Chapter 222
Chapter 222
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: A Very Good Mood
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"Hehe...."
Today, I was in an incredibly good mood.
Lately... it had really been one bad thing after another—dirty, anxious, irritating nonstop.
But right now? I felt like the happiest person in the world.
"Uhehehe...."
An unsettling laugh slipped out before I knew it.
Of course, thinking about what was to come, I figured I could laugh even more creepily right here.
"As expected of you, Lize. Thank you so much for handling my request so perfectly."
"Since it was a request from you, Young Lady.... I did my very best."
"Hehe...."
Lize had taken care of everything I'd asked for.
I'd been worried since it involved the Black Market, but she'd handled it far better than expected.
She'd even bought all the specific items I'd requested.
I truly couldn't help but express my gratitude to her.
"You did great preparing the Sleeping Pills, and the restraints too."
"...Didn't you give the order, Young Lady?"
"Hehe, that's right."
"I merely followed your instructions."
As she said that, I stroked Lize's hair.
Her hair was so silky smooth that even I enjoyed petting it.
Of course, Lize, who was receiving the pets, wore an even happier expression.
"Thanks to you, things should go much more smoothly."
"...What do you plan to do?"
"Hmm.... Just commit the act?"
"...Pardon?"
No big thoughts behind it.
I'd simply decided to go through with it now.
It was sudden, but dragging it out any longer would only make me feel worse.
Even this morning, Rozalin had spouted some nonsense at me, which soured my mood even more.
"Hoo...."
Always saying weird stuff to me, while she herself wore those thin dresses....
"Showing off her cleavage every time."
How could that not plant strange thoughts in my head?
She was already so stunningly beautiful, and she did it constantly?
No matter how I thought about it, it felt like Rozalin was the one in the wrong.
From my childhood, she'd approached me first, been physically affectionate, always so kind.
How could I not like her?
It was only natural to love her.
Right?
"Hehe.... I've been incredibly patient up until now—that's what I think."
"Is that so...?"
"Yeah. I've been planning something like this for a very long time."
In many ways, it had turned out sudden and impulsive.
But ultimately, my goal was to claim Rozalin.
"It's all thanks to you, Lize."
"...No, I didn't really do much...."
"You can just quietly accept my praise. It really is thanks to you."
"...Understood."
Lize really was adorable.
Anyway, I planned to do it today.
It was more like a done deal than mere planning.
"Before tonight, all the Knight Order staying in the building next to the mansion will be sent on leave. And all the servants inside the mansion will be sent out on leave too."
"...Pardon?"
"Just as I said. I'm planning to make it so only four people remain in the mansion."
"Are you serious...?"
"Yeah."
Starting with me, then Rozalin, Lize, and Ashley.
Just those four.
Considering what was to happen today, leaving any other people around was too risky.
Well, I could just eliminate them with magic... no problem.
But there was no need for that.
"And I'm going to tidy up one of the completely unused rooms in the basement starting now."
"There was a room in the basement?"
"Yeah. There was. From the beginning."
"That's the first I've heard of it while living in the mansion...."
Well, that was natural.
It was a hidden room, after all.
William had told me about it once, but neither of us had ever gone in.
"Hehe...."
"Why are you laughing?"
"Just... a few hours from now is so exciting. And I have something to ask of you too, Lize."
"You have a request for me...?"
"Yeah."
I smiled at Lize as I said it.
It wasn't a big deal, but it was absolutely necessary for the ideal outcome I'd envisioned for today.
*
The secret basement room was designed to be accessed through my room.
Since my room was on the second floor, the stairs were quite steep.
"Hmm.... It's filthy."
The basement hadn't been used much, so dust had piled up everywhere.
And there was no furniture either.
Of course, I could handle all that while Rozalin was in her room.
For furniture, pulling some from storage around the mansion would suffice... and the Aphrodisiac, Sleeping Pills, and such were already prepared.
"Hoo...."
As I cleaned the basement with magic, I slowly thought about tonight's events.
First step: Approach Rozalin and suggest we reconcile.
Second step: During the talk, slip her the Sleeping Pill to make her collapse.
Third step: Bring her down to this basement and restrain her body.
Fourth step: Use the Aphrodisiac and such to....
"...Even if I took it slow, there was no sign she'd suddenly give in."
So, I'd had no choice but to opt for this radical method.
On top of that, lately she'd started spouting nonsense about meeting a man....
"...I really have no choice."
If she'd said to meet a woman, or another woman... that might've been different.
But telling me to meet a man? That grated on my nerves.
Even back at the Academy, I'd gotten confessions from a few guys.
With looks this pretty, it was inevitable.
"It was only natural."
Well, girls had confessed too.
My beauty was such that even women—physically the same sex—had confessed to me.
Totally natural.
Of course, it pissed me off so much I rejected them all.
"Hmm.... Rozalin's definitely in the wrong here."
That much was true.
Rozalin had clearly messed up.
If she hadn't suddenly said that weird stuff about meeting a man, I never would've jumped straight to this extreme.
Separate from the kiss rejection, I would've worked harder to get closer to her.
"...I should hurry and prepare the stuff from the Black Market.
Actually, beds and chairs could just be magicked down from my room.
I decided to start with the most important items.
"Hehe...."
I could feel it—now was truly... truly the time.
Ever since deciding to go through with it after talking to Lize, my heart had been pounding hard.
Even waking up this morning, my body felt suspiciously light.
The perfect day to commit the act.
*
Evening arrived.
Rozalin stayed quietly in her room the whole time, and during that, I sent everyone out of the mansion.
It got a bit noisy because of it, but a soundproofing spell on the door fixed that.
"Hoo...."
Preparations were already complete from earlier in the day.
In that situation, I headed to Rozalin's room with tea laced with the Sleeping Pill.
Fortunately, it was powder form, not pills, so it was undetectable.
And 1.5 times the recommended dose.
"This should make her pass out mid-sip."
It was said to take effect about ten minutes after ingestion.
She'd probably drift off halfway through the tea.
"Better that way."
With those thoughts, I reached Rozalin's door.
I hadn't come to her room much in the past few days, so it felt a bit awkward and novel.
-Knock knock.
"Madam, may I come in?"
Unlike recently, I didn't open the door first but asked from outside.
Well... things between us had been a bit awkward lately.
It was because Rozalin kept making those weird suggestions, though.
At my question, Rozalin replied from inside to enter, and I went in.
"What is it?"
"I just wanted to bring you tea personally, Mother. I took it from the servants who were going to do it."
"Ah.... I see."
"Yes."
Our relationship had soured recently.
It was the expected reaction.
Not as brightly smiling as before.
...I felt a little guilty, but she'd been the one bringing up blind dates nonstop.
"...Thank you."
"Yes."
I really had no choice in that regard.
It was hearing the most hated words from the person I loved most.
"...Camellia."
"Yes."
"Um...."
Rozalin seemed about to say something slowly.
After confirming her expression, I decided to cut her off before she could speak.
"Mother. I'm sorry."
"Hm?"
"Lately, I've been acting really unpleasant, haven't I?"
I bowed my head and apologized right away.
She'd surely planned to apologize about this too, but I took the initiative.
"........"
"So I really wanted to apologize. I'm sorry."
"No. I... kept bringing up things you hate too, didn't I?"
"Haha...."
"So I felt really bad. I didn't know you'd hate it that much, but I shouldn't have kept going after that."
We apologized to each other like normal.
In that moment, Rozalin took another sip of the tea.
Things were proceeding smoothly.
"No, I was the one overreacting hysterically."
"No, no. I'm much older than you, Camellia. It was my fault."
"I really wasn't mad at you, Mother. It was my mistake. And... phew...."
"No... are you okay...."
After a few sips of tea, Rozalin's eyes began to lose focus.
She couldn't even finish her sentence before her head drooped, her body went limp, and she fell asleep.
Exactly as I'd predicted.
"Puhuhu...."
Everything was going perfectly today.
I'm so glad I decided to act now.