Chapter 5

In the end, the whole family gathered for dinner.

Father and brother had been out hunting, and Mother had been at a tea party.

It seemed that the toll of neglecting work and social engagements to take care of Emma until she recovered had finally caught up with them.

I felt sorry about it.

Well, Mother’s tea party, compared to the capital, was apparently more relaxed.

And... most importantly...

A quieter than usual dining table.

Father, who usually dotes on his daughters, was lost in thought.

Mother, who usually dotes on her second son, was lost in thought.

Eldest son, who usually dotes on his younger siblings, was lost in thought.

No one was talking, and William was watching my every move.

Despite Emma’s recovery after ten days, after a brief check on her condition before the meal, everyone remained silent.

Considering how she had been raised with extreme indulgence, this scene could be described as a bit abnormal.

Even the dessert, the pudding, which Georg usually lets me have, he started eating without a word.

The servants, though not showing it on their faces, were serving with evident unease.

Is this because everyone is still adjusting to their reincarnation?

I’m getting tired of checking on each of them one by one after dinner.

I want to get all the explanations and discussions over with in one go.

Since I am Emma, and my family and the servants are used to my eccentricities, perhaps I should boldly confirm things...

*Clunk*

I stood up deliberately and took a deep breath...

The entire family’s gaze focused on Emma.

I raised my voice in a language different from this world’s, using Japanese from my previous life.

"Tanaka family! Roll call! Numbers!"

Immediately, Father Leonardo responded,

"Number one!" and saluted while standing up.

"Number two!" Mother Mersa responded, saluting while standing up.

"Number three!" Brother Georg responded, saluting while standing up.

"Da!" I and my younger brother raised our fists.

It’s not really a roll call anymore, but it has been a tradition in the Tanaka family for checking the number of people during trips.

As adults, we no longer go on trips, but when we get drunk, someone always initiates it, and we all burst into laughter.

If seen by anyone outside the family, it would be incredibly embarrassing.

In other words, it’s something the body does without thinking... if you’re a member of the Tanaka family.

It’s usually a guaranteed laugh, but everyone was just staring... I couldn’t help it; it was a reflex. William didn’t have to do it, but the "Da" was so ingrained in him that he couldn’t resist.

"Meet at Emma’s cabin in 20 minutes."

When I said this in Japanese, the three of them opened their eyes wide and nodded.

I turned on my heel and headed back to my room. I was prepared for it, but the servants’ gazes were painful. I needed to escape before Martha scolded me.

"Miss! You must not run in the hallway!"

I got scolded anyway...

Later, William said I could have just spoken to them in Japanese normally, but the "Da" ritual is proof of being a Tanaka.

I needed to confirm that they were definitely the Tanaka family before we could communicate properly.

It’s not that I didn’t think of it... it’s not that I didn’t...

Title: Spoiler