My Stepmom is Too Pretty, and It’s Troubling Me – Chapter 101

“By the way, Ella. It seems like more people are showing up at the inn.”

“Right? It was really quiet on the first day. It’s getting more noisy, which is annoying!”

We were having tea in Ella’s Room.

I had thought about going out and wandering around like yesterday, but today I was just laying low.

After all, as Ella said, many other noble Young Ladies and Young Lords had come to the inn… it would be pointless to roam around outside after being out for several days, right?

For that reason, I was just relaxing today.

“Ah, speaking of which… I think I saw a Young Lady we met at tea time before.”

I brought it up suddenly, having just remembered.

It felt like I had run into the young ladies from that tea party I attended when I first met Ella, back when we were really young.

Of course, I almost didn’t recognize them since they had grown since then, but I could recognize them to some extent.

“Most of the young nobles from the south have come, so she might be among them.”

“That makes sense.”

“It took longer to bring them than I thought, but I think they’ll be leaving soon.”

“…They said they would leave in three days, but today is actually the third day, which is quite the issue.”

…In many ways, it seemed things weren’t flowing smoothly, which I found a little concerning.

Of course, it wasn’t set in stone that they would definitely leave in three days; it was more like they would leave around that time, but still.

“…At least I’m glad I’ve somewhat adjusted to this inn.”

“You mean you’ve adjusted to this!?”

“…Well, a little?”

“I still haven’t!”

Ella jumped up from her seat, pleading.

To be honest, I couldn’t say I didn’t understand what she was saying. After all, Nieshista Mansion was way better than this place.

Even though it was a barony, Nieshista was one of the more distinguished baron families, so I thought her reaction was natural.

Actually, I had adjusted, but it was hardly to the point that I felt refreshed every time I woke up in the morning.

More like… it didn’t take more than 30 minutes for me to fall asleep?

“Camelia.”

“What is it?”

“Did you get your academy school uniform sorted?”

“I already did, and there are several in that luggage over there.”

Wasting time at the inn like this was all part of the process of going to the Academy, I supposed.

Ella brought up something related to the Academy.

“Why do you ask?”

“I just wanted to know. It would be a big deal if you were trying to enroll in the Academy but didn’t have your clothes ready, right?”

“Um… shouldn’t I be the one worrying about you more than you worrying about me?”

“I don’t make those kinds of mistakes!”

“I’ve seen you make a lot of mistakes before, though.”

“Huh!?”

Ella was surprisingly clumsy.

Having spent time together since we were eight, I naturally remembered all the times she had messed up and forgotten things.

“Do you not remember that time we were out together and you lost your wallet?”

“Th-that was because I was young!”

“Weren’t you just two years ago…?”

“Be quiet!”

Ella was showing her usual consistent reaction.

When teasing Rize, her reactions weren’t this exaggerated, but with Ella, she would jump in surprise every time, which I found delightful.

Of course, teasing Rize was fun too.

*

After resting comfortably in Ella’s Room and chatting, we ended up going outside.

It wasn’t part of the original plan, but we were a bit bored, so we went out together.

“Do you see that over there?”

“There are a lot of carriages parked.”

Ella pointed at a place where a massive number of carriages were gathered.

These weren’t just regular carriages; they were fancy ones adorned with the emblems of our respective noble families.

Seeing them gathered like this likely meant that they were really preparing to depart soon.

“Maybe they’re planning to leave for the Academy around tomorrow?”

“I think you’re right. They wouldn’t suddenly decide to leave now… they will probably let us know later tonight.”

“That sounds likely.”

Rize seemed to have similar thoughts as she watched the carriages.

Well, since many other noble kids had gathered at the inn, it was indeed about time for us to leave. Frankly, I felt quite stifled in this inn… I wanted to leave soon.

Even though I said I was used to it, I really wasn’t fond of it at all.

“But hey, Ella, how are the classes divided at the Academy?”

“I don’t know.”

“Oh really?”

Ella casually shrugged, saying she didn’t know.

To be honest, I wasn’t particularly interested either, but since we were chatting about the Academy, I figured I’d ask.

“Hmm… I hope we’re in the same class.”

“If I’m sharing a room with Camelia, it sounds like it would be exhausting.”

“…What?”

“…I just have a feeling.”

Suddenly, Ella started slandering me.

What did I do to deserve being accused of causing trouble?

I remembered Rize treating me that way before, but I couldn’t recall any accidents or incidents while being with Ella.

Of course, there were… incidents when I was out on business with Rize.

“Hmm… do you really think so?”

“Yeah. Since Camelia is popular, if we were in the same class, it would be a bit tiring.”

“How much popularity can a baron family really bring?”

“Even commoner girls attract Young Lords’ attention, so a baron family shouldn’t be too much trouble, right?”

“Ah…”

Is that a thing here too?

You know, like a common romance fantasy webtoon or those absurd medieval fantasy novels where it’s common for protagonists to attract attention from higher-status individuals.

Usually, in these genres, higher-status characters fall for the main character before they even take a liking because of their charm, but…

Does that really happen in reality too?

“Ehehe…”

“Why are you laughing?”

“Just… it’s funny?”

Honestly, it is a bit hilarious.

To think a protagonist from a commoner, baron, or marquis family could end up with much higher-status people just because of attraction… Doesn’t it sound funny?

In most of those genres, the protagonist would be first interested in someone of higher status.

Is that how it is in real life?

“Ella, just out of curiosity, are there often cases where nobles show interest in commoners at the Academy and end up dating them?”

“Hmm…”

“…Do you mean there are plenty of those cases?”

No way. I mean… do such absurd delusions like that genuinely exist?

Sure, this world kind of has that tendency.

The hair and eye colors are very diverse, so it’s not exactly what you’d call a ‘traditional’ fantasy.

But is that really possible?

“…Three years ago, a Young Lord from a duke family fell for a commoner girl…”

“…Really?”

“Do I look like I would lie about this?”

“…No, I’m just a bit surprised…”

It’s not that I wouldn’t shout about it or anything, but it was definitely surprising.

I hadn’t really thought something like that would actually happen…

I asked Ella as a joke, but I didn’t expect to get a serious response.

“It’s not a frequent occurrence, but it was quite noisy back then.”

“It seems I missed out on such info.”

“I guess Camelia was too busy working on her business to care about this stuff.”

“Honestly, I never had much interest in the seniors who had already graduated.”

“That sounds like you.”

But really, I had no significant interest in those who had graduated already.

It was better to gather information about the new students I would enter with.

“Anyway… personally, I hope we get to be in the same class.”

“I feel the same way. It might be annoying, but… there’s no one closer to me than Camelia.”

“Oh really, huh?”

That made me feel a bit better.

It was nothing major, but it was still nice to be recognized as Ella’s closest friend.

If we ended up in the same class at the Academy, it would definitely be nice, and much better than wandering around with kids I didn’t know.

“Why? Do you have someone closer to you than me?”

“Hmm… obviously, you’re the closest among our peers!”

Rize is older than me, after all.

“Hehe! Is that so?”

“Yeah, and among the new students, I don’t know anyone except for you. So I think you’re definitely my best friend at the Academy.”

“Hehehe!!!”

Ella smiled joyfully at what I said.

She was covering her mouth with a big grin, but really, there was no need to hide it since she was already laughing so much.

Of course, I wasn’t going to point out how cute she looked.

*

The next day, Rize and I were busy moving around from the morning.

I had prepared the night before, but I kept bugging Rize to just sleep, so here we were, working hard from early in the morning.

“Rize, can I just throw these clothes in the bag?”

“…Yes, please put them there.”

“Got it.”

Rize hadn’t finished packing because of me, so I was helping her out this morning.

Of course, it was a relief that we hadn’t unpacked everything.

It was all my fault since I had kept her in bed, refusing to let her get her packing done.

“My lady, those are your precious jewels, so please be careful…”

“Hey, it’s not like I wouldn’t know that!”

“…Just a moment ago, weren’t you about to toss things into the bag?”

“Haha, was I? Anyway, I’ll be careful with this~”

Finally, it was really happening that we were heading to the Academy, and somehow, I felt a little excited and bizarrely giddy.

…Once we arrived, the first thing I need to do is send a letter to Rosalyn.