Chapter 209
Chapter 209
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Late Night in Rozalin's Room
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After wrapping up the business talk with the Rosaki Sisters, the rest of the time passed ordinarily.
There was a lot to catch up on since we hadn't met in so long, right?
We just chatted normally and then parted ways.
Meeting after a long time and talking was important, but the reason I'd asked the Rosaki Sisters for help was ultimately because of the Rose Family.
It was quite similar to what I'd asked Ivana for last time.
Of course, I didn't go into details like before.
"It turned out pretty well...."
Things related to the business were finally starting to wrap up.
The ventures I'd inherited from William, and the preparations to screw over the Rose Family... they were all...
"Hoo."
One by one, everything was falling into place.
Once I became Family Head, my long-planned revenge against the Rose Family would proceed without a hitch.
I'd already heard that the Rose Family's businesses weren't succeeding properly, which made me even more confident in that prediction.
"...Not much time left."
It really wouldn't be long before I became Family Head.
Honestly, I hadn't expected to become Family Head the moment I turned adult, so I was a bit worried.
"...Sigh."
I'd told Lize to head into the mansion first, and now I was walking the streets alone, slowly.
It was chilly because it was winter... but it was still the south, after all.
I was just wandering aimlessly, killing time.
"What should I do about Rozalin...."
For now, Rozalin herself had given off the vibe that she intended to stay.
I wasn't sure exactly what she meant by it, but she'd basically said she'd remain in the mansion and with the family even after William died.
"...She said she wants to stay."
It was her choice, in the end, right?
I'd clearly tried to let Rozalin go, but she'd volunteered to stay in the mansion.
No matter what I did afterward... it would be because of her choice.
"Pfft...."
Even I thought I sounded a bit crazy.
Rozalin had clearly said she'd stay for my sake, yet here I was, having these wicked thoughts.
"It's all inevitable."
Yeah.
With that, I put my thoughts about Rozalin aside and decided to head back to the mansion.
*
It wasn't terribly late, but it was late enough.
Unlike the mansion lights that were on, no one was wandering the lobby or hallways.
"Hmm...."
A quiet mansion.
It was the same as always, but tonight it felt especially quiet and cold.
Probably just because it was winter.
Instead of heading straight to my room on the second floor, I wandered the mansion slowly.
There wasn't any particular reason.
I was just strolling around.
"...Maybe I should overhaul the interior completely later."
I'd been changing the garden often, but the mansion's interior hadn't changed much from before.
It really hadn't changed at all since I was born.
"That could work."
With that idle thought, I kept wandering the mansion slowly.
Things were mostly wrapped up now, after all.
With time on my hands, I was enjoying this leisurely pace.
"Hmm...."
As I wandered, my footsteps stopped right in front of Rozalin's room.
My feet just happened to stop there.
"...Is she awake?"
It was late, and Rozalin usually went to bed early at this hour, so I wasn't sure.
But I slowly started opening the door to her room.
"Mother...?"
I peered into the room as I opened the door slowly.
Most of the lights were off, with only one dim lamp illuminating the room.
That one was near the bed.
Rozalin on the bed didn't seem to hear me open the door or call out.
"...I'm coming in."
With that, I stepped inside without hesitation.
If she didn't hear me, that was on her, not me.
I'd announced myself before entering, after all.
It was only natural.
"She's asleep."
As I approached the lit bed, I saw Rozalin sleeping.
Her peaceful sleeping face honestly surprised me a little.
With the lamp on, I'd thought she was awake.
"Hmm...."
She was just sleeping normally.
"...She's pretty."
Even in that ordinary sleep, I couldn't help thinking she was pretty.
It would be weirder not to think that upon seeing her like this.
Nothing's stranger than seeing something beautiful and not feeling it, and Rozalin... well, she was just pretty.
I knew my own looks were stunningly beautiful, but personal taste-wise, Rozalin was my type.
Her beauty was a given, but I really loved her unique warm atmosphere and impression.
"Mother."
"Hmm...."
No response when I called her.
Confirming that, I slowly approached her.
I knew from experience that Rozalin didn't wake easily once asleep.
"...Ha."
Deep down, I wanted to just take her.
Not just date her or anything—I wanted to make her mine.
I felt intense guilt for having such thoughts about my stepmother... but I couldn't help it.
.......
What caught my eye was her snow-white arm and slender wrist on top of the blanket.
And her neck, visible along with her face.
Separate from how she'd helped me and acted like a mother all this time, Rozalin always struck me as fragile.
It hit me again that she was a woman, ultimately.
Same context as the thoughts I'd had lately during massages.
I wasn't strong, but I felt like I could overpower someone like Rozalin.
No, if I used magic, I could probably make it so she couldn't even leave the house.
"Hoo...."
Countless wicked thoughts flooded my mind, but for now, they were just thoughts.
For now.
"I'd love to just go for it right now.... but it's not the time yet."
Even without such extreme measures, things were fine for the moment.
There was still plenty of time and ways to get closer to Rozalin.
No need for drastic actions starting now.
"Hooo...."
For a while, I just stood by her bed, silently watching.
I didn't do anything else—just stood there quietly.
"Camellia...?"
"Ah, you're awake."
After about twenty minutes of quietly watching, Rozalin suddenly woke up.
I hadn't expected that.
But even if I hadn't, it wasn't a problem at all, so I didn't mind.
I hadn't said anything weird or done anything strange in those twenty minutes—just stood there.
"When did you come in...? I don't think you were home before I fell asleep...."
"Ah, I just got back a bit ago. I was hanging out with friends I hadn't seen in ages, and time flew by more than I thought."
"Oh."
"I was hoping if you were still up, I could at least say hello. You fell asleep with the light on, so I came in to turn it off."
A fair bit of time had passed since I entered, but I lied deliberately.
Rozalin had really been asleep until just now, after all.
Even if I said this now, she had no choice but to believe me.
"Was it fun hanging out? It's been a while since you saw the Rosaki Sisters, so I hope you had a good time."
"Hehe, we had a blast. Even though it's been ages, we've been super close since our Academy days. And they're both such great personalities."
"If that's the case... then I'm glad...."
She'd woken up, but she still seemed half-asleep.
Even as we talked, her sleepiness was obvious.
"Mother."
"Mm...?"
"You look really sleepy."
"Yeah...."
"Pfft.... Sorry for waking you. I just came to turn off the light, but I ended up disturbing you."
"No.... I'm glad I got to see you come home, Camellia."
She always says such sweet things.
It made me happy every time, but it also bothered me a little that she spoke this way to others too.
Her gentle, considerate words felt like they should be just for me.
But Rozalin was like this in most conversations, which was a shame.
"I'll turn off the light and head out, so go back to sleep."
"Hehe... Thanks...."
I said that while gently stroking her hair.
It might've looked like a daughter casually petting her stepmother's head, but Rozalin didn't reject my hand.
Far from rejecting it, she showed no displeasure at me placing my hand on her head.
She even seemed to find some comfort in me slowly stroking her hair as I spoke.
Seeing her like that, I really wanted to...
"Hoo...."
My feelings and thoughts for Rozalin were growing deeper, stronger—and stranger—making it all the more troubling.