Chapter 233
Chapter 233
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Morning Doubts
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Yawn..."
"Ah, Camellia..."
"Did you sleep well...? You came down early in the morning. You're already awake."
Early in the morning, I headed down to the basement to spend some time with Rozalin.
Truth be told, I had planned to wake the sleeping Rozalin and enjoy a cozy moment together.
But she was up much earlier than expected, so my plan had fallen a bit short.
"You're here."
"Yes, Mother. Did you sleep well last night?"
"...Well enough."
"You don't look so good. Are you okay? Is something hurting?"
Rozalin, sitting on the bed in the basement, wore an expression that wasn't great.
It suited words like melancholic or bitter.
Was it because of what happened yesterday?
"Hm? No. I'm fine...."
"Hmm...."
Yesterday, while taking Rozalin out of the basement and walking the hallway together, we ran into Ashley.
Rozalin had heard all of that conversation.
Ashley had said Rozalin's expression back then was tinged with jealousy, and she hadn't come down to the basement last night.
That was probably why Rozalin's face looked so down now.
That was my guess, anyway.
Of course, it wasn't a definite conclusion.
"Sigh... Still, this bed is comfortable, right? I brought the best one from the mansion, all things considered."
"Yeah, it's nice. Thanks."
I climbed onto the bed where Rozalin lay.
She was treating me much more comfortably than before.
Compared to the first day of her confinement... it really felt like the mild flavor?
"What did you come for today?"
"Pardon?"
"You're here to... do something again today, right?"
"Today, I'm not doing anything. It's morning, and you're right below us? I got bored and came down."
That was my answer to Rozalin's question.
After all, I wasn't planning to get frisky with Rozalin today?
It wasn't that I didn't want to... but not doing it was part of the plan too.
"I see...."
She didn't say it outright, but she looked pretty disappointed.
Whether that was intentional, neither I nor Rozalin knew.
"So... you're just going to stay like this?"
"Yeah."
I said that while lying on Rozalin's bed.
It was the same with Lize, and the same with Ashley.
Having relations with other women in front of Rozalin... had a stronger effect than I thought.
Even without actual relations—just hanging out, chatting, spending time, laughing—Rozalin's mood soured clearly.
Of course, the woman next to me probably had no idea.
"...Did you have fun yesterday?"
"Fun how?"
That was Rozalin's question while we lay there quietly.
It was blunt and absurd.
Did she dislike me fooling around with Ashley last night that much?
Even though she hadn't fully accepted my confession?
"That...."
"Fooling around with Ashley?"
"Ashley...?"
"Yeah, Ashley."
I deliberately dropped the "Teacher" honorific.
After all... this would make it much easier to misunderstand?
"...Why?"
"Why what? Is there a problem with just calling her Ashley?"
"She's still a teacher...?"
I always called Ashley "Teacher" before, but not now, in front of Rozalin.
Well, last night, I hadn't used "Teacher" anyway—I'd treated her like a subordinate.
I didn't mention that first, though.
"Ashley's surprisingly cute. And we're not really doing lessons anymore. No need to call her Teacher. I decided to just go with Ashley this time."
"Oh.... I see...."
"There's an age gap, sure, but she's contracted with our family. We're in a superior position relationally, right? Especially me, as Family Head."
"...True."
It wasn't wrong at all.
There was a contract, and I was the Family Head.
Speaking casually to Ashley was no issue.
"So... how was your time with Teacher Ashley...?"
"Hmm.... Ashley was really cute, wasn't she?"
"...?"
In front of Rozalin, I just... did some moderately naughty things.
Compared to what I'd done with Lize, the only unique thing was the collar.
So Rozalin probably couldn't imagine any different play.
She wouldn't think of treating Ashley—older than me—like a subordinate, teasing her as someone younger who obeyed my every word.
"She listened to everything I said, her body trembled, her face flushed with embarrassment."
I didn't go into details.
Just the gist.
"And Ashley's breasts are so~ft. I could've slept on them forever."
"......."
"Her butt's super soft too, and her thighs and such were way more fun to touch than expected. I just kept going without thinking."
In truth, I hadn't directly toyed with Ashley's body.
I used tools a bit?
I did spank her butt?
But I hadn't licked her breasts or below with my hands or tongue.
It was a bit regrettable, but saving it for next time was the thrill.
"Camellia...? Didn't you say I was the one you wanted...?"
"Hmm.... Yeah?"
"Then why... do you fool around so casually with other women?"
"Hmm...."
So that's what bothered her?
Rozalin had a girlish side that didn't match her age.
Well, she'd never done couple things even after marriage.
Of course she'd be innocent in this area.
Personally, it'd be fun if she had just a tiny bit of pent-up desire...
But Rozalin's sexual urges weren't that strong to begin with.
"Because it's nice."
I gave that innocent answer to the innocent Rozalin.
Though depending on how I phrased it, it might not be so innocent.
"What?"
"Playing with pretty girls. How could it not be nice?"
I answered casually, lying comfortably beside her.
My reaction was so matter-of-fact it was ridiculous.
Rozalin's eyes widened slightly in bewilderment.
"Like gazing at artwork. Like crafting a beautiful handicraft yourself. Like enjoying a beautifully written novel. It's just that."
"Camellia...."
"It's just an extension of that—wanting to have multiple women."
"That's... wrong...."
"Um.... Yeah?"
"Huh...?"
"Well, it's not normal. Of course my tastes, thoughts, and beliefs are abnormal."
I admitted it cleanly.
Liking pretty artworks and wanting multiple women were obviously different things?
She wasn't so dense as to miss that.
"It's just my preference. I want Mother the most. And others too—like Lize, Ashley, Ella, Karen, Grace, Ivana."
"........"
"The friends I mentioned later... I like them too. Yeah, they're all pretty, cute, charming women. I want them."
I placed my hand on Rozalin's.
Gripping firmly so she couldn't pull away.
"But... you're my number one priority, Mother."
I met her eyes.
Rozalin... slightly averted her gaze.
Probably because of the things I was saying now.
Any mother would get a headache hearing this from her daughter, right?
"I want the others too, but you're the main target, so I did naughty things with you first, our first kiss, all that."
"That doesn't... justify what you're thinking now, does it...?"
"My emotions alone don't justify my actions and thoughts."
"Right? So...."
Was Rozalin still trying to reform me?
Scold me, lecture me, to make me stop targeting her even a little.
"Justification isn't about emotions—it's about making Ivana and Older Sister Karen mine, changing the empire's laws."
"...Huh?"
"And taking everything from the Rose Family women who did evil to you."
"What does that...."
No intention of stopping, of course.
I'd already sent letters to my academy friends inviting them to the mansion, and to Alexandra—the Rose Family's spy and second daughter.
Preparations to claim my academy friends and to topple the Rose Family were in place.
"Rose Family...? What do you...."
"They tormented you terribly since childhood, Mother. Even after you became an adult.... They always treated you badly."
I twirled Rozalin's hair around my finger as I said that.
Because it was true.
Childhood stories, the time in Rose Territory... they were just trash.
"So I'm going to wipe them out properly. The eldest in the capital, Christina Rose, the Rose Count and Countess. Completely."
"........"
"Um.... I'll do my best on this?"
This was the first time I'd told her about my Rose Family plans.
Naturally, Rozalin's eyes widened in shock at my sudden words.
Seeing that, I couldn't help but smile.
"Mother. What do you think?"
"........"
"Do you despise it? Find it repulsive? Disgusting?"
Still holding hands, eyes locked, I said that.
I was curious, didn't want to know, but had to know.
"...No."
"Really?"
But Rozalin's response mid-conversation was... intriguing.
She didn't show it, but it surprised me a bit.