Chapter 287
Chapter 287
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Evenings Back Home
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Life after returning to the mansion settled into a peaceful routine.
Truth be told, there was something I wanted to try right away the moment we got back... but everyone seemed exhausted?
So I just took it easy.
I'd already handled a ton of business matters during the process of becoming the family head, and I'd taken care of plenty before leaving for the earldom too.
I spent the day relaxing comfortably....
"Hmm...."
"Feeling good?"
"Of course. Being able to lounge around like this with you, Mother, and rest so much more easily than at the Rose Family—how could it not be great?"
"For someone who says that, you seemed pretty comfortable at the Roses' place too."
"Still, nothing beats home."
Right now, Rozalin and I were kicking back on the sofa.
We'd already finished dinner, and Ashley was lying down as usual.
"Hehe, I have to agree—there's no place like home for relaxing with you like this, Camellia."
"That's nice to hear."
"The buildings in the earldom were nice and all, but I prefer the size of our mansion."
"Pffft.... Yeah."
"It's felt more like home to me here for a while now."
"Pffft."
Rozalin had come to our mansion at age sixteen.
She turned seventeen not long after her birthday,
But anyway, I'd been eight, and she'd been sixteen when she arrived.
From her perspective, she'd spent nearly half her life here now.
Sure, she'd lived in the Rose Earldom a tiny bit longer... but she didn't seem to dwell on it.
"You'll have to stay even longer from now on. I'll make sure we create way more memories here than you ever did at the Roses'."
"We've already made so many more. Just sitting here on the sofa with you like this is a precious memory for me."
"Pffft.... Aren't you just saying all the nice things?"
"It's true. Being with you is always fun, Camellia."
"...That's nice."
I quietly savored the gentle touch of Rozalin's hand stroking my hair.
Dinner had been delicious, and the overall languid mood felt wonderful.
But even setting that aside, hearing someone I cared about say they enjoyed our time together made it all the better.
Of course I couldn't hate that.
As Rozalin and I relaxed like that for a bit, Lize entered the room.
"Lize, all done?"
"Ah, yes. Everything's finished. Aside from a few knights patrolling the mansion interior at dawn... no one else will be wandering around with tasks."
"Good job. Want to come sit here?"
"Ah, I... sweated a little. I should wash up first...."
"Hmm... alright?"
It couldn't be helped, I suppose.
Regardless of being my lover, Lize was still handling maid duties, doing her share of work around the mansion.
Sure, it was light compared to the other servants.
She was essentially acting as head maid too, and she'd just come from some chores.
"Can't be helped."
"Yes, I'll wash up quickly and come back. Sorry."
"No need."
I cut off Lize as she bowed deeply and apologized.
She'd probably planned to keep going, layering on more apologies... but it didn't matter.
"Mother, Teacher."
"Yeah, what?"
"Hmm.... Ugh...."
"Get up. Teacher, stop keeping your eyes closed."
"Why.... What's going on...?"
Lize, still standing, called out to Rozalin and Ashley.
Because, well, I had no intention of letting her bathe alone?
It was time to put a plan I'd been mulling over for a few weeks into action anyway, and waiting longer felt like a waste.
Most importantly, it was a way to warm up the mood a little... so we could all adjust before things got started?
Of course, I didn't say it outright.
*
"...I'm sorry. Because of me, everyone had to come to the bath like this... I'm truly sorry."
"Hehe, no need. I love soaking like this at night. Don't feel bad about it, Lize."
"But Madam, and Miss Ashley, you've both already...."
"Lize, Mother's saying it's fine. Don't worry about it. I dragged you all here, didn't I? If anyone's apologizing, it's me."
.......
What, no plans to apologize separately.
Neither Rozalin nor Ashley hated half-baths or anything.
Rozalin often soaked alone in the large tub at night, and Ashley liked anything cozy?
"Pffft.... Did I go too far with this?"
"Absolutely not. It's just... sometimes you tease too much, miss."
"That's my charm."
"...Can't argue with that."
I chatted with Lize as she washed herself while we soaked in the tub.
We did this together often enough that no one felt particularly awkward.
Even completely naked, bare as could be.
"Pffft...."
I was quite satisfied with the situation.
A touch of shyness from everyone was nice, but the fact that no one was overly bothered now was even better.
It felt like we all had a good relationship.
At the same time, I figured there'd be no major issues with what I had planned for tonight.
Part of me wanted to start right now, but Lize was still washing... and it might feel too sudden, so I held back.
Though I did plan to gradually heat things up.
"Haaah.... This feels nice. Right?"
"Yeah.... So relaxing. I could just float here forever."
"Teacher, you swim well?"
"...Not really, but floating feels good enough."
"Pffft, fair enough."
I struck up a conversation with Ashley while admiring her large breasts bobbing on the water's surface.
When you sit still in the water, they naturally float anyway.
But obviously, checking out someone else's chest beats staring at your own.
"I've always thought this, but Teacher, you have a lot of moles, don't you?"
"Do I...?"
"Yeah, there's one right in your cleavage. I remember two on your back.... And one just below your hip, right?"
.......
"What?"
I asked Ashley, who was staring straight at me after my comment.
She did have quite a few moles.
I hadn't mentioned it, but there was one on the inside of her butt cheek, and some on her arms?
Anyway, definitely a lot.
But they didn't feel weird or anything.
If anything, they were in just the right sexy spots, making her even more alluring.
"No, it's just... you remember all that...?"
"It's right there in front of me now?"
......Ah.
"Trying to cover it up now is pointless. I already know all the spots."
"...Yeah."
I'd never forget details like that on someone I liked.
Sure, I teased Ashley sometimes... but that was just part of the fun.
In most situations, I was always gentle and sweet with my lovers.
Well, by my standards, anyway. To others, it might look like I joked around too much?
But really, I treated them well.
"Anyway, just making conversation. We're all naked here, after all?"
"Yeah, true."
"And one just happened to catch my eye."
"They are pretty noticeable.... Yeah, I see them no matter where I look in the mirror sometimes...?"
"Turn around, and you'd see more. Definitely a lot."
As I said that, I naturally brought my arms to the center.
Emphasizing my large breasts quite nicely.
I didn't obsess over exact size, but they were about the same as Ashley's.
Her gaze naturally shifted toward my chest.
Ashley seemed to lack much immunity to women from the start.
Honestly, it was funny and amusing how easily she fell for it.
Hugging the lounging Ashley tight and whispering naughty things had been enough from the get-go.
Had she always been interested in women?
Hard to say for sure, but hard to rule out too.
"What?"
I asked with a smile.
Ashley flinched for a second, her eyes darting away from my chest.
"Teacher?"
"Ah, yeah...."
"Pffft...."
Such un-senpai-like behavior.
A delightful sight.
Pretending to be innocent, I gazed at her.
Her ears were a bit redder than before—adorable.
"Oh, talking about moles makes me curious how many I have."
"...Huh?"
"I never check my own body that closely. I know yours, but mine? Not so much."
Of course, I knew perfectly well.
Or rather, how could I not?
Unlike Ashley, I had almost none.
Not zero exactly, but very few for sure.
Maybe one or two?
That was all I'd confirmed so far.
"Want to look for me, Teacher?"
"Uh, yeah......?"
With that, I naturally turned around.
So Ashley could get a good view of my back.
Letting her touch, feel, and search thoroughly.
"Hurry up and find them, okay?"
"Eep......."
Ashley was now behind me, so I couldn't see her expression well... but Rozalin and Lize, back in my view, were watching with...
Far more envious eyes than I'd expected.
Hmm....
Looks like tonight's a go.