My Stepmom is Too Pretty, and It’s Troubling Me – Chapter 86

Before I knew it, winter had come.

Of course, being in the south, it didn’t get cold enough to drop below zero, but still… it had gotten chilly.

And now, the entrance to the Academy was just around the corner.

Well, since the entrance ceremony was in spring… there were still a few months left, but the fact that it was approaching was definitely true.

“Hmm… Should I start making it soon?”

[Documents for opening a new account in the Information Guild]

It had been longer than I thought since Alexandra had told me to make them.

But then again, Alexandra hadn’t specified when I had to make them.

So I figured there wouldn’t be any issues.

Besides, I had a lot of other things to do recently anyway.

“Ugh, it’s such a hassle…”

Honestly, the trip to the Information Guild felt a bit, no, a lot of hassle.

It was located deeper within the territory of our Mansion.

“But still… if I delay any longer, she’ll definitely be mad.”

Alexandra’s reactions were rather interesting, and I thought about simply letting it slide.

But I figured it would be better to just go ahead and make contact.

I had this gut feeling that if we met next time, she’d be furious.

“…Hmm.”

For now, I decided to change my clothes first.

Usually, I’d call for Rize to help me, but since I planned to go alone today, I didn’t.

I intended to go out quietly under the pretense of just taking a stroll and come back just as quietly.

“Will this do?”

I glanced in the mirror, slightly checking the clothes I had chosen.

It gave off a rather gloomy vibe—a style darker than usual.

I didn’t realize how dark these clothes would look until I pulled them out; they seemed unexpectedly gloomy.

“Actually, since I’m going to the Information Guild, maybe this fits better?”

It gave off a certain impressive feel.

I coordinated an all-black outfit, but since it wasn’t a bright, cute dress like I usually wore, it felt particularly striking.

Like a female boss of some mafia organization?

“Hehe…”

I struck a few poses in front of the mirror, trying to look cool.

I didn’t get this vibe from the dresses or cardigans Rize usually dressed me in.

“Hmm…”

I thought this should be good enough.

I didn’t know much about fashion, but it felt sufficient to me.

As I opened my room door and stepped outside, I bumped into Rize.

It seemed she was about to come in to clean my room.

“Young Lady? Where are you going?”

“Just for a walk.”

“Is that so…?”

“Yeah, but what do you think of this outfit? Isn’t it pretty?”

I had no intention of revealing my actual purpose for going out.

I immediately changed the subject.

There was no need for others to know what I was going out for, and it was better that way.

Especially since it was best that Rosalyn didn’t find out.

“It suits you well, but it’s quite different from what you usually wear.”

“Is it? I picked it out myself.”

“…Usually, don’t you wear cardigans or dresses?”

That was true.

My outfit was very different from how I usually dressed.

I could agree with that.

“It’s just winter. I thought this would be warmer than a dress or cardigan, so I tried it on. Plus, doesn’t this look cooler?”

“Ah…”

I sensed Rize looked at me as if I were a child for a moment, but I could understand why.

Here I was, a girl who usually wore dresses or cardigans, suddenly wearing a coat.

I probably looked like I was having a bit of a midlife crisis or something.

“Anyway, I’ll be back.”

“I should come with you…”

“No. I just want to take a walk by myself today. Once I go to the Academy, I’ll be surrounded by other students and people all the time. I just want to spend some time doing nothing comfortably.”

“Ah, I understand. Well, have a good trip then.”

“Yeah, Rize, please clean well?”

“Yes.”

Rize bowed to me, and I waved my hand goodbye as I set off again.

I originally planned to sneak out and return quickly.

But this wasn’t too bad.

Seeing Rize in her cute maid outfit was always a delight.

“Heh…”

Honestly, I felt like messing around with Rize a bit more, but I had work to do.

If I didn’t take care of this this month, I felt like Alexandra would be super mad at me next time, so I had no choice.

*

So, I left the Mansion and began wandering the streets.

The Information Guild was located a bit deeper in the city, and I quietly walked alone to avoid drawing attention by taking a carriage.

– Tap tap…

Well… even without taking a carriage, I couldn’t help but draw some eyes.

While I might be young, I was certainly pretty.

Even I thought my looks would naturally attract people’s attention.

“…Hmm.”

Though people often glanced my way, today I was alone…

Usually, I wore expensive dresses, accompanied by servants, but today didn’t feel feminine at all…

“…Tsk.”

There was no escaping the fact that I was pretty just by being born that way.

In the end, all I could do was just keep walking quietly, trying not to be too mindful of my surroundings.

“…….”

By the way, I seriously feel like I’m short.

“…Tsk.”

Most of the people walking around me were definitely taller than I was, so it was for sure that I was.

I felt like I had grown a bit more than before… but still, I was short.

I couldn’t help but wonder when I’d finally grow tall… I thought I might be under the average height even as an adult, and it bugged me a bit.

…

The only good thing was that, despite my height, I had a good figure, and my appearance was quite beautiful, so I didn’t seem too young for my height?

As I walked, lost in thoughts about my height, I found myself getting closer to my destination.

Unlike the busy streets earlier, this one was particularly quiet and calm.

Most of the people walking were alone, heads bowed as they walked.

“…Whenever I come here…”

It was a street I still hadn’t gotten used to in many ways.

I often wondered what I thought while wandering this area when I was younger.

I was still 12 now, but when I think back to even further, how did I manage to come here?

“…I was pretty naive back then.”

Even if the Information Guild claims to have some security, this street still felt far from safe.

Back then, I didn’t even take a servant with me… what in the world was I thinking?

It was definitely not safe for an 8-year-old to be wandering around alone…

Plus, back then, I wasn’t very good at using magic either.

“I was really stupid.”

Chuckling to myself, I finally arrived at the Information Guild.

Well, at least at the entrance.

I entered a building that resembled a run-down structure, quietly climbed the stairs to the second floor.

– Creak…

Every time I entered, I worried whether this old building would collapse.

But since I knew they were maintaining it reasonably well, I wasn’t too concerned.

Once I reached the second floor and slowly walked down the hallway, I paused in front of a statue.

It was a statue shaped like a raven—a bit larger than one might expect, but still shaped like a raven.

– Press…

I gently pressed the raven’s head down.

– Creak…

The wall of the hallway slowly began to open.

It never ceased to amaze me… It had such a grand feel to it.

If only the entrance of this old building didn’t feel so ancient, it would be even more impressive.

– Tap.

– Tap…

Then I could see the stairs revealed inside the opening wall.

I began to descend those stairs steadily.

With a closing sound behind me, I muttered, “I’m here to see the raven.”

Once I reached the bottom, I said it aloud.

Actually, there might be someone listening, so I guess I wasn’t totally alone.

– Creak…

And one of the previously closed doors opened.

Ah, it was such a bother, but it definitely had a secretive charm that I couldn’t complain about.

The Information Guild needed to have this sort of aspect to earn trust.

I entered through the opened door again.

Once I stepped through, I was greeted with another hallway.

I walked down that hallway again until I reached another new door, and I knocked seven times.

Then, the door swung open with a bang.

“What a bother.”

It was as if every time was the same.

“Oh my, it’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

Inside the room I entered was a woman fully cloaked in a coat with her face concealed by a veil.

A woman I had seen often since I was little.

I didn’t know much about her, but that part was true.

“Are you here for information again? Recently, there hasn’t been anything except for royal-related topics.”

“I didn’t come today for information.”

“Oh my.”

She covered her mouth with her hand as if surprised.

In reality, her mouth was obscured by the veil, so it was hardly visible, and even her hands were gloved, making it impossible to see them at all.

But this was the sort of behavior that was all just a joke for her.

“I came because I want to open a new name in the Information Guild. Something different than Camelia Leonhardt that I can use only for the Guild.”

“Oh my…”

This time, she seemed to be a bit more sincere.

Anyway, she was someone I frequently saw when I visited the Information Guild.

Since I appeared almost every time I came here, it wouldn’t be too odd to consider her my dedicated counselor.

“Hmm… What about payment?”

“I think it can be calculated based on what’s in my safe.”

“Okay~”

She then began to write something down on the papers on the table.

I sat opposite her and handed over the documents I had brought.

They contained various information about me along with other contractual details.

They were documents for a new name to be used in the Information Guild.

“You came well prepared.”

“It’s really not my style to just hang around here.”

“I actually enjoy playing with you.”

“Given our age difference, it feels a bit strange to call you that.”

“Hmm.”

She pretended to wipe a tear as if she were sad about it.

Honestly, she didn’t even seem to be sad about it, but I couldn’t figure out why she was acting that way.

“So, what name will you use? You’re not going with Camelia, are you?”

“Hmm… Good question.”

She asked again in a serious tone.

A nickname.

I still hadn’t thought of anything concrete.

While I pondered during the return from Rose, I hadn’t really settled on anything specific.

Honestly, every time I thought about nicknames, Alexandra’s nickname made me laugh.

Canary and…

“Pfft…”

“What’s up, darling?”

“Nothing! Just the nickname… right…”

It wasn’t too strange that Alexandra’s name popped into my head suddenly; after all, she was the reason I was here at the Information Guild.

“How about Rose and Lion… sounds good?”

I said with a smile.

Honestly, I thought of Canary and Lion too, but that felt too predatory.

So it was just something that came to mind.