My Stepmom is Too Pretty, and It’s Troubling Me – Chapter 82

Summer has completely ended, and now it’s autumn.

There’s still plenty of time until starting at the Academy.

My daily routine is just…

Sipping tea with Rosalyn, spending time casually shopping, or teasing Rize.

-Crunch, crunch…

Aside from passing the time like that, there were a few things I had to take care of.

Since I wouldn’t be able to continue my current businesses while attending the Academy.

I was working a bit on selling the businesses I managed to others.

Of course, it was a bit disappointing to sell off the businesses I had already grown to a certain extent.

“Ugh…”

But it couldn’t be helped.

It was better to let go of these things than obsess over them and end up regretting it later.

“The magic stone cave in the eastern region has been successfully sold…”

I was writing additional notes about the businesses and business items I had organized in my notebook.

Most of the tasks were already mostly taken care of.

The businesses I received from William could simply be returned to him.

I only had to focus on the ones I was running on my own.

“Camelia, are you doing well with your work?”

“Yes, I’m doing well. There’s nothing particularly difficult about it.”

“Hehe, is that so? Mom has never done such things, so she wouldn’t know.”

“Uh… It’s just a matter of selling the items I have. It’s not that difficult.”

While I was working alone in my room, Rosalyn came in.

She must have been curious since I was quietly focused on my work.

“But this way, when you go to the Academy later, you can just enjoy school life, right?”

“That’s right. I’ve been doing this on purpose for that.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

Rosalyn, who sat on my bed, said that.

She sometimes comes to my room while I’m working… Is it really that interesting?

I wouldn’t think that working would be fun at all.

“Camelia. But if you sell such businesses to others, how much profit do you get?”

“Uh… It varies by business. If I sell all the shares of the most expensive one, I could probably buy dozens of buildings in the center quite easily.”

“…Really?”

“Yes. Of course, I don’t plan on selling that right now…”

“…You’re earning way more than I thought?”

“I’ve been doing this since I was young. Plus, some of them are businesses Dad gave me.”

“……..”

It seems Rosalyn didn’t know much about my businesses individually.

I hadn’t really talked about my business dealings with her every time.

Is that why?

Rosalyn looked a bit surprised when she looked at me.

“And the most expensive one… it’s a gigantic magic stone mine. Other than that… compared to what I just mentioned, the prices aren’t that high.”

“Really…?”

“Yes. For the rest, if sold, maybe three buildings in the center?”

Even though the buildings in the center were expensive, I could manage that.

In fact, the magic stone mine was just exceptionally pricey.

“Camelia, should I tell the maids to bring us something to drink?”

“If Mother does that, it would certainly be nice.”

Was she feeling proud of me for working like this?

Rosalyn, who had been sitting on the bed, got up and said she would bring something to drink.

Of course, through the maids, but I couldn’t complain about that.

Honestly, I had been a bit thirsty for a while now, hadn’t I?

“Can you bring me something sweet instead of tea?”

“Hehe, I’ll do that. And don’t overdo it, take your time.”

“Okay, I will.”

I knew why Rosalyn said that to me.

But I truly didn’t intend to work to the point of wearing myself out.

I had had a bit of that kind of work when I was younger, but these days, I found it way more fun to tease Rize and play with Rosalyn.

*

“Young Lady.”

“Yes, juice?”

“Yes.”

As I was working a bit more, Rize entered my room holding drinks and snacks.

It was something I asked Rosalyn for, and since I was the one it was for, of course, I expected Rize to come.

In fact, I felt more comfortable with Rize than with the other maids, anyway.

“Just set it down next to me.”

“Yes, understood.”

“Oh, and Rize, do you want to have some snacks too?”

There was still work to do, but sitting alone working was getting a bit dull.

Well… I could concentrate better when alone.

“What do you think?”

Still, working while talking with someone was better than sitting quietly alone, so I asked Rize.

“Well, there isn’t really anything else to do right now, is there?”

And since I already knew Rize’s schedule well, I could say that.

I wasn’t the kind of person to keep someone with things to do from their work.

“…Understood.”

After hearing what I said, Rize closed the door and sat on my bed.

She sat very neatly.

I always thought that, no matter how much Rize and I were in a master-maid relationship, she seemed to think of me too seriously.

I sometimes joke around and tease her, but all that’s a sign of closeness.

Did she really have to sit so stiffly just because we were in this position?

Of course, that posture reflected Rize’s personality to some extent… but she could be a bit more relaxed.

“Rize.”

“?”

I had a bit of work left, but I closed my notebook and went over to Rize.

I could spend time teasing Rize on the bed again, but… I had done that quite a bit recently.

“Let’s go over there.”

“Oh, okay.”

I moved towards a place with a table and chairs instead of the bed.

After all, the place where I had just been handling work was… quite cluttered with documents and such.

It wouldn’t be nice to hang out here while having snacks.

“Young Lady, how are the business matters going?”

“Business? It’s going well. I’ve sold to Baron Saeli from the South. I’ve also sold some to merchant unions and such. Hmm… I think it’s going pretty well?”

“Oh…”

“Why? Are you curious about something?”

It felt like more people were asking me about my businesses today.

Rosalyn had also asked me about this earlier.

Well, it was only natural since I had been doing this in my room only.

“I was just curious since you’ve been focused on those tasks recently.”

“Ah, I see.”

“…I’m glad to hear that the things you’ve been worrying about are going well.”

“Right. I won’t be able to do this right up until the Academy entrance. Well… there’s still half left, but I think it’ll go well.”

“Yes, it should.”

I talked with Rize while having refreshments and juice.

Her sitting posture was very neat, and she continued to speak to me formally, but it was still comfortable.

Could it be because I’m one of the few people with whom she can discuss business or secret matters?

“Rize. How are you preparing to go to the Academy?”

“Uh… I don’t really have anything special to prepare… A few maid dresses and daily necessities should be enough. Most of the items are provided by the Academy…”

“Oh, I see?”

“Yes, there are more of my things that I’ll be preparing for the Young Lady.”

“That makes sense.”

Definitely… aside from the maid following, there wouldn’t be much for Rize to prepare for herself.

Unlike me, who had many documents and such to prepare, Rize had nothing that needed doing.

At most… maybe documents proving that she’s my maid?

I guess aside from that, she wouldn’t have anything at all.

“Hmm…”

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“I was just looking.”

I was just thinking a bit and happened to look at Rize.

“But Rize. How many maid dresses are you bringing along?”

“…Pardon?”

Rize’s face seemed to momentarily not understand my question.

Was it that surprising?

I was just a bit curious after hearing her, but I didn’t expect that kind of reaction.

“No, you mentioned you were bringing some maid dresses, so how many are you bringing?”

“…Probably around five?”

“Oh… that’s a lot, isn’t it?”

Was it because Rize wore maid dresses for most of the week?

That’s quite a lot to bring.

“Are all of them~ the same kind of maid dress? Same design, size, fabric, everything?”

“I believe so…”

“Oh ho…”

Even though I get a lot of flak for it, is it because I live as a noble?

It was a bit surprising for me, who changes outfits every single day.

To be honest, it’s a bit annoying to have to wear different dresses or shirts each day… but if I don’t, not only the maids but also Rosalyn would say something about it.

So I had no choice but to wear different outfits all the time.

“Hehe…”

“…Why do you do that?”

“I just thought of something funny?”

Rize seemed like she wouldn’t approve and wouldn’t want to do it.

But I had a fun idea that crossed my mind.

“Next time, I think it would be fun to try on Rize’s maid dress?”

“…Young Lady.”

“I mean, wouldn’t it be fun to role-play as a maid while treating Rize like the Young Lady?”

“…Young Lady.”

“Isn’t that so…?”

I thought it sounded fun.

But Rize was looking at me like I was the biggest fool.

Hmm…

“Was it really that bad?”

Honestly, I thought it would be fun.