Chapter 215
Chapter 215
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: A Shifting Intimacy
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After that incident, the time I spent with Rozalin changed quite a bit.
To be precise, the things we did were the same, but the atmosphere and circumstances felt entirely different.
"Ahh...."
"Indeed, since Mother has been so busy with work lately, your body feels more tense than before."
"Is that so...?"
"Yes, when I massage you now, it feels a bit firmer compared to before."
It was complete nonsense.
But giving Rozalin massages had always been just an excuse to touch her body in the first place.
So there I was, kneading her body to my heart's content while spouting such drivel.
Ever since that night, Rozalin's body had become... strangely sensitive.
It wasn't lingering effects from the aphrodisiac—probably the influence of what I'd done to her while she was drunk.
Not that I could be sure otherwise, since her reactions were undeniably more sensitive than before.
"Hnng.... Unh...."
She used to make sounds like this during massages in the past too.
But back then, they came from her muscles actually loosening up. Now, it was something else entirely.
She was making noises even though I wasn't really working out any knots.
"By the way, I heard they're sending over some clothes soon related to the clothing business. Why don't you try them on? I'll have them prepare some for you too, Mother."
"Hnng... Should I...?"
"It's a high-end brand, and even some central nobles are starting to take notice. I bet they'd look perfect on you."
"If Camellia says so...."
"And while they're at it, I asked for some for myself too. Wouldn't it be nice to match with you, Mother? Though the testing value might drop a little."
"That sounds... nice.... Yeah."
The usual routine, with Rozalin feeling a touch disoriented.
This was exactly what I'd been aiming for from the start.
In this moment, I felt a profound sense of satisfaction.
She was probably thinking it was the same old massage, yet wondering why it felt so different this time.
She might not pinpoint exactly what was off... but she definitely knew my touch felt good.
*
That said, it wasn't just the massages that had changed.
Our daily life together wasn't solely about massages, after all.
"You're back earlier than usual today."
"Well, there wasn't much to do today. It wasn't overwhelmingly busy or anything. Thanks to that, I get to chat with you before dinner, Mother."
"Hehe, it's been so long since I've had time like this—feels strange."
I'd finished up with business and other tasks, then come home.
It wasn't so late that Rozalin would have fallen asleep—quite the opposite, an ideal time just before dinner.
Instead of heading straight to my room, I'd deliberately come to hers.
We were talking right there in front of the door—closed, of course—without even sitting down.
"I'm thrilled you're home early too. Spending time like this with you after so long makes it even better."
As I said that, I naturally stepped closer to Rozalin.
Then, just as naturally, I placed an arm around her waist and leaned in to face her.
"Ah."
"Right?"
"Y-Yeah...? Lately, I've been coming home every night so late...."
"Pffft...."
Just closing this small distance had made everything so different from before.
She never used to blush even slightly from me approaching like this.
Now her face was faintly red, and she'd been flustered just moments ago.
Such a change from the past.
And that's what made it all the better.
"Mother."
"Yeah? What...?"
"Stay still for a second?"
Seeing her like this gave me even more confidence to try things I wouldn't have before.
"Yeah...?"
With our faces inches apart, I slowly raised a hand toward hers.
Not fast—deliberately slow.
"Why...? Is something... wrong...?"
"No, nothing like that."
As I slowly lifted my hand, she glanced back and forth between it and me, looking a bit flustered.
Her blinking quickened, and she started watching me more intently.
"There was a bit of dust in your hair."
All I'd done was brush a single speck of dust from her head.
Truly nothing at all.
That's why I'd chosen something so trivial.
"Oh...."
"It was in a spot that's hard to see. I got it for you."
"I see...? Ahaha...."
"Your hair's black, after all. It stood out pretty clearly."
"True... I suppose."
My other hand was still on her waist.
And the one I'd just raised had settled back there too—perfect.
Part of me wanted to press even closer in this position, letting our waists, backs, chests, every part touch....
But for now, restraint.
"I've always thought this, but you don't seem all that interested in this stuff, Mother."
"Is that right...?"
"Most people check their appearance in mirrors all the time, right? But sometimes it feels like you're not too concerned about grooming yourself."
I gave her a gentle smile as I said this.
She was hyper-aware of our proximity and my hand on her waist, though?
"Really...? I don't think so...."
"Of course, you're stunning, Mother. No need to fuss over your looks constantly—I truly believe that."
"R-Really?"
"Yes. You're more beautiful than anyone I've ever seen."
It was nothing special.
Something I could say to anyone.
Sure, there was sincerity behind it, but ultimately, just everyday talk.
And everyday compliments usually worked just fine.
No one hates praise, after all.
Unless the intent feels off or suspiciously obvious....
But in Rozalin's case, she couldn't bring herself to dislike it.
"Really...? You mean it?"
"Of course? Why would I lie about something like this? You're gorgeous—no need for weird falsehoods."
It had been ten years since Rozalin was sold to the Leonhardt family.
I'd first met her at eight, and now I was nearly nineteen.
In that time, her husband William had barely spoken to her, let alone shared a marital bed.
She'd probably talked more with Ashley—whom I'd grown close to since starting at the academy—than with him.
Though even that was limited by Ashley's love of sleep.
In the end, over those ten years, Rozalin hadn't enjoyed much proper human connection.
Just me and Lize, at best.
"I really do think you're incredibly beautiful, Mother. If we went out together, people would swear we were the same age."
"Isn't that a bit too much praise...? Even with our age difference...."
Most people would just say thanks and brush off compliments like this.
Smile, call it a joke, move on... but Rozalin demurred even here.
So unfamiliar with praise itself.
"Our age gap isn't that big. You're still in your twenties, after all?"
Late twenties, but still.
"Even so...."
"If anything, you look far prettier now than when you first came to the mansion."
This was true.
Her face now outshone the one she'd had upon arriving.
She'd been pretty then too... but everything from her aura onward was different.
Her complexion had been poorer back then... among other things.
"Really...?"
"Of course? Don't you trust my word that much?"
"It's not that... It's just been so long since I heard something like this...? Haha...."
"Then I'll have to say it more often from now on."
Deep down, I wanted to slip her another aphrodisiac and alcohol, then whisper to her in her dazed state again.
She was so beautiful she could see it in any mirror.
How could she not know?
It baffled me, but knowing her circumstances so well, I just smiled and kept going.
"Anyway, no need to deny it at all."
I'd been maintaining a close yet balanced distance—now I closed it further.
My hand, which had lingered on her waist, slid slowly upward as I pulled her into an embrace.
"Hm?"
"You're always 'my' mother, after all, right?"
"Hehe, of course."
"So there's no need to doubt my words or dismiss them. Everything I say to you is always sincere."
I whispered this as I held her.
Just like I had when she was lost in drink and aphrodisiac haze.
Her shoulders twitched slightly at my actions.
Like last time, her ears might be a weak spot.
Ashley was sensitive there too—made me want to see how she'd react if I licked hers.
"It's true."
"Mm...."
As she'd acknowledged earlier, Rozalin was ultimately my mother.
'My' mother.
'My' Rozalin.
Always and forever.