3. Rosa Wants to Meet a Friend (3)
So that’s WHAT this is abouuuuuuuut—!
At that moment, all the emotions that had been at a standstill surged with the force that surpassed the previous one.
What the hell—!?
I thought we’re into the same rotten genre, but we misunderstood each other!
What was more, Anton even nodded.
“I can’t believe it. Someone who understands me—they’re here all along…! Looking back at my monastery days, I just want to cry. Be it to my right, or to my left, there are only men! I’ve lost my hair color because there’s no materials to be found! Ah, compared to the drab relationships between those bastards, I much prefer a wonderful relationship between women…!”
—Somewhere along the way, he had vented.
As she listened, something inside Rosa snapped.
“…Uncle?”
He had made an oopsie.
For him to call the exchange of precious emotions between men ‘drab’…
…Drab.
“What did you say just now…?”
Both her voice and her fist trembled.
To be fair, up until now, Rosa had never disdained the concept of ‘lily.’
She wasn’t particularly interested, either. However, in terms of same-sex love, the lily was akin to a relative of rose.
But now, it was different.
At first, she was overjoyed at meeting Anton, and had even forgiven him—
—but his cruel betrayal ripped her heart to shreds.
Uncle Anton… is my enemy. Yuri is the opposite of me!
Kill the Yuri—!
As her fierce anger roared, Rosa’s soul was immolated.
“…But uncle, something is wrong with you. How could you not understand the sweet love between gentlemen, reminiscent of roses?”
“…Rosa?”
As he withdrew, Anton asked in bewilderment.
“Huh? What are you… Rose? Eh? Gentleman? No way, you…”
His surprise gradually turned into shock, and finally—fierce animosity.
“I-I can’t believe it… Are you saying that you’ve been appreciating the love between men for a while!? Impossible! And here I thought that my deepest wish had been granted! Return that dreamlike moment to me!”
“Oh, I will! Someone’s thinking too highly of themselves despite being The Piggy Duke!”
“Gahaha—! The blood of said Piggy Duke flows within your vein—!”
When Anton poked her nose, Rosa viciously slapped his hand away.
“Why don’t we have some fun!? After all, instead of a parent and child, we’re merely an uncle and niece, so blood isn’t exactly—”
“—Dear sister?”
“Gyaa—!”
At that precise moment, a cool voice echoed from behind, startling Rosa.
“I’ve been looking for you.”
Upon turning around, it was Bernardo.
After having returned to the theater, he seemed to be looking for her.
“Oh, Bernardo! Did you have a proper talk with your childhood friend?”
“Yes, but the conversation itself was brief, so I returned shortly. However, since the play has already started, I waited at the entrance of the lobby across from here. I felt like I heard your voice, so…”
Despite looking as beautiful as ever, a terrifying shadow loomed on his miraculous face, causing her to shiver.
“…When I came here, I saw that man trying to touch your face.”
Suddenly, Bernardo pulled her by the waist, shielding her from Anton.
Apparently, he thought that her sister was a victim of unwelcome advances.
Rosa began to twitch at Bernardo’s kitten-like intimidation—
—If I run into trouble, I’ll be banned from going out until next year.
Upon recalling that, Rosa blanched.
T, that’s bad!
Therefore, it wasn’t the time to be overwhelmed by Bernardo’s display of chivalry.
Instead, she had to insist that she’d never gotten into trouble.
“T, that’s not true, Bernardo. Just like you, I was also basking in my reunion with my uncle. Yes, it’s merely part of our communication! Nothing is happening, nothing is happening at all—! I was safe, the entire time—!”
Bernardo gave Rosa a discerning look. “Uncle?” He repeated with a skeptical look on his face.
“…Speaking of which, didn’t he cause some sort of scandal, leading to his banishment from the social circles of Berg?”
…Despite only joining the ranks of the nobility recently, Bernardo seemed to be fully aware that Rosa’s uncle had been banished from society.
However, not the reason in particular.
“Rumor has it that the exiled man had the physique of a pig. Besides, my sister’s family are generally blonde. This man is quite different from the descriptions.”
Asking in a slightly cautious voice, Bernardo lifted his eyebrow. Perhaps, the discrepancy in the information deepened his suspicion.
Perhaps due to his age, Anton remained collected.
“After being expelled from society, and having to spend my days in the monastery, both my weight and hair color underwent a transformation. Nevertheless, I’m indeed her uncle, Anton. Of course, the same goes for you—Rosa’s half-brother, Bernardo.”
“Do you know me?”
“Indeed. As of the present, I work as a priest at a relief center in a neighboring country. Even so, the lost lambs, who gather from all over the country, didn’t fail to provide me with information. Although, I’ve only learned of your name.”
Apparently, Anton paid attention to when Rosa called her brother by his name.
Before she knew it, Anton had regained his previous formal tone—aka. his basic external specification.
“Is that so? Then, what are you doing in Berg at a time like this? Pardon me, but is it alright for a clergyman to watch such an opera?”
“For your information, this is also part of the training. Every year, for two weeks, a priest of St. Julia would leave the Tower of Poverty to embark on a journey to aid the weak in the world. Since it’s a religious sect with strict precepts, we don’t limit ourselves to the teaching of the Bible, and opted to experience the raw suffering of the world first hand.”
Bernardo’s pointed questions—masked under the pretense of innocence—were eloquently answered by Anton.
His smile exuded dignity, while his tone was intelligent.
It was difficult to believe that just now, he was immersing himself in worldly desires…
What was more, he dropped a bombshell.
“Then, by chance, I was reunited with Rosa. I was truly glad to see her again. Furthermore, she has arranged for my stay in the royal palace.”
“…!?”
Rosa shuddered.
After all, he’d just taken advantage of the situation to guarantee his stay at the royal palace!
What the heck—!?
I only invited him because I thought we were into the SAME thing!
The royal palace is dedicated to roses, and not lilies!
But when Rosa was about to interject, she saw Bernardo glancing sideways towards her, as if asking, “Is that true?”
“No, actually, that’s—”
“—That’s right. However, she’d have to receive permission from her employer—the royal family, first. Once that happens, I’m free to stay.”
Anton put words into her mouth.
“No, that’s…”
“Is that so? Then, when your stay has been confirmed, please allow me to accompany you.”
She was about to protest, but Bernardo thwarted it.
With a lovely smile, Bernardo looked up at Anton.
“I’ve never spoken to any of my relatives before. Therefore, I have a lot of questions for my uncle…”
Of course, Bernardo did it in an attempt to uncover the secret behind his birth.
However, Rosa—who was oblivious—suffered a massive heart attack from his smile, and got defeated.
…Huh? Why is Bell-tan so welcoming to him? I see, to me, he’s a natural enemy, but for Bell-tan, he’s his “first” relative… An adult who he could rely on, but in truth…
…Nevertheless, if that was true, she’d regret pouring cold water on his excitement.
Besides, after pretending to have a joyous reunion, it’d be weird to reject Anton.
By the way, as she looked at Anton and Bernardo, who gazed at each other, Rosa contemplated.
On the left, a gentle and polite (on the surface) man with glittering silver-rimmed glasses.
On the right, the best Uke who had ever existed, with a solid excited look.
…Rosa experienced an increase in power.
…Isn’t this—
—No, it was indeed the strongest lineup.
Let’s see, under this circumstance, Uncle Anton would first appear as an outrageous individual with a penchant for lily. When he first saw Bell-tan, he’d treat him like a pebble on the side of the road, thinking that ‘there’s nothing more precious than lilies.’ After that, he’d treat him politely while drawing a line…
Before she knew it, her delusion switch was flipped, and as she stared intently at the two of them, Rosa began to fantasize…
…Nevertheless, Bell-than’s charm is too strong. As the frequency of conversations increased along with the amount of time spent together, he grew more and more attracted towards Bell-tan…
‘This should’ve never happened.’
‘My heart should’ve only been drawn towards the romance between women, so why!?’
Despite his distress, Anton realized that only Bernardo could bring out his manly desires.
One day, some sort of crisis hits Bell-tan—I’ll flesh this out in the future—and the distressed Uncle Anton finally realizes his love. In shock, he rips off his glasses, abandons his love for the lilies—and screams at the top of his lungs!
‘Because of you, I’ve been acting unlike myself! Do not stir my heart even more than this!’
In turmoil, Anton shook Bernardo’s shoulders.
His unexpectedly large hands were those of an adult man—now, he was a man—not to mention, one with a fervent ardor…!
Great!!!
Rosa roared inside her mind.
Her ability to sublimate even a Lily fan—and to top it off, her nemesis—into a moe sure was terrifying.
…Indeed.
If she didn’t like his penchant for lilies, she could just seize this opportunity and convert him to moe.
…Yes! For I’m a woman who turns a lily pinch into a rosy opportunity…!
After clearing her throat, Rosa turned to Anton.
“Well, since Bell-tan has spoken, do allow me to extend you an invitation.”
“I see. It seems that you consider me welcome, after all.”
Anton flashed a triumphant smile at Rosa’s welcoming attitude.
On the surface, she seemed to have gladly accepted it, but deep down…
You think you’ve got me, but it’s actually the opposite! Prepare yourself, Uncle Anton!
Thus, the Anton Rose Strategy—or rather, the discussion of his short-term stay, came to an end.
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thanks for the chapter