Chapter 286
Chapter 286
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Morning Routine
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"Young Lady, it's morning."
"Ughhh.... Just five more minutes...."
"Young Lady, don't you have to have breakfast with Madam this morning?"
"Ehhh...."
As always, the Young Lady is weak in the mornings.
She handles so much work every day that she stays up late reading documents I can barely comprehend and dealing with tasks until past midnight before finally going to bed. It's unavoidable.
Of course, she didn't do any work yesterday. This is just fatigue from the trip down from Rose Territory.
Personally, I'd love for her to sleep longer in that cozy bed, tucked under the covers, undisturbed.
"Madam will surely love you no matter what you look like... but you always want to present your best self in front of her. It's time to get up."
"Can I sleep just five more minutes...?"
"Excluding this time, I've already woken you three times, and you've gone back to sleep three times."
"Ugh...."
Since childhood, the Young Lady has always insisted on being woken at a specific time.
I simply follow her instructions.
Honestly, even if she went to breakfast with Madam looking just like that, in bed... I'd definitely think she was beautiful.
Her hair is rubbing against the pillow, and from tossing and turning in her sleep, it's inevitably tangled. She calls it messy....
But I don't see it that way at all.
"Yawn.... I'm so tired.... I even took a nap, and I went to bed pretty early yesterday, but maybe it's the carriage ride?"
"Should I raise the temperature inside the mansion higher than usual?"
"It's not like a cold, and the weather's warming up, so no need. Just.... once I'm fully awake, it'll be fine."
"I see."
Her golden hair, draping from her waist down past her hips, is as beautiful as ever.
As a child, she always complained it was inconvenient and wanted to cut it short....
"Brush my hair once before washing."
"Yes, Young Lady."
"Yawn...."
Cutting such beautiful golden hair would be such a shame.
"Is Mother up?"
"Yes, Madam is probably bathing alone in the grand bath right now. I ran into her in the hallway before coming to wake you."
"Yawn...."
"What would you like to do? Go wash right away?"
I say this while neatly brushing her tangled hair.
She hasn't answered my question yet, but I slowly prepare to step out of the room.
I gather the clothes prepared for her to change into later and wait, watching her yawn widely.
"Yeah, let's go."
"Yes, Young Lady."
Then we head to the grand bath to meet Madam.
As a child, the Young Lady was self-conscious about sharing a bath with Madam, but not anymore.
At first, I worried a bit about that change... but now I leave the worrying to Madam.
Back then, the Young Lady kept her distance from Madam, so it was natural.
But I had no idea the reason for that distance was sexual attraction to her.
"She's probably relaxing in the bath by now?"
"Most likely."
"Hehe...."
As always, when talking about or thinking of Madam, the Young Lady wears a happy smile.
I don't feel jealous of that.
I've known since childhood that she loves Madam, so I just watch from her side, a step behind.
And she shows me that happy smile in conversations with me too, not just about Madam....
It's fine.
"Young Lady, how would you like breakfast today?"
"Hmm.... Just the usual. I just woke up, so nothing specific comes to mind. But for lunch, I want pasta."
"Understood. I'll let them know."
"Yeah, Lize, is there anything you want? Don't just copy what I'm having."
"...Nothing comes to mind. Sorry."
She always asks me things like this.
What do you want? It could be anything—food, clothes, outings, tea, books, or even what to do at night.
As her maid, it's far too much.
"Hehe, I knew it."
But I always give the same answer she dislikes.
The same as her, what she wants.
She doesn't like that response, and I know why.
But I always say it anyway.
Or something like nothing comes to mind, like now.
"You're too much of a follower, Lize. It's okay to assert yourself a little more."
"I'm sorry."
But... like I always tell her, I truly love following what she decides.
If she eats something, I want to eat it too. If she likes something, I want to do it together.
She doesn't care for these answers, and I know exactly why she dislikes them.
But still... I just want to be with her.
"Hehe.... Instead, after helping with the bath, join me in the tub, Lize."
"Understood."
Her smiling face always makes my heart race, just like always.
Even in childhood, and now after fifteen years serving her... it hasn't changed.
She's always so beautiful, but her smile is the best.
She shows so many expressions normally.
Bored while reading documents in her room, triumphant when things go well, longing to go home during business outside.
But with Madam, me, Teacher Ashley... and her other lovers, she smiles almost the whole time.
Seeing that smile reminds me anew how truly beautiful she is.
"Lize, undo my buttons?"
"...Yes."
She enjoys spending time like this, but she also loves teasing me and watching my reactions.
Not just with me—she delights in others' reactions.
Sometimes it's playful, sometimes seductive, or both.
And teasing or seduction from someone as beautiful as her... is fatally effective on me.
"Hehe...."
"......."
She looks at me, smiling quietly.
I approach her closely.
Unlike her usual thin nightgown, she's wearing soft, cozy sleepwear.
As she said....
Click.
Click.
Slowly, from the top, I undo the buttons of her nightgown.
Each time, her white skin reveals itself bit by bit.
Neck, collarbone, cleavage, breasts... stomach.
Her curves are incomparable to her childhood body, and I've seen it countless times.
Yet every time, my face heats up, and my heart pounds.
Even as a child, looking at her body made me feel that way sometimes.
But now it's incomparable.
And she knows full well how beautiful her figure is....
"You're staring at my breasts a lot?"
"...I haven't."
"You've always stared at them since before. It's fine. Honestly, I love when you look at my body, Lize."
She teases me like this often.
Of course, her mischievous smile is stunning....
But sometimes it feels mean.
Her points are too sharp, impossible to refute properly.
I told her no, but... I do look at her quite often.
Even while attending her bath, my eyes drift to her body, and during talks, I can't look away.
Lying to her is definitely a grave sin.
But being honest... is still so hard.
If I told her my real thoughts, she'd love it.
But... I'm embarrassed.
That's why I find her frankness so amazing and cool.
Since childhood, unlike other noble ladies, she was always confident, cool, and beautiful.
So it's natural I fell for her.
As her maid... it was a feeling I shouldn't have... but unavoidable.
"Mother~"
"Camellia, here to wash up?"
"Yes, just woke up. Came to bathe before breakfast."
"Hehe.... Nice to see you first thing in the morning?"
"I love it too, Mother."
The Young Lady has fully undressed, and I've changed from my maid uniform into thin clothes for bath attendance, then we enter the bathroom together.
Madam is inside, soaking and relaxing in the tub.
The Young Lady gives her the same bright smile she shows me.
No, maybe even brighter....
...Of course, that's just my jealousy.
Her smile isn't just for a mere maid like me but for others too.
"Good morning, Lize too. I said it earlier?"
Unlike me, Madam gives me a kind smile and greeting.
Her smile lacks the huge difference from the one for the Young Lady. She's always so wonderful.
Yet I sometimes have impure thoughts about such a Madam....
It makes me realize how lacking I still am.
"Did you sleep well, Camellia?"
"I did. Went to bed a bit late... but slept well. Did you sleep okay, Mother? You went to bed super early yesterday."
"Hehe, yeah, way too early. Maybe fatigue from the carriage piled up?"
"Could be. I was tired too. And Teacher Ashley crashed early?"
As their conversation shows, everyone went to bed early yesterday.
Madam and Teacher Ashley slept much earlier than usual after dinner, and I did too.
So even though the Young Lady seemed like she wanted to do something at night.
Everyone was worn out from the trip from Rose, so we all decided to rest.
"Mother, are you free tonight or evening?"
"Should be fine today. But what's it about?"
"Hmm.... I'll tell you then. Oh, Lize, what about tonight?"
"I went to bed early yesterday and rested well, so no issue at all."
"Hehe, good."
I wonder why she's asking this.
Yesterday too... she mentioned gathering at night with me, Madam, and Teacher Ashley.
Maybe to get all her lovers together for a late-night snack and bonding?
Anyway, she's smiling brightly, satisfied or expectant, so I'm happy too.