Chapter 275
Chapter 275
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: 279
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"I've been thinking about it since I was little, but the Rose Family is way more rotten than I imagined."
"Huh...?"
"Our family is total trash already, but selling off someone as pretty as my mother? Isn't that just the worst?"
"I guess so...? But why are you telling me this......"
"Just because you're here with me now. You followed me to a place like this, and you have things to do here."
"You already know why we're here...?"
"Still, it's important to know the details. Though it might be fine even if you don't know everything."
Ashley, whose daily routine had been forcibly corrected, was awake even in the morning.
She wouldn't normally be up at this hour.
It was just that she'd been made to do this on purpose because of the tasks at the Rose Family estate.
Of course, it was clear she'd go back to her old habits in less than a week.
"I personally wish you knew more about the details."
"Hmm......"
"It's rare for you to get this involved in the finer points of our family, right?"
"Is that... how it is...?"
"Yeah."
It was definitely better for Ashley to know a little.
Even without telling her the details, she'd come here to the central region anyway?
Still, it seemed better to let her know.
Plus, it had been a while since Ashley had woken up this early instead of staying up late.
Camellia wanted to chat a bit.
"Even if you didn't tell me, it probably wouldn't matter much...."
"Really?"
"Yeah, anyway... I'm already following Camellia's lead here."
"But wouldn't it be better if you knew more?"
"There's a contract in place to begin with. If the Leonhardt side says something, I'm in a position where I have to listen...? And if it's something Camellia tells me to do... I don't really mind."
Oh.
Huh.
Camellia hadn't expected Ashley to think that way.
Of course, Ashley always obeyed obediently during their play sessions, but Camellia hadn't seen her as this submissive.
Playtime and situations like this were different, right?
That's why she'd asked, and the answer was better than expected, which was nice.
"Then let's end the boring family talk and do something fun?"
"...Huh?"
"The naughty stuff you like... and I like... shall we?"
"Right now...? Here?"
"Yeah, you actually enjoy this kind of thing... more, don't you?"
"......."
Ashley didn't deny it.
What a total pervert.
*
"......."
"Pfft... why aren't you saying anything? You called me here first."
Sitting comfortably in the garden, Camellia said that.
The other side really wasn't saying a word?
Camellia was in a much stronger position anyway.
Even if she came off as rude first, it wasn't a problem.
The other side had been far ruder to begin with?
"I know the Rose side is in terrible financial shape right now, but I hadn't heard it was so bad you're starving and can't even speak."
"You rotten bitch...."
"Oh my, I see even Aunt can speak normally."
"How long are you going to keep talking like that?"
"How long should I keep it up?"
It was really fun.
Camellia had never thought they were this stupid.
At least they had a bit more brains than the count.
But maybe because they'd been interfering so much lately?
They kept showing a far more irritable side than expected.
"...So, what do you want?"
"Oh, nothing much. Just give me the Rose Family?"
"What?"
"It's already beyond fallen—totally ruined, right? How about handing it over to me cheap?"
"You want me to hand the family over to a rat like you from some minor house?"
"Yeah, you know it well? Your ears seem to work fine, thankfully."
"You think I'd accept a demand like that?"
"Hmm.... Doesn't matter. You're not even the Rose Count yet, are you? You're the real power behind the scenes, sure, but still just the Family Head's stand-in."
"What?"
Christina looked flustered at Camellia's words.
Regardless, the Rose Count arrived in the garden.
Just as Camellia had arranged.
"...Christina, what's going on here."
"Father...?"
"Oh, so I asked one of the servants here to bring you to the garden, Count Rose."
Christina looked flustered, and the Rose Count looked uncomfortable.
It was enjoyable in all sorts of ways.
Neither showed any sign of welcoming the other....
Maybe the family relations were as bad as their finances?
That was good for Camellia.
"Count? Have a seat first. It's uncomfortable talking while you're standing, right?"
"...Leonhardt."
"Oh, good thing you didn't call me a rat? Quite fortunate."
Rather than answering, he addressed her by family name.
Well, most nobles commonly used family names anyway.
"...So, Leonhardt, what brings you here."
"Hmm...."
He was acting so calm and dignified.
But the Rose Count was gripping his fist tightly.
Anyone could see he was displeased.
Was there a reason he couldn't make it as a central noble due to political shortcomings in his youth?
It was so obvious it was laughable.
"I wanted to make a proposal to you, Count."
"A proposal?"
"Yes, a proposal. One that's definitely good for you and your family?"
Just like she'd told Alexandra yesterday.
Camellia had planned to start light.
If she brought up something too extreme out of nowhere, they'd reject it outright.
Here, they'd hesitate a bit before refusing.
But after rejecting her first offer, the next ones would get harsher.
By the end, they'd surely accept the initial one, or so they'd think?
Camellia was already looking forward to seeing that.
"Sell the Rose Family to me."
"...What?"
"I'll buy it for a fair price, so sell me the family, the Family Head position, the territory—everything."
"......."
"How about it?"
She asked with a beaming smile.
She knew they'd never accept, but she couldn't help laughing.
"I refuse."
"Do you even know what you're saying?"
"Hmm.... Well, if everyone from the count's family says so, nothing I can do. I thought our interests aligned, personally."
But honestly, wasn't it pretty tempting?
Or not?
Maybe pride came first?
Hard to tell.
If Camellia were in their shoes, with the family ruined and selling heirlooms for luxury.
She'd ignore territory or past glory and just take enough money to live this life comfortably.
Well, her thinking differed greatly from typical nobles.
If these people had any brains, the count family wouldn't be in this mess.
"Hmm. But no matter how hard you try, you know the count family can't be revived, right?"
"What would a mere viscount family know? How dare you lecture a count family?"
"Pfft...."
So stupid.
That's why, despite being born into a count family, they couldn't enter central nobility.
It was amazing Rozalin came from a guy like this.
Ah, Camellia was born from William too, and she was pretty.
Maybe it was possible?
Who knows.
"So, is that all you have to say?"
"Hmm.... Yeah, for now. Shall we end the talk here today? I'll be staying around a while anyway."
"...Hah. You think we'll sell the family to a punk like you just because of this?"
"Who knows? You might have to someday?"
"Nonsense."
"Pfft...."
How long would that arrogant glare last?
Camellia was full of anticipation.
With that in mind, she decided to leave the garden.
She'd planned to proceed peacefully.
But they'd rejected first.
"Good."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah, it's going great. Lize, you can look forward to it soon?"
"Eh... really?"
"Yeah."
Now it was time for phase two.
Though phase two was really just creating a tiny crack.
Not even doing it herself—just spreading some minor rumors?
"Hmm.... Lize, what's the best way to make territory folk hate their lord the most?"
"Uh.... Taxes?"
"Right? If they're living fine paying normal taxes, but then those taxes go to weird nonsense... they'd be furious, right?"
"I think so."
"Yeah, exactly?"
Not just territory folk—even if she made existing payers pay way more.
They'd be angry no doubt.
She knew that well from running businesses.
"Well, they're idiots who can't be satisfied with taxes and sell heirlooms for pointless luxury."
Rumors start from unreliable words anyway, right?
Some old drunk's ramblings, or a whore at a brothel repeating hearsay.
People don't need credibility, plausibility, or fairness.
Emotions override reason in the end.
"Pfft....."
Thinking that, it seemed fun to start the rumors herself.
She had nothing to do tonight anyway.
Maybe once.......