Chapter 202
Chapter 202
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Two Years Later
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Two years had flown by in the blink of an eye. Before I knew it, I had turned eighteen, and the seasons had shifted into a crisp autumn.
While plenty of events had unfolded during that time, there hadn't been any massive changes yet.
My relationship with Rozalin remained that of stepmother and daughter, and William's health was still poor.
I'd taken over the businesses he used to run, which piled on more work. I'd even sold some of them off to Ivana... All sorts of things had happened.
It just so happened that our interests aligned with hers, so that's how it went.
"So in the end, that means Camellia is standing in as Family Head."
"Well, yeah. It's exhausting in all sorts of ways, but there's no one else to do it."
Business had kept me so swamped that this meeting with Ella was my first in nearly two years since graduating from the Academy.
The last time we'd seen each other was around the summer when I was sixteen. Now here we were, reuniting in the autumn of my eighteenth year.
It was true—I'd spent those two years buried in work.
"Hoo..."
"But it seems like things have settled down a bit lately?"
"Maybe? At least today, there's nothing on my plate. That counts as sorted, right?"
Truth be told, the work wasn't fully done.
But even so, tomorrow would bring more tasks for sure.
"Ah..."
"Well, it'll probably get better once more time passes."
"You think so?"
"Or else I'll just keep grinding until I drop dead. Whatever."
"Uh..."
"I'm kidding, kidding."
"Ah."
Anyway, that was how it was—finally meeting Ella after two years.
I'd be lying if I said I hadn't wanted to meet up with others and relax more often, but work had simply been too overwhelming.
I'd only meant to take on a small part of William's businesses at first, but at some point, I'd ended up handling most of them... There was no helping it.
"If possible, I'd love to hang out with Older Sister Karen or Grace next time. But I just haven't had the time."
"It was that bad?"
"You haven't seen me in two years either."
"True..."
It had been quite a while since I'd seen the Rosaki sisters too.
Of course, letters from Karen came almost every month... but I hadn't had time to meet up.
Even when plans were floated, I couldn't make it.
Aside from Ivana, whom I'd met a few times for business, this was my first time seeing a classmate.
Our mansion wasn't all that far from Ella's territory to begin with.
That might be why this was the first time.
"Anyway, it's great seeing you after so long. Meeting someone unrelated to the mansion or business feels refreshing too."
"...Were you really that busy?"
"Yes."
Those two years had been brutally hectic.
Brutally so.
My daily routine was waking at nine in the morning, getting ready, sharing a quick meal with Rozalin, then heading out and not returning until nine at night.
Because of that, I barely thought about Rozalin and crashed the moment I got home.
Teasing Lize had been limited to knee pillows in the carriage; once back at the mansion, I'd collapse into bed...
"Hm."
"What is it?"
"Ella, want to grab something delicious together?"
"Suddenly?"
"I just want to relax and eat something nice."
"Well... I haven't had lunch anyway, so sure..."
"Then let's get going. We've finished the coffee anyway, and I'm starting to get hungry."
With those words to Ella, we rose from our seats.
I'd been living so exhaustively lately, and while I ate good food, I rarely had the chance to do so leisurely... No helping it.
I wanted to spend the day unwinding with Ella for once.
...I was really tired these days.
*
After spending the whole day hanging out with Ella, I finally returned to the mansion that evening.
Lately, my life had been nothing but business and duties, but today was the opposite.
I'd simply wandered the city with Ella, relaxing without a care.
"Uuuuaaaah..."
Stretching with an odd yawn, I stepped down from the carriage.
Fatigue had really built up in my body lately.
I probably needed a solid month off, but there was no time for that.
I still had endless tasks tied to the businesses under my name...
"Camellia, you're back?"
"Ah, Mother. Were you waiting outside?"
As I descended from the carriage and headed slowly toward the mansion, I ran into Rozalin.
Why was she out here by the building?
"I figured you'd be home soon, so I waited a bit."
"Ah..."
"You've been so busy with business lately. I wanted to spend some time with you after so long. That's why."
"Shall we head in then? No need to stay out here."
"Alright."
I was a little surprised to see Rozalin outside like this, but we entered the house together.
Following behind her at a leisurely pace, my gaze fixed on the nape of her neck.
I'd spent so little time with her lately, and mornings had been too frantic for proper notice.
Was that why?
Seeing her properly after a real break felt fresh and emotional.
People really do need some leisure in life.
Truly.
"You seem to be living so hectically these days... Are you okay?"
"Tired, yeah."
"I thought so."
"But I can't just stop working. I'm just pushing as far as I can."
We chatted like that while slowly walking the corridor with Rozalin.
We hadn't had proper time together lately, and this was just everyday talk.
Eventually, we naturally headed to the bathroom.
I'd planned to go in alone, but Rozalin suddenly suggested we bathe together.
"At least it seems like things are getting sorted out one by one."
"Yeah. I was worried at first, but working with the Nordal Ducal Family helped. Everything's falling into place."
"Hehe, you've been working so hard since graduating the Academy."
"Tell me about it. I planned to relax for a while after graduation."
We washed up while talking.
Over the past few years, business had robbed us of even these moments.
By the time I got home, it was late evening or night, and Rozalin turned in early.
We'd had almost no quality time together.
That kept any weird thoughts about her from sprouting in my head.
"I've heard Father's condition has worsened lately. How is he exactly?"
"Hm... Apparently much worse than when the priest from the capital visited last time."
"Ah..."
...It was expected.
I'd known that all along, which was why I kept pushing with the businesses.
Rozalin had plenty to handle at the mansion with servants and management too.
Over the past two-plus years, we'd both had more on our plates than we'd imagined.
I'd traveled nonstop to the north, west, east, and capital for business, leaving Rozalin busier than ever.
Even Ashley, who used to just sleep at the mansion, had tasks now... And Lize, following me everywhere, must have been exhausted.
"How are things with the mansion going?"
"Pretty well, I think. The Knight Order in the family isn't huge, so that wasn't hard. The servants are fine as long as salaries stay the same."
"That's a relief."
What Rozalin handled at the mansion was honestly more crucial than my business work.
It was all related to Camellia Leonhardt's succession as Family Head.
With William's health declining, neither he nor I had a choice.
But since I was tied up with his businesses, Rozalin had to take on the rest.
"The servants and Knight Order at the mansion probably won't change much going forward."
"That's good."
"Hehe, right?"
"Yes."
I did feel a bit guilty burdening Rozalin with all this.
She'd always managed personnel quietly, but this was handing her my full preparation to become Family Head.
"It should all wrap up before you turn of age."
"Faster than I thought."
"The tasks weren't endless anyway. And I don't have to go to the capital myself to file papers."
"I figured it'd take longer."
We kept talking as we slipped into the bath.
Two years since Academy graduation, and winter was approaching.
In a few more months, I'd come of age and become the family head.
Even if our family only had three members.
And though it wasn't certain... William probably wouldn't make it through this winter.
"........"
Essentially becoming head of a two-person family.
Was it even right to call this a family?
All sorts of worries and thoughts swirled, but there still wasn't much I could do.
Not in many ways.