Chapter 178
Chapter 178
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Relaxed Days at the Mansion
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I spent my time at the mansion comfortably, really enjoyably.
I passed the days without doing anything special.
"Yawn... Lize, did you sleep well?"
"...It's uncomfortable."
"You don't like it?"
"...I didn't say I disliked it."
"Puhuhu..."
I just spent time casually with Lize, teased Ashley a bit, and chatted with Rozalin.
I had just been spending time like that.
Since I'd have to return to the Academy soon, I took it easy, but... it ended up being way more fun than I expected.
I really just lay comfortably in bed with Lize reading a book, and if I got a little bored, we'd go out shopping or something.
I didn't do anything more than that...
"Whew... Returning to the Academy is such a hassle."
"Young Lady."
"I know, I know, I have to go, right?"
"...Yes."
"I was just saying. Lately, staying at the mansion has been so comfortable. You've been comfortable too, haven't you, Lize?"
"Comfortable... yes, it has been."
See?
We'd just been relaxing in the room together, after all.
Truthfully, Lize didn't need to do as much work as the other maids in the first place.
She just had to stay by my side and do whatever I asked.
Back when I was handling a lot of business and dealing with paperwork often, I'd assigned her other tasks just so I wouldn't be alone.
"Once we go back to the Academy, I won't get to spend as much time with you. That's what I'm bummed about."
"Is that so...?"
At my words, a flush of color bloomed on Lize's face.
She secretly liked hearing things like that.
Her reaction was cute and amusing, so I poked at her cheek while we lay together in bed.
"What about you, Lize?"
"I... feel the same."
"Puhu... That's why I keep telling you to come to the club room more often. You don't have to wait until I come back to the dormitory room."
"Even so, just showing up unannounced where you're hanging out with your friends..."
"It's fine."
I really didn't mind at all.
Not just me—the others wouldn't care either...
Well, Lize was overly shy and uptight about stuff like this.
"Well, if that's how it is, no helping it."
"...Yes."
"It'd be fun if you hung out in the club room with us."
"Even if you say that..."
"Yeah, would you?"
"...I'll just wait in the dormitory."
"Hmm..."
Well, even though we're talking like this now, if I drag her out later, she'll come along.
She even came to the club room last time to help me study for exams.
The option of never coming was never on the table to begin with.
I just shrugged it off and fiddled with her cheek playfully.
"Hmm... What should I pack to take back to the Academy..."
"I think the clothes at the Academy are sufficient."
"Yeah, that's true. Just the other documents... Oh, maybe pack something that could help Ivana."
Even though there's still plenty of time left, business is something better done sooner, right?
I figured I could help out a bit next semester.
Anyway, it was that kind of situation where I'd have to head back to the Academy soon.
Honestly...
"Man, I really don't wanna go... Riding in the carriage for hours, days... Haa..."
"Eek..."
I really hated it...
In a world with such amazing magic, why wasn't there something like a magic train?
The fact that carriages were basically the only mode of transport was truly regrettable.
"At least it's good that I learned magic from Teacher."
"At the very least, the carriage won't feel hot on the way."
"Hehe, true."
"It'll still be hot for a while after we get back to the Academy... In that sense, it's really fortunate. You suffer in the heat so much, Young Lady."
During this vacation, I'd learned magic from Ashley.
That air conditioner spell I'd wanted to use for so long.
The name had been kind of complicated for some reason, but anyway, air conditioner magic.
I'd combined various spells, and fusing magic like that was a first for me, so it was honestly tough, but luckily, I mastered it.
"The dormitory room won't be hot anymore, and I can keep the club room cool too. It's a huge relief."
"...Yes."
"Truthfully, after summer hit, it was too hot to stick close to you like this."
"......"
"Thanks to it, even on hot days, it's no problem now... Actually, it's cool, so much more comfortable."
That might really be the biggest gain from this summer vacation.
Yeah, I definitely learned it well.
I wished I'd learned it last year, but... my magic skills weren't as good back then.
It was fortunate to have learned it this summer.
"I should give Teacher some kind of gift before we leave."
"Teacher would probably... be happy with something simple like a decent pillow."
"That works too. But giving just that feels like I'd be shortchanging her somehow."
"Is that so...?"
"Yeah, teaching is her job and all, but a single pillow feels too cheap, doesn't it?"
"Well... you're right."
Anyway, we kept chatting like that in bed, passing the time.
Truthfully, ever since Ashley helped me sort out that unexpected worry by chance, every day had been like this.
I'd hang around stuck to Lize in bed or wherever until she couldn't handle the embarrassment and slipped away, then I'd go find Ashley.
Otherwise, I'd hand off all the work to the servants and go play with Rozalin, who had nothing to do.
Just that kind of routine.
"Madam, what are you up to?"
"It's almost a month away, but fall's coming soon. I'm thinking of redoing the garden while we're at it."
"Ah."
Today, as usual in that routine, I'd come to Rozalin's room.
I considered going to Ashley, but since I'd have to return to the Academy soon...
I wanted to spend more time with Rozalin before then.
So I'd just come straight to her room.
"What brings you here? Do you need something?"
"Not for that. I just wanted to spend time with you, Madam."
"Oh... really?"
"Yes. Since I'll have to go back to the Academy soon."
"Ah... I see."
Honestly, skipping the Academy and just spending time with Rozalin sounded pretty great.
Of course, that wouldn't be so easy?
We weren't doing anything special with Rozalin, but spending time with her was really nice.
Hanging out with my various Academy friends was fun too... but somehow, time with Rozalin felt even better.
Even now, just having a casual chat made me smile.
"The Academy... you said it's fun, right?"
"Yes, it is. Lots of friends, and everyone's around the same age. There are so many cute kids, it's different from staying at the mansion in all sorts of ways."
"That makes sense. At the mansion... excluding Lize, no one's around your age."
"Of course, I still prefer staying at the mansion over the Academy."
Rozalin was jotting something down on documents while talking to me, and I sat quietly in a chair, chatting.
Even this mundane conversation kept bringing smiles to my face.
Somehow... it was a different kind of fun from teasing Ashley or lying in bed talking with Lize?
"Hmm... It really is a shame that you'll be heading back to the Academy, Camellia..."
"Puhu, really?"
"Of course? You only just got back from the Academy, didn't you? It's been barely a month...? Yeah, can't help but feel it's a shame."
"Hehe, hearing you say that makes me happy, Madam."
Yeah.
This was real.
It felt good that Rozalin thought the same way I did.
Well, it was only natural.
"Hmm... Camellia."
"Yes, Madam."
"Just to check, but... you haven't been drinking with your Academy friends lately, have you? Nothing like that?"
"...Pardon?"
...Huh?
...What?
For a moment, I wasn't sure what I'd heard.
"Drinking?"
"Yes, wine or whiskey or whatever. Back when I was at the Academy... kids always got caught sneaking drinks."
"Uh... we don't do that?"
"That's a relief then. They don't deduct too many points if you get caught drinking at the Academy... but you should still wait until you're an adult."
Hmm...
Well, the Academy had all sorts of weird kids, after all.
Maybe that's why?
From the stories Rozalin told about her Academy days, there were tons of oddballs.
Noble students fighting commoners one-on-one, professors hitting students with ice magic... yeah.
I just took it in stride.
"I've never even touched alcohol once until now."
"Hehe, that's really good."
Well, I did like alcohol.
I hadn't had any in this life, but in my previous one, I'd quite enjoyed it.
That unique bitter taste of alcohol mixed with the sweetness from the ingredients used to make it was...
"Ah, but thinking about the kids who get punished in the dormitory, maybe that's why they got in trouble."
"The Academy really hasn't changed at all."
"Puhu... yeah, it really hasn't. Especially considering how many eccentric teachers there are."
Maybe because so many people circulate through the Academy?
There were really all sorts of characters.
"Hmm... Camellia. How about after dinner tonight, we have some late-night snacks together?"
"Uh... late-night snacks?"
It was Rozalin's sudden proposal.
The sun hadn't even set yet, and it was nowhere near nighttime.
I hadn't expected her to suggest late-night snacks in this situation.
Of course, I didn't dislike the idea...
"Since you'll be heading back to the Academy soon. I want to spend lots of time with my daughter before then."
"Ah..."
If that's the reason, then of course.
No, even if it wasn't...
"Shall we?"
I'd agree to Rozalin's suggestion anyway?