Chapter 210
Chapter 210
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: A Long-Awaited Date with Mother
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"It's been forever since we went out just the two of us, hasn't it, Mother?"
"Yeah, it really has. Aside from your birthday... I don't think we've spent time alone like this in years."
"You're right. I feel the same way. Personally, I'd love to go out more, but there was just no helping it."
"Hehe, yeah."
It had been ages since I'd gone on a date with Rozalin.
We hadn't had a proper outing in years, and I wanted to spend some quality time with her, so here we were.
Of course, to be precise, I'd come out because I wanted to go on a date with Rozalin.
"It's chilly out, so keep your hands in your pockets, okay?"
"I'm wearing gloves, so it's not that bad."
"You never know. It'd be a shame if those pretty, soft hands of yours got cold."
We just strolled down the street, chatting about things like that.
Honestly, it wasn't much of a date—just spending time together.
It was too ordinary to call it anything fancy like a date.
"Once the new year rolls around, maybe we should redecorate the interior of the mansion a bit."
"Out of the blue?"
"We've changed up the exterior a ton, but the inside? Barely touched it. I think it's about time we did something."
We were just having casual conversations like that.
With winter in full swing, Rozalin looked even prettier in her outfit, so I took my time admiring it.
They were clothes I'd never seen her wear at the mansion, which made it all the more enjoyable.
Of course, it was still pretty cold out, so after wandering around a bit, we decided to head into a nice café with Rozalin.
"This was the business you started a while back, right?"
"Yeah. It's been going on for quite some time now, but from what I hear, it's still doing well."
We ended up in a private room café.
It wasn't your average spot—it catered to nobles and was quite upscale.
Even so, to me, it just felt like a regular room café.
"No one else around, super quiet... This place is pretty nice, huh?"
"You think so?"
"Yeah. Pretty nice. I always felt a bit cramped in regular cafés with all the crowds. Here, we can relax without worrying about anyone else."
Rozalin had entered the private room and was looking around with keen interest.
It wasn't your typical café layout, after all.
She'd never have come to a place like this on her own.
"Wow..."
So Rozalin wandered around the room on her own, taking it all in slowly.
I just sat back and watched her.
I'd been here plenty of times before—heck, even in my previous life.
"Personally, I think places like this are way better than regular cafés."
"Then I'm glad. I brought you here, after all. If you didn't like it, I'd have felt terrible."
The verdict: Rozalin seemed to like it, which was a relief.
She rarely voiced complaints, but that didn't mean I could drag her somewhere subpar.
I'd always thought that if we ever went out just the two of us, it had to be the best spot available.
The idea of seeing her disappointed or wistful at some lousy place... I couldn't stand even thinking about it.
"Fuu... Coming inside like this is definitely better with this cold weather, right?"
"Seems like it."
"And we don't have to worry about other people... It's really nice."
"You know you've been saying the same thing over and over since we got here, right?"
"Hehe, have I?"
Well, with Rozalin's looks, she'd naturally draw stares just walking down the street.
Even I felt plenty of eyes on me as we walked.
What can you say? The curse of beauty.
That's what it felt like.
"You're taking over as family head on your birthday, right?"
"If all goes as planned, yes."
"Hmm... Time's flying by faster than I thought."
The conversation we kicked off in the room café turned to my succession as family head.
Truth be told, normally you'd have to head to the capital and handle a bunch of formalities to properly inherit the title.
But given the Leonhardt Viscount Family's current situation, thanks to all the hard work Rozalin had put in...
I could take over without even going to the capital.
"Once you're family head... you'll have a ton on your plate, huh?"
"Probably. We've only wrapped up the business side of things so far. Once I'm officially in charge, there'll be even more to handle for sure."
Maybe because we both knew the family's situation inside and out.
Our talk flowed naturally.
"But, Mother."
"Yeah?"
"...What exactly does being family head entail?"
Out-of-left-field question.
But I was genuinely curious, so I asked Rozalin.
Sure, I'd been busting my ass with work, but that was separate from not knowing what running a noble house really meant.
Our family wasn't some powerhouse with deep roots anyway, so I had even less of an idea.
"Hmm... Just keep living like you normally do?"
"That's it?"
"Yeah, the Leonhardt Family doesn't have a huge staff, right? So there won't be much extra work. Just handle the business and finances like always...?"
"Oh..."
"Of course, I don't actually know what family heads do day-to-day myself."
"Ah."
Yeah.
That sounded about right for Rozalin.
The Rose Family had shunned her from way back...
I felt a little guilty about it.
*
Somehow, we ended up wandering the city with Rozalin until late evening.
It had been so long since we'd had time alone together.
With everything that had been piling up, I'd barely even imagined it being possible.
So we made the most of it, savoring every moment.
After spending from morning till afternoon out and about, we naturally ended up in Rozalin's room at the mansion.
"Fuu... Today was so much fun. Right?"
"Totally. It's been ages since we had such a great time together, so it felt even better."
"I feel the same. I'd love to spend more time with you, Camellia, but things have been so hectic..."
Rozalin's room had a small attached bathroom.
Tiny compared to the mansion's big one, but still pretty decent.
We hardly ever used it, but today we showered together there.
And after coming out of the bathroom in her room...
"Should we change first? I'm sure I have something in my closet that'd fit you..."
We were both down to our underwear.
Me and Rozalin, standing there in nothing but our underthings.
"Wait here a sec?"
"Sure, I'll wait."
I could've just grabbed clothes from my own room, no problem.
But since Rozalin had offered first...
I just stood there in my underwear, admiring Rozalin in hers.
Legal voyeurism... right?
She'd put herself in a position where I couldn't look away, after all.
"Hmm... There should be a slightly oversized shirt in here somewhere..."
Rozalin was rummaging slowly through her wardrobe.
I leered at her from behind, enjoying the view.
"Hmm..."
I stopped just watching after a bit and quietly stood up.
Rozalin was too focused to notice me approaching.
Man... so innocent.
I'd thought that about her plenty of times before.
She was an adult, older than me even, but in moments like this, she seemed utterly naive and clueless.
Clueless about how stunning her looks and figure were, how captivating they could be.
"Mother."
"Hm? What's up?"
I'd called her name right behind her—super close—and she didn't even flinch.
Her reaction was always so cute it made her feel younger than me.
"Uh...? What's wrong...?"
I hugged her from behind as she dug through the wardrobe.
Even then, she just reacted normally.
Like she was puzzled that the kid who'd been sitting suddenly came up and wrapped around her.
"Why?"
"Just...? You hugged me from behind out of nowhere...? Thought something was up."
"Nope, nothing like that."
"Then why?"
Rozalin's back hug brought that signature rose scent wafting over me.
As fragrant as ever.
I could've stayed like that forever, just breathing her in.
And at the same time, the soft feel of her body pressing against me where we touched.
"Mother."
"Yeah?"
"Mmm..."
I kept the back hug going as I called her again.
Rozalin still acted like it was no big deal.
It was time to shift this dynamic, I thought.
Mother-daughter was fine, but right now, it was just getting in my way.
It didn't bother me, but Rozalin—both before and now—still saw me as nothing but her daughter.
If things stayed like this, I'd never get what I wanted.