TPR 03

Chapter 03

A dukedom without gatekeepers or knights.
That alone was shocking…
The stables? Collapsed.
The roof? A mess.
“K-Kept the knight outpost in the barn…?”
Even the buildings that were hard to manage had been completely sealed off with crossed wooden planks to block entry.

This has to be a dream… this is a dream…

Hildegard wandered around, chasing the shadows of her memories.
But nowhere could she find any trace of former glory.
Where did the gold fountain go?
Why was the glass greenhouse, built with the most money and care, in such a state?
And the maze garden made with ornamental trees?
And… the mage tower I built?

“What is this… where’s our house?”
Nothing.
Nothing at all.
“Our house… the mage tower…”

Mine? Gr-miine? Our family… never had a mine like that!

Finally, Hildegard admitted it.
Yes, fine. I acknowledge it.
It does seem to be 80 years in the future.
The house seems a little poorer, too.
But this is too much!
This isn’t just ‘a little’ poorer!

At last, Hildegard’s rage erupted.
“You insane fools! Do you have nothing better to ruin than our house?!”
Startled by her sudden roar, a crow flapped away in a panic.

“This can’t be… it’s all lies!”

“Hilde!”
Hildegard rolled off a donkey’s back.
She wasn’t hurt. To be precise, she didn’t even have the time to feel pain.

“Goodness, miss! You’re here!”

The mansion doors swung open, and a flustered servant rushed out.
Among them, one voice stood out.

“Hilde? Ladis?”

“Michael! Are you alright, come in.”

Despite Ladis’ attempt to stop him, the boy ran forward at a brisk pace.
He looked around sixteen or seventeen, perhaps.
The same pale silver hair as Ladis.
His messy, uncombed hair betrayed his fatigue.
A short, loose ponytail dangled about a hand’s length. His eyes were a striking violet, gentler and kinder than Ladis’.

“Hilde? Are you alright?”

Michael ran straight to Hildegard and met her gaze.
And at just the right moment, the rumbling from his stomach answered for him.

Grrr…

Michael smiled in relief and spoke to the servant who had followed him out.
“You must have been very hungry. Let’s prepare a meal quickly, Robin.”

“I’ll get it ready immediately, young master!”

“Why did everything fail…? Why did our house fail…?”

“Why do you keep muttering to yourself like that?”
Ladis scolded her but, seeing Hildegard’s fallen expression, tenderly lifted her off the floor.

“Hilde must have had a hard time. Let’s go inside quickly.”

Michael smiled warmly, brushing the dirt from his sister’s lap and arms.
Ladis grinned mischievously.
“Tsk tsk. Life outside is tough. A twelve-year-old wouldn’t understand that.”

No! That’s not it!
Hildegard denied it through tears.

“Nothing else matters. Let’s eat and get some rest.”

“Go greet Father as well. Say, ‘Your great-grandfather, the 14th Duke Michaelis Aracasia, welcomes his runaway granddaughter Hildegard!’”

Ladis gestured as if bowing to the portrait hanging in the lobby.
Then Hildegard’s eyes, resting on the portrait, caught the nameplate.

[14th Duke Michaelis Aracasia]

“Ah…”

It felt like being slapped with cold water.

‘Aunt promised to buy me a shoe store as soon as she returned!’

The man in the portrait, pale and worn, was the very nephew she had met as a baby.

So, I was reincarnated as Michaelis’ great-granddaughter.
That part made sense. But why…

Why is the house in this state?

Scratched banisters and stairs, marble walls cracked with fissures.
The sparse, missing chandeliers had lost their light, making the mansion even eerier.
The dining hall was even worse.

“Miss, would you like some more?”

“…No, I’m fine.”

“Potatoes too!”

“…Thank you.”

The soup was too watery, overcooked.
The bread was so tough that it barely went down even when chewed thoroughly.
The only edible thing left was apricot jam, and even that was almost gone.
Nothing is sadder in the world than a poor table.
And this is happening in the Aracasia household eighty years later?

“Hilde, eat more. You’re still hungry.”

“I’m fine… I’ve eaten enough.”

Honestly, she didn’t even know what possessed her to answer.
Michaelis and Ladis, right?
One child looked exactly like Michaelis, the other like her older brother Leonhardt.
With the house in this state, she could have shouted, “You’ll all go rogue!” and stormed out.

Are they just too good-hearted…? No, even then!
No matter how kind and generous the children are, it doesn’t matter!

She seemed to understand roughly what had happened.
The household staff had been reduced.
Probably to lower the number of mouths to feed.
Which meant the family finances were in a poor state, at best.

I’m losing my mind…

Integrity is a virtue, yes.
But virtue is only virtue to a point.
Potatoes and vegetable soup!
Who squandered our family fortune?

It couldn’t have been children with no authority.
Then who?!

While trembling with silent rage, Ladis spoke.

“Little sister, you stubborn little pumpkin. I know you’re upset, but stop resisting.”

“Ladis…”

“Don’t interfere, brother. Hilde is old enough to know now.”

Clearing her throat lightly, Ladis continued.

“Hilde, I understand that you want to enter the sword tournament. But this may be an opportunity that won’t come twice.”

“…Opportunity?”

“I mean exactly that,” Ladis said firmly.
“We have to win this tournament somehow. Even if we don’t, at least get second place so we can pay off the outstanding debt.”

“Debt?!”

She dropped her spoon noisily.

“How much?!”

“Not that much. You don’t need to worry too much.”

Michaelis added urgently, apparently worried about her shock.

“About a million kerubels. Mother left this debt, but most of it has been repaid.”

That was a small relief.

“But we can’t live in debt. You understand?”

Hildegard could feel her blood boiling.
Perhaps it was because the soup she had just eaten was watery.
Or maybe it was her blood that was boiling instead.

“I’ll enter the tournament myself. That way, I can pay off the debt with the prize money… everything will be settled.”

“….”

“I can’t ask Countess Solver to pay for your entry fee either. Don’t be upset. You can go when you’re older.”

The fact that she had to rely on someone else even for the entry fee…
“….”

“Hilde?”

Hildegard finally opened her tightly shut lips.

“I… want to go back to my room.”

It was a strategic retreat. For now.

Creak, creak.
The sound of the stairs shaking echoed.
In her past life, she had never heard the mansion creak like this.

“Hahaha.”

Mentally damaged, Hildegard collapsed onto the bed like a broken doll.
“Ha ha ha ha!”
Her laughter stopped abruptly.

If this continues, it would have been better to stay dead. Or just die again right now.

But how could she die?
She had been reborn and now had to live worrying about the leaky mansion with these bratty children.
There seemed to be no money, and they even lived in debt…

I can’t even die peacefully like this! Ugh…!

Denial—anger—bargaining—depression—acceptance.
Hildegard entered the first stage of accepting death.

“It’s all lies! Lies! Lies! Lies! Waaaaah!”

Creak! Creak! Creak!
Hildegard flailed on the bed like a freshly caught fish.
“Waaah! Waaahhh!”

She kicked and rolled on the bed, rejecting reality.

Even if a rich family collapses, it lasts three generations! Spend wisely, and even distant relatives can live well! How could they squander it all?! How?!

But no matter how much she screamed like the sky had fallen, nothing changed.
Ten years can change a landscape, but eighty years?
Everyone she knew was probably dead, and even her older brother Leonhardt had been buried long ago.

Then just come back safely, alright?

Her strength drained from her body.

Is this because I didn’t keep my promise? That’s why this is happening, brother?

Thinking of her beloved older brother brought tears to her eyes.
“Leon….”

What should she do from now on?
She couldn’t just leave the children in this state.
Nor the family.
But…

How am I supposed to rebuild a family that has gone bankrupt?

She, alone, was supposed to restore the Aracasia household?
I might as well reseal the Demon God!

What was she supposed to do with this mess at her young age?
If that’s the case, it might be better to return the fief and relinquish my title. Judging by the house, that might happen anyway.

Having finished with denial and anger, Hildegard entered the third stage of acceptance: bargaining.
The negotiation partner was herself.

Let’s just say Aracasia is gone. Okay? Let’s call it gone and relinquish the title…

But the negotiation was doomed to fail.
She loved this family too much to abandon it.
She had grown up here. She had sworn to die here.
She had learned both joy and sorrow on this land.
If she gave up the fief, where would she go next?

The Aracasia of the rainbow. Beautiful Hildegard.
Even if the old glory was gone, the memories and pride that allowed her to live as a noble lady remained here.

“Sniff….”

The bargaining failed quickly, and Hildegard reluctantly accepted reality.
The final stage of accepting death: brief sadness and acceptance.

“Waaah! Leon, you liar! You said you’d gather all the empire’s most handsome men from cradle to grave to serve me…!”

If Leonhardt had been in the grave, he would have been shocked at her exaggerated claims and jumped up immediately.

Step by step, Hildegard returned to her room.
In the dining hall, Michaelis and Ladis remained, eating in silence, their shoulders slumped.

How long had it been since they saw Hildegard’s gloomy retreat?

Michaelis put down his spoon.
“Ladis, we really should send Hilde to the capital.”

“Brother.”

As expected, the objection came.
Ladis shook her head.

“No. You know our circumstances better than anyone.”

“I’ll just handle more work myself.”

“But…!”

“Seeing Hilde so disappointed, even running away from home, shouldn’t happen.”

To Michaelis, seeing his sister so cute and sad at once was like a squirrel losing the few remaining acorns in the forest.
It was natural that his heart softened.

Chapter 03

A dukedom without gatekeepers or knights.
That alone was shocking…
The stables? Collapsed.
The roof? A mess.
“K-Kept the knight outpost in the barn…?”
Even the buildings that were hard to manage had been completely sealed off with crossed wooden planks to block entry.

This has to be a dream… this is a dream…

Hildegard wandered around, chasing the shadows of her memories.
But nowhere could she find any trace of former glory.
Where did the gold fountain go?
Why was the glass greenhouse, built with the most money and care, in such a state?
And the maze garden made with ornamental trees?
And… the mage tower I built?

“What is this… where’s our house?”
Nothing.
Nothing at all.
“Our house… the mage tower…”

Mine? Gr-miine? Our family… never had a mine like that!

Finally, Hildegard admitted it.
Yes, fine. I acknowledge it.
It does seem to be 80 years in the future.
The house seems a little poorer, too.
But this is too much!
This isn’t just ‘a little’ poorer!

At last, Hildegard’s rage erupted.
“You insane fools! Do you have nothing better to ruin than our house?!”
Startled by her sudden roar, a crow flapped away in a panic.

“This can’t be… it’s all lies!”

“Hilde!”
Hildegard rolled off a donkey’s back.
She wasn’t hurt. To be precise, she didn’t even have the time to feel pain.

“Goodness, miss! You’re here!”

The mansion doors swung open, and a flustered servant rushed out.
Among them, one voice stood out.

“Hilde? Ladis?”

“Michael! Are you alright, come in.”

Despite Ladis’ attempt to stop him, the boy ran forward at a brisk pace.
He looked around sixteen or seventeen, perhaps.
The same pale silver hair as Ladis.
His messy, uncombed hair betrayed his fatigue.
A short, loose ponytail dangled about a hand’s length. His eyes were a striking violet, gentler and kinder than Ladis’.

“Hilde? Are you alright?”

Michael ran straight to Hildegard and met her gaze.
And at just the right moment, the rumbling from his stomach answered for him.

Grrr…

Michael smiled in relief and spoke to the servant who had followed him out.
“You must have been very hungry. Let’s prepare a meal quickly, Robin.”

“I’ll get it ready immediately, young master!”

“Why did everything fail…? Why did our house fail…?”

“Why do you keep muttering to yourself like that?”
Ladis scolded her but, seeing Hildegard’s fallen expression, tenderly lifted her off the floor.

“Hilde must have had a hard time. Let’s go inside quickly.”

Michael smiled warmly, brushing the dirt from his sister’s lap and arms.
Ladis grinned mischievously.
“Tsk tsk. Life outside is tough. A twelve-year-old wouldn’t understand that.”

No! That’s not it!
Hildegard denied it through tears.

“Nothing else matters. Let’s eat and get some rest.”

“Go greet Father as well. Say, ‘Your great-grandfather, the 14th Duke Michaelis Aracasia, welcomes his runaway granddaughter Hildegard!’”

Ladis gestured as if bowing to the portrait hanging in the lobby.
Then Hildegard’s eyes, resting on the portrait, caught the nameplate.

[14th Duke Michaelis Aracasia]

“Ah…”

It felt like being slapped with cold water.

‘Aunt promised to buy me a shoe store as soon as she returned!’

The man in the portrait, pale and worn, was the very nephew she had met as a baby.

So, I was reincarnated as Michaelis’ great-granddaughter.
That part made sense. But why…

Why is the house in this state?

Scratched banisters and stairs, marble walls cracked with fissures.
The sparse, missing chandeliers had lost their light, making the mansion even eerier.
The dining hall was even worse.

“Miss, would you like some more?”

“…No, I’m fine.”

“Potatoes too!”

“…Thank you.”

The soup was too watery, overcooked.
The bread was so tough that it barely went down even when chewed thoroughly.
The only edible thing left was apricot jam, and even that was almost gone.
Nothing is sadder in the world than a poor table.
And this is happening in the Aracasia household eighty years later?

“Hilde, eat more. You’re still hungry.”

“I’m fine… I’ve eaten enough.”

Honestly, she didn’t even know what possessed her to answer.
Michaelis and Ladis, right?
One child looked exactly like Michaelis, the other like her older brother Leonhardt.
With the house in this state, she could have shouted, “You’ll all go rogue!” and stormed out.

Are they just too good-hearted…? No, even then!
No matter how kind and generous the children are, it doesn’t matter!

She seemed to understand roughly what had happened.
The household staff had been reduced.
Probably to lower the number of mouths to feed.
Which meant the family finances were in a poor state, at best.

I’m losing my mind…

Integrity is a virtue, yes.
But virtue is only virtue to a point.
Potatoes and vegetable soup!
Who squandered our family fortune?

It couldn’t have been children with no authority.
Then who?!

While trembling with silent rage, Ladis spoke.

“Little sister, you stubborn little pumpkin. I know you’re upset, but stop resisting.”

“Ladis…”

“Don’t interfere, brother. Hilde is old enough to know now.”

Clearing her throat lightly, Ladis continued.

“Hilde, I understand that you want to enter the sword tournament. But this may be an opportunity that won’t come twice.”

“…Opportunity?”

“I mean exactly that,” Ladis said firmly.
“We have to win this tournament somehow. Even if we don’t, at least get second place so we can pay off the outstanding debt.”

“Debt?!”

She dropped her spoon noisily.

“How much?!”

“Not that much. You don’t need to worry too much.”

Michaelis added urgently, apparently worried about her shock.

“About a million kerubels. Mother left this debt, but most of it has been repaid.”

That was a small relief.

“But we can’t live in debt. You understand?”

Hildegard could feel her blood boiling.
Perhaps it was because the soup she had just eaten was watery.
Or maybe it was her blood that was boiling instead.

“I’ll enter the tournament myself. That way, I can pay off the debt with the prize money… everything will be settled.”

“….”

“I can’t ask Countess Solver to pay for your entry fee either. Don’t be upset. You can go when you’re older.”

The fact that she had to rely on someone else even for the entry fee…
“….”

“Hilde?”

Hildegard finally opened her tightly shut lips.

“I… want to go back to my room.”

It was a strategic retreat. For now.

Creak, creak.
The sound of the stairs shaking echoed.
In her past life, she had never heard the mansion creak like this.

“Hahaha.”

Mentally damaged, Hildegard collapsed onto the bed like a broken doll.
“Ha ha ha ha!”
Her laughter stopped abruptly.

If this continues, it would have been better to stay dead. Or just die again right now.

But how could she die?
She had been reborn and now had to live worrying about the leaky mansion with these bratty children.
There seemed to be no money, and they even lived in debt…

I can’t even die peacefully like this! Ugh…!

Denial—anger—bargaining—depression—acceptance.
Hildegard entered the first stage of accepting death.

“It’s all lies! Lies! Lies! Lies! Waaaaah!”

Creak! Creak! Creak!
Hildegard flailed on the bed like a freshly caught fish.
“Waaah! Waaahhh!”

She kicked and rolled on the bed, rejecting reality.

Even if a rich family collapses, it lasts three generations! Spend wisely, and even distant relatives can live well! How could they squander it all?! How?!

But no matter how much she screamed like the sky had fallen, nothing changed.
Ten years can change a landscape, but eighty years?
Everyone she knew was probably dead, and even her older brother Leonhardt had been buried long ago.

Then just come back safely, alright?

Her strength drained from her body.

Is this because I didn’t keep my promise? That’s why this is happening, brother?

Thinking of her beloved older brother brought tears to her eyes.
“Leon….”

What should she do from now on?
She couldn’t just leave the children in this state.
Nor the family.
But…

How am I supposed to rebuild a family that has gone bankrupt?

She, alone, was supposed to restore the Aracasia household?
I might as well reseal the Demon God!

What was she supposed to do with this mess at her young age?
If that’s the case, it might be better to return the fief and relinquish my title. Judging by the house, that might happen anyway.

Having finished with denial and anger, Hildegard entered the third stage of acceptance: bargaining.
The negotiation partner was herself.

Let’s just say Aracasia is gone. Okay? Let’s call it gone and relinquish the title…

But the negotiation was doomed to fail.
She loved this family too much to abandon it.
She had grown up here. She had sworn to die here.
She had learned both joy and sorrow on this land.
If she gave up the fief, where would she go next?

The Aracasia of the rainbow. Beautiful Hildegard.
Even if the old glory was gone, the memories and pride that allowed her to live as a noble lady remained here.

“Sniff….”

The bargaining failed quickly, and Hildegard reluctantly accepted reality.
The final stage of accepting death: brief sadness and acceptance.

“Waaah! Leon, you liar! You said you’d gather all the empire’s most handsome men from cradle to grave to serve me…!”

If Leonhardt had been in the grave, he would have been shocked at her exaggerated claims and jumped up immediately.

Step by step, Hildegard returned to her room.
In the dining hall, Michaelis and Ladis remained, eating in silence, their shoulders slumped.

How long had it been since they saw Hildegard’s gloomy retreat?

Michaelis put down his spoon.
“Ladis, we really should send Hilde to the capital.”

“Brother.”

As expected, the objection came.
Ladis shook her head.

“No. You know our circumstances better than anyone.”

“I’ll just handle more work myself.”

“But…!”

“Seeing Hilde so disappointed, even running away from home, shouldn’t happen.”

To Michaelis, seeing his sister so cute and sad at once was like a squirrel losing the few remaining acorns in the forest.
It was natural that his heart softened.