Chapter 151
Chapter 151
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Early Morning Chat
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"...Huh."
Normally, once I fell asleep, I slept deeply through the night.
I tended to stay in the exact position I started in until morning.
"...Hmm."
But for some reason, today I woke up before the sun had even risen.
The curtains blocked the window, so no bright sunlight filtered in, leaving the room still dark.
I didn't know the exact time, but it was definitely early enough to call it the dead of night... and I had no idea why I was awake.
The only possible cause I could think of was napping at the cathedral during the day...?
"Hmm..."
For now, Lize, whom I was using as a pillow, was still fast asleep.
I'd dozed off while holding her and chatting with the other girls, and since I was still holding her, maybe I'd just gotten enough sleep naturally?
The other girls around us were still sleeping too.
I probably just woke up automatically because I'd slept plenty.
"What to do."
I was awake, but everyone else was asleep... including Lize, whom I was back-hugging.
It felt annoying to get out from under the covers on purpose, but there wasn't anything to do outside anyway.
"Hmm..."
If I went out carelessly, I might wake someone with the movement, which made it even trickier.
This wasn't my solo bedroom—tonight, all six of us were crammed in here, and I was right in the middle... Moving around randomly could really wake someone.
"Hmm."
For the moment, I pondered while lightly stroking Lize's lower belly.
Not hard enough to wake her—just gently.
Her stomach felt smoother than soft, so stroking it was way more fun that way.
"Should I get up?"
After about ten minutes of caressing Lize's belly, I decided.
Lying still and just touching her stomach was getting too boring, and it felt like I was needlessly bothering her while she slept.
Anyway, I slipped out as quietly as possible.
Careful not to disturb the covers or tangle any legs.
"Yawn..."
Waking up this early felt so unfamiliar—it had been ages.
I moved to the sofa outside, but it still felt off compared to my usual routine.
Normally, I only got up when Lize woke me or when it was time for her to start her tasks.
Today, I'd woken up at a time that barely qualified as morning.
"What to do until actual morning..."
If this had happened in my dorm room, I probably would've reviewed some business documents.
I wasn't managing the business as intensely as before, but there were still some things left.
But right now...
"Sigh."
I had no choice but to kill time idly on the sofa, waving my hand around.
If I'd known it'd be like this, I should've skipped the daytime nap and spent the time chatting with the others.
"...?"
As I lounged alone on the sofa, the bedroom door suddenly opened.
Out came Ivana.
She was rubbing her eyes sleepily, wearing pajamas unlike her usual attire.
"Uh..."
Her eyes met mine as I lay sprawled comfortably, staring at the ceiling.
Had she not expected me to be awake?
"Did you wake up needing the bathroom?"
"No, just... I usually get up at dawn anyway."
"Ah."
"...Why are you awake, Camellia?"
I was a bit surprised she rose at this hour normally, but I decided to answer her question first.
Besides, as she herself said, her expression looked alert rather than sleepy or tired.
"I napped during the day, so I woke up sooner than expected. We all crashed hard at the cathedral today, right?"
"Ah."
"Probably why I woke up already. Hmm... Honestly, I'd love to sleep more, but I can't fall back asleep, so here I am?"
It was a short reason—nothing more to say.
Because that really was why I'd woken up.
"...I see."
"Um... Want to sit here with me, Ivana? I was getting bored. Lucky you."
"Sure."
She accepted my suggestion without hesitation.
Ivana's personality was pretty willful, so part of me wondered if she'd pick somewhere else, but she didn't.
She'd always done things her own way before, so I couldn't help considering that possibility.
Lately, though, she seemed to listen to me more than she used to...?
"Hmm."
Well, having a pretty girl like Ivana act on her whims wasn't something I minded.
Even if she was willful, she never took it to an extreme.
With looks like hers... it just suited her.
"So you always wake up at dawn like this?"
"Yes."
"Even at the academy? And before that?"
"I've kept my sleep to six hours since I was little."
"Whoa..."
Impressive.
Honestly, I couldn't wrap my head around it.
How could anyone function on just six hours of sleep?
Even when I was hustling with the business, I slept until I felt like waking up.
Ivana's six-hour sleep schedule was genuinely hard for me to comprehend.
"Back home, we had breakfast super early, then trained with the knights, so no choice."
"Ohh..."
Knights...
With no knights in my own family, it was intriguing.
In my past life, stuff like magic and knights only existed in fantasy stories.
That's why I'd been drawn to magic before too—for the same reason.
"What do you do when you train with the knights? Like, lifting logs or something?"
"We do that sometimes... but I don't. The knights handle it."
"Then what about you, Ivana?"
"Me? Usually swordsmanship or stretching."
"Ooh..."
Sounds impressive.
Magic classes were just memorizing spell circles and moving mana.
I couldn't help but get more interested in Ivana's stories of physical training and sweating it out.
Not that I wanted to try it myself.
"During that sparring match before, you wielded that huge greatsword. Do all the other Nordal knights do that too?"
"Yes."
"Wow."
Intense.
Just imagining it sounded insanely cool.
Knights in fancy armor, all carrying massive greatswords.
Wow.
"Of course, plenty use other weapons. Axes and spears are common too..."
"Ooh..."
"Actually, more knights prefer axes over greatswords. They're used to them from way back, or so they say."
"Sounds super fun."
"The training?"
"Watching it."
Not that I wanted to train myself—no way.
If I'd been into that, I'd have focused on exercise instead of business all this time.
"Our family has zero knights. It's all so novel."
"For a viscount house like Leonhardt, a small knight order should be no issue."
"Ah, it's not about money—we don't have a territory anyway, just the mansion. No need to spend on knights."
Money wasn't the problem.
Hiring knights was pricier than maids or butlers, sure, but we weren't short.
Purely because we'd had no real need yet.
"For protection during business trips, we hire mercenaries or adventurers. No bandit-prone routes either."
"Ah."
"Of course, if we get a territory later... who knows?"
"Hmm..."
We were just city folk in the south for now, but the future was uncertain.
I'd bought the viscount title with money, after all.
A territory? If I wanted one someday, I'd make it happen eventually.
"Next time, when you visit our territory, I'll show you the knights' training."
"Really?"
"It's no big deal. Training is most of their routine anyway."
"Ooh..."
Didn't expect her to offer that.
It caught me off guard, but it was a tempting proposal.
Nordal knights were famous in their own right, and personally, I'd love to see their training once.
Maybe because I'd been a guy in my past life?
Knights in cool armor, clashing with axes and greatswords—yeah, I'd like that.
"Didn't expect you to suggest it first, Ivana."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah, you mentioned helping with the business before... but this? Inviting me to your territory unprompted? Total surprise."
"........"
"Well, to learn about your northern business ventures, I'd have to visit once anyway."
Still, business aside, I hadn't anticipated territory talk from her.
Her patterns were hard to read, unpredictable.
"Feels like we're getting a bit closer, Ivana. I like it."
"Is... that so."
"You're doing it for your heir competition, but the result is us getting friendlier. I'm all for it."
"...I see."
Honestly, who wouldn't like befriending a beautiful white-haired girl?
Even with her pale skin, Ivana's hair was even whiter.
A stunning girl like that—ignoring her would be weirder.
Sure, as a duke's daughter, I couldn't treat her as casually as Ella or Lize, but getting closer was definitely good.
"I've never been north before. Following you there sometime sounds fun."
If possible, I'd like to bond more with Ivana.
Most of that because of her looks, though?