My Stepmom is Too Pretty, and It’s Troubling Me – Chapter 68

Is money really the best?

It seems that just having a lot of money made things so easy to resolve.

I have to admit, spending a bit of my own money didn’t sit well with me, but looking at how everything is sorted out…

“Haha…”

I couldn’t help but laugh.

It really is much better.

The dusty, web-filled sight when I first entered was truly infuriating.

I mean, logically, it’s a noble family, yet they asked us to use a place with zero management for guests? Who would’ve thought…

“Ahhh… this is comfortable…”

“…It’s definitely all much more comfortable.”

“Right? I think we made a good change!”

“Yeah.”

Rosalyn, too, readily admitted it was way better than before.

It wasn’t just the change of the bedroom, but also the chandelier, the handrails of the stairs, and even the chairs and tables in rooms other than the bedroom.

Plus, even though they weren’t masterpieces, I hung up decent works in frames to decorate the place.

Honestly, even with all that, it still felt a bit lacking for me, but everyone seemed to like it.

Rosalyn absolutely loved the new interior, and the maids and knights, including Rize, were really enjoying it.

Though they didn’t explicitly mention it, their own bedrooms must have been unbearably uncomfortable.

“Rize?”

“Yes, Young Lady.”

“Are there any more empty rooms?”

“The maids and knights are sharing rooms in groups of three, so… I doubt there are.”

“Hmm… I guess there’s no helping that.”

It’s a three-story building, so we intentionally allocated rooms that way, but it’s still a bit disappointing.

If only there were a few more rooms, we could’ve had them share in pairs.

“Hmm…”

“What’s on your mind…?”

“Nothing. By the way, how are the other maids in Rize’s room?”

“They’re all good kids. Quiet, and um…”

“That’s a relief.”

I did think about giving the other maids rooms in pairs, but I wanted Rize to have a single room, yet it couldn’t be helped.

Most of the maids and knights had to stay in the same building as me and Rosalyn.

Anyway, unlike yesterday, we were comfortably resting in the building and spending the evening.

We spent a ton of time raiding the furniture store in the territory from morning, moving things around, but now that everything’s sorted, there was nothing in particular to do.

*

“Camelia, can you go out shortly?”

“Yes, no problem.”

After finishing breakfast and quietly gazing out the window, Rosalyn suddenly came into the room and brought that up.

I didn’t know what it was about, but she probably had something to do.

If it was something to do inside the building, she wouldn’t need to ask for my understanding.

“Hmm… Rize, bring out my clothes.”

“Understood.”

“I can wear something a little less casual than at home. The weather’s been a bit cooler lately.”

“Yes.”

First off, I decided to change out of what was basically my pajamas into something else.

The dress I was wearing was almost pajamas, so it was a bit ambiguous.

“Hmm…”

I wonder what Rosalyn is planning to do?

Maybe she’s meeting people other than Alexandra from the Rose Family.

I haven’t met anyone from Rosalyn’s family other than Alexandra yet.

She has a brother, but I haven’t heard much about anyone else, right?

“Rize.”

“Yes, Young Lady?”

“Have you seen anyone from the Rose Family besides Alexandra during our stay in this mansion?”

“Um…”

Honestly, it was quite strange.

No matter how much Rosalyn is family to them, logically, while being here as guests… I’ve never met anyone other than Alexandra.

I had seen a few of the maids, but…

“Isn’t that a bit… strange?”

“…That’s true.”

“I mean, there’s definitely light on in that building, and I can see shadows moving, but we haven’t been called yet…”

Even though it’s been two days since we arrived, I hadn’t seen the head of the Rose Family or the lady of the house.

Moreover, I hadn’t seen the eldest daughter of the Rose Family either.

The only ones I’ve seen are Alexandra and a few maids?

It’s quite baffling how clear the intent behind it all is—like, what’s up with that?

“No matter how much they dislike us, shouldn’t they at least show their faces? I haven’t even heard anything about the head of the Rose Family doing anything in public.”

“…Young Lady.”

“I’m not thinking of causing trouble. I’m just genuinely curious.”

“…In my personal opinion, provoking the Rose Family isn’t a very good idea.”

“Provoking? Ah… you mean yesterday?”

“……..”

Rize responded with silence, indicating agreement.

She was probably talking about how I reacted to Alexandra.

Other than that, I didn’thave anything to say.

“Hmm… there was no helping it.”

As I let Rize dress me, I continued.

I mean, what else could I do?

I was just sitting there getting the maids to do things, and suddenly someone shows up and gets mad at me? How could I just ignore that?

“…Young Lady.”

“And that person, judging by their actions, acts as if they’re the head of the family? The reality is they’re outclassed in every aspect by their eldest daughter and son.”

“…It would be best not to say those things in front of the lady.”

“I won’t, of course. Not in front of mother.”

“…That’s a relief.”

I’ve shown Rize my bad side, but I’ve never done that in front of Rosalyn.

I simply didn’t want to show her those sides of me.

Honestly, I do have a bad side at times, but Rosalyn is always kind.

There was no reason to show her that side, and I felt it was best to keep being an ordinary, sweet daughter.

“Ultimately, I’m not acting without a reason; the Rose Family made me this way, right?”

“I agree.”

“But isn’t it really strange? Do they really despise us that much?”

“…I’m not sure.”

Rize’s words made sense.

No matter how long she worked in Leonhardt and served as my maid, only Rosalyn and I had read that letter.

It probably wouldn’t be easy to gauge just how much the Rose Family dislikes us.

“Hmm… well, we’ll find out today. Since mother asked that, it seems likely.”

“Young Lady, how do you want your hair styled?”

“Hmm… should I tie it up?”

I usually wear it down, but today I decided to tie it.

It wasn’t just tying it up; I wanted to braid it a bit too.

After all, meeting someone like them, I couldn’t just throw on a simple look like usual.

I didn’t want to be nitpicked and hear more gossip.

Of course, they’d gossip anyway, but still.

“Young Lady, everything’s ready.”

“Thanks, Rize.”

After Rize helped me get ready, I looked in the mirror and said that to her.

She certainly does a good job dressing me up.

Looking at my reflection in the mirror, I felt that again.

Although I live as a woman, I never really showed much interest in makeup, and I wasn’t that keen on dressing up either.

Because of that, my grooming was always Rize’s responsibility…

So there’s barely any avoiding the fact that Rize is good at it.

*

“Hmm… this is the first time entering here in three days.”

“True, we haven’t been inside at all yet, right?”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

I was walking with Rosalyn from the guest building toward the building used by the Rose Family.

Alexandra called us to have lunch together.

Until now, we hadn’t eaten together, and it felt a bit odd to do so now, but maybe this is normal.

“Haha…”

Rosalyn also seemed to find this three-day delay awkward and a bit strange, matching my sentiment with a slightly awkward laugh.

“You were a bit late, Rosalyn.”

“Was I? I’m sorry, sister.”

“……..”

“You should come a bit earlier next time. Our parents are waiting.”

“Haha, I’m sorry.”

“……..”

At the door stood Alexandra, sounding rather displeased.

They hadn’t clearly indicated a specific time, and they just casually suggested lunch together, and the only thing they did was send a maid before.

So it didn’t sit right that they were blaming Rosalyn.

Of course, Rosalyn just took that nagging in stride, but honestly, it didn’t feel good at all.

“Ugh, let’s just go inside. Seriously, we’ve already notified them we’re having lunch.”

“……. ”

Ah, I really want to make a bold statement right now.

Watching Alexandra, who just wouldn’t shut her mouth, made me want to give her a piece of my mind.

Anyway, while following that nagging Alexandra, I entered the mansion.

“Oh, Rosalyn. It’s been a while since you came, right? Honestly, you’ve been in the guest building since we arrived.”

“Yeah, it has been a while.”

“Fufu, isn’t it much nicer now? The chandelier up here and, oh, that painting by the famous artist, Alvetia, hanging over there?”

“It’s a pretty painting.”

“Right? This kind of thing is something most families can’t acquire?”

“…?”

Why is she suddenly looking at me while saying that?

Is she trying to show off?

To a 12-year-old, no less?

“…It’s beautiful.”

“Hoho!”

“………”

Wow.

So she really thought that?

Baffled, I decided not to say anything more and just quietly followed behind.

“Mother, father? Rosalyn’s here.”

Thus, we arrived at the dining hall.

As soon as I entered, I saw two elderly nobles seated at the main seats.

They were probably Rosalyn’s mother and father.

For me, they would be my grandmother and grandfather.

“Hmm…”

Who does Rosalyn take after?

She’s not unattractive, but it’s not like… they all seemed less stunning than Rosalyn.