The Noble Lady Without Magic Aims to Become an Adventurer! - Chapter 15

“Welcome back, Lady Marloa. You must be exhausted from your long journey. I will guide you to your room right away.”
“Thank you. I’m back. By the way, who are you?”

“Ah, yes, my apologies. I am Otto, the butler.”

The older gentleman who greeted me in the marquisate’s grand entrance hall introduced himself. So, this is the Otto Violeta mentioned.

Understanding now, I followed a maid as she led me to a guest room. Falce, meanwhile, would be treated as one of the household servants during our stay at the marquisate.
After placing his luggage in the servants’ quarters, Falce was to be tested by Otto to determine if he was fit to serve as my attendant.

While this was happening, I followed the maid’s suggestion and took a bath before changing into the prepared dress. As the maid dried and styled my hair, I asked her about Falce’s situation.
According to her, if all went well, Falce would officially serve as my bodyguard and attendant.

Thanks to Violeta and Teacher Levain, I had learned proper etiquette as a noble lady. Even if I stayed at the marquisate until moving into the dormitory, I should manage just fine.
Falce, too, had received training in the duties of an attendant alongside me, so he should be able to curb his sharp tongue.
Once my hair was done and I was sipping tea, a knock came at the door. I gave permission to enter, and Falce walked in wearing a servant’s uniform.

“Lady Marloa, I look forward to serving you from now on.”
“Fufu, Falce, you look great in that.”

“Right? From now on, I’m working as an attendant, so treat me well.”

Later, I learned that since Violeta had retired as my maid, her salary was now being paid to Falce as my new attendant.
Yubert, who remained in charge of the territory, continued receiving his salary, so his life with Violeta remained unchanged.

It seems I’m the only one left scraping by with pocket money saved from guild work.
As Falce was putting away my clothes in the closet, Otto came to call us for dinner.

…The moment of truth had come—I was about to face my family.
Otto guided me to the dining hall, with Falce following silently behind me. When I entered the room, my supposed family members were already seated.
The luxurious dining hall and elegantly dressed nobles before me felt completely out of place.

“Marloa, it’s been a while.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Father, Mother, and my siblings, Sarah and Terra. I’ll be in your care for a while.”

I curtsied properly. I had learned from Yubert during his regular reports to the marquisate that I had two younger siblings: Sarah, two years younger, and Terra, three years younger.

With Terra as the heir, the marquisate’s future seemed secure.
Seeing them now, I couldn’t help but think that as someone without magical power, I was an unwanted child in this family. Instead, Yubert and Violeta had raised me in their stead. I mustn’t bring shame upon them.

“Come, sit down. Marloa, you look just like Charlotte in her youth. You’ve grown into a beautiful young lady—I’m proud,” my father said.

As I sat, the first course was served. So, this is what royal capital noble cuisine is like.

Each dish was small but meticulously prepared, and I savored the flavors while nervously trying not to make any mistakes.

As I ate quietly, my younger sister, Sarah, suddenly spoke.
“Sister, is it true you have no magical power?”

I was surprised by her blunt question on our first meeting, but I couldn’t let it bother me.

“Yes, that’s true. Why do you ask?”

“All my friends said it, and they were right. It’s so embarrassing for me. And that dress—it’s so plain. How can you sit here so shamelessly?”

“…I see. I’m sorry for causing you embarrassment.”

Sarah’s words silenced the room instantly.

“Ahem. Sarah, don’t be rude to Marloa. Marloa, I’ll send the head maid to your room later. Order some clothes from the merchants. If tomorrow’s outfits won’t be ready in time, purchase some from the city for now.”
“Understood.”

“Marloa, what kind of life did you lead in the village?” asked my younger brother, Terra, with apparent curiosity.
Sarah, dressed in a frilly gown that screamed “noble daughter,” looked the part of a young lady. Terra, with his slender build and bookish demeanor, seemed like a stereotypical scholarly boy.
“In the village, I helped Yubert with his duties, studied etiquette, and took lessons from a private tutor to prepare for the academy.”

“In a village with nothing? Studying must’ve just been writing letters. There couldn’t have been anyone competent enough to teach you. A sister who can’t use magic or study properly is embarrassing.”

…So, it wasn’t just my sister but my brother too.
“Don’t say such things. Marloa had Violeta as her governess, and she seems to be eating just fine. She’ll be alright,” my mother tried to defend me.

But it was clear that neither of them believed her. I understood now that my siblings looked down on me.

I quickly finished my meal and returned to my room. Why hadn’t my father mentioned that my private tutor had been a former student of Marquis Ashur?

Frustrated, I flopped onto my bed.

“Wow, your family is harsh. I was shocked just standing behind you,” Falce remarked, laughing as if it were someone else’s problem.

“I was shocked too. They never visited me in the village, and now I understand why,” I replied, chuckling dryly.
If I had grown up with them in the royal capital, they probably would’ve broken my spirit.

As Falce and I talked, there was a knock on the door.
“Come in.”

“Excuse me. I’m Maris, the head maid,” said the woman who entered.

“Lady Marloa, the master has instructed you to purchase clothes in the royal capital tomorrow.”

“I see. I’d like to see the city anyway, and I don’t know what’s currently fashionable. Could you accompany me tomorrow?”
“I’ll send my daughter, Anna, with you. She’s 18 and very knowledgeable about current trends, so I’m sure she can help you choose something suitable.”

“Thank you.”
“Forgive me for asking, but how is Violeta? Is she well?”
“She’s doing wonderfully. She just married Yubert recently, didn’t she, Falce?”

“Yes, that’s right,” Falce confirmed, slipping seamlessly back into his role as my attendant.

“So you’re Violeta’s son. Many of us were worried when she was sent to the village with two infants. I’m glad to see you’re doing well. Lady Marloa, you may find it uncomfortable here, but please feel free to consult me or Otto about anything.”
“Thank you for your concern.”

The head maid then prepared tea for me before leaving, guiding Falce as she did so.

Though Falce tried to replicate her technique, her tea was far superior to his.