CH 2

On her way back to the mansion, Lutz informed Rosa of the situation. The illegitimate child her father brought was a thirteen years old boy named Bernard. He was only one year younger than Rosa.

He had the same blonde hair as Count Langheim and had beautiful azure eyes.

The child's mother was a prostitute, living with his son in the downtown area of the royal capital.

The mother appealed to Count Langheim for support since she was pregnant with Bernard. But unable to get his recognition, she had to raise Bernard alone and passed away from illness last year.

From there, Bernard was adopted by the owner of a brothel. And then, Count Langheim, who went to the royal capital, came to that brothel without knowing anything.

The brothel's owner demanded him to pay for the child's support he had spent for Bernard until now and to take his son away.

Count Langheim refused, but the angry owner forcefully pushed Bernard away. Unable to stand looking at the mess, the attendant brought Bernard back to Langheim.

"Oh my…"

Rosa listened to the story on the horse with a severe look. But inwardly, her heart was beating fast.

(What a tragic past. Maybe this is… the appearance of 'uke' with a dark side!?)

Rosa didn't feel any disgust at her father or pity at the boy.

It was because her disgust towards his father had already risen above heaven since a long time ago, and she believed it was selfish to sympathize with someone she didn't even know much about.

So Rosa was purely thinking about whether the boy could be her ideal 'uke' candidate.

(Although he's living in the downtown area, he's from the royal capital… I guess he's the sophisticated 'uke'-sama with a 'city boy' feel? But since he grew up in the downtown area, he can be the twisted 'uke'-chan. Or serious uke… Cold uke… Sexy uke… Ahh, I can't hold my excitement!)

Rosa's heart heavily throbbed that she felt slightly faint.

Lutz, who was sitting behind Rosa, sent her a worried gaze. Rosa hurriedly regained the peace of her mind, making sure the stableman did not notice her rotten smell.

(No, no. I shouldn't expect too much. He has the bloodline of Father. He may be a muscly brat… Ah, but then, there's also the development of a corrupted 'uke' meeting a sincere 'seme' and reforming himself…)

In the end, Rosa's roots were rotten. She couldn't stop her mind from wandering.

When they arrived at the mansion, Rosa regained her composition and fixed her facial expression. She ran into the drawing room where her father and Bernard were waiting for her.

For the time being, she had to disapprove of her father for having and bringing his illegitimate child here.

"Father! I already heard from Lutz. Just what on earth are you thi——"

However, her loud voice was interrupted midway.

The reason was that she saw the boy who kept standing by the sofa, looking like he was feeling lost.

"Oh dear…!"

(Hoooooaaahhhhh!)

Rosa was so excited that her mind became a mess.

There, Rosa's ideal 'uke' stood.

Thin developing limbs.

Faint blonde and innocent azure eyes.

Youthfulness remained on the line of his chin. Rosa could feel his concealed strong-will from his tightly pursed lips.

Timidly, Bernard was looking at her with upturned eyes. It was an endearing sight.

Perhaps because of the long journey from the royal capital or his poor living so far, Bernard's dirtiness and shabbiness stood out more. But Rosa's rotten filter wouldn't miss it.

His cuteness.

His appearance that tickled her desire to protect.

His face. His form. His everything.

With Rosa's well-trained rotten sense of beauty, she concluded that the boy was the 'uke' supernova.

(He gets the perfect score of 50 billion points! He's exactly my favorite type!)

Rosa was so delighted that she was about to scream, but she managed to swallow it.

However, Count Langheim, who was sitting heavily on the sofa, snorted.

"Look at this shabby rat. This prostitute's son is so naive that he shamelessly claimed to be my son!"

Apparently, Count Langheim had no intention of acknowledging Bernard as his son. Just as expected from his usual trashy behavior.

Even though it's unlikely for a random downtown boy to be born with blonde hair and azure eyes; the characteristics of a noble which was also the same color as Count's features.

The servants standing by the wall also frowned at Count Langheim's words.

However, Count Langheim clearly showed no concern at all. Instead, he let out a loud, dirty belch, signaling the servants to fill him another cup of liquor.

There were already glasses and ice cubes on the table. Seems like he had been crazily drinking right after he returned home.

"I threw that big liar procuress out right on the spot. However, kicking out a child will make my reputation bad. As a gentleman, I have to show mercy and let him follow me along back home, but he's so dirty. My nose is wrinkling from the strong stench."

"......"

Bernardo clenched his fist.

Anyone would feel pity looking at the boy's trembling body, but that was still not enough for them to stop Count Langheim.

The Count's authority over his servants was strong. In fact, Bernard was pretty shabby and dirty.

Also… The servants glanced at Rosa.

If Count Langheim accepted this boy as his son, Rosa, a woman, would lose her right to inherit the peerage.

They were afraid that the good, beautiful, and noblest one amongst all noble ladies—the 'Langheim's Rose Angel'—would lose her status in exchange for a boy similar to a rat.

But,

(My, this walking meat Father… How can he say such abusive words to my Bell-tan! It's you who are more smelly, though!?)

Rosa didn't think about the inheritance at all. Her heart was burning with the flame of anger.

After all, she had been secretly plotting to leave home to become a nun.

In front of her ideal 'uke', she couldn't even afford to think about her noble position or so on.

"...As long as you keep your promise, I will immediately leave this place."

(He spoke! His voice is so cuteee!!!)

So Rosa was even standing there to support Bernard fully.

He didn't sound like he was used to speaking with honorifics. Rosa couldn't stop getting excited at how there was a slight youthfulness remaining in his tone.

She wanted to hear her favorite character's voice closer, so she casually reduced their distance little by little.

"Earl, you told me you would pay us compensation money. I* haven't received that yet."

(He uses 'boku'. Good. That's really good!)

[T/N: 'Boku' is usually used by men (in formal speech) and young boys. Rosa is happy Bernard uses 'boku' since that's the ultimate cute-ish 'uke' pronoun :3]

"My mother indeed sold her body, but she's not a liar. Count, you once said in that place, 'Yeah, I'll pay.' Then I'm sure you won't lie about your promise as a Count. Please at least pay for my mother's funeral fee!"

(That's right, you walking meat! Ah, Bell-tan stands firm and quivers in rage for his mother! Even when he's overwhelmed by the atmosphere of this place… How praiseworthy! This is it, the natural 'uke' attribute…!)

Rosa was greatly impacted by Bernard's behavior, but she desperately suppressed it and slowly approached the boy.

(Ju… just a little. I want to touch Bernard's body just a little… I need to touch the skin of an 'uke' with these fingertips...)

Rosa was more dangerous than the Earl.

However, God took Rosa's side.

"Hah, impertinent! I'll sanitize that cheeky nasty mouth!" Count Langheim spitted, throwing what's inside the glass he had in his hand.

As a matter of fact, all the liquor splashed on Rosa.

After all, Rosa moved quickly to attack Bernard. Or actually, she looked like she covered for him, protecting him from the liquor.

"......!?"

(I, I got to hug hiiimmmmm!!!)