Chapter 97
Chapter 97
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: crow
Chapter Title: A Quiet Nap Before Departure
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"........"
A carriage was parked outside the mansion.
A single carriage so dazzlingly ornate and beautiful that it gleamed.
It was even more extravagant than the ones our family usually used.
"It's really time to go, huh."
"Indeed, Mother."
Rozalin and I were gazing at the carriage outside the window.
Of course, that carriage had come to take me to the Solchemia Imperial Academy.
"...Have you packed everything?"
"Yes, Lize has already checked multiple times."
"I see... Lize is a diligent girl. She must have prepared everything properly."
"Right."
Rozalin looked at me as she sipped her tea.
Not the sweet rose tea, but a cup with a rather bitter taste.
Her lips curved upward, but her eyes didn't look pleased—a smile that revealed her thoughts all too clearly.
"I know I've nagged you a lot, but the academy is full of kids your age. Make some more friends there..."
"Yes."
"And there's so much to learn at the academy, right? More magic, lessons from great professors... okay?"
"Lize won't be the only one—Ella's enrolling too. I'll be fine."
"Yes, our Camellia is smart. You'll do great."
Rozalin said those words, but her expression remained troubled.
It was regrettable, in many ways, that I had to leave her like this and head to the academy.
It might have been better to reassure her a bit more before going, but the academy had already sent people to fetch me.
"........"
In the end, all I could do was sip my tea.
No suitable words came to mind for Rozalin, and the more I looked at her, the more...
...I was at a loss.
"Camellia."
"Yes, Mother..."
"Even if it's fun at the academy, you have to send letters sometimes, okay?"
"I know."
"Life without our Camellia will be so boring... please."
"Yes, I definitely will."
...I planned to send letters often anyway, and even though I'd given this answer before, I repeated it for her sake.
Even with these words and reassurances, Rozalin would still worry.
But this was probably the right thing to do.
Yes, it felt like it would help.
If staying calm and acting unaffected by my departure to the academy was the best way to ease her mind...
It would be truly good.
"........."
"Haha..."
Yet seeing Rozalin's sad smile made my heart ache repeatedly.
I wasn't used to situations like this.
I kept glancing at her face and eyes, then lowering my head.
"...Mother."
As I repeated this futile behavior, I called out to her once more.
Rozalin wiped away her sad smile from moments ago and smiled normally again.
Simply acting unconcerned about heading to the academy, as I had before, didn't seem enough to fully reassure her.
So, to ease her worries even a little more, to help in some way...
Just sitting quietly and casually wouldn't soothe my fretful stepmother.
"How about a nap?"
"Huh?"
"The people from the academy said there's no rush—they just need us to depart by the end of the day."
I uttered something random.
It seemed better than pretending to have some serious, important talk.
No matter how earnestly I spoke here, her concerns wouldn't vanish.
"What do you think? I ate lunch a bit ago... feeling a little sleepy."
"Now...? Even so, the carriage is waiting..."
"Hey, just call Lize or another maid to relay a message. Slip them some money, tell them to rest warmly somewhere nearby for a bit—that's it."
I said it with a smile.
They were people I'd never see again after today anyway.
It wasn't delaying without reason; it was paying them to take a break.
No issue there.
"Still..."
"...Can't I?"
"Well..."
I cut her off deliberately, looking up at her with wide, sparkling eyes.
I'd always been good at coaxing Rozalin like this, and she was weak to my requests.
"Mother... please...?"
"Well... just wait a moment."
In the end, she had no choice but to agree.
So easy... or kind, maybe.
Hard to pin down exactly, but the result was a success, so I was glad.
*
Rozalin called a maid, explained the situation briefly and lightly, and asked the academy representatives for understanding.
Something like how I was extremely tired and not feeling well today.
Could we delay departure by a few hours?
She slipped them some money, suggesting they rest for about three or four hours, and it worked.
They even seemed pleased when money was involved.
I could tell from how happily they looked outside the window.
"Mmm... just a short nap, then up, okay?"
"Yes, of course. Those people outside are waiting too."
"...Right."
Rozalin had agreed to my sudden nap request, but she kept making faces like she wasn't sure about it.
At least it wasn't the deeply worried expression from before—good enough for now.
"Once I'm at the academy... I won't be able to nap like this with you or spend time together anymore..."
In that moment, I said it to her on purpose.
With a tone and expression full of deep regret.
"Camellia..."
Rozalin looked at me again with a moved, touched expression.
To leave such a pure, kind person alone... it worried me more.
Of course, she wasn't foolish, and this side of her was only for me.
"Going to the academy is fine... but being apart from you... I hate it."
"...Really?"
I said it while lying on Rozalin's bed together.
Even saying it made me a little embarrassed.
"If the Rose Family does anything strange to you while I'm gone, tell me right away."
"Hehe, no need to worry about that."
"...Is that so?"
"Of course. Even with my position, they're not the type to come all the way south with that much free time."
"...That's a relief."
I acted a bit like a spoiled daughter.
Not entirely insincere, but still acting, I reminded myself inwardly as I continued.
Still hiding my embarrassment.
"Mother."
"Yes? What's up? Our Camellia is so clingy today..."
"...Because I won't see you for a while."
"Hehe, so our Camellia was thinking that too...?"
"...Yes."
...Just as Rozalin said.
I definitely wasn't like this usually.
From her perspective, it must feel different.
I knew that well.
"That's okay, yes. Just thinking about not seeing Camellia for a while makes me so sad too."
"...Really?"
"Of course. Camellia is my daughter, isn't she?"
...From our first meeting to now, she was always such a good person.
Too good for the Leonhardt Family.
No blood relation, and we'd only known each other for four or five years, yet she treated me like true family.
Of course, we were family on paper, but still... I couldn't easily think of her simply as family or mother.
"...Right."
Yet I answered her question that way.
Because that's what she wanted.
"I'm worried about how our cute daughter will fare at the academy, hoping you'll do well and have fun."
"...Yes."
"Mmm... can I hug you once?"
"...Yes."
...As always, from before and recently.
I usually avoided skinship with Rozalin as much as possible.
Because her touch... never felt ordinary.
Her soft skin, her unique scent... her beauty up close was too overwhelming.
In most situations, I avoided it, but today, I allowed her embrace.
"Eep..."
Rozalin hugged me tightly as I lay on the bed.
A warm sensation.
...This warmth from the hug felt good yet strange.
"........"
"Hehe..."
It was truly odd.
Really...
"Camellia, live well at the academy."
"Yes, I will."
"Don't get sick."
"Yes..."
Rozalin held me close, whispering worries into my ear over and over.
Hearing her soft, clear voice full of concern was...
"...You stay well too, Mother."
...not easy.
"Hehe... yes, so that I can match how well Camellia does."
...Still, she seemed a bit more at ease than when we were just sitting and drinking tea earlier.
Just a slight change in voice and expression, and she probably still worried inwardly, but I could sense it.
"Hehe... holding you like this feels nice."
"Does it...?"
"Yes, small and cute... how could I not like hugging my daughter?"
"...True."
"I told you before, haven't I? I've never seen a child as pretty as Camellia."
"Haha..."
Rozalin kept giving embarrassing compliments while holding me.
"Mother... but..."
"Yes?"
"...Never mind."
...I meant to ask how long she'd hold me, but when I slightly lifted my head, her happy expression stopped me.
Unlike before, she was smiling so nicely that I couldn't say anything.
In the end, there was nothing I could do.
-Thump thump...
Maybe because I stayed in her embrace so long.
My heart pounded harder than usual from the embarrassment.
...Of course, she wouldn't hear my heartbeat.
Or rather... I hoped she wouldn't notice it was racing from being in my stepmother's arms.
Really.