Chapter 180
Chapter 180
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Wine with Mother
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Wine.
Alcohol.
Both were things I'd casually enjoyed often in my past life.
Not to the point of addiction, but I liked them quite a bit... to where I'd have three or four glasses during the week.
Never to the point of getting blackout drunk—just enough as a side drink with meals.
Even though I hadn't touched a drop in this life, my interest remained, and I'd looked into what kinds of alcohol existed here, what the expensive ones were like.
"Hehe, mixing vodka with something would probably taste better than wine... but I already opened this one."
Rozalin was pouring wine into the glass with a slightly silly smile.
Honestly, it was a bit surprising, but I didn't refuse.
I'd said I wouldn't drink until adulthood, but when an adult offers... it's hard to turn down, right?
Especially when it's from a beauty like Rozalin.
"Good thing it's white wine instead of red.... I bet this'll taste better for Camellia...."
Her reaction to giving me alcohol was endearing too.
I just waited quietly, accepting it.
"Hehehe...."
Rozalin slowly poured the wine into the glass, her hand trembling slightly from the booze.
Her laughing to herself like that was really pretty.
I'd deliberately avoided alcohol until now, and planned to hold off until adulthood, but Rozalin made me break that.
Still, looking at her in that white negligee, I didn't mind.
"Here, just try one glass."
"Yes, thank you."
"If it doesn't taste good, you don't have to finish it, okay? It's wine, but still... compared to juice... um...."
"Pffft...."
Well, white wine is on the sweeter side anyway, so I wasn't worried.
This body's tolerance might be lower than my past life's... but alcohol wasn't just about the taste.
Ignoring Rozalin's worries, I took a sip of the wine.
"It's delicious."
Maybe because it's expensive?
Even with just that little sip, I could tell.
This was pricey wine.
"Tasty?"
"Yeah, it feels like grape juice with a unique twist. I really like it personally."
"Then I'm glad. I thought you might hate it. Kids usually say it's bitter the first time and refuse it."
"I can see why that happens...."
It'd been so long since I'd had alcohol.
Over ten years without a drop.
Never in this body.
The first sip brought that familiar alcohol bitterness... but I didn't hate it.
If anything, the bitterness felt good because it had been so long.
"How about one more glass?"
"Hehe, when Mother offers it, it'd be rude to refuse."
I'd only described it like it was my first time, sharing my impressions.
Truth be told, it tasted so good after so long that I wanted to down the whole bottle.
But I had to hold back.
"If you want to try other types later, just say so."
"It's fine. This one's plenty tasty already? And comparing them one by one later sounds fun."
So I turned down her offer.
I'd decided on just wine tonight.
I liked the grape aroma unique to it anyway.
Plus, honestly... I didn't know my tolerance in this body?
I figured moderation was key, so I made that call on purpose.
"Mother seems to like alcohol."
"Do I...?"
"But even when you drink, it's not like you go overboard... or so it seems."
She'd have wine with dinner sometimes, as a palate cleanser.
But not in huge amounts, and as I'd told her, the quantities were modest.
Still, Rozalin seemed to really like alcohol.
Her room had all sorts stocked up, and she didn't go a week without drinking.
When she did drink properly, she went hard.
Like back at the Rose estate, until she was wasted—and the same tonight.
"You don't?"
I couldn't help thinking she loved it.
Someone who hated alcohol wouldn't casually have one or two glasses often, let alone drink till blackout on dedicated nights.
If Rozalin hated it, she wouldn't be giggling like this over drinks now.
"Hmm.... Yeah, I guess I do like it. It's tasty, right? Pffft...."
"You're an adult, Mother. No issue there."
"Hehe, right? But when you grow up, don't drink too much, okay?"
"Of course."
Rozalin kept refilling and sipping her wine, but I only had a little at a time.
She was drinking pretty fast...
I had no choice but to sip slowly.
I didn't know my tolerance, and getting hammered on my first go would mean a killer hangover—not worth it.
Plus, at this rate, Rozalin was definitely getting smashed.
"You'll get even prettier when you grow up, Camellia...."
"Again?"
"Huh?"
"Nothing. Just... so grateful for the compliments."
"Hehe.... The other girls at the academy must be interested in you too?"
Already ten minutes?
No, even before that—she'd been repeating the same stories to me.
She was totally drunk now. No doubt.
I'd thought she wasn't fully gone earlier.
But now she was properly sloshed.
"Hehehe.... Even as a kid, you were more pretty than cute. When you're fully grown... you'll be stunning...."
Why so many looks compliments today?
I was curious all around.
Why she was piling them on me tonight, what she was thinking.
That piqued my interest.
And she was already too wasted to think straight anyway....
"Mother."
"Yeah, what's up?"
"What parts of me have gotten prettier?"
I shifted from my seat to the one next to her.
Rozalin, grinning dopily from the booze, didn't question me getting close at all.
For me, this situation was way better.
"Hmm.... You're taller now, so prettier... and your face is much more beautiful."
"Hehe, really?"
"And your hair's grown out a lot, suits you better...."
"More?"
"Your chest and hips are so womanly now? Makes you super pretty...."
Nice to hear.
Not just generic praise—she was specific, which felt great.
Even drunk, it was probably close to her true feelings.
"This wine's tasty...."
"......."
Calling water "wine" while drinking it.
Yeah.
If I let her keep going, she'd suffer a hangover tomorrow morning for sure.
I'd only had two or three glasses.
Barely any wine at all, but Rozalin had downed plenty.
Time to wrap this up.
"Mother."
"Mm...?"
"...Never mind."
Better not to boss her around now—just let her sleep.
There were fries and chicken wings left on the table....
Toss them in the morning.
Close the sparkling water and juice lids, cork her wine—good enough.
[Upper-tier Magic: Telekinesis]
"Eek...."
I wanted to carry her myself, but my strength wasn't enough to lift Rozalin.
She was too out of it anyway—even telling her to go to bed, she wouldn't hear.
So magic it was.
"Huh... huh...."
Maybe because her body floated up?
Rozalin looked around herself with a dumb expression.
But soon enough, she was on the bed.
"Wow, the bed...."
"The bed's all soft and comfy, right?"
"Yeah...."
"Sitting in the chair's uncomfortable. You wanted to lie down and rest properly now."
"If Camellia says so, no choice...."
She answered with that cute, dopey look.
Once on the bed, Rozalin settled in more comfortably.
Lying however she pleased, her clothes started slipping a bit... showing off her figure nicely.
"Hehe...."
"......."
She probably wasn't thinking anything of it, but Rozalin had a killer body.
My eyes wandered.
"Huuuh...."
Her face flushed from the alcohol, breathing oddly too.
"......."
Yeah.
Sexy.
It just hit me that way.
I couldn't tell her, but her current look was hot.
A flushed beauty in bed, wearing just a thin negligee—not something you ignore.
"Suuu...."
Rozalin's eyes slowly closed as she drifted off.
I kept staring without thinking, and it stirred something weird in me.
Lust....
"...Mm."
Not from the alcohol.
That much I knew.
No way booze made me want to touch her.
Totally separate from liking women, my inclinations.
"......."
Yeah.
"Getting a bit sleepy...."
I'd drunk some too, after all?
And it was late.
Yeah.
So sharing a bed with Rozalin shouldn't be an issue.
We were family, mother and daughter in name.
Just slipping into her bed while she slept....
Truth was, I wasn't sleepy at all.
"......."
Yeah.