Chapter 164
Chapter 164
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Returning Home
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"What are you planning to do during the break? Start another business?"
"Hmm... I don't really feel like doing business."
"Then what are you going to do? You always complain about being bored and make a fuss."
"That's true, but starting a new business right now just feels like too much hassle all around."
Our destinations—Ella's and mine—were practically the same.
The Leonhardt Mansion and Niesista Territory were so close that there was no reason not to travel together.
In fact, Ella had agreed to my suggestion.
"Besides, wouldn't it be easier to do business after graduation? It seems like it would be pretty tough to manage while at the Academy."
"You're right... Doing business on top of Academy life..."
"Well, it's not like it's impossibly hard. I could do it if I really wanted to. I'm just too lazy to bother."
It wasn't that I couldn't manage it.
I was just too lazy.
Truth be told, I still had businesses I hadn't fully sold off, and some I was managing myself.
But that didn't mean I planned to expand them or increase their focus right now.
"So, what are you going to do during the break?"
"Just relax?"
"..."
"I'm serious. I'm just going to relax."
"Sigh..."
Ella started making this incredibly frustrated face.
It actually felt more awkward for her to do something super serious.
Not that she never did, of course.
"Ella, you're going to help the Niesista Baron tend to the territory?"
"Probably. We've got more farm-related work piling up, and Father doesn't have to handle it all alone anymore."
"Heh, what a dutiful daughter."
"You're suddenly praising me...?"
"Just saying. Didn't you like it?"
"No, it's not that... It's just you don't usually say stuff like that."
I'd always noticed it, but Ella got shy about compliments from me.
More than you'd expect, for some reason.
I wasn't even giving weird compliments—just normal ones, like calling her cute or something.
Honestly, it made me feel a little wronged.
"Hmm... Well, compared to most noble ladies, you're way kinder, right?"
"Am I?"
"Yeah. Take me, for example... We're not exactly close. It's all pretty businesslike."
"Oh..."
Well, our family was the weird one, sure.
Still, Ella seemed to have better family relationships than most ladies.
My relationship with William was... well...
I got along fine with Rozalin, but even that was mostly business and money talk.
Though I actually preferred it that way.
"Anyway, living like you do is a good thing, so don't take it the wrong way."
"No, it's not like that..."
"Heh... Good to hear."
We passed the time with that kind of trivial chit-chat.
We weren't the type for deep, profound conversations anyway.
We were the sort who kept things super casual and everyday.
"So, if I get bored, I can drop by Niesista Territory, right?"
"Call ahead first."
"That's a hassle."
"You."
"Pfft... Kidding, kidding. I'll call ahead."
We didn't know exactly when I'd visit, but it wouldn't be an issue.
The Niesista Baron had taken a liking to me since our first meeting and treated me better now.
He'd probably welcome me with open arms and ask for help with work if I showed up.
*
Ella headed off to Niesista Territory her way, and I arrived at the mansion.
It had been so long... really, months since I'd been home.
"Hmm."
"Shall we head right inside, Young Lady?"
"Yeah, we should. The south is so damn hot, I can't even enjoy the scenery."
I'd planned to take a quick look around the home I hadn't seen in ages, but no way that was happening.
I'd forgotten, having spent time in areas closer to the capital.
How brutally hot the south got in summer.
"Let's go in, greet Mother, unpack, and rest."
"Yes, I'll handle the luggage."
We got out of the carriage right away and passed through the mansion's front gate.
They used to decorate this place with tons of roses to welcome Rozalin.
It was already tiring from the heat, but touring the home after so long felt different—nice, in a way.
"Pfft..."
We crossed the gate and reached the mansion entrance.
As I stood at the door to open it, it swung open like it had been waiting for me.
"Camellia."
"Oh, Mother. It's been forever. How have you been?"
The door opened, and naturally, it was Rozalin greeting me.
Of course it was.
It was so expected that even seeing her silhouette didn't surprise me.
"...Yes, I've been well. You too, Camellia?"
"Heh, of course."
Her face was as beautiful as ever.
Most people I hung out with were stunning, sure... but Rozalin had something else.
A subtle yet glamorous vibe.
My looks were decent, personally, but hers felt like... my ideal type.
"Ah, it's hot, isn't it? Let's go inside..."
"Yes, let's. You look a bit flushed too, Mother."
"This summer feels hotter than last year. You hate the heat so much, Camellia. Better get inside quick."
I nodded at her words and went in with her.
It really was sweltering, and even Rozalin—who usually dressed more modestly—was in lighter clothes today.
"How was the Academy? Your letters made it sound fun."
"More fun than I expected. I made more friends than I thought, and it was way easier than you and Lize worried about."
We strolled through the mansion lobby and halls, chatting away.
It was home after so long, but nothing had changed much.
Just walking slowly, talking, glancing at Rozalin after ages apart.
"You seem to have made a lot of friends, Camellia."
"Oh, yeah. I really met a bunch this time at the Academy. Remember Older Sister Karen from the Rosaki Family?"
"Oh... What about her?"
"I got close to her little sister too. Grace—cuter than her sister, even."
It wasn't anything special.
Just normal talk.
But it was me saying it, and Rozalin knew I didn't chat about this stuff much.
"It's great you made friends outside of family ties. Beyond the Niesista lady... that's definitely..."
"Heh... Yeah? I think it's good too."
"And getting close to the Nordal Family lady... Even I didn't see that coming."
"Me neither. Of course not."
Getting close to Ivana was truly, really unexpected.
I'd gone to the Academy thinking I'd avoid people of super high status like her.
No idea how we ended up friends...
The club registration brought us closer, but now I could confidently call her a friend.
It was all pretty surprising, in various ways.
"By the way, Mother, the mansion feels so cool inside. Did Teacher set it all up?"
"Hm? Oh... Yes. The south is hot, and you hate heat so much. I had her install it before summer started."
"Oh..."
I was a bit surprised.
I'd noticed the coolness upon entering.
But it was less intense than last year, so I'd downplayed it as Ashley's AC magic.
It wasn't freezing—just comfortably cool.
"You used to eat shaved ice all summer, stay too cold, and catch colds. I made sure it's not too chilly this time."
"Oh..."
"I was so shocked back then. Never thought you'd get that sick..."
"That was... my fault."
Huh.
Didn't expect her to bring up something so old.
But yeah, I'd overdone it, so no excuses.
As we talked, we reached my room.
It felt familiar, no awkwardness despite the time away.
"Hot on the trip back?"
"Not really. We had wind from the magic tool, windows open—cooler than expected."
I glanced around the room, tossed my bag aside, chatting.
Lize, following behind, tidied a bit then left.
Probably other tasks.
"Still, it was hot, right?"
"Well, yeah..."
Was it because I'd complained so much about the heat last year?
Rozalin kept bringing up heat-related stuff.
It was hot, sure...
"How about we bathe together for old times' sake?"
"...Pardon?"
Not that I'd expected this.
Really.
She'd suggested it often before, and we'd bathed together plenty...
"The carriage might've been cool, but you still sweated. You're changing clothes anyway, right? What do you say?"
Still, hearing it made my mind race—just a tiny bit, unavoidably.
Not my fault. Truly unavoidable.
Yes.