I'm Going to Make My Family My Allies desu wa!

My aim is "self-defense: serves you right." With that decided, things move quickly.

First, I need to increase my allies. There's only so much a sheltered young lady can do alone.

"Ojou-sama, um, may I come in?"

"Oh my, that voice is Emma's, isn't it. Very well, come in."

She invited Emma into the room. She'd start by winning over the maids.

Emma came in holding a dress with frilly ribbons in her hands.

"Ojou-sama. About the exercise clothes you requested… would this be acceptable?"

"… It has rather a lot of decoration, doesn't it?"

As she said that aloud, a thought also flitted through her mind: (But compared to my usual clothes, it's a simpler, duller design.) … So apparently, this was relatively exercise-friendly attire.

"M-my apologies, Ojou-sama! I'll bring something else immediately!"

Emma paled and bowed her head.

This was bad. Thinking so, Koleha hurried to call out.

"Wait, Emma!"

"Y-yes!"

Emma stopped in her tracks, face still pale.

Nice face, Koleha almost grinned… But she held back and managed to keep it to a mere smile.

(Hmm. If the servants react like this to every little thing, it will be difficult to work with them…)

If they flinched at her every word, she couldn't be sure they'd carry out her errands smoothly. Of course, they would likely do the bare minimum of what was asked as part of their job, but they wouldn't be able to read the intent and move like extensions of her own hands and feet.

They also wouldn't help when she did something secretly behind her father's back.

And poor impressions were directly linked to the flag where she'd be poisoned.

To realize the self-defense 'serves you right' plan, it was essential to take control of the servants. Poison wasn't the only thing that could be planted. If evidence of wrongdoing were planted on her, she'd no longer be innocent.

Ideally, they'd be so enthralled they'd proactively hide inconvenient evidence for her — though that was only an ideal, and she wouldn't demand that much.

"I'm not saying that's bad. In fact, this is fine — no, this is perfect! … Because Emma chose exercise clothes for my sake."

"Heh!? Ah, y-yes…"

Emma looked dubious. Well, likely, until now — with previous Koleha being herself — she wouldn't have said anything considerate toward the servants.

It couldn't be helped. She'd just have to raise their favorability little by little. For example, how would characters in her previous life's novels have said it?

"Ah, well. I've had a change of heart!"

"I see… is that so."

"Yes, um. I had a dream… That if I don't cherish the servants, something, like, terrible will happen! That must have been a warning from my grandmother in heaven!"

"The Great Madam is alive and well."

"I misspoke! My great-grandmother!"

Koleha couldn't help but feel she was receiving a look that asked, "What is this girl even saying?" But at any rate, if she made appeals like this and actually improved how she treated the servants, the situation would change.

"I'm sorry for everything until now, Emma. You might not believe me if I suddenly say I've had a change of heart, but, um, that's how it is."

"No… I see. As you wish."

She still seemed suspicious, but for the time being, she appeared to accept it. It was a response like: how long will this child's whim last?

Still, what mattered first was to show she'd changed. And in fact, she had.

"For now, would you help me get changed?"

"Yes, Ojou-sama."

She changed into the exercise clothes Emma had brought. They were made of a soft fabric, not very heavy and easy to move in. She almost wanted to use them as pajamas. Koleha thought about how the exercise clothing was a bit different, moving her body lightly to check.

"Mm, thank you, Emma. This feels good."

"Not at all… By the way, Ojou-sama, what do you intend to do while wearing exercise clothes?"

"Why, exercise, of course—"

As she started to say that, Koleha suddenly remembered: this world had magic.

In the game, Koleha was set as someone who could use Poison Magic.

Muscles don't betray you. They are with you always.

If so, perhaps her skill in magic wouldn't betray her either.

Also, she simply wanted to try using magic. (Her true feelings.)

"Magic training, desu wa! Emma, is there a training ground? Or something like that. Take me there!"

"Eh? — Oh, yes."

Thus, led by Emma, Koleha made her way to the Nyarlathotep family's training grounds.