Chapter 199
Chapter 199
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Overwhelmed by Business and Mother's Visit
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With William's health deteriorating, the number of businesses I had to inherit had grown quite substantial.
Of course, the most important one, the Leonhardt Trading Company, hadn't been handed over yet...
"Jewelry, lodging, dining, mana stone operations, scroll production, construction... What fields did he get into so many of?"
Because William had dabbled in so many ventures, my workload had ballooned accordingly.
Sure, rolling money around in business was enjoyable, but it was still exhausting in every way.
They had cropped up so suddenly; there was no helping it.
"Lize, give my shoulders a rub from behind."
"Yes."
My body had grown a lot lately, which meant my shoulders were constantly knotted, adding to my fatigue—and now the work was piling up too.
I couldn't help asking Lize for this favor.
"Haa... What is all this, all of a sudden."
Of course, after graduating from the Academy, I had started up the businesses again.
But I truly hadn't anticipated the workload exploding like this.
I knew William's health was declining... but I never imagined it would worsen to the point where he had to step back from business entirely.
"Haa..."
"Are you alright...?"
"No. I'm just really tired."
"Ah..."
Normally, I would have given a casual reply to Lize's question, but lately, with how exhausted I was, this was the best I could manage.
I was devoting most of my day to business matters.
It wasn't like I was on the verge of collapsing from exhaustion just yet.
Even so, it was undeniable that I was far more worn out than before...
"Urgh..."
"Should I rub a little harder?"
"No. That's fine."
"Then..."
"The massage is enough... Mind if I lie down on the bed for a bit?"
I turned my head toward Lize behind me and said that.
It wasn't just physical fatigue this time.
Right now, I needed mental healing, not just bodily rest.
"...Yes."
Lize, who understood exactly what I meant, accepted my request.
The fact that she was agreeing far more readily than before made it impossible not to smile in all sorts of ways.
I had turned sixteen, making Lize nineteen... a full adult.
Gazing at her, now even more beautiful than before, was quite enjoyable.
Rozalin was great to look at, but touching, feeling, and being with Lize, whom I'd known since way back, was fun in its own right.
"Puhu..."
The moment I saw Lize lying on my bed, the corners of my mouth started to lift.
Just moments ago, staring at business documents had been a chore, but now my eyes were sparkling in a completely different way.
"Young Lady...?"
"Yeah?"
"Why are you smiling all of a sudden...? Is something wrong...?"
"No. Just stay still."
With those words, I sat beside Lize, who was lying on my bed, and let my hand move.
Lize had never stopped, refused, or rejected these actions of mine before, so I felt free to do as I pleased.
Truth be told, I'd already been doing so for quite some time.
In any case, touching Lize's body was a great way to unwind.
*
The information on the Rose Family was full of valuable details.
Over the past few months, where Christina Rose had visited, what she'd done there, and the people or businesses connected to her.
There was a ton of it.
It probably helped that I'd shelled out quite a bit to the Information Guild, but even so, this intel was leagues better than what I'd gotten before.
I occasionally exchanged letters with Alexandra Rose, but even as the Rose Family's second daughter, she didn't have the full picture on her eldest sister Christina's movements.
"Hmm..."
Conveniently, some of the businesses I'd inherited from William overlapped heavily with ones that woman was starting to eye.
More than I'd expected.
Talk of a new lodging venture in the capital, selling high-quality western fabrics to nobles.
All things I'd received from William.
"Ivana..."
Since graduating from the Academy, I hadn't met up with Ivana separately.
She was busy preparing to become Family Head in various ways, and I'd had plenty on my plate since returning home.
I'd seen Karen, Grace, and Ella a few times... but Ivana and I had barely met.
"Even so, it's too soon for me to go head-to-head with the Rose Family in business."
Business-wise and capital-wise, I held the advantage, but noble society tended to move by rank.
If I struck first while exposing myself, it was obvious I'd be the only one taking losses.
The Leonhardt name was still getting dragged through the mud, after all.
And the Roses were a count family, to boot.
"Ivana's still handling her own businesses, perfectly positioned..."
Her situation was far better than mine.
"With Ivana's help... that could work."
I mulled it over while checking the various business documents that had come my way.
Meeting Ivana after so long would be nice anyway, and I could assist with her ventures in the process...
"Hmm..."
First things first, I needed to prepare a letter.
No way was I trekking all the way up north myself.
"Huu... Should I call Lize back in?"
I was getting tired again.
If Lize were here right now, I could just...
"Uhu hu."
Of course, Lize was off washing my clothes and not in the room.
Still, with those thoughts in mind, I pressed on with my work.
Tired or not, I couldn't slack off or go out playing.
Attacking the Roses through Ivana was part of the ongoing business anyway.
One step at a time with what needed doing.
"Hm..."
I was handling paperwork and other tasks alone in my room like that.
There wasn't actually that much to call it "work."
Then, suddenly, the door opened.
"?
"Camellia, are you busy by any chance?"
"Mother?"
In walked none other than Rozalin.
I'd been thinking it was probably just Lize coming in, so her appearance was quite surprising.
What could have brought her to my room?
I racked my brain for reasons, but nothing specific came to mind.
"What is it?"
"Um... I just wanted to chat with you for a bit?"
"...?"
Suddenly?
It wasn't unwelcome, but the abruptness startled me a little.
She didn't usually come to me first during the day like this, and there'd been no hint of it at breakfast or lunch.
"Ah, or we could talk tonight instead. I know you've got a lot on your plate these days? It doesn't have to be right now."
"Ah..."
Hmm...
I didn't know the exact reason, but it felt like she wanted to discuss something fairly important.
Sudden or not, I wasn't oblivious enough to miss that.
I glanced at the stack of documents on my desk.
"...Would it be alright to talk tonight instead? I've got a bit of work piled up."
"Sure, that's fine. I'm the one intruding on your busy time anyway, right? We can take it slow after dinner."
We exchanged a few more words like that, then Rozalin left my room.
I had no idea why she'd come...
But one thing was clear: tonight's talk was going to be pretty serious.
Was it something about the Rose Family?
Or what other topic could it be?
"...No clue."
I pondered it as best I could, but I couldn't read Rozalin's mind for sure.
All I could do was carry on with the remaining tasks.
We'd be talking over dinner tonight anyway.
*
After finishing dinner, as I was resting in my room, Rozalin came by.
She wore her usual negligee for bedtime, topped with a light robe.
In one hand, a suitable bottle of liquor; in the other, a plate of snacks.
"......."
What was this.
"Is now a good time...?"
"Of course. Come on in. It's a bit smaller than your room, Mother... but plenty big enough for a chat."
I let Rozalin inside first.
My room lacked the tables and sofas her room boasted.
Hers was one of the largest in the mansion, while mine was just decently sized.
Still, it wasn't an issue for two people to talk.
"Ah, did you finish up today's work alright? It looked like even more than I thought."
"Thanks to your concern, Mother, I managed."
"Hehe, if that's the case... I'm glad."
Rozalin's vibe seemed a little off.
She didn't always show only her bright side, of course, but today it was especially subdued.
What was the reason?
Had those Rose Family brats spouted nonsense at her again?
Not as bad as when we visited Rose Territory before, but she definitely didn't look pleased, so who knew.
Seeing her like that made me worry without realizing it.
I'd always had a baseline fondness for Rozalin anyway.
And we'd known each other for eight years now, since I was eight—it was only natural.
"What do you think, Camellia...?"
"About what?"
"Just... um..."
A hesitant response.
Was she asking what I thought about something specific?
The Rose Family trash?
Or maybe the friends I'd made at the Academy?
I didn't press, simply waiting for her to say it.
"Me?"
"...?"