Chapter 294
Chapter 294
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Clearing the Air with Ella
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"Ella."
"Why? Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Hmm... Well, it feels like I have to apologize to you or something."
"...What?"
We decided to have a private conversation in a room without the others.
Naturally, the reason for the talk was Ella.
I'd noticed her mood souring noticeably right after the Rosaki sisters arrived.
It was too clear to dismiss as just my imagination.
"Probably because I didn't say anything sooner. And on top of that, during the two months we didn't meet, you must have thought I was seeing other people."
"......"
"And it's true that I didn't contact you at all for a while."
I could understand why Ella was upset now.
When I was wooing her, I'd never mentioned anything about other people, and she only found out after we arrived at the villa.
It must not have sat well with her.
She might have even felt a bit betrayed.
"I didn't mean to push you away on purpose. It really was a busy time... though not busy chasing women, but something a bit bigger."
"...So?"
"I'm just saying it wasn't my intention to exclude you."
Being genuinely busy was the biggest factor.
If I could have, I would have liked to keep in touch with Ella more while handling things.
But dealing with the Rose family had progressed faster than expected.
The trip to the count's territory wasn't leisurely, and neither was what came after.
I had no choice, but from Ella's perspective, it must have felt regrettable.
"How can I prove my innocence? I'm not a pure virgin anymore, but I want to clear up this misunderstanding."
"...You really didn't do it on purpose?"
"Yes, really. I haven't even contacted the others separately since we met."
I had briefly met the Rosaki sisters before heading to Rose, but.
Anyway, what I was telling Ella now was the truth.
It seemed better to state it clearly than to spin little lies that might get caught.
"...If you say it that earnestly, it must be true. Yeah, I guess so."
"You're believing me too easily, aren't you? Earlier, you were glaring so fiercely at Older Sister Karen and Grace."
"It wasn't that fierce...!"
"Pffft, but your eyes were a little scary, that's a fact."
"...It's just that you have plenty of other people to meet even without me. So I had a lot on my mind."
"And the little staring contest with those two?"
"Th-that was..."
I didn't know if that was her intent.
But Ella was in fiercer mode than usual, and she hadn't been as friendly to them as normal.
Of course, the Rosaki sisters didn't seem to think Ella was picking a fight or that she was in a really bad mood.
From my observer's view, it was too obvious.
"Don't overdo it. They just like me normally, that's all."
"...Got it."
"And they probably didn't even think you were treating them worse than usual. Maybe they figured you were on your period or something?"
"Th-that's too much..."
"Pffft, anyway. Point is, you didn't come off as particularly bad to them. It just seemed that way to me a little."
I'd known Ella for so long.
That's why I noticed.
"Anyway, bottom line: if you're upset, just vent to me. I haven't exactly done anything virtuous. Even if you curse me out, I can't really complain, right?"
She wasn't wrong about that.
I felt sorry to my lovers; I'd been doing exactly that.
"...Forget it. Why would I say mean things to the person I like? Just come here and give me a big hug."
"That'll do it?"
"...A kiss on top would be nice too."
I was honestly so grateful for that.
They were all too pretty and kind.
Someone better than me might...
My thoughts drifted there naturally, but it soured my mood, so I stopped and focused on Ella.
At least when it was just the two of us, I had to focus solely on her.
*
"Sister, want some tea? Camellia brought it. It's sweet and pretty good."
"What kind is it? I-I'll have some anyway...."
"What was it... The one she brought this time was rose tea, right? Or something else?"
"It's rose tea."
"So it is."
After my brief talk with Ella, things calmed down.
We just chatted as usual.
Karen knew the sisters were my girlfriends, but the Rosaki sisters didn't know Karen was.
We were spending time peacefully enough.
Since Ivana hadn't arrived yet, we hadn't laid all our cards on the table, just hanging out like friends, which made things a bit tricky.
The point of gathering like this was for my girlfriends to meet.
To get closer and share that sense of being my people.
But starting the big talk without Ivana felt lacking, so I was holding back.
"Hmm."
"What're you thinking about?"
"Oh, Grace."
"Everyone's smiling over tea. You're the only one looking glum."
"Just... a bit worried since Ivana hasn't arrived yet?"
"Hmm... You're worried about Ivana? The girl who lugs around a greatsword as big as she is?"
"Pffft, yeah, good point. Someone like Ivana doesn't really need worrying."
The villa's atmosphere was fine overall.
They'd known each other for ages.
Karen and Ivana since early childhood, Grace since the academy.
At least five years minimum.
Of course, Karen and Ashley, with the age gap... didn't chat much with the younger ones.
Talking normally at meals was a relief, at least?
Regardless of age, my mom position... yeah.
"Grace, have you seen the back mountain?"
"The mountain? No, not yet. Why?"
"Hmm... How about we all take a walk there later? It's surprisingly beautiful."
It seemed best to do it before Ivana arrived.
It was a villa we rarely visited, so there were sights to see.
Best after Ivana came, but her arrival time was uncertain.
Closer than the south, but still from the north.
"Older Sister Karen, Ella, want to walk together later? We can check out that valley from before too."
"I'll come along."
"M-me too...!"
"Then let's bring Mother and Teacher too. Lize as well—everyone together."
It flowed naturally that way.
Spending time together like this, even with light chat, would make bonding later much easier.
Especially Grace, who'd known me since way back.
Getting close to Rozalin or Ashley... would be tough otherwise.
Ella and Karen weren't super close either—just problem-free when together.
"But Camellia, doesn't Lize just keep working even here?"
"...Even when I tell her not to wear her maid outfit and just relax, she insists on working."
"Oh."
"...I want to bring her here and let her rest easy too. I keep telling her she doesn't have to act so maid-like..."
It was always like that, before and now.
Whenever I told her to relax, Lize never listened.
She didn't even need the maid outfit.
Her insisting on maid duties was the most frustrating part.
Of course, she'd been like that since she was little, rarely taking it off, so I'd half-given up.
"Hmm..."
"No helping it. If that's what Lize wants. I feel bad forcing her otherwise every time."
"Still feels bad seeing her work nonstop. Back at the academy, we'd play while she cleaned up after you."
"Haha..."
Yeah, true.
Honestly, I couldn't claim I didn't assign her tasks.
"But Lize goes way overboard with work, right? I work a lot too, but... Oh, is that why she clings to the maid outfit? Because of you?"
"...It's your fault."
"No, but..."
Hmm.
I did work super hard during business peaks.
Staying up late, crashing at dawn.
Up and right back to business tasks.
Really... was that influencing Lize to overwork...?
"Hmm."
Of course, having her as my maid helping out was great.
But she could loosen up a bit normally.
"How about we make it so Lize can't do any maid work for a whole day?"
"How?"
I couldn't help staring curiously at Grace's suggestion.
Then Karen, sitting beside her, poked my arm and chimed in.
"Ca-Camellia in a maid outfit, acting like a maid for Lize... I-I think that'd be... go-good...!"
"Oh."
...That could be fun.
We'd tried it before, but the effect now would definitely differ.