Chapter 58
Chapter 58
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: crow
Chapter Title: An Evening Stroll with Mother
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Camellia, Camellia. Want to take a short walk?"
"Mother?"
I was lying quietly on the sofa, resting in the evening, when Rozalin suddenly made that suggestion to me.
It was my first time getting a proposal for a walk in the evening, so I was a bit surprised.
But for now, I followed her outside.
Wearing just the clothes I had on, with an extra cardigan draped over.
"Mother, why a walk all of a sudden...?"
"I just wanted to take a walk with you, Camellia."
"........."
I had no idea what to say in response.
It wasn't a strange reason, but it was one of those answers that felt awkward to probe further.
"No bugs around, right?"
"Yes, there aren't many bugs on this mountain. Of course, there are some... but you probably won't get bitten too much."
"That's a relief. It'd be kind of annoying to get bitten just because we went out at night."
"True. Bites itch, and they just put you in a bad mood."
"Hee hee, I really do get along well with you, Camellia."
We were walking along the path, chatting like that with Rozalin.
Since it was already dark, I had a magical light orb lit up beside us.
"What are you going to do after we get back to the mansion? Start on business stuff, as usual?"
"Probably. I haven't done any work lately since I've been lounging at the villa."
"That's true. You work on our business as diligently as the Viscount does."
"...Yeah."
I didn't want to admit it.
But honestly, I took after William in a lot of ways.
Not in looks, of course.
But focusing on business, spending time on work over other things... yeah, I really did.
It was undeniable—I resembled him that much.
Of course, I didn't obsess over money or women like William did. I just enjoyed running the business and managing money.
"Hee hee, you'll have a lot to catch up on when we get back."
"No choice."
"And next year, you'll be heading to the Academy too. More work than you thought, huh?"
"Tell me about it."
I couldn't keep running the business from the Academy like I did now.
I'd have to find someone to handle things in the meantime...
Hmm.
"...A lot of annoying stuff left to do."
It couldn't be helped, but it was still annoying.
As we chatted like that, we arrived at the flower field we'd all visited together last time.
It was dark since it was night, but the soft magical light made it look pretty.
"Want to sit here?"
"What about you, Mother? There's only room for one."
Rozalin pointed to a suitable-looking rock, but the spot was awkward.
If I sat, she definitely wouldn't be able to.
"I'll just stand next to you, Camellia."
"Still..."
"It's fine, sit. Really, it's okay."
"...Okay."
For now, I did as Rozalin said and sat on the spot.
The rock made my butt a little uncomfortable, but it was better than standing.
"Hmm..."
"What's wrong?"
"When you go to the Academy, Camellia, I feel like it'll be lonely."
"...Can't be helped."
"Yeah, it can't. You're right."
I hadn't expected Rozalin to bring this up suddenly, but she was right—it couldn't be helped.
She was getting along better at the mansion than before, but she still felt a bit like an outsider.
She managed the maids and oversaw the mansion's interior like a matriarch now, unlike before... but she didn't quite feel like the lady of the Leonhardt family.
William still kept things strictly businesslike with her, after all.
"You'll keep in touch often, right?"
"Of course. No reason not to with you, Mother."
"I'll be waiting for those letters, so write a lot?"
"Yes, I will. Writing letters isn't hard anyway."
She'd definitely be bored while I was at the Academy, but it was already decided.
She'd even been the one to encourage me to go.
It couldn't be helped, but I planned to write letters checking in on her very regularly.
Once a week might be too much... maybe once every two weeks?
"But I'm a little worried."
"Huh?"
Rozalin suddenly looked at me with deep concern in her eyes.
What on earth could she be worried about?
"What...?"
"When you go to the Academy, Camellia, I think the other kids will be super interested in you."
"Nah, no way."
"You think so?"
"...Yeah?"
I didn't think anyone would be particularly interested in me.
Plus, I doubted anyone would want to associate with me...?
"The people entering the Academy will all be from better families than ours. No reason for that. My reputation isn't great to begin with."
"I'm talking about something separate from family or money."
"...Huh?"
"You're so pretty, Camellia. Of course they'd be interested."
"...Really?"
"Yeah. The prettiest girl I've ever seen."
"Um..."
I found myself scratching my head lightly without realizing it.
I knew I was decent-looking, but I didn't think it was enough for people to overlook my family background and all that.
Of course, if I came from a better, more respectable family, it might be different.
"Hee hee, you don't realize it, Camellia, but you're incredibly pretty."
"........"
"Your hair alone is stunning. I've never seen blonde hair as beautiful as yours."
"...Is that so?"
"Yep."
Rozalin's sudden barrage of compliments about my appearance.
It felt really embarrassing, but she kept going without a care.
"Your nose is high, your face is small, and your eyes are gorgeous."
"........."
"Kids your age are definitely going to be super into you."
"Not that much..."
"I'm telling you, it's true. Don't you trust me?"
"It's not that..."
It just felt so awkward to be praised this much.
Especially since it was all about my looks—it was a bit overwhelming.
Of course, I thought I looked good when I checked the mirror... still.
"To me, you just look really pretty..."
"O-okay, so... could you... stop for a bit...?"
Rozalin kept getting closer to me.
Her gaze stayed fixed on my face the whole time, and even in that situation, she continued praising my looks.
It was... too embarrassing.
Not just the compliments, but doing it while locking eyes... it made it even worse.
"Hee hee, should I?"
"...Yes."
"You're so pretty, yet you don't even know it."
"........"
Rozalin's embarrassing praise finally ended.
Finally.
"Anyway, point is, you're super pretty, Camellia. When you go to the Academy, other kids will definitely be interested."
"...Is that a compliment?"
"Not a compliment—just be careful."
"...I see."
If it was just a warning, why go so overboard with the praise?
The villa was much cooler than the mansion, but my face felt scorching.
It was ridiculous how embarrassed I got over mere compliments.
Truth be told, it wasn't just the praise—it was because it was Rozalin.
The fact that it was her saying those things made it hit even harder.
"But I bet you'll do great at the Academy anyway, Camellia. Better than the other kids."
"...That'd be good."
I wasn't sure exactly what she meant.
But good is good, right...?
Anyway, I was still sitting on the rock, and Rozalin was still standing in front of me.
"When you go to the Academy, you have to keep in touch a lot."
"I said I will..."
"And come back to the mansion for breaks."
"Of course."
I understood Rozalin's worries.
The mansion was my home, after all.
Naturally, I'd return there for breaks, no reason not to.
"...Shall we head back now?"
"Sure."
Part of it was the embarrassing praise from earlier, and I also felt bad that Rozalin had been standing the whole time.
We decided to head back to the villa.
It was a mountain, but with the heat, I really wanted to return to the cool villa anyway.
*
"...Sigh."
We got back to the villa, chatted with everyone until it got late, and now I was in my room to sleep.
It had been lively with all of us talking just moments ago, but my room felt so quiet.
"...Why am I like this?"
It was a sigh laced with harsh reality.
No matter how I thought about it, there was no reason for this.
Just some compliments, a few words.
The kind anyone could hear normally, the kind I could say to others normally.
Pretty eyes, pretty hair.
Just that level of stuff.
But I took it all weirdly.
I knew it was pure motherly praise from a mother to her daughter, that I shouldn't read into it or feel strange about it—and yet I couldn't help it.
"...No different from before."
Really.
Even as a kid, I'd told myself not to think that way.
"Haven't changed at all."
Man... no growth whatsoever.
I wasn't like this normally, but Rozalin's words and actions always got weird reactions out of me.
I never reacted this way to Lize or anyone else.
"Why am I like this..."
Lying alone on the bed.
Covering my still-warm face with both hands, I muttered to myself about this absurd situation.
Until I fell asleep.
...What an idiot.