Chapter 321
Chapter 321
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Intimate Dinner and a Sudden Proposal
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“Camellia, try a bite of this.”
“It looks perfectly cooked and delicious just from seeing it.”
“Still, give it a taste. It’d be a shame to turn off the heat now if it turns out underdone.”
“Got it.”
I took a single strand of pasta that Rozalin had been diligently preparing in the kitchen and tasted it.
It wasn’t anything special—no fancy sauce added, no separate sauce used—just garlic and oil to bring out the flavor, so it wasn’t extraordinarily unique.
But it was far from bad; it was solidly tasty, so I gave her a smile.
“Hehe, is it good?”
“Yes, the noodles seem perfectly cooked. I think it’s ready to eat now.”
“Good, then let’s move to the table. Could you grab the cheese and sausages next to it?”
“Sure, I’ll take these.”
We shifted from the kitchen to the dining table, continuing with the rest of the preparations.
Aside from transferring the food, we hadn’t portioned the pasta onto plates yet, and we needed to set out glasses and forks separately… Naturally, we also moved the wine we’d be drinking with Rozalin tonight.
Rozalin liked alcohol far more than I did, but I certainly didn’t hate it.
Plus, it could create a slightly stickier atmosphere than usual.
It was great for drawing out sweeter truths from the other person, making for all sorts of enjoyable situations, which was why I’d always liked it.
Truthfully, it was probably more because I enjoyed the other person’s reactions when they drank than my own drinking.
But same difference, right?
“Camellia, doesn’t it look much nicer plated like this? Like something from a restaurant?”
“Pfft… Yes, it looks amazing. It really seems like a master chef prepared it.”
“Hehe, sit down quick. We’re all done now.”
“Yes, Mother.”
With dinner preparations complete, Rozalin and I sat facing each other at the table.
Truth be told, ever since arriving in Bosco, I’d wanted some time like this… But since I’d spent the past few days focused solely on resting, we hadn’t had many truly intimate moments.
Still, the rest had greatly reduced my physical fatigue in many ways, and waking up refreshed every morning brought a lot of comfort.
But as expected, I wanted to spend even sweeter time like this with someone I loved.
“Looking at you like this, Mother, you seem far more skilled at cooking than I thought. I even remember the pizza toast you made when I was little… Once things in the count’s territory are fully wrapped up, how about properly learning from Lize or someone else? Or maybe try learning to bake bread.”
“Hehe, should I? I’ve been thinking it might be good to pick up another hobby these days. Sounds nice to follow your suggestion.”
“If you want to learn, Mother, I’ll find someone suitable. Lize isn’t quite at a professional level.”
“Yeah, that could be fun.”
Rozalin didn’t cook often… But she seemed more interested in it than I’d realized.
She’d frequently cooked for me since I was young, and lately, she’d been doing it more often, which reinforced that impression.
Of course, it was still only occasional, but who knows about the future?
Her hobbies were basically just reading up to now.
I thought this was a good chance for her to pick up something new.
“Camellia? Let me pour you some wine.”
“Yes, Mother.”
“You prefer sweeter wines over high-proof ones like whiskey, right? That’s why I got one with a lower alcohol content on purpose.”
“Any wine is fine if I’m drinking it with you, Mother.”
“Still, it’s better to have something suited to your taste.”
Rozalin smiled as she said that, slowly pouring white wine into the glass I handed her.
She usually enjoyed a variety of drinks like vodka and whiskey… But when it was just the two of us, we often went for whiskey.
The first time I visited the Rose Earldom, when she tearfully shared her past, she’d been drunk on whiskey.
We’d drunk whiskey often after that too… But tonight, it was wine.
She liked almost every type of alcohol, but she’d prepared something to match my tastes on purpose.
Of course, that made me happy.
From suggesting the trip to everything after, how could I not be grateful for all she did for me?
I was truly thankful.
“Shall we toast?”
“Yes, Mother.”
“Hehe… It’s been days since we arrived in Bosco, but this is our first time drinking?”
“Yeah. Maybe because I’ve been going to bed early lately? It feels strangely novel to drink again after so long. Usually, when it’s just us, we drink pretty often.”
“Yeah, right? Cheers~”
Rozalin and I clinked glasses with smiles.
Right now, the distant count’s territory and count family were far from our minds—we focused only on each other, sitting across the table.
We sipped our wine and savored the meal she’d cooked herself, continuing our conversation.
We chatted about utterly trivial things, our lips curving into smiles, clinked glasses again, and kept going with dinner as our accompaniment, over and over.
Both Rozalin and I just grinned foolishly, carrying on the talk until our heads started to feel pleasantly fuzzy from the alcohol.
And though we’d been sitting across from each other, at some point, we ended up side by side.
In the midst of slowly sharing unimportant stories, Rozalin had sat next to me, gradually increasing the casual touches as we talked.
“Camellia’s been such a good, pretty daughter since you were little, yeah. And way, way smarter than other kids… So mature, yeah…”
“Pfft, really?”
“Mm…”
Rozalin had fully leaned against me at some point, chattering away on her own.
She’d always done this when drunk, showering me with praise—past and present.
I was used to it by now, but it was still a bit embarrassing.
What on earth did she think of me normally to keep praising me like this?
I didn’t hate it… Honestly, it was a little funny.
Especially since she was so enthusiastic, it took effort to respond to each compliment.
“Our daughter’s so pretty.”
“Thank you. You’re incredibly pretty too, Mother.”
“But our daughter’s way prettier, yeah? I’ve never seen anyone as pretty as you.”
“I’ve never seen anyone as pretty as you either, Mother.”
“Liar. You’re dating other girls. Does that mean they’re ugly?”
“No, but I think you’re the prettiest, Mother. Really. They all have their strengths, but in beauty, you’re the most stunning.”
“…Really?”
“Yes, of course.”
I had multiple lovers I adored, but in terms of looks, Rozalin had always been my favorite—my ideal type.
Her soft body and warm smile were part of it… But her appearance was just stunning overall.
Her matured aura since we first met was appealing, and her jewel-like green eyes were… truly lovable in every way.
Her breasts weren’t as large as Karen’s or Ashley’s, but her well-balanced figure was so soft that holding her always brought an unconscious sense of peace. I usually preferred embracing my lovers, but with Rozalin, I enjoyed being held more.
If Rozalin was my ideal type, then yes, she absolutely was.
Her neatly braided hair suited her perfectly, and the accessories I’d given her as a child that she still wore…
“The earrings and necklace. You’ve kept wearing the ones I gave you when I was little.”
“They’re gifts from our daughter. Especially this necklace… You gave it to me personally the first time you visited the mansion.”
“It’s been so long. Over ten years now… Maybe it’s time for new ones?”
“Hehe, I plan to rotate through these ones.”
All the accessories Rozalin wore were ones I’d given her, and she almost never went without them unless necessary.
Especially the necklace from my first mansion visit and the earrings after—they were practically daily wear.
Every bit of it was so endearing.
Or maybe I’d harbored these thoughts even before that.
I couldn’t pin it down exactly.
……
“Mother.”
“Yes, our daughter.”
“Once we return to the count’s territory and I fully take over the count family. Shall we get married? Something small, borrow a chapel in the territory for a day. The guests can be my other lovers. Later, we can have ceremonies one by one when the time comes. Starting with you, then Lize, Ella… one at a time.”
The words slipped out impulsively.
I gently took Rozalin’s hand—sitting beside me—and met her eyes.
“…Yes, sounds good.”
“……”
To my sudden question, Rozalin gave only a brief acceptance.
…Was it because that answer was so utterly lovable?
I could no longer hold back.