Mad Rosetta - Chapter 13

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

Mad Rosetta

Episode 13

Let’s Look at the Discarded Trash Again (3)

* * *

Flip, flip.

Only the sound of turning catalog pages continued, following the tips of well-maintained fingernails.

The more this went on, the more Ant Etuilane had no choice but to drain the tea in front of her to clear her dry throat.

‘So, so scary…!’

The young lady before her was dazzlingly beautiful, but she exuded an equally sharp atmosphere.

It might have been because of the rumors circulating about the Benitra princess, whose specialties were said to be making dents in servants’ heads and whose hobby was making her stepsister cry.

Even so, Ant Etuilane struggled desperately to hide her nervousness.

Ant Etuilane.

A woman who had awakened early to fashion design due to her parents’ influence in the laundry business.

She was a newcomer who had just opened a dress shop bearing her own name in the capital city nine months ago.

‘She’s, she’s being too quiet…’

Ant Etuilane thought this as she glanced nervously at Rosetta with an anxious heart.

While her handicraft skills were recognized as exceptional even in the territory where she had lived, the problem was the reality that she could barely pay the monthly rent for her dress shop.

When she was being pushed around among the famous shops, had God heard her prayers to at least let her beg for food?

Suddenly, a dress-making commission had come from the eldest daughter of the Benitra Ducal House.

‘I don’t know why she specifically called for me, but… this is an opportunity! A golden opportunity to expose my dresses to the nobility!’

Ant Etuilane’s eyes blazed as she thought of her parents, who still lived in a small town in the east and sent monthly letters with contents like: “Ant, you frog in a well… Stop chasing empty dreams and come home, won’t you? Customers complain to this mother about loose threads sticking out. Come and lend a hand.”

The first news she heard after being guided to the reception room was that they were looking for a dress for this spring’s stage.

Surely with Rosetta’s appearance, the dress would have an excellent promotional effect.

According to rumors, she was said to cause quite a bit of trouble, but…

Well, if she caused some incident while attending a banquet, wouldn’t the dress at least make it into the newsletters?

It was just as Etienne was trying her best to make the most positive assumptions.

There was a sharp sound of the catalog closing.

* * *

“…Not bad.”

“Yes, ah! Is there a design that caught your fancy?”

“Haha, no.”

“…”

After briefly enjoying the seamstress’s expression as it stiffened awkwardly, I quietly placed the catalog on the table.

“You seem to have sufficient sense. Though I may not have great expertise in fashion… your designs show an attempt to follow trends while making subtle distinctions.”

“Ah, yes…”

But her expression seemed to ask why I was criticizing her.

Ant Etuilane’s designs were excellent.

This was a fact I could confirm just by recalling how, exactly two years later, the fashion-sensitive Odette would wear only dresses from Etienne House.

Ant Etuilane would later say this through her success story of expanding her small dress shop to house scale:

– “The ancient sun god is said to have fallen for the fairy Linke’s graceful movements. I simply wished for all women to have that beauty dwelling within them, even if they ran through fields like Linke.”

What contributed decisively to her success was none other than the young First Princess, who was 8 years old at the time.

Around that time, there had been a scandal when Empress Beatrice’s ribs were shattered due to an overly tight corset.

Concerned about this, the First Princess was wandering around the capital’s shopping district when she discovered the dress Etienne was wearing – this was the beginning of the saga.

A feminine silhouette that fell gracefully without constricting the waist.

At the next official occasion, when the Empress appeared wearing a dress matched with the Princess and Etienne’s design, she became a seamstress known by everyone in the capital.

This fact was why I intended to commission a dress from Miss Etienne.

‘Of course, since this won’t happen for another two years, I don’t expect her to already have that style, but…’

I needed a breakthrough.

A debut tante was an official occasion where young ladies first showed themselves in society.

I couldn’t appear too experienced, nor too clumsy.

The key was to show a pure yet elegant demeanor like forget-me-nots.

However, the currently fashionable dresses used tightly cinched waists and skirts that created voluminous silhouettes, which was far from this ideal.

‘Above all, to overcome my troubled reputation, I need that level of shock and freshness.’

I absolutely needed the dress she would create two years from now.

“Can you draw what I tell you?”

“It’s possible, but…”

“If it’s possible, then pick up your pen.”

At my forceful attitude, she picked up paper and quill with an almost tearful expression.

“First, I really don’t like having my waist constricted. So I’d like to skip the corset. I’d like the waistline sewn to fit the bust. But since this might make the silhouette look like a wooden block, I’d appreciate attention to the material. It might be nice to add airy puffs to the shoulders, and also…”

I really explained everything in detail.

Perhaps because I spoke so quickly, she drew almost frantically, and her eyes grew rounder as she went on, looking quite delighted.

After finishing the sketch as if possessed, she tidied it up once more before showing me the drawing.

“Is, is this the kind of feeling you wanted!”

“…”

As expected of the original creator.

She had drawn it exactly as I described, and brilliantly at that.

Sing, who was beside me, also examined the paper carefully, then chuckled as if he had figured out my scheme.

【I wondered how you knew to call this unknown person… She was a woman who made her mark in fashion history.】

She submitted about three or four designs, all truly beautiful, so I could smile with satisfaction.

“Good.”

“…”

“Ah. This time I really mean it’s good, so relax.”

With those words, Miss Etienne let out a sigh of relief.

However, realizing she had openly shown her exhaustion, she quickly became cautious again.

She acts as if I might devour her or something.

“Of course you brought fabric too, Miss Etienne?”

“Of, of course!”

She looked quite lively as she hurriedly opened her bag.

I thought it might be nice to help her build the entire Etienne House building myself.

* * *

【You look troubled, darling.】

As soon as Penny turned off the lights wishing me sweet dreams and left the room, Sing spoke to me.

Sitting on the bed with my back against the headboard, I was indeed worried about tomorrow, just as he said.

This was because the impudent Odette had come to my room not long after Miss Etienne had left.

– “Lord Cessia sent a request saying he’d like to visit tomorrow. Since the weather is warming up, how about receiving him in the garden?”

Cunning thing.

She had hidden the fact that the letter came to me and chattered as if Cessia had asked her.

Not only that, but she delivered news of a guest’s visit only the night before.

I nearly lost my reason at her tactlessness.

‘She even babbled my sister’s fiancé’s name so casually. The more I think about it, the more infuriating it gets.’

Things I hadn’t seen in the past due to my blindness now irritated me endlessly, one after another.

– “The garden, that seems like a good idea indeed. I’ll have a place prepared by tomorrow morning, so Bonita, you can come if you want to.”

– “…Of course I have to go, sister.”

Since Odette’s behavior, acting as if he were her own guest, was so detestable, I gave her a little jab, and she answered with a rather displeased expression.

Did she think I might slap her and demand to know why my fiancé had sent a letter to someone like her?

Since I used to be particularly sensitive about anything related to Cessia, it would have been understandable.

Just thinking about starting with receiving guests tomorrow and then polishing everything to perfection, I was already tired and shook my head.

“Don’t even mention it. I might beat him to death the moment I see Cessia’s face tomorrow.”

【Seeing you this angry, it seems your relationship wasn’t like this from the beginning.】

Sing spoke with curiosity about some scenes he had witnessed at the Montague estate.

‘That’s right. Sing said he only wandered around the Neri Marquis estate…’

What he remembered would be scenes of me being mistreated by my mother-in-law, or sights of Cessia and Odette committing adultery.

“…Well then. Would I have forced through a marriage without a single good moment?”

I recalled my first meeting with Cessia.

Age 9. The moment I faced that dazzling fellow’s face at my birthday banquet held in the main manor of the ducal estate, my young self held her breath.

Some made it obvious they were forced to follow their parents, while others were busy crying, boasting about themselves who couldn’t even be weaned from their wet nurse’s milk.

In that chaotic banquet hall, Cessia walked toward me alongside Marquis Montague.

It was truly mature gait that matched his gentle smile.

– “I am Fordicus Cessia of Montague, my lady. If it would not be rude, would you permit me to kiss your hand?”

This…!

What refined manners this was!

The boys my age I had encountered at the time were nothing but crude youngsters who tactlessly asked if my dress wasn’t heavy, or secretly picked their noses thinking no one would see.

The 9-year-old girl came to realize painfully that having an older brother figure with a two-year age difference was truly magnificent.

When two young nobles of high-ranking families took a liking to each other, stamping engagement seals was no trouble at all.

Though we had a period of mourning since His Majesty the Emperor, who had been perfectly fine, suddenly passed away that year, fortunately I held my engagement ceremony before turning 10.

“He said he’d never seen anyone as pretty as me in his whole life. That 11-year-old was quite cheeky and adorable.”

Yes. Without a doubt, Cessia definitely once had affectionate eyes.

Though bitter, it was undeniably first love.

【…You have terrible judgment when it comes to men.】

“I agree, but I can’t help being annoyed. You made me recall unnecessary memories!”

After firmly scolding him not to bother me since I was going to sleep, I pulled the blanket over my head.

I heard some incomprehensible words about how he was the first to get in line… but since I had no way of understanding the meaning, I pretended not to hear.

* * *

“Young Master Marquis Montague is arriving.”

Perhaps spring was truly coming, as the midday garden wasn’t very cold even when the wind blew.

Spotting the person walking over with the butler’s guidance, Odette lifted herself from her seat to greet him.

Unlike her who made no attempt to hide her welcoming expression, I remained seated and watched Cessia slowly reveal himself.

His hair, reminiscent of blazing flames, perfectly resembled its owner’s passionate personality.

Below the fluttering red locks, his straight nose bridge and eyes that shone without a speck of dust as if sprinkled with golden powder.

There were days when I was busy calming my heart that pounded because all of that was overwhelming.

– “You know that you’re the only woman I’ll propose to, Rosetta.”

When he responded so confidently as if it were a predetermined future, I was deluded enough to think we would truly become a couple who couldn’t live without each other.

“…Welcome.”

Fordicus Cessia.

My cruel fiancé.

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