Chapter 274
Chapter 274
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Devising the Takeover
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"Wow.... Surprisingly, even the guest villa is normally tidied up this time."
"Yeah, that's fortunate."
"The first time we came, it was so filthy it was practically unusable. I even had to give special orders to the servants and knights. It's ridiculous just thinking back on it."
It really had been ridiculous back then.
I'd sent a letter to Rozalin, which was why she'd come to visit.
No one could've predicted they'd handle the reception so poorly.
"Even so, maybe because we came without notice this time? Compared to last time, it's really fine. Just a bit of dust?"
"We can just ask the servants to give it a light clean later."
"Pffft, by the way, did you see that expression earlier? She looked absolutely furious, venomous even."
"Ah."
"What do you think?"
Christina's expression during our brief chat earlier had been downright awful.
Anyone could've seen she'd completely failed to control it.
"Mother was right there watching too, wasn't she?"
"...True."
"How did it feel?"
"...A little satisfying."
"Just a little?"
Just a little?
That was a more subdued reaction than I'd expected.
I'd asked expecting something better, something more dramatic.
And considering the rotten look on Christina Rose's face earlier, I'd thought she'd like it even more?
"Other people, maybe not, but she's been snapping at me since way back..."
"Ah."
Hmm.
I need to make it even worse for them.
We have to make sure they pay properly for tormenting my Rozalin.
"The point is, we're way above the Rose Family now. You could tell just from how flustered they were earlier, right?"
"Yeah, definitely.... They didn't look good."
"Their business hasn't progressed at all compared to the years of investment. They probably can't even recover the principal."
"So, will things go the way Camellia wants?"
"Probably. We haven't had any real talks yet."
Honestly, I didn't think we'd end up at a disadvantage against the Rose Family.
Even though they were a count family.
Even if the imperial family might meddle...
The mere fact that Rozalin, from the Rose Family, was on our side eliminated those worries.
We could just proceed comfortably.
"...Then that's good. Yeah."
"You still have some reservations, don't you?"
She'd been talking like it was fine to me.
But Rozalin couldn't completely lack any sense of them as family.
Not even one percent.
I got it.
"At least Alexandra sis... never went as far as Christina sis...?"
"Ah...."
"Basically, only three people tormented or rejected me harshly from the start."
"Christina, the Family Head, and the wife, right?"
Rozalin still didn't know Alexandra was our inside agent.
I'd deliberately not mentioned it or even that we had an inside person.
Naturally, she couldn't help but think about it in that situation.
"Yeah, pretty much. If anything, Alexandra sis was more like... dismissive?"
"And?"
"Not much else. She even occasionally complained about the noise when Christina sis was bullying me...?"
"What? Well, we can think about that slowly."
For now, I held back.
With things not fully wrapped up, covering for Alexandra was a bit much.
Rozalin wouldn't blab to the Roses.
But what if there was a listening spell in the room?
Even a family without the skill to hire such a mage—better safe.
*
"Wow, it's been ages. Exaggerating, like ten years?"
"...You've really become a big shot."
"Pff. Right? I'm worlds apart from that teenage lady on the verge of entering the academy."
"I knew you were no ordinary lady even as a child. But I didn't expect you'd rise this high."
"Good connections."
It was a dark night.
Outside, all lights were out except the stars and moonlight.
I was in a small cabin pretty far from the mansion.
It felt strangely novel, coming here after so long.
I'd come here before to conspire with Alexandra Rose.
"Has little Aunt been well?"
"With the family in this state? You think?"
"Doubt it."
Same purpose this time.
The red-haired woman across from me resembled Rozalin a bit, but looked tougher.
Of course, still miles better than Christina Rose.
"Well, it's what I aimed for. Self-inflicted, right?"
"Pffft.... Sure, acting like a traitor from inside. Hard to complain."
"On the other hand, I wonder if I gave too much info. Didn't expect you'd do so well it'd inconvenience my life."
Really?
I think I did well.
But the good intel was a big factor too.
Though my skill was even bigger?
"How'd you rope in the Nordal Ducal Family up north? Rumor is the new Family Head lady led it."
"There's ways."
"Thanks to that, Christina was livid. Even sent mail to the Nordals at the end."
"Pffft...."
Using Ivana was genius.
Even a count family couldn't just complain.
Normally, they might protest to a ducal family.
But the Roses now? No chance.
"So, showing up unannounced like this... probably means you're ready to finish it."
"Yeah. And take the territory and buildings while at it."
"Hmm...."
I'd thought before: Alexandra Rose was smarter than she seemed.
Objectively, the best of the current Roses.
Her public image wasn't great.
But our frequent mail exchanges confirmed it.
"How will you end it?"
"What else? Tormented them with business, so end it business-like."
"Business?"
"Like... a merger acquisition?"
The Roses and Leonhardts were linked via Rozalin.
If I married her, it'd literally be that.
No proper heir for Roses anyway.
I'd end up managing the Roses with Leonhardt.
Though marrying Rozalin was just my fantasy.
"First, a decent offer to Christina and the count. Start with handing the Family Head seat to Rozalin or me, and tell them to get out."
I'd pay a fair amount to close the deal.
Enough for daily living in exchange for their crumbling house.
They probably wouldn't accept right away.
"Then?"
"If no, get aggressive. Ruin their remaining money-makers, fan the flames in the already sour territory mood?"
"Oho...."
"They can't manage the territory anyway. Shouldn't be hard."
Alexandra listened without much reaction, calmer than Rozalin.
Just intrigued?
Didn't care if her family collapsed?
"If it all goes through, plan was to make my mother the Rose Family Head."
"Rozalin?"
"Yeah, to really piss off the Roses."
"They'd hate that. Especially Christina, near Family Head and political player."
"Music to my ears. That's why I'm doing this—to see that reaction. Can't wait."
"...You're nasty."
"You're no saint. Don't slander."
Still, what to do per Rozalin's words?
Punishment for Christina Rose, the count, and wife was half-decided.
But Alexandra Rose, chatting here...
"Hmm......."
Better to give her a position?
I'd planned to use these Rose territory mansions for naughty fun with my lovers.
Main building too big.
Heard she liked the smaller one... wanted yard, bath...
The guest villa from today might work better than main...
"Hm?"
"What?"
"Oh, nothing."
Prioritize crushing Rozalin's main tormentors first.
Table the minor worries.