The Reincarnated Noble Lady is the Infamous Viscount's Heir - I've Accepted a Contract Marriage for Estate Management. - Chapter 2.4

And just like that, this year’s social season has begun.

There’s so much to do!

The main event of this season is Jessica and Percival’s wedding.

This also includes passing down the Wilcox family’s viscountcy to Percival.

Percival’s family, House Mayfield, has been elevated to an earldom. His younger brother, Percival Mayfield, has been engaged to my younger sister, Jessica Wilcox, for several years now.

At the same time, my own engagement has now been officially recognized in high society. Between arranging the ceremony, the reception, and the celebratory parties, as well as managing affairs related to Rockwell’s frontier domain, I’m completely overwhelmed.

The one saving grace is that while the Count isn’t very familiar with land management, the Yubashar development has been requested by both the military and the academy. Since he personally handles those negotiations, at least that part is taken care of.

On the way back from last night’s party, the Count told me in the carriage that the construction site near Yubashar Village has already been selected and that surveying has begun.

Obviously, we don’t want just any noble—or any random business—getting involved in such facilities.

Ahh, after putting so much effort into recruiting construction firms at the party, I should be disappointed…

But no, not at all!

There’s still the construction of trade routes, villages, and the lord’s manor—plenty of work left for them!

The Count may be a military man, but he can’t spend all his time holed up in military facilities. He’s a lord now.

The domain must be transformed into a proper town where the people feel protected and prosperous.

After all, that was part of the deal behind our engagement and marriage.

Being granted a frontier domain also means being entrusted with a defensive line. Leaving it as a collection of scattered, impoverished villages is simply not an option.

During the last party, many lords shared their thoughts with me.

Some nobles never visit their territories and stay in the capital indefinitely.

Some struggle to manage their lands after inheriting them and end up returning them to the royal family or selling off parts to neighboring lords.

Since Yubashar was just granted to us, returning it to the royal family is impossible, and selling it off isn’t an option either.

Technically, if the Count wanted to, he could sell it to one of the great noble houses. But considering how many high-ranking military officials—particularly those from the royal army—have told him, “You’re the one who has to do this,” that doesn’t seem likely.

For that matter, they’ve also told me, “Make sure you support him properly.”

Alright, fine. I’ll do it. I’ll handle it.

After completing my inspection of Yubashar, I invited the Count to my territory, Wilcox Viscounty, just before the social season began.

He had mentioned wanting to see my domain, so I gladly showed him around.

And—he was absolutely amazed.

The Count looked envious.

My land has always been primarily agricultural.

Over time, it shifted toward textile production.

There are fewer dangerous magical beasts here, so it remains a small, peaceful, rural territory.

Whenever I return, the people warmly welcome me, calling out, “My Lady!”

I make a point of speaking casually with them.

In the capital’s high society, I have a rather notorious reputation.

But here, I’m seen as “a young but decisive ruler who transformed the local industry and truly considers the well-being of her people. Compared to the previous lord, who did nothing, she’s far more reliable.”

Most of the townsfolk recognize my efforts.

Whenever I visit Wilcox, I’m greeted with open arms.

This place truly feels like home.

Their support is what has kept me going, even as my name gets dragged through the mud in high society.

“I see now why Grace returns to her land so often…”

The Count murmured those words as he looked around.

*”I will help make Yubashar into a land like this.

A place where the people will smile, wave to you, and welcome you home, just like this.”*

The path to getting there, though…

The process—the roadmap, the blueprint—is ridiculously long.

But hey, as a certain coach once said, “The moment you give up, that’s when the game is over.”

A few days after the engagement party, my older sister, Patricia, visited me in the Wilcox estate’s office.

She let out a sigh as she looked around the room.

Uh… wasn’t she supposed to be discussing plans for Jessica’s wedding today?

Why is she here?

Vanessa, the maid from Russells Trading Company who had been helping me, paused her work and respectfully bowed to Patricia.

“Patricia… welcome.”

“Grace, you should consider vacating this office.”

Huh!?

What kind of bombshell is that to drop as soon as she walks in!?

“The documents related to Lord Rockwell’s domain and Wilcox territory are starting to mix together. Actually… isn’t it already impossible to tell them apart?”

…Gulp.

No, no, it’s still fine.

Look, it’s only taking up one corner of the room… right?

“Grace, sister-in-law… I know it’s not my place to say this since I’ll be marrying into the family, but… we really need to do something about this office. If we don’t start sorting things out now, in a few days, it’ll be exactly as Patricia warned.”

Percival stepped into the office, glancing down at the scattered documents. He bent down to pick them up, carefully separating the Wilcox-related papers from those concerning Rockwell.

Ugh.

Even Jessica was peeking in from the doorway—wait, don’t come in! Don’t step on the papers!

With surprising agility, Jessica twirled her way into the room, skillfully avoiding the scattered sheets. She joined Percival in gathering them off the floor.

“Wow, amazing! As expected of you, Grace! The moment your engagement is finalized, your office turns into this! Look at this mountain of documents—everything related to your future domain’s development! Oh, and this—this is incredible! It’s a list of families with relevant business connections that need to be contacted.”

Ugh, I know, I know…

“I’ve seen this scene before! Back when Father was utterly useless, and you were still a student, trying to save Wilcox territory! No, wait—this might be even worse!”

Guh…

“She’s right. Grace, I can see you’re serious about this, but you’re marrying into House Rockwell. You shouldn’t be handling all this in the Wilcox estate’s office.”

The Wilcox family’s townhouse in the capital is very small.

From the perspective of my past life as a Japanese woman, it’s practically a mansion.

But by the standards of noble residences in Lazulite Kingdom’s aristocratic district, it’s considered quite compact.

*”House Wilcox’s accommodations have been a topic of discussion for some time. My brother has brought this up before.

A few years ago, you were mocked as a near-bankrupt noble family, but given your current prosperity… isn’t this townhouse a bit unfitting? I have to agree.”*

…Percival.

What exactly are you trying to say?

*”Of course, since this is the house where Jessica grew up, I wouldn’t suggest selling it.

But perhaps renting it out and purchasing a new residence instead would be the better option?”*

Wait.

Rent it out?

Is there something wrong with this house?

This is where my sisters and I were born.

This place feels more familiar to me than even my past life’s home…

“Oh my… it seems Grace is more attached to this house than Jessica is.”

Patricia looked mildly surprised.

But doesn’t this bother her at all?

This is her family home too!

Even Abigail, after becoming the Mage Countess and establishing her own household, still treasures the Wilcox family home.

And now they’re suggesting we rent it out?

I looked at the papers in my hands, then at my siblings and brother-in-law, searching for the right words.

Just then, the butler, Hans, appeared at the door and made an announcement.

“Lady Grace, Count Rockwell has arrived.”

I was already too overwhelmed to react, but at Hans’s words, my body went completely still.

Jessica, standing beside me, gave me a little poke.

“Grace, the Count is here!”

I know! I heard him!

Oh no… I need to clean this up—fast!

I can’t let him see my office in this chaotic mess!

Please, Count, wait in the reception room!

“It’s not like we’re putting it up for sale…”

“This is unexpected… I didn’t think you’d be so attached to this house, Grace. If it were the Wilcox manor in the territory, I’d understand, but…”

“Right? Grace doesn’t seem like the type to be sentimental about a townhouse.”

“That’s true… She doesn’t even have a consistent place to stay when she travels alone. I didn’t think she had any particular attachment to residences at all.”

Patricia, Percival, and Jessica all kept talking.

Meanwhile, I was scrambling to gather the documents as fast as I could.

To anyone else, this scene probably looked like some villainess trying to hurriedly cover up her misdeeds.

Only Percival and Vanessa continued silently helping me sort through the papers.

Please, Patricia! Jessica! Just go entertain the Count in the reception room!

Just as I was about to say that, I glanced up—

Hans, standing near the door, suddenly shifted his gaze toward the hallway and took a step back with a bow.

And then, from the open doorway, the Count appeared.

He looked into the office—at all of us scrambling to clean up—and tilted his head slightly.