Chapter 98
Chapter 98
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: En Route to the Academy
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"...Lize."
"Yes, Young Lady. What is it?"
"Am I the only one feeling off?"
"I doubt it."
...Really?
I wasn't sure myself.
I had no idea how to put this mood into words... it was just so vague.
It wasn't like I adored the house or anything, and the twelve, thirteen years I'd spent there hadn't exactly been packed with fond memories.
To be honest, the Leonhardt Mansion was just... nothing special, right?
The only real recollections I had were the times spent with Rozalin and Lize. That was it.
It was a stretch to call it a place brimming with memories and emotions, but even so, something felt strange.
"Hmm... Well, I'll be back in about half a year anyway."
Still, not returning to the mansion until then.
"Is all the luggage packed?"
"Yes, Young Lady."
"Good enough."
The family mansion was gradually shrinking in the distance behind the carriage, and I kept staring back at it.
Lize was riding with me, and someone from the academy was handling the reins outside our compartment.
That was the situation.
From now on, I wouldn't have any time to spend with Rozalin. I'd be living at the academy up in the capital.
It was a shame, but that's how it had been decided.
"...It takes about three days to get there, right?"
"They said it's to pick up a few other new students along with you, Young Lady."
"Hmm... This is going to be boring."
I'd assumed they'd just pick me up and head straight to the academy, but apparently they planned to scoop up all the young ladies and masters from the southern territories in one go.
I wasn't thrilled about it, to be honest, but what could I say?
I'd already climbed into the carriage.
"Apparently, we'll ride the carriage for about half a day, then stay two days at an inn the academy prepared."
"Why not just grab me on the last day..."
"Young Lady."
"I get it, more or less."
At least it was a relief that they weren't cramming any other new students into the carriage Lize and I were in.
Just as Lize said... we'd wait at the inn a bit, then head out in multiple carriages.
Among the various southern families, ours was probably the... lowest tier, shall we say?
Something like that.
"For the trip... Lize, could you draw the curtains?"
"Of course, Young Lady."
She blocked the view from outside with the curtains inside the carriage compartment.
It wasn't the sort of thing the driver needed to see anyway, and it was private.
All I had to do was ride to the inn.
Whatever happened inside was no one's business.
"Hmm..."
"Young Lady, curtains are all drawn."
"Thanks."
While Lize handled the curtains, I pulled out a few documents from my bag.
Sheets covered in drawings of various people and all sorts of information.
Of course, they didn't capture everything about those individuals, but memorizing the basics was definitely to my advantage.
"Hmm..."
I'd already gone through most of it, but I hadn't fully committed much to memory.
Well, memorizing all this was obviously tough.
"Lize."
"Yes? Thirsty, Young Lady?"
"Nah. Some of these families are from the south too. Think I'll run into their young ladies at the inn?"
"Er... I'd say there's a high chance."
Figured as much.
With noble kids from all sorts of southern families enrolling... we'd probably cross paths during the process.
Ella would likely get picked up the same way, and there'd be young ladies from baron families, marquis families, you name it.
"Hmm..."
Meeting Ella sounded nice.
We'd already seen each other a few months back, and we'd exchanged letters recently, but running into a friend was always great.
Plus, on the way to the academy, aside from Lize, I didn't know a soul.
"Young Lady, holding those papers that close isn't good for your eyes."
"The writing's too damn small."
"...Young Lady."
"Fine, I won't."
It always bugged me—whenever the Information Guild handed over stuff like this, it came in these weird formats sometimes.
To be precise, it was that woman from the guild who was the real issue.
"...Tch."
But seriously, the key parts were in tiny print, making them a pain to read...
I'd have to check this section later, when Lize was asleep or out of the room.
It wasn't like staring this close would actually ruin my eyesight.
Lize worried way too much, just like Rozalin.
*
After spending the time alone with Lize in the carriage... we finally reached the inn.
Honestly, compared to the carriage's quality, it was a tad—very slightly—disappointing.
"...Can't be helped."
It was just a spot to crash for two days anyway.
I decided not to gripe too much about the inn's quality.
"Shall we head in?"
"Yes, Young Lady."
Anyway, Lize and I went inside together.
Seeing that the only academy carriage there was the one we'd arrived in, no other new students had checked in yet.
"Hmm..."
"What is it, Young Lady?"
"Just... wondering why they bother with this whole setup."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah."
Truth be told, I didn't really get it.
Was there any point in hauling all the new students here, just to load them up again and ship them to the academy?
Wouldn't it make way more sense to head straight there from our mansions?
From the south to the academy, it wasn't even a full week—just a few days.
"Hmm..."
I tabled the thought for now.
No rush to get to the academy in the next couple days anyway, and there was still over a month until the entrance ceremony.
"I'm Camellia Leonhardt of the Leonhardt Family."
"Confirmed. Please go to room 13 on the fourth floor."
"...Got it."
Lize and I entered the inn, gave our details for a quick check, and got directed to our assigned room.
No clue why it had to be the fourth floor, but climbing up and down would suck.
No elevator—just stairs. Oh well.
"...Ah."
Hmm.
"...Lize."
"Yes, Young Lady."
"...Climbing four floors is such a pain."
"...Young Lady."
"Come on, isn't it...? Even the buildings at the Rose place were annoying to climb."
"...Most people don't find four floors exhausting."
"...It's exhausting."
I really did feel wiped climbing those four floors.
Way too much hassle.
Sure, I was out of shape, but what could I do?
"Wanna carry me?"
"...I'm not exactly the strongest..."
"Fair enough. Just kidding."
"...If it's too much for you, Young Lady, we could go back down and request a different room..."
"Nah, not that serious. It's just... whatever, only two more days here."
A bit annoying and tiring, sure... but only a short stay.
I could tough it out.
"Ugh..."
Anyway, we made it to the end of the fourth floor—room 413.
I bolted straight for the bed.
"Young Lady, your clothes will wrinkle."
"You'll wash them nice and pretty anyway. And this dress is fine even if it creases a little, right?"
I swung my legs around on the bed as I said it.
A white dress like this wasn't going to stay wrinkled forever.
Anyway, the second I entered, I flopped down.
"Fuuu... Finally comfy..."
"But... the room doesn't seem all that spacious."
"...Yeah, you're right."
As Lize said, it didn't feel particularly roomy.
The bed looked like it was just big enough for two people.
Probably sized exactly for Lize and me to share... honestly smaller than my bed back at the mansion.
"Hmm... Eh, it's just for two days."
I didn't sweat it and just lounged comfortably on the bed.
I'd been in the carriage for half a day straight, and we'd only just gotten out.
Even though it wasn't some top-shelf mattress, it still felt great.
"Yawwwn..."
Maybe because I'd spent half a day staring at papers in that rattling carriage, but I was beat.
Sure, I'd napped a lot with Rozalin lately... but that didn't change how unpleasant the jolts were.
No matter how fancy it was, it just wasn't comfy.
"Lize... once you've unpacked a bit, wanna rest here with me?"
"There's not much space left with you lying there, Young Lady."
"Psh, since when do we care about that?"
"I'm fine."
"Aw..."
"I can rest later. You relax first, Young Lady."
"Aww..."
Lize was Lize, through and through.
She never went for my casual little invitations... classic her.
She could loosen up and crash already.
No one else around but us, no one coming in—totally fine.
"Sigh..."
Normally, I'd have dragged her onto the bed by force, but today I decided against it and sprawled out even more comfortably.
Arms and legs spread wide like a starfish.
"........"
I wonder what Rozalin's up to right now.
No need to worry much, but I couldn't help it.
Logically, she should be the one fretting over me, not the other way around.
"...Lize, gimme a candy."
"Right away, Young Lady."
...My mood dipped a little.
...Just a tiny bit.