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Translator: penny
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: Camilla Has Changed
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Camilla had changed.
Her once vacant gaze now held a faint light. The girl who had always kept silent was starting to speak up first now and then.
But the most significant change was in her active hours.
Originally, Camilla would barely wake for occasional tutoring sessions during the day, only truly stirring late at night.
Now, she sat beside me, eating lunch together.
Once, Roselia had asked if something had shifted in her heart.
"The light feels a bit better now."
Camilla had glanced sideways at me for some reason as she said it. Unable to guess what her look meant, I just tilted my head in confusion.
Whatever the case, Camilla's changes were undoubtedly positive. She was a little brighter now, starting to be active during the day.
People need sunlight to live, after all.
With needless worries set aside, time flew by. Potion sales were going smoothly, and my studies on magic circuits continued steadily.
On top of that, a few months ago, Roselia had granted permission to open an imperial vault, so I finally had one in my own name.
Watching money pile up in my account had become one of my small joys lately. It was also delightful seeing the bond between Roselia and Camilla deepen day by day.
And just like that, a year had passed.
The Rahel Tani name attached to mine no longer felt so foreign.
"I did it...!"
In the familiar sight of my bedroom, I gazed at the flower blooming in my hand and smiled brightly. It was a vivid rose, as deep red as Roselia's eyes.
My heart pounded rapidly.
A year since joining the Rahel Tani family. I had finally grasped the key to blooming flowers.
'Who would've thought I really had to eat them.'
Frustrated at finding no conditions, I had tried eating one petal a day.
Surprisingly, the rose petals tasted sweet.
I knew it was abnormal behavior. But strangely, after swallowing those petals, I could bloom roses.
My leading theory now was that the flower I wanted to bloom needed its components inside my body for it to open.
The Silver Flower Herbs must have seeped into me naturally over years of touching and smelling their petals.
My gaze naturally drifted to one corner of the room. There sat the Mana Herb, still sealed, emitting a soft glow.
"Just wait, life reversal..."
My heart raced with overwhelming anticipation.
I could only bloom one flower a day.
But if I could bloom Mana Herbs every day, I could live without any worries.
I'd earn enough for academy tuition and a lifetime of luxury.
'Once I make a fortune, I'll buy all the high-grade scroll materials first.'
I had just graduated from basic scroll-making concepts recently.
I even understood the principles of nodes that amplify and alter mana to some extent.
With proper materials, I'd cast magic like other mages.
"Hehe, hehen."
A silly laugh slipped out unbidden.
I knew too much expectation could be poison, but I couldn't suppress my excitement.
I was lost in visions of a brilliant future, grinning to myself.
"...What are you doing?"
A cold voice laced with contempt chilled my spine.
I jolted up from my seat in surprise.
Camilla's merciless purple eyes scanned me like an interrogation.
Over the past year, Camilla had undergone quite a few changes herself.
Her features had sharpened even more clearly, and she'd grown a bit taller.
"What's so funny that you're giggling alone?"
But her tone remained icy, her gaze just as pitiless.
"...It's none of your business."
I grumbled back.
Camilla just shrugged lightly, showing no real reaction.
"Mother's calling us for dinner."
"Got it."
Over the past year, you could say Camilla and I had gotten somewhat close.
Of course, "close" didn't mean "friendly." It was more like cohabitation with bad blood than sisterly harmony.
"Clean up your room, Sis. Does anyone live like this?"
I'd grown used to her casual jabs as she walked over. To outsiders, we might even look like real sisters.
Just a year ago, she'd insisted on keeping distance. I never imagined we'd end up tangled like this.
"I'll clean before I go out, okay? You're not one to talk, living like a gloomy hermit with all the lights off."
"At least I don't live filthy like you, Sis."
"It's only like this in the morning!"
"How long are you planning to stall at beginner magic circuits?"
Camilla shot a sharp critique, glancing sideways at my circuit diagram.
Lately, she'd even started nagging like this.
Anyone would think she was the older sister.
"I'm not the type to bulldoze with talent like you."
"True. You have no talent, Sis."
Her words grated on my nerves in a peculiar way.
I narrowed my eyes and glared at her.
"Hey, I know magic circuits better than you do."
At my raised voice, Camilla arched one eyebrow coolly.
"And circuit knowledge needs a solid foundation. Rushing levels isn't good."
"Whatever."
Camilla slowly pointed at me with her finger. In that instant, something formless lifted my body forcefully.
My body floated into the air for a moment before dropping straight onto the bed.
"To me, it just looks like scribbles."
A thin vein pulsed on my forehead at her mocking words.
The Camilla from a year ago seemed better than this. Back then, her aura made even talking hard; now, she was just annoyingly smug.
"If you'd drawn a defense circuit, this wouldn't happen."
Camilla wiggled her fingers playfully.
My body lifted into the air again, swaying and drifting around the room.
"Hey! Put me down!"
"Nope."
"Y-You...!"
I pulled out a talisman-sized circuit diagram from my hand. I punched a hole in it and hurled it at Camilla.
As the circuit ignited, a light gust blew back her bangs.
Seizing the moment her gaze wavered, I landed swiftly and charged at her.
"Cut it out!"
I shoved her down, pinning her body, then straddled her. Fearing she'd fling me off again, I gripped her hair tightly with both hands.
"Apologize."
"Sorry, Sis."
"...Huh?"
Maybe because I had her hair? Camilla apologized instantly. The anticlimactic switch left me dumbfounded.
Camilla slowly raised her upper body and brought her face close to mine.
*Smack—*
Her lips touched mine.
"Makeup kiss."
It was a familiar sensation by now.
I casually wiped my lips with my sleeve and shot her a brief glare. Camilla extended her hand, unperturbed by my look.
"Let's go eat. Mother's waiting."
"...Hmph."
Her face was definitely brighter than before.
Yet it somehow felt even more irritating.
※
Roselia gazed steadily at Camilla's disheveled hair.
"Lately, it seems you two fight every day. Or is it just my imagination?"
"...Camilla started it."
I protested my innocence, but Roselia didn't seem pleased.
"But we made up, Mother."
Roselia let out a deep sigh at Camilla's follow-up.
"...Fine. Let's eat."
Roselia let the matter drop without further questions.
She'd step in if fights got too heated, but otherwise stayed out of our squabbles.
I dipped a piece of fragrant bread into the soup and took a careful bite.
Even after a year, my stomach was still small; I couldn't eat much. One piece of bread usually filled me up completely.
Roselia had once tried forcing more food on me, worried.
But after seeing me vomit it all back up, she never commented on my eating habits again.
"Thanks for the meal."
Finishing early as usual, I carefully opened my bag and took out something I'd prepared.
It was an incense stick, packaged so neatly it could pass for store-bought.
The potion I gave her two of daily for better sleep. On top of that, I pulled out a small glass vial of green liquid and offered it to her.
"Hm? What's this?"
Roselia squinted at the vial.
"Just something I whipped up... It's good for the skin."
"...Oh my."
Roselia accepted the herbal lotion with curious eyes.
I pulled out another identical vial and tossed it lightly to Camilla.
"Take it or leave it."
Camilla blinked blankly for a moment before reaching out to catch it.
"Thanks, Sis."
Roselia uncorked the vial and took a quick sniff.
"Lemon scent."
"Yeah, I added a bit of lemon juice."
"Hm..."
Roselia peered into the vial, shaking it this way and that with interest.
Then, with a mischievous smile, she leaned close and whispered teasingly in my ear.
"Does this have your spit in it too?"
Her voice dripped with playful mockery.
I couldn't stop my face from flushing red.
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