Chapter 6
Chapter 6
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Lunch with Rozalin
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For now, we ended up at a decent restaurant.
Oh, and just to clarify, this wasn't your average, run-of-the-mill spot—it was the kind of place even nobles would frequent.
After all, I was a noble, and so was Rozalin. Naturally, we had to go somewhere that matched our station.
If we showed up at some commoner dive, we'd just end up surrounded by flat-out intimidated peasants, and that wasn't my style at all.
No way was I eating in that kind of stuffy, awkward atmosphere.
"What would you like, Mother?"
"The venison steak and cheese fondue look good. They seem to be the signature dishes."
"Sounds fine. Let's give them a try."
We picked out our orders from the menu. The place's specialties were all steak-based, so I went with the same. I figured Rozalin would pick something like pasta, so it was a little surprising when she didn't.
Eh, whatever.
Lize, standing behind me, had already eaten lunch, so there was no need to set aside time for her. I was just going to let her sit comfortably.
Of course, she refused, so she had no choice but to stand there.
"You seemed tired from this morning on. I don't think I've ever seen you nap during lunch before."
"Ah... haha... It was just a little. Lying in bed felt so comfortable."
I'd thought that was a dead topic, but Rozalin brought up the nap again.
Honestly, I was a bit embarrassed about dozing off like an eight-year-old. It had been ages since I'd taken a real nap in the first place.
"Come to think of it, you have two tutors, right, Camellia?"
"Yes. One teaches liberal arts and etiquette, and the other covers business and economics."
"I saw you in a lesson once. You seem to prefer the latter?"
"It's not so much preference... it's just more comfortable. Easier to understand, regardless of taste."
Dodging the nap talk made my responses flow normally. Yeah. This kind of conversation was way better.
Than chatting about how I'd slept through our appointment.
"That's what it looked like. You always had that sleepy expression during liberal arts, but your eyes were sharp as anything in the other class."
"Was it that obvious...? I didn't mean for it to be."
"It just means you were focusing hard. Don't take it the wrong way."
"Hmm..."
If Rozalin said so, it wasn't entirely off-base.
Still, hearing that I'd been diligently concentrating in that class felt weird. I hadn't thought of myself as that engaged.
If anything, weren't the tutors the ones grilling me with questions nonstop?
Anyway... who knows. At least to Rozalin, I came across as a studious kid. That couldn't hurt.
"Lize, was I really like that during lessons?"
"Yes. You respond more often during business and economics than liberal arts or history. Not just to questions—the sheer number of replies to the tutor is higher."
"Hmm..."
Well, with two people saying it, not just one.
Guess I had to accept it.
I couldn't know every detail of my own behavior, and unconscious habits were par for the course.
Not that I cared much.
"It's good to have something you enjoy. And even if it's not what everyone else universally likes, that's fine too."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Nobles are all so predictable, right? Boys love knights and chivalry as kids, then obsess over money and politics as they grow up. Girls giggle and chat early on, then turn terrifying later. Something a bit different sounds better."
Rozalin's words carried a hint of her own experience. I could tell from her expression.
She looked weary, like she was reciting some tedious, old-fashioned tale. Her point was valid, though. Modern nobles fit the mold perfectly.
I knew it well—our house got trashed online all day for lacking roots, thanks to those stereotypes.
"Besides, doesn't the Family Head like that you're interested in business?"
"That's true."
"Right, so... it's not a problem at all, is it? Do what you want when you can—it's what you should do."
"...Did you have something like that, Mother?"
The question slipped out before I knew it. Was it because her words, the conversation, were so engaging?
Food wouldn't arrive for a bit anyway.
"Me? Hmm... I don't think so. Mine was pretty standard, just like everyone else's... nothing special."
"I see..."
"Well, I grew up getting lots of attention in the territory, went to the academy when I got older, kept learning what ladies learn there, and ended up like this."
"........."
"That's why I'm telling you this, Camellia. I was the third daughter. My position in the family was ambiguous. But you're not like that, are you, our Camellia?"
Rozalin suddenly shifted from her story to mine, which startled me. And using "our" Camellia? That shocked me even more.
"Pardon?"
"The Family Head supports you, no rivals in sight. You've got the perfect setup to do whatever you want."
She smiled and added that it might even be okay to be a bit more willful.
What could I say... Younger than William, not fully an adult yet, but so mature. Obviously more grown-up than me.
Still, her maturity drew me in—I found myself hanging on every word.
What exactly captivated me? Her story? Her voice? Her face? Probably... all of it.
*
Lunch with Rozalin turned out better than expected.
It wasn't a regular spot for us, so I'd been a little worried, but the venison steak was solidly tasty, and the cheese had more flavor than anticipated.
Even Rozalin, with her keener palate, smiled and praised it. A real relief.
"Whew."
Back at the mansion, I flopped into a chair in my room for a bit.
Not because I was worried about dozing off in bed again—no, the chair just looked comfier.
"Tea party, huh..."
Honestly, it sounded like a hassle.
No fun at all.
But now was the perfect time. The Leonhardt Family was a new house, not exactly held in high regard.
William was trying to sway opinion by marrying off or funneling money to declining families, but results were iffy.
Sure, we'd had power and influence before, but what mattered most were the central nobles. The ones in the capital, working for the imperial court.
Our family wasn't at their level yet.
"We need to throw a proper tea party."
I was the only heir.
Truth be told, it was because William did nothing with his wife and just let things be, but there it was.
His reasoning? No need to spend on more kids, no time to watch them grow, no desire to take responsibility...
Yeah. Total trash.
"But hey, he makes money hand over fist. And the allowance is generous."
Thinking it over, maybe William wasn't having more kids because of me.
Self-centered as it sounded, I'd been a solid heir so far, right?
"If I lacked business talent, would there be a sibling by now...?"
Who knows.
"Anyway, tea party's the priority now, not that. Time to build ties with other noble kids."
Deep down, I'd love connections with higher nobles, but circumstances wouldn't allow it yet.
Start from the bottom and work up. It wasn't just because of William—next in line for Leonhardt was me, no question. When the time came... no choice.
Better to casually network now than scramble later. William hadn't exactly forbidden it either.
"Start inviting nobles a bit farther out first."
Close ones could wait—focus on distant ones for now. Eastern and western families...
"Hmm."
Truth was, I didn't have many noble friends, which made it tougher. Lize was the only peer noble I could think of...
"How to go about this."
I was skimming the list, picking tea party invitees.
Southern Niesista Family, western Liang Family... and...
Criteria: From barons and viscounts, ones with real pull. No territory maybe, but with people in the capital and influence nearby.
Not a ton qualified, but I wasn't expecting over ten anyway.
First condition was flexible. Other boxes needed checking.
"Really decent families..."
The butler and Lize had already narrowed the list, so picking ladies from those houses wasn't hard.
Around six should do?
The thought of hanging with actual kids under ten already gave me a headache. But backing out now was too late.
"Sigh."