Chapter 216
Chapter 216
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Becoming the Family Head
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With my birthday, I became the Family Head of the Leonhardt Family.
It still felt a bit strange that becoming an adult meant immediately taking over as Family Head... but by now, I wasn't dwelling on it much.
If anything, I was satisfied knowing I now held the unequivocally highest position in the family.
"In the end, it turned out like this. I was worried it might."
"Young Lady, may I touch your hair for a moment?"
"Sure."
No matter how you looked at it, we were still nobles.
Even if it was mostly just in name these days... we were nobles, after all.
Because of that, there were rituals and events tied to becoming the head of the family that we simply had to do.
That's why, from early this morning, we were getting ready like this.
"Wouldn't a more ornate dress be better? Not many people are coming anyway."
"If that's what you want, Young Lady."
"If this were in the capital itself or something... I'd have gone simpler. No real need for it."
It was just a viscount family, after all.
One without much foundation or many people, at that.
So, no one truly important from the capital ever bothered visiting our family directly.
Which was a good thing for me.
Going to the capital or having people come from there was just a hassle, either way.
"Hmm..."
"Is something wrong?"
"I think leaving my hair to Lize is still the best, after all."
I sometimes had other maids help with morning prep instead of Lize, but she always felt the best.
Probably because we'd spent so much time together since I was very young.
"With makeup, she does just the basics without me saying anything extra and stops there. And with my hair, she either leaves it down or just ties it simply. That's definitely nice."
"Is that so...?"
"Yeah. The others always do way too much in the morning, you know?"
"I wouldn't know."
"Really?"
In truth, the other maids always did unnecessary things during morning grooming.
They'd say things like how pretty I was and try to doll me up even more.
They'd pile on makeup I didn't want and keep fiddling with my hair... it was truly annoying.
"Just leaving my hair down straight or tying it is enough. But they always try to push weird styles on me."
"Did they? I've never seen that, so I didn't know."
"Totally. No need for heavy makeup at all, but they insist."
Anyway, the conclusion was that Lize was the most comfortable.
Makes sense, since we'd spent so much time together since childhood.
"Young Lady, we have six dress colors prepared for today... What would you like? Three of them are the vibrant ones you wanted."
"Should I go with red? If we're doing flashy, might as well go all out."
"Since it's your day, Young Lady, I think doing exactly what you want is best."
She had a point.
As Lize said, today I was the star.
Both as a birthday and as the day I became Family Head.
*
"You look stunning today, Camellia."
"Hehe, right? It's a special day, so I dressed up on purpose."
The Family Head succession ceremony wasn't much.
Really, it was nothing at all.
We didn't even need an event like this, but all the mansion's servants and workers were out in the garden.
And the guests too.
"I heard the Niesista Baron and Ella are coming today. Did you hear?"
"Yes, and the Rosaki sisters too."
"They met at the academy, but they still get together often after graduation. Nice to see."
"They're all good people. I prefer seeing them often too."
Of course, I'd been too busy to meet them for a while.
So it felt great to finally get together again.
I wished we could meet more, but there was just so much to do.
"It would've been nice if Ivana could come too."
"Can't be helped. She's from the Nordal Ducal Family. Too far down south."
"I think so too."
More guests showed up than expected for this event.
My friends were the only important ones among them, though.
Anyway, quite a few guests were waiting outside, while Rozalin and I were inside the mansion.
"Young Lady, everything's ready outside."
"Got it. Thanks. I'll head out soon."
Lize popped into the mansion mid-conversation with Rozalin to relay that.
After hearing her, Rozalin and I decided it was time to head out.
"Once today is over, we'll have even more work piled up."
"Pfft... Yeah."
"But I'll always help, so don't worry too much. Okay?"
"Of course. You've always helped me, Mother."
I naturally slipped my arm around Rozalin's waist as we walked.
At first, she'd get a bit flustered whenever I did this, but now she seemed used to it.
She just smiled calmly and kept chatting.
"That's because I'm your mom, Camellia. Helping my daughter is no trouble."
"I'm always so grateful you say that."
"Haha..."
My hand on her waist always ended up subtly hugging her side.
It felt exactly like the skinship between lovers, not family.
"Mother."
"Y-Yeah?"
"I'm always thankful. You know that, right?"
"Of course."
"Please take care of me from now on too."
I gave her a soft smile.
Lately, whenever I acted like this, Rozalin seemed subtly shaken.
She almost never reacted as nonchalantly as before.
It had to be the influence of that day she was drugged with the aphrodisiac.
Or maybe not, but those events surely left their mark.
"Yeah..."
"Hehe... Shall we go now?"
"Yeah, let's. The guests are waiting outside."
Part of me wanted to stay in the empty mansion and play with Rozalin more.
But duties called.
"And Camellia."
"Yes, Mother? Something to say?"
As we were about to step outside, Rozalin suddenly tapped my shoulder and called me.
What was it.
"Um... Happy birthday?"
"Oh."
Huh.
The birthday wish was nice, but I loved how she said it with a slight blush.
Really loved it.
.
.
.
By the time we stepped outside, all the expected guests were already waiting in the garden.
It was winter, but southern winter was mild, so no one looked cold.
There were various guests, but naturally, my eyes went to my friends first.
Ella, Karen, Grace.
We hadn't met much lately, but they were always pretty whenever we did.
I couldn't talk to them right away, but just locking eyes was fun.
"Today is the day my daughter becomes the head of our family. First, I'd like to thank everyone who came."
Rozalin took the stage in the garden and slowly began hosting.
Honestly, I hated that part.
But I stayed quiet.
"Originally, this should have been done by the previous Family Head, William Leonhardt, but due to his passing a few weeks ago, I'm handling the succession ceremony. I hope everyone enjoys their time here in the south and at Leonhardt Mansion today. Let's begin."
Rozalin stood on stage, saying those words.
Numerous guests watched her.
Seeing all those gazes made me deeply uncomfortable.
I didn't mind them coming as guests, but I hated them looking at Rozalin.
"......."
It was natural for eyes to go to the host in a situation like this, but the problem was that it was Rozalin—and she was too beautiful.
I really wanted to host it myself and run everything.
So no one else could look at her.
I had no idea what they were thinking as they stared, but just the fact they were looking at my Rozalin pissed me off.
"After the ceremony, there will be a light party, so if you have no other plans, please stay and enjoy."
"......."
Oblivious to my thoughts, Rozalin just diligently proceeded.
What were all these guests thinking as they looked at her now?
Someone that beautiful.
All sorts of thoughts must be running through their heads.
I hated it, but it felt like a natural human reaction.
I was having all kinds of thoughts myself just looking at Rozalin in her dress.
"Now, I'll call up today's star of the ceremony and my daughter, Camellia Leonhardt, to the stage. Give her a big round of applause."
Lost in those thoughts, Rozalin's words rang out, followed by applause.
I stood from my seat and slowly climbed onto the stage next to where Rozalin had stepped aside, glancing at her.
"You got this...!"
"......."
Our eyes met, and she gave that pure cheer.
Really...
"Yeah."
...It was a moment full of worries.