Chapter 317
Chapter 317
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Bosco's Riverside Retreat
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After traveling by carriage for about two days, Rozalin and I finally arrived in Bosco.
Though it was my first time here, I'd already heard all sorts of stories from her on the way, so nothing felt out of place or uncomfortable.
As she'd described, Bosco lay nestled within a vast forest, giving off vibes similar to the Rose Territory.
Of course, it was much smaller overall compared to a count's domain.
It was little more than a village, but there was no denying how stunningly beautiful the natural surroundings were.
"Mother, this place is gorgeous."
"Isn't it? That's exactly why I wanted to come here. You secretly love spots like this, don't you, Camellia?"
"I like pretty things in general, so yeah."
As we stepped out of the carriage, towering trees loomed far higher than any buildings.
If they'd been planted right by the houses, they surely would have blotted out the sky entirely—and they were truly lovely.
The homes built around them were... incredibly pretty, too, which I adored.
Made entirely of wood, they exuded an eco-friendly charm while sporting elegant, minimalist designs that I couldn't help but love.
"Hehe, I knew you'd like it. Seeing you stare around in wonder makes me so happy, too."
"Honestly, it's even prettier than I imagined—almost surprising. You kept saying it was beautiful, but I didn't expect it to be *this* beautiful."
It was so enchanting that I could honestly say it outshone even the Rose Count's domain in sheer prettiness.
Sure, it lacked the scale of a county, but it had that special rustic village charm.
And it captured that essence perfectly, which made it all the better.
"Let's unpack our luggage first. I've already booked our lodging."
"Yes, Mother. Sounds good."
"I picked a place just for the two of us to relax comfortably. A regular inn felt a bit lacking, so I rented out a whole building instead."
"Ooh..."
It seemed Rozalin had put way more prep into choosing our destination than I'd realized over those few days.
She'd kept her plans under wraps the whole time, so I didn't know the details, but it only made me more excited.
With our bags in hand, we followed her lead at a leisurely pace toward the lodging.
Exchanging light greetings with villagers along the way.
The place we arrived at was a cozy little house right by the riverbank.
Not huge by any means, but plenty spacious enough for two.
About the size of a typical family home—and it fit that vibe perfectly. Like all the other houses we'd seen since arriving, it followed Bosco's signature wooden style.
"It's so pretty."
"Hehe, wait till you see the inside—it's even lovelier. Come on in."
"Yes, Mother."
"When you arrive, just grab the key from under that flowerpot there. We'll keep it while we're here and return it when we leave."
She explained as she fished the key out from under a small flowerpot by the door.
The moment she unlocked it, a fresh, plant-like scent wafted out.
I couldn't tell if it was from some air freshener or just the natural aroma of the wooden materials...
"Smells nice."
"Hehe."
I complimented her as we stepped inside, slipping off our shoes at the entryway.
As we passed through the foyer toward the living room, I took in the interior.
Nearly everything in sight—even the floors—was wood, all finished with impeccable craftsmanship that screamed skilled artisan.
It was way too high-quality for a mere family home.
The living room windows offered a gorgeous view of the river out front, plus access to a terrace. Perfect.
"Wow..."
"Pretty, right?"
"Yeah, this house is amazing. I usually prefer grand mansions, but this one's hitting all the right notes. Honestly, it might even beat out the Rose villa."
Taste aside, I was head over heels for it.
Part of that was how long it'd been since I'd stayed in a regular little house instead of a mansion.
But mostly, the house itself was just that pretty.
"Thinking about spending a few days here with you already has me thrilled."
"Hehe... Hearing that from my girl makes me so happy. I love seeing you this delighted, and I've got even more to show you."
"More?"
"Of course! You've only seen the living room so far. Let's check out the bedroom and the other rooms."
"Okay."
I was already plenty satisfied with the exterior, entryway, and living room.
What else could there be?
Holding my hand, Rozalin led me deeper into the house.
The bedroom featured an ornate bed straight out of a novel about elves, complete with nightgowns laid out for us.
There was even a luxurious wooden bathtub...
So many delightful touches.
Everything was so to my liking that staying here would feel anything but uncomfortable—I had to thank her.
"Mother, thank you."
"Hehe, I did it for you, so no need to be so grateful."
"No, you did this for *me*. That's exactly why I have to show my appreciation properly. You've put in all this effort—if I didn't thank you right, it'd go against everything you taught me as a kid."
"My girl only listens so well in moments like this. Normally, I tell you to take it easy, no matter how much I nag..."
"Pfft, well, that was unavoidable."
After touring every room and unpacking, we sat there holding hands, chatting away.
We could explore outside later, sure.
For now, I just wanted to savor this alone time with her a bit longer.
"It's been forever since we've had time just the two of us like this, huh?"
"Yeah. Our alone time is usually limited to late nights, or mornings and afternoons sipping tea."
"Hehe, Lize dotes on you too much. She doesn't have to work, but she's always eager to help."
"That means we don't get as much one-on-one time, but it makes our daily life so much more fun."
I didn't *need* to spend every moment with Rozalin to be happy.
Time with her *and* with my other lovers? That alone filled me with pure bliss—and it really did make me happy.
Still, as lovers, we naturally craved those intimate one-on-one moments.
That's why I'd sometimes slip away from Lize's tasks to chat with Rozalin alone.
Anyway.
"You've got a ton on your plate ahead, don't you?"
"Yeah, still a mountain of stuff piled up."
"Mm, just say the word. Once you've cleared it all and wrapped up your worries... next time, let's take a trip with the others, too. Sound good?"
"Yes, perfect. Makes me want to hustle through my work even faster."
The way she intertwined her fingers with mine while saying that was dangerously captivating.
My heart raced without warning, tempting me to do something naughty in broad daylight.
But that was for nighttime. Days were for cozy downtime first.
This trip was for *healing*, after all...?
Shaking off the wicked thoughts creeping in, I refocused on our talk.
"So for this trip, let's just relax together a bit more... nicely?"
"...Yeah. I'll do that."
"Don't overthink work or the others. Just hang out with me, have fun, and unwind. Got it?"
"Got it."
"And... after we have all that fun, at night, we can do the things you love... you know?"
"..."
Stroking the back of my hand as she spoke, fingers still linked, Rozalin felt impossibly seductive. Her words were pure temptation, leaving me deeply shaken.
Part of me wanted to drag her to the bedroom right then for something steamy.
But since she'd specified nighttime, I held back.
Still, those naughty thoughts kept bubbling up in my mind.