18 - Adopted by the Villainous Noble Family

Nobelfia - A World of Dreams Through Web Novels! - Adopted by a Shadowy Family "No...!" The voice that escaped my lips was nearly a scream. "Why is that not okay?" Rozellia looked at me with a slight furrow in her brow, clearly puzzled. "Well, it's obvious, isn't it? I can't possibly take a bath with the Countess..." "What's the problem with a mother and daughter bathing together?" Her eyes showed genuine confusion, unable to understand my reluctance. Sure, in a normal family, a mother and daughter bathing together might not be odd. But I was far from normal. I had lived as Bella for eight years, but the time I spent as a man in South Korea was much longer. As a result, I still had a strong sense of male identity within me. The thought of sharing a bath with Rozellia was overwhelming and made my head spin. "Are you worried we might touch? Don't worry, we’ll only be sitting in the tub together." However, Rozellia seemed totally oblivious to my predicament. Looking at her determined eyes, it was clear no matter what excuse I made, she intended to take me with her. "...Still, I can't." This time, I couldn't back down. I had to avoid getting into the bath with Rozellia at all costs. "How about... a picnic in the garden instead?" I tried to divert her attention with a weak suggestion. "That sounds nice. Then we'll bathe today and have a picnic tomorrow," she replied, her enthusiasm only growing. "My, I'm just... scared of bathing with others..." Switching tactics, I tried to invoke some sympathy, unaware of the consequences that might follow. "...No way." The air around Rozellia changed. Her red eyes gleamed a deep crimson, and an oppressive aura filled the room, suffocating. "Has someone touched you?" She asked in a low, chilling voice, more serious than usual. The pressure was immense, and a delayed answer felt like a death sentence for someone, somewhere. "No! That's not it at all...!" "Really?" "Yes! I just... I'm very shy..." I had to abandon the sympathy strategy to prevent any innocent casualties. Rozellia silently observed me for a while, trying to discern the truth in my words. "You're just shy, right?" In a firmer voice, she asked again, and I quickly nodded in agreement. "Yes... it's true. I would rather... a picnic..." "Alright." To my surprise, a smile spread across her face. She looked relieved, as if she had solved a difficult problem. "Then it's simple." "...What?" "If you're uncomfortable being alone with me in the bath..." Before I could respond, she swiftly grabbed the back of my neck. "Camilla can join us." As soon as she spoke those words, my body froze. "I'll let her know to join us for the picnic tomorrow too." --- The bathroom was filled with pleasant steam, warmed to a perfect temperature. Beyond the fog, a pair of violet eyes stared intensely at me. "..." Camilla said nothing, but the chill in her gaze was enough to convey everything. She was likely debating whether to kill me or not. Unable to meet those cold, indifferent eyes any longer, I bowed my head. Frankly, I felt wronged. Who could have anticipated Rozellia would suddenly bring Camilla along? In the game's backstory, they weren't even that close. "It's unusual, Mother. I didn't expect you to invite me to bathe with you," Camilla mentioned with an empty gaze directed at Rozellia. Rozellia offered a mischievous smile, shrugging nonchalantly. "I’ve just found myself with more peace of mind." Her ambiguous answer led Camilla to turn her gaze back toward me, demanding an explanation. I shook my head, trying my best to appear innocent of any wrongdoing. "Come on, get in quietly." The one silver lining in this situation was that Rozellia wasn't entirely naked. She entered the bathrobe-clad tub, but the wet fabric clinging to her skin created a setting far too provocative to maintain eye contact. Two prominent circular curves pressing against the fabric asserted their considerable presence. “…They’re even bigger.” Still, it was certainly better than being completely bare. Without any hesitation, Camilla followed Rozellia into the bath. Even in the steaming hot water, her expression remained cold and indifferent. After much deliberation, I finally braced myself and stepped into the tub. Contrary to my fears, as soon as my body sank into the warm water, a comforting feeling gradually replaced my anxiety. "Is the water temperature okay?" "Yes, Mother." After Camilla’s brief response, Rozellia turned her gaze to me. "...It’s fine." Still not accustomed to the sight of her half-revealed skin, I cautiously replied, keeping my head bowed. "Doing this makes us feel like a real family." With a bemused smile, Rozellia looked at Camilla and me seated side by side. For a while, a calm silence settled in the bath. Not knowing where to look, I stared at the ceiling, my body submerged, breathing cautiously. Camilla simply watched me in silence. Rozellia, the instigator of this situation, at some point leaned against the tub’s edge with her eyes closed. ‘…Surely she’s not asleep?’ Although motionless, she appeared to be asleep. No way. Just recently, she scolded me for falling asleep in the bath; she wouldn’t fall asleep herself, would she? And with no scented candles lit, she’s probably just enjoying the bath with her eyes closed. Time drifted by in the awkward silence. Feeling stifled by the increasing heat, Rozellia opened her eyes and rose from the water. The silhouette revealed as the water trickled down was captivating to the point of being hard to look at directly. Had I remained a man in this life, as I was in my past, I likely would’ve faltered right here. "Perhaps we should do this more often." Yawning with half-closed eyes, Rozellia gave a light snap of her fingers. Snap— A sudden gust filled the bathroom, instantly drying the water droplets on Rozellia’s body. "You two take your time and enjoy." With a refreshed smile, Rozellia leisurely exited the bathroom, leaving behind an eerie silence. In this abrupt quiet, I stared blankly at the spot where Rozellia had disappeared, my mouth half open. ‘No way…’ Is she really leaving like this? Leaving me alone with Camilla? Does Rozellia truly not know what Camilla is like? “It’s strange. I was sure I mentioned it.” A voice, cold enough to send chills through me yet devoid of emotional fluctuation. I reluctantly turned my head, strained by an unnerving stiffness, toward the source of the voice. “You said you wouldn’t bother me.” Her eyes carried a sharp chill, distinctly different from Rozellia's demeanor, and they were directed straight at me. "It wasn’t my doing. The Countess invited us to bathe together suddenly, and I couldn’t refuse…” Rising frustration choked my words as I hastily attempted to explain, but Camilla's expression remained unaltered. "She doesn’t usually bathe with others. The only change is you." Her words carried a palpable threat. Suddenly, Camilla’s body shimmered, and faint violet threads began to emanate around her. “Are you ignoring my warning?” The slender threads hovered around Camilla, swirling slowly. I watched the light, entranced. While they resembled thread, they were far more extraordinary. “…Mana.” A mysterious force unique to this world, unlike anything on Earth. A blessing granting those who wield swords keen blade skills, martial artists strength, and magicians possibilities beyond imagination. Rozellia’s use of magic hadn’t revealed mana so distinctly. But now, the mana emanating from Camilla seemed alive. It was fascinating. Magic. Despite being reborn in this other world, I dismissed magic as not meant for me. Unable to sense mana at all, I had given up on magic upon realizing that fact. Yet now, witnessing this display of mana rekindled my desire for magic. The violet mana drifted through the air, flowing like an aurora in the night, moving without pause, radiant yet not blinding. Captivated by its beauty, I inadvertently whispered to myself. “…It’s beautiful.” Drawn to the mana, I slowly reached out my hand toward the light. “Wait.” Camilla said something, but it was too late to withdraw my hand. Thorn-like strands extended from the surrounding mana and quickly pierced deeply into my fingers. "Ouch..." A heavy pain sunk in. When I pulled my hand away, blood was trickling down. "Are you an idiot?" Camilla scowled and shot me a look of disapproval. It was then that I realized how foolish my previous action had been. "...Sorry. The color was so beautiful, I acted without thinking..." "……." Camilla stared at me in silence before withdrawing her mana. With a delicate gesture of her hand, the light that filled the air quietly disappeared. "I hope there won't be any annoying incidents like this again." Her voice was as cold as ever. Camilla stepped closer to me, mere inches away, and added, "You'll make sure of that, right?" "Uh... well..." My hesitance seemed to sharpen her gaze. "The Countess... she asked if we'd all go for a picnic tomorrow." For the first time, I saw emotion flicker in her otherwise empty violet eyes. It was surely a feeling akin to annoyance. --- Author's Note: Thank you for your support, Hodugi! I'm thrilled to see that you're enjoying this work as well. It makes me so happy!ㅠㅠㅠㅠ When you say the characters are charming, it feels like I'm receiving your compliments directly, which lifts my spirits! :) Please look forward to more stories about Bella. Thank you once again for your support!!!!! See you in the next chapter.