Mad Rosetta - Chapter 13

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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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Rosetta Gone Mad

Episode 13

Even Discarded Trash Deserves a Second Look (3)

* * *

Flip, flip.

The sound of turning catalog pages continued, following the delicate tips of her perfectly manicured nails.

With each passing moment, Ant Etuilane found herself forced to drain the tea before her just to swallow the lump in her throat.

‘S-so terrifying…!’

The Princess before her was breathtakingly beautiful, yet she emanated an equally cutting aura.

Perhaps the rumors circulating about the Duke’s daughter—that her specialty was creating problems for servants and her hobby was making her stepsister cry—held more truth than she’d hoped.

Still, Ant Etuilane made every effort to conceal her nervousness.

Ant Etuilane.

A woman who had discovered her passion for garment design early, influenced by parents who worked in laundry.

She was a newcomer who had opened an Atelier bearing her own name in the Capital City just nine months ago.

‘H-her silence is so overwhelming…’

With that thought, Ant Etuilane glanced nervously at Rosetta.

While her craftsmanship had earned recognition even in the Estate where she’d lived, the reality of barely scraping by to pay the Atelier’s rent remained her greatest challenge.

Back then, when she was being squeezed between famous shops, she had prayed desperately for even a single opportunity to survive. Had God finally answered her prayers?

Suddenly, a commission for a dress had arrived from the eldest daughter of Duke Benatra’s Mansion.

‘I don’t know why she specifically requested me… but this is my chance! The perfect opportunity to showcase my dresses to the nobility!’

Ant Etuilane still lived in the Small Town in the East, and her eyes blazed with determination as she recalled her parents sending monthly letters with messages like: “Ant, you frog in a well…. Stop chasing empty dreams and come back home, won’t you? The guests are complaining to me about loose threads. Come help your mother with her hands.”

Upon being shown to the Reception Room, the first news I heard was that they sought a dress for this Spring Stage.

With Rosetta’s appearance, the dress would surely gain excellent promotional effect.

According to the rumors I’d heard, she was known for causing quite a bit of trouble….

Well, if she caused an incident at the Feast, wouldn’t the dress end up in the newspapers?

It was the moment Etienne was trying her best to maintain optimistic assumptions.

The catalog folded shut with a crisp sound.

* * *

“…It’s nice.”

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

“Haha, no.”

“….”

I observed the seamstress’s expression grow stiff with disappointment for a moment before quietly placing the catalog back on the table.

“You clearly possess sufficient sensibility. Though I myself cannot claim great expertise in fashion…. Your designs follow trends while attempting subtle differentiation—that much is evident.”

“Ah, yes….”

Her expression seemed to ask why I was criticizing her.

Ant Etuilane’s designs were excellent.

This became clear precisely two years later, when I recalled how Odette—sensitive to fashion trends—wore only Etienne House dresses.

In her later success story of elevating her small Atelier to House scale, Ant Etuilane would say this:

– “They say the ancient sun god was captivated by the graceful movements of the fairy Linke. I merely wished for every woman to possess beauty, even if she were to run through the fields like Linke.”

What truly catalyzed her ascent was none other than the First Princess herself—a mere eight years old at the time.

Around that period, Beatrice Empress’s ribs had been fractured by an excessively tight corset, becoming the talk of the Capital City.

Concerned by this incident, the First Princess discovered a dress worn by Etienne while wandering through the Capital City’s Shopping District—and thus began the tale of her rise.

A waist left uncinched, yet flowing with graceful, feminine silhouette.

When the Empress appeared at the next official gathering dressed to match the First Princess and Etienne House’s design, she became a seamstress whose name was known throughout the Capital City.

This was precisely why I intended to entrust my dress to Etienne.

‘Of course, this won’t happen for another two years, so I doubt she possesses such designs yet….’

I needed a gambit.

The Debut Tante was the official occasion where young Princesses made their first appearance in society.

One could not appear overly seasoned, nor excessively clumsy.

The key was to present an air of purity like forget-me-nots, yet refined elegance.

However, the currently fashionable dresses employed tightly cinched waists and voluminous skirts that created an abundant silhouette—far from this ideal.

‘Above all, to overturn my perpetually troubled reputation, I need precisely that degree of shock and freshness.’

I desperately needed the dress she would create two years hence.

“Can you sketch according to my specifications?”

“It is possible, but….”

“If it’s possible, then take up your pen at once.”

At my commanding tone, she picked up paper and quill with an expression as though she might weep.

“First, I truly despise a cinched waist. Therefore, I wish to omit the corset entirely. I’d like the waistline sewn to align with my chest. However, this risks making the silhouette appear wooden, so I need you to pay careful attention to the fabric. Delicate puffed sleeves at the shoulders would be lovely, and furthermore….”

I proceeded to explain in meticulous detail.

Speaking at such a rapid pace, she sketched almost frantically, her eyes growing wider with each stroke in a way that seemed genuinely delightful.

Once she finished the sketch as if possessed, she refined it once more before finally showing me the drawing.

“Is, is this the feeling you were looking for?”

“….”

No wonder she was the original creator.

She had executed my vision flawlessly.

Sing, standing beside me, examined the paper meticulously before letting out a knowing chuckle, as if he’d grasped my intentions.

【So this was the woman whose name I couldn’t recall—the one who left her mark on the history of costume design.】

She submitted roughly three or four designs, each so exquisite that I couldn’t help but smile with genuine satisfaction.

“Excellent.”

“….”

“Ah. This time I truly mean it’s excellent—relax, won’t you.”

With those words, Etienne exhaled a sigh of relief.

Yet she seemed to notice that I was openly showing signs of exhaustion, and immediately grew cautious.

One would think I was about to devour her.

“Of course you’ve brought fabric samples as well, Etienne?”

“O, of course!”

She hastily opened her bag, appearing quite energized.

I found myself thinking I wouldn’t mind elevating the Etienne House itself.

* * *

“You look troubled, darling.”

The moment Penny extinguished the lamp and left the room after wishing me pleasant dreams, Sing spoke up.

Leaning my back against the headboard as I sat on the bed, I found myself worrying about tomorrow, just as he’d said.

That insufferable Odette had visited my room not long after Etienne left.

– “Lord Cessia has sent a request to visit tomorrow. Since the weather is clearing, wouldn’t it be lovely to receive him in the Garden?”

How cunning.

She’d hidden the fact that the letter was addressed to me, instead prattling on as though Cessia had asked her personally.

And as if that weren’t enough, she’d only informed me of the guest’s arrival the night before.

Her shameless audacity nearly made me lose my composure.

‘And she dares to casually mention my sister’s fiancé by name. The more I think about it, the more infuriating it becomes.’

Things I’d once been too blind to notice now grated on me endlessly, one after another.

– “The Garden, you say? That’s a splendid idea. I’ll have arrangements prepared by tomorrow morning. You’re welcome to join us if you wish, Bonita.”

– “…Of course I must attend, Sister.”

Odette had been acting as though he were her own guest, so I’d needled her slightly—and she’d responded with a distinctly displeased expression.

Did she truly not realize I might slap her for daring to receive letters from my fiancé?

I’d always been particularly sensitive about anything involving Cessia, so perhaps my reaction was justified.

The moment I began contemplating tomorrow’s reception and all the polishing and perfecting that would follow, I found myself already exhausted and shook my head.

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

“【It seems your anger runs quite deep. I suspect your relationship was not always this way.】”

Sing spoke with evident curiosity, recounting several scenes he’d witnessed at the Montague Estate.

‘That’s true. Sing only ever wandered around the Marquis’ Mansion….’

All that wretch would remember were scenes of me being mistreated by my mother-in-law, or the sight of Cessia and Odette committing adultery.

“…Well, there’s no way I would have forced through the marriage if there had been even one good moment.”

I recalled my first meeting with Cessia.

Nine years old. At my birthday feast held in the main manor of the Duke’s Estate, the moment I beheld that radiant face, my young self held my breath.

Some children bore the marks of being dragged along by their parents, while others were busy crying as they boasted about still being nursed by their wet nurses.

In that chaotic banquet hall, Cessia approached me alongside the Marquis of Montague.

His gait was remarkably mature, befitting the gentle smile upon his face.

– “I am Fordicus Cessia of House Montague, Your Highness. If it would not be presumptuous, might I be permitted to place a kiss upon your hand?”

This…!

What exquisite manners!

The boys my age whom I had encountered back then were nothing but uncouth youths who thoughtlessly asked if my dress wasn’t heavy, or who picked their noses when they thought no one was looking.

A nine-year-old girl came to understand most keenly just how magnificent an older brother two years her senior could be.

When two young nobles from prestigious houses took a fancy to each other, stamping the betrothal seal was child’s play.

That year, the Emperor unexpectedly passed away, so we observed a period of mourning, but fortunately, I held my betrothal ceremony before turning ten.

“I’ve never seen a girl as beautiful as you in my entire life. At eleven, you were quite bold and adorable.”

Yes. Without a doubt, Cessia had certainly looked at me with tender eyes.

Bitter as it was, it had been unmistakably my first love.

【…Your judgment of men is truly abysmal.】

“I agree, but I can’t help being irritated. You’ve gone and stirred up pointless memories!”

After sternly warning him not to touch me since I would be fine, I pulled the blanket over my head entirely.

Some incomprehensible muttering reached my ears about how he had been the first to cross the line…, but since I couldn’t fathom its meaning, I pretended not to hear.

* * *

“Marquis Fordicus Cessia has arrived.”

The midday Garden showed no sign of the bitter cold even when the wind blew, as if spring itself were drawing near.

Odette, who had spotted the figure approaching under the Butler’s guidance, rose from her seat to greet him.

Unlike her, who made no effort to conceal her delight, I remained seated and watched Cessia slowly reveal himself before me.

His hair, reminiscent of blazing flames, mirrored perfectly the passionate nature of its owner.

The sharp bridge of his nose beneath those flowing crimson locks, and those golden eyes that gleamed without a single speck of dust.

There were days when all of it felt overwhelming, and I was too busy calming my racing heart.

– “You know that you are the only woman I would ever propose to, Rosetta.”

When he answered so confidently, as though our future were already decided, I would almost believe that we were truly destined to become a couple who could not live without each other.

“…Welcome.”

Fordicus Cessia.

My cruel betrothed.

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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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