Chapter 247
Chapter 247
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: A Warm Bath with Ivana
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Honestly, when I first met Ivana, she was a bit scary.
It was because Ivana had such a cold appearance, and back then, the name of a ducal family was honestly something that could be intimidating.
In fact, even now, dealing with other count families, ducal families, or imperial royals wasn't all that easy.
Separate from the fact that I had a lot of money, power was just like that.
The kind of power where a single word from them could have my head rolling.
That was pretty much the ability of high nobles.
"They turned out to be a group far more lacking in ability than I expected."
"Pfft, right? Honestly, I didn't think they'd be this pathetic either."
"Even so, I figured since some of them work in the capital and they carry the name of a count family, they'd at least have some worth. I didn't expect them to be crumbling this badly."
"Puhuhu...."
I'd already told Ivana everything about the Rose Family from before.
On top of that, she'd even offered to help.
"Even accounting for the business suppression, I didn't expect them to show such a complete lack of progress."
"It's all thanks to you, Lady Ivana."
"Is that so?"
"If I'd handled everything myself, there would have been all sorts of restrictions. But since you helped under the pretext of developing the Northern Region, things went much smoother."
"If it helped Camellia, then I'm glad."
I was spending time casually with Ivana, who had come down to the south.
Relaxing comfortably for a few hours during the day, chatting about business in between, like that.
Since Ivana had been so busy in the Northern Region.
It was like giving her a bit of a vacation.
Something like a resort stay.
"I've always thought this, but it seems like there are a lot of sweet foods down south, and I like that."
"Is that right?"
"In the Northern Region, we mostly eat meat, salty, or spicy foods. We don't really have sweets like this."
"Shall I pack some for your trip back?"
"If Camellia prepares them, I'd gratefully accept."
I was preparing sweet desserts for her and making sure she could rest comfortably in a warm room overall.
The south wasn't that cold, but it was still winter.
Plus, Ivana really liked warm things?
For those reasons, I'd set the mansion's heating a bit warmer than usual.
I wondered if it might feel too hot.
"Are you comfortable?"
"Yes, very comfortable. To the point where I could fall asleep like this."
"Pfft...."
It seemed like this level of warmth suited Ivana much better.
Despite being from the Northern Region, was she secretly sensitive to the cold?
I wasn't sure, but since she'd always said she liked warm things, it made me curious.
Though I remembered she didn't wear super thick clothes up north.
.
.
.
Ivana was basically a softer person than one might think.
Of course, the face she showed others was quite cold.
But from spending time with her so far, at least among close people, she was pretty soft, cute, and sometimes even a bit foolish.
"Lady Ivana, are you comfortable?"
"Very comfortable. To the point where I want to fall asleep like this."
Even now, just soaking in the warm bath and warming her body, she had such a relaxed face.
Considering public perception, it was a side that was hard to expect.
"You've always liked warm things a lot, haven't you, Lady Ivana?"
"That's how it was. Even now... I suppose it still is. Probably."
"What's with the 'probably'?"
An unexpected remark came from Ivana's words.
I'd expected simple agreement, but Ivana gave a response mixed with a bit of doubt.
Whatever she meant by it, it felt slightly different from her time at the academy or right after returning north.
"I just... I'm not sure if it's the warmth itself that's good."
"Hmm...?"
"You know how the Northern Region has way more warm buildings now because of tourism than before."
"Yes?"
"So, even inside the castle, we prepared rooms warmer than before."
She was talking about changes made while preparing for tourism and resort businesses.
What connection did that have with her earlier statement?
I slowly moved my body, which had been leaning against the wall, toward Ivana.
It was the first time entering the bath together with Ivana, and since she wasn't used to seeing my body yet, I was covered with a towel.
"At first, I thought it was great staying in rooms with much better heating efficiency and strength."
"And?"
"But somehow, it wasn't that satisfying."
"Hmm...."
"I can't quite put it into words, but even though the temperature was much warmer, it didn't satisfy me."
"Ah, I see what you mean?"
"Yes."
Her body must have felt much warmer.
But mentally, it probably wasn't as fulfilling as expected.
Of course, I didn't know exactly how to fulfill that either.
"Hmm.... Still, being in this bath right now is okay, right? You don't dislike it?"
"Of course."
"Pfft, that's a relief then."
For now, if it was okay at the moment, that was enough.
Honestly, the time with me was the most important, more than when she was with others or away from me.
If she wasn't satisfied with the warmth up north, she could get even greater satisfaction with me.
Of course, I'd have to think hard about how?
That was just the point.
"By the way, I've always thought this about you, Lady Ivana. Your skin seems incredibly white."
"Is that so...? Northern Region people mostly have unusually pale skin, so I'm not sure."
"But when I went north before, I don't remember seeing skin as pretty as yours."
"Pretty...? "
"Extremely pretty."
It was an honest answer.
If I had to pick the most striking parts of Ivana's appearance.
Her red eyes that could look terrifyingly fierce.
Legs that might seem a bit thick at first glance but were firm with beautiful lines.
And her white skin.
It wasn't just white that made it pretty; the condition of her skin was amazing.
Of course, everyone I'm interested in is like that... but Ivana's skin especially suited the word "beautiful."
"So white and pretty. Like snow, right? Fresh white snow falling from the sky."
"I-is that so...?"
"Yes. Really."
I got much closer to Ivana.
To the point where I could touch her hand or body, as she leaned comfortably against the tub.
Well, what came next was obvious.
"Your skin is so smooth, soft yet firm."
"Eut...?"
"Plus, Lady Ivana has such a pretty height and figure, so it makes your skin stand out even more."
"Th-that's... I don't really know...."
"It's amazing that you don't think so every time you look in the mirror? If I were Lady Ivana, I'd feel proud every time."
I said that while slowly stroking her arm.
What I really wanted was to touch her combat pouch and stroke those firm, pretty thighs.
But Ivana's immunity to that kind of skinship was still too low.
"Isn't it?"
"If Camellia says so, then... I think so."
"Pfft...."
Snow-like white skin, which made it show even more easily.
Her snow-white, pure-looking skin turning red was so obvious.
Right now, it was flushed to the point where it was hard to compare to before.
"You're cute."
"Hit...."
"Lady Ivana."
"Yes...?"
"I've always thought this, but you're super popular in the Northern Region, right?"
"I suppose so...?"
"But you seem surprisingly unambitious. Even during academy days, and recently too."
Ivana was quite frugal.
Of course, the clothes she wore and equipment were naturally expensive, fitting a ducal family.
But compared to nobles who loved flashy things, she was modest and didn't indulge in luxury much.
She hardly wore jeweled accessories, for example.
"So, what do you like, Lady Ivana? Besides the warmth you mentioned before."
Ivana had always been quite... lenient with me.
She didn't mind me asking such questions or getting close.
Even during academy life, she kept distance or was a bit cold with others sometimes.
But never with me.
If anything, it felt like she wanted me to approach like this.
That's why I asked a somewhat pointless, rude question now.
"What do you like?"
"Even if you ask so suddenly.... Nothing specific comes to mind......."
The question was to learn simple things like favorite foods or places, but also to delve deeper, into more intimate things.
And because I was alone with Ivana, whose cheeks were flushed red.
Of course, Ivana couldn't easily answer such a question.
So I decided to ask more specifically.
"Oh, like when I hugged you before. How was that? Do you still like it nowadays?"
"...Yes."
After that answer, I immediately asked a new question.
"Would it be okay to hug you?"
For some reason, seeing Ivana, the ducal family's eldest daughter, I felt a glimpse of Lize the maid....
Was it my imagination?