Chapter 35
Chapter 35
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Ella's Visits and Midnight Pizza
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Though it was a connection we had made by chance, Ella and the Niesista family were maintaining a closer relationship with our house than expected.
It was probably because our family had resolved exactly what the Niesista family wanted so well.
On top of that, we had given the Niesista side more wealth than before, so it was only natural.
"Oho ho! This is the new necklace I had made!"
"It's pretty."
"Right?"
"Yes, it suits you well."
Was it because of that? Ella visited our mansion quite often.
Well, since we were in the same southern region, there was no reason she couldn't come, but even so, she came a lot.
"Ah, Ella? I was thinking about trying to cultivate a new crop on the land inside Niesista Territory."
"A new crop?"
"Yes, most of the crops we've been selling so far aren't particularly expensive like wheat, right?"
I began explaining the plan I had prepared in advance to Ella.
I had intended to discuss it with the Niesista side, but since she had come to play at the mansion.
The nature of the crop meant results wouldn't come immediately anyway, and I planned to start small at first, so it seemed fine.
Of course, Ella didn't have definitive authority over such business matters, but it was still better to go through her than to speak to the baron directly.
...Honestly, I just found it annoying to talk to a middle-aged man.
If it had been a pretty girl, that would have been different.
"Hmm... That sounds good! I'll have to tell Father!"
"Really?"
"Yes, we've been too focused on wheat lately. It'd be great to sell a new product this time!"
"Then I'm glad. I did put some thought into it, but if the Niesista side disliked it, there was nothing to be done."
"When have we ever refused your proposals?"
"You have once?"
"That time! Well... it happens occasionally. But there's no family that trades with Leonhardt as much as we do, right?"
That was true.
As Ella said, they accepted most proposals well, and it was true that we traded the most with them under normal circumstances.
Of course, in terms of sheer volume, it wasn't overwhelmingly so.
"More importantly, how much magic have you learned lately?"
"Lately?"
"Yes, last time I saw, you were using mid-tier magic. Honestly, I was surprised at how fast you were progressing..."
"Well, about the same as back then. Still around mid-tier magic."
In truth, I was already learning magic beyond mid-tier.
I didn't know if it was because I had more talent for magic than I thought, but Ashley's lessons kept progressing steadily, and since last year, I had been learning high-tier magic.
Of course, I was telling everyone except Ashley that it was definitely only up to mid-tier.
"What! You're doing pretty well then! At that level, you won't get picked on at the academy!"
"That should be enough."
I had somehow reached the point of using high-tier magic, but even mid-tier was considered impressive.
That was the goal for most teenage mages, after all.
Being able to use high-tier was impressive in itself.
"Hmm..."
"Why are you staring like that?"
Ella asked while I kept looking at her.
It wasn't because of some hugely important reason.
"Just... You seem to have grown a lot since you were little?"
"Hmph! Of course, it's me!"
"Well, true."
It was just... I suddenly realized how cute Ella's appearance was.
Her hair, a dark navy closer to blue than Ashley's sky-blue locks, and even though she had matured more than when she was young.
She still retained that distinctive lively vibe.
Anyway, that was the extent of it.
All the women close to me were beautiful, so Ella wasn't particularly special in that regard.
"More importantly, you've gotten a letter from the academy, right?"
"Of course."
"That's such a relief! I thought you'd be ignored like before, but this time there were no issues!"
"Truly fortunate. There were times in the past when I couldn't attend invitation parties from the capital."
Now, we weren't treated with that level of disdain anymore.
It really was a relief.
Of course, Leonhardt itself was still largely disliked, but still.
"Speaking of the academy..."
"It's such a hassle to go."
"What?!"
Ella was shocked, but honestly, it was a hassle, so it was a hassle.
For me, it was more comfortable to just plan businesses and roll in money from the mansion than go to the academy.
My head wouldn't hurt as much, and mingling with noble kids was still annoying.
"Am I the only one who thinks that?"
"No! Of course you have to attend the academy! For ambiguous southern nobles like us, it's a must!"
"Hmm..."
"You're really not going?"
"Of course I'm not skipping it. It's just a hassle."
I wasn't an idiot; I absolutely wasn't planning to skip it for real.
Though it was a hassle, yes.
"It's the academy my mother attended, too. I plan to go. It'll be a hassle, but since I'm a noble, after all. Our family doesn't have any other children besides me."
Going would help with future business anyway.
Anyway, that was it.
Even at the tea party when I was eight—the first one I ever had—it was a hassle, but afterward, I attended social gatherings frequently.
Of course, not the ones for adult nobles, but gatherings for kids around my age, in their teens.
Not the official social season yet—more like preliminaries?
Attending those social gatherings often... I truly found them annoying.
"Sigh..."
"B-But! Isn't it good that you have at least one friend? Better than going alone!"
"That's true."
"Hehe!"
Ella was right.
If I had entered without a single friend... I might not have gone.
I'd probably go anyway...?
"Still, what a relief! Camellia, if you hadn't gotten any contact from the academy, it would have been such a hassle!"
"Well... I think I'd pass the exam without issue."
"But a hassle is still a hassle!"
"You're not wrong."
She wasn't wrong.
Unlike before, Leonhardt's treatment had improved slightly, which was truly fortunate.
Now I could enter the academy smoothly without taking the exam, casually. Definitely good.
Anyway, I spent time chatting like that with Ella.
We had already talked business, so as always, it turned to ordinary conversation.
*
After chatting with Ella like that, she returned to her own mansion.
Truly... living in the same south was fortunate.
If we lived far away, we couldn't meet this often, and the way back would be long.
Anyway, after handling dinner and finishing all my tasks, I was resting alone in my room.
I had nothing left to do, had already sorted business matters, and wrapped up other tasks sufficiently.
"Camellia~"
"Yes, Mother."
While resting alone like that, Rozalin suddenly came to my room and called me.
...What was it?
"By any chance, are you busy right now?"
"No? Why?"
"Really?"
I didn't know why she came suddenly, but it seemed like she had something to say.
Hmm... what?
Couldn't predict it.
"Then, want to come down with me for a bit?"
"...Pardon?"
...?
I didn't understand what she meant suddenly, but somehow I followed Rozalin down to the first floor.
We went down, and the place we arrived at was... the kitchen.
"...Mother?"
"Yes?"
"Why here all of a sudden...?"
I couldn't help but ask.
What was this really.
Rozalin bringing me to the kitchen suddenly was a first, so I had no idea.
I truly couldn't guess why she brought me.
"Thought I'd have a midnight snack?"
"...Pardon?"
"Just, it's been a while since dinner, and I couldn't sleep much, so I was wandering the mansion. Happened to see your room light on?"
Rozalin said that while rummaging through the fridge.
No way... cooking?
"You didn't seem like you were sleeping anyway, Camellia. Thought we could have a midnight snack together."
"You know... how to cook?"
"I can't do anything difficult, obviously, but easy stuff? Sure."
"...Really?"
"Of course. Even nobles have to be moms sometimes, right?"
"That's... true, but..."
I'd never seen it, so I truly didn't know.
Anyway, somehow... I got to witness Rozalin cooking firsthand. Right in front of me.
She had suddenly dragged me down here, but I didn't dislike it.
I definitely wasn't going to sleep right away either.
"What are you going to make?"
"Hm? Uh... pizza?"
"Pizza?"
"Yeah. It's not that hard. Feels super simple... but still delicious."
"Ah..."
I didn't know exactly what, but... hearing pizza made me a bit expectant.
I hadn't imagined Rozalin making pizza, of all things.
I brought over a chair and watched, while Rozalin chopped ingredients alone, spread something like spaghetti sauce on thin tortilla bread.
Somehow... she was better than expected. Impressive.
"Want some meat too?"
"I'm fine with anything. It's whatever Mother makes."
"Hehe... then I have to make it extra tasty?"
Then Rozalin grilled ham right away... piled ingredients and cheese on the tortilla, completing the pizza like that.
It wasn't thick like real pizza, but definitely a simple dish that evoked pizza vibes.
Way better than expected.
What was it... like those easy pizzas from YouTube in my past life?
"You're... better than I thought...?"
"Right? Back at the Rose mansion, I'd sneak and eat like this alone. All secretly, of course?"
Like that, Rozalin and I took out pizza and juice from the fridge, then returned to my room together.
Somehow... spending time in my room with Rozalin felt like it had been a while.
Probably because as I got older, I deliberately kept some distance from Rozalin, and there was no real reason for her to come to my room...?
"Hehe, Camellia's room feels nice to visit after so long."
"Does it...?"
"Yeah, it's been ages, right?"
"...True."
Maybe because Rozalin came to my room so suddenly, it felt more awkward than usual.
No, not just because Rozalin entered my room... but because of her outfit a bit.
Her clothes... were they sleepwear?
The chest area was low-cut, and Rozalin entering my room at night felt too awkward.
She was surely just purely wanting to spend time with me, but I couldn't think purely like that.
Am I... a pervert by any chance?