Chapter 221
Chapter 221
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Cold Rejection and Bold Confessions
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"Camellia...? Could we talk for a moment?"
"No."
"Um... I'm sorry...."
"...It's fine."
That was the conversation I had with Rozalin from the morning.
A conversation completely different from before.
I don't think I've ever spoken to her this coldly while exchanging words with Rozalin up until now.
But... her words last time had personally made me really angry.
That's why I was responding to her like this.
"It wasn't meant in a bad way at all... I really said it for your sake...."
"I said it's fine."
"Still...."
And what made me even angrier was this.
Rozalin had no idea that what she brought up was wrong, or that it was why I was so upset now.
"Our daughter is an adult now, right? I thought it might be good for her to meet someone of the opposite sex at least once...."
"No."
That's why my responses were just no, fine, things like that over and over.
I was too angry to give any other reply.
On top of that, Rozalin kept bringing up weird nonsense.
"Of course, with our daughter, it wouldn't be hard to meet someone... but always hanging out with girls isn't great, is it? Spending time with boys too...."
"Mother."
"...Sorry."
"......."
Why was she keep bringing up this kind of talk to me?
To stoke my anger?
If not, there was no reason to bring it up like this.
I had definitely tried to kiss her, but that didn't mean it should lead to this kind of conversation.
No matter what, there was no reason to spout weird nonsense like telling me to meet a guy.
"...I absolutely didn't mean it in a bad way."
"It's fine."
...In the end, it must be because I tried to kiss her back then.
If I hadn't, I wouldn't have had to hear this, or need to.
"Young Lady."
"Yes, what is it? Something wrong?"
"I left a letter in the study. Please check it later."
"Yeah, got it."
Lize's words coming in the midst of the standoff with Rozalin.
Honestly, it was sudden, but I felt relieved that she spoke up.
I hadn't liked this ambiguous standoff with Rozalin dragging on from earlier.
It would be... so much more comfortable if we just stayed silent without talking.
"Mother."
"...Yes."
"About that proposal. I'd appreciate it if you dropped it. Sincerely."
"......."
Rozalin didn't respond to my stance until the end.
...Did she really want me to meet a guy that badly?
*
The letter waiting in the study was more important than I thought.
The sender was Rose and Canary.
Alexandra Rose, the second daughter of the Rose Family.
"Hmm...."
She must have heard that I became the Family Head too.
And Alexandra Rose was the one who joined me in plotting to screw over the Rose Family.
"Topple Christina Rose...."
That was our goal.
A goal no one else knew about.
It started because I treated Rozalin like shit, leading to the thought of bringing them down.
Looking back now, it was pretty impulsive.
Though my feelings hadn't changed.
"I've already prepared enough funds through business to control them to some extent...."
Not just my businesses, but the ones sold to Ivana and those successfully handled by the Rosaki Sisters... I'd finished preparations.
To the point where starting the plan would heavily impact the Rose Family's funding.
"...Come to think of it, we haven't met once since then."
I'd mostly exchanged letters with Alexandra Rose.
So there was no reason to meet.
And to avoid getting caught preparing this plan, sending letters via the Information Guild was the only way?
"Hmm.... It might be good to meet secretly.
The timing was tricky.
She had to come down from the capital to the south, after all.
Or I go there.
It was inconvenient in many ways.
"Hmm...."
I was angry at Rozalin, but still... I had no intention of giving this up.
Separate from being mad at Rozalin lately, I really hated the Rose Family bastards.
Not just angry—real disgust.
Those fuckers...
"Sigh."
I was mad at someone lately, but I couldn't help hating those guys.
More than anger, it was stronger affection? No.
Even in situations full of dissatisfaction, anger, and annoyance, the fact that I was still thinking of punishing that family that rejected and ostracized Rozalin proved it.
"...Sigh."
What should I do?
Rozalin suddenly trying to set up a blind date-like thing had me really conflicted.
I was already troubled over getting caught trying to kiss her, and now she was doing something weird... even more so.
"What guy, damn it...."
I'd lived as a woman for nearly 20 years already, but that wasn't it.
Rather than meeting a guy, I'd rather get fucked over.
No matter what, I'm playing with women.
In my life, every chromosome approaching me was strictly XY.
While waiting alone in the study like that, I called Lize.
"What is it, Young Lady?"
"I have a favor to ask Lize."
"...What is it?"
"Nothing big. Just... you remember the Black Market we went to last time?"
"...Young Lady."
The moment I brought it up to Lize, she started looking at me with worried eyes.
It wasn't anything dangerous....
"It's not a big deal, I just want you to pick up some stuff?"
She was still looking at me with trembling eyes, but I started bringing it up anyway.
I was going to ask her to do it regardless?
"Go buy some sleeping pills or something."
"...It does seem like not a big deal."
"It's fine. It's not for... anywhere really bad?"
I reassured the worried Lize like that.
Of course, I didn't feel like she'd relax right away with those words, but it was better than nothing.
Plus, it was a hassle for me to go?
"I'll lend you all the ID and stuff needed to get in."
"...I don't know what you'll use it for, Young Lady... but I'm a bit worried."
"You're overdoing it. It's fine even without that?"
"Still...."
"It's just... I have a place to try it on. Really, just buy a little."
"......."
Lize was still worried.
But if she didn't go here, I'd go buy it myself.
The Black Market was just convenient in many ways; sleeping pills could be gotten elsewhere too.
Money wasn't an issue.
"Huh? Can't you? I have a lot to do...."
"...No. I'll do it."
"Yeah, thanks."
She's so good.
Lize has always seemed unable to refuse my requests.
"Lize."
"Yes, Young Lady."
"You said you'd always stay by my side. You said it clearly back then, right?"
"...Yes. And it's still the same now."
I'd had that conversation with Lize before.
Very... very long ago.
Back when I was so young I hadn't even entered the Academy.
I vaguely remembered telling her I liked women.
Along with asking her to stay with me going forward.
"Yeah. That's right."
Back then, and now, Lize was clearly saying she'd follow me.
To me, she was a really great ally and partner.
Thinking about how even a few days ago, when I spent time with Ashley, Lize agreed to that....
"Hmm.... Lize."
"Yes, Young Lady...."
"What do you think about a harem?"
"...Pardon?"
I suddenly voiced what popped into my head.
Harem.
One to many.
Polyandry or whatever.
"Uh.... I don't know what you're suddenly talking about."
"Just what it sounds like. Harem. What do you think?"
"...I don't mind much. It's perfectly normal for many people to be drawn to an attractive person."
"I see?"
Well, I thought she wasn't wrong.
I definitely agreed with Lize's statement.
It was common sense.
Attractive things naturally draw lots of attention; it was a principle.
"You know I'm the type who can't be satisfied with just one, right?"
"......."
I really can't be satisfied with just a little of something. Get one gem and satisfied? No way. Business or money, get a bit and satisfied? Never.
"I know."
Yeah, she knows.
Lize, who's been closest to me the longest, would know.
She couldn't not know.
That I had more greed than I seemed.
"...I can tell Lize, right."
Because it's Lize.
Probably... it'd be okay to tell her.
Not someone else, but Lize.
Even though I'd never told anyone else, I felt it was fine for Lize.
"I like Mother."
"...Pardon?"
"Exactly what it sounds like. I want to do it with Mother."
"......."
"I want Mother, and not just her—I want others too."
"I... see."
Her slightly flustered expression was very obvious.
Well, even I'd be the same.
No bad thoughts.
Rather, since it wasn't a reaction of disgust, I felt relieved.
"First is Mother. Then starting with you, one by one... I'll have them all."
"......."
"So I'm starting with Mother. I planned to take it slow, but now I've changed my mind."
I dropped that bombshell while comfortably sitting in the chair.
Lize was still staring at me in shock, trying hard to process the situation.
"If you don't like it... you can leave. But if you're going to help with what I do next and stay with me, come here."
I pointed to the floor beside the chair as I said it.
What I was asking consent for now was huge.
Not just staying as a maid, but something much deeper.
"...I belong to you, Young Lady. I've never even thought of leaving you."
"Yeah?"
"...Yes."
Lize came to the spot I pointed at and said that.
Then slowly lowered her body there....
"Your joy is my joy...."
She knelt, looked up at me, and said it.
Her face was already incredibly red, and though she couldn't properly meet my eyes, the shy way she spoke was adorable.
Far more than any Lize I'd seen until now.