Celia SS ~ Chapter 4
第4話
Author : Kitayama Yui
作者：北山結莉
TL : Cnine
ED/PF : Laizii
Part 1
And then, a few days after Celia’s conversation with Flora.
「That’s right, father was supposed to come right. I completely forgot about it………」
Celia, muttered in front of Roland Claire―― her father who is supposed to come visit her laboratory.
「Y-You’re so cruel, Celia-chan！ Though it’s the first meeting of parent and child after a long time, why did you say that words right in front of me！ ？ 」
Roland, contrary to his sharp features in which one can feel ambition and dignity from it, is readily speaking to Celia with a crumbling tone.
「Ah, No. Of course I’m also happy that I can meet my dear father you know？ I just forgot about the purpose of the visit which was written down in the letter」
「KUH, I’m treating it too lightly since it’s my own daughter. After bringing her up with familial love, even after living separately, even though I sent that much letter, there’s completely no reply at all………..」
After Celia explained her reason, Roland is grasping his fist tightly with vexed expression.
「Rather, It feels like my dignity keeps weakening when that much letter is coming one by one. Moreover, recently, the content is only about marriage, so I don’t even feel like opening it」
Celia’s muttering dejectedly while letting out a short sigh.
「I mean, I won’t give Celia-chan to someone who I don’t know and from from doubtful identity！ WRONG, I WON’T, EVEN IF I KNOW HIM！ BUT, UNFORTUNATELY, VERY UNFORTUNATELY, THE FATE OF A FEMALE NOBLE WHO IS LATE IN GETTING MARRIED IS DISASTROUS」
「My dear father, sometimes you won’t hold back with your remarks to the one you’re talking to」
When Roland is insisting with his stand, Celia’s letting out a freezing smile. Thereupon, Roland’s’ body is trembling due to fear.
「I-I know that since I’m actually seeing it myself you know. Though you’re hailed as a beauty before, have you heard how much they’re talking behind the back of a noble girl who’s growing old yet not married yet. Moreover, there’s even those who become mentally unstable. I DON’T WANT CELIA-CHAN TO FEEL THAT WAY！ 」
「Well, that is, I mean I have heard of such story, I certainly can’t think of it as another person’s problem but………….」
Celia puffs her lips as she says that.
「I’m worried to death you know. Because Celia-chan is a child who often lost the sight of her surrounding when immersing herself in study since long time ago right. Thought that talent which made you graduate as the youngest student in the long history of Bertram kingdom is to be honest, made me proud as your father, it’ll become something that cannot be undone if you lost marriage partners in your surrounding when you noticed that you’re focusing too much on your research. AAAH, And then, when I recall the face of the sulking Celia-chan, I…………….」
Maybe because Roland become too passionate in the middle of his speech, he begun to hold his head with both hand as if feeling anxious.
「AAA, GEEZ！ Your voice is resounding in the corridor. Enter the room first and sit down please. I’ll prepare the tea now」
Celia’s closed the door in a hurry and then push Roland as if it’s troublesome, then made him sat on the chair inside of the room.
「……fumu. Have you been busy with your research, Celia-chan？ The room seems more disordered than when I came before but, are you employing someone or having a manager？ Please just say it without holding back since I’ll help you as much as I can if you have financial difficulties」
Roland say that after taking a brief look in the interior of the room. Currently, the data and the book have been scattering around in every place in the room. Of course the reason is because Rio, who’s keeping the room tidy is gone.
「Yeah. Uhm, I’m a little busy right now………… But, I don’t need a manager」
Maybe because Celia’s recalled the matter about Rio, she shake her head with somewhat a misty expression.
「………… You don’t seem lively. Is there something wrong？ 」
Roland’s squints his eyes and then asks that question while looking at Celia’s face. As expected, maybe because she’s her father, or maybe because he’s a noble with earl rank, he has excellent observation skills. But――、
「It’s nothing…………… Maybe I’m just a bit tired」
Part 2
Celia tried to deceive him somehow by glossing her face with a smile.
「Tired…………. That must be it right
Roland’s quietly watching Celia while saying so.
「Yeah, ahaha」
Celia is showing a dry smile while staring back at Roland. Though when there’s her family she seems to be joking, in reality she’s breaking a cold sweat as she feels that her father’s’ sharp intuition knows what she think.
「As I thought, though there was a reliable person who was by your side at time like this, I thought it’s good for your mental sanity but………..」
Roland is letting out his worry with a gloomy expression.
「No, marriage is still………….. Rather than that, Don’t you think that I’m okay with this kind of mental condition right now?」
「Why do you think that way？」
「That’s, since I’m currently busy with my research, I really can’t afford myself for other matter. Moreover, I’m currently not in hurry for that yet………」
Celia’s replying while somewhat feeling guilty about it.
「Naturally, I never said to marry immediately you know. But, I just feel that it should be okay for you to at least have a fiance. But, I don’t have any intention to forcibly send you to a political marriage for the benefit of the house. I’m fine with whoever Celia wishes to be a partner」
After taking a short breath, Roland said that while shrugging his shoulder. That’s quite a blessed situation for a noble girl. Since there’s many noble who can’t freely choose their betrothal partner.
「……………….. If it’s someone I wished for, so do you mean anyone is okay？ 」
Celia’s asking while looking at Roland expression.
「Yeah, naturally. It’s because I trust Celia-chan. You won’t bring a strange fellow right」
「Do you swear that it’s the truth？」
「Uhm. ………………… EH？ D-DON’T TELL ME, YOU ALREADY！ ？ YOU ALREADY HAVE SOMEONE YOU LIKE！ ？ 」
After hearing the confirmation from Celia, Roland is giving a firm a nod, and his complexion suddenly paled in the next moment.
「N-No, I really don’t mean it that way…………………………….. I’m just making sure whether it’s okay if the other party is someone I’m wishing for」
Celia’s turning her face as if embarrassed while saying so. But, it was truly suspicious when she say that with sublime excited tone and slightly blushing cheeks.
Roland’s looking at Celia as if perplexed.
「MUH……………」
「I-It’s a little scary dear father. Please don’t stare at me with that kind of face」
Celia’s stepping back with cramped face to Roland who’s suddenly looking at her face from close range.
「KUH, but when I’m imagining whether there’s a bad insect who dared to make a move on Celia-chan, this, kind of dark emotion is filling my chest……….」
「Despite insisting me to look for a fiance, you’re just contradicting yourself you know. Muuu」
「…………. Fatherly love is a complicated thing」
Roland is letting out a smile which containing his gloomy feeling on his face. And then――、
「But, how is that a problem？ When you have someone you like？ 」
So, he straightened himself and asked again.
「That’s why I said…………….. I-HAVE-NOT, right」
Celia awkwardly waves her face left and right in denial. As for why she needs a moment to deny is, because for some reason, Rios appearance comes into her mind.
（……………. Rio isn’t like that）
Celia feels a complicated and desolate feeling in her mind.
Part 3
「My intuition is telling me that the probability is quite high. But, judging from Celia-chan’s reaction…………」
Roland is looking at Celia with doubtful expression and then――、
「D-DON’T TELL ME, YOU’RE IGNORED BY THE MAN WHO YOU LIKE！ ？ THAT UNGRATEFUL BRAT, EVEN THOUGH CELIA-CHAN IS THIS CUTE！ 」
Starting to make an uproar in astonishment due to his own imagination.
「HE IS NOT！ It’s really nothing like that！ Geez, please calm yourself for a moment！ 」
Celia’s shouting at Roland who has a stunned expression.
「………………. Really？ When push come to shove, I won’t even hetitate to use the secret magic that was passed down in our household」
「The secret magic of our house you say…………… Please don’t use that kind of super powerful attack magic to target one person」 [TL : This pair of father-daughter is killing my stomach]
「Hahaha, because not even his ash will be left after we use that right」
「Geez……………」
Celia’s sighing and then, her lips slightly loosened. Since she know that the thing Roland just said was a joke. Maybe he surely noticed that she’s in low spirit. That’s why――、
「Honestly speaking……………. Since I absolutely have no plan on marriage, I’ll be gladly looking on that for a long term. But, I have no intention to marry since I’m currently still busy with my research」
Celia decided to tell him her true feeling without hiding what she feels right now.
「I see. Though I feel that it’s better if you find your sweetheart till you’re 19 years old……………… Well, maybe you want to think about it for a bit more time right？ Since Celia-chan is already 17 years old right」
「……Yes」
「No need to mind about it with such a gloomy face. How Celia-chan feels right now, think slowly about that feeling, and then I want to hear about it. And then, if I can give a consent to your story, I swear that I won’t nag you to get married quickly again」
Roland is smiling gently as he says that.
「Dear father………..」
「That’s why. Since I already said my greeting for today, I’ll leave for now」
「You’re going to leave already？」
Celia’s asking with perplexed face to Roland who’s standing up from his chair.
「Yeah, though I’ll be in the capital for a short while, unfortunately I’ll be busy with official business. Let’s discuss about this matter again slowly after I come to this place again one week later」
Roland’s saying so while smiling gently at Celia and then turning his heel. Though he’s walking toward the door just like that, he stopped before leaving the room and then looking back at her――、
「Will you give me a farewell hug before I leave, Celia-chan？」
He said so with a smiling expression while spreading his hand.
「I WON’T！」
Celia’s shaking her head embarrassingly.
「KUH, Though you still give me hugs when you became a lecturer of the academy…….」
「It’s because I’m already 17 years old, I already became an adult」
「Fuu, so that is. Well stay lively then. Celia-chan. Let’s meet one week later」
Now Roland leaves the room after letting out a slightly lonely smile.
「………..Marriage huh」
Celia muttered those words with a painful face even while looking at her fathers back.
◇ ◇ ◇
And then, five days after Celia met her father.
A new guest has come to visit Celia in her room again. The name of that person is Aria Governess―― One of the few female friend of Celia who have the same age as her. But, she couldn’t meet her in this few years due to a certain situation.
Part 4
（This place is Celia’s room huh. Though I never even thought that I will come to this academy again, I wonder how many years since the last time I met Celia？）
A faint smile is peeking from Aria’s lips as she knock on the door. Thereupon――、
「Yes, who might it………… Be？」
The door opens and then Celia appears.
Celia stiffened when she saw Aria’s face and then her eyes opened wide.
（Even though we’re of the same age, she’s as youthful as ever huh）
Aria felt happy to see Celia’s face after a long time which hasn’t much changed. And then, a slight sense of aspiration.
「,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Aria？」
Celia’s timidly muttering Aria’s name.
「Yeah, it’s been a long time right. Celia. How many years should it be now？ 」
「L-long time no see！ What made you come to meet me？ 」
When a smile forming on Aria lips, Celia’s happily embraced Aria.
They’re of the same age but, their appearance is extremely far apart to the point that you can say they’re an adult and children. And yet, in contrast to Celia child-like figure[loli], Aria’s figure is that of genuine woman.
Aria gently embraced back Celia.
「Yeah, half-of it is for personal matter and the other half is business related. It’s to meet you right」
「…………….. Work and personal matter, to me？ Well, fine then. Please enter then. I’ll prepare the tea」
Though a huge question mark is appearing on top of Celia’s head, she’s urging Aria to enter the room for the time being.
「Please wait for a while since I’ll prepare it right away」
Celia’s smiling delightfully and then starts to prepare the tea with the boiled water which is always boiling, the faint aroma of tea leaves drifts inside the room right after that.
（It seems she still loves tea like usual. But well, the way she’s making it isn’t that different and still long way to go）
Aria’s looking at Celia’s figure as if smiling while thinking about such things. The truth is, she who once served as a maid in the castle of Bertram kingdom might be able to make it delicious but, Aria wanted to drink the tea made by Celia.
「Yup, what left is cooking it by steam you know. Let’s have a little chat while waiting for it. Have you been working in Bertram kingdom now, Aria？ 」
Celia’s carrying the complete set of tea utensil with tray and then asks her as she sits in front of Aria. Maybe because it’s a meeting after a long time with one of her friend which is few in number, she looks happy.
「No, currently I’m working in Galwark kingdom. And retired from being adventurer two years ago」
「I-Is that true！？ 」
When Aria’s answering with a calm tone, Celia’s staring at her with startled expression.
「Yeah, though my life as an adventurer ended up shortly after I started to become one, I’m enjoying what I do now. Does Celia know about duke Kretia house？ 」
「Of course. Aren’t they the big-shot of Galwark kingdom」
Celia nodded while giving a prompt reply.
「Liselotte-sama who’s the daughter of this duke Kretia is my current master, I’m working as her head maid」
「……………. That surprised me. Aren’t you the close aide amongst close aide」
「Fufu, surprised？ 」
Aria shows a faint smile on her face to Celia who sees her with eyes opened wide.
「Yeah. Well, for you who hate noble society and becoming an adventurer working for a noble is, uhm, it’s a little………. 」
Celia timidly consented to her.
Though in reality Aria’s also a former daughter of a noble, her house had some sort of circumstance, collapsed and then discarded by the aftermath of power struggle. Though she still attending the royal academy of Bertram kingdom in the past when she was a noble along with Celia, since the financial affair of her house is starting to go into the red is the reason she dropped out of school, she was even working as a maid in royal castle a while after that. Once, she happened to meet Rio in the royal castle as a court lady.
Part 5
But, her house completely collapsed later and then Aria stopped working as a maid and became an adventurer instead, since Aria is naturally talented in martial arts despite being a woman, if one called a vocation, maybe being an adventurer was her vocation.
Thus, Aria became an adventurer but, since she had so many annoying acquaintances, she decided to leave the capital[of Bertram kingdom]. And then, she’s visiting to give her farewell greeting to Celia in her room just before leaving the capital, they even lost the means of communication soon after that. “And, well that digest story aside――、“
、
「Must be so, right. Though I have no intention of working for her at first, I was beaten by her persistence. The invitation of that ojou-sama was so tenacious」
Aria told that while looking somewhat delightful.
「Even so, it’s about you. I can’t believe that you’ll change your feeling just because tenacious invitation you know. It’s because you felt the charm of that child that you wanted to work for her right？ 」
「Well, that is so. ………. Though the character and appearance isn’t similar at all, she made me recall a bit about you when we’ve a discussion in the process of invitation. If I must say it bluntly, that should be the reason I made a huge change of occupation」
「EH-EEEEEEEEEEEHH？ Geez, what are you talking about」
When Aria’s saying it with smile on her face, Celia’s blushing as if feeling embarrassed.
「Well, that’s my current situation. Won’t you tell me about your current situation？ 」
「Me？ U~hn……………………. Maybe it didn’t change that much？ My research made a progress though」
The matter about Rio crossed Celia’s mind but, it won’t have any effect even if she doesn’t say it to Aria. Or rather, she can’t even consulti about it. She quietly decided to hold that back inside of her mind.
「Is that so？ It seems that your complexion isn’t that good but………… You’re anxious right？ Isn’t that why your fatigue is accumulating？」
「EH? A~h, uhn. That might be so. The truth is, I’m forced to marry quickly by my father……….」
Though Celia’s shocked by Aria’s keen observation, she’s speaking frankly while trying to hide the feeling of anxiety that she always felt.
「Ah, I see. So it’s something like that huh. Certainly, our age is just the right age for marriage for a noble. Have you not found a nice candidate ？ 」
「I’m living this kind of life, do you think that I’ll have time for those things. And how about your situation in regard to that matter？ 」
「We’re in similar situation aren’t we. If I’m not that much exhausted from overwork」
So like that, their topic is inflated because the matter of marriage, an idle talk is unfolding a while after that. And then, after sometimes has passed――、
「When I noticed, quite sometimes have elapsed right. I have no choice but to leave soon」
Aria suddenly said that.
「Ara, leaving already？」
Celia’s showing a gloomy face as if regretting it.
「I already say it right？ Half of it is my job. Though I received free time to the degree of talking about the matter of society, I can’t let myself stay for so long. Since the next matter, I will be asking to meet you with completely business matters, so please don’t show that kind of face」
Aria’s smiling gently as she soothed Celia.
「I see. Well, it can’t be helped right. It seems you’re completely alright. Your job seems hectic but, please come to meet me again. Come to think of it, what’s the job related which you said before………」
「Yeah. Though almost all of it ended up as my private time, it’s about this」
Saying so, Aria’s taking out a letter which stamped with seal.
「………… A letter？ To me？ AH！ ？ 」
Though Celia received the letter while slightly tilting her head, she’s taken aback a moment later.
「A traveler who came to visit Almond a while ago written this letter to you in Rikka firm. Since my master was aware that you and I are a close friend, she’s ordering me to deliver the letter while having a reunion at the same time but, it seems that’s a letter from someone you know right」
「……Eh? Uhm, Yeah. Maybe」
Celia’s nodding while answering with high-pitched voice to Aria who explains the situation. Her awareness and line of sight was focused on the letter which she is holding with trembling hands.
「I see. It seems the sender of the letter isn’t someone who has a grudge against you right. Though you’re denying it just a while ago, aren’t you properly loved by someone」
Aria’s smiling feeling amused.
「Y-You misunderstand you know！ This child isn’t that kind of person！ 」
Celia’s cheeks is blushing while she’s denying Aria’s words in a hurry.
「Well, maybe I should just leave it that way. Since it’s almost the time for me to leave, please take a good look at that letter. Well then, let’s meet again later」
After leaving those words, Aria’s turning around and then leaves the room.
「U-Uhn. Byebye, I said that you’re misunderstanding it！」
While seeing off Aria, Celia was frantically said that back to correct her misunderstanding.
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