Chapter 293
Chapter 293
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Reunion at the Villa
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"Hmm.... It hasn't changed much from before, has it?"
"Since it's a villa, after all. No need to change it too often, right? Of course, if Ella wants, I can remodel it."
"That's not what I meant. It's just been so long since I've been here, and it brings back those old feelings, so I like it."
"Hehe, I see."
Just as Ella said, the villa we were visiting after so long hadn't changed much from before.
It was a villa, after all, generally left mostly unattended, and after the academy, I'd been too busy to come for a while.
Still, we cleaned it thoroughly at regular intervals to keep it usable anytime, so there were no major issues.
"By the way, no one else has arrived yet. Looks like we're the first."
"There are people from the central region, but coming down from the Northern Region takes a lot of time, after all. Plus, everyone has things to wrap up first... so no helping it."
After entrusting the villa's interior inspection and luggage sorting to the servants, Ella and I were relaxing on the lobby sofa.
It was a two-story villa, but quite large.
There were many things to check in various ways, so this process was essential.
Why, there had been that incident recently where the Waterborne Villa sank.
"Fufu...."
"What's up?"
"Just... Being here like this brings back the old days, and I'm already having fun."
It really was a situation that brought back the past.
Coming back here after years, with Ella and other close friends, somehow.
"I hope the others get here soon."
"...Yeah."
"Of course, our Ella would prefer they take their time arriving? So we can spend more time alone together."
"I-I never said that?"
"Then you don't?"
"...Well, yeah, but. I don't really want them to take too long. I... was looking forward to seeing my friends, too."
"Hehe...."
She'd really become much kinder than when we were kids.
Of course, even back then she was always the friend helping me out, but her personality had softened a lot now, making her even cuter in so many ways.
Her old personality popped up sometimes, but that was cute in its own way, too.
"Ella, lift your hand up a bit."
"Huh?"
"Come on, quick. Put your hand up."
"Like this?"
I made the request to Ella, who was lying on the sofa with her hand resting on her knee.
She looked puzzled, but casually complied with my request.
I moved closer to Ella, who had lifted her hand from her knee, and then.
"Hehe....."
"So that's what this was about?"
"Yeah."
I laid my head on Ella's thigh.
It was soft.
I'd always liked other skinship, too, but personally, this lap pillow was really the best.
While lying down, I could hold her hand, stroke her hair, admire Ella's perky breasts... there were so many things I could do.
It was the best, indeed.
"You look kind of like a baby like this. You know."
"Aren't I too big to be called a baby? Especially my breasts...."
"How much do you have to talk about breasts...? Someone might think you have the big ones, not me."
"Hmm... Big breasts wouldn't suit you, Ella. Your pretty ones like this are more than enough for me."
"...And you have really big ones, don't you...? Nice shape, too...?"
"Is there any part of me that's not pretty?"
I meant it sincerely.
Aside from being just a tiny bit short, even I thought it was a body I really liked.
Of course... if I were taller like Lize or Ivana or Karen... that might be nice, but even so, my body's beauty was undeniable.
"...True enough. You say things that annoy me sometimes, but you really are stunning."
"So that's why Ella likes me?"
"...I can't say it's not a reason at all."
"Hehe."
Music to my ears.
Who wouldn't like hearing their lover praise their looks?
It might be sarcasm for some, but for me, mocking my appearance just didn't make sense.
"Ella, sorry?"
"For what...?"
"Just... in general. You like me so much. But I do the same with other people, too. Of course I'd feel sorry."
"Ah...."
I started saying that in the middle of our casual chat.
Separate from telling her to come to the Leonhardt Mansion, I hadn't mentioned at all that my other lovers would be coming.
This applied to everyone, not just Ella.
"And... everyone coming to the villa this time—they're all my lovers."
"...Huh?"
"Yeah, that's how it turned out."
"...Older Sister Karen and Miss Grace... and Miss Ivana. They're coming, right?"
"Yeah. That's how it turned out."
"...Whoa, wow........"
Hmm.
She's glitching a bit.
*
"Older Sister Karen, Miss Grace. Long time no see?"
"Y-Yeah! I've missed you so much. How have you been, Camellia...? The thing at the Rose Earldom recently got resolved okay?"
"Hehe, of course. With your help, Older Sister, and Miss Grace's. It had to go well."
Karen, who had just gotten off the carriage, was much more cheerful than usual as she rushed over and hugged me tight, chattering away.
She used to hesitate a bit when saying things like this, but meeting me must have made her that happy.
"What about you, Miss Grace?"
"I've been good, too. And um... Sister, I want a hug, too. Can you move aside just a little...?"
"Ten seconds—no... five more seconds...?"
"Ah... yeah, okay."
Well, Grace looked happy about it, too, naturally.
Last time, things had happened so suddenly that I worried they might hold back a bit, but they both seemed fine.
For now, at least.
"If you called us like this... it must mean everything's resolved well, right? You wouldn't call us otherwise."
"Hehe, you know me so well now, Miss Grace?"
"What... yeah, so? Don't like it?"
"No way? I'm thrilled you think about me that much."
"...Good, then."
We hugged in front of the villa, chatting like that briefly.
They arrived a day after us, but the joy of reuniting after so long was the same.
"Shall we head inside first? Need to have the servants move the luggage, and standing out here feels like a waste."
"Y-Yeah...! Let's go in. Feels like it's been forever... hehe."
"Hehe, Older Sister Karen has been to the villa before, of course. First time for Miss Grace, though."
"This is the place you mentioned before, Sister?"
"Yes."
"Hmm.... Nice. The mountains in the back, and the villa itself looks good."
"Hehe."
Chatting like that, I led the Rosaki sisters inside.
As soon as we opened the villa door and stepped in, there was Ella, waiting right there with her arms crossed.
"Ah, Ella...! It's been so long...! Have you been well...?"
"...Yes, Sister. Have you been well, too, Older Sister Karen?"
"Hehe... yes, really well."
She glanced at the newly arrived sisters and started the conversation.
It felt sudden in various ways... but no helping it.
She probably thought it was just friends meeting up, but now it was meeting as 'Camellia's other lovers.'
I hadn't told Karen and Grace yet, so Ella was speaking softly....
But since I told her on arrival day, a bit of her childhood self showed.
"Miss Grace, too... long time no see?"
"Yeah, long time. First time since that succession ceremony, right?"
"Yes, that's right. Still... it's been quite a while. Your hair seems a bit longer than back then?"
"Oh? Ah, just... thought growing it out might look good?"
"Haha... I see."
...Somehow.
It felt like a situation where I hesitated to jump in.
Ella was smiling, but it didn't feel like a real smile, which made it worse.
Anyone could see she was a little... angry.
Maybe because I hadn't brought it up first?
But when I first seduced Ella, I mentioned targeting Karen and Grace too, so I thought no need to spell it out fully.
Hmm.
Hmm....
"Ella? Shall we head inside first? Chatting at the door feels like a waste, right?"
"...Okay."
Good that she listened well, at least.
If Ella had snapped here suddenly, it would've been awkward for me to handle.
I hadn't explained to Karen and Grace yet exactly why we were gathering today....
Anyway, with something like Ella's permission, we headed into the lobby together.
"Older Sister Karen looks even prettier than last time. A bit more makeup... and the clothes suit you better, too."
"R-Really...? Hehe, good. Grace helped, so... if it's okay, that's a relief."
She was clearly talking to Ella.
But watching Karen glance my way more and more while answering, she really had become prettier.
Her signature hairstyle was the same, but she'd groomed herself more confidently, perhaps.
In various ways... definitely a different vibe from the succession ceremony.
A brighter atmosphere and happier look anyone could see.
Like... a girl in love.
Yeah.
"...Sigh."
"Hahaha...."
She knew I'd get other lovers eventually, but probably not that it had happened already.
After all, Ella was the first one I seduced outside the mansion back then.
After Ella, I'd gotten into relationships with Ivana and the Rosaki sisters, so from her perspective, it had to be a shock.
Her childhood friend or academy companion suddenly becoming one of my other lovers.
Of course it'd be hard to understand.
Plus, while I said everyone coming to the villa were my lovers, she probably wasn't thinking of cases like Karen and Grace who just arrived.
Rozalin and Ashley, already here together, didn't feel like lovers to her...
In various ways, I couldn't help worrying about Ella.
...Well, she'll be fine.
Probably.