Chapter 96
Chapter 96
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Bittersweet Birthday Sentiments
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"...Something feels off."
I didn't think of myself as particularly sentimental, but still, something felt strange.
Was it because there were only a few days left before I headed to the academy...?
"...Hmm."
I felt a bit down, restless in a way that's hard to put into words.
Even so, since I'd lived here my whole life since birth, it made sense to feel this way.
On top of that, leaving Rozalin behind at the mansion... honestly worried me.
All things considered, it wasn't easy to leave with complete peace of mind and pure joy.
"Sigh."
That said, it wasn't like I could back out or say I couldn't go now.
"...At least I spent a ton of time with Rozalin."
That had to be the silver lining, right?
Yeah, that felt right.
Sure, I wouldn't see Rozalin for a while after this, but we'd made the most of the time before I left for the academy, building some good memories along the way.
"Heh heh..."
I'd played around more than expected, but I was satisfied with the time spent with her—I'd enjoyed it too.
And Rozalin... she'd been smiling and happy the whole time.
Yeah, I figured I'd done well.
Plus, to keep her from getting too bored while I was away from the mansion... I'd arranged for her to spend some time with Ashley.
"Ha..."
...Still, not seeing Rozalin for a stretch was disappointing.
A lot.
*
The next day, I got up in the morning and had a light breakfast right away with Rozalin.
Normally, with the weather a bit chilly and me feeling tired, I might've slept in, but not today.
"Happy birthday, Camellia."
"Thank you, Mother."
After all, it was my birthday.
"Still, it's nice we could celebrate like this before you head to the academy."
"Heh heh, yeah."
"And even so... you'll come back to the mansion every vacation, so we can celebrate your birthday every year. Actually, it's a good thing it's in winter."
Just like Rozalin said, having my birthday in winter was a blessing.
If it had been spring or fall, I couldn't have spent it with her like this.
I preferred celebrating with Rozalin over anyone else anyway, and she'd always taken great care of my birthdays...
This definitely felt much better.
"Want to go out for lunch today?"
"That sounds good."
"We can hit that dessert cafe you like and spend the time there."
Of course, it wasn't like anything extravagant was planned just because it was my birthday.
Rozalin and I had always kept birthdays low-key.
Unlike other nobles who threw massive parties just for that... we never did anything like it.
Honestly, it was too noisy and bothersome...
No need to invite other nobles and feel awkward at a birthday party.
"Anything you want in particular?"
"Hmm... nothing comes to mind?"
"Really?"
Rozalin smiled brightly and kept chatting with me.
Seemed like she hadn't settled on a specific gift yet.
Even if she hadn't agonized over it, I'd gratefully accept anything from her.
"What should I get you..."
"Ha ha..."
She put so much effort into picking gifts every year...
I couldn't just say "anything."
*
After finishing breakfast with Rozalin, we showered together in the bathhouse, then had a light tea time.
It was my birthday, sure, but we'd always kept it quiet anyway.
We just spent the morning like usual, the two of us.
After passing the morning quietly and ordinarily together, we headed out for a meal.
The place we came for lunch was that restaurant I'd tried going to alone with Lize before, but it had been closed that day.
"Whew... it's spicy...?"
"Isn't it good?"
"It... tastes good, but... slurp..."
There were other restaurants, but Rozalin had suggested going wherever I wanted first...
So here we were...
"Whew... huff..."
...Was it that spicy?
It definitely tasted great, but Rozalin kept reaching for water—maybe it was spicier than she expected.
Hmm... a miss?
I was devouring mine happily, but seeing her keep drinking made me think that.
"...Mother, if it's too much, you don't have to force it..."
"Hm? It's fine...? It's spicy, sure... but it's not like it tastes bad."
"...I see."
"Yeah, really... glug..."
...She insisted she was okay, so for now.
I decided to let it slide quietly.
"Mother."
"Yes?"
"Um... can we order another drink?"
"Of course? Why not?"
I asked with the kind of words and expression that suggested I wanted it.
It was meant for her anyway, but if I suggested it for her sake... she'd probably refuse outright.
So I made it about me instead.
"Soda water's fine. Want to try some, Mother?"
I took a sip of the ordered soda water and offered.
I'd gotten it for her, but it actually tasted pretty good itself.
"Should I...?"
"Yes, have a sip."
I passed her the glass I'd just sipped from.
Had I been worrying too much from the start?
Rozalin had been holding back her reactions, trying to hide them from me.
Of course, it was obvious anyway.
"Phew... mmm... it's good... yeah."
"Want more? I was thinking of ordering another since I want some too."
"Should we...?"
We ordered more soda water to share with Rozalin.
This time, a whole bottle instead of a glass.
"Puha... it's good, yeah."
"Right?"
"Yeah, one more bottle...?"
"...Sure."
Anyway, we continued lunch like that.
She still winced from the spice now and then, but the cool soda water helped... relatively speaking.
Meanwhile, I was thoroughly enjoying my pasta?
"Camellia, what do you want for dessert?"
"Mont Blanc for me. I ate a lot of pasta earlier... so I'm pretty full."
"Heh heh, you did eat a bit more today. Just one Mont Blanc then?"
"Yes."
Then we went to a dessert cafe for sweets.
Having eaten more spicy pasta than usual... I couldn't eat much dessert, but right after lunch, wandering around felt tiring anyway.
I planned to relax lightly with some dessert at the cafe.
"But Camellia, why did you sign a new contract with Teacher Ashley?"
"Pardon?"
She asked that while I was lounging comfortably in the chair.
No idea why the sudden question.
"Because she's skilled."
That was my simple answer.
Ashley's skills were genuinely top-notch, and that's why I'd proposed the new contract—purely based on ability.
Of course, I couldn't deny her looks had played a part.
But hiring her as our family's mage came down to her magic prowess above all.
"That's... true, but..."
"Sure, she sleeps a lot, but she handles everything I ask reliably. If she slacked off completely because of naps... I never would've hired her."
Even I wasn't that foolish.
If I had no intention of assigning her work, I would've hired someone in a different role, not a mage.
"I see..."
"And with you managing the mansion and the staff, having a skilled mage around would definitely make things easier. Plus, she's the same gender."
"That makes sense. A mage can handle things the servants struggle with, for sure."
That was one reason Rozalin had agreed to the new contract with Ashley too.
With her overseeing the mansion and everyone working there now, a capable mage was an undeniable boon.
And with Ashley being around the same age and gender...
I kinda hoped they'd get close.
"Oh, and Teacher likes alcohol too. Instead of drinking alone at night, why not try it with her sometime?"
"Hm?"
"You got tipsy drinking by yourself at the Rose mansion before, right?"
"Oh..."
"It seemed like... you actually enjoy it more than I thought."
I still didn't get alcohol's appeal, but Rozalin clearly liked it in her own way.
Sure, there were other reasons for drinking that time...?
But she definitely didn't hate it.
She always looked happy with the occasional fine wine back at the mansion.
She never said she loved it outright, but her expressions and eyes gave it away.
"Of course, I don't know what kind she prefers...?"
"Hmm... if you put it like that, I can't not talk to Teacher Ashley at least once."
"Yes, she's just sleepy, not a bad person. I bet you'll like her too."
Honestly, Ashley was entertaining to watch?
Rozalin and Ashley getting friendly could only be a good thing.
Besides me and Lize, there weren't many people at the mansion she could really talk to...
...Leaving Rozalin behind for the academy really did worry me.
Even though she was older than me, an adult, and my mother.