READ NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 31
Chapter: 31
Well, the magic class with Ashley turned out to be more fun than I expected. I don’t know what a typical magic class is like, but it was just enjoyable.
“Basically, to cast magic, you need to concentrate mana…”
Honestly, it might just be because the teacher is pretty.
Well, the class itself was progressing without any hiccups. In fact, it was going so smoothly that it felt a bit awkward.
No, according to Rosalyn, it’s because I’m talented.
Maybe it’s just that I’m unexpectedly amazing, which led to this situation. After all, magic relies heavily on talent.
Of course, I can’t really feel it yet, but every time I have a lesson with Ashley, we keep moving to the next level. So, in conclusion, maybe I’m actually talented?
“… It’s impressive how quickly you’re manifesting basic magic.”
“Teacher.”
“Yes?”
“But is basic magic just about showing off a little bit of fire or water?”
All the magic I learned recently was just like that.
Was it just about manifesting mana into other substances, like Rosalyn showed me?
It felt surprisingly easy, which was a bit awkward, but more than that, I found myself enjoying the successful magic a lot.
Even if the magic is small, it was honestly fun.
The flames coming from my fingertips looked pretty too, right?
“That’s not it… For now, let’s call it a day.”
“Are you going to sleep again?”
“Yeah…”
… Seriously.
Ashley really was consistently the same.
If Rosalyn was consistently a good person, and Karen was consistently shy… then Ashley was just consistently sleepy.
“Rize.”
Lessons with Ashley always felt like this.
She kept the class so neat during the lesson, but just before it ended, she suddenly got really sleepy and fell asleep right away.
From the first day until now, Ashley had the same pattern every time. There’d never been a day she didn’t sleep, and aside from classes, I hardly ever interacted with her.
Well… she taught well and was pretty, so I just let it slide.
“Did you have a good class today too?”
“Today was a bit tough. I had two lessons with other tutors from the morning, and magic was the last one…”
“Hehe…”
Once I finished my work, I arrived in the garden for tea time with Rosalyn and almost collapsed into a chair.
I was so tired.
Sure, the magic class was fun, but I had two lessons before that.
Even a lunchtime break wasn’t enough to shake off the fatigue. So, I had no choice but to slouch in a chair like this… without any manners.
“Ugh…”
“Camelia, take a snack. You must be so tired, right?”
“Yes…”
As I said that, I took a bite of the snack Rosalyn offered.
The sweetness that entered my mouth felt like it was easing my fatigue a little… maybe because of the sugar?
Of course, I was still tired.
“Camelia, want to take a nap for the first time in a while?”
“Should we…”
I was just too tired.
On ordinary days, I would hesitate over such a suggestion, but today, without even realizing it, I accepted it.
Honestly, I was tired and just wanted to rest a bit.
So, I went straight into Rosalyn’s Room. It was a place I had become somewhat accustomed to.
I would have been shy about it compared to before, but now, I was just honestly used to it.
I had fallen asleep here so often.
“Is the weather warming up? I think I should change the blankets soon.”
“I like warmth too.”
“Really? Then I can change them a bit later. Hmm… Is this pillow okay?”
I took the pillow Rosalyn gave me and casually placed it behind my head.
Honestly, I just wanted to sleep fast.
“Lately, it seems like you’re working harder than before, Camelia. I feel like we don’t spend as much time together as we used to.”
“I can’t help it…”
In fact, I wasn’t the only one with more tasks.
Rosalyn had more responsibilities in the mansion now than before.
After consulting with William, she got the authority to manage the mansion’s servants and took on most of the mansion’s management.
Of course, she had more work than before, and this situation was even more appropriate.
Even if she was a Baroness now, Rosalyn had previously been doing too little, wasting too much time.
Maybe that’s why? Recently, Rosalyn’s usual expression seemed brighter than before.
“Camelia.”
“Yes…”
I responded to Rosalyn while still feeling tired.
Lying on my side facing her, I fought against my heavy eyelids.
“I feel like you’ve grown a little taller lately.”
“… Really?”
“Yeah, definitely.”
“… I’m glad.”
I was still tired… but I meant it.
I was sincerely happy.
I had been worried about being too short for a long time, so finding out I had grown was obviously great news.
… I even thought being over 140cm would be a relief.
“You’ll definitely grow up to be prettier, Camelia.”
“… If that happens, I’m glad.”
“Out of all the kids I’ve seen so far, you’re the prettiest, Camelia.”
“……..”
I knew I was pretty, but hearing Rosalyn’s praise made my cheeks heat up.
Was it because she was so close to the beauty I’d call my ideal? I often felt embarrassed unknowingly.
Of course, since we were mother and daughter, it was just an ordinary compliment.
“Your mother is really beautiful too.”
“Hehe… right?”
“Yes, you are really beautiful.”
I said this while looking intently at Rosalyn’s face.
I thought Rosalyn was the prettiest of all the people I had seen until now.
Ella, Grace, Karen, Ashley. Even including Rize, I was confident that Rosalyn was the prettiest.
I could confidently say so.
Honestly, I couldn’t understand why William would wander outside when he had such a beautiful wife.
Of course, I was relieved from my position that good-hearted and pretty Rosalyn wasn’t involved with William in any weird way.
“… Mother.”
“Yes?”
“Um… is it okay if I hug you?”
I blurted those words out before I could help it.
Just like I would with Rize.
I felt a strong urge to do so. I really wanted to hug Rosalyn.
“There’s no problem with that… but why?”
“Just… I usually hug a pillow when I sleep…”
“Ah, I see. That does seem comfortable. Okay.”
Fortunately, Rosalyn accepted my words easily.
I wasn’t sure if this was good or naive… but it was what it was.
“Then… come here, hug me.”
“… Okay.”
Although it was a spur-of-the-moment request, I slid right into Rosalyn’s embrace.
Since we were both lying down facing each other, it was completely easy and… even more comfortable.
Unlike when I hugged Rize, this felt much cozier.
I remembered how I felt the first time I entered the bath with Rosalyn back then.
Rosalyn casually caressed my head with her hand, but I found myself thinking strange thoughts while being hugged by her.
About Rosalyn’s full motherly affection…
… Yeah, feelings like that were flooding my mind since she was so close.
“……..”
“Hehe, comfortable?”
“Y-yes…”
The presence of her warmth right in front of me was unmistakable.
If I closed my eyes, I felt that unique softness even more, and if I opened them, I could see it clearly…
“Camelia.”
“Yes…?”
“When you wake up, will you show me the magic you learned?”
“Yes… of course. It’s not hard…”
I quietly answered while nestled in Rosalyn’s embrace.
I felt like if I moved here, it would make things even weirder.
I felt that it was better not to move.
Even though we were already in contact, moving would probably feel even weirder, so I kept my body still.
Rosalyn, for her part, casually kept stroking my head and spoke to me softly.
“I’m really happy to be this close to you, Camelia.”
“Is that so…?”
“Yes. You know, right? What kind of person the Head of the family is.”
“… Yes.”
My eyelids, which had been drifting to sleep, suddenly opened again at Rosalyn’s words.
I really didn’t expect her to bring up William like this.
“So at first, I didn’t really like being in the mansion. After all, it’s a marriage… I was just like a puppet, sitting quietly at home.”
“… Yes.”
“But spending time with you, Camelia, genuinely felt great, even though we did it every time.”
“……..”
Rosalyn’s words were a bit sudden, but it felt like she was expressing her gratitude to me, so I just remained silent.
Honestly, I hadn’t really done anything, but it felt different, and I felt a little awkward.
“I’m actually from another family, so I honestly didn’t think you would accept me easily, Camelia.”
“…….”
“I was really grateful that you accepted me more than I expected.”
“That’s because you’re a good person, Mother…”
“Hehe, you’re really a good child.”
“Uh…”
As I tried to respond, I felt her hug my head a little tighter.
Thanks to that, my face was buried in Rosalyn’s chest.
It wiped away all the thoughts running through my mind.
No other thoughts came to me; all I could feel was this warm sensation… it was both strange and delightful.
I couldn’t say a word. Even though Rosalyn whispered other things, I could only nod.
Moreover, I could feel Rosalyn’s heartbeat very clearly.
*
Years passed like that.
Four years, longer than I had ever thought.
I went from being an 8-year-old to a 12-year-old. Naturally, I could only describe it as a long time.
“Camelia~!”
“What is it, Mother?”
“The Academy sent us the paperwork for entrance applications for next year!”
“… Really?”
“Yeah!”
Over the four years, I became even closer to Rosalyn and got to know others apart from her better.
Naturally, I was close to Rize and Ashley, who lived in the same mansion, as well as Ella and Karen from other families.
Even though they were from different families, they came to our mansion more often than I expected.
Sometimes it was a bit annoying though.
“I’m really glad. I was worried about being rejected just because I’m from the Leonhardt family.”
“Well… if there’s no separate contact, you just take the normal exam.”
“That’s true, but the Academy also somewhat acknowledges you, Camelia, right?”
“That’s the case.”
The reputation about the Leonhardt family had improved a bit from when I was a child.
Of course, I thought the same about William, but overall it had definitely gotten better compared to before.
It’s probably because I had been hanging out with the well-off young ladies of the Roseaki family and the Niehsista family.
Apart from that, my business ventures had made me a lot of money, so I ended up having even more.
Now, it was to the point that the old aristocrats couldn’t easily dismiss me. I might even be able to buy a couple of noble estates without any problems.
“By the way, the Academy…”
“What about it?”
“Just… I feel like I’ve grown up a lot.”
“… You’re only 20.”
Just as I had grown older, Rosalyn had too… and so she’d matured even more now.
In many aspects.
“Hehe, there really is a clear difference between being a teenager and being in your twenties.”
“… If you say so, then it must be true.”
“When you were little… you were really an adorably charming daughter. Now, I feel like you’re more ruthless, and it makes me sad.”
“… That was when I was little.”
Rosalyn was right.
My attitude towards her had changed a bit from before.
It wasn’t that I disliked Rosalyn; it was just that… I felt like I shouldn’t treat her the same way I did back then.
“… I’m not treating you differently because I dislike you, Mother.”
“Still. I liked the cute and affectionate Camelia of the past more…”
I wanted to be like that too, but honestly, it couldn’t be helped. I had matured more and had become prettier, and it felt impossible to treat Rosalyn just like before.
Honestly, I thought it was more due to Rosalyn’s influence than my own fault.