Chapter 148 – My Tenth Birthday

April 4, 1930. Today is my tenth birthday.

For members of the Ootori family, turning ten marks one of life’s milestones.
In Japan during this era, the real coming-of-age would normally be celebrated at New Year’s, but thanks to my own “enlightenment campaign,” we’ve changed it to celebrate on the actual birthday instead.

Another reason for the change is practical, this year and next, there are many children within the family circle, and holding a mass celebration after New Year’s would be too much trouble.

That said, this “milestone” isn’t as significant as adulthood or the genpuku (Coming of Age Day) ceremony.
Traditionally, in Japan, genpuku took place between the ages of twelve and sixteen (by the old counting method). 

For girls, many regions considered the onset of menstruation as the practical beginning of adulthood.

In the Ootori family, however, one is no longer treated as a child at the age of ten.
Then, at the counted age of fifteen, one officially undergoes genpuku and is recognized as an adult. 

The reason ten was chosen is simple, the Ootori are a rational bunch. It’s the age when puberty begins to set in.

As for me, in February of this year, right after returning to Japan, they made red rice to celebrate the occasion.
Starting next year, I’m sure my height will shoot up rapidly. 

There’s no real sign of that spurt yet, but my appetite has grown again. It might not be very ladylike, but it’s proof that my body is craving nourishment.

And to achieve a perfect body, I’ve also increased my exercise to an appropriate level.
Since I’ll need to be reasonably tall for the future I’m aiming for, I’ve started drinking more milk and eating more small fish.

It’s all rather humble effort, but as a villain, I have to present a form worthy of standing on stage before the protagonist.

Or at least, that’s the excuse I tell myself.
The truth is, since I’m already guaranteed to be beautiful in the future, ambition pushes me to polish that beauty even more, and the desire to become prettier drives me to keep working hard.

Besides, I don’t think I’ll be punished for allowing myself that little indulgence.

Anyway, today is my birthday.
Since it’s a special occasion, instead of wearing a dress like before, I’m dressed in a simple yet luxurious kimono suitable for this milestone. 

Back in the Edo period, Japanese women would even blacken their teeth for the genpuku ceremony, but that custom was abolished after the Meiji era.

So all I have is an elaborate, child-performer-style makeup.

Thank you, ancestors.

Once I’m fully dressed, before the birthday celebration begins, I take part in the Ootori family’s traditional milestone ceremony in front of my great-grandfather, my father, and our butler Tokita.
The ceremony consists of formal greetings to one’s parents, close relatives, and mentors, followed by taking a sip of sweet sake (amazake) used in the otoso ritual.

And here’s the distinctive part of the ceremony, one must press a bloody thumbprint onto the ceremonial paper. 

To do that, I have to use a small knife to cut my own thumb.

“With this, Reiko is now… well, half an adult.”

“I’d be happier if I really were just half an adult.”

I grumble at my father while sucking on the cut on my thumb.
Of course, we both understand what we mean, so all that comes to our faces are faint smiles.

“Don’t complain. We’ll add more people soon. Come on, they’re waiting over there.”

“Right this way, ojou-sama.”

“Okay.”

Following Tokita’s words, I leave the detached room.
As always, Shizu is waiting at the exit, bows once, then follows a step behind me.

The ritual was performed in one of the rooms of the Japanese-style annex, and now comes the presentation. Since I’ve gone to all this effort to dress up, I might as well show it off.

In the main hall, where the birthday guests haven’t yet arrived, my attendants are waiting.
The ones opening the door are my newly appointed maids: Tria, Victoria Lancaster, and Liz, Elizabeth Norman, the white-haired pair.

After opening the doors, both of them also follow behind me.
Inside the room, most of those waiting are children. The only one who stands out oddly among them is the slightly chubby butler in formal attire, Sebastian Stewart, who bows deeply the moment he spots me.

In addition, a few maids are standing by in the corners of the room, those who usually take care of my daily needs.
However, they’re more like attendants serving the Ootori household as a whole rather than personal maids exclusively assigned to me.

(Nine in total. So that’s everyone, then?)

Thinking that, I slowly let my gaze sweep over all of them.
Some have sarcastic expressions, others are completely blank, but most of them look tense.

(Except for one, they’re either my age or just a year older, so of course they’d be nervous.)

“Relax. Well, that’s probably impossible, so… Attention!”

At my sharp command, there’s a unified “Zah!” sound as everyone moves in perfect sync.
I thought there might be one exception, but even she reacts properly. 

Just as I expected, they’re all well-trained.

I give a small approving nod.

“At ease!”

Then, smiling at the overly serious children, I point my finger at them one by one, swinging my arm as I go down the line.

“Okay, all of you fail. I don’t give orders like that, you know? So try to relax your minds and bodies a little more so you can have a normal conversation with me. Now, everyone, take a seat.

And Sebastian, you don’t have to follow along with them like that. You, come over here.”

“My apologies, young lady. I must’ve been reminded of my military days.”

“Well then, maybe I should ask you to be these kids’ training instructor too.”

“With pleasure.”

Sebastian gives me a cheerful smile.
He always reacts playfully when I tease him, but this time my instincts tell me that if I actually leave it to him, the poor kids will suffer for it.

“Yeah, on second thought, never mind. Let’s just ignore this old man for now and move on. Nice to meet you, well, some of you I’ve met before, but let’s start fresh anyway. I’m Ootori Reiko. From today, I’ll be your master, so I look forward to working with you.”

““Thank you very much!!””

Even though I said it as gently as possible, their reply comes back like a chorus of shouts, all in deep bows.
Their high-pitched voices are a bit noisy, but they’re still children, after all.

Still, since I’m the master, I accept their words with poise, sitting elegantly and confidently on the large sofa.
Behind me stand the four who accompanied me into the room, along with Sebastian.

Once the greetings are done, Tokita steps slightly aside.
That’s because, aside from formal or public occasions, he will no longer serve as my personal butler, his duties primarily lie with Ootori Trading.

Standing in a neutral position now, he begins to speak.

“Although we’ve met and spoken several times before, allow me to introduce myself properly. I am Tokita Takeo, head butler to Lady Reiko. However, as I am also responsible for overseeing Ootori Trading, I will rarely have direct involvement with you except in formal or special circumstances. Therefore, your actual superior will be the deputy head butler, Mr. Sebastian Stewart. Mr. Stewart, if you please.”

Sebastian gives a graceful bow.
Though he’s rather plump, the gesture somehow suits him perfectly.

“My name is Sebastian Stewart. As you can see, I am an American, but I humbly ask for your kind regards.”

After the children return his greeting, he continues speaking.

“Like Mr. Tokita, I often assist the young lady with her duties, so please do not be concerned if I am not always present.”

“Sebastian, you’re being overly humble toward your subordinates. Did you study Japanese in some strange way?”

“No, my family’s rule is to show courtesy to everyone, even among kin. However, if it displeases you, my lady, I shall correct myself. What would you prefer?”

“Do as you like, as long as it doesn’t annoy me. Anyway, as I was saying, you’ll generally follow the lead of my head maid, Shizu.”

After I deliberately treat Sebastian a bit casually, Shizu bows to me first before speaking.

“Allow me to reintroduce myself. I am Kouzuki Shizu. In the Ootori household, I have served the young lady the longest after Lady Mari Tokita, the head maid.
Also, to all the girls here, while you will be referred to as ‘maids’ in the young lady’s presence, elsewhere you will be called ‘jouchuu’ (housemaids). Please be very careful about this distinction.”

“How should the boys be addressed?”

One of the two new boys sharply raised his hand.
He was a bodyguard candidate, a well-built child who looked every bit the athlete type. 

In the 21st century, he’d probably be aiming to become some kind of sports player.

When I glanced at Shizu, she met my eyes in return. True enough, we hadn’t decided on this yet.

“Let’s see. Since you’ll be serving as my personal guard, in samurai terms, that would be kinji, a close attendant.”

“What would that be in a foreign language?”

“Hmm… if I remember right, valet. Strictly speaking, a valet serves a male master, but you’ll have to put up with that for now.
By the way, a butler is called a butler. But Tokita is higher in rank than Haga, the retired master’s     butler who also serves as the steward of this mansion. Tokita is the senior-most servant to the Ootori heir. Among non-family members, think of him as the highest-ranking one. You probably won’t fully understand right away, but you’ll learn in time.”

After his cheerful “Yes, understood!”, I moved on to the next topic, the overall structure of the household staff.

I only briefly mentioned that there are four main groups: those who manage and run the estate, those assigned to Great-grandfather, those to father, and those to me.
Since this was something they should already have been drilled on, it was just a light review.

This was, after all, more of a practical exercise to make them feel that I was their master.

“Next is the ranking among my servants. As you’ve heard, it goes in order from Tokita, then Sebastian, then Shizu at the top. Below Sebastian are Tria and Liz, but remember, they’re far above you in position. Also, there will be others under Shizu and under those two, but I’ll introduce them when the time comes.”

I paused there and turned my body a bit more toward the nine of them.

“Among you, the one with white hair, Sumaragi Yoshiko, will be the head. Under her are Shizumi Mitsuko and Suzumiya Teruo. The six of you joining today will be under them.
Basically, the guards will be divided into three shifts, but while you’re still students, don’t neglect your studies. Focus on getting used to things first. The real work won’t start for quite a while, and for now, the adults outside of you are the ones protecting me and the Ootori family.”

“Just as Lady Reiko says,” Tokita added in a slightly firmer tone. 

“And as you’ve been told many times, consider yourselves the final shield that protects Lady Reiko.”

In response, they all bowed deeply in unison.

Yes, these children weren’t my friends, but my servants… no, my retainers.
That was precisely why I had something I needed to say to them.

“I’ll be entrusting my life to you, too. But to build a bond of trust between us, I want you to become my friends as well.”