Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Afternoon Nap and Lunch
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"This is a book I used to read at the Academy when I was bored. I brought it along because it's been a while."
"...Yes."
Rozalin lay beside me and opened the book.
The book itself was just an ordinary novel.
But Rozalin, lying next to me, had even taken off the robe she'd been wearing just moments ago.
I'd seen her like this a few times at the villa before.
Of course, she looked comfortable, but I wasn't.
"Camellia, you might be more interested in other things than books, but it'd be good to try reading this one. It's fun and not too difficult."
Rozalin kept talking enthusiastically about the book from her spot beside me.
I'd read it before anyway, so I just nodded or gave short replies.
As she spoke, my eyes kept drifting toward Rozalin's negligee...
"Want to read it together?"
"...How about you read it to me?"
"Shall I? Makes sense—you said you were tired. Listening while falling asleep sounds nice."
"Yes, please."
I'd already read it, and the book was too small for us to read together comfortably.
If we did, we'd have to press even closer, skin to skin... much nearer than we were now.
"In the year 627 of the Kingdom Calendar, there lived a princess in a certain country."
Rozalin began reading, and I simply closed my eyes.
I hadn't felt sleepy lying on the sofa earlier, but now it seemed best to just drift off.
Better than letting my gaze wander toward Rozalin's body...
Wearing a negligee around the room was natural for her, and lounging in loose clothes in front of her daughter-in-law was no issue at all.
But for me, things were still the same.
No different from when I first met Rozalin.
Truly unchanged.
"The princess lived in a castle with her beautiful mother and kind father."
"........"
Rozalin's voice, with its peculiar ticklish quality, read on beside my closed eyes, making it harder to focus on sleep.
I'd meant to lie still and sleep, but her mere words disrupted my concentration.
"From a young age, the princess who happily resided in the castle was exceptionally clever and overflowing with talent in many areas."
She was just reading a story I'd already read—nothing special at all.
Yet my ears kept itching.
All because of Rozalin's voice alone.
That soft, captivating tone that clung to my ears, disturbing my sleep.
If I opened my eyes, I'd see Rozalin's body lying beside me; my ears filled with her voice; my nose caught the scent embedded in the bed linens and emanating from Rozalin right next to me.
...Sleep was impossible, even when I tried.
*
I don't know exactly how many hours passed after finally falling asleep, but I woke up eventually.
The moment I opened my eyes, there was Rozalin, still lying beside me.
"Did you sleep well?"
"...Yes, I slept well."
She was reading a different book from the one before I fell asleep.
Well, she'd said she'd read it before too.
No need to keep going, then.
"How are you feeling now? Still tired?"
"I think I'm okay now."
Probably.
By the way, how long was she planning to wear that negligee?
Seeing her in it the instant I opened my eyes was really troubling.
She probably didn't mind... but it made things hard for me right away.
"How long did I sleep...?"
"Hmm... about two hours? You slept so quietly."
"...I see."
Shorter than I thought.
I'd figured four or five hours at least.
"Mother, have you had lunch?"
"I was waiting beside you since you kept sleeping."
"...Then let's go eat lunch."
I hadn't expected her to skip lunch entirely.
It had been almost noon just before I fell asleep.
I thought she'd stepped out for a bite after I dozed off, but she'd waited the whole time.
"Aren't you hungry?"
"Hmm... not really? I don't eat much anyway, and it seemed better to eat together after you woke up."
"...Let's go quickly. Sorry."
"Hehe, what's wrong with sleeping when you're tired? As long as you slept well, that's what matters."
"........."
We left the room together.
Of course, Rozalin had changed out of her negligee into other clothes.
I hadn't said anything, but she took care of it herself.
Even in a villa with only women around, wandering in what was essentially underwear wouldn't do.
"Teacher, want to join us for lunch?"
"Mmm..."
Lunchtime had passed a bit, but more people wanted to eat than I'd expected.
Ella had gone into town alone and eaten snacks, so she passed.
Lize had eaten lightly by herself too.
But Ashley, who'd been sleeping in the villa lobby, and Karen, who'd been strolling the back hills, hadn't eaten yet.
So it wasn't just going to be Rozalin and me.
"Sister, how was your walk?"
"It was amazing...! There were so many cute birds on the mountain, and squirrels too... It was so much fun...!"
Karen chattered endlessly about the animals she'd seen, thrilled.
Well, she loved cute things.
The back hills, full of adorable critters scampering about, must have delighted her.
"Oh! And there were rabbits too...!"
Karen was usually quiet, but she talked a lot about things she liked.
Anyway, we listened to her stories and started eating.
"Camellia... this place is so great... Perfect for sleeping..."
"Shall I install a sofa in your room at the mansion?"
"That sounds nice, but... the room might feel too cramped... Maybe not..."
We heard Ashley's remarks about her super comfortable nap too.
For me, it was great seeing everyone enjoy the villa I'd bought.
Maybe because the weather here was cooler than the south?
I'd rarely come to the capital area, so I hadn't realized how pleasant it was.
I hadn't visited this villa much either, except back when I lived nearby.
"Mother, have you ever been to the Northern Region?"
"Out of the blue?"
"Just curious."
It suddenly popped into my head.
The central capital wasn't as cool as full air-conditioning in summer, but cooler than the south.
What about the north?
I had to wonder.
"Hmm... yes? Not often because it's cold, but I have gone."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Hmm... very cold?"
"...Even in summer?"
"Yeah."
"........."
Hmm.
The south's winters weren't that harsh.
Because it was the south.
Summers were hotter than elsewhere, but winters milder, naturally.
So I wasn't sure... but it worried me a bit.
I'd heard from Rozalin, but no idea how cold exactly.
Melnik of the Rosaki Family was famous for its sea, and areas south of our mansion for heat, just like the north's winters were infamous.
Nobles sometimes hunted foxes or wolves for pelts, only to retreat from the winter chill.
"Why?"
"Hmm... I was thinking of visiting the Northern Region sometime, but now I don't want to."
"Oh?"
"The way you put it... doesn't sound appealing."
Rozalin rarely complained about weather.
She'd say good things were good, but never griped about the mansion's heat—in fact, said it was fine.
Even in the heat... she'd stay still for coolness, or use a fan...
Hmm.
Suddenly, the ongoing shaved ice ban felt truly sad.
"Hehe, a trip to the Northern Region together sometime sounds nice. Not winter, of course—summer."
"...Just come to the center like this time."
I disliked both heat and cold.
Warm sunshine was best—not icy cool, but pleasantly breezy.
"In winter, stay at the mansion."
"Hehe, shall we?"
"Yes."
"Camellia complains of heat every summer and cold every winter. That might work best."
...Hearing that from Rozalin felt a tad embarrassing.
But it wasn't wrong.
I hated heat and cold alike.
Especially bad in summer, but both.
"How about Melnik next? It's a bit hot in summer, but the sea's there—should be nice."
"If you want to, Mother, of course."
"Hehe, then let's go next time. Come to think of it, we haven't been to Melnik together since way back."
"Well, we've been busy with business."
Travel hadn't fit with all the business lately.
This trip was because of the heat; previously, business kept me tied down—no trips.
Just handling mansion papers daily.
So this getaway was perfect.
I loved it so much I'd love to lounge like Ashley forever.
Though I'd have to return soon for business papers.