My Stepmom is Too Pretty, and It’s Troubling Me – Chapter 81

“Camelia. How’s your preparation for entering the Academy going?”

“I’ve already chosen the maid I’ll take with me to the Academy, and I plan to get the school uniform fitted by winter. I’ve also finished preparing the documents related to the Academy entrance.”

As I returned home, going about my usual routine, William called for me.

It seemed that William had just come back to the mansion after a long time, and he was definitely going to leave again soon.

He must have had some things to do before heading out.

“You’re managing well.”

“It wasn’t anything difficult. I just entrusted most of the documents to the butler and the servants.”

“Next year, the royal family won’t be entering Solkemia Academy, but other children of high-ranking families will.”

“Like, the saint or something?”

“Exactly. Not just two saints, but many from duke and count families are expected to enroll. So, look into it a bit before the entrance.”

“It might be a bit tough dealing with dukes and counts… but I’ll proceed cautiously.”

“Alright.”

We weren’t exactly a super close and warm father-daughter pair.

In fact, this kind of conversation was quite normal for us.

It was also comfortable.

“Oh, right.”

“Huh?”

Just as I thought our discussion was wrapping up and began to turn my body slowly, William spoke up again, prompting me to freeze.

What on earth was he trying to say now?

“What is it?”

“There was that past suggestion about developing products for the nobles traveling up north.”

“Oh, right. When I was little.”

“I had a brief conversation with a few families up north regarding that.”

“Oh…”

That caught me off guard.

I expected him to have more requests or tasks for me. How unexpected it was that something we mentioned ages ago was suddenly being revisited.

It was something I’d only lightly considered when I had a tutor back then.

I’d never expected he’d bring it up now.

“What families were you talking to?”

“I haven’t properly discussed anything yet. We only exchanged a few words casually while passing through that area.”

“I see.”

So, it wasn’t something imminent.

I was a tad hopeful, but it was fine.

After all, that discussion was from a long time ago, and I hadn’t actually invested much effort into developing or planning that business idea.

Speaking of which, having to go all the way to the north or exchanging letters with noble families was also quite a hassle, wasn’t it?

“I’ll let you know if I get some good news.”

“Thank you.”

“Yeah, entrance to the Academy is coming up soon. Just be cautious out there.”

“Heh, have I ever had a bad relationship with people from other families so far?”

Anyway, as I chatted with William, I stepped out of his room.

After all, there were less than six months left until the Academy entrance, just as he said.

According to William, it would be wise to tread cautiously.

“Hmm…”

I usually just sat or lay down all day, so I wasn’t worried about my physical health. As for my reputation… it’s probably decent compared to the average Leonhardt.

In business, I actually seemed to be doing quite well.

“Ugh…”

As soon as I got back, I plopped myself onto the bed.

After a lot of moving around lately, I was feeling quite fatigued.

It had been hot during summer, and I went to the villa to rest before returning to take another carriage ride back… and then headed to the Rose family right after taking a week off.

With all that going on, it was no surprise I felt worn out.

I didn’t have any major illnesses, but… my body was quite weak from lack of exercise.

I had just been sitting around the mansion every day.

In fact, wasn’t Rosalyn the one getting around more often?

“I’m so tired…”

Even though quite a bit of time had passed since returning to the mansion, I was truly worn out. For the past few days, I had just been lying around in bed.

…Though to be fair, it was mostly because the bed was super comfy.

“Young Lady.”

“What is it?”

“When are you going to stop just lying around like that?”

“Um… just for about 30 more minutes?”

“…You’ve been lying around way too much lately, haven’t you?”

“Well, there’s nothing to do anyway.”

Rize entered my room and pointed that out, but… I really had no tasks at hand.

“I’m preparing to sell the business since I will hardly be able to manage it from next year onwards, and there’s nothing left to handle right now anyway.”

“…Still.”

“It’s alright to just lie around for a bit.”

“……..”

Although Rize urged me to get up, I had no intention of doing so whatsoever.

After all, I was feeling extremely comfy right now!

“Hehe.”

“Young Lady.”

“What is it?”

It was true that I had been lying around a lot, and I could understand Rize’s concern about me being lazy.

But understanding or not, I had no intention of getting up.

I had indeed been moving around way too much lately.

I had replaced all the furniture in the Rose family house, but still, my bed back home was the most plush.

Then, maybe the bed in Rosalyn’s room was next in comfort?

“Are you feeling uncomfortable lying here alone?”

“Not at all.”

“Hmm…”

Rize kept insisting I get up while continuously glancing my way and telling me to sit up.

I could see that her worry made sense, but it amused me to act in opposition to whatever Rize suggested.

Plus, the way she looked at me was akin to how one would regard a precious pet, which was quite amusing.

I just kept resisting her pleas while still lying on the bed.

“Rize.”

“Yes, Young Lady…”

“Come here.”

“Excuse me?”

“I have nothing to do, so you also have nothing to do, right? Just come up here.”

“…….”

Back in the day, Rize used to blush at such requests.

Actually, she still seemed a bit embarrassed nowadays.

But honestly, I didn’t care much back then or now.

“Come on, quickly.”

As if it were nothing, I told Rize to climb onto my bed.

Seeing her face flush the moment I said that… she was just too cute!

“Hehe…”

With a slightly embarrassed look in her eyes, Rize climbed onto my bed.

She blushed but didn’t seem to dislike it at all.

“……..”

“Every time this happens, things get quiet, don’t they?”

“…That’s never happened.”

“Really?”

With Rize now sitting on my bed, I couldn’t help but smile at her.

I couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Ahahaha…”

“…Young Lady.”

“Sorry, sorry. Your reaction was just too funny.”

“……..”

Rize, in response to my comment, wore a slightly embarrassed face and made a feeble protest.

Just moments ago, she had been chattering away about me lying down, yet now she was so silent.

She was completely different from how she had been just before.

“This is why I tease you, Rize.”

“Hmph…”

Even just resting my hand on her shoulder was enough to make her react this way, which was just too amusing to resist.

If anyone were to see this, they’d think I had touched some sensitive spot.

“Rize.”

“Y-Yes, Young Lady…”

“Your face is all red.”

“……..”

“Are you really that embarrassed? We’ve done this more than once.”

“…Yes.”

“Having known you since childhood, don’t you think it’s about time you’d get used to it?”

Honestly, I hadn’t done this in forever, and it felt odd that she still reacted this way.

I’d held Rize or laid next to her on the bed plenty of times by now.

I found it fascinating that she got shy every time this kind of situation arose.

While I’d grown less shy around Rosalyn over time, Rize seemed stuck in the same spot.

“Am I really that pretty?”

“…….”

“Hehe…”

It was something Rize had once said to me herself.

That I was so pretty, it was hard to stay this close.

Despite her embarrassment, it did bring me some joy.

In a way, Rize’s reactions felt like praise, didn’t they?

Her being unable to be close because of how beautiful I was.

I usually didn’t care much about my appearance, but compliments were always nice.

-Swuup…

“A-Young Lady?”

“What? Don’t you like it?”

“N-No, that’s not it…”

“Then why?”

I shifted my hand from her shoulder and changed its position slightly.

I slowly raised it as I moved it past her shoulder, finally reaching her neck.

There was no particular reason for it—I just found her reactions adorable.

“Don’t like it?”

“It’s not that…”

Rize visibly struggled to give me a proper response, and though she knew that her remark wouldn’t deter me from playfully teasing her…

It seemed she didn’t completely dislike what was happening.

Of course, since she wasn’t finishing her sentences, I felt free to act however I wanted.

“Does that mean I can do even more?”

“If that’s what you… want, Young Lady…”

Rize hesitated but wore a serious expression as she was prepared to indulge my playful antics.

I merely intended to tease by pulling her cheeks a bit, but seeing her so worried made me concerned that she might actually start crying.

Certainly, a pretty girl like Rize would look adorable even if she cried…

But I preferred her smiling over weeping, if I had to choose.

“Just kidding! Just kidding! I was only playing around because your reaction was too fun!”

“R-Really?”

“Yep! I just wanted you to get quiet since you’ve been bothering me!”

“Oh…”

With that, I withdrew my hand from where I had been stroking her neck.

The comfort and texture were surprisingly nice, and I was tempted to keep touching her, but… Rize could be so shy.

“Anyway, you have nothing to do as well, right? How about we take a nap together?”

“A-Young Lady?!”

“Why? I didn’t touch you one bit, did I?”

Though I had pulled my hand away, I still had no intention of stopping amusing myself at Rize’s expense.

And I had a lot of ideas left.

“Hehe, want to take a nap like the old days? We used to do it all the time when we were little.”

“Still, it’s not really time for that…”

“Oh, come on! I’m tired nowadays, and I sleep well at night as well. Just a little nap, okay?”

Intentionally drawing closer to Rize, even though we were lying on the bed, I moved in such that we were almost touching.

“Okay?”

“……..”

Rize didn’t respond with a yes or no, but she slowly began to pull the blanket up from the bottom.

She really did look like a cute little hamster with her small reactions.

Albeit she was taller than me, her reactions were so similar.

“Hehe…”

It made me want to tease her even more.

A completely different kind of cuteness compared to the timid Karen.

I certainly couldn’t tease Karen too much; she’d likely burst into tears and run away…