Chapter 187
Chapter 187
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Growing Colder on the Road North
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"As we go higher, doesn't the weather seem to be getting colder and colder?"
"Indeed... it does feel that way."
"When we arrive at the inn today, I think we should pull out some warmer clothes."
"Hehe, that sounds good."
...How did it end up like this?
My original plan had been to travel north just with Lize.
But contrary to that plan, there were now three of us inside the carriage.
To be more precise, it wasn't just the three of us—we were heading north with a long line of family servants and knights in tow....
Far more people than I'd imagined were traveling north... It was truly an absurd situation.
"The south really does seem warmer overall. I had no idea it would get this cold as soon as we started entering the central region."
"It's been quite a while since Mother lived in the south, after all."
"Hehe, that's true?"
...The timing just had to be terrible.
William just happened to be at the mansion, and he just happened to decide he'd rest in the south for about a month.
Because of that, Rozalin ended up coming with me and Lize to the north—a trip I'd said was just for the two of us.
A woman who was always so busy traveling for business and visiting pleasure houses—why now, of all times?
Was she feeling under the weather lately or something...?
"It's been ages since I last went north, so I'm looking forward to it."
"Come to think of it, you mentioned you'd been there before."
"Hehe, it really was ages ago? But I have been there. It was before I was fully grown, though."
"Once we arrive in the north, we'll be able to rely on Mother a lot."
In the end, it had turned into a awkward situation.
I'd already been worrying about my relationship with Rozalin ever since summer break.
I'd deliberately tried not to travel with her.
Being close with peers was one thing, but being that way with my stepmother Rozalin felt different.
After all, relationships like maid, friend, senior, or teacher were bound to differ from a stepmother-daughter one.
Anyway, that was why I'd planned to go just with Lize....
"...The sun seems to be setting earlier than expected today. It might be best to stop at a suitable inn."
"I'll pass the word to the people in the other carriages shortly."
"Yes, thank you. And since it's getting cold for the horses too.... Let them know it's definitely better to stop somewhere appropriate."
"Yes, Young Lady."
The carriage racing toward the north.
Just the repetition of quietly having such conversations.
But for some reason, Rozalin kept letting little laughs slip out, as if something was endlessly amusing.
It was pretty, in a way... but subtly awkward too.
I ended up sleeping more or staring blankly out the window.
*
"Whew.... The weather's gotten really cold. Hasn't it?"
"Tomorrow, even inside the carriage, we'll need to ride dressed warmly."
"Yeah. The south really was warmer."
As Lize and I unpacked a bit in the inn room, we had such a conversation.
Rozalin got the best room, Lize and I took the next best, and the rest were assigned however.
For today, we'd decided to spend the time at this inn we'd just arrived at.
"Now that we're in the central region... We've come this far today, so we'll probably need to take the carriage again tomorrow."
"Considering the weather and road conditions, it might take a few more days."
"You're right."
The weather had grown steadily chillier since the start of break.
Vacation had begun in early December, and a lot of days had passed going down to the mansion and back up, so it was only natural.
Of course, the carriage had some heating, and we were dressed warmly, so it wasn't a huge issue.
But the roads and weather were another matter.
"Young Lady, how about wearing this while traveling tomorrow? It has a decent lining and doesn't look too uncomfortable."
"I don't plan on bundling up too heavily. Just a bit warmer than today will do."
"Then I'll prepare this one."
"Yes, thank you, Lize."
Lately—and today—there had been so much to think about.
But fortunately, now that we were in this room, there wasn't as much weighing on my mind.
We hadn't reached the north yet, and Rozalin wasn't in this room.
"Yawnnnnn...."
I could just let my mind go blank.
Truly relax.
"Ughhhh...."
It didn't matter if I lay on the bed.
Lize was rummaging through the luggage alone, but I just let it be and sprawled comfortably on the bed by myself.
The carriage was quite luxurious, sure.
But that didn't make hours of sitting any less uncomfortable.
"I hope we get to the north soon."
If we arrived quickly and focused on business, maybe it'd be a little better.
Surely better than spending all this time cooped up in the same carriage with Rozalin.
It wasn't that I disliked it... but ever since summer break, facing her felt a bit awkward.
"Oh, right."
As I lay on the bed, something suddenly occurred to me.
It was about Lize, who was unpacking in the same room.
"Lize, even in the north, are you just going to wear your maid uniform?"
"Pardon?"
"The north is going to be way colder than here. Is wearing just the maid uniform really okay?"
When wintering in the south, the maid uniform had been fine.
Sure, it was a bit chilly, but the south's winter wasn't brutally cold.
But in the north?
Unlike the south, where winter hovered between 10 and 0 degrees, the north definitely dropped below freezing.
I figured seriously wandering around in just a maid uniform like usual would be quite problematic.
"The uniform you're wearing now doesn't even have lining. You okay with that?"
"Ah...."
"I don't think it's okay at all. Do you have separate warm clothes packed? Something really cozy."
"I did pack one coat...."
A coat.
A thickly lined, warm coat might not make it too cold.
But Lize would still wear her maid uniform underneath, no doubt.
"So, maid uniform with a coat over it?"
"Yes, that's right."
"...Lize. You've never been to the north, have you?"
"No, I haven't...."
"...I see."
Hmm.
Well, Lize was the type who didn't grasp things well from words alone.
It seemed fastest to let her experience the north's cold firsthand once we got there.
Better than lecturing her at length to wear something warm instead of her maid uniform.
Once she felt the real chill, she'd surely give up on toughing it out with just a maid uniform and coat.
"Hm... It's gotten pretty late. Shall we go grab dinner with Mother?"
I'd been resting deeply in the room, and before I knew it, evening had arrived.
The sun was setting outside, and my stomach was starting to growl.
"Lize, shall we head out?"
"...Yes."
I got up from the bed and left the room, heading straight for Rozalin's.
The other servants and knights would manage their own time until morning, but not Rozalin and Lize.
-Knock knock.
"Mother, we're thinking of going out for dinner. Would you like to join us?"
I said that in front of Rozalin's room door.
If she was sleeping and missed dinner, that'd be a problem.
After I spoke, the door opened just a few seconds later.
Naturally, it was Rozalin who opened it.
"Has it gotten that late already...?"
"Were you sleeping?"
"Not quite... I just closed my eyes for a bit."
"I see."
Rozalin looked ever so slightly drowsy.
She called it resting, but she'd clearly been asleep until moments ago.
The long carriage ride must have tired her out too.
I'd spent a good while lounging on the bed after arriving, so I understood.
"It's been ages since you came to the central region, right? There are way more tasty spots than in the south. I thought it'd be nice to go out and eat together."
The central region really did have better food, and we needed to have dinner with Rozalin anyway.
Heading out now to eat something seemed best.
"What do you think?"
"Shall we? Wait just a moment? I need to grab my coat."
"Hehe, of course I can wait. Take your time. We haven't even decided where to go yet?"
"No, I'll just grab the coat and come right out. Wait a bit."
With that, she closed the door and went back inside.
With the cold weather, it was only natural she'd need to dress warmly.
"Young Lady, they say there's a good restaurant around the inn."
"Where'd you hear that?"
"I overheard it while talking with the knights and servants about their rooms. They said it was good but too pricey to go...."
"Hm.... Our family's employees probably aren't the type who can't afford a restaurant. It must really be expensive, then."
The people working at our mansion actually earned about twice what those in other families did.
Our reputation might not be great, but we paid our servants very generously.
"Camellia, I'm all ready. Shall we go?"
Rozalin emerged from her room wearing a coat with fluffy fur trim.
Somehow different from her usual dresses, it gave off a cute vibe.
...It looked so soft and fuzzy, like wearing it once would make it twice as nice.
I didn't act on the thought, though.