Chapter 245
Chapter 245
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Morning After with Rozalin
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"Huuu...."
Morning had arrived.
Not that I had simply woken up from sleep—no, it was because my new stepmother was hugging my arm even tighter with that adorable little voice of hers.
Last night, we had spent the time fulfilling all sorts of demands.
And in the end, she had eagerly buried herself in things no mother should bury herself in with her daughter... only to sleep so cutely like this.
"Pfft...."
"Mmm...."
Compared to last night, Rozalin's face looked far more serene and demure.
Was it because she had accepted me yesterday?
Even compared to all the mornings I'd seen her in so far, she seemed that much prettier.
Of course, it might just be my imagination.
Still, she was undeniably beautiful—that much was certain.
"Haa...."
Thinking back on last night's events for a moment made the corners of my mouth curl up involuntarily.
Sure, it was just reminiscing about what had happened yesterday.
But... it had been really good.
We had started at a time that wasn't too late and gone all the way until it was fully night—it was a truly special time spent with Rozalin.
Even compared to the time I suddenly kidnapped her to the basement.
Or when I smeared lewd lotion on her body and raped her however I wanted.
Or when I brought Lize to the basement, played role-reversal with Ashley, and kissed Ella—it didn't compare.
"Huuu...."
Lost in those thoughts, I tightened my arm around her without realizing it, and she let out an even cuter whimper.
Even though she must have woken up by now, Rozalin was the only thing on my mind.
Meanwhile, the real Rozalin was just sleeping beside me, gently hugging me.
But she kept popping into my head anyway.
If I had just a little less greed, seeing her like this might have made me give up on the harem.
No, if I lacked even a tiny bit of greed.
I really would have given it up.
"...Well, can't be helped."
"Mmm...."
I spent some time like that, holding her tightly while lost in such thoughts.
Rozalin kept making cute noises, as if complaining it was uncomfortable, but I had no intention of letting go.
I just admired her quietly nestled in my arms.
Until she fully woke up, that is.
"My body feels so tired...."
"Shall I give you a massage, like I used to?"
"Ah, no...! Not to that extent... particularly...?"
"Hmm.... Is that so?"
Perhaps because we had been so passionately aroused last night—hot enough that even now it felt that way.
Rozalin, now awake, seemed a little disoriented.
Of course, she hadn't drunk any alcohol or taken strange drugs, so it wasn't like she had lost her memories.
She just seemed to have trouble distinguishing between how she used to treat me as her ordinary daughter and how things were now.
"Mother, shall we go have breakfast first? You must be hungry."
"Ah... Yes, let's do that."
"Yes, Lize has probably finished preparing by now."
But I could understand where Rozalin was coming from.
She couldn't suddenly shift her perception of me—someone she'd treated like a daughter for over ten years—in an instant.
I'd decided to wait patiently.
I was used to waiting for Rozalin, after all.
And so, we decided to head straight to the breakfast that Lize had prepared.
"Young Lady, Teacher Ashley said she would sleep a bit more and have breakfast later."
"Okay, thanks, Lize. You don't need to eat?"
"I had a light bite while preparing the meal."
"Hmm, that's good."
There were still no other maids in the mansion.
As always, Lize had prepared breakfast today.
Though that was the situation... it was no longer a big problem.
"...Young Lady."
"Yes, Lize."
"Never mind."
Lize started to say something to me but ended up not speaking.
What kind of words had she been about to say?
Was she going to ask about what happened in my room last night?
If not, then what sort of question had it been?
I didn't pry further for now, but her expression already showed she was dying to ask a ton of questions.
It was pretty hard to hold back.
"Oh my.... Lize, I just realized—I forgot until now, but you seem to be an amazing cook too?"
"Pardon?"
"You've been making our meals these past few days, haven't you?"
As we started breakfast, Rozalin brought it up while looking at Lize.
It was a bit sudden, but Lize really was a great cook.
I'd thought maybe she wasn't as good at cooking since she excelled at everything else....
"Lize is definitely great at cooking."
"Thank you for the praise."
"Honestly, these past few days... I was pretty exhausted because of Camellia. I'm glad you took care of delicious meals for me every day."
"...?"
"You have to serve the Young Lady, whom I attend to, but at the same time, you have to serve Madam too. It was only natural. It was the Young Lady's orders as well."
"Hehe, I see?"
Something....
Something was off.
It felt like Lize and Rozalin were getting along incredibly well.
Of course, both had gentle, unproblematic personalities that got along smoothly...?
It was natural for them to get along that well....
"If you ever want to eat it again, I'll make it for you."
"Oh, would you?"
"You're the Madam whom the Young Lady adores. Of course I should."
"Lize, you really like Camellia, don't you?"
"Does it seem that way...?"
"Hehe...."
"......."
They seemed closer than I expected—really close.
Well, they probably were close in reality.
Was that why?
"How about Camellia has sandwiches made by Lize instead of candy or other snacks for once?"
"Sure, I'll try that."
"Lize makes other good food too, but her sandwiches are especially delicious. I bet it'd be great?"
"You're too kind...."
"No, Lize's sandwiches really are delicious."
"It's too much praise... but thank you. I'll try to make them even tastier from now on."
Rozalin and Lize had shared bodies and even talked about love.
Just yesterday... I'd done incredibly lewd things with Rozalin, and a few days ago with Lize.
Yet seeing them like this now, I couldn't help feeling a strange jealousy bubbling up.
It felt like Lize was going to steal Rozalin from me...?
Like Rozalin had suddenly taken Lize and gone on a trip, then just....
"Gasp...."
I ended up imagining something utterly awful.
Something extremely dangerous, something that absolutely shouldn't happen.
Of course, the image of Lize and Rozalin rolling around in bed was... honestly pretty arousing.
But still, Rozalin was my woman, and Lize was my woman.
Things couldn't turn into some weird NTR manga out of nowhere.
At least not out of my sight.
And suddenly sending me footage captured by some strange magic crystal ball....
'Sorry, Camellia.... Our daughter keeps paying too much attention to other women, so I went out for a bit of fresh air with Lize.... Sorryyy...?'
'Young Lady, I... I'm sorry too. But....'
"...Gasp."
"Camellia? What's wrong all of a sudden?"
"Didn't the tea suit your taste, perhaps?"
"Ah."
...I'd gotten lost in that weird imagination and zoned out for a moment.
It was a future that really shouldn't happen.
Something that absolutely must not happen while I was alive and keeping my eyes wide open.
Of course, not even after death.
Anyway, that forbidden future flashed in my mind for a second.
"Pfft...."
Of course, it wouldn't actually happen.
Lize would unconditionally obey me, and Rozalin was very conscious of our relationship.
Plus, in the near future, instead of one-on-one like before... I planned to try it with three or four people together.
I was already looking forward to it, but I was keeping quiet about it on purpose.
"Ah, Mother?"
"Yes? What is it?"
"I'm thinking of calling back the maids and servants to the mansion soon. The knights too."
"Ah, yes, that makes sense. Lize must have been managing the whole place alone for a while."
"That's part of it, but anyway... I'm planning to bring them back."
I had originally planned to send letters to the other servants this evening and tell Rozalin afterward.
But I decided to tell her now.
"So."
"So?"
"For a while, it might be best to wear clothes that fully cover your neck. Long sleeves that cover your wrists completely would be good too."
"Ah...."
"It'd definitely be better for you too, Mother."
"...Yes."
There were my kiss marks on Rozalin's neck, collarbone, shoulders down to her groin and thighs, shins, and even her arms and wrists.
Some weren't kiss marks but outright bite marks.
Anyway... they weren't the kind to show off to others easily.
That's why I told her on purpose.
And as a bonus, so Lize could take a look at the marks I'd left on Rozalin.
"...But Camellia?"
"Yes, Mother."
"Um.... Do we really have to hide all of them?"
"Pardon?"
I was about to take a bite of my sandwich, not understanding the question, so I set it down to reply.
What did she mean by that?
"Are we... going to keep our relationship a secret forever...?"
"......."
"No, if that's what you want, Camellia, it's fine.... I was just... curious...?"
"......."
I was pretty surprised by Rozalin's shy words.
No, extremely surprised.
It was something I hadn't expected her to say at all.
She was my stepmother, and I was her daughter, after all.
I'd thought she might feel a huge burden about letting others know.
Rozalin was quite shy even during sex.
I'd expected as much....
"Is it okay to show them?"
"Not too blatantly... but just a little...?"
"......."
Was she more open-minded than I thought...?
As long as our relationship continued, did she not care how it turned out...?
I wasn't sure.
"Then do whatever feels comfortable for you, Mother. For me... honestly, covering them or not doesn't matter."
"Is that so...?"
"Yes, either is fine. But if you show them, please cover the ones on your chest or breasts."
"Of course I'd do that...!"
I said that much to Rozalin for now.
Since I really was fine with either.
Showing our relationship to others or keeping it hidden—both stimulated my possessiveness and conquest desires immensely.