Chapter 60
Chapter 60
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: The Letter from the Rose Family
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"Mother...? Do you have a moment?"
It was a bit late in the evening, but I was peeking my head into Rozalin's room.
No particular reason or anything.
"I have something to show you, Mother."
"Hm?"
"It's... well..."
I didn't like coming to Rozalin at such a late hour to ask for permission, but the current situation left me no choice.
It was a bit ambiguous and difficult for me to handle alone.
So I decided to ask Rozalin for help outright.
That's why I ended up coming all the way to her room like this.
"What's going on? Something bad happen?"
"No, not that. Hmm... less bad and more absurd, I guess."
"Hm...?"
I could hardly believe it myself.
I had just been sitting there processing documents, handling the tasks that piled up while I was away from the mansion, and taking a short break afterward.
"I was resting in my room until just a bit ago?"
"Yeah. So?"
"I was sorting through business-related paperwork and taking a break when I found something you absolutely need to see."
"...Yeah?"
It was sudden in all sorts of ways, and I was a bit flustered myself.
It felt off to pull Karen or Lize from the mansion into this, so I had no choice but to come to Rozalin's room.
"What's the matter?"
"Among the mail that arrived for me while I was at the villa for a while, there was something unusual."
"Mail?"
"Yes. Technically not addressed directly to me... but it came to me anyway."
The recipient wasn't precisely me—it was just the Leonhardt Family—but I had no choice but to show it to Rozalin.
The sender was that much of an issue.
"What's it say? Where's it... oh?"
"...See for yourself, Mother."
"...Okay."
Rozalin, having properly checked the envelope, started to look more serious.
Unlike her earlier worried expression or the confusion from not knowing the situation.
"...Hm."
I handed the envelope to Rozalin, and she opened it, beginning to read the letter inside.
The seal on the envelope, placed on the table, bore a clear rose emblem.
And the letter paper Rozalin was reading also had a rose emblem stamped on it.
...Well, it was a letter from the Rose Family, after all.
"Mother."
"Hm..."
"...What does it say?"
I didn't know the exact contents, but it was a letter from the Rose Family.
That's why I thought Rozalin naturally had to read it, and came to her.
We'd never gotten a letter from the Rose Family before, so I truly hadn't expected one to arrive while I was briefly away from home.
And I had no idea why it was sent to the family instead of Rozalin directly.
"Hm..."
"Why the long face?"
"Camellia, um..."
"...?"
Rozalin looked like she was pondering something.
What is it?
Her unusual demeanor actually worried me more than usual.
Was the content serious enough to make her brood like that?
What could it possibly say that Rozalin couldn't bring herself to tell me right away?
"I never expected a letter like this..."
"What does it say...?"
"...It's not anything weird. They're just inviting someone from the family to visit once?"
"...Pardon?"
"There's a lot more chatter, but that's the gist."
"...?"
No contact until now, and suddenly a letter inviting us to their family estate.
It was bewildering in every way.
"Don't worry too much. I'm a bit surprised myself, of course...?"
"Um... is it good news?"
"Heh, I wouldn't know."
"...Yeah."
It was truly confusing.
The Rose Family hadn't reached out to us separately since Rozalin was essentially sold to our family.
They'd never sent an invitation like this.
Aside from a perfunctory annual greeting once a year... nothing at all.
So why contact us now, after all this time?
"It's not saying to come right away, at least. Hm... sudden, but it'll be fine."
"If you say so, Mother..."
Then it probably is.
I spotted it while lounging after work, flipping through non-business mail, and came straight to Rozalin.
It left a strange feeling.
When she started reading, I thought it was something gravely serious, and even hearing the content surprised me a little, but Rozalin's reaction was more nonchalant than expected.
Anyway, it was sudden, but I'd passed it on to Rozalin.
Um... it'll be okay, right?
"Um... can I head back now...?"
"Yeah, thanks for letting me know, Camellia. Uh... good night?"
"...Yes. Good night, Mother."
Somehow, exchanging goodnights like this at bedtime felt like it had been ages.
Our rooms were separate, and a distance apart.
We hadn't talked like this before bed, so it felt a bit awkward.
Not that I disliked it.
"See you tomorrow."
"Yeah, sleep well."
"...Yes."
With that, I left Rozalin's room.
Even so, why on earth did the Rose Family reach out?
They truly hadn't contacted us at all until now, and suddenly a letter inviting us to their territory...
Why?
"...I really don't get it."
Back in my room alone, it still didn't make sense no matter how I thought about it.
*
"Hmm..."
"Mother."
"Hm? What?"
"Is something wrong?"
Rozalin's expression wasn't great during lunch.
Maybe because of last night's letter, but she didn't look pleased.
"You haven't eaten much since earlier."
It had to be from what happened last night, and I couldn't help but worry.
Sudden contact from her birth family after nearly four years of silence, and directed at her.
Naturally, Rozalin would have more on her mind than I did.
But she wasn't one to brood like this usually, nor overly anxious, so today felt especially off.
"Hm... it's fine. Probably...?"
"...Really?"
"Yeah."
...I wanted to ask more, but since Rozalin said she was okay.
It was hard to press further.
"Hmm..."
"...?"
Karen, unaware of last night's events, just tilted her head in confusion.
Lize was quietly curious behind me too.
"Camellia."
"Yes?"
"...Never mind. Let's eat first."
"Alright...?"
Rozalin was off from her usual self in various ways, but we let it pass for now.
Truth be told, I hadn't read the letter's contents precisely myself.
I didn't know exactly why she was acting differently, but I was certain that letter was the cause.
Anyway, I quietly observed the uncharacteristic Rozalin as we finished the meal.
"Lize."
"Yes, Young Lady."
"I'm heading to Teacher Ashley. Tidy up the documents upstairs."
"Understood."
While handling paperwork with Lize in my room, I said that and headed out.
It had been nagging at me even while working.
"Teacher."
"Mm...?"
"Can you sit up for a moment?"
"What's the... yaaawn..."
"It's a bit important."
Ashley was sleeping as usual, looking the same as always.
I expected as much.
But right now, I needed Ashley at least somewhat awake, not the drowsy version unwilling to do anything.
"I'll help you sit up a little."
"Ugh... hnn..."
I propped up Ashley's upper body from where she lay on the bed.
At least enough to have a proper conversation.
I sat on the edge of Ashley's bed, and she looked at me with sleepy eyes.
Fortunately, she seemed a tad more awake than before.
"What's up...? Coming so suddenly... is it lesson time...?"
"No, but I need your help, Teacher."
"Hm...?"
I could use advanced magic to some extent, but I still wasn't at Ashley's level.
The spells I could manage might help enough... but it didn't seem like it'd resolve things easily.
So I came specifically to ask for Ashley's assistance.
"What kind of help...?"
Maybe because I rarely used the word "help."
Ashley actually widened her eyes a bit after hearing me, staring.
"...I want to retrieve an item from Mother's room."
"...Huh?"
If I asked Rozalin, she might give it, but considering her demeanor yesterday and today, the odds seemed low.
She seemed reluctant to let me pry into her affairs.
"That's why I need your help, Teacher."
"...?"
"Can you do it?"
"Uh... yeah?"
Until moments ago, Ashley had been gazing at me with sleepy eyes and expression, but now her face looked awake as she stared.
Hm.
Is it that surprising?
"Can you? No, please do it."
I leaned closer to the reclining Ashley as I said that.
She had top-tier magic skills, and even without knowing her traits, her looks and abilities were something even I acknowledged.
Retrieving the letter Rozalin read from her room.
Erasing any traces, avoiding detection by Rozalin.
I figured it was possible with her.
No other method besides Ashley came to mind.
"Wait... Camellia? I think I misunderstood..."
"You understood right. I want you to retrieve an item from Mother's room."
"Uh...? You mean... Lady Leonhardt's room...?"
"Yes. You got it?"
She might sleep a lot, but she's smart.
Good that she grasped it quickly.
"Please."
"Wait... you're too close... no, this is so sudden..."
"Teacher, you'll do it, right? I've been covering your salary and room for years now? And with your skills, there won't be any issues."
"........"
I smiled brightly as I pleaded with Ashley.
Considering her skills, failure wasn't an option, and truthfully, I'd been treating her very well in return?