Chapter 276
Chapter 276
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Disguised Date and Nightly Screams
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"Camellia, is this really okay? What if something..."
"No need to worry at all. Today, we'll just have fun on our own. We can play around like it's a date between the two of us."
"Even so, what if some problem comes up..."
"Just trust me. I even changed my hair color with magic on purpose, right? And I switched into clothes that commoners would wear, so there's absolutely no issue."
A conversation shared while slowly strolling the streets with Rozalin.
Her usual elegant black hair had been changed to a more approachable brown.
Meanwhile, my golden hair was now the same black as Rozalin's had been before.
A temporary change achieved through magic.
"Even if we didn't have to go this far, if it's about starting rumors..."
"That's not the top priority. The most important reason we came out like this is for me to go on a date with you, Mother. The rumors don't have to be made today specifically."
"Oh... is that so?"
"Yes."
We had come out for the second phase of the plan to bring down the Rose Family.
But the biggest reason I came out today was, of course, to spend time with Rozalin.
It had been a long time since we'd come all the way to her hometown.
What's the fun in just working the whole time?
"Doesn't it sound fun? I think it'll be really fun."
"...It's not that I hate it. I'm just worried something might happen to you, Camellia."
"It's fine. I'm your daughter, aren't I? No need to worry at all."
"...Yeah."
Dates with Rozalin at night like this were rare.
Most evening or nighttime dates happened at home.
But today, after so long, we could enjoy ourselves outside.
As I told Rozalin, the date mattered more than creating rumors.
Of course, we could stir up some rumors during the date?
"Heh heh...."
This'll be fun.
*
"Here, some cheese for appetizers and two shots of whiskey."
"What kind of whiskey would you like?"
"Whatever the owner's favorite is."
"Heh heh, got it. Since we have such lovely young ladies, I'll prepare something perfectly suited."
"Yeah."
We arrived at the bar with Rozalin.
Bar was the term, but it was closer to an ordinary tavern.
It wasn't some ultra-quiet spot for refined evenings.
Better than a typical tavern where people laughed and shouted deafeningly?
"...Hart? Why'd you come here?"
Rozalin with brown hair, calling me Hart.
Not her usual names like Camellia or my daughter, but a completely new one.
And.
"Roze, the best stories are made in places like this."
"Really...?"
"Of course? People from all sorts of regions come here to drink, and tons of folks from Rose Territory visit. Naturally, you'd hear all kinds of valuable gossip, right?"
Me, calling Rozalin Roze.
The reason we used different names for each other was simple.
We changed our hair with magic—can't be stupid enough to keep the same names, right?
Naturally, we had to switch names to fit the situation.
"I see......."
Well, honestly, they were just loosely based on our old names and surnames.
"Heh heh, to think you lovely ladies came to my humble shop for valuable stories. It's an honor to serve you—I'm truly embarrassed."
"It's fine, owner. I just came to enjoy some drinks and tales."
"Is that so? You might find my stories lacking compared to all the other chatter from folks around the territory."
"It's okay. I don't mind that stuff."
With those words, I placed a gold coin on the bar table.
The tavern owner's eyes changed the moment he saw it.
Such a... pure gaze.
"Heh heh.... Understood. Then this old man will put in a little extra effort."
"Heh heh...."
Money's the best, after all.
After a short wait, the appetizers and drinks we ordered arrived.
The drinks were drinks, but the real point was the stories.
It looked like a place rife with misunderstandings, and since it had clearly been selling booze and gossip for ages in the territory, that's why we came.
Well, I also took advice from that knight who partied here last night?
"Roze, how's the whiskey taste? Good?"
"Mmm... yeah, it's fine. A bit strong, but it's the first glass. Seems decent."
"Good to hear. I'll order something milder for the next round."
"Yeah."
Besides the rumors, I didn't forget to chat with Rozalin in between.
The stories we'd get from the bartender were mostly trash-talk about Rose anyway, and this old bartender would surely share every detail with care.
"Anything happening lately in Rose Territory?"
"The territory? Hmm... Now that I think about it, there were rumors that taxes, which rose a few years back, are going up again. Probably because last year was such a bumper crop."
"Last year was definitely warm overall."
"But for someone like me, just selling drinks for a living, it feels like too much money going out. Of course, it's for the territory's safety...."
"You must have your thoughts on it. You're from the Rose Count Family, aren't you?"
"Heh heh, if only that were true...."
A bitter smile.
Seeing that, I was convinced.
This bartender harbored quite a bit of resentment toward Rose.
He'd be easy to use in my plan.
"Heh heh..... Oh, right. I heard the eldest son came back from the capital recently—what's that about?"
"Not sure of the details, but the common story is he did something to annoy His Majesty the Emperor. The Emperor's been stressed lately over heir issues, so he could easily brush off some central nobles he doesn't like...."
"Too bad. I thought the Rose Family finally had someone active as a central noble after so long."
Well, it wasn't just the eldest son's mistake.
Mostly, he got fired because Rose Territory and the family's antics were so idiotic.
Thanks to that, Alexandra told me he'd been boozing nonstop since returning.
"Oh, have you heard about this?"
"What happened?"
"I heard something from another region: one of the count families recently started selling off family heirlooms."
"Heirlooms...?"
"Yeah, incredibly valuable items sold on the black market, from what I heard. Don't know the full story, but it was shocking."
"...Even so, why would nobles sell heirlooms? Nothing's as important as those."
"Right? No matter how you think about it, it doesn't make sense. There's nothing stranger than nobles hawking their family treasures."
"Well, Rose actually went and did it."
"Haha...."
"Anyway, the drinks are pretty good. Could I get something milder this time?"
"Of course."
Well... toss some more decent coin, and he'll spill everything I point him to today.
Grateful that Rose neglected territory management entirely for business.
*
"Young Lady...? No, Viscount. What did you need?"
Quite late at night.
Rozalin was already comfortably asleep in her room, and Lize and Ashley were normally asleep too.
I sat in a suitable room and summoned one female knight.
Not from the Rosaki side—from the usual knights in Leonhardt.
Probably six or seven years since she signed with Leonhardt?
One of the female knights I'd been with for quite a while.
"You found me well, Lady Millicita."
"No, Viscount. Sorry if I'm late—you summoned me."
"Heh, no. It's my fault for calling you so late."
It really was pretty late, and I'd only woken Lady Millicita through a maid while she slept.
Whatever I had her do would work far better with a woman than a man, and in case of trouble, a knight.
That's why I called the female knight Millicita.
Her face was plain enough, but she'd been diligently earning her keep in our family for years.
She even helped a lot dealing with thugs during our business expansion?
So, somewhat trustworthy.
"I have a favor to ask Lady Millicita. If you want to get technical, it's an order."
"What is it? Anything you say, Viscount."
"Hmm.... Lady Millicita, can you scream well?"
"Pardon...?"
"Scream. Like a cute girl going 'Kyaaah~', or a mature woman in her mid-twenties letting one rip, or trembling in fear and yelling 'Save me!' really loud. Can you do that?"
"Uh....... I don't understand what you're saying, Viscount. Sorry."
"Just scream loudly every night here in Rose Territory?"
"Pardon...?"
It'd definitely be effective.
After all, the most important thing in a family is the wife, right?
You need a wife to have kids, a wife to raise them.
But if women's screams echo through the neighborhood every night, no one could ignore family worries.
And then... seeing the territory's knights, completely undisciplined, guzzling beer and rum while sprawled out amid that anxiety and fear?
"Just try screaming once."
"Uh.... Kyaaak...?"
"Louder, and a bit more shrill."
"Kyaaaak...!?"
"Hmm.... Looks like we need practice before the real thing."
Doing it a few times, then ordering other female knights midway sounded fun.
Or... sneaking out myself to scream incognito? That could be fun too?