Chapter 77
Chapter 77
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: A Sudden Warning
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"Ah, I see. So Lady Camellia is about to enter the Academy?"
"Yes, she's scheduled to enroll next year."
"Hmm... These days, even Viscount families go through the formal admission process? Back in my day, Viscount daughters sometimes served as ladies-in-waiting to Count heirs."
"Hehe, the Leonhardt family isn't your average Viscount house, after all."
Rozalin was quietly gauging the mood, leaving just Alexandra and me to carry the conversation.
We hadn't started with topics like this, but maybe I'd bragged too much about my earrings?
Alexandra seemed a bit annoyed and kept directing her words at me.
"Does Lady Camellia plan to take the entrance exam for the Academy? That's usually for commoners or nobles who don't get invitations."
"Of course not. Thanks to the Rose Family, our house's reputation has improved over the past four years. Naturally, we received a letter from the Academy."
I shared the story with a smile.
Whether they liked it or not, our family's standing had risen because of the Rose Family.
In truth, our evaluation had definitely improved compared to before.
Unlike the old days when we were treated like rat pups, now we were probably seen as... snakelets?
I wasn't particularly interested in public opinion, and the conclusions were always similar, so I didn't pay much attention.
"Hehe."
"...Tch."
"Oh, by the way, Aunt Alexandra, how did you spend your time at the Academy? My mother seems to have enjoyed hers."
"The Academy...?"
"Ah... It's been about ten years, so maybe the memories aren't that clear...?"
There was a certain age gap between Rozalin and me, and Alexandra was older than her.
Had it really been around ten years since she graduated?
"...I remember it fine."
"Oh, really?"
"...The age difference between Rozalin and me isn't that big anyway. Tch..."
"Hehe, that's a relief then."
Just watching Alexandra's reactions was honestly amusing.
She was older than Rozalin, but probably still in her early to mid-twenties.
She even came across as less mature than Rozalin, who had just entered her twenties.
"It's only been seven years since I graduated from the Academy. Rozalin, how exactly do you usually educate your daughter?"
"Ah... I'm sorry, Sister. Camellia...?"
"I'm sorry. I just wanted to get closer to you, Aunt, so I made a little joke... I'm sorry..."
"Ah, no..."
I was twelve.
Just twelve, young enough that I'd enter the Academy next year.
Still so young that even now, when meeting adult nobles, I was treated like a child every time.
The Niesista Baron saw me as a business partner, but since I was the same age as his daughter Ella, he sometimes treated me like one anyway.
Well... my other business partners did the same often enough.
Anyway, it was common sense: treating a child like that with such seriousness was... just pathetic.
Of course, I'd already shown rudeness to Alexandra, but fortunately, it had worked.
"...Hah."
"If you didn't like it, Aunt, I'm truly sorry."
"...More importantly, what was your original question?"
"I was curious about how you spent your Academy days..."
I did it deliberately... with the most pitiful eyes.
Yawning inwardly a bit to make my eyes even sparklier as I spoke.
"...Right, my Academy days."
"Yes..."
Was it because of that?
Alexandra, who had seemed annoyed just moments ago, let out a deep sigh and began answering my question.
Really... being young, pretty, and cute really had its advantages in so many ways.
Especially with people older than me.
"I entered the Academy two years ahead of Rozalin, but I just lived ordinarily."
And so, Alexandra's stories about the Academy began.
Overall... pretty mundane stuff.
I'd asked Rozalin about the Academy before, and especially lately, thanks to Karen, I knew quite a bit about it.
"Unlike Rozalin, who attended quietly, I even joined the student council."
"Wow..."
"Yeah, for a Count family's child, that's just expected, right? Rozalin was supposed to join too, but she threw away the opportunity."
"Haha... Yeah, that happened."
"Tch... The student council isn't that hard. Why didn't you just do it?"
"It wasn't for me anyway."
"Then why did you cause so much trouble at the Academy despite not joining?"
"Haha..."
It was a story I didn't know, but somehow, Rozalin and Alexandra started reminiscing about their Academy days just between themselves.
Rozalin didn't seem uncomfortable about it—more like she couldn't really argue back.
I'd been worried she'd feel uneasy talking with Alexandra, but fortunately, that wasn't the case.
Maybe because of the topic?
Anyway, as the conversation continued.
"Um... May I step out to the restroom for a moment?"
"Of course."
"Then I'll be right back. Camellia? Chat nicely with Aunt."
"...Yes."
Suddenly, Rozalin had to go to the restroom.
No, this wasn't part of the plan.
"........"
"........"
And just like that, only Alexandra and I were left.
This felt awkward now.
My actual plan had been that if I upset Rozalin's mood, I'd just crush her spirit outright.
"Hmm..."
"...What's wrong?"
Alexandra suddenly stared at me without a word.
What was she thinking?
"Have you ever talked with Sister Christina?"
"...Miss Christina?"
"Yeah."
"Ah... No? I only met her yesterday, after all."
"Right, that makes sense."
I had no idea why she was asking about Christina, but I hadn't spoken with her.
She was someone I'd only seen for the first time yesterday.
Of course, the moment I saw her yesterday, I knew she wasn't a good person.
"...You."
Unlike moments ago when she'd called my name politely, now she just addressed me directly.
The atmosphere... was different from before.
"Remember one thing clearly."
"...What?"
"Never meet Sister Christina alone."
"Pardon?"
"I don't know exactly what you're thinking, but don't treat Sister Christina the way you treat me."
"......."
With an incredibly serious expression, Alexandra delivered that warning-laden message.
I didn't know why she was warning me like this... but at least it didn't sound like nonsense.
I already had a slight sense of what kind of person Christina was...
But I hadn't expected such a warning from Alexandra.
"...Why are you warning me about that?"
"...How much do you know about Rozalin?"
"I think I know all the parts there are to know."
I'd learned it by chance, but...
Anyway... especially the important parts.
"...Aunt—no, whatever benchmark Miss Christina used when she asked. I already know about Mother's background."
"...What?"
"Why? Did you think I wouldn't know?"
Rozalin had told me not to tell others.
But this woman already knew Rozalin was illegitimate anyway.
And since the other side had brought it up first, there was no need for me to hide it.
"...Fine, that makes things easier."
Hearing me, Alexandra rested her arms on the table, propped her chin, and looked at me again.
"I'm saying this because there are no other maids around."
"Yes."
"And Rozalin's not here."
"Get to the point. Mother will be back soon."
"Right... yeah."
From the first day we arrived at the Rose Family until just now, her demeanor had been completely different.
She'd given off this vibe like some dumb, ill-tempered villainess lady...
But now, she was starkly different from that image.
"...Right now, the Rose Family belongs to Sister Christina."
"...?"
"Father is the Family Head, and our eldest brother is in the capital. But the real power in the Rose Family is Sister Christina."
"Why tell me that?"
I really had no idea why she was suddenly bringing this up.
Why reveal that the hidden power was Christina...?
It had felt off since day one...
Her sudden change in attitude toward me was truly strange.
"Weren't you displeased with Mother and me?"
"You're displeasing. You were rude to me already, and pretending to be a good girl in front of Rozalin—how could I like that?"
"Then why give me this warning?"
"Because it seemed like you'd treat Sister Christina the same way you treated me."
"Hmm..."
How was I supposed to handle this sudden shift in attitude?
"...You don't hate Mother?"
"I don't hate her. But I'm deliberately acting that way."
"........"
"Well, Father and Mother are different from me."
"...What's the point?"
It was about time for Rozalin to return.
Continuing this conversation would be bad in multiple ways.
Considering she'd started this right after Rozalin left, clearly...
"I don't know exactly what you're thinking, but for now, don't mess with Sister Christina."
"Like I did with you, Miss Alexandra?"
"Yeah."
"...Are you free tonight?"
"I can make time."
"Good, that speeds things up."
At first, I'd thought she was just some fallen house's dumb, bad-tempered lady.
I decided to revise that judgment a bit.
It was all so sudden, but for now, we wrapped up the talk.
"Camellia, were you chatting well?"
"Ah, Mother."
We finished just as Rozalin returned.
It was truly fortunate we'd ended right before.
It made me a little worried that there were still so many things about the Rose Family I didn't know.