NOVEL WEB Chapter 36
Chapter: 36
There’s one thing I’m sure of: I still prefer women.
I suppose I just spent more time as a man, and originally, being a man wasn’t really my thing anyway.
It wasn’t strange at all, that’s for sure…
Anyway, I’ve been in a bit of a bind lately.
“So, Camelia, how are your classes going these days?”
“Everything’s going well. I actually have fewer classes than before, and I’m starting to feel like I don’t really need to take any subjects other than magic.”
“Seems like the Academy places a lot of importance on magic these days.”
“Yeah, and we started learning magic later than other subjects.”
After finishing lunch, I was having tea with Rosalyn.
Even though we had drifted apart somewhat, I still had a good relationship with her.
Spending time together and chatting wasn’t difficult at all.
The trouble lay in things like holding hands or hugging… the skinship stuff.
“How about we cut back on the classes other than magic before entering the Academy?”
“I think that sounds good. After all, we don’t have to take exams in the Academy anymore.”
“That’s true, isn’t it?”
“Sure, while there are still some things to learn before heading to the Academy… I think we’ve covered enough by this point.”
“Then let’s just do it sparingly and call it a day. I mean, I’ve been doing this since I was eight, so it’s definitely been a while.”
Honestly, aside from Ashley’s classes, I hadn’t been learning too much recently.
I always thought that stopping the other subjects would be a good idea.
While they had been helpful, I felt it was better to focus on other things instead of continuing with the tutors.
“So, Camelia, what are you planning to do this summer?”
“Hmm… I think I’ll hang out with my sister Karen, who will be visiting from the Academy. We always meet up during vacation.”
I met up with Karen every vacation, summer or winter.
She was the one who entered the Academy before me and used to visit our mansion two to three times a year even before that.
“Maybe I’ll reach out to her before vacation starts?”
Karen enrolled in the Academy last year, so it would probably be the same this year.
After all… I was her only friend.
It was honestly hard to understand, but it was Karen, so…
She probably kept to herself at the Academy and didn’t really socialize with others.
“But didn’t Karen enroll in the Academy a year later than most?”
“Yeah. Of course, it’s not a strict age requirement, so it’s not a big deal.”
“Hmm… So when you go to the Academy next year, she’ll be two years ahead of you?”
“That’s right?”
Karen enrolled a year late.
There wasn’t any particular issue; she just delayed it.
Especially since there weren’t any strict limitations on starting at the Academy.
Just a one-year delay.
“Then make sure to take good care of her. Karen really looks up to you, doesn’t she?”
“That’s true.”
It sounds a bit weird to say she ‘looks up to’ me, but it wasn’t really wrong either.
In reality, Karen listened to me well, despite being older.
…Honestly, it was endearing and amusing, so I just went along with it.
Karen’s personality was quite introverted and easily swayed… so it couldn’t be helped.
“Well, it’s not like I’ll be going next year anyway.”
“That’s right.”
“But mom, I have to live in a dormitory at the Academy, right?”
“Mm? Yes?”
“So how is the dorm assigned? Is it a shared room?”
I hadn’t been particularly interested in the Academy, but now I was in a position where I’d soon have to attend.
…Hmm, it kind of felt like going to the military.
Of course, it was a different place, but I had to stay there for about three years.
Somehow, that thought crossed my mind.
“Hmm… I think Camelia might get a private room?”
“Really?”
“Yeah. If you pay a little extra, there shouldn’t be any issues at all. That’s just related to the tuition fees. Most noble students get private rooms, while commoners tend to be in shared ones.”
“Oh…”
It sounded like it could be more comfortable than I expected.
Since I hadn’t cared much about the Academy, I figured it was standard for several people to share a dorm room like in the military.
But a private room, huh?
Nobility really does seem to be a comfortable position.
“Oh, and if you’re a noble, you can bring a servant to the Academy.”
“…Really?”
“Yeah. Most kids from noble families are accustomed to having servants help them from a young age.”
It definitely seemed like servants would be essential for those noble kids.
Having lived that way since childhood, they probably couldn’t handle household chores at all.
Even with magic tools and a variety of things, they wouldn’t manage.
“Then obviously, you should take Rize along.”
“Haha, of course, Camelia is really close with Rize.”
Just like Rosalyn said, Rize was indeed my closest friend, and it would have been awkward to take another maid along.
“Hey, Mom, when we’re in classes at the Academy or something, what will Rize be doing?”
“That’s right?”
“Isn’t she going to just sit there doing nothing?”
“Ah… I think it should be fine for her to sit in the same classroom at the Academy. Of course, there are some who don’t do that, but it’s not a problem.”
“…Really?”
“Yeah, since she’ll be entering as a servant. She’ll need to be around the owner, and it’s better to keep a servant close to avoid any unnecessary issues.”
“Hmm…”
That does make sense.
Since nobles tend to be kids who don’t think much or know anything, it would surely be more convenient to have a servant close by.
Of course, it would be best if the noble kids attending the Academy had their heads screwed on properly…
But I knew that the likelihood of that was pretty low.
“If I’m with Rize, it should be comfortable.”
“Right?”
Even though going to the Academy seemed like it would be a hassle in many ways, I felt a little relieved.
After all, it wouldn’t be just anyone; it would be with Rize.
*
Anyway, I guess since I’ll be attending the Academy next year…
I’ve had a lot on my mind lately regarding the Academy.
I’ve got some basic study prep down for what we’ll learn there and musings about what it’ll be like to live at the Academy.
“Rize.”
“Yes?”
“I think we’ll be sharing a room starting next year.”
“…What?”
I said that to Rize while organizing notes.
Well, I had skipped some details, but it wasn’t exactly wrong.
I wasn’t sure what the dormitory room really looked like, but at least we would share a room.
“Hehe.”
“My lady? What do you mean…?”
“Hm? Just that.”
“Eh?”
Of course, she had to be flustered.
If someone suddenly said out of the blue that they were going to share a room, anyone would be surprised.
Especially since I wouldn’t be living at the mansion next year.
So, naturally, Rize wouldn’t have caught on to what I meant.
“I’ll be going to the Academy with you next year.”
“…What?”
“I just heard that I could take my servant along, that’s all.”
So I told Rize that we’d be going together.
It was really as simple as that; I was just taking Rize along.
“Do you dislike that?”
“…No, it’s just sudden.”
“Then I’m glad. To be honest, I was a bit worried about whether Rize would find it bothersome to go.”
That was really true.
There wasn’t anything wrong with being on my own, but I’d still prefer going with Rize.
Ella and Karen would be attending the Academy together, but still…
It would definitely be nice to be going with Rize, for sure.
“Don’t worry too much. It’ll just be a matter of wandering around the Academy with me, right? It’ll be fine for you to attend the same classes, and if it gets too tedious, you can just stay in the room.”
“Is that so…?”
“Yeah. You might even find it more comfortable than staying at the mansion?”
Sure, I might have some responsibilities to handle, so it could be cumbersome.
But that should be the extent of it.
It probably wouldn’t be as large as the mansion, and I wouldn’t have to deal with other servants either.
As long as I stayed out of the way…
“Oh, um…”
“…?”
Was it because of me?
No matter how much the workload decreased and the surroundings were less crowded… having to be alongside me as the employer would naturally be a bit uncomfortable, right?
I couldn’t help but think about it seriously.
“…Rize?”
“Yes?”
“Do you not want to spend time just the two of us?”
“No, I’m fine.”
“No, seriously, it’s fine to be honest with me. Honestly. Even if I tend to tease you a lot, it really should be fine to speak openly, right?”
If Rize truly disliked it, I was ready to accept that.
Even though I tended to hold her hand a lot and hug her, I wasn’t trying to annoy her in a bad way.
“It’s really fine.”
“Really…?”
“Yes.”
“Then… I’m relieved.”
Honestly, I had been worried about how I’d react if Rize truly didn’t want that.
But I was glad now.
Of course, she might still be feeling a bit pressured, but for now, she’d said she was okay with it.
Going to the Academy together with Rize should be fine.
“Rize, lend me your hand.”
“…Yes.”
Now that we had wrapped things up, I decided to return to being as usual with Rize.
I took one of her hands while using the other to jot down notes or flip through pages, just like that we would go on.
After all, she said she was okay with it, right?
Since Rize was already in that situation, there was no reason to hold back.