Mad Rosetta - Chapter 12

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

Episode 12

Let’s Look at the Discarded Trash Again (2)

After my passionate outburst, I opened the door to find Father looking at me with bewildered eyes.

Beside Father was his aide Stilling, but I finished my greeting with just a single glance in his direction.

“Well now, what a resounding greeting that was.”

His bewildered reaction was brief. Father ordered an attendant to bring tea and welcomed me warmly.

Normally I would have engaged in trivial conversation before getting to the main point, but time was too pressing for that.

“Father. There will be a banquet held this coming spring, won’t there?”

“Hmm? Ah, you mean the Spring Stage. Bonita seems quite busy with preparations for it lately.”

“I want to participate in that too. Please request that my name be included on the guest list.”

Stilling, who had been setting tea on the table in place of the attendant, made a horrified expression.

Probably expecting that I would attend the banquet and cause trouble, Stilling shot desperate looks at Father, silently pleading with him not to give permission.

Father was too busy admiring my lovely face to notice and deflected those looks entirely.

“A banquet… Hmm, Coco. Of course, since you haven’t had your debut tante, participating in this Spring Stage would look good. But wouldn’t it be burdensome for you to prepare starting now?”

Father’s words were correct.

Renowned tailors would already have their hands full with reserved quotas alone.

Besides that, there truly wasn’t enough time to complete various procedures like memorizing the different dignitaries who would attend the banquet.

With less than two months remaining until the banquet, it was also a father’s concern that it might be difficult to accomplish all of this.

‘But I have nowhere to retreat to.’

If I gave up on things one by one because they were difficult, it was clear that Odette would gradually devour my position, so I maintained a resolute attitude.

“If you just give me permission, I’ll work hard to prepare so as not to bring shame to Father’s name.”

“Really now. When have you ever brought shame?”

Saying that no one would criticize me for being a little capricious, Father naturally took my side.

He didn’t seem to notice Stilling looking at him with disgusted eyes.

It was a look that seemed to ask why his master, renowned for being so shrewd, became an idiot whenever his own daughter was involved.

‘What are you going to do if you don’t like it?’

Setting aside my past behavior, his attitude that seemed to treat even Father like a fool was quite irritating.

Hey there, aide mister. Just you wait and see.

Once the banquet is over, I’ll make sure the words “Oh my, has our intelligent and honorable Lady Rosetta arrived!” come out naturally.

“Stilling. Send a message to the imperial palace immediately requesting modification of the invitation list. And find a suitable teacher for Rosetta and report back by the end of today.”

“…Understood.”

“Do you have a particular tailor in mind? According to Lianna, it seems Bonita has most of her clothes made at Ceitela House. If you want, Coco, I’ll even offer extra payment to request they make yours together.”

Ceitela House.

The fashion house currently leading trends in the capital. It could be called the finest among them.

Even setting aside the price, they only accepted limited orders, so even after making reservations, people often had to wait over a year.

I too had applied in advance for a debut tante dress from Ceitela House as soon as I turned fourteen.

Though I had to cancel the reservation when my confinement made attending the Spring Stage at fifteen impossible.

‘At first glance, it might look like the sisters had their dresses made at the same place…’

If things continued this way, I might face criticism for abusing my power out of jealousy toward Odette, stealing someone else’s reservation slot and increasing the tailor’s workload.

“Even so, I’m the one who started preparing late. I can’t trouble others. I’ll look for a suitable tailor myself, so Father doesn’t need to worry about this part.”

“Hmm, but this is your first official appearance, isn’t it? Even having the very best made would hardly be enough.”

“Ahaha! Really Father, what are you worrying about?”

I lightly pressed my hand to my collarbone area and laughed confidently.

“With this face that’s the spitting image of Mother and Father, even if I brought rags, there are some things that can’t be hidden, aren’t there?”

Despite my truly arrogant attitude, Father responded by clapping his hands thunderously.

Leaving behind Father, who laughed heartily saying where else in the Empire could you find such a rose, I stood up from my seat.

Perhaps he couldn’t understand my consideration for the fashion house’s circumstances?

Stilling’s expression was ambiguous, but I didn’t have the energy to worry about that.

Three days until Cessia’s visit.

I had a mountain of things to do.

* * *

“Phew… What’s next on the schedule?”

“Um, you have a meeting scheduled with Dr. Beaumont. He’s currently waiting in the reception room.”

“And after that?”

“A meeting with the tailor from Eturang Fashion House.”

I couldn’t help but sigh.

With Cessia’s visit scheduled for tomorrow, there were more than a few things that needed to be handled quickly.

After visiting Father, I immediately had Penny instruct the butler to invite a herbology doctor from the academy.

Later, I ordered them to summon the exclusive tailor from a new fashion house called Eturang.

Besides that, I had to meet with the tutors Father had appointed, memorize the list of banquet attendees, learn etiquette and dancing…

‘Ugh, I feel nauseous.’

Most of all, to gain weight, I was eating double portions at meals and even indulging in plenty of refreshments between appointments.

Of course, I vomited twice from overeating, but that couldn’t stop me.

“I’ll go straight to the study, so Reina? You guide the doctor to the study, and Sara and Vicky prepare refreshments.”

“Yes, Lady.”

I headed to the study with only Penny by my side.

Because of the dedicated servants who might be Odette’s confidants, I had considered secretly inviting the doctor.

But I gave up since it was nearly impossible.

There was the fact that those entering and leaving the duke’s estate were very strictly screened…

‘If I only assign work to Penny when it’s important, despite having other servants available, it might actually cause harm.’

I decided not to worry even if news of inviting the herbology doctor reached Odette.

If I could enjoy watching her anxiety about her evil deeds being exposed, that would be good in its own way.

“Lady, I’ve brought Dr. Beaumont.”

“Yes, come in.”

I let only the doctor enter, then sent all the attendants, including Penny, outside.

Only Sing remained, sitting in a lounging posture, making pointless comments about why all doctors grow beards.

I wished he would shut up so I could concentrate.

“I hope there was no inconvenience in coming here? I’ve heard much of your reputation and wanted very much to meet you, so I invited you here.”

“Ah, yes… You sent a carriage, so I was able to travel comfortably. I’m grateful for Benatra’s consideration.”

Dr. Drabe Beaumont.

A herbology specialist affiliated with Arcanis Academy, a figure who had led the development of various medicines until now.

Contrary to his rigid-looking appearance, his research was always evaluated as being one step ahead.

‘This man should definitely be able to develop an antidote for Panilnia.’

But had he too heard rumors about Benatra’s troublesome eldest daughter?

As we exchanged various unnecessary pleasantries for appearances’ sake, the doctor’s initially wary attitude gradually changed.

Finding this quite pleasing, I spoke with a smile.

“The reason I invited you, Doctor, is because I have something I’d like to personally request of you.”

“Hehe, if it’s something a lady of such high standing would personally request…”

“By any chance, do you know anything about the Panilnia flower?”

I swallowed nervously once due to tension.

The headaches that came suddenly, or the symptoms of my chest pounding and fever rising, made me sharp-tempered each time.

The headaches were especially problematic.

I felt like my brain was being squeezed, or experienced persistent stabbing pain from the back of my neck to the back of my head.

‘I’m managing to hold onto my sanity and live… but I feel like smashing my head against the wall.’

No matter how much I searched, there were no research results on the toxicity of the Panilnia flower.

So someone had to be made to start from now.

“Panilnia… I do recall seeing it in books. But why do you ask about it?”

“Well, it’s a flower my sister Bonita is very fond of, so I often receive it as gifts. But it’s not a famous flower, is it? When I keep that flower nearby, I get headaches and my body becomes sensitive… I was wondering if it might be an allergy caused by its components, so I’d like to request research on this.”

“Oh my, you’re concerned about allergies. Hehe, you must be very close with your sister. I can see that from how you’re even commissioning research like this.”

…Look at this old man, crossing the line.

Carelessly mentioning someone’s private life upon first meeting is rude behavior.

Moreover, his tone subtly probing the relationship between Odette and me made me feel very unpleasant.

If it weren’t for the antidote, I would have given him a piece of my mind, but I tilted my head as if wondering what the problem was.

“Well, she’s my only sister, so of course. She always brings a bouquet of flowers because she’s worried about my illness… I feel bad refusing her, so I’m asking you like this, Doctor.”

If the research progresses and toxic components are detected, he would become an excellent witness in the future.

I completed my contract with the doctor by drafting documents stating I would pay all costs and labor fees necessary for the research.

‘…Am I getting money fever?’

Sending off the bowing doctor, I thought as much.

It was because the contract fee had cost more than I had expected.

‘Be patient… It’s an investment for the future.’

Even if Odette feels threatened and tries to win over the doctor, the contract clauses specified along with the investment money would tie the doctor’s hands.

So this much should be enough.

“Now, next! Has the seamstress from Étoile arrived?”

Having invested in my health, it was time to take care of my appearance next.

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