Chapter 70
Chapter 70
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Awkward Reunion
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"Rozalin, it's been far too long."
"Have you been well? I'm truly sorry I haven't visited in so long."
"Tsk... I invited you over so many times during those four years, and you never once came. Now you finally show up?"
"Haha..."
The Rose Count and his wife welcomed Rozalin with those words.
It was ambiguous whether it truly counted as a welcome, but that was the general vibe.
Rozalin, happy to see her family after so long, smiled as she chatted with them.
"Father, Mother, have you both been well?"
"We're doing fine, of course. Alexandra and Christina take such good care of us."
"That's a relief."
"And your brother must have even more on his plate than we do."
"He's working in the capital, so it's unavoidable."
"True, that's fortunate."
...Hmm.
What was it? Something felt off.
They spoke of it being four years since they'd met, but contrary to expectations, it felt distant and businesslike.
There wasn't the dramatic flair I'd imagined, either.
"So, who's this beside you, Rozalin...?"
"She's my daughter."
"...I see. The Leonhardt girl."
"Isn't she lovely?"
"Uh, Mother...?"
Suddenly the topic turned to me, and Rozalin stepped behind me, wrapping her arms around me as she said it.
...I hadn't expected the hug at all.
To do this in front of the Count and his wife.
I already knew the Rose family disliked me, but I never thought she'd go this far.
"Her name's Camellia."
"...Hello."
"I mentioned in the letter that she'd be coming along, didn't I?"
"...Right. Yes."
...Rozalin introducing me to her family.
It felt a bit awkward, but not wrong.
Precisely because of Rozalin.
"Isn't she stunning? I've never seen a girl quite this beautiful before."
"Wait a moment..."
"Her golden hair is just gorgeous, sparkling like that, don't you think?"
"Mother..."
Rozalin kept showering me with praise from behind.
I turned in surprise, and she grinned at me like it was the funniest thing.
...The Rose family on the other side didn't seem to appreciate the compliments about me.
Thanks to Rozalin going on about my golden hair and everything else, one by one, I felt... extremely awkward.
"...That's enough talk for now. Why don't we sit? We called you here for a meal."
"Oh, right."
...Only after the Countess intervened did I escape Rozalin's barrage of praise.
It had been intensely awkward and embarrassing.
The Rose family's expressions looked even stranger than mine, which actually made it a tad better, but still not great.
"So... this is Miss Camellia's first time in Rose Territory, right?"
"Yes, it is."
After Rozalin's praise tapered off, we took our seats.
Maids filed in one by one, placing dishes on the table, while the Rose Count and Countess watched me.
"The Leonhardts don't have a territory yet, so it must feel a bit unfamiliar."
"That stands to reason. They're only a viscount family, after all."
"...True enough."
Alexandra Rose, seated across from me, brought it up, and the Count nodded along.
Why bring up something like that?
Territories weren't exclusive to them, and honestly, compared to Melnik, theirs was small.
Why were they acting so superior?
Even a baron like Niesista had one.
"Still, no territory means the family doesn't have much money, right?"
"Heh, well said."
...Alexandra kept spouting nonsense on her own, and the Count didn't stop her.
Most of it came from her mouth, sure.
But it didn't sit well with me.
At least the Count wasn't as vocal as her. Small mercies.
Though to me, it looked the same.
"By the way, when did you say Christina was arriving?"
"My sister? Probably a few more days. She went to the capital because of our brother... She'll come when she comes."
"Heh... Rozalin finally visits after four years, and she's not even home."
"Exactly. And it's been four years for Rozalin."
"I'm sorry. I'll visit more often now."
"If only you would. Your mother has been so worried."
"Haha..."
Overall... aside from the occasional odd remark, the conversation wasn't terribly strange.
As food passed around the table, the Rose family chatted among themselves.
I just sat quietly, saying nothing.
"Camellia, looks delicious, doesn't it?"
"Yes, it does."
But Rozalin checked in on me now and then, looking out for me in her own way.
She really was different.
When I first read that letter from the Rose family, I'd wondered if Rozalin felt the same.
But seeing this, she clearly didn't.
She was the one I'd suspected might harbor the worst thoughts toward the Leonhardts, but still...
"That looks tasty. Want me to move some to your plate?"
"Uh? Sure... I'd appreciate that...?"
"Hee hee, then I will. The table's so wide, I figured you couldn't reach."
"...Thank you."
Rozalin was definitely different.
...Honestly, her caring for me like this amid family talk was incredibly touching.
"...Rozalin."
"Yes? What is it?"
"Never mind. Let's eat first."
The Count seemed about to say something to Rozalin, glancing our way, but he just started the meal.
He'd clearly intended to speak, but whatever it was, it wouldn't have been pleasant.
I stayed quiet beside Rozalin.
*
"Rozalin, how's life at the Leonhardt mansion?"
"The mansion? It's wonderful...?"
"Is that so?"
"Yes, I haven't felt any discomfort staying there."
Rozalin fielded the questions aimed at her effortlessly during the meal.
The topics grated on me, but she handled them with poise.
She truly was mature.
"Camellia, tasty?"
"Yes, it is. The mansion chefs are incredibly skilled."
Maybe because Rozalin deflected the Roses' questions so smoothly.
I was just eating comfortably.
If she'd struggled or shown displeasure, it would've been different.
As it was, I sat back, happily accepting the food Rozalin served to my plate.
Like a baby.
Though I was far too big for that now.
"...Rozalin?"
"Yes, Mother."
"Shall we have some family tea time later, just us?"
"That sounds nice. It's been ages since I had tea with you, Mother, Father, and my sisters."
"Right..."
"Oh, Camellia. The mansion chefs make an amazing stew. Want a bite?"
"Uh..."
...Was it just me, or did the flow between Rozalin and the Roses feel mismatched?
It seemed wildly off.
For me, though, with their dislike not dictating the situation, it was all good.
"Sure, I'd love to try."
"Got it. It's hot, so be careful, okay?"
"Yes."
Was it because Rozalin kept tending to me?
The Roses were steering clear of Leonhardt topics more and more.
They'd started with territory and money nonsense that really got under my skin.
But now, thanks to Rozalin, it was fine.
She shut down the drivel each time.
"Urgh..."
Maybe that's why.
Alexandra, who'd been the chattiest, kept grimacing through lunch.
Couldn't she control her face better?
Honestly, I could've acted better than her, and probably did.
I'd fooled Rozalin with acting at the casino once, and it happened often after.
Plus, business dealings honed my poker face ages ago.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Just the food's so good."
"Hee hee, glad to hear it. All the mansion chefs were handpicked by my sister, you know."
"Really?"
"Hee hee, why would I lie about that?"
The friendlier Rozalin was to me, the worse the others' faces grew.
So I smiled wider, enjoying the meal with her.
"Tsk..."
"But Mother, you should eat too. You're not even touching your lunch because of me."
"Watching Camellia eat is enough for me."
"...Please eat something."
She doted a bit much, but I didn't mind her care at all.
The amusement from the others' reactions made it even better.
"Oh, Mother."
Maybe that's what sparked it.
A mischievous urge hit me.
The Count and Countess weren't as vocal as Alexandra, but I still didn't like them.
Their constant weird questions to Rozalin irked me.
"We bought a ton of furniture for the guesthouse yesterday, right?"
"Yeah? Why?"
"Some didn't arrive on time. Could you come check it out with me later?"
"Of course, if it's Camellia's request. What furniture?"
"Oh, nothing major. The lamps in the servants' rooms were awful, so I got new ones."
I'd been sure after Alexandra's reaction yesterday.
That shabby guesthouse was clearly meant to spite us.
And she'd hated that I'd fixed it with my own money.
So naturally, I figured the Count and Countess wouldn't like it either.
Not that the missing furniture wasn't real.
"...Ha."
"........."
The silence from everyone but Rozalin and me said it all—they weren't pleased.
Even though I'd basically remodeled the whole building at my own expense.