Chapter 297
Chapter 297
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Ivana's Arrival and the Confession
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"Ivana, when do you think she'll get here?"
"Yeah.... Does it really take that long from the Northern Region all the way here...?"
"It does take a while, but I thought it'd be just a little over a week. She's way later than expected."
We were sitting on the sofa, passing the time ordinarily at the villa.
It was a peaceful and enjoyable time—just spending it like that—but my worries about Ivana, who still hadn't arrived, lingered.
It takes about two weeks to come down from the Northern Region to the south, but the central region is a different story.
It should definitely take less time than expected to reach the central area where the villa was located.
But... for some reason, Ivana still hadn't arrived.
"Hmm...."
"Camellia, you don't need to worry too much. You even told her in your letter that it was fine to take it slow, right? And Ivana probably just has things to take care of."
"If that's the case, then great.... But I can't help being a little worried anyway."
Just as Rozalin said, she might be delayed because of work.
But that didn't stop the worrying....
"Exactly. Like Madam said, there's no need to worry excessively. It takes about a week just to come down from the Northern Region in the first place. We took several days ourselves, so it's only natural for Ivana to be late."
"R-right...!"
"Okay. Everyone's... focusing so much on me that I actually feel bad."
"We're all gathered here, and you're the only one like this."
"...True."
Instead of Ivana, everyone's concern prickled toward me in various ways.
Getting this kind of worry from others didn't feel bad at all.
With everyone gathered in the lobby, chatting together—all my lovers looking at me with concern and comfort—it felt better than expected.
What was it like...? Like being a pet?
The feeling of people gathered, looking at me with pitying eyes, coaxing and soothing me—it was strangely novel.
"Karen sis, what do you want for dinner?"
"R-rather than dinner, I'd like some ice cream as a midnight snack...."
"Pffft, that sounds good too."
Rather than dwelling on worries about Ivana, I decided to show my usual self for now.
After all, these were people who worried about me a lot.
And as Rozalin and Ella said, there was probably no real need for major concern.
Ivana would surely make her way here just fine... right?
She wasn't the type to cause worry, as someone mentioned yesterday.
"Phew...."
I was worried about the delay itself, but the main reason I wanted her to arrive quickly was, of course....
Once Ivana got to the villa, I planned to tell everyone that all the people I'd invited were my lovers.
"I hope she gets here soon."
Even now, getting along relatively like friends... wasn't bad at all, but the regret was unavoidable.
*
"Ivana!"
The next evening, Ivana finally arrived at the villa.
Honestly, I was thrilled.
I'd been happy reuniting with my other lovers too, but with Ivana, the extra worry made it feel even more so.
"Ah, Camellia. Did I keep you waiting long?"
"Very long. What happened that you're arriving so late?"
And of course, I had to ask.
After all, Ivana had taken a whole week by herself!
We'd deliberately left late from Leonhardt Mansion, and it took time to get from the mansion to the villa—then an extra week on top of that.
She'd really come alone and late; it would've been weirder not to ask.
"Ah...."
"Was there some trouble on the way? We didn't get any more letters from you. Was it something dangerous?"
"Sorry. I should've sent a letter on the way, but it slipped my mind."
The Ivana I saw after so long looked much the same as before.
Even after such a long time apart, she hadn't strayed far from her expressionless demeanor.
Of course, her lips curved up just a tiny bit, and her eyes were brighter than usual—you could tell she was happy in her own way.
"There wasn't any particular danger. I just had unfinished business in the Northern Region, so my departure got delayed."
"Ah...."
"Since you said it was okay to take it slow, I left a few days later. But it ended up being much later than planned."
...It was nothing serious.
Yeah, rather a relief.
I'd been a bit worried something had actually happened.
But hearing it was just work keeping her busy was better.
For Ivana lately, there must've been so much to handle in the Northern Region.
Unlike me, right on the verge of becoming family head with our small Leonhardt Viscount Family of just three, the Nordal Ducal Family was entirely different.
"Then... shall we head in? Everyone else is already here. They'll be waiting for you, Ivana."
"Sure. Let's do that."
With those words, we headed inside the villa building.
I'd been quite worried for several days, but since it was nothing, it was truly a relief.
My concerns had turned out to be... over nothing, to some extent.
Still, compared to if something had actually happened to Ivana, this was far better.
"Ah.... You are a bit late, but it's nice to see you after so long."
"...Same here."
It wasn't the best timing for a long chat right then.
After that very brief exchange, we entered the villa together right away.
.
.
.
"It's been since Academy graduation, right? Has everyone been well?"
"We've been fine. Most of the time, it's you who's been too busy to come, Ivana."
"Sorry. Work's been hectic."
"Can't be helped. The Nordal Ducal Family's been swamped lately, from what I hear?"
"Ah, that's mostly sorted out now."
"Hmm, good to hear."
Everyone had known Ivana for a long time.
Naturally, they welcomed her casually.
Excluding me, it really had been ages for everyone else—the last time we'd all met was at graduation.
As friends reuniting after so long, the mood couldn't help but liven up a bit.
"Lize, bring out some orange juice or something cool like that."
"Yes, Young Lady."
Unlike yesterday, Lize had changed back into her standard maid uniform, so I made the request.
Rozalin and Ashley watched with warm smiles from a spot a little away from the younger ones, while my friends caught up on lost time.
That made me think it was finally okay to relax a bit.
"Wow.... So you're becoming a duke? Should we call you Duchess Nordal now...?"
"Call me whatever. I'm not officially a duke yet anyway, and you don't usually call me Duchess Heiress."
"Heh, true enough."
Even though it had been ages for everyone, Ivana's absence spanned actual years, so conversations kept flowing her way.
As always, outgoing Grace led the talks, followed by normally sociable Ella.
Karen... well, of course.
"But in that situation, is it okay for you to come all the way down here? I'm not in succession prep yet, so I don't know, but from what Camellia said... it sounds insanely busy?"
"It is busy. That's why I crammed in as much work as possible beforehand, which made me even later."
"Ah...."
"And honestly, others are busier than me, so no big issue."
Anyway, it was a relief to see everyone getting along great with Ivana despite the long separation.
I'd been a little worried about how it'd go when she arrived during our villa stay.
But my concerns proved unfounded—it was perfectly fine.
"Young Lady, here."
"Yeah, thanks."
As I watched my friends getting along, Lize brought the juice.
I didn't really need it, but... to wet my throat a bit before the important talk.
Plus, seeing the others enjoying themselves casually, I figured a drink would be nice.
*Ahem.*
"What's up? You have something to say?"
"Yes, I do."
I deliberately cut into the excited chatter.
It might seem sudden?
But it felt like the perfect timing, and I was getting impatient from delaying.
"Um.... It's nothing big."
...Honestly, I had no idea how to phrase this.
I was going to say it, though.
"I wanted to explain why I gathered everyone here like this?"
"...Huh."
"It's nothing much."
It was a bit hard to bring up smoothly.
But now was definitely the time.
Ella already knew the reason, but Rozalin and Ashley still seemed totally oblivious?
It was clearly best to lay all circumstances out plainly.
"I just wanted to gather all my lovers in one place, so I did."
"...Ah."
"That's why...? So, that means...."
"Hmm."
Everyone had their own reactions.
But the most important were the ones relatively apart.
Rozalin and Ashley, sitting in a spot totally out of the others' view right now, had the funniest reactions.
As I spoke, both covered their mouths in surprise—it was hilarious, but I continued right away.
"Oh, and Teacher Ashley over there, and my mother—they're my lovers too."
"What."
"...Huh?"
"...Yes?"
"......Ah?"
"I'm dating Mom too."
It was basically an explosive reveal.
Honestly, this had way more impact than the previous one.
Yeah, the reactions I'd expected.
Jaws dropping, eyes widening, stunned into silence.
"C-Camellia...! How can you just say it like that...?"
"Hehe."
What could I do?
I like Rozalin, she likes me, and we're in a mother-daughter兼-lover relationship.
Nothing wrong with that at all?