Chapter 241
Chapter 241
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Rozalin's Desperation
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Dating Ella and ending up sleeping together didn't mean anything special had happened.
We had really just slept chastely and woken up—nothing out of the ordinary.
Fortunately, the Ella who woke up in the morning remembered everything and put on an adorably embarrassed display that I enjoyed watching with a laugh.
It had started with her drunken confession, followed by all sorts of conversations and even some kisses.
After that, we had a simple breakfast, spent some leisurely time together, and then I sent Ella back to her territory for now.
"Puhuhu..."
"Was yesterday to your liking, Young Lady?"
"Yeah, immensely."
Having seen Ella off like that, I was now relaxing on the sofa with Lize.
We weren't doing anything naughty—just sitting there chatting idly.
"Ella was so incredibly cute, you know? It was really hard to hold back."
"I-is... that so."
"You really should've seen what Ella was like last night. She was way cuter than she ever was back at the academy."
"By any chance, do you prefer cute types like Lady Ella, Young Lady?"
And there was our maid, posing yet another cute question.
Maybe she was jealous because I'd been going on and on about last night, detail by detail.
Lize had always been the subtly jealous type anyway, and now that things between us had changed quite a bit...
That might be why she was asking something like this, unlike before.
"Yeah, that's my type."
"...I see."
Her blatantly disappointed expression was truly a delight to behold.
She'd been like that when I talked about Ella too, but right now, her even more crestfallen look felt utterly adorable.
"I like the fresh cuteness of someone like Ella, the way you get shy but still do everything like Lize, or even how Teacher just clams up and blushes."
"Ah...."
"Why?"
"It's nothing...."
"You already got jealous—what do you mean, nothing?"
........
"Puhat...."
The moment I spoke, she couldn't meet my eyes, hanging her head completely low in embarrassment.
After all the time we'd spent together...
Did she really think I wouldn't care about something like that?
"My tastes are pretty broad, so no need to worry about weird stuff."
"Understood...."
"Hm.... Want me to prove it right now?"
"Y-Yes...?"
"Right this instant. We don't have anything else to do anyway, right?"
I let Lize know with a smile.
We were already sitting on the same sofa, and just like I'd said, there really wasn't anything to do.
A quick naughty romp with Lize?
That was hardly difficult.
*
"Mother, good morning."
"...Ca, Camellia?"
It had been a while since I'd come down to the basement where Rozalin was.
Truly the first time since that minor argument last time.
Before then, I'd always separately asked Lize to prepare breakfast and help her bathe, so it was inevitable that this was the first.
To be honest, coming down like this was giving me a headache in all sorts of ways...
But I had no intention of leaving Rozalin like this forever.
"I, I... I'm sorry...!"
"Huh?"
"That time, I was really sorry. I shouldn't have... It was my fault.... I'm sorry, okay?"
"Uh...."
I'd only opened the basement door and given her a light greeting.
But Rozalin immediately climbed down from the bed and grabbed my legs, launching into a sudden flood of apologies.
What was this?
"M-Mom's... really sorry...? I won't ever... say stuff like last time again...."
"Uh...."
It was a little bewildering.
A few days? No, less than a week apart.
I really hadn't expected Rozalin to act like this.
What in the world...?
I knew she'd been obsessively fixated on maintaining our relationship for a while now.
But I hadn't anticipated her showing something like this at all.
........
"Camellia...? Did Mom do something displeasing again...."
"Mother."
"Yes...!"
........
Maybe it had been a mistake to skip coming down because of the argument or because it was giving me a headache...
I did like Rozalin, and I did want to share love with her.
But I absolutely didn't want this version of her.
So extremely....
"...Get up first. The floor's cold."
"Yes...!"
...For now, I helped Rozalin to her feet.
I hadn't realized just how desperately she wanted to preserve our relationship.
Now... I was starting to get an idea.
Far deeper than I'd imagined—intensely so, sticky and profound...
It wasn't quite obsession; it felt a bit more peculiar, a touch shallower.
And separately from knowing she'd done something wrong... she was still putting on this display....
"...Shall we step outside for a bit?"
"Ah, no...! It's fine. It's the place you rarely prepared for me. I'm... Mom's okay staying here...!"
"...No. Let's go wash up and get some food in you, just for a little while."
"It's fine...."
"Just come along."
...Unable to help it, I grabbed Rozalin's wrist firmly and started dragging her out.
This really wasn't what I'd wanted.
I'd only wanted to grow a little closer, more affectionate with Rozalin.
With those thoughts, I returned to my room from the basement.
The basement wasn't dark by any means, but coming to this much brighter space... Rozalin's expression was far easier to read now.
She seemed even more on edge than Lize or the others.
Her eyes and hands trembled faintly, and she kept trying to glance my way.
Though she always averted her gaze just before our eyes met.
"...Mother. Shall we change your clothes first? I cleaned that shirt with magic, but you've been wearing it nonstop."
"Ah, got it...! I'll take it off quick...?"
"Yes."
Rozalin began undressing right away at my words.
If it had been before, she would've tried to cover her body even a little...
But now, there was none of that.
She was taking my question practically as a command and obeying submissively... It was tough.
How was I supposed to treat this Rozalin?
"All off. What should I wear...?"
Rather than joy at Rozalin's changed demeanor, I felt far more confusion and guilt.
Because of my own greed, Rozalin had become like this....
"Wait just a moment."
I didn't know.
For now, instead of the shirt and skirt she'd been wearing nonstop, I handed her one of her usual dresses.
The black dress Rozalin had often worn long ago.
Simpler and more form-fitting than ones laden with frills or ribbons.
The style that immediately came to mind when thinking of Rozalin.
"Why this...."
"I figured you don't need to stay uncomfortably in the basement anymore."
"Eh?"
"You were really uncomfortable down there, weren't you?"
I'd planned to release her anyway, but now it felt like I truly had to.
At first, it was because it was awkward going to the basement with Ella or the others around, or because I'd left her there too long...
But after coming down today and seeing her like this—so terribly anxious.
If I kept her confined in the basement like this, she might really break.
For starters, ending the basement imprisonment... was the right call.
"Ah, no! It's fine. The basement is fine.... Really fine...!"
"Huh?"
"It's okay to keep me there, right? Camellia?"
"No, that's not what I meant."
"Did I do something wrong again? I won't ever act like I did a few days ago. Right? Camellia?"
"Stop grabbing my leg...."
"Please... okay...?"
Maybe it was because I'd seen so much of adorably fresh Ella yesterday.
Rozalin's behavior right now was giving me a headache.
Had my not visiting for a few days been that shocking?
Or had my cold words at the end been that traumatic?
It was obviously a complex mix of both.
"I'll do anything you ask.... And no more weird talk like before, okay?"
I had no idea how to react to her still clinging to my leg and pleading.
If she was doing this because she liked me as a woman... I wouldn't have said a word.
But the current Rozalin was just doing this to prevent our relationship from breaking apart.
"For now... let go."
"Yes...!"
"...Haa."
"Sorry...."
"That's not what I meant.... Never mind."
Even if I told her not to do that right here and now, she'd definitely say something weird again.
It'd be much better to calm Rozalin down here.
"Mother, why don't we sit for now? I'll call Lize and we can have something tasty. That sounds better."
"If that's what you want...."
"Yes, let's do that. Come over here quick."
"Yes."
In any case, I wanted to cool my head a bit.
That's why I deliberately quieted Rozalin down and moved to sit comfortably on the sofa.
Just this morning, I'd been chatting idly here with Lize so carefree.
"Haa...."
A sigh escaped me unbidden.
It was so utterly different—completely the opposite—from the fresh time I'd spent with Ella last night.
Rozalin sat demurely beside me, quietly watching my cues without a word.
"Um... Camellia?"
"Yes, Mother. What is it?"
Then Rozalin called my name first.
What could it be about?
Was she about to say something weird like before?
If so... I'd want to seriously shut her mouth....
"...I smell something different."
"Huh?"
"Besides Lize and Teacher Ashley, did you... bring someone else?"
"...Huh?"
What in the world....
My head was starting to ache again....