Mad Rosetta - Chapter 116

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Rosette Gone Mad
Chapter 116
Lingering Echoes (5)
Sergio said the Medium’s abilities were genuine.
It turned out he was quite a renowned figure in the village where he lived.
‘He has conversed with the spirits of murdered victims and uncovered the truth based on their testimonies, or so I’ve heard….’
Because of this, he was frequently summoned to memorial services and funerals in that region, apparently serving the role of offering words of consolation.
‘How pitiful. He hastened his own demise.’
The Medium took his place beside Carina with measured steps.
There was no way Carina, who had orchestrated such a scheme, would let the Medium leave alive….
Well…. Even if he had known beforehand, he could never have voiced a refusal.
“…I must ask, you who have not departed. How could you abandon the natural order and torment those still living in this world?”
No, truth be told, he simply couldn’t leave.
From what he was saying, it seemed he understood that ordinary spirits dissipate within three days.
He could sense an aura different from others, or so I had thought…. It was a remarkable ability, I had believed.
“…It is certainly anomalous. A bound soul, and… something unlike us….”
Suddenly my stomach churned, and I deliberately furrowed my brow.
The Medium focused on me with his eyes closed.
Then he continued to question the natural order as if determined to rummage through my very essence.
“Please, I beg you, release your wrath and return to where you belong…! Ugh!”
But it was short-lived. The Medium fell backward onto his rear with a violent start.
Carina jolted to her feet with a look of shock, putting distance between us.
“What, what is this! Is there someone else here now…!”
The Medium, sprawled on the floor like a vagrant, pointed accusingly at me.
It was fortunate I had skipped breakfast… I nearly vomited onto the carpet without dignity.
Only after the Medium ceased his theatrics did my roiling stomach settle somewhat.
I laughed, pretending to compose myself at my chest.
“My apologies. I myself cannot provide an answer at this moment.”
“…Gasp, h-huff….”
“So, what were you saying?”
I posed the question, though I wasn’t particularly curious.
The Goddess would surely have said something like: You’re worthless—begone from an Imperial subject—wouldn’t she?
– 『Trash.』
The night I heard from Sergio about the Medium’s abilities.
When I addressed Taran, still swaddled in that adorable bundle, the Goddess began with insults.
I had been receiving her verbal abuse ever since the day I first met the King of Terkikan.
– 『Trash! How dare you, how dare you threaten the royal family of Terkikan? And by taking me hostage no less!? You contemptible wretch! You deserve to be stoned for your insolence!』
– 【I didn’t know you were listening… You usually don’t notice what I do anyway.】
– 『Ha! Unbelievable! Ha! I’ve set foot on my homeland—of course I would know! Fool! I’ve never seen a human like you. Never, truly never! You fail to protect Sangdo and dare commit sacrilege!』
– 【This is the first time I’ve met a god with such a foul temperament.】
– “Isn’t Hazard mad too? Handing over sacred relics to the Empire, ugh…! The nation’s a mess, a complete mess…. No, the Terkikan royal family must all be short a few screws! Waaah!”
Truly insufferable.
As always, that was my thought.
Perhaps influence shifted differently in my homeland, or something.
Unlike when I was in the Empire, Taran knew everything I was doing.
This was hardly conducive to privacy, I’d thought.
Normally, I would have simply endured the tirade and lost some sleep over it.
But that night, I had something I needed to obtain.
– “I have something I’d like to ask you about, so please listen.”
I patted Taran gently while cradling the swaddled infant, a gesture meant to encourage restraint.
It seemed I’d learned how to hold a baby properly during my time in the Desert.
– “Put it down.”
– “Do you know what a Medium is?”
– “Why should I care? Put it down, you wretch.”
– “So even a god has gaps in knowledge…. Is it because Terkikan has no one with such an ability?”
– “What are you talking about? I know perfectly well! They’re the ones who gossip with the dead! Terkikan has plenty of them! They’re not exclusive to the Empire!”
– “You’re well-informed. If a Medium tried, could they make me disappear?”
As I asked while gently soothing her in my arms, Taran bristled at what I seemed to think of her.
Hmm, as expected. It seemed I could set aside worries about being carelessly annihilated.
– “Then could you stand before a Medium?”
– “What? Me? Why?”
– “They need to realize they cannot make me disappear…. It would be faster for you to drive them away than for me to endure their persistent advances.”
The truth was, if I lingered too long in their presence, the Medium might discover that Cessia’s soul had long since vanished.
If the Empress Dowager learned her son was already dead, the deal—everything—would collapse.
– “So why should I? That’s only beneficial to you.”
– “Can you do it or not? Just tell me that.”
– “…Your prospects aren’t just dim, they’re rotten.”
– “Didn’t you want to return to your homeland as soon as possible? Help me out. Let’s both survive this.”
Do you know what happens?
When a newborn furrows its brow with all its might, it only looks ugly and pathetic.
– “…If that one truly possesses skill, I can make them aware there’s another presence.”
– “Ah.”
– “What, shall I intimidate them a bit?”
– “That would be more than enough, thank you.”
– “You really are unlucky, aren’t you? If you’re reborn, don’t even show your face near Terkikan.”
– “But Hazard seemed to like me.”
– “What good is male affection? I’d prefer a princess be born instead. Then I could pick and choose.”
– “…..”
– “Now really, get out. I can’t stand the sight of you.”
It hadn’t even been an hour since she’d fallen asleep. That night, I had no choice but to stay awake until dawn.
Since a goddess with such a strong personality had agreed to my request, I had to show her how to lose gracefully.
“When the time comes, surely you’ll know not to cross the threshold to the underworld of your own accord…. If you don’t wish to go together, then step aside.”
“H-hic….”
Though I had spoken gently enough, the Medium could only tremble in fear.
It seemed Taran was playing her role well.
As I drew closer, I saw she was an old woman many times my age, and my heart grew heavy.
“…Your body seems frail. Yet here you are, in such distress. And the one who summoned you does nothing to help. What is she doing, hmm?”
“….”
I spoke to the Medium with my hands clasped behind my back, but my gaze was fixed on Carina.
She made no effort to hide her bewilderment at what was unfolding.
“…When you leave, there will be someone to guide you.”
In the end, without truly accomplishing anything, Carina sent the Medium away.
That old woman would die soon.
Carina was the sort of person I had observed all this time.
She would never overlook anything that stood in her path…. In another sense, she possessed the qualities of a king.
If only she had not clung so desperately to the position of Empress, perhaps none of this tragedy would have occurred.
Such hypotheticals were utterly useless now, so I returned to the sofa and sat.
“It is said that a person must know their station…. I had intended to show you mercy, but since you persist in this manner, I have no choice.”
“….”
“Originally, I planned to give you a chance if I merely dealt with Jeremiah. You could have lived out your remaining days in obscurity, as though dead to the world.”
“…Ha! Pointless. Just tell me what you want.”
“Will you go as a traitor should?”
“….”
“If you do, I will spare Fordicus.”
Is this not what a face stained with humiliation truly looks like?
She must have known better than anyone at this moment how utterly trapped she was.
Yet precisely because of that, the rage building within her was inevitable, and Carina began to pour out her grievances.
“You’ve brazenly toyed with Cessia’s entire life, and now…? With things having come to this, you expect me to grant your request?”
“And if you don’t? What leverage do you have against me?”
“This…!”
“Your judgment has become so clouded—it seems you too have aged. Has my meaning not yet reached you? That the foundations of the Imperial Court must be restored?”
“…Even if you die and harbor endless resentment! As one who has legitimately ascended to the throne, how could I ever abandon the people of this Empire!”
Had I ever seen her rage like this?
Neither before death nor after. I could confidently say I had never witnessed it.
Her trembling eyes seemed to reveal a desperate, frantic struggle.
“Rather than be blinded by vengeance, think clearly, Kallastan. If Jeremiah and I disappear, who then can lead this nation and the Imperial Court…!”
“….”
“So regain your composure—”
“Ha, what exactly….”
“What?”
“…How lightly have you bandied my name about in my absence?”
As I tilted my head and posed the question, she stiffened, her body going rigid and motionless.
The way she held the Empire’s people hostage made my skin crawl, as though insects were creeping across my entire body.
For one who had seized authority through injustice, her appeal seemed utterly shameless.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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