Chapter 425 I Don't Feel Like Anything Has Changed So Far
However, Sara remained unmoved by the interactions of the people of Grandchester.
Rather, she was starting to get fed up with the repeated farce.
"From everyone's reactions, it seems you won't change from how you've been."
"You stopped your Mother!"
"Aunt only yielded to marry Chloe into the royal family. She didn't agree with my opinion. Knowing I have different values, she still thinks it's natural for their convenience to take precedence. Well, I can understand Aunt's words if I think like a noble, but I dislike that, so I want to live as a merchant."
"Then, what does Sara want?"
"I want to decide my own way of living without being forced by anyone."
Chloe looked at Sara with a puzzled expression.
"I feel like I've heard that before, but isn't Sara still acting as she pleases?"
"It's annoying to see the underlying thought that 'we're letting her do as she likes' because it benefits Grandchester and Avalon. It feels like they think they can use me as long as they keep me in a good mood."
"I don't think that way!"
Marquis Grandchester stood up and raised his voice.
"If that's the case, perhaps both grandfather and uncle are unaware. They completely believe I will act for Grandchester."
"In fact, you are Arthur's daughter, the grandchild of my father, and my niece. There's no doubt you are a daughter of Grandchester. You were also happy to be a part of Grandchester."
"That's true. You are a young lady under the protection of Grandchester."
Elizabeth also raised her voice in support, but irritation seemed to flicker in her eyes.
Sara felt a slight headache but reminded herself that it was important to remain calm.
"I was under the care of Grandchester for less than 2 years. For about half of that time, I was a victim of bullying. Can we really say I was under Grandchester's protection? Is it acceptable to do anything as long as my basic needs are met?"
"The children apologized many times, you know. I thought we were getting along now."
"I have repeatedly said that I will not forgive. Moreover, the actions of my cousins are, in a sense, a result of Uncle and Aunt's upbringing, so the responsibility for this accident, born from ignorance and shamelessness, should fall on both of you."
"W-well, that is..."
Elizabeth faltered.
Chloe gently approached Elizabeth and placed her hand over Elizabeth's hand, which was gripping her dress.
"I apologize for our foolish behavior."
Chloe spoke her apology in a formal tone.
"Is that an apology to me? Or is it an apology for the trouble your actions caused Grandchester?"
"Of course, both!"
"Very well. For now, I will accept it."
Expressionless, Sara accepted Chloe's apology.
However, accepting and forgiving are entirely different matters, and Chloe understood that intention.
"While it was my cousins who directly harmed me, the servants of the Royal Capital estate turned a blind eye to their actions. Have you forgotten how they often hurled insulting words at me? Because of that, many of the servants at the Royal Capital estate openly discriminate against me. Since returning to the Royal Capital estate, I have been quite displeased with their condescending attitude."
"What did you say! Name those servants right now!"
"At this point, I don't care about that anymore. I'm not foolish enough to let such grudges limit my actions, especially in business. I headed to the Grandchester territory solely to escape bullying, but at the same time, I aimed to gain the power to live freely. I intended to learn the common sense of this world and its commerce before leaving Grandchester."
"But, you've already discarded that thought, right!?"
This time, Robert began to get excited.
"I was considering establishing the Sophia Merchant Guild's base in Grandchester to some extent. It's my father's birthplace, and it's undeniable that I have blood ties there. After all, do you not remember that the Sophia Merchant Guild was established for the Grandchester territory?"
"Let's stop talking in the past tense."
"It can't be helped. Your actions are so insincere that I have no choice but to do so. If you say it's only natural to live for Grandchester, then what has Grandchester done for you?"
"I've been introducing the products handled by the merchant guild to high society. It must have been good publicity, right?"
"You could also request the Lady of Duke Arbal."
"Isn't that connection precisely because you were under Grandchester's protection?"
"I won't deny that, but I have confidence in selling even without Grandchester. I can also market through the Academy to the royal family."
"What about the Maiden's Tower? Isn't that a result of being granted ownership by the Grandchester family?"
"Liz, can you please be quiet? It's embarrassing for me to listen!"
Robert slammed the table with a thud.
"What is this protection from Grandchester? You seem to conveniently forget that Sara ran away from you. It's only natural since she nearly died because of you all. She must have been filled with anxiety, thinking maybe I could be as terrible as you. After all, she was only 8 years old, even if she is a reincarnator."
"Rob, don't speak harshly to Liz."
"Ed is the same. Why didn't you try to protect an innocent child? As an adult, as an uncle, there are basic things you should protect. It doesn't matter if you're a noble or a commoner."
"I didn't know. I've apologized many times."
"Even if you apologize, some things can't be forgiven. The fact is, Sara has said she won't forgive you. Instead of providing protection, you all caused her harm. Yet, the moment you realized she had value, you only wanted to reap the benefits. Don't you feel ashamed?"
"I don't want to hear that from you, who took 8-year-old Sara to the office!"
'Yeah. Even Father can't deny that.'
Overwhelmed by the sibling quarrel unfolding before her, Sara found herself watching from a third-person perspective.
"That's true. I can't deny that I'm one of the shameless ones. Rather, I'm the mastermind who made Sara's uniqueness known to those around her. That's why I intend to fully support her desire to live freely. It's very lonely, but if Sara wants to leave Grandchester... No, I can't! It's just too lonely!"
Robert began to cry large tears, sobbing.
"Please don't cry at this moment. Father is being so unhelpful..."
Sara gently offered a handkerchief to Robert.
"But Sara, isn't this too much? I don't want to make Sara suffer."
"That's how a noble life is supposed to be. At this rate, the promise not to force a political marriage and the promise to always side with me will likely be broken for the sake of the Grandchester family. Living for the family... I don't think I can do that."
"I'm sorry. I was a terrible mother too."
While staying close to Robert, Rebecca apologized by making eye contact with Sara.
"Mother told me as a Gavaress, didn't she? Noblewomen have their pride, and they fight in their own way. Because I was taught that, I don't intend to deny the way of noblewomen. I just don't want you to think I'm the same as them."
"You've said it many times. I thought I understood, but despite living freely, perhaps I haven't completely escaped the values of noblewomen..."
"People are shaped by their environment, so it's not easy to change. I had forgotten that."
Then, Sara quietly locked eyes with Marquis Grandchester.
It seemed he was watching silently, without moving from his standing position during the exchange with Robert and Rebecca.
"Grandfather, it's pointless to expect anything from Father~desuwa. It seems neither Father nor Mother intend to keep me."
"I see... I must be a disappointing grandfather."
"No, I am grateful. It's true that I haven't starved to death."
At that moment, Chloe clung to Sara with a pale face.
"Wait. Are you really leaving Grandchester? There are still so many things unfinished! What will happen to Maiden's Tower? What about the Sophia Merchant Guild?"
"Chloe, I don't want you to misunderstand, but I won't immediately relocate from Grandchester territory. It's the land where my father was born and raised, and there are not a few people I have connections with. As you said, it bothers me that everything is still unfinished."
"Y-yes, that's true. I'm glad."
"However, I will keep my distance from the Grandchester family. There's no reason to treat them preferentially over other noble families, right?"
"B-but..."
"Since I wish to be respected, I will extend the same respect to the people of Grandchester. I do not expect you to understand me."
It should be a warm room, yet the surrounding air felt cold; Sara's words were hard and frigid.
"Will you become our adopted daughter?"
"If Father and Mother say it's fine, even with someone like me, I don't mind. Though I'm a collateral branch of the Grandchester family, I would still be part of a lordly clan from another territory."
"In that case, I might need to consider leaving Grandchester as well. What about Revi?"
"No problem. It was originally my territory anyway."
"If that's the case, should we build Maiden's Tower in Astley?"
"It depends on the maidens~desuwa. They have families and friends too."
"That's true."
The ones wearing stunned expressions were Edward and Elizabeth.
"W-wait, Rob. You can't be saying you're going to resign as governor?"
"If I get married, I'll be Viscount Astley. I should govern my own territory."
"But Rob, you're supposed to support Edward and Grandchester, right?"
"The governor doesn't have to be a relative. Fortunately, thanks to Sara, the accounting is looking good. I'll make sure to hand over everything properly, so don't worry."
"So you plan to monopolize Sara, huh!?"
"Don't lump me in with you guys!!"
This time, Robert was furious, shouting at Elizabeth with a crackling intensity in the air.
Edward instinctively stepped in front of Elizabeth to shield her from Robert's gaze, but behind him, Elizabeth trembled.
At that moment, Sara intervened.
"Raising your voice is not like you, Father. I'm fine."
"I-I see. I got a bit too excited. Liz, I'm sorry for startling you."
"No, it seems I was the one at fault. I apologize as well."
"For now, let's have some tea and calm down."
Sara rang the bell on the table to call the servants and instructed them to brew more tea since the conversation would be lengthy.
While one servant prepared the tea, another headed to the kitchen to fetch some snacks.
Sara realized that the two were maids who had once made sarcastic remarks about her.
Perhaps because they were in front of Marquis Grandchester, the two obediently followed Sara's instructions.
After the maids finished brewing the tea and left, Sara spoke again.
"Earlier, I mentioned that 'people do not change easily,' but those maids have changed quite a bit during my time in the Grandchester territory."
"Is that so?"
"Yes, they followed my instructions. In the past, they had refused to help me change, saying, 'Miss Sara is a commoner, so she can manage on her own.'"
"If you wish for their punishment..."
"That's fine. Their behavior stems from the attitudes of the Grandchester family, starting with my grandfather. Thinking about it, servants might be a reflection of their masters."
The surroundings fell silent at Sara's statement.
Undeterred by the atmosphere, Sara took a sip of the freshly brewed tea.
"I often digress, but since it was my mistake, I will set up the Mobile Portal on the Grandchester estate. I will not charge for this Mobile Portal. I will also provide the magical power for the initial magic stone free of charge. However, for any subsequent magical power replenishment, please ask someone other than me. Although Chloe tried to persuade me, it could serve as a good training ground for the Grandchester children. Please pour in until it runs dry."
"However, I want it to be operable in emergencies."
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