Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Sleepy Afternoons
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...Hmm.
I might be even younger than I thought.
No, my body is obviously young, but lately, I've been really feeling it. That thought suddenly crossed my mind.
"Camellia, not sleepy today?"
"Yes...?"
"You slept so well during the day yesterday. I wondered if you'd be sleepy again today."
"Ah......."
Yesterday... I really slept well. Truly.
It was probably the best sleep I'd had recently.
Even the time I unintentionally napped before, I slept well, but sleeping in Rozalin's room yesterday... it was so good that I had no choice but to rate it that way.
Rozalin was lying next to me in her bed... but apparently, she just spent the time reading a book beside me.
I ended up sleeping in Rozalin's room all the way until almost dinner. I had no choice but to say it was really good sleep.
"...I'm not that sleepy yet.."
"...Really?"
Rozalin seemed somehow disappointed.
But I wasn't that sleepy yet. It was still daytime, after all.
I wasn't the type to sleep before lunch like some bear.
Anyway, I'd slept so soundly yesterday, and today was a day with classes. That was part of why I couldn't sleep now even if I tried.
"Hehe."
"...Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Hm? Just?"
"...?"
For some reason, I didn't quite get it... but Rozalin kept staring at me.
We were just passing the time in the garden. I was used to doing this every time there was nothing else to do—drinking tea in the garden.
Rozalin had just been added to that. Nothing else was different.
"Oh, Viscount William is coming back this time too, right?"
"Yes. It'll take a few more days, but he's on his way...?"
"It's actually the first time I'll meet him in person... so I'm a bit worried."
"...About what?"
Worried...
There were too~ many things that came to mind. Way too many.
Knowing quite a bit about William was making me so uncomfortable.
And it was Rozalin—my stepmother—who was voicing these worries, which made it even worse. Greed for money, yet flaunting himself outside... and his looks too...
...Suddenly, I felt like it was amazing that I was born so pretty.
"It's the first time meeting him, right? I've heard about what kind of person he is already... but still, it's our first meeting."
"Ah..."
"Of course, I already know why this marriage happened. Even so, I want to maintain a smooth relationship."
"...I see?"
"Yeah."
Rozalin spoke calmly with a neutral expression, but I couldn't stay composed.
After all, Rozalin—my stepmother—always had the potential to leave because of William. Maybe this time too, because of William... it would turn out that way.
I couldn't help but think that alone. Rozalin hadn't said anything like that yet.
"Hehe."
..........
Rozalin laughed so casually. She just talked to me normally, but after hearing those words from her, I couldn't feel entirely at ease.
*
"Lize."
"Yes, Young Lady."
"...Never mind."
I tried to say something, but even as my exclusive maid, it was too much to expect her to stop this.
She was the closest to me, but gossiping about William felt a bit off. I wanted to vent honestly, though.
"Sigh..."
"Is something worrying you?"
"...No. It's nothing."
Classes were over, and I'd finished bathing before dinner. Now I was lying in my room.
Lize stood quietly in my room, listening to me as usual. With no tasks assigned, that was just her job.
"Sigh..."
Only sighs came out.
Of course, I didn't think Rozalin would suddenly vanish right away, but the worries wouldn't stop.
There was already precedent, and she'd run away so abruptly. I couldn't rule out the possibility that Rozalin might flee in three days, a week, or a month.
"Lize, do you ever think about getting married?"
"Are you talking about me...?"
"Yeah. Just curious."
"Not yet..."
"Ah, obviously not now. I mean later, after you become an adult and don't have to work as a maid anymore."
Just curious.
For me, I had zero intention of marrying a man, even if it killed me, but other people were different.
"What do you think?"
"Hmm... I've never thought about it, so I don't really know."
As expected.
I hadn't expected much anyway. This wasn't a fully modern society. There were classes, high and low, nobles and commoners.
It was a bit much to expect marrying for sweet love with someone you truly adore. More often, it was like what I'd seen a lot—marriages of money exchanging hands.
"Then... suppose you do get married. But your husband has zero interest in you and just wanders around outside. What would you do?"
"Indifferent... you mean?"
"Yeah. He only cares about the dowry or whatever."
"Hmm..."
Lize rested her chin on her hand and started pondering after hearing me.
She'd never had thoughts like this before. Well, I'd already said as much.
"Well... since the marriage was for mutual benefit anyway, and there's no relationship or communication... an affair... wouldn't be a problem, right?"
"...Eh."
"He probably has a real lover anyway... I think it would be better that way."
"...Uh.... Th-that's... more... adult... than I expected........"
I honestly never thought those words would come from Lize's mouth.
Really.
She was only around middle school age... maybe a bit younger. I figured she'd say something pure like, "You'll get along better with him!"
An affair. I was... pretty shocked. Way more mature and provocative than I imagined.
"But... isn't that too extreme...?"
"It was just an example. I don't plan on marriage anyway."
"I see..."
Anyway... I was shocked.
Sure, I was an adult too, and I'd seen the bitter side of society, but I never expected Lize to say something like that.
That's why I was surprised. Honestly, it was unavoidable.
"Hmm..."
"Why? Didn't you like the answer?"
"Huh? No. I just thought it was... pretty reasonable?"
It wasn't a super clean, normal, or virtuous method.
But from the perspective of someone in that situation, wouldn't it be the best? I thought a little. Honestly, my previous stepmother seemed... too nice...?
Honestly, that previous stepmother never confronted William or did anything on her own. Thinking about it, she was too nice.
"But why this... No. Never mind."
"Yeah."
This was what I liked about Lize.
She didn't ask unnecessary questions. Not about how I spoke too maturely for a child in business matters, or how well I gambled at the casino.
She never pried annoyingly. That was somewhat true of the servants in our family, but Lize especially so.
That was part of why she was my exclusive maid.
"Sigh... I'm worried."
William would probably do the same this time. Neglect his stepmother Rozalin and just wander off with his work.
He was strange in so many ways. He liked money and women, but never touched the wife at home.
"Lize, I want something sweet."
"Shall I bring some cookies?"
"Hmm... That sounds good... Ice cream too... Bring something sweet."
All this worrying was getting to me. Dinner would be soon, but not right now anyway.
...Or not. Even so, eating something right before dinner felt a bit wrong.
"Ah. Um... Just give me a candy or something."
"I can give you that right now."
"...Huh."
With that, she pulled a candy from her maid uniform pocket.
...Why was that in her pocket? I'd never seen Lize eating candy alone.
My eyes widened without thinking. It came out so casually from her pocket.
And... not just one, but a surprising variety of flavors.
"...Strawberry. Apple. Chocolate. And..."
"Lemon."
"...You have a lot?"
"Yes."
..........
Hmm.
If I'd known Lize carried this much candy, I would've asked for some more often.
Anyway, I popped one of Lize's candies in my mouth and stopped worrying for now. William wasn't back yet, so fretting about Rozalin running away felt unnecessary.
It even felt pointless...?
*
"Camellia, sleepy?"
"...Yes."
Lately, it really felt like I was napping more...
The weather had gotten warmer, making me drowsy during the day, but I definitely felt sleepier than before.
I'd even been waking up 10 to 30 minutes later than usual sometimes.
"The weather's warmer... That's why you're yawning more during the day lately, right?"
"Yeah... Seems like it..."
Just as Rozalin said.
The weather had warmed up, and the sunlight felt even gentler than before... Sitting in the garden like this made me sleepier than usual.
Even now... honestly, my eyelids felt heavier...
"Ugh..."
"Camellia. You had classes yesterday, so no classes today, right?"
"Yeah...? We don't have back-to-back classes...?"
"Then how about a nap today too? In my room?"
....
Another nap invitation from Rozalin.
Lately, she'd been suggesting naps to me more often. Was it because I yawned a lot in front of her?
I was actually sleeping more, and it wasn't an unappealing suggestion by any means.
I'd slept until 8 today too... After lunch, I'd been drowsy nonstop... Ugh...
"...Shall we?"
"Yeah. Or how about we set a regular nap time after lunch from now on?"
"No need for that..."
"You're napping a lot lately anyway, right? You fell asleep before that lunch appointment last time. We could make it routine. My bedroom is super comfortable. We can chat in my room and then nap?"
Uh... Rozalin was pushing the invitation harder than I expected.
Her bedroom was actually nicer, cozier, and warmer than mine, which I liked.
I'd been sleeping more lately, I enjoyed spending time with Rozalin, and sleeping in the same bed as her before had been nice too...
So, without realizing it, I accepted Rozalin's invitation.
...It really wasn't for any weird reasons.