Chapter 271
Chapter 271
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Claiming the Rose Family
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"Hmm...."
I'd made up my mind.
It wasn't a decision without reason—no, it stemmed entirely from the letter I was reading right now.
I'd been mulling it over for a while, but this time, it felt like certain success.
"Lize, prepare the carriage to the Rose Family."
"Understood."
"And don't tell Mother just yet."
"Yes, Young Lady."
I wasn't telling Rozalin right away.
It wasn't that I had any huge qualms about bringing down the Rose Family anymore.
I just didn't want to put her in a tough spot unnecessarily.
I'd explain the exact reason when it was time to depart.
"Fufu...."
It had been ages since we made that contract, but damn, it had been useful.
It had practically turned my idle wicked thoughts—ones I might've just daydreamed about—into actual plans.
"Alexandra Rose, you're turning out way more helpful than expected."
She was playing the role of informant, whistleblower, perfectly.
Thanks to her, the Rose Family had been crumbling bit by bit over the years.
And at the same time, she'd detailed all their secrets, one by one.
"I'll have to reward Alexandra later."
I hadn't thought about the specifics, but it wouldn't be hard.
Most things could be settled with cash anyway.
And money? I had plenty.
"Fufufu...."
From before, and now again.
She always sent such helpful letters.
'The Rose Family is in a very precarious state right now. They're trying to fund their extravagance by selling family heirlooms on the black market. Christina collapsed from stress a few days ago. The parents are still fixated on luxury. Even the imperial court has heard, so the eldest son working in the capital is returning.'
On one hand, it was baffling why she was feeding me this info.
She was Rose Family through and through, not some illegitimate child like Rozalin.
How could she go this far to destroy her own house and family?
Did she have a crush on Rozalin as a kid or something?
"Hmm...."
Well, it wasn't like I had any intention of handing Rozalin over at this point anyway.
She'd been showing these thought-provoking behaviors for a long time.
And on top of that, she was a pretty sharp thinker.
"Well, doesn't matter now."
Alexandra Rose had been helpful enough.
The once-great Rose Family was already like a towering building with its insides completely rotted out.
So fragile that even a minor shock could topple it.
.
.
.
Basically, the Rose Family had three main businesses they'd started to sustain themselves.
Well, even those had only gotten off the ground because Christina Rose had thrown her body and soul into scraping together the initial funds.
Clothing, jewelry, mana stones.
But I'd already blocked those avenues properly, along with Ivana.
On the surface, it was Ivana who'd done it, not me, of course?
"Fufufu...."
"You're really going to do it?"
"Yes. It's time to see this through."
In Rozalin's room, we were cuddling on the bed, chatting casually, when I brought up the Roses directly.
I didn't mention departing right away.
Just that it was about time to get started, that vibe.
"They're the ones who've been tormenting Mother all this time."
"...True, but I'm still worried."
"About what?"
"It's still a count's family.... What if you get hurt, Camellia, or threatened...? They still have knights in the family...."
"Ah, that's what you mean?"
I'd thought maybe she had a shred of pity or something.
But no, she was just worried about me.
Every time I heard stuff like that, my love for Rozalin swelled even more.
How could she even say things this prettily?
I wanted to tie her arms and kiss her right then.
"Don't worry. I'm not planning to go just with us. And I have no intention of crushing the people there with raw force."
"...Really?"
"Yes. It's already so rotten that there's no need for force."
The Rose Knight Order?
That joke was a total mess now—knights wasting their days chugging beer and rum.
Even the knight training halls treated a posting to the Roses like a death wish, a place for those who'd given up on life.
Their average age had shot up to useless levels, rendering them non-functional.
In that state, the territory not descending into total banditry was probably just because it was right next to the capital.
"And I'm pretty damn good with magic anyway. I'll bring Teacher Ashley along, and on the way, I'll borrow a few knights from the Rosaki Family. Already cleared it with them."
"You prepared all that already...?"
"Yes. It's important."
I'd already talked it over with the Rosaki sisters.
Well... we did need the count's permission, but he doted on his daughters anyway.
From the Rosakis' perspective, the current Roses were a hopeless count's house that couldn't even function as nobility.
Plus, I'd promised that if I took over the Roses, I'd restore them to their former glory as the illustrious Rose Count family.
"No issues."
"If Camellia says so... then probably not...."
"And anyway, total destruction isn't the full goal. The Rose Family is still a count's house with some ties to the imperial court, however thin."
"Then...?"
"We're taking the Rose Family."
"...Huh?"
I'd thought about it before—wiping them out completely wasn't ideal.
It'd look bad to the court and other nobles.
More importantly, I just wanted to screw over Christina, the previous family head...
Rozalin's biological father and non-biological mother.
Just those three.
I wanted to fuck them over so bad that the humiliation stuck in their heads until death, making them puke every time they thought about it—a real, utter, bullshit nightmare.
"You're going to become the head of the Rose Family, Mother."
"...What?"
"The rightful head of the Rose Family. Beautiful, elegant, someone who can restore the house to glory—unlike the previous heads."
"...Huh?"
"Unlike those incompetent, greedy heads before, you'll get along great with the territory folk and family. People will truly respect you. That's what you'll become, Mother."
One way to do that was for us—for one of the 'lowly' bloodlines they'd mocked as mixed with Leonhardt bastard and commoner scum—to claim the noble count's house.
Kicking them out entirely.
Making all their years of effort evaporate in an instant.
Forcing them to watch as we outdid those efforts with far greater, more valuable achievements—while choking on their noble pride, unable to spit their filthy words.
And eventually, reduced to the level of the commoners they'd called dirty, trembling as they bought 5-copper newspapers to glimpse our ever-rising status.
That was what I was looking forward to.
"What do you think?"
"...Me, heading the Rose Family...."
"Yes. You, who's always been scorned by the Roses. Taking over the Rose Family."
"......."
What would she think?
A chance for revenge?
Or too heavy a burden?
Either way, didn't matter.
If Rozalin didn't want it, I could take it myself.
Or give it to Alexandra Rose.
My targets were just those four scum—not the whole Rose Family.
Ah, the eldest son had bullied Rozalin as a kid too.
Four it was.
"...I'll need some time to think about that."
"Fufu.... Okay?"
"Yeah. I've never been above anyone like that. I just don't know."
"That's fine."
It didn't matter much anyway.
To me, it was just about screwing over the ones who'd looked down on Rozalin.
Giving her whatever came from that process was all.
And even without heading a house like the Roses, she already had the far better spot as my wife?
"Fufufu...."
"By the way, our daughter turns out to have some real talent...?"
"Who's daughter? My skills, my looks... all thanks to Mother."
"But... I couldn't handle business or scheme plans like you, Camellia?"
"Fufu, then should we say just my looks are thanks to you?"
Blood didn't connect us.
But Mother was Rozalin to me, period.
Honestly, the mother-daughter thing had felt super off at first.
But now... honestly....
"Hehe, that sounds nice."
"Right?"
Being lovers plus mother-daughter was way hotter than just lovers anyway.
No issues there.
Honestly, the latter's just way kinkier than the former, isn't it?