Chapter 227
Chapter 227
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Rozalin's Progress
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Rozalin's assistant training was going... fairly smoothly, in its own way.
She was following my demands much better than expected, and her resistance had lessened.
I did have some slight concerns about that reaction, but....
"Mother. I really love you...."
"...Yeah."
Hugging Rozalin while we were both completely naked was pure bliss.
I deliberately pushed aside those faint doubts.
Well, if Rozalin actually tried to run away, I'd track her down no matter what.
If she truly hated me with loathing eyes....
"Camellia...? What's wrong...? Did Mother do something wrong again?"
"No. Just... if Mother ever rejected me 100%, I thought maybe I'd rather die."
"Uh...?"
"Kidding, kidding. Fufu...."
Though there was some truth to it.
Anyway, the point was that being with Rozalin like this was utter happiness.
So much so that I wished time would freeze right here....
"...I love you."
"......."
Rozalin still turned her head away without responding to my words.
But I was still in love with Rozalin.
Lize upstairs, Ashley, friends from Ella onward... they were all great, but....
"...Really."
None of them compared to Rozalin.
I did plan to do this with those friends someday too, but forcing it on ones who hated it like with Rozalin... I hadn't gone that far yet.
"...Camellia."
"Yes, Mother."
"Can I ask a question...?"
"Yes, anything."
It was an unexpected remark from Rozalin amid my thoughts.
She'd been silent, but now suddenly wanted to speak.
I was looking forward to it.
Though worry edged out anticipation.
"...Does Camellia like me because of my body?"
"Hmm...."
A tough question.
But I had no intention of hesitating.
"Yes. Why?"
"...I see."
"Who could hate someone as pretty as Mother? It's only natural to feel drawn to someone with such a beautiful face and figure."
"...I see."
"I've loved pretty things since I was little."
I began the story while holding Rozalin.
It wasn't anything special.
"Jewels were nice, pretty clothes too, famous paintings and architecture. But those... aren't alive, are they?"
"Huh?"
"How should I put it. They're not truly alive like people. All man-made. Artificial."
Of course, people were made by people too.
"But comparing them to a beautiful person, obviously you'd pick the pretty person."
"......."
"Naturally, people desire to possess what they want. My desire is for beautiful things. And at the top of the beautiful things I envision...."
I grasped Rozalin's chin and turned her face toward me.
Fortunately, she wasn't gazing with trembling eyes.
"Is Mother. Rozalin Leonhardt. You."
"Th-that so...."
Of course, at those words, she averted her gaze again....
But this time, it was truly sincere.
Because to me, Rozalin was the prettiest.
Objectively... maybe someone else.
But at least to me, Rozalin was unconditionally the most beautiful person and masterpiece.
"Mother must have something you've wanted to possess at least once in life, right?"
"Not none."
"I'm the same. My goal is possessing Mother."
"......."
By now, Rozalin's cheeks were quite flushed, and she kept dodging my eyes.
I'd been trying to meet her gaze.
"...Can't be helped."
Rozalin kept avoiding my eyes.
No choice.
If eyes won't meet, something else will.
"Huh?"
"Mother's fault?"
"Wait.... Chuup.... Chup... Wuup.... Hup.... F, hup, eup, ueup....! Eup!"
While holding her chin, I pressed into a kiss on Rozalin's lips.
Not a brief peck like last time, but an intensely long one.
At least thirty seconds with lips locked to hers, freely entwining her tongue.
"Phaha... Haak! Haak...!"
"Don't keep avoiding my gaze. It makes me sad...."
"Haa... O-okay.... Sorry."
"...Even Mother trying to meet my eyes, but if you keep dodging, it honestly hurts, doesn't it?"
"...Yeah. Sorry."
"Yes, thank you for understanding."
It was basically coercion.
Yet she accepted it so well.
Seeing this made two thoughts arise.
That Rozalin was starting to enjoy the situation, beginning to like our bodies overlapping and the skinship.
And that she was deceiving me, plotting some way to escape.
No guarantee her talk of bonds and family would hold.
"......."
"...Why?"
"No...."
...Please don't do that.
Really.
*
What Rozalin and I had done so far wasn't actually that much.
Our first kiss, mutual caressing... just about that.
I locked her in the basement out of overwhelming desire, but nothing extreme had happened.
Rozalin still hadn't fully accepted me, and I was merely taking her body.
"Should change methods."
"What do you mean, Lady."
"Mother's so stubborn. Not yielding easily."
"Ah...."
"Feels like... the approach is off somehow. Pondering various angles."
I was chatting like this, lounging on the sofa with Lize.
No one else around anyway, and Rozalin was napping in the basement.
"Lize, what do you think works best? Any good ideas?"
"Hmm...."
At least, better to consult Lize when I'm stuck.
Even without a perfect solution from her, beats thinking solo.
"...Might be overstepping a bit."
"Yeah."
"For Lady to obtain Madam, completely binding her arms and legs is... a bit much, I think."
"Yeah?"
"...Yes. Locking the door to prevent escape is fine, but binding all limbs separately breeds too much rejection and fear."
Certainly... makes sense.
I'd acted on impulse, so maybe that was the misstep.
"And at least during sleep... best to let her rest as comfortably as possible...."
"...Right. Spot on."
Lize's advice was all correct.
No, entirely on point.
She pinpointed what I'd overlooked.
"If concerned Madam might use entry-level magic to escape, better to block her mana with a bracelet accessory."
"Hmm.... Lize, you're scarier than I thought?"
"S-sorry.... Not meant that way...."
"No, no. It's praise. Really."
"......."
Genuine praise.
She covered things I hadn't considered.
Truly grateful.
"I just want Lady to be happy and pleased."
"I know. That's why I'm so thankful."
"...Yes."
Stroking her head, Lize smiled contentedly as always.
Still wearing yesterday's collar....
"Lize, collar comfortable? Picked a loose one on purpose."
"Yes, fine. Really nice."
"If it bothers you at all, tell me."
"Yes."
"Not necessarily a collar.... A choker works too, hm?"
"It's fine. This is more than enough for me now."
Lize, still wearing the collar I'd given her around her neck.
She's a total pervert too....
"Hmm...."
"Why, Lady...?"
"Just looking again. Lize really is pretty, huh?"
"...Thank you?"
"Fufu...."
Cute reaction belying her pretty looks.
A side of Lize others, like other maids, wouldn't know.
Truly fortunate to have a maid like Lize as my exclusive maid.
"Lize."
"Yes, Lady."
"Hm.... Could Lize act like this in front of others too? Like a puppy."
"...Possible."
"Easier answer than expected?"
"Because Lady seems to want it. For that... I can do it."
Just like a puppy.
A pretty puppy obedient solely to me.
So adorable, I wanted to pet and hug her every time.
"Then...."
An idea had popped up amid thoughts on Rozalin's training.
I began explaining the plan to Lize.
*
"...Why'd you bring Lize? And that bed over there...."
"Don't worry about it too much."
"Huh?"
I'd come down to the basement with Lize.
While Rozalin slept, I'd set up a new bed and added more, stronger internal locks.
Practically impossible to unlock without me.
Rozalin's restraints... I'd left them on purpose.
"No plans to do anything bad to Mother right now. Actually, now...."
"...?"
I glanced at Lize.
Catching my look, she bowed her head reflexively, face flushing.
Not mere shyness—anticipation for what was coming, mixed with embarrassment.
"Upstairs feels too risky for that. Windows around, and Ashley might wander by anytime. No better spot than here."
"No way...."
Rozalin seemed to have pieced it together.
Well, it was obvious.
Bringing Lize here—where I'd spent the morning doing those things with Rozalin—and preparing a new bed... even a fool could guess.
"Lize, undress."
"...Yes, Lady."
"........"
My brief exchange with Lize.
Short as it was, Rozalin stared at me like I'd betrayed her.
Truly... such an amusing expression.