Chapter 238
Chapter 238
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: My Unique Tastes
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Ella had quite liked me since we were young, and she still did.
The "like" in question wasn't the kind that came from being friends....
"How do I look to you, Ella?"
"Well.... Pretty."
"Really?"
It was truly good news that she meant pretty in a completely different sense.
Unlike with Rozalin, Ella had thought of me that way for a long time.
Honestly, it felt nice.
"You've been pretty since we were kids. Why ask now?"
"What I think and how others see me are different, aren't they? I was just curious."
"You're being ridiculously pointless."
"Pfth, am I?"
"...Yes."
I'd known for a long time that my looks were extraordinarily pretty.
Not just pretty, but pretty enough that even another girl harbored impure thoughts toward me.
Even Ella, a friend I'd known since childhood, was showing that kind of demeanor now.
"Haa...."
"Why the sudden sigh? Is something wrong?"
"It's not that. It's just that lately I've had a lot on my mind."
"You.... Oh, you became Family Head recently. You must be busy."
"Yes, that's true."
Anyone could see I looked deep in thought.
Even if a stranger passed by and saw me, I'd sigh with an expression that suggested I had worries weighing on me from all sides.
Well, the only real worry was that things weren't going smoothly with Rozalin.
All my intentions right now boiled down to one thing anyway.
"Actually.... My tastes are a bit unique."
"...Pardon?"
"It's just.... A little hard to say outright."
I deliberately laid the groundwork.
No matter what, springing something out of nowhere would be a bad idea.
Slowly.
Step by step.
I figured it would be best to act only when Ella was truly ready to accept it.
"What is it? Why can't you say it?"
"Come on, even you have to admit this is awkward to talk about."
"...What is it, really?"
My reaction was making Ella increasingly curious.
I was saying something plausible without actually revealing anything.
A unique taste—one too bold to declare outright.
She wouldn't know exactly what it was, but it was bound to pique her interest.
Still, I had no intention of revealing it right away.
Just a bit more....
"It's not.... Something I should tell you, Ella."
"What? Can't you even tell me, of all people?"
"Haha...."
"It hurts a little. We've known each other for over ten years. And you're hiding even this?"
"If I tell you, Ella, you'll look at me strangely."
She desperately wanted to hear the answer, so I drew out her interest a little more.
Not yet.... It still felt a bit lacking.
If I pushed just a little further, I could even seize control of the situation.
"...You're really not going to tell me?"
"Haha...."
She wasn't drunk to the point of losing her senses from all the alcohol.
But Ella had drunk enough to feel a pleasant buzz.
Seeing how intensely interested she'd been lately, it seemed okay to say it now....
"It's just.... I like women."
"W-What?!"
"I like women.... Same sex. And not just one—I want to date multiple. That kind of taste.... Haha."
I flashed an awkward smile.
As if I hadn't actually done anything yet, but had the intention to.
It properly informed her that the woman sitting in front of her was far more dangerous than she thought.
"What does that...."
"You kept prying, didn't you? About my tastes."
"Well, that's.... True.... But...."
"It's just how it is. Don't.... Distance yourself too much?"
"I wouldn't.... But still...."
She looked flustered.
Did she really not know how much she liked me?
She had to have some idea, at least.
"Is it a bit shocking?"
"...Yes. It is. That's the perfect word for it."
"I suppose so. It was pretty sudden of me to bring it up."
I gave that response.
Of course, it was deliberate.
I'd done it to get this close to Ella today, after all.
But in front of innocent Ella right now, it was right to just say things like that and slowly savor the moment.
"Don't hate me too much?"
"No, it's not.... Like that...."
Ella was blatantly flustered, reacting awkwardly.
The sight was so cute that I couldn't help smiling.
"So.... That's your taste?"
"Yes."
"Since when....?"
"Hmm.... Not sure. It's vague to pin it to a specific time."
"Oh, I see...."
"Don't be scared or anything. Just a little.... Haha...."
"I've never been...."
She said that, but her reaction was blatantly flustered.
That response from her only made me smile more.
It would have been less fun if Ella had smiled at my words and said something like, "Same tastes! You too?"
Dirtying up Ella—who liked me but thought dating women was weird—with my own hands would be.... Far more enjoyable, right?
"So.... You like women?"
"Yes. That's right."
"Wow.... I see...."
I found her reaction adorable.
Even without the alcohol, Ella's current response felt quite cute.
Fanning herself with her hand out of embarrassment.
Her face flushed, eyes darting away—it was so cute I couldn't stop meeting her gaze.
"It's not like I like just anyone unrelated. I have tastes, and I definitely prefer pretty people much more."
"Pretty?"
"Yes, pretty people. I.... Really like pretty women. This part has probably been with me since I was very young."
"I see...."
"It's not just any woman—it's pretty women that draw my interest, I think."
Which was true, actually.
If someone's looks didn't match my tastes.... Hmm.
No need to think about it.
"So.... Who comes to mind? People who match your tastes."
"Hmm...."
I decided to drag it out slowly.
No matter what, rushing things with Ella right now would be too risky.
Especially in my current situation where I needed to seduce other girls lately—taking it slow seemed fine.
Here....
"Starting with Older Sister Karen, then Ivana, Grace—they're all really pretty, right? And Lize at our mansion or Teacher Ashley are pretty too."
"Oh...."
"I told you. Multiple people."
"You did...."
A one-on-one boss-subordinate romance with Rozalin sounded good, but honestly, I wanted even more varied relationships than that.
Even with Lize and Ashley already in the picture.... I was still trying to seduce Ella like this.
It was greed, sure, and excessive too.
I knew that well, but I couldn't help wanting more women anyway.
Sorry, but it was an uncontrollable taste.
"Honestly, it's not normal. But they're all so pretty I can't help being interested."
"They are pretty...."
"So I'm thinking of taking it slow, one by one. Suddenly pouncing would be too much. If they're okay with it, then.... Pfth."
"I see...."
She sipped her drink, glancing at me shyly, embarrassed.
Did Ella have surprisingly low resistance to this?
At least from her current behavior, she didn't seem strong.
"Ahem...."
The topics I brought up were more stimulating than expected, and because of that, Ella started drinking faster and faster.
Blatantly showing she wasn't used to conversations like this.
I enjoyed her reactions and sipped my own drink little by little.
It felt a bit bad leaving her to drink alone while I held back.
It could also serve as groundwork to justify laying her later.
"Oh, by the way, does Ella have anyone you're seeing, or interested in? Or any tastes?"
"M-Me?"
"Yes, you, Ella."
I figured I'd shared enough of my story.
Now I wanted to hear Ella's thoughts.
After listening to me pour out my tales over drinks, what reaction would she have?
"Anyone I'm seeing or interested in.... Not really...."
"Really?"
"I've been busy with work, like you."
"Pfth, true. You've been pretty busy too, Ella."
"...But you. Are you interested in Miss Ivana or Older Sister Karen too?"
"Of course."
"Then you'll.... Like, go on dates, confess, that sort of thing...?"
"Hmm.... Not sure yet, but I'll have to try."
"Oh...."
Why bring up Ivana and Karen specifically?
Was she wary of them?
Who knows.
.
.
.
I spent the time slowly talking about my tastes.
Ella kept giving the same reaction, still responding that it was sudden.
Along with those responses, we'd drunk quite a bit of the prepared alcohol....
"Jeez...."
"Ella, you okay?"
She got drunk sooner than expected.
I hadn't even urged her to drink, but she'd gotten tipsy on her own.
"Camelliaaaaa...."
"Yes? Want some water?"
"...Why only the others? Why be interested in them...?"
"...Pardon?"
"I've been with you since we were little too. Why only them? Ivana, Older Sister Karen.... I met them later than I did...."
"...?"
Ella's drunken words.
Somehow.... They were quite different from what I'd anticipated—unexpected, even.