Chapter 146 – The Last Extra Day’s Morning

With Ann busying herself with getting accustomed to living in this world as a noble and spending her time with her new family before they would be separated, time flew by happily for her.

Meanwhile, Allen was trying so hard busying himself with work and sparing that he made life for his subordinates like a living hell, and time agonizingly moved slowly for him.

In the end, the anticipated day finally arrived.

Very early in the morning…

“Ann-sama, wake up. It’s time,” A maid gently tried to wake Ann up. 

“Nnn… The sun’s not up yet… Too early…,” Ann groggily responded, as if she was hitting the ‘Snooze’ button in the modern world.

“Ann-sama, today’s your wedding day. You need to wake up now.”

Alas, the ‘alarm’ she had currently was persistent and couldn’t be snoozed like the modern alarm. And more importantly, the ‘alarm’ could pressure her into waking up by telling her why she had to wake up now!

Hearing that it was her wedding day, Ann’s brain slowly booted up.

She then slowly sat on the bed as she rubbed her eyes. 

“Ann-sama has woken up! Preparation team, let’s go!” 

The maid in charge of waking her up suddenly announced.

At her announcement, several other maids entered and they began busying themselves. 

Ann was quickly ushered to the bathroom as the maids diligently helped her bathe. 

Ann had wanted to bathe herself, but the maids insisted. They even scrubbed her, washed her hair several times through different products, and so on.

Ann finally realized why she had to wake up way earlier than before.

After the bath, Ann thought she’d have a light breakfast delivered to her room as they prepared her. However, Ann found out that the sun had risen and she was brought to the dining table, where Viscount Jonas and Viscount Vanessa were already waiting for her.

“Oh, uhm… Good morning, Jonas-san, Vanessa-san. You two are early too, haha…,” Ann hadn’t expected this at all, but she awkwardly sat down on the dining table.

The maids started preparing some light breakfast for the three of them.

Ann’s eyes darted to the empty seats next to them and to the door of the dining hall. Obviously, the eagle-eyed Vanessa-san noticed this.

“Your sisters are still asleep,” Viscountess Vanessa stated.

Ann was embarrassed that she was too easy to read, so she quickly mumbled, “O-oh, okay…”

“There’s no need to be so nervous, dear. We just want to have a private conversation with you before you get married,” Viscount Jonas reassured.

“Right…,” Ann answered.

What do they want to talk to me about?

Ann wondered.

“Our time together as parent and child is only short, but I hope you will still have fond memories here with the Doussier family,” Viscount Jonas said.

“R-right! I hope I didn’t cause that much trouble during my time with the family…”

“Trouble? What nonsense,” Viscountess Vanessa humphed. 

Ann was scared shitless by the viscountess’ sudden interjection.

“Dear, it’s only natural for a child to trouble parents. And no, you’re not causing troubles for our family. We’re thankful that you are willing to be our adopted daughter,” Viscount Jonas said.

‘N-no, I’m the one who should be grateful that the two of you are willing to be imposed by me…,” Ann wasn’t sure how she should put her thoughts to words, but she tried her best.

Now that she thought of it, the two sides received benefits equally, indeed.

Ann received the protection of a noble family that would ensure her status in the noble society. Meanwhile, the Doussier family gained a daughter who would be the wife of a duke, the one who was also favored by the kingdom’s saintess.

In a way, they could be considered even.

However…

“Even if our arrangements benefit us equally, I still think I’m much indebted to you two, Vanessa-san, Jonas-san. You two are even willing to adopt Fina, and Faye as well…”

In Ann’s mind, she benefitted more because she cared about Fina and Faye. The two children would surely have a better opportunity as daughters of nobles, not as a commoner maid.

“Nonsense. We’re the ones who want them,” Viscountess Vanessa curtly said.

However, her words sounded warm, much warmer than the way her tone made it to be.

‘Alright. It seems both of us also think that we’re benefitting more. Probably it’s best that I stop here,’ Ann quickly realized and thought to herself.

“In the future, please take care of them well. If there’s any trouble, please let me know and I’ll definitely help,” Ann said seriously. 

Perhaps in the near future, troubles with the previous king’s faction would surely escalate. With Faye and Fina away from the place where the troubles might arise, Ann was at ease. Still, she was afraid that there would be trouble in Faye and Fina’s way, away from her, and one that she won’t be aware of. So, she hoped that the Doussier family could help them and notify her should they be unable to help Faye and Fina.

“…We’re your parents. The eldest daughter that’ll be married shouldn’t worry about the wellbeing of her younger sisters. If you’re that worried, it’s overstepping your boundary as a sister, when the parents are clearly still alive,” Viscountess Vanessa said.

“She’s right. We’ll feel like we’ve failed as parents if our eldest feels the need to be the younger ones’ guardian,” Viscount Jonas explained what Viscountess Vanessa wanted to convey, but in a gentler expression.

Ann was stunned hearing that. 

“You need to worry about yourself. Make sure you’ll do well as a duchess,” Viscountess Vanessa said.

“That’s right. You have a lot that you need to worry about. Leave Faye and Fina to us and don’t worry too much about them,” Viscount Jonas said.

“Oh… Right,” Ann tried to escape the awkwardness and the shy yet warm feeling budding in her heart by eating the breakfast that was served before her.

“I know we’ve barely become parents and child. Perhaps you’re more familiar with the duke and the Schwartzen household. Still, I want you to know that since we have taken you under our wings, we’ll fulfill the duties of your parents just like a biological family would,” Viscount Jonas began explaining.

“If you have any troubles after you get married, you can always consult us,” Viscountess Vanessa said.

“If you think of the Schwartzen household as your home, then consider our Doussier family as your second home. I don’t think this will happen in the future, but if the worst comes to worst, remember that you will always have a place in our family,” Viscount Jonas said.

“T-thank you…,” Ann totally didn’t expect this development.

Ever since transmigrating to this world, she had always considered herself an orphan. She gained an understanding of how her best friend, Laura, might have felt as an orphan in both worlds. And unlike Laura, who got adopted as a child to the Ainsworth household, Ann had never expected to get a family, as in parents.

Even when she was told that she would be adopted to the Doussier family, she had expected it to be mere formalities, and nothing more.

Experiencing the Doussier couple’s warm welcome and sincerity, she could only feel grateful and warm in her heart. 

This morning’s breakfast tastes incredibly tasty. I wonder why?

Ann thought to herself as she continued to eat and converse with her adoptive parents.

Her adoptive parents then gave her advice and tips on how a married life would be, how life as a matriarch of a house would be, and so on.

Ann listened carefully to the pointers, and she felt relieved to know that she would have someone outside the Schwartzen household with whom she could consult about things that she might find unfamiliar later on, after her marriage.

By the time she was done with breakfast, Faye and Fina were escorted to the dining hall.

“Ann-neesama!” Faye and Fina greeted Ann, who was on her way out of the dining hall.

“You’re not eating breakfast?” Fina tilted her head in wonder.

“I’m finished already,” Ann explained.

“Ann-neesama needs to prepare for her wedding,” Faye explained to Fina.

“Oh okay. Is breakfast delicious? What’s the menu?” Fina quickly asked Ann.

T-that’s the important question? Ann was amazed at a child’s train of thoughts. 

“Hmm, I only eat light breakfast. Maybe you’ll eat something different. But breakfast’s so tasty!” Ann said to Fina.

“So, it doesn’t contain spinach, right?” Fina asked with sparkly eyes.

“Uh…,” Ann was at a loss on what to say. Fina was still picky, and spinach happened to be one of the food she didn’t want to touch.

“You shouldn’t be picky and eat everything, okay? You want to grow bigger, right?” Ann said.

“But spinach is–”

“Ann-sama, it’s time. The hairdresser, make up team, and designer have all gathered,” A maid reminded Ann to hurry.

“Ah, I need to go now. Be good and eat it, okay? Mix the spinach with the other food that you like. I’m sure you won’t notice that it’s there!” Ann quickly gave a few pointers and pats to Fina’s head before she went with the maids.

“Fina, let’s go,” Faye tugged on Fina’s hand. The two of them then went to the dining table, where Viscount Jonas and Viscountess Vanessa were.

Truthfully, Faye wanted to speak longer with Ann as well. But she understood Ann needed to prepare, so she didn’t make things difficult for Ann. After all, they could speak again later on. 

Meanwhile, Ann walked to the dressing room with a wonder.

I’ve met with the designer before, since we had to discuss the wedding dress in a short time. The designer’s sent by the Schwartzen family, in other words, by Allen.

As for the hairdresser and make-up team… The Barbara salon should be amongst the team, right?

Ann wanted the people she trusted to be involved in her wedding preparations. Naturally, that included the Barbara salon. With Viscountess Vanessa’s permission, she cautiously put forward her request.

At the same time, Ann was well aware that the Doussier family could not simply follow her personal preferences without consideration. Reputation mattered. If word spread that the family had entrusted such an important occasion to an unknown commoner salon, it would only invite unnecessary gossip among the nobility.

That was why, when Ann brought the topic up again after the three sisters visited the Barbara salon for their new haircuts, Viscountess Vanessa merely commented that the salon’s skills were “not bad.”

To Ann, that brief remark was practically a seal of approval.

“You need not worry,” the viscountess had said calmly. “I will make the arrangements for the wedding day.”

With Viscountess Vanessa’s capabilities, Ann was confident she would find a solution that satisfied both sides–one that honored Ann’s wishes while maintaining the family’s dignity. Most likely, it would involve a collaboration between the Barbara salon and a team already well-established among noble society.

Ann’s only concern was whether any reputable team would be willing to cooperate with a salon that had yet to make a name for itself.

Still, she had done all she could. She had already told the viscountess not to indulge her preferences if they would prove detrimental to the family. Just being heard was more than enough.

At the very least, she managed to secure one last treatment at the Barbara salon before the wedding day, especially a haircut. A single mismatch could ruin the entire hairstyle later on, after all. She also took the opportunity to discuss several details with the salon staff.

After that, Viscountess Vanessa seemed to have had her own discussions with the people at the Barbara salon. At the very least, Ann felt reassured that her request, to have them handle her hair on the wedding day, would not be revoked.

As for how the viscountess would adapt that request to suit the noble society’s prying eyes, Ann chose not to ask. She didn’t want to seem as though she were pressuring the viscountess, nor did she want to give the impression that she doubted her after having received her reassurance.

And now, Ann was finally about to learn the outcome of it all.

Whatever’s arranged for me, I’m sure it will be the best for me as well. 

With anticipation, she opened the door to the dressing room…