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Translator: penny
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: I'll Touch Every Nook and Cranny of Your Body
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Clear birdsong tickled my ears along with the morning breeze.
"Miss. It's time to wake up."
A prim and calm voice roused me from sleep. I rubbed my eyes blearily, and right before me shimmered hair as white and fine as snow.
"Eek..."
Sierra's refined face gazed down at me, and heat rushed to mine in an instant.
I hurriedly threw off the covers and sat up, looking at her awkwardly.
"Oh, g-good morning... Sierra."
"Good morning."
Sierra bowed her head quietly, her expression as impassive as ever.
It had been four days since I'd come to the Rahel Tani Count Family home. Sierra still felt like a stranger to me.
Having lived as an orphan in two lifetimes, the very idea of a maid was more burdensome than convenient.
I'd never lived a life of commanding others, nor did I have the personality for it.
"Thank you for waking me."
I looked at her with the brightest smile I could muster.
"Is there nothing you'd like me to do?"
She asked in her usual composed posture.
"No. I told you already."
I squared my shoulders a bit, speaking in a somewhat confident tone.
"I won't be a bother. Feel free to rest easy."
I handled all the room cleaning, laundry, and even the dishes after meals myself.
The maids had insisted on taking over, but I hated burdening anyone.
In the end, they were the first to give in to my stubbornness.
"I'll explain it properly to the Countess."
I gazed at Sierra contentedly and opened my posture wide.
Helping a noble's personal maid slack off guilt-free... not bad at all.
"You could give me tasks if you like."
But Sierra's tone remained flat and expressionless.
She quietly rummaged in her bosom and pulled out a small brown cloth pouch, offering it to me.
"Today's herb ingredients."
"Ah, yes... thank you."
I accepted it with both hands.
Inside were three Silver Flower Herbs glowing faintly, along with various neatly packed medicinal ingredients.
"And the Countess wishes to dine with you, Miss."
"Oh, really?"
"Yes. She's waiting in the study."
"...Got it."
"I'll guide you there."
I still couldn't fully grasp Roselia's true intentions.
Until I'd arrived here, I'd thought it was just a matter of steadily making herb bundles for her.
Could she really want to build a mother-daughter bond, just as she'd said?
'There's no need for her to go that far.'
But whatever the case, I couldn't defy Roselia's wishes. In the end, I followed Sierra's lead to the dining room inside the mansion.
"There you are."
Roselia welcomed me with a bright smile.
She patted the seat beside her, as if inviting me to sit there.
I approached her slowly. The chair was a bit tall, so I carefully stepped onto the footrest and climbed up.
"Sleep well?"
She gave a short reply to my tentative greeting.
"Thanks to you."
With that, her hand reached toward my head.
My body flinched reflexively, but Roselia only pretended to stroke my hair before pulling back.
Her hand never touched me, but I could sense her intent clearly.
"Hee hee."
Roselia chuckled lightly.
I couldn't understand the odd smile playing on her lips and tilted my head slightly.
She'd done the same yesterday. What was she trying to do?
"Let's eat. I didn't wake Camilla since she's still asleep."
"Ah... okay."
Roselia picked up her utensils. I followed suit, grabbing the small fork sized for my hands.
The table was laden with food so lavish it made my eyes widen.
Juices sizzled from the golden-roasted meat, while fresh-baked bread beside it wafted a savory, fluffy aroma.
Steaming soup gave off a rich, hearty scent.
To me, who'd subsisted on stale bread for so long, it still felt unfamiliar and undeserved.
Roselia tore a piece of bread, dipped it in the soup with her fork, and blew gently to cool it.
"Here, say ahh. My daughter."
She held the fork carefully before me. I stared at her in bewilderment.
"Hand-feeding is one thing, but this is fine, right?"
"...Is this for building our mother-daughter bond too?"
"Yes."
At Roselia's short, firm answer, I parted my lips slightly.
The warm, bite-sized bread soaked in soup filled my mouth.
Perfectly tempered warmth, sweet soup, and the crisp yet moist bread texture slowly enveloped my palate.
'...Delicious.'
It was so good I smiled without realizing.
Watching me, Roselia narrowed her eyes briefly, then reached for my head again.
But as before, she only feigned stroking it and withdrew.
"Eat plenty. You need to put on some weight."
Her tone was as commanding as an order.
"...Even if you say that, I can't eat much."
My stomach had always been small.
Back at Dayren Orphanage, if you'd asked who ate the least, everyone would've named me.
But I didn't think it was a bad thing.
On the contrary, I saw it as a useful habit.
It let me stave off hunger with little food, saving resources, and spared me from chewing cold bread forever.
"Then we'll increase it bit by bit from now on."
But Roselia didn't seem to agree.
She speared a piece of meat, coated it in soft sauce, and held it to my lips.
"Say ahh."
"Um... I can eat by myself."
"Tch."
Roselia furrowed her brow slightly and pushed the fork closer.
Overpowered by her intense gaze, I resignedly opened my mouth. Better to just get it over with quickly.
The meat that entered was astonishingly tender. As I chewed slowly, Roselia reached for my head once more.
Yet again, her hand didn't touch.
Just the pretense of stroking.
"...Why do you only pretend?"
I finally asked cautiously, unable to hold back.
"Hm?"
Roselia blinked at me in surprise.
Touch if you're going to, or don't. That half-hearted gesture made me feel treated like a child.
"You're scared of women touching you, aren't you?"
"Even so, I don't see what good this does."
"Who knows?"
Roselia silently raised her hand.
This time, it stopped right before my forehead.
"At least now, you don't flinch when I reach out."
"That's... because I know you won't touch."
"Right. And I won't touch you carelessly from now on either."
Roselia's eyes curved playfully into a mischievous smile.
"So don't be so scared."
Her voice was strangely tender. It felt a tad overwhelming.
"...Actually, there's something I'd like to ask."
The awkwardness made me change the subject hastily.
"What is it?"
"Um, I'd like to sell my potions on the market."
I could make about ten potions a day. Even giving two to Roselia left eight.
Noble status or not, I'd have to fund my academy enrollment myself.
Time to start saving diligently again.
"Is there... somewhere nearby where I could sell herbs?"
Having grown up in Binhel Village my whole life, I knew nothing of the empire's geography.
I only knew this was the imperial capital.
"Why not sell them all to me? I'll pay top price."
Roselia made a tempting offer.
"...No."
But I refused. That would just mean earning money through the family.
I wanted to get into the academy on my own merits.
"Hmm..."
Roselia's expression soured unpleasantly.
She clearly didn't like the idea of me going out to sell them myself.
Just like the Director back at the orphanage.
"...Can't I?"
My voice came out trembling slightly.
What if she refused? What then?
Roselia had shown considerable interest in my potions.
She probably didn't want them leaking out.
But I had to sell them.
[People need some flexibility, Bella.]
The Director's words suddenly came to mind.
Advice from someone I'd rather forget, but maybe she was right.
"Lady Roselia, how about this...?"
"Hm?"
Roselia raised one eyebrow lightly as she looked at me.
"If you let me sell the potions... I'll give you 30% of the profits."
"...What?"
"O-Of course, it's a pittance compared to the count family's wealth... but it might mean something."
Roselia's brow furrowed.
Seeing her displeased face, my heart began to race anxiously.
Was 30% too low?
Should I offer more...?
40%...?
Come to think of it, the Director had demanded half at first.
Half... would that satisfy Roselia?
"If 30% is too little... I'll give you half...!"
"What on earth are you talking about?"
Roselia snapped sharply.
It was the first time. The first time she'd spoken to me so hostilely.
"Do I look like someone who needs a kid's snot money?"
Her red eyes gleamed fiercely. I couldn't meet them and bowed my head.
But Roselia wouldn't let it go. She grabbed my nape dismissively and yanked me right to her face in one motion.
"S-Sorry..."
Fear made the apology spill out first.
"Sorry for what?"
Her relentless gaze pinned me.
"T-To the Countess, it's pocket change... trying to bargain with that, I..."
"Ha."
I tried to explain, but her expression grew icier.
"S-Sorry..."
"Say sorry one more time, and I'll touch every nook and cranny of your body with my bare hands. Got it?"
Her chilling voice froze me solid.
I barely swallowed the apology rising to my throat and nodded quietly.
Roselia glared at me piercingly for a long while, then closed her eyes and let out a deep sigh.
"If you want to sell potions outside, then sell them. Why fuss so much?"
"...Huh?"
"I'm not imprisoning you. No need to watch my mood."
"I-I thought you didn't like me selling potions."
"What parent would hate their daughter stepping up to earn money at her age?"
"B-But when I said I'd sell outside, you looked unhappy. You even frowned..."
"Yeah, that does bother me."
Roselia clicked her tongue once and continued.
"Who knows if some weirdo will catch your eye if I let you out alone?"
Her words reached my ears, but the meaning didn't sink in right away. I blinked vacantly for about three seconds.
"Huh?"
"Do you know how many flashy bastards strut around here? Innocent girls like you, raised in quiet villages, are perfect prey for them. How could I not worry?"
"Wh-What?!"
"Pretty and fragile-looking for no reason... gives me more worries than I can count."
Her expression was utterly serious.
As her meaning dawned on me, embarrassment welled up from within, burning my cheeks.
"Wh-What are you worrying about?! I'm eight years old!"
Sometimes I really felt it...
Roselia had her own share of quirks.
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