Chapter 198
Chapter 198
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Time Flies and Father's Decline
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Time passed much faster than I expected.
During my time at the Academy, I spent my days hanging out leisurely with my close female friends, and once the semester ended, I enjoyed the vacation happily with Rozalin.
The three years at the Academy flew by even faster than I'd imagined, and a lot happened during that time.
It wasn't just playing around with the girls and killing time—there was preparing for Ivana's business, gathering info on the Rose Family through the Information Guild, and on top of that, taking over some of the businesses William used to handle.
"Young Lady, this morning after breakfast with Madam, the Family Head said to come see him. There's also a letter from the Information Guild asking you to visit soon."
"Hmm... Really? Nothing else?"
"Yes."
"Then I guess I should swing by one of the business sites on the way."
A few months had already passed since I graduated from the Academy, but my daily routine hadn't changed much from before.
After all, I was a Leonhardt, and what I'd been doing all along was business.
Rolling money, squeezing out more money—that hadn't changed before the Academy, during it, or after graduation.
"Just prepare a shirt for today."
"Yes. Skirt for the bottoms?"
"Yeah. Black."
"Understood."
Today was the usual: after waking up, getting ready with Lize's help, then breakfast with Rozalin followed by running around on business.
That was it.
Unlike my first year at the Academy when I could fully slack off, I had too much to do now, so there was no helping it.
"...Hmm."
"What's wrong, Young Lady?"
"I always think this, but now that my chest has gotten bigger, wearing a shirt feels totally different from before. Back then, it looked pretty cute, but now it gives off more of a sexy vibe."
"...Does it?"
"You don't think so?"
After putting on the shirt, I'd look in the mirror like this every time and think the same thing.
It felt distinctly different from how Lize or Rozalin looked in shirts, which made me notice it even more.
Of course, I much preferred having bigger breasts than when they were small.
"Maybe it's because my height is a bit short compared to my chest size?"
My height was about the same as Ashley's.
Just a smidge over 160cm.
Shorter than tall girls like Karen or Ivana, so maybe that's why shirts on me felt that way.
Honestly, even in dresses or other clothes, I gave off a pretty sultry vibe.
*
"Camellia, you're here?"
"Yes, good morning, Mother."
After getting ready, I headed down to the first floor.
Rozalin was waiting for me as always, dressed in her favorite black dress.
Even after all this time, my feelings for Rozalin hadn't changed.
I'd first met her at age eight, and now I was sixteen.
I'd gotten somewhat used to other women over the years, but...
"What time will you be back today? Late again like the day before yesterday...?"
"I think early today. I used up a lot of time before, so it doesn't look like there'll be much to do."
"Hehe, that's good. I wanted to spend the evening with you, Camellia."
"Haha..."
Looking at Rozalin still felt completely different.
It wasn't just her looks—the atmosphere, speech, gestures, all sorts of things drew me in.
My other friends had their charms too, but Rozalin's were especially potent.
"What about you today, Mother?"
"Hmm... I'll probably just rest at the mansion. No need to hire more servants lately since some quit."
Ah.
I knew all that already, but I kept asking Rozalin questions on purpose while we ate breakfast.
Not just chatting, but savoring her face, slender hands, and pale neck as she sat there.
Of course, I wasn't staring outright—I was sneaking glances.
After breakfast, I headed to William's office, just as Lize had mentioned that morning.
I had no idea why he wanted me, but... I figured it was probably to hand over more of his old businesses.
His health lately hadn't been great.
"Hmm... He's deteriorated a lot in these two years."
He'd never been the healthiest to begin with.
Always traveling by carriage for business, eating junk that was bad for him, and frequenting brothels like crazy.
It wasn't surprising, but... it hadn't been this bad before.
"Father."
"Yeah... Camellia. Come in."
"How's your health? You've been feeling off lately."
"My health's always been like this. More importantly, how's the business I handed you last time?"
I didn't particularly like William, but it was still pitiful to see.
He'd always been stocky, but not to the point of moving uncomfortably like now.
His skin looked bad, and even his breathing sounded rough.
He was getting treatment from doctors and priests, but...
Hard to say.
"The fabric quality's much better, and the workers at the site seem decent enough. The only issue is production volume—not enough compared to the quality and material."
"Yeah... Still lacking compared to the western operations."
"I'm planning to finalize the routes in a few days. Whether to aim for maximum luxury or lower quality a bit to boost output."
We talked like that while I quietly checked his condition.
Even just eyeballing it, he looked bad.
I'd heard plenty from the other servants about his recent state.
Grabbing his neck while walking, frequent headaches, getting winded from minor movement...
"...Too late already?"
After finishing with William, I muttered that while walking down the hall.
Since his health tanked, I'd been throwing money at it pretty hard.
Well, technically his money on his treatment, but two years in, no real recovery.
"The priests say it's not something divine power can fix..."
Even the city doctors said it'd been worsening for too long.
"Sigh..."
At this rate, he might actually die.
Diabetes, hypertension, whatever—could diseases pile up like this?
His lifestyle had always been worse than mine, but I never thought it'd get this far.
Meanwhile, Rozalin just got more refined with age.
Even with the age gap.
*
"Dear, still avoiding high society?"
"Yeah, pretty much."
The Information Guild had sent a letter asking me to come directly, so here I was.
The woman from the Information Guild who'd come south with me from the Academy was still my handler.
No clue when she'd ditch that black veil.
"But why bring up high society all of a sudden?"
Why high society out of nowhere?
I hadn't attended any social events since graduating.
Were rumors flying in those circles?
"Just? I figured once you start showing up, the gossip would explode right away."
"...Ah."
Nothing but nonsense.
This woman from the Information Guild never said anything sensible anyway.
Except when delivering info—she was otherwise even more playful than me.
I'd thought it might be serious for once.
"More importantly, why'd you call me today? The Guild rarely summons like this."
"We gathered a ton of intel on the Rose Family over the winter."
"Hmm... What kind? Another baron meetup like last time?"
"Hehehe! Nah, nothing like that. Those are a dime a dozen by now. You know it too."
"True."
We got straight to the point.
If not for the playful attitude and her never-showing-skin outfit, she'd be a great handler.
Good intel on the Rose Family had me eyeing her with real interest.
"We got word the Rose Family's done mooching off others and starting their own self-sustaining business."
"Hmm...?"
The Roses?
Those blockheads?
Self-sustaining?
The unexpected news hit me with absurdity.
Never saw that coming from them.
The Rose Count himself was such an idiot...
"Hmm..."
I hadn't heard the details yet, but I was already intrigued from all angles.
With William's health crash freeing me up for more ventures...
Perfect setup to screw over the Rose Family.
"Hehe..."
"Dear, that was a super creepy laugh just now."
"Cut the chatter and spill on the Rose bitches already."