Chapter 47
Chapter 47
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Preparing for Departure
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"Older Sister Karen."
"Uh, h-hello!"
"It feels like it's been forever. Have you been well?"
Karen finally arrived at our mansion the next day.
And early in the morning, while Ella and Ashley were still asleep.
"Why did you come so early in the morning? I thought you'd come in the afternoon."
"Well... I originally planned to arrive even earlier, but Father kept telling me to stay just a little longer..."
"Even so, I didn't expect you this early..."
Normally, this would have been my bedtime.
I had work to do from the morning today, and I'd planned to take a break for a while anyway.
Before leaving, I had to handle some important business matters on my own... so I'd woken up earlier than usual.
Still, I really hadn't anticipated Karen coming at such an early hour.
"Well... we left late, and I wanted to see Camellia after so long... so I set out again at dawn..."
"Ah..."
"And... it was my first trip...!"
Then Karen kept rambling on by herself.
I nodded along to her words, responding one by one, and she grew even happier, chattering away.
She really was so consistent.
"It's a bit tricky to leave right away today... so shall we put your luggage in the room first? Everyone's arrived, but it's too rushed to depart today."
"But who's coming along...?"
"Hmm..."
...It was a worry, but it would probably be fine.
Probably...?
*
I gave Karen a suitable room and let her rest for a bit.
Since she'd set out at dawn, after all.
I decided to let her rest in her room for a while, and some time passed.
Then we woke Ashley and Karen to eat lunch together, and brought Ella out from her room too.
"Yaaawn... mmm..."
"So when are we leaving!"
"Eek..."
Hmm...
We were just trying to have lunch, but it already felt rowdy.
Unlike the usual quiet meals with just Rozalin, it was quite noisy.
"Does anyone dislike or can't eat certain foods?"
"Hah! Do I look like someone who can't handle this?"
"Good, that's a relief."
Anyway, it had been a really long time since I'd eaten with so many people.
The table was already lined with our food, so all that was left was to eat.
Not right away, though—we chatted a bit first.
"The people going on this trip are these six gathered here. Hmm..."
What should I say?
Should I have them introduce themselves one by one?
"Umm... You all know me, Lize, and Mother, so I'll just briefly introduce the others."
The three of us living in the mansion had already met everyone.
In fact, Ashley was the only one they didn't know.
"First, this is Teacher Ashley. She's my magic tutor, and, um... want to say something, Teacher?"
"I'm hungry..."
"Got it. As you can see, she... sleeps a lot. Teacher? Those two over there are Ella and Older Sister Karen, from the Rosaki Family and Niesista Family."
"Mmm..."
"...Shall we eat first?"
I'd planned to chat a little, but whatever... we'd get close on the trip anyway.
I decided to gloss over it.
Plus, Karen had set out at dawn and hadn't eaten since arriving at our mansion.
We filled our stomachs first.
"Mmm! The soup's good! Tastier than I expected!"
"I'm glad. It's been a while since I've eaten with so many people."
"More importantly, where are we going on this trip? The letter just said we're going somewhere!"
"Oh, I didn't tell you?"
"Hah!?"
Hmm... thinking about it, I'd explained to everyone except Ella... but hadn't told her at all.
It felt a bit off, but telling her now should be fine, right?
"Sister, is it to your taste?"
"Y-yes! It's delicious as always...!"
"But Sister, how was the academy?"
"It was ordinary this year too. Well... I'm a second-year now."
"I see."
That made sense.
Karen would have spent her time quietly at the academy anyway.
It'd be harder to imagine her being rowdy there.
Rosaki Count probably thought the same as me.
"Anything fun happen at the academy?"
"I spent it alone the whole time..."
"Ah..."
"Uh, ah! Some new students came in spring, and they caused a ton of trouble...!"
"What kind of trouble?"
"Hmm... they dueled with magic and collapsed a building...?"
Uh...
That was definitely... trouble.
Anyway, we chatted like that over lunch.
Rozalin, sitting next to me, watched with a pleased expression, which made me a bit embarrassed.
But it had been a while since I'd seen Karen and Ella.
Ella was more recent, but talking with her was fun.
Maybe because she was younger—she was the brightest and had the funniest reactions.
"Heehee."
"Young Lady, you've got something on your lips."
"Ah, thanks. But Lize, why don't you eat too?"
"No, thank you. I've already eaten."
"Mmm... okay."
Well, Lize wasn't eating with us now, but she would anyway.
We'd eat together on the trip no matter what, and once I started attending the academy with Lize later, even more so.
"Madam, if there's nothing else to do at the mansion, how about we leave tomorrow? What do you think?"
"I'm fine with it. The servants would probably prefer we leave sooner."
"True. It's our summer vacation after so long."
William wasn't at the mansion either.
It'd probably be a huge break for the servants.
They'd still have to come clean, but not bustle about like usual.
Whether the servants rested or not wasn't really my concern, honestly...?
"Besides, Camellia hates the heat, right?"
"...Yeah."
Hmm.
Couldn't argue with that.
I'd actually planned to ask Ashley, but she'd been sleeping... so no choice.
Aside from the heat, I felt bad waking her to ask.
My room was still hot.
...Well, I wouldn't be staying at the mansion for a while anyway, so it was fine.
"Everyone okay with leaving tomorrow?"
"Hoho! Do you think I'd care about that!"
"Ella's fine with it, of course."
"Hehehe!!"
The mood was agreeable from everyone except Ella.
I wanted to go sooner too, but I didn't say it.
"Teacher, all done?"
"Mmm..."
"Hmm... have a drink then. I'll move you in a bit."
"Okay..."
Ashley, still sleepy, dozed off right after eating alone.
...How did she eat so little and still have such a big chest?
Something was off.
Anyway, we left Ashley half-asleep with her drink and kept chatting with the others to pass the time.
We had nothing else to do, and it was good to get acquainted before the trip.
More precisely, to help Karen get comfortable.
*
"Teacher, go ahead and sleep."
"Yaaawn..."
I first moved the groggy Ashley to the back seat with magic.
I didn't want to show advanced magic to everyone casually, and it was easiest to move her first anyway.
"Lize, now let's get Older Sister Karen."
"Yes."
Next was Older Sister Karen.
I went to the room where Karen was resting, picked up her luggage, and came out.
"Sister, anything you want to drink on the way?"
"Water's fine for me...!"
"Got it. Um... you can open the window if you want, but the carriage won't be too hot inside."
"Really...?"
"Yes. Get in first and rest. We'll bring Ella."
Karen was settled.
We could've all gone to the carriage at once, but it ended up like this somehow.
Probably because I was sneaking Ashley in?
"Next is Ella. Ella..."
"I'll hop in the carriage quick!"
Before I finished speaking about Ella, she dashed outside.
With a face full of excitement.
"...Shall we?"
I'd expected it.
When I took Karen out earlier, she'd been peeking from upstairs with an eager look.
Of course, Ella didn't know I'd noticed.
"Ella, okay to sit next to Sister?"
"Of course! Did you think I'd hate sitting by Older Sister Karen!"
"No, of course not. I just would've seated you by me or someone else if you preferred."
"That... might be okay, but your Madam's here too. Better to ride with her!"
"Heehee, thanks."
She seemed so carefree and bright, but Ella wasn't stupid.
...Though sometimes as a kid, she seemed a bit dim.
But never truly stupid.
The Niesista Baron considered her his heir, after all.
"Zzz......."
"Wow..."
"...?"
Anyway, we brought Ella to the carriage and opened the door, and Karen was looking around the interior in amazement.
Was the carriage interior that surprising?
It was expensive and spacious, sure... but for a baron's daughter like Ella?
"C-Camellia...? Why is it so cool in here...?"
"Oh... it's Teacher's magic from the back."
"Really? This is... what..."
Hmm.
The air conditioner magic really was amazing.
It probably had a proper name, but Ashley's original spell, which I called "air conditioner magic" for convenience, was definitely on that level.
Anyway, after loading everyone into the carriage, I went back inside alone to get Rozalin.
I had instructions to give the other servants before departing, and some leftover work.
She'd said she'd handle it briefly in her room.
It should be done now.
"Mother."
"Everyone in the carriage?"
"Yes. Everyone's boarded, luggage too."
"Heehee, just the departure left then?"
"Yep. Anything unfinished?"
"Hm? No, I just finished everything and was about to head out."
Rozalin stood from her seat as I entered.
Just as she said, her work was done.
"Nothing else to pack?"
"No. Clothes are all packed, and the earrings and necklace from you... see, already on?"
"...Yeah."
As Rozalin said, she wore the gifts I'd given her around her neck and ears.
...She didn't have to wear them every day.
Anyway, Rozalin draped a light coat over her dress.
The sun was hot, so better that than her pale skin burning... um.
My eyes drifted to Rozalin's skin involuntarily.
"Mother, um... shall we go now?"
"Yes. It's been so long since a trip with you, Camellia. Isn't it great?"
"...Of course."
A bit embarrassing, but still.