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Chapter 46
Noil had been temporarily staying at the Duke’s residence while tutoring Damian, but now that Damian had left for the academy, there was nothing left for him to do there.
Having received another task through Hestina, he found his own place to live.
A location halfway between the Duke’s residence and Noil Academy, convenient for commuting to either.
As soon as he opened the door, Noil pushed aside a pile of books and let me in.
“It’s still a bit messy, but please come in.”
“You have so many books!”
“The dormitory at the Academy was too small to keep many, so once I got a house, I went ahead and bought all the books I’d wanted.”
There were more books stacked on the floor than on the shelves, making the space a little chaotic—but somehow, it suited Noil well.
“This is the fascinating book I wanted to show you. I wondered if I might need to teach children from other countries someday, so I’ve gathered picture books from various nations.”
He opened a bundle of illustrated books written in foreign languages.
Since the cultures were different, the art styles were also unique, which definitely caught my eye.
“This one’s from my hometown.”
He pulled out one of the books from the bundle.
It didn’t look much different from the picture books I was used to, but the writing was a little peculiar.
It looked similar to Imperial script but had a strong dialect. Was this also a foreign language?
“You’re from another country?”
“Yes. I came here as a child, so I’ve lived in the Develoa Empire longer now. I learned Imperial as a second language, so I’ve always been interested in other languages too.”
Ah, that explains it.
‘No wonder someone who graduated with excellent grades from the Academy is still struggling to find work.’
Perhaps it’s because the Develoa Empire holds dominance in diplomacy over other countries?
Its citizens tended to look down on foreigners.
Especially among the nobility, where appearances were everything—they preferred to hire private tutors for their children who were also nobles.
└ [The reason for his job insecurity is painfully realistic…]
└ [As a fellow foreigner, I totally relate ㅠㅠㅠ]
└ [Forget blood ties or academic cliques—it’s about national origin now.]
Still, being from an allied or trading nation would at least make things easier.
Had he been from a defeated enemy country, life might’ve been far more difficult.
‘Before my regression, I rarely saw foreigners.’
The few I did come across were typically low-rank mercenaries or doing rough labor.
I was raised in a noble faction that obsessed over lineage and status.
They tended to form tight circles among themselves and shunned those outside their sphere.
‘So it makes sense they’d also look down on foreigners.’
I probably just didn’t notice it before—foreigners like Noil may have been scattered all across the empire.
Now that the war was over and new allies had formed—and some nations had even been absorbed—people from many countries were likely flocking to the empire.
Wouldn’t the empire need more talents like Noil?
└ [Rose is already thinking like an interpreter]
└ [Come to think of it, she hasn’t been translating lately lol]
└ [She just translated the Ho-gu-ma language earlier, though?]
Even if I don’t become an interpreter…
Just like Hestina, who has no prejudice against foreign countries and is interested in trade, I might also encounter good opportunities by staying open-minded.
└ [If Rose starts a business later, she’ll probably hire a lot of people like that.]
└ [Mr. Noil knows languages well—he could work in HR.]
└ [Just being near Rose creates jobs!]
└ [(True Story) Saved from being a street tutor, becomes a home tutor.]
Home tutor? No, I meant the home of a tutor.
I looked around Noil’s home, filled with diverse cultural elements.
Somehow, even in this short time since returning to age five, my perspective on the world has broadened more than in my previous life.
Hestina had returned to her family estate and wouldn’t be back until the academy visitation day for Damian.
She had also changed her career path, so she must be busy.
There’s the business funding, and dealing with her ex-husband Duke Valente and their shared interests—negotiating with the family must be taking time.
‘Now the only one left at the Duke’s residence is Duke Valente.’
Now that I no longer had to worry about being kicked out, it didn’t matter that he kept his distance.
After seeing how wild some adults could be, I’d come to appreciate the value of those who could hold a proper conversation.
I’d begun to chat with Ruberi and the knights around the residence, and I felt much more comfortable now.
But just then, as I passed by the annex, Keen—looking a little uncomfortable—called out to me.
“Lady Rose, could you come over here?”
“Huh? Why…?”
When I turned around, I saw that Duke Valente was standing next to him.
I wasn’t sure what this was about, so I walked over with a bit of hesitation.
Keen gestured to a spot beside the Duke.
“Please stand here for a moment.”
Was he trying to measure my height? I stood where he indicated, and he nodded with satisfaction.
“I’d heard rumors you’d been wandering around the market area with Sir Ruberi, and as I expected, having an adult beside a child does soften their impression.”
└ [He finally found a use for Keychain Rose LOL]
└ [He’s seeing right through Rose’s schemes!]
Wait… isn’t he indirectly saying the Duke gives off a bad impression?
But Duke Valente didn’t seem particularly offended and responded to Keen.
“I question the need to show weakness in front of others.”
“This isn’t a battlefield. People know Commander Myers of the Knights, but not much about Duke Valente. You need to demonstrate your character.”
“But I can’t keep a child at my side all the time.”
“It’s just one option to consider.”
Hmm. So that’s what this was about—they must’ve called me over mid-conversation.
└ [But honestly, he’s right—even the Emperor told him to lighten up a bit.]
Wait, His Majesty said something like that?
└ [You thought he only smiled at you?]
└ [What filter are you even looking through, lol]
└ [Seriously, Duke Charming never fails to amuse]
What on earth have you been listening to…?
“So far, we’ve delayed most meetings using the construction work as an excuse, but people will start showing up soon,” Keen said.
I nodded internally at that.
Count Tortor met tons of people, both publicly and privately.
Meanwhile, Duke Valente hadn’t even begun any outside activities yet—and according to my memories from before the regression, he probably wouldn’t change much either.
“Lady Rose. If I need help, could I count on you?”
“Yes!”
It was an easy request to agree to, so I answered right away—but Duke Valente looked displeased.
“A child should live as a child. Don’t involve her in adult matters.”
That could sound like drawing a line, but… thinking of it from a child’s perspective, it wasn’t wrong.
└ [Surprisingly wholesome take from Father Valente]
└ [He’s honestly just a saint, the more we see of him]
└ [Is that why the Emperor saw him like a literal angel?]
└ [Please stop LOL]
But I’m not exactly a typical child.
‘If I stay close to the Duke, wouldn’t I be able to gather more information? Like what Count Tortor is plotting?’
└ [Girl, that’s just being a spy LOL]
Well, it’s not like I’m leaking info somewhere else. I’m just collecting it for myself.
“I’m curious about what you do, Duke. Can I watch sometime?”
“Lady Rose too, huh? As expected from someone chosen by Lady Hestina as her assistant!”
Keen exaggeratedly took my side, emphasizing how Hestina had already given me responsibilities.
“…If that time comes, I’ll think about it.”
Duke Valente, outnumbered, gave in.
Having succeeded in persuading the Duke, Keen placed a hand on my head, then bent over to meet my gaze.
“Lady Rose really is easy to talk to. Ah, don’t worry—I won’t try opening your head again.”
Not reassuring at all when you look at me like that!
I gave a sheepish laugh, then quickly excused myself, saying Nella was looking for me.
Changes in the Duke’s residence began spreading to the maids too.
“Wow. So we’re going to start throwing parties now?”
“Well, the madam’s not here, so it won’t be a party exactly…”
Even if it wasn’t the tea party Seiji had hoped for, they were beginning to prepare for guests.
“Eh, too bad it’s not a real party, but whatever. What I’ve always wanted is to pour tea elegantly into pretty cups!”
“Seiji, you should start by fixing your habit of guzzling it down.”
“Ugh, why’d you have to say that?”
The maids gathered in the quarters chattered as they straightened their clothes.
I walked up to Nella, who was adjusting her skirt hem.
“Is the new person coming today really important?”
“She’s apparently handled social events for other noble families. Might even become our head maid someday.”
That made sense.
A person with experience was needed to teach the maids how to properly serve nobility.
Since the Duke’s residence had been mostly put in order, they were clearly hiring the staff they really needed now.
“Is everyone gathered?”
Before long, the door opened and the head maid’s voice rang out.
I looked up without thinking—and saw two people entering.
The person following behind the head maid—
“!!”
It was a face I definitely recognized.
└ [Who is it??]
└ [If Rose knows them, must be from the noble faction?]
Exactly. And not just any noble faction—
‘The head maid from Count Tortor’s estate.’
└ [Tortor again??]
└ [Why does that guy keep popping up everywhere]
So why on earth… did she come here?!
In my swirling thoughts, the first thing that came to mind was:
‘…An assassin?’
