My Stepmom is Too Pretty, and It’s Troubling Me – Chapter 94

“Camelia, if you end up hanging out with any weird kids at the Academy…”

“I won’t! You know Mother trusts me the most.”

“That’s true, but…”

Rosalyn said this with a face full of concern.

Honestly, I wondered if she was worrying too much. I was just going to wear warm clothes and have a relaxed tea time in the garden—was it really over the top to worry about that?

Rosalyn had been concerned about my Academy life for a while, but recently, it felt like it had intensified.

It was probably because I was about to start attending the Academy soon.

“Just don’t go to any strange places at the Academy.”

“I won’t.”

“And… don’t get involved with those scary kids…?”

“I’m telling you, I won’t…”

I mean, I’ve probably done way worse things than most of those kids already.

I hadn’t crossed any legal lines yet, but my business certainly wasn’t squeaky clean either.

“Seriously, what if a Count or Duke’s child… turned out to be from a Baron family and gets into trouble…”

“I’ll be fine.”

“…Still…”

“You’re worrying too much…”

Honestly, while I could understand her concerns, it was becoming excessive.

I wasn’t some kid wandering on the highway without any protection.

“Um… Camelia, are you feeling cold?”

“…Mother.”

“Is it not okay to ask something like this…?”

“With a question like that right now…”

As I lowered my head slightly, all I could see was one thick blanket.

Originally, I just planned to wear a winter cardigan and relax, but Rosalyn insisted that it was too cold outside.

Thanks to her, I wasn’t just sitting in a chair—I was completely wrapped in a blanket.

“Doesn’t it look really warm?”

It wasn’t even cold enough for me to see my breath.

Even in winter, the southern winters didn’t drop below freezing.

It was just… around 10 degrees, give or take?

And there wasn’t even any snow where we lived.

“Still…”

Maybe it was because the time to leave for the Academy was really, truly approaching… Rosalyn was particularly anxious.

Even Rize, who was coming with me, and William, who was sending me to the Academy, weren’t that worried.

And me, the one actually going!

“…Was it too much pressure?”

“…A bit.”

“…I’m sorry. But, it’s Camelia’s first time living so far away…”

Rosalyn said this with a slightly trembling voice.

You could really hear the genuine concern in her tone.

“That… could be true…”

Honestly…

Since Rosalyn was worrying so much, I found myself at a loss for words.

Of course, I didn’t know if I should think it was nice that she was worrying so much or if it was the opposite.

“Really, if anything happens, you have to contact me immediately.”

“I know.”

Honestly, whatever happened, I could usually handle it on my own, and I planned to do just that.

Wouldn’t mentioning it to Rosalyn or William only make things worse?

I thought that might be the case…

Those thoughts swirled in my head, but since Rosalyn was so worried, I just quietly responded.

*

After that, Rosalyn’s endless nagging filled with worry continued.

If someone saw me, they might think I was a fool who was fascinated by fire and got too close.

Of course, I understood her feelings, so I just listened politely.

It probably made Rosalyn feel better that I was just going along with it.

“Rize, have you packed everything?”

“Yes, Young Lady. Aside from the maid outfit I’ll wear the day before we leave, everything is ready.”

“Oh… you prepared faster than I thought.”

“I thought it would be best to be ready to leave as soon as you want to.”

Rize was really reliable.

I kept her close among the maids partly because of her looks, but mainly because she was really good at her job.

It would probably be hard to find another maid who suited my preferences as well as Rize did.

“…Honestly, there wouldn’t be any problem if we left for the Academy right now.”

“Really?”

“Since I didn’t take the entrance exam but got invited by Solkemia, going now would be fine.”

Even if I left now, there were no issues using the dormitory or other Academy buildings.

I could really just hop on a carriage and head to the center… and it would be totally fine.

But.

“My mother is still really worried, so I think I’ll wait a bit longer.”

“Oh…”

“I can’t help it, right? With her worrying like that.”

“…That’s true.”

“I think you’re worrying too much… It’s not like I mind, but…”

It wasn’t that I disliked it, but since she was worrying so much, I got worried about her.

And I couldn’t tell Rosalyn that I was worried about her…

“But really, why are they all so worried? I might do some unusual things sometimes, but isn’t it a bit excessive?”

I really couldn’t wrap my head around it.

It wasn’t just Rosalyn having those concerns; even Rize, who shared a room with me, felt the same.

It was like everyone assumed I’d either get into trouble or be involved in a mishap right from the start and were worried about that.

Even if I sometimes… really rarely caused a mess while running my business.

It felt a bit unfair.

“…I haven’t really caused a mess while doing business.”

“…Young Lady, that doesn’t sound quite right.”

“Huh?”

“Two years ago, when you went to the mercenary guild for business…”

“Oh.”

Well…

That was…

A little hard to respond to.

According to Rize, two years ago, I went to the mercenary guild on business, got into a quarrel, and as a result… the guild was completely wiped out.

It wasn’t my fault; the guild was at fault from the beginning…

“Honestly, that wasn’t my fault, was it…?”

“…Young Lady.”

“…I was joking, just joking.”

I laughed as I said it, but honestly, it wasn’t really my fault.

They were the ones who picked a fight first, after all…?

“Anyway, Rize? Why is everyone so worried about me?”

“…Do you really not know?”

“Yeah.”

Rize looked at me as if I should already know, but I truly had no idea.

I’m not dumb, but this was genuinely an incomprehensible situation.

“Just tell me quickly. Both Mother and you have been vague for so long, it’s been really frustrating.”

“…It’s simply because it’s natural for young noble ladies and gentlemen to take an interest in someone as attractive as you.”

“Why? Is Leonhardt that desirable?”

Even if Leonhardt has its problems… it’s not like I’m just that eye-catching, right?

That seems a bit exaggerated…

“It’s not that Leonhardt is the problem. It’s just that your looks will attract a lot of attention.”

“Hmm…”

“Even though you’ve gained some experience at small social events involving young nobles… you’re still rather inexperienced…”

“So they’re interested in me?”

“Yes.”

Hmm…

Hmmm…

“Am I really that pretty?”

“…Yes?”

“No, if someone hears this, they’ll think I’m an incredible beauty capable of overthrowing the Empire!”

I knew I was pretty, and I expected to attract some attention because of my looks… but would it really be enough to cause problems at the Academy?

I had no clue if it really was that serious.

“There are other pretty nobles besides me, right? Two saintesses are even enrolling at the Academy this time. Why would they be interested in me?”

“…….”

“Hmmm… Am I that pretty…?”

Throughout my life, I hadn’t really seen anyone prettier than me… hmm… but that was just my perception.

Others might be more interested in the two saintesses or a beautiful young lady from a Count or Duke family, and politically speaking, wouldn’t that work out better for them?

“…Did I overthink this politically?”

Suddenly, that thought crossed my mind. I might be considering too much in terms of business and politics.

Of course, given my activities and past, it made sense for my thinking to lean that way.

But I mean, those kids are also young nobles enrolling in the Academy, right?

They must all have their own motives for going to the Academy, especially since Rosalyn often spoke to me that way.

Naturally, I couldn’t help but think that way.

“Hmmm…”

“What’s wrong again?”

“No, if that was the concern, then maybe there’s no reason to worry?”

“…What?”

“I mean, so what if young kids at the Academy take an interest in me? What’s the big deal?”

I was just saying what came to mind.

Completely straight from my head.

“If they’re interested in me, I’m not some fool who would sheepishly smile and fall for them. I have absolutely no interest in that!”

“Still…”

“I’m pretty sure both you and Mother think that guys will be all over me, but I don’t like those brats!”

I’d already mentioned this to Rize.

I hadn’t told Rosalyn at all, but Rize clearly knew.

“It’s not like I’m a girl, and if a guy suddenly starts getting all close, I might just freeze him with magic, you know?”

“Young Lady, that’s a bit…”

“I might warn them, but if they ignore the warning… I’ll really do it.”

I said this, my smile dropped, looking dead serious as I spoke to Rize.

I meant it this time.

You’re not dealing with a pretty girl here—if a guy were to pull that crap?

I seriously planned to freeze him and then move him out to the Academy’s garden, just like that.

For real.

“…….”

“Are you feeling a bit relieved now?”

“…Young Lady…”

“Yeah.”

Now that I clearly understood the reason for all her worrying, I was sure Rize would give me some positive remarks.

Hehe, honest conversations are just so much easier at times like these.

“If you just said that to Mother, she’d probably scold you really hard.”

“Huh?”

…Is it really that serious?