Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Beachside Playtime
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"Karen... You really didn't want to go together that badly?"
"N-No... It's not that..."
"You definitely said you liked books..."
...What in the world is going on this morning?
I was just quietly sleeping, and somehow Karen showed up, and even the Rosaki Count came to the lodging... Now they're having a conversation between themselves.
Honestly, I wanted to tell them to go talk at their own mansion...
But the other person is a count. I couldn't do anything about it.
So... I just left them to talk among themselves, and we ended up using a different room.
...My room.
"...Mother."
"Yes? What is it?"
"...When do you think the Count will leave?"
"Ah."
Honestly, there was nothing we could do.
With father and daughter like that in my room. I couldn't tell them to stop.
I had planned to sleep in more and rest... But that plan was completely ruined.
"Hehe, no helping it. They don't seem to talk much with each other. This is a good chance for them to clear things up a bit... Let's be understanding. Okay?"
"...If that's what Mother says, then no choice..."
Well... It wasn't that I really hated it.
I was just a little disappointed.
"Anyway, it's about time to head back home from Melnik now."
"You're right. We've stayed in Melnik longer than expected, it seems."
"Hehe, but it was good, wasn't it?"
"Yes."
Of course, life in Melnik had been satisfying.
Was it because the city was so beautiful? It was definitely different from the Leonhardt Mansion.
Thanks to that, what was supposed to be a quick return after the Rosaki social gathering turned into several extra days.
I couldn't help but be satisfied in many ways.
"And once we're back, Camellia will have a magic tutor and all sorts of things keeping her busy, right?"
"I'm learning it at the Academy anyway. I think it's actually a good thing."
"Hehe... The Academy..."
Rozalin seemed to have a lot on her mind whenever the Academy came up.
I remembered that her expression hadn't been great when we talked about it before.
"It'll probably be fun. Camellia's such a good girl. You'll surely have all sorts of experiences living and studying there."
"I feel like it'll just be studying."
"Spending your time at the Academy just studying might actually be harder?"
"Really?"
"Yeah, since it's an academy mostly attended by nobles. It probably won't be that easy."
Certainly... With nothing but nobles, it was bound to turn into a little political arena.
Honestly, I had expected it to some extent.
Personally, I wanted to just get through the Academy normally, but nobles were always like that.
Karen and Ella were unusually mild; I already knew most nobles were even worse.
Our family was hated so much that we even got slandered in the newspapers sometimes.
"Maybe... It'll be fine."
"You think so?"
"Yes. Most families hate the Leonhardts anyway, right? Even if I do something at the Academy, I don't think my image as a Leonhardt will suddenly change."
Frankly, I thought whatever I did at the Academy wouldn't be a big deal unless it was something truly serious.
Of course, if I caused a real major incident... That would be dangerous.
But for anything ordinary, the other noble students would probably just ignore me as usual?
Of course, if I got bullied or something... That would be a problem.
"Still, I think it'll be okay. I said it earlier, didn't I? Camellia's a good girl. You'll definitely be popular at the Academy and have no issues."
"Then that's a relief."
"And... Kids that age really love pretty things. They might naturally like Camellia?"
"...I don't think it's to that extent."
"Hehe... Really?"
"........."
No matter how I thought about it, a lady from a thoroughly disliked family like mine wouldn't suddenly get a better image just because her face was a bit pretty.
Well... It was just Rozalin praising me.
It happened often before, so I just thought of it that way. It would actually be weirder if she suddenly stopped now.
I just brushed off Rozalin's words and passed the time.
Meanwhile, in the room next to mine, the father and daughter were still talking.
"...Should we just step out and come back?"
"Shall we?"
It didn't seem like their talk would end right away, and the voices from the next room kept going.
So... It seemed best to head out around now.
And so...
"Where should we go first?"
"What about you, Mother?"
"Hmm... The sea? We've already seen plenty of Melnik's sea, but it was still fun."
Rozalin and I headed outside together.
The two from the Rosaki family were being too noisy, and with them still there, we felt awkward as the temporary hosts.
We just held hands and went out like we were on a stroll.
Since there wasn't any super important reason for going out, it could count as a walk.
"Then let's head to the sea first. We've already had breakfast... And the weather's nice today with a gentle breeze."
"Hehe, shall we?"
"Yes."
Anyway, we started strolling along the beach like that.
Our shoes weren't heels, just comfortable sandals, so it was even more pleasant.
If a bit of sand got in, we just shook it off. We were just wandering around, breathing in the unique sea air with Rozalin.
"Camellia!"
"What is it?"
Rozalin, who had been walking ahead of me, suddenly stopped and called out loudly.
Was something wrong?
Not sure what it was, but I hurried over to her. She was still standing in place.
"Look at this!"
"...Oh."
"It's the sea for you. First time seeing crabs scuttling around like this."
"Yeah... Definitely... They're kind of cute."
At Rozalin's feet were crabs.
Not pointing at a dog or anything—real crabs, literally walking sideways.
Not just one, but several in a line, moving along in their own way.
It was nothing special... But maybe because they were about the size of my fist? They actually seemed a little cute.
Honestly, I hadn't been to the sea much before or now, so it was novel too.
"I kind of want to take them back to the mansion and raise them."
"That... Might be tough, right? They're wild ones from nature..."
"Ah, no... I wasn't serious. Just... That's how cute they are."
I said it wasn't true after seeing Rozalin's reaction.
Personally, I often wanted to keep cute, pretty things like this.
No one knew because I didn't show them off, but my drawer at home had all sorts of gems.
If I bought a small aquarium and decorated it with sand and rocks... Couldn't little crabs like these live well in it?
Of course, if not... No helping it.
"Oh, what animals do you like, Camellia?"
"Animals?"
"Yeah. These little crabs are cute... But they're crabs, after all?"
"Ah... True..."
Crabs weren't exactly common pets.
Usually, people kept fish at home, but I'd hardly seen anyone raise crustaceans like crabs. I'd seen cases of taming beasts with magic... But crustaceans were really ambiguous.
Might as well think of reptiles.
"Animals... Hmm..."
"Oh, personally, I like cute ones like rabbits. I saw them occasionally as a kid, and they were so adorable."
"Rabbits are cute too. Yes... But for me..."
I thought about Rozalin's question, but compared to rabbits...
"I think dogs are better."
"Dogs?"
"Yes, aren't they cute? They follow people well and are sweet."
Almost all dogs acted like they were born with those traits.
When you held out your hand, they'd rub their face against it and paw at you—it was so cute.
Even without training, they acted so affectionate; it was really heartwarming. Personally, I loved the feel of petting them too.
Cats were nice... But cats had a bit of attitude and didn't follow their owners right away.
From that perspective, dogs were definitely cuter, gentler, and much better.
"Hehe, dogs are cute."
What can I say... Unlike my thoughts, Rozalin was purely thinking about how dogs looked.
Of course, I basically thought the same because dogs' appearances were cute.
I liked pretty, cute things from the start.
"Should we try raising a pet next time?"
"If we raise one at the mansion, Father would hate it. He dislikes anything interrupting work. Plus, the fur and all would be a worry."
"Hmm... That's a shame in many ways."
After that talk, we stopped watching the crabs and resumed our beach stroll.
Rozalin was still happily taking in the sea. It was a sea worth enjoying, after all.
"Life in Melnik is ending now. No more gazing at this pretty sea."
"No helping it."
"Camellia. Want to dip our feet in the sea a little?"
"Pardon?"
Rozalin suddenly brought up something odd.
Let's go into the sea, like play in the water a bit.
I couldn't help but ask back at her abrupt words.
"Hehe... We're at such a pretty sea. Wouldn't it be weirder to do nothing?"
"Uh..."
"Hehe..."
Rozalin suddenly gave me a meaningful look... Then she went closer to the sea and...
"Here!"
"Eek?!"
...Splashed water at me.
Right at my face.
..She was my mother... Of course, etiquette-wise, this wasn't okay.
But I reflexively fought back.
"Eek~!"
"Splashing the face... That was too much."
"Was it? I avoided your eyes, though. Did it hurt...?"
"...No, but still."
Saying that, I immediately splashed water back at Rozalin. And so began... The water fight.
It started somehow, but we kept playfully splashing each other lightly.
Well, we were both laughing. No big deal. Besides, Rozalin, the elder, had started it.
"Puha... Fun, right?"
"...Yes. It was fun."
We'd been playing with the super salty seawater, our clothes soaked, and now we were resting.
Naturally, a bit away from the water.
What noble mother-daughter duo plays like this?
Honestly, I hadn't expected it... But as Rozalin said, it was fun.
Actually, so much fun I lost track of time.
"Such a shame. If there was a sea like this near the Leonhardt Mansion... We could play all the time."
"If the sea was that close, we might not play at all?"
"That makes sense too. Still... It was so much fun. Right?"
"Did Mother have fun too?"
"Of course. I was playing with Camellia, after all?"
"........."
As I answered Rozalin's words and looked at her, I suddenly realized something.
It was that...
Her clothes were wet from the water. Her hair was wet too... Overall, it was a dangerously alluring sight.
"...Sh-Should we head back now? Their talk should be done by now. Can't wander around with wet clothes..."
It wasn't see-through on important parts, but Rozalin's beauty made her wet clothes visually stimulating for sure.
Honestly, it was too much to casually look at Rozalin like that; I had to suggest going back quickly.
Plus... Even fully clothed, there was no avoiding thinking it was sexy. Nowhere to look.