Mad Rosetta - Chapter 21

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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

Chapter 21

Even a Seedling Deserves Careful Watering (4)

“You… surely you don’t mean… the dead Doctor told you that?”

【Correct.】

“Kyaaaah!”

I frantically wrapped the blanket around my entire body and swept my gaze across the surroundings.

The only ghost visible to my eyes was Sing!

The thought that other such beings might be wandering about this very room filled me with unspeakable dread.

‘This place is absolutely crawling with malevolent spirits! I need an exorcism, an exorcism!’

I raised a commotion, insisting that similar creatures were lurking about and demanding they be driven out at once.

At that, Sing chuckled with the weary resignation of an old man departing the mortal world.

【Calm yourself, darling. There is only me here.】

“You, you! You’re lying to reassure me, aren’t you! Admit it! Look, I’m getting goosebumps. Suddenly it’s cold—surely that’s not because you’re right beside me, is it? Tell me it isn’t!”

【Would I allow other beings to linger at your side? Compose yourself and sit properly.】

“Are you defending the ghosts now?”

What cruel fate demands I be wary not only of the living, but of spirits as well?

Lamenting my pitiful circumstances, I cautiously lowered the blanket.

Yet my eyes remained clouded with suspicion.

【Listen well, darling. Not all who die linger in the mortal realm as long as I do. Those who pass naturally dissipate within three days.】

“Why, why only three days?”

【I’m not entirely certain, but I suspect it relates to funeral rites. Every ghost I’ve encountered during my existence has lingered around the funeral proceedings before vanishing. It’s likely an ancient custom established through long history.】

If Sing spoke the truth, that was at least a relief.

Otherwise, I would have lived in constant terror with ghosts wandering about every single day.

While I steadied my thundering heart, he continued.

【The only clue we have regarding who killed the Doctor is this: they staged it as suicide and set the fire, just as you suspected. The lamp was merely a deception.】

“Ah, burn scars on the wrists, then…”

【There is good news, however. It seems we might be able to resolve the Panilnia poison.】

“How? Did the Doctor mention anything about his research?”

My eyes widened at Sing’s words.

That’s right—nothing in this world is truly useless.

As it turned out, ghosts could be helpful in life, even providing antidotes. Wasn’t that just how things worked?

I’m sorry for disparaging you, Doctor.

Forgive me for gossiping behind your back about your obsession with money in your twilight years, Dr. Beaumont!

【You saw it today too, didn’t you? That child who wept and caused a commotion before being expelled during the funeral.】

“Oh? Ah, yes, I did see. From what I heard, the Doctor adopted an orphan with no relatives. I didn’t think he seemed particularly compassionate, so it was quite surprising.”

【I saw through it. The adoption wasn’t simply out of pity for the child.】

“…What do you mean?”

【The child’s name is Maraint Beaumont. According to the records, she’s registered as the youngest daughter of Gaildo Beaumont, but in reality, she was the Doctor’s assistant.】

“…That little one was an assistant?”

At first glance, the child possessed such a diminutive frame that I doubted she could be more than twelve years old, even being generous with her age.

Yet such a small child had worked at Arcanis Academy, where brilliant minds gathered in abundance?

As an assistant to Dr. Dravu Beaumont, no less—a scholar ranked among the Empire’s top five in herbal medicine?

Confronted by my skeptical gaze, Sing tapped his fingernails dismissively and replied with indifference.

【Why, those so-called geniuses. That child was one of them, or so I heard. The adoption was decided for that reason.】

“She merely looked like some ill-mannered brat to me.”

【Which is precisely why, darling, I must tell you something that will likely infuriate you. You’ve backed the wrong person.】

What do you mean by that?

I thought I’d heard every absurdity and witnessed every oddity today.

So much information flooded in at once that my temples throbbed painfully, and I couldn’t help but grimace.

Sing observed my expression for a moment, then cautioned me not to raise my voice, no matter how angry I became.

【You wouldn’t want the inn staff knocking on the door, would you?】

“Fine, I understand.”

Honestly, anyone watching would think I was some temperamental princess who grew irritated at the mere sight of a fallen leaf on the street.

【For years now, nearly all the papers and medicinal materials Dr. Beaumont published were achievements accomplished by a child named Marmint.】

“….”

【In other words, the Doctor lived quite comfortably by exploiting your investment funds through that child.】

“…Where is that damned old fool now?”

【Ha, he’s dead, I’m told.】

“Argh! This is absolutely infuriating!”

I withdrew a handful of my money like a con artist and beat the blanket mercilessly, as though confronting a dead doctor.

The fact that the Doctor had already died at someone else’s hands grated on me.

A wretch like that shouldn’t have simply perished—his crimes should have been exposed to the world, and I myself should have personally sent him to the Underground Prison!

Just as my frustration refused to dissipate even through violence, a sudden thought struck me: perhaps this was a blessing in disguise.

“That’s right. What truly matters isn’t the decrepit old fool who’s already gone. The real issue is that there was someone else capable of creating the antidote….”

I needed to think clearly.

How had Father handled it when he was swindled?

To recover the investment funds that had vanished without a trace, he’d taken the con artist’s family members hostage.

Then he’d hunted down the responsible party and forced them to their knees before him.

“Hehehehe, ufufufu….”

【Darling, you’re smiling rather wickedly.】

“Tomorrow marks the fourth day of the funeral, so there will be a service attended only by family, won’t there?”

【Yes, I suppose so?】

“Given the temperament of the child I saw today, she’ll either attend the service or linger near the Monastery?”

【I see what you’re thinking, darling. But what about Lianna?】

“Remarkably, she’s having lunch with her father tomorrow.”

Sing nodded in understanding, and I stretched out contentedly, eager for tomorrow’s arrival.

There was one Faceless Ghost who found amusement in observing how Darling’s moods shifted so unpredictably, and who teased me about it.

Since the information I’d gathered today proved exceptionally useful, I appreciated it and listened to the spirit’s idle jests without complaint before drifting to sleep.

Just wait a little longer, little one.

* * *

“Are you truly certain you can go alone? I confess, I am rather worried about this.”

“Sigh, honestly… If it weren’t for the dress situation, I could have attended the luncheon with you. What a shame.”

I furrowed my brow in irritation, pressing my fingers against my temples.

I had just informed Lianna of my intention to rush to Etienne’s Atelier in the Capital City, citing my dissatisfaction with the final design concept for the upcoming Ball gown.

She had watched me gnash my teeth, insisting I would not entrust such work to a novice seamstress and that I would thoroughly tear apart whatever she produced—and she had smiled with a peculiar delight.

“I do wish you had commissioned your dress from the same place as our Bonita, Rosetta. Now that it’s too late to change, what a predicament you find yourself in.”

“Indeed. I suppose I should have simply followed Father’s suggestion to entrust it to Ceitela House from the start.”

“Hehe, but do not be too harsh with the seamstress. Everyone has their limits, and I suspect she is the one most distressed by this.”

That supposedly incompetent seamstress of mine—in two years’ time, my daughter would be wearing her creations without pause.

Yet I could not speak this truth aloud, so I merely grumbled as daughters do when they pout.

“You are far too lenient with the servants, Mother.”

At that, Lianna laughed softly and instructed me to complete my business and return to the Estate immediately once my schedule was finished.

I personally saw Lianna off, waving my hand until Benitra’s Carriage disappeared from view—then my expression hardened.

“…Unfortunately for her, my seamstress is doing her work quite excellently.”

Was it just recently?

In a letter from the Atelier, Etienne had informed me that she had completed all the seaming work and only the embellishments remained to be attached.

Since I had long ago reviewed the final design concept and ordered her to proceed, all that remained for me was to try on the dress that the vanguard of fashion would present to me.

“Penny, summon a hotel attendant.”

“Yes, I shall return shortly!”

Today, there was only one destination.

I summoned a carriage and headed toward the Monastery I had visited yesterday.

On the final third day of the funeral proceedings, only the deceased’s family and the priest conducting the rites were permitted entry, so I wondered if I would have to wait outside for quite some time.

“…Found her.”

At the Main Gate of the Monastery, I spotted the same small head of pale blue hair as yesterday.

Still dressed in mourning clothes that looked little better than burlap, the child was merely poking at the bare earth with the tips of her toes.

Her pale blue hair was quite lovely, though it appeared to lack proper care.

It was Maraint Beaumont.

‘Ah, I suppose the Doctor’s surname is no longer necessary now?’

Setting aside such trivial thoughts, I slowly approached Maraint.

“Hello?”

I hoped to have a conversation with this girl.

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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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