Chapter 300
Chapter 300
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Morning After and Picnic Affections
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"Camellia, you're up earlier than usual today?"
"I didn't drink much last night. Everyone else was having a blast and stayed up late, right?"
"Hehe, they sure had a ton of fun. Thanks to you, it was the first time in ages I'd drunk that late myself."
"Seeing everyone getting along so well was really heartwarming."
Early in the morning, as I sat on a bench outside the villa enjoying some quiet reflection, Rozalin came to find me.
I'd figured she'd sleep in after drinking a lot yesterday—not just her, but everyone.
Mothers really are something else.
"Do you remember Lize from last night?"
"Ella and Grace kept pouring drinks into her. She shook her head and refused at first, but once she was tipsy, she just kept accepting them."
"Hehe, she'll probably head straight to the bathroom when she wakes up."
"No helping it. Still, Lize seemed to be having a good time yesterday. She's not usually that close with anyone but me. They actually got along surprisingly well."
"It's because they were all talking about you—they had no choice."
Is that how it works?
Sure, at the start, they really were chatting excitedly about every little thing involving me.
From the moment we started drinking, it was probably a solid two hours of nothing but stories related to me.
But once everyone was properly buzzed—and especially for poor drinkers like Lize and Karen, once the taste hit them—they started sharing their own stories with gusto.
"Well, I enjoyed watching it all. It was great seeing everyone get along better than expected, and my drunk mom clinging to me and acting all cute was adorable."
"Ugh... Could you forget about that? It's so embarrassing."
"How could I? It's been forever since I've seen Mom that cute."
"...Just pretend it never happened, this once?"
"Nope."
"Sigh... I really should drink in moderation. I got carried away last night...."
"Is your stomach okay? I already told them to prepare breakfast with hangover remedies."
"Hmm... My stomach's fine—it's more of a headache. Not too bad, though."
"The others are probably worse off."
"They drank more than I did. The young ones can really hold their liquor... I was a little jealous, honestly."
"You're not even in your thirties—why say that? Ashley was right there keeping up with everyone."
"Hehe, you'll understand when you're my age, Camellia."
Before I knew it, Rozalin had settled beside me, resting her head on my shoulder as she continued.
She hadn't been up long, but I could still catch her signature scent.
That ever-present, sweet rose fragrance from Rozalin's body—it drew me in without me even realizing.
"Camellia."
"Yes, Mom?"
"Thank you."
"Lately, it feels like I'm getting thanked left and right. More than when I was running the business."
"Hehe, is that so?"
It was something I'd heard a lot since arriving at the villa.
I got plenty of compliments, but even more thanks.
"Thanks for real, Camellia. Truth is, I was seriously worried about how to act around your friends."
"Ah."
"Calling them 'sisters'... It's still awkward, but they do seem more at ease with me now."
"Even if it's just the word 'sister,' it suits you perfectly."
"Hehe, you always say that."
"True enough."
"But... you took the lead so actively. That's what let me relax a bit too."
Rozalin murmured those words one by one, her head still on my shoulder.
I didn't react too dramatically as I listened.
After all, this was the outcome I'd aimed for from the start—so seeing it play out just felt like mission accomplished.
Of course, hearing Rozalin say this made me happy and fulfilled, naturally.
"I'll keep doing better from now on. No matter what I do, there'll always be some regrets. I have to work hard to minimize them."
"You don't need to try so hard—everyone likes you already. No need to worry that much."
"Pfft... You think?"
Truth is, knowing they like me makes me want to try even harder.
They adore me now, but someday that affection might cool, or they might feel some dissatisfaction.
Not because my lovers are bad people—just... that's how people are.
Running the business exposed me to all sorts of folks, so these pessimistic thoughts creep in sometimes.
"And I'll always be by your side, Camellia. We're family, right?"
"...Yeah. Thank you."
But looking at Rozalin right here beside me, smiling softly and speaking so gently... all those worries vanished in an instant.
Love really is dangerous, isn't it?
*
"G-Grace! Don't push me from behind...!"
"I'm not dunking you in water—just nudging you toward Camellia. Why hate it so much?"
"I-It's embarrassing...!"
"...You've done way more than this already?"
"B-But still......."
We were all out for a stroll in the mountains behind the villa.
The weather had warmed up nicely, filling the hills with pretty flowers that really caught my eye.
My lovers were scampering around the slopes with me, looking less like noble ladies and more like carefree girls—which suited them perfectly.
"Karen sis, don't be shy—come to me. If you want, you can even jump into my arms. I'd love that."
"Uwaaah...."
"Come on, quick."
"S-Sorry...."
"No need. I love hugging you like this, being close, and chatting. You do too, right?"
"T-That's true, but.... Everyone's here together, and it'd just be me...."
I knew exactly why Karen was saying that.
After all, this picnic wasn't just a few of us—it was me and all my lovers.
She probably felt bad about being the only one getting touchy.
That's just how sensitive Karen's personality is.
"Hmm...."
"What?"
"Grace, come here."
"...Suddenly?"
I pulled Karen—who'd approached my side—and Grace toward me.
The sisters ended up sitting with me on my picnic blanket, drawing looks from Rozalin and Lize strolling nearby, and from Ivana and Ella too.
I got why Karen had hesitated like that.
Just sitting together like this drew all those eyes—and for an introvert like Karen, who notices stares like nobody's business....
Well, anyway—this was something I'd planned to address now that we were all at the villa together.
They're all my lovers equally, so wasting time peeking at each other instead of enjoying moments with me is a loss for everyone.
Especially for me, who wants quality time with my girlfriends.
"Hmm. Sis."
"...Yes?"
Karen answered while glancing not at me, but at my other lovers.
They're not glaring judgmentally—just enviously—but Karen probably couldn't see it that way.
She's the most timid of the bunch.
That's why starting with her felt like the best move.
I gently placed my hand atop Grace's, who was sitting with me.
"What?"
I laced our fingers, holding tight so she couldn't slip away easily.
Grace asked again, but I ignored it and turned to Karen on my other side.
"Why...?"
"Sis, that outfit looks amazing on you today. So pretty."
"R-Really...? Grace picked it out for me... Hehe...."
"It suits you perfectly. Seeing what fits you so well makes it feel like Grace put real thought into choosing it."
"Hehe...."
As I said that, I slowly raised my free hand.
Karen squirmed a bit at the praise, grinning bashfully in delight.
Karen really doesn't feel like the older one.
Though one part of her is totally mature.
"Ah?"
"Sis. Stay right there?"
"Huh? Uh, w-wait... Hya?"
My hand reached Karen's face.
I cupped her chin lightly and turned it toward me.
Her flustered expression, cheeks flushing red in real time.
"E-Everyone's w-watching...."
"Hah?"
"Mmph, mm... Nn, mmm.... P-Puah.... Mmm...."
I cut off Karen's words and started the kiss, still holding Grace's hand interlocked.
Truth is, since arriving at the villa, I hadn't gotten much physical affection myself—so my urges were piling up.
I love skinship on a normal day.
A whole week of just hand-holding and hugs? No wonder.
"Smack, slurp... Chuup, puha... Haa...!?"
"C-Camellia...! What do you think you're doing?!"
"Camellia? Thaaat...."
"......."
As I kept kissing, the others—who'd been wandering or resting on rocks—came rushing over.
Looks like they'd been holding back on skinship just like me.
Otherwise, they wouldn't freak out this much over a kiss with Karen.
"Fwaah.... H-Huh...? Heh?"
"Yeah, that was nice. Right, sis?"
"Hek... Heuuuh...? Huh?"
"Looks like you enjoyed it."
I finally broke the kiss after Karen went all dazed and dopey.
She's still out of it, but she'll snap back fine.
"If any of you want to do something with me, just say it straight up. No more peeking at each other. Be honest with what you want—I'll love it anyway, since it's you all."
I said that to my lovers crowding around me.
Seven girlfriends piling on for skinship nonstop? Might be a bit much, honestly.
But better than them holding back forcibly, right?
Oh, and while everyone was at it, Rozalin and the eldest in my harem, Ashley, weren't joining—Ashley was napping alone in the warm sun, but that's just her.
No big deal.
She prefers doing it over just skinship anyway?