Chapter 69
Chapter 69
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: The Power of Money
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Is money really the best thing after all?
Just having a lot of money made everything resolve so easily.
I wasn't thrilled about spending a chunk of my own funds, but seeing it all sorted out like this...
"Hehe..."
I couldn't help but laugh.
It really feels so much better now.
The dust and cobwebs when we first arrived had me furious.
For a noble house, logically speaking, to hand over a guest villa with zero maintenance...
"Yawn... This is comfortable..."
"...It really is way more comfortable overall."
"Right? Feels like we made the right changes, doesn't it?"
"Yeah."
Even Rozalin readily admitted it—it was vastly improved from before.
Not just the bedrooms, but the chandeliers, stair railings, chairs and tables in the non-bedroom rooms, everything.
And beyond that, interior touches like framing and hanging decent artwork—not masterpieces, but suitable for decorating the place.
Honestly, it still felt a bit lacking to me, but everyone else loved it.
Rozalin was thrilled with the revamped interior, and the servants and knights, including Lize, were over the moon too.
They probably wouldn't say it outright, but their bedrooms must've been miserably uncomfortable before.
"Lize?"
"Yes, Young Lady."
"No extra rooms left?"
"The servants and knights are sharing three to a room... Probably not, no."
"Hmm... Can't be helped, then."
It was a three-story building, so we'd assigned rooms that way on purpose, but it was still a shame.
If there were just a few more rooms, we could've done two per room.
"Hmm..."
"Is something wrong...?"
"No. Anyway, how about the other maids in your room, Lize?"
"They're all good girls. Quiet, and, um..."
"Good to hear."
I'd considered giving the other servants two-per-room too, but I wanted Lize to have her own—unfortunately, no dice.
With Rozalin and me aside, all the servants and knights had to bunk in one building.
Anyway, unlike yesterday, we were spending the evening relaxing comfortably in the villa.
We'd wiped out the territory's furniture shops that morning, hauled everything over, and it took ages, but now that it was all sorted, there was nothing left to do.
*
"Camellia, can you head out a bit later?"
"Yes, no problem."
After breakfast, as I lounged gazing out the window, Rozalin suddenly entered the room and brought it up.
No idea what it was about, but probably some errand.
If it were something we could handle inside the villa, she wouldn't have asked me like she was seeking permission.
"Hmm... Lize, get some clothes out."
"Right away."
"Not as casual as what I'd wear at home. The weather's cooling down anyway."
"Yes."
For now, I decided to change out of my near-pajama dress into something more proper.
This one was too iffy.
"Hmm..."
So what was Rozalin planning by suggesting this?
Maybe meeting someone other than Alexandra Rose from the Rose Family.
I'd never met any of Rozalin's family besides Alexandra.
One of her brothers, excluding the eldest son—I hadn't heard much about the others?
"Lize."
"Yes, Young Lady?"
"While staying in this mansion, have you seen any Rose Family members besides Alexandra Rose?"
"Uh...."
It was honestly bizarre.
Even if Rozalin was family, we were guests—logically, you'd expect to meet more than just Alexandra.
I'd glimpsed a few servants...
"Doesn't it feel... off somehow?"
"...You're right."
"Lights on in that building, shadows moving around, but they've never once called for us..."
It'd been two days since we arrived, yet I hadn't seen the Family Head or Matriarch.
Not even the Eldest Daughter of the Rose Family.
Just Alexandra and a handful of maids?
Wasn't this level of avoidance suspiciously deliberate?
"Even if they hate us, shouldn't they at least show their faces? I haven't heard anything about the Rose Family Head doing public business either."
"...Young Lady."
"I'm not planning anything shady. Just genuinely curious."
"...If I may say so personally, picking a fight with the Rose Family isn't wise."
"A fight? Oh, you mean yesterday?"
"........"
Lize affirmed with silence.
She must've been referring to what I did to Alexandra.
Fair enough—nothing else to complain about otherwise.
"Hmm... That couldn't be helped."
I stayed still as Lize helped me dress, continuing.
What choice did I have?
"I'm sitting there directing the servants when she barges in yelling. How do you ignore that?"
"...Young Lady."
"And honestly, the way she acts, you'd think she was the Family Head. But in reality, she's outranked by the Eldest Daughter and Eldest Son in every way."
"...Best not to say that in front of Madam."
"Of course not. Not in front of Mother."
"...That's a relief."
I'd shown Lize my bad side before, but never Rozalin.
I just didn't want to show her this.
Sure, I had my cranky moments, but Rozalin was always so kind.
No need to show her this side; better to just be the normal, good daughter.
"It's not like I'm doing this for no reason—the Rose Family brought it on themselves, right?"
"I agree."
"But isn't it weird? Do they hate us that much?"
"...I'm not sure."
I got what Lize meant.
Even with her long service in Leonhardt and as my maid, only Rozalin and I had read that letter.
Hard to gauge how much the Roses despised us.
"Hmm... We'll find out today, probably. Since Mother asked like that."
"Young Lady, how shall I do your hair?"
"Hmm... Tie it up?"
I usually left it down more often than not, but today I'd tie it.
Not just a simple tie—braid it a bit.
Couldn't just half-ass my look meeting them.
Didn't want nitpicking or gossip.
Though they'd gossip anyway.
"Young Lady, all set."
"Thanks, Lize."
Once Lize finished, I looked in the mirror and thanked her.
She really does make me look good.
Gazing at my reflection, I felt it again.
Even living as a woman, makeup held zero interest, so I skipped it, and I wasn't big on primping anyway.
Thus, my styling was always Lize's domain...
No helping it—she had to be good at it.
*
"Hmm... First time entering here in three days."
"Yeah, never been inside till now, right?"
"Yes."
Rozalin and I left the guest villa, heading together to the building used by the Rose Family.
Alexandra had invited us for lunch.
We'd never eaten together before, so doing it now felt odd, but this was more normal.
"Haha..."
Was Rozalin awkward about entering after three days? Her laugh sounded forced in response.
"You're late, Rozalin."
"Am I? Sorry, Sister."
"........"
"Come earlier next time. Mother and Father are waiting."
"Haha, sorry."
"........"
Alexandra spouting that at the door.
They hadn't specified a time—just said lunch together, sent a servant earlier, done.
Blaming Rozalin rubbed me wrong.
Rozalin took it gracefully, but honestly, it grated.
"Sigh, let's go in. We already told them we're eating."
"......."
Ugh, dying to lay into her.
Watching Alexandra yap nonstop from behind—what made her so full of herself? I wanted to smack her head.
Anyway, we followed her endless chatter into the mansion.
"Oh, Rozalin. It's been ages, hasn't it? You've been in the guest villa since arriving."
"Yes, it's been a while."
"Hehe, doesn't it look much nicer now? The chandelier up there, and that painting in the center by the famous artist Albetia?"
"Pretty picture."
"Right? Most families can't get pieces like this."
"...?"
Why say that while glancing at me?
Bragging?
To a twelve-year-old?
"...It's pretty."
"Hoho!"
"........."
Wow.
She was serious.
Stunned by the absurdity, I just followed silently.
"Mother, Father? Rozalin's here."
We reached the dining hall.
First thing I saw: two elderly nobles at the head table.
Rozalin's mother and father, presumably.
Grandma and grandpa to me.
"Hmm..."
Who did Rozalin take after?
They weren't ugly, but... none matched her stunning beauty or handsomeness.