Chapter 292
Chapter 292
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Nostalgic Journey to the Villa
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While Ella was staying at the mansion for a short time, nothing particularly special happened.
We didn't suddenly move beyond kissing, nor were there any secretive talks about my other lovers.
It was just an ordinary, cozy time spent with Ella.
Personally, I did want to do a bit more of that sort of thing....
"You, have you read this book? It's super popular in the capital these days."
"That novel was pretty fun in its own way. No wonder it's so popular."
"Hehe, I read it too, and it really was fun. Are there any more books like this? There were so many in the study."
"I'm not sure either. I ended up reorganizing the study this time, so I don't really know what books are there anymore. I think there are more of other types than novels."
My dear Ella was perfectly satisfied just reading a few novels together, having meals together, and enjoying tea times.
It felt too awkward for me to try anything strange.
"Hehe, being together like this reminds me of when we were kids going to the academy. You even put a bed in the club room, so we were always lying there like this."
"The bed was definitely more comfortable than the sofa, right?"
"That's true. At first, I was shocked, but everyone loved it. Later, we all ended up lounging on the bed to rest."
"That's a fond memory too."
Common sense would say that for a couple lying together on the same bed like this,
not doing anything naughty is unusual.
Of course, if doing naughty things in broad daylight is even stranger, then maybe it's strange in that sense... but I couldn't help feeling a bit disappointed.
Ella didn't seem to have any intention of doing such things at all, so I was holding back....
"The academy... was pretty fun in its own way. You did a lot of really weird stuff too."
"Me? When did I do weird stuff?"
"Hmm.... Like suddenly showing your underwear to Grace?"
"Ah."
"And showing Karen some strange outfit out of nowhere, and even though Karen's older... you always made her lie on your thigh and treated her oddly."
"Well, those are memories too. And the people involved kind of liked it, right?"
"...Yeah, I can't argue with that."
On one hand, I enjoyed having these kinds of conversations with Ella.
There weren't many stimulating elements, but having someone I could talk to about all sorts of things from way back when we were little was always nice.
Lize was in that category too... but honestly, as a conversation partner, she had her shortcomings.
Lize mostly agreed with everything I said and rarely added her own opinions.
"Wasn't the academy days super fun for you too, Ella? They were a blast for me."
"How could they not be fun when I was going with you?"
"Oh my, really?"
"Of course. Wherever you went, you always brought the drama.... Wait, what I just said... it just means it was fun because you did weird stuff."
"Oh dear, is that so?"
"...Why are you talking like that?!"
I replied in a clearly teasing tone about what she said, and Ella raised her voice.
The words that we were always having fun together when hanging out.
Honestly, anyone hearing that would interpret it as meaning time with me is great, right?
Of course, hanging out with me really does make everything fun.
"What tone did I even use~?"
"You're doing it on purpose...! Anyone can tell!"
"Hoee~...."
"Eek...!"
"Pffft.... Just kidding, kidding. But if that's how you felt, Ella, I'm glad. It means you didn't hate spending time with me."
After teasing her just right, I gently stroked her head while saying that.
Ella didn't reject my touch at all.
*
"Hmm.... It's been forever since I rode one of these."
"Hehe, it has, hasn't it?"
"Yeah, the place is familiar, and even the way we're getting there is the same as back then, so it feels great in all sorts of ways."
"And the person going is the same too."
"Yeah...? Are you doing this on purpose?"
"Hehe, what do you think?"
We were having that conversation with Ella while waiting after loading all the luggage onto the carriage.
There were just too many things exactly like when we went to the villa as kids.
The carriage right now, the mana horse pulling it, even the people riding in it.
It was such an identical situation to back then that Ella couldn't help but look amazed.
"Well, it's not like I hate it. It's just surprising. It's been about ten years since that trip, right? Not exactly ten, but?"
"Pffft, yeah. It was before we entered the academy, you and me. We were both super short back then too?"
"Compared to then... we've grown a lot."
"Where~? Your chest?"
"I-I never said that?!"
Her reactions are always so fun.
As we were slowly chatting like that in front of the carriage, Rozalin and Ashley, who had finished preparing, came out.
"Camellia, why aren't you in the carriage? You're just standing outside?"
"The weather's nice, and it felt a bit weird being the only two inside. I was planning to get in once Mother and Teacher arrived."
"Hehe, you don't have to go that far. Shall we all get in the carriage now?"
"Yeah, let's do that. No more luggage to bring out, right?"
"Yeah, we loaded it all up at the start."
"Perfect."
After that short exchange, we all got into the carriage right away.
Lize was still inside the mansion, checking the interior one last time and giving some instructions to the servants.
"Would Miss Ella like to sit right next to Camellia? Ashley and I have plenty of space in the back."
"N-No...! I can sit in the back just fine...? And actually, it would be better if Madam sat with Camellia...."
"Hehe, it's fine. Camellia probably prefers sitting with her friend, right? We'll be in the back. Miss Ella, sit in the front with Camellia."
"Ah, ahhh...."
The conversation naturally steered that way.
Well, it wasn't anything too detailed.
We spent time slowly chatting like that until the seats were decided.
Rozalin and Ashley took the back seats.
Lize sat in the middle, and Ella and I ended up in the very front.
The reason Lize got the middle... wasn't anything special.
It was just what was left?
Of course, since the carriage interior was spacious, switching seats later wouldn't be inconvenient at all.
"Lize, everything done?"
"Yes, all finished. I've also relayed everything you said to the servants riding in the carriage with us."
"Good job."
With seats settled and everyone comfortably seated, Lize's arrival wrapped things up.
She had given separate instructions to the carriage we were sharing with servants, so I didn't need to go to any other carriage or do anything.
Once the other carriages signaled they were ready, we simply departed.
"Hehe, being like this really brings back so many memories. Even more than before we left, don't you think?"
"The path we're taking is the same as back then too. More importantly, you, is that outfit enough? It doesn't seem too thin...?"
"Oh, you're worried about me?"
"Of course...? I-I can't help it."
"Hehe."
We had such conversations in the gently rocking carriage, snacking in between to pass the time.
Unlike the last time I invited Ella to the mansion, the weather had warmed up nicely, making it truly pleasant.
When we went to the central villa by carriage before, it was summer, so there were all sorts of discomforts.
Ashley’s magic kept the carriage interior fine,
but outside was still hot, so there was nothing to be done.
But now it wasn't summer; it was a truly comfortable spring.
"Hehe, the breeze is just right."
"Yaaawn...."
"Ashley, if you're sleepy, just sleep. You can sleep again at dinner time anyway, right?"
"Still, falling asleep right after departure feels a bit guilty... Yaaawn...."
"Hehe."
Everyone in the carriage leisurely passed the time.
With the warming spring weather, we admired the pretty blooming flowers and relaxed into the soft seats.
"Ella, do you know the name of that flower over there?"
"I'm not big into flowers.... Not really, but do you know?"
"Nope. Just wanted to talk to you."
"Eut...."
We kept up these pointless chats to pass the time.
Everyone in the carriage was my lover, so even if I did something a bit more risqué, it probably wouldn't be a big issue.
But Ella had no idea about that.
She didn't know that Lize right across from her, or Rozalin and Ashley in the back, were my lovers....
"So Ella, what do you want to do first when we get there?"
"I'd like to lie on the sofa in the villa lobby. It's from way back, but I remember chatting comfortably there was super relaxing."
"Pffft, that sounds good. What else?"
"Hmm.... Playing in the valley back then was fun, but in spring, it might be a bit cold. Even if the weather's warm, the valley water temperature probably is."
"Hmm.... Yeah, I don't know what the valley water's like these days either. It's not freezing, but jumping fully in this early might be pretty chilly."
We could only have relaxed conversations like that.
I had told everyone in the carriage that Ella was my lover... but I hadn't told Ella that I'd shared it with them.
Physical contact like skinship felt a tad awkward inside the carriage, so I had to settle for just talking with Ella.
But if all my lovers meet and get close this time,
there'd be no need to hold back on purpose in the carriage like now.
At least until we arrive at the villa, I decided to hold back diligently.
Of course, in between... I secretly groped Lize, Rozalin, or Ashley's thighs and butts while switching seats...?