Saijo no Osewa ~ Takane no Hana [LN] - V1 Chp 2 part 11
After returning back to the mansion, I took lessons from Shizune-san, got dragged around by Hinako for another bath, and finally finished my work for the day. I wiped my slightly damp hair with a towel and returned to my room.
I opened the door to my room and Hinako, who had been behind me for a while now, dived into my bed.
[After a bath, a bed is… bliss]
[I understand how you feel]
Though why are you sleeping in my room?
[If you sleep here, I’ll wake you up in the middle of the night]
[Muuuuー]
When I called out to her, Hinako rolled over and fell asleep. She was already asleep.
[…Seriously, you sleep too much]
Today, she slept at school, and if she sleeps from now until the next morning, she would’ve slept for more than twelve hours. It’s fine if it’s once in a while, but Hinako slept that long everyday.
I put a blanket over Hinako, who was sleeping in the bed, and I studied some more.
A few hours later. I looked at the clock, which pointed at 1 in the morning, and stretched lightly.
Hinako. It’s time for me to go to sleep, so go back your room]
[Nn…]
When I turned around, Hinako was lying on the bed, staring at me.
[You were awake?]
[…can’t sleep]
Hinako said with a displeased face.
[…I’m too tired to sleep] (EDN: Too relatable)
Don’t say that.
It seems that even Hinako can’t keep sleeping indefinitely.
[…What do I do]
[What to do… even if you say that..]
With my hand on my forehead, I pulled my textbook to the edge and picked up the papers on my desk.
[The manual for this was at…]
I read the manual that described how to deal with Hinako in detail.
It was written about what to do if Hinako couldn’t sleep. However――
[ “Give up and accompany her until dawn”… Hey, I also have school tomorrow]
Considering my grades, I didn’t want to neglect my schoolwork. For that reason. I wanted to avoid sleep deprivation as much as possible. It’s already difficult to keep up with the classes, even without being sleepy.
[Somehow… I feel like I’m going wild…]
[Stop]
I firmly told Hinako, who’s itching to move her body.
[I’d rather not get you out of control but… Some light exercise should be fine. If you’re exhausted, you might be able to sleep again]
Fortunately, Hinako’s room has a bath. It’s not a problem if she sweated a little.
[The question is, how do we exercise…]
As I was thinking about it, Hinako tugged the hem of my clothes.
[…Let’s go for a walk?]
Even if she said we go on a walk, we can’t go out without permission.
But Hinako knows that. So, she suggested that―
[A walk around the mansion. Well, with a place this big, it should be enough]
[…Yeah]
Hinako nodded as she grabbed my sleeve.
[But… There’s a different vibe here]
The mansion at midnight was filled with a unique atmosphere. It’s like something out of a horror movie, and I felt like I was doing a test of courage. I felt like I was breaking into a cold sweat, not from exercise, but from fear.
But even more than that, my mind was filled with something else.
―Exhaustion.
Unlike Hinako, I was planning to go to bed and sleep soon. Honestly, I was too tired to walk.
Hinako, on the other hand, seemed to be fully awake and walked around with my arm in tow.
[That’s… maybe, the dining room]
[..Really?]
That’s the office.
[That’s… the parlor] (TN: A parlor is a reception room)
[…Is that so]
That’s the library.
The real Hinako doesn’t want to use her head as much as possible, so she often takes the wrong path. But unfortunately, I don’t have the energy to go into each of them now.
[Muuu… Itsuki, are you listening?]
Hinako stopped and looked at me with an upturned gaze.
[Sorry. I’m a little sleepy…]
[…Even though, I thought about showing you around]
When she said that, I felt bad.
If it weren’t at this time, I’d be welcome to that idea but… when I think about it, most of my plans are already booked until night. This time with Hinako might be valuable.
[Don’t you have a favorite spot or something?]
I rubbed my eyebrows, trying to shake off my drowsiness, and asked Hinako.
[…Favorite?]
[Hinako doesn’t stay in her room all the time, right? For example, while I’m taking lessons with Shizune-san, where would you be except your room?]
When I told her that, Hinako gave a small nod as if she understood.
[…I’ll take you there]
Hinako takes me by my hand and we start walking.
Ten minutes later. After many wrong turns, we finally reached our destination.
It was a small kitchen door at the end of the hallway.
[So, this is your favorite place?]
[Yeah… the exit of the mansion]
[Why?]
Why is this her favorite place to be…?
[Sometimes I sneak out here… and into the garden]
[Oi]
From the looks of it, this door is a blind spot from the rest of the house. It’s also far from where the servants work, so patrols are infrequent. It’s a good place to sneak in and out of the house, but it’s too far from the gate that leads to the garden.
[Are you sure? If you tell me, I might tell Shizune-san]
[Itsuki wouldn’t do that. …I told you because you’re Itsuki]
Hinako said while smiling.
It’s human nature to want to respond when someone trusts you that much.
[Fuaaaa… I’m getting sleepy]
Hinako puts her hand over her mouth and yawns.
[Let’s get you back to your room]
[Nn]
Apparently, the walk made her drowsy again.
Hinako entered the room immediately and laid down on the bed.
[Well… I guess I’d better get back and sleep]
I closed the door quietly and tried to go back to my room. Then―
[What are you doing?]
[Whoa!?]
Suddenly, someone spoke to me from behind, and I jumped.
Looking back, Shizune-san, who was glaring at me, is standing there.
[I think it’s rude to be surprised like that]
[I-I’m sorry…]
I was surprised because it was late at night when there’s no one and it was filled with silence.
The moonlight shining through the window illuminated Shizune-san. Seeing her, I was speechless for a while.
[Is something wrong?]
[No, it’s just… this is the first time I saw Shizune-san without her maid outfit…] (TN: WHERE ARE THE ILLUSTRATIONS!?) (EDN: WHEEERE!?!)
Shizune-san, the perfect human-maid being, is not working right now. She’s wearing a nightgown with her hair down.
[Is it strange?]
[It’s not strange, it just feels new and fresh… and um, it’s a little more childish than usual…]
[I think you’re trying to pick a fight]
[I’m sorry, I’m not!]
It might’ve been better to say that she looks younger. No, that would’ve been rude as well.
I’m too sleepy to think straight.
[For the most part, I’m still a college student]
[Ah, is that so?]
[Yes. So please tell me I look appropriate for my age]
I had expected her to be young, but I didn’t think she was a student.
[What are you doing in university? You’re always working in the mansion]
[I’m on academic leave]
Oh right, you can take voluntary leaves from university.
Perhaps Shizune-san had been offered a job with the Konohana family.
[So, what are you doing at this hour?]
[It’s nothing much…]
I explained that Hinako couldn’t sleep and that she was taking a walk around the mansion.
[Oh, so that’s what it was]
[Hinako is always sleeping… Does this happen often?]
[No, this is the first time]
I was surprised by the answer.
[But doesn’t the manual mention cases like this one?]
[Please read carefully. It’s for when she wants to stay up late, not when she can’t sleep. There is no manual for when she can’t sleep]
I didn’t know that.
Apparently, Hinako’s usual lifestyle isn’t that messy.
[Don’t worry, I guess she’s a little out of it. For better or worse…]
In a small voice, Shizune-san murmured.
[Since Itsuki-sama’s arrival, Ojou-sama has changed, for better or worse]
[…I’m sorry]
[I can’t say it’s a bad change in general, so I can’t blame you. It’s just that…]
Shizune-san murmured even more.
[…I hope, Keigon-sama doesn’t mind]
Shizune-san said, looking conflicted.
With this, chp 2 is done, and I’ll be posting chp 3 as soon as it gets edited.
TL: Ezu
ED: Animu
PR: Mateo
Willow
Just discovered this novel and read it all in one go, I must say this is one of the best light novels I’ve ever read, really grateful to the translator.