Chapter 44
Chapter 44
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Ice Cream Rationing
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Just as Rozalin suggested, having a proper talk with Lize solved everything perfectly.
I really hadn't expected it to go this smoothly. Anyway, it was a relief.
"Lize, ahh~"
"...Yes."
Things between Lize and me were back to normal—in fact, we were even going out of the mansion together like old times.
No, it felt like we were even closer than before?
Anyway, today we were hanging out at a dessert cafe in the city with Lize.
I had other things to do originally, but the weather was hot, and I was feeling lazy, so I just ditched them casually.
And ended up here.
"The academy break starts next week, right?"
"Yes. Karen mentioned it in her letter not long ago."
"Then she'll probably come soon."
"Yes."
Karen coming over was already planned.
She'd visited our mansion shortly after winter break started last time too.
She'd even said in her letter she'd come play again this summer, so she definitely would.
"Ella might come visit soon too. Maybe we could all go somewhere nearby together."
We were chatting like that while eating ice cream.
It was still summer, the weather was still sweltering, so ice cream was an unavoidable choice.
Eating something like a muffin instead at a dessert cafe would have been worse.
Of course, I'd caught a cold from eating shaved ice not long ago...
"Hehe..."
"...Young Lady."
"What? You like this stuff too, right, Lize?"
"........"
Ice cream was tasty, sure, but feeding it to Lize and watching her reactions was fun too.
Now that we'd made up, I could see even more of them than before.
"Lize, how's this one?"
"It's delicious."
"Yeah? Want another bite?"
"...Yes."
Lize herself wasn't dodging it as much as before.
Yeah, Rozalin was definitely right. Good call listening to her.
Honestly, if I'd kept waiting instead of following her advice, things between Lize and me might have stayed awkward.
Sure, it probably would have gotten better eventually, but not as comfortable—or close—as this.
"Looking at paperwork all the time and then relaxing like this feels so nice."
"You should rest a bit more, Young Lady..."
"Yeah, I'm tired, but I'm doing this because I want to."
"...Young Lady."
It felt worlds apart from lounging in my room staring at documents.
Just scooping ice cream and playing around with Lize—that was it.
Wasn't this the right way to live a normal life?
"Haa... Lize."
"Yes, Young Lady."
"How about we take a break from business stuff and just hang out with Older Sister Karen and Ella?"
Lazing around like this sparked the idea.
Maybe because I'd been resting a lot since making up with Lize, but it felt way better than expected.
"You've already finished the important recent projects... I recommend taking a vacation this time."
"What do you want to do, Lize?"
"I..."
"Should we rest? Or handle the remaining work at the mansion together?"
"Personally, I'd like you to rest. You caught a cold recently... and other guests are coming too..."
"You want me to rest?"
"...Yes."
If that's what Lize wanted, I'd rest.
The big stuff was done anyway.
I figured taking a short vacation and relaxing with Lize and my friends sounded good.
I'd been planning to rest a little myself.
"Lize, ahh~"
"...Young Lady."
"What? You like this."
"........"
Lize couldn't even respond.
This was seriously fun.
*
"I'm glad it worked out."
"Yeah. It's all thanks to Mother."
It really was all thanks to Rozalin.
That's why I was visiting her room again to say thanks.
Even though I'd been coming to her room way less lately, I was truly grateful this time.
Sure, the method felt a bit weird—and leaving aside seeing Lize naked—but everything had turned out fine.
Excluding that one thing about seeing Lize naked, I had nothing to be embarrassed about.
After all, Lize had seen me naked plenty of times during baths or changing clothes.
"Thank you so much."
"When my daughter asks for help, of course I help."
"Still..."
Rozalin brushed it off as no big deal, but I couldn't help feeling grateful.
It wasn't just anyone—it was about getting close with Lize again.
"I'll repay you somehow next time. Right now... I don't have anything fitting to offer."
"I didn't do it expecting repayment. You don't need to do anything. That's what parent-child relationships are."
"...Is that so?"
Rozalin always said that, but I still couldn't fully grasp her mindset.
Was it because she was so focused on business, thinking only in those terms?
Unlike what she said, since she'd helped me, I felt like I had to repay her somehow... That thought kept coming up.
Not repaying her would feel like letting her down.
"Camellia?"
"Yes?"
"What are you thinking about so intently?"
"Uh... just... what I could do for you... that you'd like."
"Yeah?"
Rozalin was beaming at me.
She really didn't fit in a family like the Leonhardts.
Even after all these years, William was still out making money and fooling around however he pleased, while I, unlike other young ladies my age, was running businesses...
She was the only normal, warm person in this weird family.
Of course, I wasn't as money-obsessed as William, but... I knew I had those tendencies to some degree.
The reason I'd gotten close to Ella and Karen at first was largely because, as a noble, it benefited my businesses.
Sure, we were genuine friends now beyond that... but initially, that was it.
Unlike me, Rozalin just seemed like a genuinely good person.
Even as I grew older and started keeping a bit more distance, she always treated me kindly, and she was good to the other servants including Lize.
"Camellia, a letter came from the academy about enrollment. Take a look. It's mostly just stuff about what you need for the dormitory and what not to bring."
"Yes, Mother."
"And the academy break is coming up soon—what did Karen say she'd do?"
"She said she'd come play at our mansion this summer too. She'll stay in Melnik for about a week to pack... then head here."
Rozalin paid attention to these things since Karen visited our mansion so often.
Unlike William, who was always out on business or with women, Rozalin handled mansion affairs and guests.
She had to stay informed.
"No inconveniences lately? Aside from the heat, I mean."
"None for me. You take such good care of everything, Mother."
"Hehe, glad to hear it. I do it because I want you doing well."
Since Rozalin started handling mansion interiors, it had gotten even cleaner.
Beyond just spotless, the ostentatious luxury vibe had shifted to something more subdued and elegant.
Like the Rosaki family mansion back then.
Of course, Rozalin and I both thought it still fell short compared to that.
"Mother, when Older Sister Karen and Ella visit the mansion, I was thinking of taking a short trip nearby."
I told her what I'd discussed with Lize.
The weather was hot, and it'd been a while since seeing Karen.
Might as well go on a quick summer getaway, I suggested casually.
We hadn't decided on a place or dates yet anyway.
"That sounds good. You especially suffer in the heat, Camellia. Resting somewhere cooler even briefly would be nice."
"Really?"
"Yeah. By the way, Lize told me you've been eating ice cream at dessert cafes nonstop lately?"
"Huh?"
"Didn't I tell you to eat cold snacks in moderation?"
"...You did."
...I hadn't expected the topic to shift here.
I'd just planned to mention the trip and chat about that...
"You just got over a cold. Trying to catch another?"
"No..."
"Why else would Lize tell me?"
"...Sorry. But the weather's so hot..."
"I get the heat, but eating ice cream or shaved ice every day at home and then more outside? That's too much."
"...Sorry."
"So from now on, limit ice cream and shaved ice to five times a week max."
"Huh?"
...What?
I must have misheard.
"Oh, and it starts today, by the way."
"...Mother? That's... too harsh for summer..."
"Isn't eating ice cream three times a day the real issue?"
"..."
"And it includes buying outside too. I told Lize to count every time."
"........"
Even Lize was on her side.
This... this...
Was hell.
I needed ice cream or shaved ice at least twice a day to beat the heat.
I never imagined it'd come to this...
I'd just meant to suggest a summer trip together to Rozalin—how did it end up like this?
...It hurt, in all sorts of ways.