Chapter 65
Chapter 65
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Return to the Rose Family
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In the morning, after waking up at the inn and just dipping some bread in soup for breakfast, we set off right away.
The roads were still awful, but since we'd gotten a good rest at the inn yesterday, I could manage somehow.
"At least it's not hot, so that's a relief."
"You hate the heat that much?"
"Yes."
Even though it was the tail end of summer, days were still hot down south, but not here.
The roads were terrible, but at least the weather was nice.
If the roads had been decent, it probably wouldn't have felt this rough.
Anyway, we'd reach Rose Family territory in just a little longer.
We could have made it yesterday if we'd pushed on a bit more, but it had been so uncomfortable that we'd stopped.
"It's been four years since you last went back, right?"
"That's right."
"It's not that far away, so why haven't you visited even once?"
"Hmm..."
I was honestly a little curious.
It was her own family home, after all. Why hadn't she gone even once?
I criticized Leonhardt plenty, but I'd never said anything bad about Rozalin.
There'd been no need to avoid going for four whole years.
"Just? There wasn't anything important that required me to go back, so I simply didn't."
"Ah."
"And with you alone in the mansion, Camellia, I felt bad about going off by myself."
"...You didn't have to worry about that."
I was a bit startled when Rozalin suddenly started stroking my head while saying that, but I understood.
I was only twelve, and not long ago, not even ten.
William was always wandering around outside rather than staying at the mansion, so of course Rozalin would worry.
"Mother, um... would it be okay to ask about your family?"
"My family?"
"Yes. I don't know much about the Rose Family... and since we're heading there anyway."
I asked while receiving her strokes.
I knew some basics about the Rose Family, but not the finer details.
Truth be told, part of it was to get her to stop petting my head... but Rozalin kept on stroking it.
...How long was she planning to keep this up?
"Hmm... There aren't many people living in the mansion, so I can just explain."
She continued, still petting my head.
"There's Mother and Father, two older sisters above me, and one older brother?"
"So you're the youngest, Mother."
"Yeah, I'm the baby of the family. Thanks to that, I had it really easy growing up."
"I don't have any siblings, so I wouldn't know."
"Hehe, Camellia, you're an only child. That's to be expected."
In my past life and this one, I'd always been an only child, so I had no idea what having brothers or sisters felt like.
Lize gave me a bit of a sisterly vibe at best, but she wasn't really a sister.
And our relationship was mistress and maid, not sisters.
"My brother's been working in the capital for a few years now, and my sisters... just live normal lives."
"I see."
"There's not much special to tell, it seems. Maybe because I haven't been back to the family in years myself?"
"Can't be helped."
I wasn't all that curious anyway.
It was a shame not to know more, but there was nothing for it.
"Oh, right."
"?"
"I have black hair... but aside from me, everyone else has red hair."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
This from Rozalin was a bit... surprising.
I knew about the Rose Family, but I hadn't paid much attention to their appearances...?
I'd just assumed the others were like her, with black hair and green eyes.
"Uh... really?"
"That's what I said. Hehe, why? Shocked?"
"I just... thought you'd all look like Mother."
Really.
I'd been pretty sure of it.
Red hair, though.
It felt kind of off.
"So yeah... I'm pretty surprised."
"Hehe, that makes sense."
"........"
For a very brief moment—just a split second—I imagined Rozalin with red hair.
Not for any particular reason, just because... she'd said everyone else had red hair...?
So I pictured it.
It'd probably suit her just fine, looking nicely pretty.
"......."
"What's wrong?"
"Hm?"
"You've been staring at my face... Is something up?"
"No. I was just lost in thought for a bit. Any other stories about the Rose Family?"
"Hmm... Oh, aside from the main mansion building, there are a few other structures?"
"I hadn't heard that."
Rozalin had told me about the Rose Family mansion before, but not about other buildings.
The former was the mansion she'd described previously, but the latter was news to me.
Honestly, aside from the rose gardens, there wasn't much notable about the Rose Family mansion...?
"One's for guests, another for the maids, and another for the knights. They're a bit smaller, though?"
"Ah..."
More ordinary than I'd expected.
I'd wondered if these other buildings meant something extra special.
But it felt even more mundane.
Anyway, we passed the time in the carriage chatting with Rozalin about Rose Family matters.
The topics didn't matter much, but with her continuously petting my head, my face felt a little... just a little hot.
Even though the weather was cool.
After that time, we finally arrived in Rose Family territory.
The roads leading there had been such a mess that I'd been worried, but thankfully, the territory itself was fine.
"It's a pretty territory."
"Isn't it?"
"Yes, really. The mansion up there looks nice, and the territory itself is beautiful."
We rode through the territory in the carriage, taking it all in, and it definitely had its own charm.
Different from Melnik.
What was it like? A palace in the woods?
The townsfolk's districts were arranged in a circle around the mansion, surrounded by forest beyond... that kind of territory.
"It's pretty."
"Hehe... right? I don't know what was up with the road getting here, though..."
"......."
The road there had truly been a problem.
Of course, the territory itself was beautifully maintained, unlike those neglected roads, but those roads were... really awful.
"Lize."
"Yes, Young Lady."
"Once we arrive, have them position the third carriage right behind the one we get out of."
"Understood."
The territory being pretty didn't change what needed doing.
Before gauging the Rose Family's exact attitude, we had to let them know upfront that we were the benefactors.
"Oh, right. There's a great restaurant among the shops in the territory. Want to check it out together next time?"
"That sounds good. Wandering the market in Melnik back then was a lot of fun."
"The market here isn't as flashy as Melnik's, but it'll be more fun than you think. You like meat most of the time, right, Camellia?"
"That's true."
We'd spent enough time together that we knew each other's simple tastes like this.
If anything, Rozalin knew more about me than I did about her.
"Hmm... We're almost there now. Keep going straight, and we'll hit the mansion."
Out the window, a large mansion sat atop a hill.
The building itself was... ordinarily pretty.
But something felt off somehow.
Off-kilter, maybe. Or like something was missing.
"Hm."
Best to stay quiet for now.
Rozalin, sitting beside me, looked happy.
It was her home after four years, so I decided not to say anything weird.
*
"Madam, Young Lady, please step down."
"Yeah. Thanks."
We arrived at the mansion and began disembarking from the carriage.
The maids and knights from the other carriages got out too.
"...Hm."
"...Hmm."
After getting out, Rozalin and I stood quietly in front of the main gate, gazing at the mansion beyond.
Yeah, just gazing.
I wanted to sigh, but with Rozalin beside me, I held it in... though the situation was already sigh-worthy.
"...Should we wait a bit longer?"
"...Let's do that."
Normally.
Any noble with common sense.
Any human with a functioning brain...
Would come out to greet visitors from another house like this.
No, even non-nobles would greet guests properly.
But right now...
"".......""
No one.
No one came out at all.
Seriously, if Rozalin weren't here, I'd have sighed, cursed... something. But I held back.
I had no idea why no one was coming out... but we decided to wait just a little longer.
"The maids and knights?"
...I hadn't planned on this, but since we ended up waiting anyway.
"If you're uncomfortable, feel free to rest in the carriages. They don't seem like they're coming out anytime soon."
Not that saying this would make them go in.
I was a noble, practically their employer, but they wouldn't truly relax just because I said so.
They were probably thinking this was some kind of test among themselves.
"...Sigh."
It was frustrating in all sorts of ways.
If not for Rozalin, I wouldn't be waiting here like this—I'd have kicked down the front gate.
Stuck waiting quietly in front of the mansion gate.
"...Ha."
Do they really think we're pushovers?