Mad Rosetta - Chapter 16

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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 16

Let’s Look at the Discarded Trash Again (6)

【That temperament is still the same. Always ready to throw subordinates under the bus.】

Sharp criticism poured out from Sing as if he had expected Cessia to act this way.

I nodded once to show my agreement.

Cessia intended to use Odette’s chosen subordinate as a scapegoat to help both himself and her evade responsibility.

‘Well, if one of Odette’s limbs gets cut off, that’s not bad for me either.’

I watched Odette, who was properly cornered.

How would she protect her noble position?

As if to satisfy my curiosity, Odette’s mouth slowly opened.

“…What fault could the attendants have? Everyone was just concerned about Sister Rosetta’s health like I was.”

But she gave a completely different answer than I expected.

Shocked, I couldn’t hide my surprised expression.

I had expected that no matter how saintly she acted, if her own safety was threatened, she would ruthlessly abandon even her allies.

But to protect someone else?

“So I don’t want to scold them too much…”

Odette opened her mouth again with a somewhat awkward smile, asking for leniency.

But she couldn’t finish her words.

As soon as she saw Cessia’s irritably furrowed brow, she shut her lips tight.

“Surely you’re not defending them out of ignorance, Miss Bonita.”

“…”

“You should learn to distinguish between kindness and foolishness.”

Those were eyes that looked down on a disobedient pet.

An authoritarian person.

That was the essence of Fordicus Cessia Montague.

Odette was probably seeing this for the first time.

“The mere fact that they stole correspondence addressed to their master is a matter that must be dealt with severely. Moreover, to let pass without reproach the attendant who helped the still naive Miss Bonita manage Rosetta’s correspondence…”

“…”

“How can you pretend not to know that people will gossip about Benitra’s discipline becoming lax?”

…That bastard, I’ve been watching and watching.

Setting aside scolding Odette, how dare he casually bring up Benitra’s household affairs.

If I didn’t stop Cessia now, there was plenty of room to give the impression that our household was being manipulated by the Montague Marquessate.

Just as I was about to stop Cessia’s presumptuous demands.

“That’s because I asked for it.”

Odette beat me to it, confessing as if spitting out the words.

“…What do you mean?”

“I asked them to hand over Sister’s correspondence so I could manage it. The child is innocent, so please stop.”

“…Miss. You’d better think carefully about your answer.”

His eyes scolded her for not properly accepting the opportunity he had laid out for her to avoid responsibility.

I too frowned at her response.

‘Is this even reasonable?’

Unable to grasp Odette’s intentions, I spent a long time focusing on reading her expression.

But she only repeated the same words with her face scrunched up like a child forced to make an unwanted apology.

“But Lord Cessia. If the child is punished for merely following their master’s orders, wouldn’t that also disrupt the household’s order?”

“Hah… When one’s master goes down the wrong path, it’s a subordinate’s duty to offer honest counsel. Just for lending assistance, that attendant should-“

“Fordicus, enough.”

“…”

“…I understand your eagerness to clear up the misunderstanding. But don’t you think this is excessive interference, even for my fiancé? Since it seems to be Bonita’s fault, I’d like you to leave this matter to our household.”

I said this while glancing at Odette, who seemed half-resigned.

It was a warning not to interfere too much in Benitra’s affairs anymore.

It seemed I had succeeded in creating a rift between the two and instilling anxiety among the attendants.

However, Odette’s aggrieved look made me feel strangely uncomfortable.

“…Of course, Rosetta. I was just worried you might get the wrong idea.”

Sing snorted, saying it wasn’t a misunderstanding since he had clearly seen the constant romantic displays at the marquessate.

I too responded with a forced smile to Cessia, wondering what change of heart made him act so disgustingly kind.

“What would I misunderstand? I know you cherish Bonita like a real sister.”

“I’m grateful you think that way, but being too protective might not be good for a younger sister either.”

Perhaps annoyed that Odette hadn’t moved according to his will, Cessia finished his words while glaring at her until the end.

“I think we should end today’s gathering here.”

I stood up to conclude the chaotic tea time.

Then Cessia also stood up, agreeing that would be best.

“I’ll visit again soon. I’m happy to see that you seem to have recovered somewhat while I was away, Rosetta.”

I flinched and tried to pull back, then quickly corrected myself.

At the sight of Cessia smiling gently and taking my hand, I instantly felt nauseous as if I had touched filthy waste.

That bastard is approaching.

I wanted to tear apart that bastard who was slowly lowering his head to put his filthy lips on the back of my hand.

“Next time I’ll prepare a gift that you’ll like, Rosetta.”

It was disgusting.

Goosebumps ran down my spine and I even seemed to break out in cold sweat.

I wanted to immediately curse at Cessia to get away.

Take away that mouth that was busy matching with Odette.

Take away those filthy lips that were frantically cursing me.

I knew well enough that I shouldn’t reveal my emotions yet if I wanted to thoroughly trample Cessia’s future.

But that didn’t make the reality of having to endure such humiliation any less terrible.

‘Usually you curse along with me just fine…’

Sing, who was unusually silent and just watching this scene, seemed to make me feel even more ashamed.

I had to offer my hand while gripping my dress hem with my other hand to prevent it from strangling Cessia’s neck.

* * *

“Aaah! Disgusting, crazy bastard!”

As soon as I dismissed the gathering and returned to my room, I scrubbed the back of my hand until it was raw.

Then the back of my hand became so red that it finally bled.

【Rose, stop it.】

“That dog-like bastard! That vermin dared to. Sob, dared to…”

It stung and hurt.

The sensation Cessia left behind was terribly vivid.

It felt like a long-bodied insect slowly crawling across the back of my hand.

As I almost cried while scraping my hand clean, Sing, who had been standing beside me watching, irritably grabbed both my hands.

【I told you to stop.】

Blood mixed with water dripped from my hands restrained by him.

Maybe I was mistaken to think we were of one heart and mind. I knew in my head that Sing had done nothing wrong.

But it was also true that I resented him for not representing my feelings as usual, not saying where that crazy bastard was putting his mouth and telling me to scratch his face immediately.

“Get lost! Sob, what do you know…! That bastard’s touch still gives me goosebumps!”

I screamed in frustration.

Ah, this disgusting state wasn’t what I wanted.

Tears and snot. Imagining myself bawling made me feel so pathetic that I became miserable again.

Even Sing, who wouldn’t let go of my hands so I couldn’t wipe my secretions, nothing was going my way at all.

I really wailed until my shoulders shook.

This continued until the guy who had kept his mouth shut and just watched gently caressed my torn hand.

【How could I fully understand your pain? I can only guess that it must be very distressing.】

“….”

【What good does tormenting yourself like this do? Hm? Aren’t these precious hands that will one day punish those who caused you pain?】

He took my hand and kissed it, just as Cessia had done.

Absurdly, the sensation touching my wound was cold and gentle, making me suddenly realize that he didn’t lack a face—it was simply invisible to me.

Perhaps flustered by that thought, my heart began to flutter for no reason.

【There, now you can hit me as much as you want.】

“….”

【Why that expression? I said I’m ready to be hit, didn’t I?】

What was I to do with this fool who playfully chattered that I could do even worse if I wanted?

Teaching patience to plan for the future, yet not turning away from a wounded heart.

Learning, refining oneself. Even for someone who whipped themselves into shape, I knew better than anyone that it wasn’t something easily accomplished.

What kind of life had he lived

to suppress things so tenderly?

I looked down for a moment at my hand, held so carefully as if he feared I might break, then turned my gaze to Sing’s invisible face.

“Hitting you wouldn’t be enough.”

【Huh? What? Hm?】

“Isn’t violence fundamentally about seeing the other person’s pained expression? Throwing punches at you when you don’t even have a face would just tire me out.”

【Oh…. My darling has quite the twisted taste.】

He chattered about not knowing I had such intense preferences and needing time to prepare himself mentally, so I approached him closely.

“What are you exactly?”

I stopped abruptly at a distance where I could reach him with just a bow of my head.

He reflexively stepped back, then glanced at the wall and stopped.

Coming this close, he really was annoyingly tall to look up at.

Making such pointless observations, I quietly demanded once more.

“Show me your face, Sing.”

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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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