiff, we play hide and seek to move our bodies. Whatever mother says I no longer have any obligation to follow. I’m not scared of the noh-mask maid either.
The time has come for our steady preparations to come to fruition. From here on is the one-in-a lifetime critical moment.
“Oscar, listen to me.”
“What is it, Older sister?”
These days Oscar no longer shows wariness like when we first met. The wet nurse Rita is always watching over us warmly.
“Would you be sad if mother was not around?”
“Mother? Who is that?”
Sorry, Oscar…even though she is your real biological mother…this kind of situation is really strange after all….
“Let’s cooperate and live strongly even if mother disappears.”
Rita showed a puzzled expression at what I was saying but still didn’t interrupt me.
“Rita. It has been decided that you’ll come with us as our guardian. Tomorrow we’ll be heading to the previous count’s villa, so make your preparations.”
“Understood, young miss.”
“Make sure mother doesn’t notice, alright.”
“Yes.”
The day we were to leave for the villa.
Since mother was attending a tea party as usual it made leaving easy. Since if she were to find out she’ll definitely get in our way.
Oscar, Rita and I boarded the carriage and Sebasu came to see us off. The carriage was prepared by my grandfather when Sebasu contacted them to let them know I would be visiting them.
The Randall territory is located southeast from the royal capital. We needed two days by carriage to reach the villa. We stayed the night at an inn that has a good relationship with our family and after that we finally reached our destination.
Inside the carriage I was stroking my bag. It’s inside it.
“Rosemary, Oscar, welcome!”
“You did well in coming here.”
I could not mistake the people who came to welcome us as anyone else but our grandparents. I could see my father’s face in my grandfather and my grandmother had the same hair color as me.
“Grandfather, grandmother, we’ll be in your care.”
“We’ll be in your care.”
“Well, well. Such polite children.”
“Now, now. Come inside. We’ve prepared delicious snacks for you.”
“Yes.”
Holding Oscar’s hand, I entered the villa. From the start our grandparents hadn’t stop smiling at us.
After the calm dinner Oscar took a bath and departed for the world of dreams. It’s time for me to go to bed too but I can’t do that right now. I have to fulfill the real purpose of coming to meet my grandparents.
“So? What is it that you wanted to talk to us?”
“I’ll say it frankly. I want you to drive the madam out of the count’s family.”
As expected, after hearing that their five-year-old granddaughter wants to chase out her mother from home, they were left speechless.
“I don’t intend to blame you. I know the reason for why you’ve become estranged from the main house. It’s natural for you not to know our family’s current circumstances.”
“Rosy, exactly what is going on?”
I told them of the disastrous situation our family is in without sparing any of the facts. Of course, what happened at the palace too. My grandparents’ expressions became severe as they listened to me talk.
“Grandfather, grandmother, please take a look at this.”
The thing I took out from the mansion to serve as proof of my accusations.
This is it.
“These are mother’s wasteful spending bills during these five years. If this kind of expenditure continues our house’s fortune would only continue to decrease. In the first place, the fortune that has been accumulated by the previous generations, is not meant to be used like this, right? Using the money from the citizens’ taxes like they are water for self-indulgence is preposterous.
I heard about my grandparents’ character from Sebasu. From the moment I heard that they dislike an extravagant lifestyle like my mother’s I was certain that they could become my allies.
Even if I make a ruckus, there’s nothing a little kid like myself can do. That’s why I have to find allies first. Gathering information and preparing proof, then finding a powerful backer to take care of things.
Looking at the expenditure bills I presented as proof, my grandfather clicked his tongue with quite the vigor.
“Even so, Rosy, you know quite well of this kind of official documents.”
“Sebasu taught me.”
“Is that so…”
“Grandmother, Oscar is a genius, you know. Even though he is only 3, he made something like a castle from building blocks after all. Also he can already read.”
“Maa, is that so?”
“He is a promising heir, grandmother.”
“Seem so.”
“Rosy, I understand the situation. You’ve done your best till now.”
“…Yes, grandfather.”
“It’s already quite late, so go to bed. I’ll hold onto these.”
“Yes, grandfather, grandmother. Good night.”
“Good night.” “Good night, Rosy.”
――Now my family should start to change.
Finishing my task coupled with the trip’s fatigue let me sleep like the dead.
―――――
“Dear… to think things had become this bad…”
“Indeed. Carlos probably can’t handle her. She’s the kind of evil woman that can show disrespect even to my child after all. It was a mistake to welcome her as a bride after all.”
“But our grandchildren were raised properly, though.”
“Aaa. It’s a miracle. To have grown up without being tainted by that evil woman is a godsend.”
“Indeed it’s like that.”
――――――
The next day a letter from Sebasu came.
After finding that her children were nowhere to be found and finding out about our whereabouts, she had started screeching about why she was not informed. As I thought if she knew about my plans she would’ve definitely gotten in the way.
As for father he seems to have accepted it calmly. It’s father after all. I am sure he was aware. He hasn’t been part of the high society for nothing.
The truth is that, that day when I got a shock and my physical condition got worse after learning the truth, after receiving the coachman’s report, father came to the carriage to take a look at my condition. When he saw I was trying to cover up something he gently patted my head.
My grandparents were preparing to go to the royal capital. It seems it’s a good time since there are no urgent domestic affairs so we headed to the main house together.
Finally, the reformation of the count’s house would be starting.
