Chapter 299
Chapter 299
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Rozalin as Big Sister
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I ended up getting much closer with the girls and Rozalin than I had expected.
At first, I was honestly a bit worried...
But Rozalin's backstory was so touching, and her personality was so great that things progressed in a far better atmosphere than anticipated.
Especially Ella and Karen, who had met Rozalin since they were young, grew even closer.
"Um... Madam?"
"Yes, Ella. What is it?"
"This might be a bit rude, but... would it be okay if I called you 'big sis'...? I mean, you're Camellia's mother and all, but calling you 'Madam' feels too distant."
"Oh my."
Now Ella was even saying things like that.
Watching the scene, I couldn't help but smile.
Rozalin being called "big sis," huh.
Thinking about it, there was a ten-year age gap.
It wasn't so unreasonable that it felt completely off.
In fact, at first, I had seen her more as a big sister than a mom figure.
Of course.
"Big sis...?"
"Yeah, um... is that too rude? If you don't like it, Madam, I'll use something else, but we'll keep running into each other. Especially since you'll be with Camellia all the time..."
"Oh, no, that's not a bad reaction. I was just... a little surprised."
I was still watching from a distance, letting Rozalin and the girls bond.
It might be nice to join in right away.
But for now, leaving them alone seemed best.
"Hmm... doesn't 'big sis' feel too young? You're twenty-nine..."
"You don't look it at all...? From the first time I saw you, I thought you were really Camellia's sister."
"...I felt the same. When I first saw you at the Nordal Castle, I totally mistook you for one."
"Pffft."
Ivana, sitting next to them, joined in.
She had genuinely mistaken Rozalin for a sister, not flattery.
When visiting Nordal Castle for business, she had actually called her "big sis" by mistake.
"Honestly, you still look super young. You and even Teacher Ashley, who clings to Camellia... it doesn't feel like there's that much of an age gap with us."
"...R-really?"
Was being called youthful or pretty such a great compliment?
Rozalin's lips were curling up more and more, clearly delighted by the girls' praise.
It was a different reaction from when I complimented her... but I wasn't jealous, just kept watching.
"But 'big sis' feels too... cheeky, doesn't it? You're twenty-nine, and these kids are nineteen—a whole ten years younger."
"W-we're fine with it...!"
"Yeah. My older sister and I are only seven years apart. Lize is three years older than us too. Calling you 'big sis' doesn't feel weird at all."
Everyone was showering Rozalin with... so much praise.
And she really did look incredibly young.
Ashley always slept in her room, keeping her skin flawless... none of them looked their age.
Twenty-nine wasn't that old to begin with.
"Um... Camellia, could you help Mom out...?"
"Pffft, feeling shy?"
Rozalin finally asked for help, her face flushed bright red.
Was she more embarrassed by talk of looking young, pretty, and youthful than expected?
She was so cute, unable to speak and pleading with me.
I set down Ashley, whom I had been holding, and walked over to the table where the girls and Rozalin sat.
"Mother, is it tough chatting with all these young kids?"
"Y-yeah..."
"Pffft, that just means they all want to get close to you. And you really do look super young. You've always felt more like a sister than a mom to me."
"...Really?"
"Yeah, when we first met, you were seventeen...? Probably. How could I see you as a stepmom right away? You were so pretty and young."
"B-but I acted really motherly, didn't I?"
"Pffft, true. But you were such a great mom that it didn't feel like a stepmom at all."
"I see...?"
I could tell everyone wanted to get closer to Rozalin and was trying to call her "big sis."
So I decided to help them out.
Rozalin still looked embarrassed.
But eventually, they'd see sides of each other they couldn't hide anyway.
She seemed to think "big sis" was too childish.
Hence asking me to stop it...
But I had no intention of helping with that.
"Ella, try calling my mom 'big sis.'"
"...Camellia?"
"Yeah?"
"It's fine. Go on."
"Uh... Big Sis... ma'am?"
"Drop the 'ma'am.'"
"Big sis...?"
Her voice was small and hesitant.
But her eyes were on Rozalin.
Rozalin looked even more embarrassed than before at Ella's words.
Why was she hiding her pretty face like that?
"Do it once more. Add her name this time."
"Um... Big Sis Rozalin?"
"Eek...."
"Pffft...."
It actually turned out pretty good.
Rozalin wasn't mad at the young girls calling her "big sis"—just shy.
It probably wasn't just the age... hearing "big sis" from her daughter's friends embarrassed her.
Even though she was only ten years older than her daughter.
"Want to try, Miss Ivana?"
"Big Sis Rozalin."
"Eek....!"
"Aren't you being too shy?"
"H-how could I not...? Kids ten years younger than me—no, my daughter's age—calling me that...."
"No need to make such a fuss. From now on, everyone call my mom 'big sis.' No more stiff titles like 'Madam.'"
William was dead anyway, so "Madam" was getting awkward.
Of course, Rozalin was my wife now.
But since everyone here was my wife, I had to make it clear.
"Come on, Big Sis Karen, you too."
"Ah, uh, m-me...?"
"Yes."
It started with Ella bringing it up.
But I decided to make everyone call Rozalin "big sis."
Lize would probably call her "Madam" again tomorrow no matter what I said.
Anyway, I spent time helping the other girls, all younger than Rozalin, treat her more casually.
At first, since she was my mom and there was an age gap, it felt awkward...
But in the end, they all called her "Big Sis Rozalin" and chatted, until Rozalin couldn't handle the embarrassment and fled the lobby.
Still, the girls seemed much closer to Rozalin than before, so I was satisfied.
*
"Does Big Sis Rozalin like alcohol?"
"Hmm... I don't hate it. Sometimes I have a drink at night with Camellia at the mansion."
"Oh, then... want to drink together...? I was planning to with Camellia, but to celebrate getting close... yeah."
"I'd love that. Hehe, I'm happy Camellia made such good friends."
"Hehe...."
"...C-can I join too? I'm not great with alcohol, but..."
"Of course. I was going to ask Big Sis Karen too."
After dinner, while relaxing and chatting in the lobby, Ella suddenly brought over a bottle of liquor and started the conversation.
Starting with Rozalin, then Karen, Grace, Ivana, Ashley, Lize...
Somehow, we all ended up drinking together at night.
Was it Ella's great social skills?
She was leading the conversation among my girlfriends.
"You, say something. You've been grinning silently... You're the most important one. Not gonna say anything?"
"I'm just happy watching everyone have fun. It's nice."
As I watched them enjoy drinks and chat, Ella came over to me.
Her face screamed regret—it was so Ella.
I wanted to tease her more.
"...Hmph, don't slack off. Work hard like usual."
"Pffft, were you bummed I was quiet?"
"...What are you talking about? Of course? Everyone loves you."
"Sounds good. Say it again."
"...I love you."
"Pffft...."
It might seem commonplace now.
I heard it several times a day from various people.
But words carrying love were still so warm and ticklish.
My lips curved up involuntarily every time.
"I love you too, Ella."
"Eek...."
"And thank you."
"...Sneaky."
"For what part?"
I asked softly to Ella, whose face shifted from wistful to annoyed.
Curious and amused.
"...I was bummed because of you until just now. But your words wiped it all away."
"Pffft, really? You like it when I say I love you?"
"...Yes."
"I'll say it often from now on."
As I spoke, I gently stroked Ella's hair.
She was about my height... but stroking my girlfriends' hair felt amazing.
I learned this from Rozalin.
She stroked my hair a lot as a kid, and trying it on others was great.
"Ah! Ella's hogging Camellia all to herself!"
"Oh."
"Pffft...."
While secretly sharing love with Ella, Grace glanced over and spotted us...
And things naturally got rowdy.