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Translator: penny
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: I Guess I'm a Genius
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The faint moonlight quietly bathed the bedroom.
I lay in bed, staring motionless at the ceiling.
"You hoped I'd stop it...?"
I repeated Roselia's words over and over in my mind.
Had she already sensed her own impending fall into darkness?
A ominous fate where she would one day stain her hands with the blood of countless innocents. Was that why she'd adopted Camilla—to prevent it?
For now, that hypothesis seemed the most convincing explanation for Roselia's words.
"...The game's lore is a total mess."
Roselia, driven mad by addiction to her divine power. Camilla, following in her footsteps as another butcher.
But when you peeled back the layers, a completely different picture emerged from the surface story.
It was starting to get under my skin.
Scenes I'd skimmed over in the game's text now pressed down on my chest with crushing weight in the face of reality.
I felt a twinge of regret. Now that I knew this story, how could I just turn a blind eye and pretend nothing had happened?
Deep in my heart, the hope that Roselia wouldn't be consumed by darkness was growing stronger.
My resolve to ignore Camilla was slowly diluting as well.
I tossed and turned in bed for a while, lost in deep thought.
Thanks to my medicine's effects, at least Roselia's fall to the curse seemed preventable to some degree.
But the other problems remained.
Roselia's meticulous plan to assassinate the archbishop. And Camilla's bleak, hollow past that twisted her into a merciless villain.
Either way, I was part of the Rahel Tani family now.
A small wish had taken root in me that this family wouldn't plunge into ruin.
But my body was that of a child who couldn't even draft a proper contract. What could I possibly do in this situation?
Anything I said to Camilla would likely be brushed off lightly. Unless Roselia herself stepped in to persuade her, I didn't stand a chance.
"Roselia."
Suddenly, a brilliant idea popped into my head, and I bolted upright without thinking.
Maybe I could prevent this family's downfall with something as simple as...
Roselia didn't dislike Camilla. From all our conversations, it was clear she wanted Camilla to grow up bright and healthy.
Camilla didn't hate Roselia either. On the contrary, she'd shown time and again that she followed and respected her.
So the solution was straightforward. I just needed to bind Roselia and Camilla together like a real mother and daughter.
With a bond warmer and fuller of love than any in the world.
If Roselia gained a precious family, she might naturally abandon her plan to kill the archbishop.
Since I could handle her curse-induced corruption to some extent, that left just this one piece.
The same went for Camilla. No matter how much I tried to convince her, one gentle smile from Roselia would hit harder.
With a new family member like Roselia, Camilla might even escape her dark and grueling past.
Roselia would find happiness with a true family, Camilla would heal from her wounds and find peace, and I'd be free from the pressure weighing on this household.
It was a win-win-win.
I knew it was a bit vague and idealistic.
But now that I'd grown attached to this place, my desire for these two to lean on each other and thrive only grew.
"I guess I'm a genius."
A smile crept across my lips.
A pleasant certainty spread through my body.
I sprang out of bed.
With bold, unwavering steps, I headed straight for Roselia's room.
The night was deepening, but it wasn't bedtime yet.
She was surely still awake.
"..."
Coming to Roselia's room at night had been a mistake.
Her exposed, pale skin was proof enough.
"Bella."
Roselia called my name and turned her body slightly toward me.
She wore a thin negligee. The line of her cleavage flowed naturally below her neckline. Her snowy skin along her collarbone and shoulders drew the eye in a strangely captivating way.
"My daughter visiting first—there's a first time for everything."
Her face flushed faintly with pleasure as she flashed a seductive smile.
That glamorous look paired with such an expression was downright unfair.
Good thing I'd been reborn as a girl; if I'd been a boy, I might've fallen for Roselia right then and there.
"I have something to discuss."
I took a deep breath to steady myself.
Roselia sat on the edge of the bed and patted the spot beside her with her palm.
I sat down carefully next to her.
As always, she made the familiar gesture of gently stroking my hair.
"Tell me."
"You said you wanted to get close to Camilla."
"I did."
"But I think what Camilla really needs isn't me—it's you, Roselia."
Roselia's red eyes slowly widened.
A mix of bewilderment and confusion flickered within them.
"I know things are awkward between you and Camilla. She seems even more uncomfortable around you than she does with me."
"...Hm."
"You reached out to me like that, so why not to her?"
Roselia's gaze darted sideways.
It was clear avoidance.
She seemed aware of her own behavior, at least.
I stared into her eyes relentlessly, refusing to let go.
Under my persistent gaze, Roselia let out a deep sigh.
"...The truth is, our relationship with Camilla is already set in stone."
"What do you mean?"
"Before you came, I was indifferent to that child. There were times we went months without exchanging a single word."
Months?
They lived under the same roof, so they must've crossed paths at least a few times.
"My circumstances weren't ideal in many ways... I thought I couldn't afford to get attached. I had my reasons."
Roselia continued in a more subdued tone than usual.
"But changing suddenly now would probably feel even stranger and more uncomfortable to her."
"So?"
"So... I hoped you, Bella, could get close to her instead."
Now it made sense.
Her past actions were holding her back.
"...Isn't that just passing the buck to me?"
"It might be."
Roselia didn't deny it.
She just wore a bitter smile.
"Camilla would feel awkward around me anyway. So I thought you—"
"No."
I cut her off.
I knew it was rude, but I had to correct this misconception.
"Camilla still respects you, Madam Countess. I'm sure she likes you deep down."
Camilla had a personality that was hard to approach.
Stubborn, ruthless, and in the original story, even labeled a psychopath.
Yet she'd followed Roselia's words without a hint of rebellion.
It wasn't out of fear.
"I've only been here a short time, but I can tell from the way Camilla looks at you."
"..."
"If you reach out first, she'll definitely open up."
Roselia didn't reply.
She just looked at me silently.
"...Why don't you two try bathing together or something?"
Unable to bear the awkward silence, I blurted out something random.
Even so, Roselia's gaze stayed fixed on me.
It struck me anew—how could anyone's eyes be that vividly red?
"...You're right."
Thankfully, Roselia broke the silence.
The coldness faded from her expressionless face, replaced by a gradually spreading faint smile.
"You're more mature than I am, Bella."
"...No."
I shook my head.
I wasn't mature.
If people saw me that way, it was only because I was a reincarnator.
"I'll try it your way."
Roselia raised one hand and cautiously extended it toward my head.
As always, it was probably just the pretense of stroking.
By now, I barely minded.
Sarah—
The soft sound of her hand brushing my hair.
A warm sensation touched the top of my head.
I blinked in a daze.
As my hair grew tousled, I slowly realized what that warmth was.
I looked up.
Roselia gazed down at me, her face tinged with a light blush.
And her hand.
It was unmistakably resting on my head.
"Eek...!"
My body finally reacted, too late.
But before I could pull away, Roselia withdrew her hand and thrust her fingers right in front of my eyes.
"Not so bad, is it?"
Her voice brimmed with mischief.
My face burned at her teasing smile.
I clutched the spot on my head her hand had grazed with both hands.
I scooted back a step, eyeing Roselia warily as if ready to flee.
"You'll have plenty to do from now on, so get used to a little petting."
Her words made me blurt out a reflexive question.
"W-what are you going to do?"
"You'll find out in time."
Her response was as vague as ever.
And so was that enigmatic smile of hers.
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