NOVEL WEB Chapter 202
Chapter: 202
“Hmm… Rize.”
“Yes, Young Lady. Is there something you need?”
“It’s not that I need anything else, but I have to visit the center once. Do you think I should wear a dress for that?”
“Uh… I’m not sure. But since you’re a lady, it would seem fitting for you to wear one. Probably.”
“Is that so?”
I started that conversation while getting ready to go out with Rize.
I would likely become the head of the household within a few months, and I had to go to the center and speak with the royal family… There was a lot to prepare for.
Honestly, I already had plenty of dresses.
However, wearing a casual dress in a situation where I had to visit the center and the royal family felt a bit disrespectful.
“Hmm…”
“What’s the matter?”
“I just thought that dresses look prettier if you have a larger chest.”
“…?”
I just had that thought while looking in the mirror.
Sure, I used to be smaller, but during my time at the Academy, my body grew a lot.
At the same time, I’ve worn dresses frequently since I was young, and even after growing up, I wore dresses often as a noble.
“If I were still small like when I was a child, wearing a low-cut dress… it wouldn’t feel pretty, just cute, you know? That’s why.”
“Ah…”
“Well, having a bigger chest does make you look somewhat sexy inevitably.”
“…….”
I looked in the mirror, shifting my body around to find the right pose.
Indeed, having a bigger chest seemed much better than being smaller.
At least I felt that I needed to have at least the chest size of someone like Rize or Ella to feel pretty.
Of course, my bust had long surpassed that size.
“Rize.”
“Yes, Young Lady?”
“I’m just tired of going out.”
“…….”
“I’m really exhausted these days.”
“Um… I’m sorry that there’s nothing I can do to help you.”
“I didn’t mean it like that; I’m just saying I’m tired.”
I was really, ridiculously tired.
With the amount of work piling up lately, it felt overwhelming.
Not to mention, thinking about the tasks Rosalyn took over for me regarding the head of the household transition…
“Ugh…”
My head started to hurt.
If William’s health hadn’t deteriorated so severely, I wouldn’t have been this busy before becoming an adult.
“Today, I have to go out and talk to some ugly old men, ride in a carriage, and come back after watching all that work… and tomorrow again….”
“…….”
It’s just so damn annoying.
In the past, I liked managing business and money to some extent.
Or rather, I still enjoyed it.
But setting all that aside, I’ve just been so busy nowadays that it’s been hard.
To be honest, growing the business and making money wasn’t the goal; it was mostly about continuing what William had started.
That’s why I was already exhausted after doing two years of work that provided no fun, inspiration, or growth.
“Ugh…”
If I could’ve spent some good time with Rosalyn in between, it might have been better.
I was so tired that even that seemed like a task.
“I’m tired.”
I sat down on the chair in my underwear and brought that up.
There was still some time until we had to leave, and it wasn’t a situation where I had to rush.
“Um… Young Lady?”
“Yeah, why? Is there anything more to prepare?”
“That’s not it….”
Suddenly, Rize approached me to talk.
I had already gotten my hair somewhat organized, and all that was left was to put on the clothes I would wear when going out, so what was this about?
“If you’re feeling very tired, I was going to suggest that you rest on the bed for a bit until we have to leave.”
“Oh.”
That would definitely be better than sitting in the chair.
Following Rize’s advice, I stood up from the chair.
I still hadn’t gotten dressed yet… but Rize would surely tell me it was time to dress when it was time.
“And if… if you’re really tired, you could use a lap pillow or… what you usually do… it would be fine.”
“…Really?”
Rize’s unexpected offer.
No, it wasn’t so much about the tempting part; more about the sudden permission made my voice unintentionally higher.
Rize had never brought this up before!
I’d always been the one to suggest she come up on the bed!
It was the first time it was like this.
I turned towards Rize, almost unconsciously wanting to get on the bed.
“Really?”
“Y-yes….”
“Really?”
“Y-yes….”
Her voice was incredibly soft.
But I could definitely hear Rize allowing it.
I always thought that Rize was… really, really sexy!
“Come here…!”
“W-wait…! Young Lady…!”
“Hehehe….”
I pulled Rize, who was standing still, towards me and laid her on the bed.
Though she tried to stop me, Rize said it was okay first, right?
Since I’d been feeling down lately, there was no reason to ditch this kind of situation.
“Oh, Young Lady…?”
“Rize, you’re so sexy.”
“Yes…?”
“Acting like you don’t know anything. But you clearly do.”
“That’s never been the case…”
“Then why can’t you look me in the eye?”
As I laid Rize on my bed, I spoke to her while sitting on top of her.
Though pretending not to know, she knew exactly what she was doing and saying.
Seriously… such a perv.
“…….”
“Hehe… a perv.”
“Ugh…”
I slowly caressed Rize around her waist.
Her body trembled just a little, but she didn’t seem to be reacting negatively.
“Ugh…”
If I were an adult, I would’ve just…
“Rize.”
“Yes…?”
“Um… never mind.”
“…?”
I thought about saying more.
But it was time to enjoy teasing Rize who was under me.
This certainly wasn’t the right time for serious conversation.
For now…
“Uh….”
“Rize always has such a nice body….”
“Yes…?”
“Your stomach is so toned, and your chest sticks out nicely…”
“Ugh….”
“Haah….”
I slowly touched Rize’s body, relieving the recent pent-up feelings of discomfort.
Of course, I didn’t directly touch any precious areas; I was just being moderate.
Long before and during my time at the Academy, I played around and had physical contact with various girls, but I had purposely refrained from touching those specific areas.
After all, I wasn’t an adult yet, and doing that felt somewhat guilty.
Of course, Rize was already an adult.
*
Since graduating from the Academy, I hadn’t met up with the friends I had made there very much.
However, despite that, I had been meeting one person lately.
“I started supplying goods to the center a few months ago. It’s been more profitable than I expected. The demand is much higher, too.”
“That’s the effect of the Nordal name. The Ducal House of Nordal is involved, so the central nobility is bound to take interest.”
“That seems to be the case. It’s all thanks to Camelia.”
That person was Ivana.
I’d been meeting Ivana frequently after graduating from the Academy to discuss business matters.
While most of my communication with other girls was through letters, I felt it was inadequate to discuss business purely through written correspondence.
It was somewhat of a necessary choice.
“Way more people came from the northern region than before, but since the only place selling goods from the north is the Nordal family, that’s why there’s high demand regardless of price.”
Ivana’s business had already grown significantly.
Even though it had been about five years since she started, her initial capital was so considerable that growth had come faster than expected.
“It’s all thanks to Camelia.”
“That’s true.”
I acknowledged that cleanly.
Honestly, my help was indeed a part of why it turned out this way, right?
In any case, amidst all the busyness, my reason for coming to meet Ivana was one.
“By the way, about the Rose family….”
“You’re not unfamiliar with the name, right?”
“It’s somewhat familiar.”
Rose.
Along with preparing to become the head of the household, I was preparing something special.
Things I had been thinking about for a long time.
Things that had stayed as mere plans and ideas, but now I was gradually getting to realize those plans.
“I didn’t expect Camelia to be thinking that way.”
“You didn’t ask.”
Only about two people knew that I held animosity towards the Rose family until now.
Christina Rose, a lady from the Information Guild.
I hadn’t yet directly informed Rize about that, and I hadn’t told Rosalyn anything related.
It was all part of the plans I was secretly preparing.
“Actually, the reason I helped Ivana with her business includes the Rose family.”
“Oh, I see.”
“Well, anyway, it doesn’t really concern Ivana much, does it? A fallen count family like the Rose family becoming even more fallen is no big deal.”
“That’s right.”
From my conversation with Ivana, I learned something significant.
It wasn’t exactly her personality but perhaps her principle of behavior that was more accurate.
The term “personality” felt a bit vague.
“After all, they’re people who don’t matter to her.”
Ivana was surprisingly cold toward things that weren’t related to her or her immediate circle.
It’s probably due to being the daughter of the Nordal family who ruled the north.
I could understand that.
Honestly, I hadn’t really cared much about people unrelated to me, either.
“That’s true.”
In the end, for me, it was also an opportunity to receive help from Ivana, who had been supporting me.
In many ways, it was probably a good thing.