Chapter 46
Chapter 46
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Inviting Mother to the Trip
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I'd already sent a separate letter to Ella, Lize was coming along anyway, and I'd gotten Ashley's consent.
On top of that, Karen was coming to visit anyway, so there was no need to even ask her. In practical terms, that meant everyone for the summer getaway was pretty much set.
There was just one person left... but I figured that would be fine.
"…Hmm."
Rozalin had helped me out before, and leaving her alone at the mansion felt a little guilty.
This time, I planned to invite her to come along.
And so... here I was, standing in front of Rozalin's room.
"Mother, what are you up to?"
"I was about to head out for a bath since it's so hot. What's up?"
"Oh... then I'll come back a bit later."
"Hm? What's this about?"
"Um... I had something to talk about, but if you're busy...?"
I hadn't expected the timing to be this bad.
I'd come to her room to talk, but of course, the moment I stepped in, she had to head out.
Well... it wasn't like I had to say it right that second within five minutes, and she was just going to bathe because it was hot.
Coming back later wouldn't be any issue at all.
"Hmm... well, since it's like this, want to bathe together?"
"…Pardon?"
Huh.
*
Huh.
"It's been a while since we've shared a bath. Nice, isn't it?"
"Haha..."
"So, what did you want to talk about? It's not like you come to chat with me often, Camellia."
"That's true..."
And so, I ended up in the bath with Rozalin.
It really had been ages since we'd done this.
Other than back in the old days, I couldn't remember the last time we'd bathed together like this.
For nearly two years, I'd mostly bathed alone with Lize attending me, without Rozalin around.
It had just... been hard to face her.
"Want me to wash your hair?"
"…Sure."
"Your hair's even longer than mine, so Lize must take good care of it, right?"
"Of course. She always gives it tons of attention during baths."
Lize was especially diligent about my hair.
She put more focus into it than I, the owner, ever did when washing it.
"That's because it's such pretty hair."
"…You think so?"
Rozalin said that as she slowly began washing my hair.
Since we were just bathing together—not with her attending me—we weren't in the tub or anything. I was just sitting on the bath stool.
She wet my hair, applied shampoo, and gently worked it in.
It felt... nice.
"So, what was it you wanted to say?"
"Oh... it's nothing big. I was thinking of going on a short trip to escape the summer heat. How about you come along, Mother? What do you say?"
I asked with my eyes closed to avoid any soap runoff, as she washed my hair from behind.
Everyone else had already been asked—Rozalin was the only one left.
And especially, I wanted her to come with us.
The last trip we'd taken together was when I was eight, right at the end of summer. Leaving her alone at the mansion felt a bit bad.
...It was mostly a trip with friends, but Ashley was coming too anyway.
I didn't think it'd be weird for Rozalin to join.
"There are others coming along, though..."
"Like who?"
"Lize, Ella, Karen's coming too, and Teacher Ashley's joining us."
"The teacher too?"
"Yeah."
Of course, having Ashley tag along felt a tad awkward, but I couldn't pass up that magic air conditioner.
If I could use it myself, sure—but right now, I still couldn't handle her custom spell.
"There's a little villa on a mountain a bit away from the south. I think we'll stay there."
"Not the beach?"
"We went there before. Plus, at this time of year, the beach will be way too crowded."
"Fair point."
"And the mountain with the villa is one our family bought a while back. It'll definitely be comfy."
"R-Really?"
It had been on the market because the owner wanted to sell, and heavy rains had damaged the mountain a bit, dropping the price.
Perfect timing—we'd snagged it cheap.
"Camellia, close your eyes for a sec."
"Okay."
She rinsed the shampoo out of my hair with water.
...She was surprisingly good at this.
I knew she always bathed alone, so why was she so skilled?
It felt... kinda mom-like, which was awkward.
"Hair's done. Now for your back?"
"…Sure."
"Mountains, huh... fewer people, cooler than the south. Sounds nice."
It wasn't like we were going just because we owned the mountain.
The villa up front was decent, and there was even a small stream inside. I figured it'd be great.
Especially since there was a decent town nearby.
"Hmm... but is it okay if I come?"
"……Pardon?"
"I mean, everyone's younger than me, right? It'll... be fine?"
"Of course it will."
She had a point—everyone was younger than Rozalin.
Ella was my age, and while Karen and Lize were older than me, they were nothing compared to her.
But with Ashley there too... I didn't see the worry.
We weren't even going to run around playing or anything. Just escaping the heat to relax.
It'd be fine... right?
"Is that so...?"
"Yeah. Aside from Older Sister Karen, no one's really talked to you much. Lize and Teacher Ashley are already staying at the mansion with us, though?"
"That's a relief, then... but a bunch of kids hanging out, and me butting in..."
"It'll be fine."
"...Really?"
She was older than me, sure, but Rozalin was only twenty.
I got why she was worried, but I didn't think it was that big a deal.
"I want you to come, Mother. W-Will that be okay?"
"...If you want me to, then of course I'll go."
"That's great..."
What a relief.
Honestly, I'd have been a little bummed if she'd said no.
With Rozalin joining us now, it really was perfect.
"All done washing up? Want to hop in the tub first?"
"Yeah, I will."
I'd been worried that if she washed me like this, she might ask me to return the favor—and that would've been awkward in all sorts of ways.
Luckily, that didn't happen. What a relief.
We'd been having a perfectly normal conversation so far, and I hadn't let it show... but honestly, having her wash me had been tough.
Not for any other reason—it just tickled too much when she touched my body.
And washing her... even thinking about it felt weird.
"Ahem..."
Imagining myself washing her the way she'd done me... yeah, that came with issues.
Looking at her smooth waist or hips from behind...
"…Phew."
Seriously, dodged a bullet there.
It had been so long since we'd bathed together that it hit me anew.
I remembered exactly why I'd avoided bathing with Rozalin all this time.
"…What a pervert."
Even after all this time, nothing had changed. I still thought like this every time around her.
*
The date was set, the schedule finalized.
With luggage all packed, all that was left was departure.
The villa didn't lack for anything, so we didn't need much.
We just waited a few days for Karen to arrive.
"...Teacher only packed two pillows?"
"...Yes."
"Hmm... that's... a bit much. Get her one more pillow."
...Well, that was Ashley for you.
I wasn't surprised anymore. Just par for the course.
Lize's reaction wasn't much different from mine.
"Madam's luggage is already in the carriage?"
"Yes. Lady Ella and Madam's things are loaded. And Lady Ashley said she'll bring her pillows and board the carriage..."
"It's a big carriage. Should be fine."
"And you, Young Lady...?"
"I'll pack the day we leave. I've already got everything ready anyway."
Anyway, Lize and I were doing a final check before the trip.
Double-checking if the carriage could fit all six of us, making sure it wouldn't break down en route—just killing time.
...Really, we were just waiting because Karen hadn't arrived at the mansion yet.
...She should be here any minute, though.
"Hmm... wonder when Older Sister Karen's coming."
"She'll be here soon."
"But it's been forever. I wanna see her quick."
"...Didn't she visit last winter break?"
"That's why."
It had been half a year already.
Decent stretch without seeing her, right?
"Hmm..."
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Just thinking."
I was just a little worried if Karen would be okay hanging out with the others without me.
She'd said it was fine in her reply to my letter, sure—but she was so introverted.
Maybe she'd just gone along because I'd suggested it and couldn't say no.
If that was the case... I'd feel kinda bad.
"…Nah, probably not."
"…?"
"She'll be fine... right?"
"…?"
...Honestly, I was really worried.
The group minus Rozalin and Lize... their personalities were all over the place.
One was loud, one was quiet, and the last one... slept.
"...Did I pick the wrong people for this trip...?"
"Pardon?"
"No, nothing..."
It wasn't my fault that arriving at the villa filled me with equal parts excitement and dread.
...Probably.