Chapter 218
Chapter 218
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Birthday Drinks with Rozalin
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The drinking session with Rozalin wasn't much different from usual.
She didn't secretly slip any aphrodisiac in like last time. It was just a normal, enjoyable conversation.
Today was my birthday, after all, and with the coming-of-age ceremony and the inheritance ceremony, it was a particularly special day.
There was so much to talk about.
"Camellia will meet a good person someday...."
"Suddenly?"
"Well, Camellia is an adult now, right? Don't you think you'll start dating and meeting all sorts of people?"
"Hmm... You think so?"
"Of course! Our Camellia is so beautiful. Beautiful enough to pick and choose who she meets. Everyone must think that."
That was how the current topic came up.
I had no idea why she was talking to me about this.
Honestly, I wasn't particularly interested in romance.
I absolutely, utterly hated men.
Because of that, my mood soured quite a bit.
It might just be mother-daughter talk to her, but conversations like this were something I really didn't want to hear.
"Well.... It seems like our daughter hasn't met any boys while she's been out there. But it'll be fine. Definitely."
"Haha."
"Our Camellia is so beautiful. Of course it will."
Rozalin's words weren't wrong.
With my looks, I really could be that selective about who I met.
It's a class-based society, but... well, marriage and dating are different things.
In the end, her talk boiled down to compliments on my appearance.
It was just that her way of complimenting didn't suit me at all.
"Do you want me to get married soon, Mother?"
"Hm?"
"You keep bringing it up."
I was a little annoyed, but I let it slide.
Still, I got a bit curious about it.
She kept bringing up this kind of thing with me.
"Hmm.... Marriage?"
"Yes. You keep talking about that stuff."
"It's not that exactly. No matter what, it wouldn't make sense for someone to snatch away a great kid like our daughter so soon."
"Then what?"
"It's just that I've never seen our daughter show any interest in dating or romance at all. She's always just focused on business."
Was that what she meant?
I wasn't sure.
I'd never had those kinds of thoughts myself, so I couldn't understand Rozalin's words at all.
I'd never once thought I wanted to see her dating or showing interest in romance just because she spent her time working instead.
"To be precise, it's not just about romance. I want to see you acting a little more like someone your age."
"I see."
In the end, it was the same old way she treated her daughter.
Unfortunately.
"Sigh...."
What should I do?
What should I do with this woman sitting next to me, innocently thinking these things?
I had no idea.
"You said you wouldn't remarry, Mother. So maybe that's why you're saying this to me?"
"Hehe, is that so?"
Rozalin had clearly told me herself that she wouldn't remarry.
It wasn't because I forced or threatened her. She said it purely of her own volition.
"Why? Have you been thinking about remarrying or something?"
"As if. I just thought Camellia's words made sense. Mom's going to stay single forever, okay?"
...Well, it was a relief that she had no thoughts of remarrying.
If she suddenly started talking nonsense about being interested in remarriage right here, I really would have gotten angry.
Of course, I probably wouldn't have shown it.
"Hmm.... Now that I think about it, if Camellia starts dating and gets married, I'll be so bored. That's a shame."
"You'd feel that way, wouldn't you?"
"Hehe, yeah. Without Camellia, I'd just spend my time all alone and bored."
If she married me, she wouldn't have to worry about that....
"Am I too clingy to Camellia?"
"No. I love spending time with you too, Mother."
"If that's the case, then I'm really glad. I love spending time with my daughter so, so much."
I gazed quietly at Rozalin's face as she smiled lightly, pleased by my response.
During the inheritance ceremony today, having other people watch was truly... unpleasant.
But like this, with just me watching her, it felt so completely different.
I found myself thinking things I shouldn't.
Though it was an inevitable thought.
.
.
.
After that, we kept drinking and talking.
There were two types of alcohol—wine and whiskey—but both had a decent alcohol content.
Naturally, we both ended up getting fairly drunk.
"Hehe.... Camelliaaa...."
"Yes, Mother. What's up?"
"Uhehehe...."
Of course, Rozalin got much drunker than me again this time?
I was a bit drunk too, it was true.
This time, I didn't expel the alcohol, and I'd drunk almost the same amount as her.
"Hehe...."
Still, one thing was clear: I could hold my liquor much better than Rozalin.
Unlike her, who was properly drunk and just giggling away, I wasn't at that level yet.
"You're really drunk, Mother."
"Am I?"
"Yes, you seem pretty wasted. You should sleep."
"No!"
"...Then stay like this just a little longer."
"Okay!"
...Rozalin was already properly wasted.
Leaning on my shoulder, she giggled to herself, making it clear how good she felt.
That sight was cute, and also... appetizing.
"Camellia has to date a good person, okay?"
"Yes, I got it."
"Don't meet any bad guys for no reason, okay.... And if you start seeing someone, you have to tell Mom who it is...? And...."
From before, whenever Rozalin got drunk, she would worry about all sorts of things for me.
It was like that at the academy, when business got busy, and even in everyday life.
I didn't hate these worries, but a lot of them came from seeing me as her daughter.
I couldn't help but feel disappointed by that.
"Anyway... Camellia has to live well...."
"Yes, thank you."
It was nice that she said things like this...
But I wished she'd say things in a different direction.
"Our daughter is so, so beautiful... She'll have cute grandchildren too, right? Yeah... I bet she will. Yeah, yeah."
By the way, do normal mothers compliment their daughter's looks this much?
I wouldn't know.
I'd never had a proper mother-daughter relationship.
"...You're incredibly beautiful too, Mother."
"Hehe.... Really? I'm pretty too?"
"Yes, extremely pretty. Really."
"Hearing that from a beautiful girl like Camellia makes me feel so good. I'm so happy."
I meant it sincerely.
But Rozalin, drunk as she was, just took it casually.
"I really think you're incredibly beautiful, Mother."
"Hehe...."
"Mother."
"Hm? What's wrong?"
I called out to Rozalin, facing her squarely as she leaned on my shoulder.
Honestly, she might think this was no big deal.
"You're really pretty."
"Yeeah...?"
"Yes, extremely pretty."
Not just facing her—I was so close our lips nearly touched.
So close that if someone tapped from behind, our lips would meet.
She was startled even though I approached gradually. That close.
"...Thank you...."
"...Yeah."
The distance had closed unknowingly.
Was it because we were so close? Or because of the alcohol?
My heart started pounding without warning.
.......
During that brief silence, we stayed still, eyes locked.
I don't know why.
"Looking at you like this... Camellia's eyes are really pretty."
"...You think so?"
"Yeah, your red eyes are so beautiful, like gems."
"Thank you...."
...She said that while our faces were still extremely close.
Because we were so close, I could smell the distinct scent of alcohol with every word.
The sweet Rozalin scent mixed with the whiskey and wine aromas.
The moment those scents hit me together.
"I think your eyes are beautiful too, Mother. They sparkle like emeralds...."
In response to her words, I gave a strange, vague compliment of my own.
Honestly, it felt a bit pointless, but... her lips curved up at my words.
"...Everyone in the Rose Family has red hair, right?"
"Yeah...? Except me."
"Red hair would be pretty too, but personally, I think your black hair is much prettier and more elegant."
"Really...? I haven't liked my hair since I was little, so I'm not sure...."
Alexandra Rose and everyone in the Rose Family except Rozalin had red hair.
A shade brighter than the Rosaki Family's that Karen and Grace belonged to... with a slight pink tint.
I didn't hate that color, but honestly, it just seemed tacky.
And they really were that kind of people.
"I've loved your black hair since I was little, Mother. The texture is great, and the scent too."
As I said that, I slowly began touching her hair with one hand.
Gently.
Without hurting.
Starting from the ends.
"Really...?"
"Yes. Really."
As I touched her hair bit by bit, my hand slowly moved up.
Before I knew it, my hand was right next to her cheek.
"I never lie about things like this."
"Hehe... I'm so glad you think that. It makes me really happy."
She smiled happily at my compliment again.
...That smile was sweet, but on the other hand, it felt a little bittersweet, making everything feel strangely off.
But regardless, seeing Rozalin smiling right in front of me made my heart race for sure.
I could feel so clearly how much affection, lust... various emotions and thoughts I harbored for her.
Of course, there was guilt too.
"Thank you...?"
"Yeah."
"Not just for the compliments, but from way back."
"You don't have to thank me for those things, Mother."
"Still, I want to say thank you to Camellia...? From when you were little, even now. You always take such good care of me. Even when I first came to the mansion... you were so kind."
A bit shyly.
Avoiding eye contact just a little as she said that.
I looked at Rozalin and... inched even closer.
3cm?
1cm?
I wasn't sure.
I moved so subtly that even Rozalin right in front of me wouldn't notice.
"And the ruby necklace you gave me when we first met. I've kept it... always."
As she said that, she lifted the necklace around her neck slightly with her hand to show me.
It was a modest ruby necklace that might have been trendy ten years ago.
The one I'd given her on the day 16-year-old Rozalin first came to our mansion.
"...And the earrings I'm wearing now are the emeralds Camellia gave me... Hehe...."
Rozalin smiled cutely as she spoke.
That expression, and everything she kept showing me... it made my heart pound so strangely.
My mind was filled completely with just Rozalin.
I... unknowingly leaned in even closer to her, slowly.
"...Camellia?"
"Ah."
And... right before our lips met.
Truly... so close our lips would touch... not even enough room for a fingernail.
At Rozalin's slightly trembling eyes and voice, I snapped back to reality.
I'd almost kissed her without thinking.
"Camellia...?"
Her eyes trembled faintly.
But in those eyes, there was no curiosity or excitement—just something completely different.
Starting from confusion, and other things so unlike me.
"I guess I've been tired since this morning with all the ceremonies...."
Slowly... I pulled back and said that to her.
If I stayed like this... I felt like I'd really do something irreversible.
It didn't seem like Rozalin would like it if I did those things now.
...With those words, I ended the moment and wrapped things up.
"...Fuck."
And after Rozalin left the room, leaving me alone, the only words I uttered were those.