My Stepmom is Too Pretty, and It’s Troubling Me – Chapter 133

“Miss Grace, Miss Grace.”

“What is it now?”

“Would you like some candy?”

I rolled a cherry candy around in my mouth as I asked Grace in the club room.

I was quite surprised when I first received it, but since it was a rare treat, I was enjoying it.


Since it wasn’t just one or two but a whole bag she handed me, I found myself eating it quite often in both the club room and the dormitory room.

Thanks to that, lately, most of the candies I’ve been eating are just the lemon candies Rize carries around and the cherry-flavored ones from Grace.

“…You eat it.”

“Oh come on, it’s really good! Just have one. It’s from Miss Grace, after all!”

“Why are you still giving me something you originally gifted?”

“Because I want you to have it?”

Grace gifted it to me, and it tastes decent, so I really don’t get why she’s still rejecting it.

It’s just an ordinary cherry candy—why wouldn’t she accept it?

“…Fine, just give me one.”

“Hehe, got it.”

After hearing Grace’s words, I jumped off the bed and handed her a candy.

Isn’t this what we call a positive cycle, sharing gifts with the giver?

After eating the candy I gave her, I noticed Grace’s expression changed, so it was definitely the case.

“Camelia, can I have that candy as well?”

“Of course! Ella, do you want one too?”

“Seeing you two eat the same candy all the time makes anyone want to have one.”

Is that so?

It’s true that I’ve been munching on candy throughout today’s lessons and later in the club room.

I usually have a bit of a sweet tooth anyway.

I used to eat the lemon candies Rize gave me, but since Rize wasn’t around during class…

“Here you go.”

“Why are you putting it right in front of my mouth…?”

“Isn’t it easier this way? No need to get sugar all over your hands?”

“Is that so…?”

Ella showed a bit of surprise when I brought the cherry candy to her mouth.

Is this really that strange?

I always did this when getting candy from Rize, so I never thought much about it.

There’s no need to get sugar on my fingertips, and being fed like this is much more convenient, at least I think so.

Well, I’ve always done it this way, so why wouldn’t I?

“Anyway, eat up.”

“…Okay, thank you…?”

Ella looked up at me slightly as she said that.

Ella took the candy I was holding and ate it.

Hmm, see? It’s definitely convenient!

After our exams, we were just relaxing like this.

Considering we had been quite busy with midterm studies for a while, we didn’t really need to do anything now.

After all, our club was just about killing time.

“…Young Lady.”

“Yes, Rize. What is it? Is something wrong?”

“You told me to eat candy in moderation, right…”

“Oh.”

“Even the lady is worried that you’re snacking too much… If you keep this up, how will I explain to the mansion in my letters…”

“Ah… um…”

Rize’s words were indeed right.

Ever since a long time ago, Rosalyn and Rize have been quite worried about my snacking habits.

I brushed my teeth just fine, and snacking doesn’t mean I’m piling on the pounds…

To be honest, I thought they were being a bit too dramatic.

I mean, really, the difference between eating candy or not isn’t significant at all.

Sure, my stamina can drop, but I’m not sickly enough to live in bed all year round.

Honestly, I couldn’t help but think they were worrying too much.

“It’ll be fine. Probably?”

“…Young Lady.”

“Oh come on, I can just eat a little less on weekends, right? If I had two today, I can just have one tomorrow.”

“Sigh…”

Of course, I say that but I’ll probably snack normally again on the weekend.

*

“Lady Leonhardt.”

“Yes, Lady Nordal. What brings you here?”

After school, while I was heading home as usual, Ivana Nordal suddenly approached me.

Today wasn’t even a club day.

I couldn’t easily guess why she was speaking to me on the way back.

“Do you have a moment?”

“Um… I think I can spare some time. I didn’t have anything planned, just going back to the dormitory room.”

“Then please spare just a moment.”

Although I felt a little puzzled by Ivana Nordal’s sudden request for time, I accepted it anyway.

It wasn’t like I had to study for anything like during midterms—what could it be?

I couldn’t come up with any reason for Ivana Nordal to approach me like this, so naturally, I thought about it a bit more.

For now, I just followed Nordal as she led me somewhere.

“But where are we going?”

“Just to a place where there aren’t many people.”

“Ah, I see.”

I wanted to ask more, but since Nordal answered my first question immediately, I let it slide.

If she was going to answer, she would have done so from the start.

Well, to be honest, I’ve never been able to easily follow Ivana Nordal’s way of thinking.

I just kind of resigned myself and walked.

“So, this is a classroom?”

“Yes.”

Following Nordal, we arrived at an empty classroom.

The lights were off, and there was no one around… and not many people were walking in the hallway either.

“What did you want to talk about that required coming all the way here? Is it that bad to speak openly with others?”

“Not really.”

“Hmm…?”

If that’s not it, then what on earth could be so important that she brought me to such a quiet classroom?

It felt reminiscent of the situation when she encouraged me to join the club.

Back then, I brought Nordal to this empty classroom to talk, and this felt exactly like that.

But seriously, what was this about?

“So what is it? It’s the first time Miss Nordal brought me somewhere like this.”

Anyway, I figured it was about time to find out what was going on.

Until now, Nordal had suddenly followed me, and I was the one who spoke to her first, but now she’s the one leading me—this has never happened before.

There must be a specific reason behind it.

“Two years ago, there was a magic stone mine discovered in the north. And three years ago, another was discovered.”

“What?”

“Last year’s dessert cafe business in the south. And the hunting business initiative from four years ago.”

“……. ”

At first, I didn’t understand what she was talking about.

But as I kept listening, I began to grasp the context of her words.

These magic stone mines and various businesses—all of them were things I had planned and pursued from a long time ago.

Nordal was listing the projects I had worked on, and I remained silent, listening to her without interrupting.

“It’s said that these belong to the Leonhardt family, but most of it was initiated by you, Lady Leonhardt.”

“Yes.”

Although she brought it up unexpectedly, I just agreed.

After all, it was really my doing, and perhaps she found out through the Information Guild.

“Why bring this up all of a sudden?”

“You seem surprisingly unfazed.”

“Well, you already seem to know everything, so there’s no point in pretending I don’t.”

Since it seemed like Nordal knew everything already, I had no intention of avoiding the topic.

I didn’t quite understand why she was saying this to me, but…

“So, what is it?”

“Since when did you start your businesses under your own initiative, not just as Lady Leonhardt?”

“Under my own initiative?”

“Yes. A business initiated and planned by you, not just Baron Leonhardt.”

“Hmm…”

I really didn’t understand why she brought this up all of a sudden, but I suppose…

It would be correct to answer her, right?

I figured there was no need to lie in front of someone from the Nordal family.

It would probably be better to answer honestly than to risk souring my relationship with them.

“Probably one of the small businesses I started four years ago in the south.”

“Hmm…”

“So, why do you ask? It feels like I’m answering your questions one-sidedly without much in return.”

I asked as I answered, noticing that Nordal hadn’t been giving me complete responses.

Even though I might be in a slightly lower position, it was unavoidable.

“That’s true.”

Nordal displayed a somewhat positive reaction to my somewhat impolite question.

What in the world could she be thinking?

Suddenly discussing past projects with me, it made no sense.

“Indeed, Lady Leonhardt was the only one answering, while I was just asking the questions.”

Did she realize that herself?

Anyway, I was quite surprised by the sudden topic, but I was relieved to see we could have a proper conversation.

“The reason I’m talking to you now is simple. I need your help.”

“…Help?”

“Yes, help. I believe your abilities can be of assistance to us, so I’m talking to you about this.”

“Um… why?”

I was a bit taken aback.

I’m not usually the type to get flustered, but this caught me off guard.

I was visibly flustered, not just inside.

What on earth could be the reason Nordal is speaking to me like this?

Why, of all people, is she reaching out to me with this?

“What I’m proposing is starting a business. I need your assistance in that.”

“Uhh… huh…?”

…I had a strong premonition that I was about to get tangled up in something bothersome.

No, I was certain of it.

What in the world is she suddenly talking about…