Chapter 83
Chapter 83
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Wrapping Up Business Affairs
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Summer had completely ended, and now it was autumn.
There was still plenty of time left before enrolling in the Academy.
My daily routine was just...
drinking tea with Rozalin, casually going shopping to pass the time, or teasing Lize.
-Scratch scratch...
Apart from spending time like that, there were a few things I had to take care of.
I couldn't keep running my current businesses while attending the Academy.
So, I was working on selling off the businesses I managed to other people.
Of course, it was a bit regrettable to sell businesses that I had already grown to some extent.
"Tsk..."
It couldn't be helped.
It was better than getting obsessed with them and suffering losses later.
"I've completed the sale of the eastern region's mana stone cave..."
I was jotting down additional notes next to the list in my notebook of the businesses and items I owned.
Most of them were already more or less handled.
The businesses I'd received from William could just be handed back to him, after all.
I only needed to deal with the ones I was running independently.
"Camellia, are you doing well with your work?"
"Yes, I'm doing fine. These aren't difficult tasks to begin with."
"Hehe, is that so? I've never done anything like this, so I wouldn't know."
"Hmm... It's just a matter of selling off what I have. It's not that hard."
Rozalin entered the room while I was working alone.
She must have gotten curious since I'd been quietly working away.
"Even so, this way, you can just relax and focus on school life once you're at the Academy."
"That's right. That's exactly why I'm doing this now."
"That's a relief."
Rozalin sat on my bed and said that.
She often came to my room like this whenever I was working... Was it that fun?
I didn't think working itself was particularly enjoyable.
"Camellia. But if you sell those businesses to other people, how much profit will you make?"
"Hmm... It varies by business. If I sell off the entire stake in the most expensive one, I could probably buy dozens of buildings in the capital without breaking a sweat."
"...Really?"
"Yes. Though I have no plans to sell that one right now..."
"You're making way more than I thought."
"I've been doing this since I was little. Plus, some of them are businesses Father gave me."
"........"
Rozalin didn't know the full details of my businesses.
I didn't talk to her about business every time, after all.
Was that why?
Rozalin looked at me with a slightly surprised expression.
"And the most expensive one... it's because it's a massive mana stone mine. Without that... compared to what I just said, the prices aren't that high."
"I see...?"
"Yes. The others would probably let me buy about three buildings in the capital."
Even though buildings in the capital were pricey, I could afford that much.
The mana stone mine was just exceptionally valuable.
"Camellia, should I tell the servants to bring something to drink?"
"If Mother does that for me, of course I'd be happy."
Was she impressed by how diligently I was working?
Rozalin got up from the bed and said she'd bring something to drink.
Of course, through a servant, but it was great for me.
My mouth had been feeling a bit dry anyway.
"Not tea, but sweet juice if possible?"
"Hehe, I'll do that. And don't overdo it—take it slow."
"Yes, I will."
I knew what Rozalin was thinking when she said that.
But I had no intention of working myself to exhaustion.
I used to push myself a little when I was younger... but these days, teasing Lize and hanging out with Rozalin was more fun than overworking.
*
"Young Lady."
"Yeah, the juice?"
"Yes."
After working a bit more, Lize entered my room with drinks and snacks.
It was what I'd asked Rozalin for, and since it involved me, I figured Lize would come.
I preferred her over the other servants anyway.
"Put it over there."
"Yes, understood."
"Oh, and Lize, want to have some snacks with me?"
There was still work left, but sitting alone doing it felt boring.
Sure, I focused better alone...
"What do you think?"
Still, chatting while working sounded better than working in silence.
So, I asked Lize.
"You don't have anything else to do right now anyway."
I knew her schedule well, so I could say that.
Even I wouldn't hold someone back if they had their own tasks.
"...Understood."
Lize closed the door after hearing me and sat on my bed.
She sat so prim and proper.
I always thought this, but even though we were mistress and maid, it felt like Lize treated me too formally.
I teased her and messed with her a lot... but that was just my way of showing affection.
Did she really need to sit like that just to be in the room?
Of course, it reflected her personality... but she could relax a bit more.
"Lize."
"?"
I had a little work left, but I closed the notebook and approached her.
I could tease her on the bed again... but I'd done that a lot lately.
"Let's go over there."
"Ah, yes."
We moved to the table and chairs, not the bed.
The spot where I'd been working was cluttered with papers and such.
It wasn't ideal for eating snacks and drinking here.
"Young Lady, how are things going with the business matters?"
"The businesses? They're going well. I sold some to Baron Saelli in the same southern region. Sold others to the merchant alliance. Hmm... Seems like it's all working out?"
"Ah..."
"Why? Something you're curious about?"
Today, an unusual number of people were asking me about business.
Rozalin had asked about it earlier too.
Well, I'd been holed up in my room doing this... so it was natural.
"You've been handling those tasks lately, so I was curious."
"Ah."
"...If the matters you've been tending to are resolving well, that's fortunate."
"Yeah. I can't do this right up to enrollment day. About half is left, but it'll probably be fine."
"Yes, it should."
We chatted like that while having snacks and juice with Lize.
She sat very primly and spoke formally, but it was comfortable.
Maybe because she was one of the few people I could discuss business or secrets with.
"Lize. How are your preparations for following me to the Academy?"
"Um... I don't have much to prepare myself... Just a few maid outfits and essentials... That should be enough. And the Academy provides most items..."
"Ah... I see."
"Yes, rather than preparing my own things, I have more to prepare for you, Young Lady."
"That makes sense."
Indeed... aside from her as my maid, Lize probably didn't have much to pack herself.
Unlike me, who had tons of documents to prepare, it was normal for her to have little.
At most... papers proving she was my maid?
Probably nothing else beyond that.
"Hmm..."
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Just looking."
I was just lost in thought and happened to look at Lize.
"But Lize. How many maid outfits are you packing?"
"...Pardon?"
Lize's face suggested she hadn't caught that.
Was it that surprising?
I'd just gotten curious from what she said and asked...
"No, you said how many maid outfits you're packing? So, how many?"
"...Just about five...?"
"Oh... That's a lot."
Maybe because she wore maid outfits most of the week.
She was packing quite a few.
"So all of them~ the same maid outfit? Design, size, material, everything?"
"Probably..."
"Oho..."
Even if they got criticized for it, was it because she lived as a noble?
It was fascinating to me, someone who wore different outfits every day.
Personally, changing dresses or shirts daily was a hassle... but if I didn't, not just the maids but Rozalin would complain.
So, I had no choice but to wear different clothes each time.
"Hehe..."
"...Why is that?"
"Just had a fun idea pop up?"
Lize seemed to dislike it in every way and like she wouldn't do it.
But I had a fun idea.
"What if I tried on the maid outfit you wear next time? That'd be fun, right?"
"...Young Lady."
"Or you act like the Young Lady and I play maid with you—that sounds fun too, doesn't it?"
"...Young Lady."
"Or not...?"
I thought it'd be fun.
But Lize looked utterly unamused.
She stared at me like I was an idiot.
Hmm...
"Was it that bad?"
Honestly, I thought it'd be fun.