Mad Rosetta - Chapter 24

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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 24

Even When Watering a Sprout, One Must Be Careful (7)

Fortunately, it seemed she wasn’t hurt.

The child’s eyes didn’t seem to hold any resentment toward me.

Having composed her emotions over time, Marmint continued with a firm voice, her eyes wide open.

“Instead, independence can wait. Please resolve the research lab matter first.”p>

“…Why?”

“You said it would be my driving force. Promise that you’ll help me leave home after we successfully complete the deal.”

Look at this audacious little thing.

Sing marveled at how such an upright child could exist, saying the Empire had been wanting such talent.

He liked her spirit of wanting to receive proper compensation only after showing results.

On the other hand, I suddenly felt like a terrible person exploiting a child’s precarious situation for a deal, which made me feel quite awful.

‘No, that’s just how I’m putting it. But what if she really uses that as her driving force and asks for help later?’

Thinking it was such naive reasoning that only a child would have, I let out a sigh.

“Sigh… Since we’re on the topic. Don’t go around fulfilling everything just because you promised. What if the other party doesn’t intend to keep their word?”

“Were you planning not to keep it?”

“Ha! Benatra doesn’t make promises it can’t keep. Above all, remember that deals aren’t made with words.”

When Marmint urged me about what they were made with, I pulled out thick documents and a quill pen from the bag Penny had left behind.

“Listen here, child. Have you ever written a contract before?”

“…Huh?”

“Make sure to thoroughly examine whether there are any unfavorable clauses.”

A deal is something that documents prove, after all.

I spent time thoroughly teaching this child, who had never experienced a sense of reality, about the frightening nature of contracts.

In the end, I had to spend even more time disciplining the child who tried to carelessly stamp her seal out of exhaustion.

“Well, let’s wrap up the contract here… A letter from Benatra will arrive soon, so keep that in mind.”

“What kind of letter?”

“Didn’t I tell you? It was originally work entrusted to the Doctor.”

“You did…?”

“Hehe. Since the contract wasn’t properly fulfilled… appropriate damages will have to be compensated.”

The child didn’t need to know that this compensation would be enough to make the household finances reel.

To Marmint, who waved with a reluctant expression, I promised to show her an interesting spectacle soon before returning to my territory.

* * *

I met Marmint again three days later, in the reception room of my quarters.

“I sent a carriage thinking it might help with your long journey. I was worried whether there were any inconveniences.”

“Oh my, inconveniences? I can only be grateful for Benatra’s consideration.”

As expected of the Doctor’s son.

Gaylord Beaumont’s appearance, answering exactly like his father while fidgeting restlessly, made me laugh.

These people, who couldn’t find any composure, sitting in the reception room and only watching my expression, were quite entertaining to observe.

Even Marmint, who seemed very uncomfortable in this setting.

Compared to the attire I’d seen her in before, she was dressed formally.

‘By the way, they came quite quickly.’

On the day I made the deal with Marmint.

As soon as I returned to the manor, I sent a letter to her household.

Expressing condolences for the late Dr. Beaumont’s passing, and requesting a visit to the Benatra Estate at the earliest convenience to discuss the contract that had been concluded with the Doctor.

I even enclosed a copy of the contract written with the Doctor, so I had given sufficient notice.

As a result, five members of the Beaumont family were now sitting before my eyes.

“If, if it wouldn’t be rude, about the letter you sent us…”

“My, how impatient you are.”

“Ah, ahaha! Right? I was too hasty, wasn’t I?”

I drank my tea without answering affirmatively, and Gaylord’s face flushed red with shame.

Marmint seemed to either despise or be flustered by her adoptive father’s inability to speak before me.

Look, child. The one who looked down on you was such an insignificant creature.

With such thoughts, I kept the Doctor’s family seated before me while continuing trivial conversation, and only brought up the main topic when I could think of nothing more to say.

“Oh, I’ve talked too much about myself with such busy people here. The reason I invited the late Doctor’s family today is exactly as stated in the letter.”

“…”

“It’s truly sad that he has already left this world… Oh, bringing up such matters makes me uncomfortable too.”

Someone swallowed audibly.

Gaylord Beaumont’s wife, who anxiously looked only at him, and his children, who sat quietly despite not fully grasping the situation but sensing the atmosphere.

They were all entertaining to watch.

“As Mr. Gaylord has seen the documents, he should know, but here…”

“…”

“According to this contract, if the contract is terminated or ended due to Party B’s fault within the designated period, an amount equivalent to twice the contract fee of 50 million shillings received from Party A must be immediately paid to Party A as penalty.”

“…”

“I am Party A, Dr. Beaumont was Party B.”

That comes to 100 million shillings in total!

I smiled brightly, and Gaylord’s wife looked at her husband urgently as if urging him.

Gaylord then put down the documents he had been staring at intently, as if he wouldn’t be overwhelmed by my momentum, and spoke.

“We have something to say about that part as well.”

What a spiteful expression.

“Let’s hear it.”

“…How can you ask us to pay for what my father contracted? Moreover, demanding fulfillment of a contract with someone who has already passed away. This is unreasonable, my lady.”

“…For someone who knows how the Doctor passed away to say such things, I’m not sure how to respond.”

“Th-that’s-“

“It wasn’t an accident, was it?”

At the sharp, pointed question, Gaylord’s mouth shut tight.

Most contracts written as documents always specify certain parts.

Such as unavoidable circumstances that prevent contract fulfillment, for example, not claiming compensation when disasters due to natural calamities occur.

Though the inside story was different, the Doctor’s death as publicly known was clearly suicide, not an accident.

So Gaylord and the other bereaved family members had to pay the penalty without fail, even if only to inherit the deceased’s estate.

‘A grown man throwing such unreasonable tantrums.’

Whether he was swallowing his pride or just buying time to seek other alternatives.

Gaylord remained silent for a long while with his head deeply bowed, then appealed in a subdued voice.

“It’s difficult to prepare such a large sum right now. If you could give us some time…”

“I know the Beaumont reputation well. You speak words that are hard to trust.”

“I-it’s true! With several dependents, we barely make ends meet. Someone like you wouldn’t understand, my lady…”

I clicked my tongue at his disgusting excuses.

‘What about the clothes you’re wearing now, did you pick them up from the ground?’

For people who claimed to barely make ends meet, the expensive items they wore protested loudly.

In contrast, Marmint’s attire, sitting with her knees pressed together, was far inferior compared to the other children.

Such blatant discrimination.

It was truly nauseating.

【If only he’d cure his business addiction, he could have made ends meet several times over… A man with no trace of a family head’s dignity.】

Even Sing, sitting arrogantly with crossed legs beside me, clicked his tongue and criticized Gaylord.

As a result of thoroughly investigating the Doctor’s household, I learned that his family had quite considerable debts.

Every time wealth was accumulated through the reputation built in academic circles, his son Gaylord had squandered it all on business ventures.

It was understandable why Drabe Beaumont had been so obsessed with money.

‘Not to mention he has gambling debts too…’

Despite appearing wealthy on the surface, all the buildings Gaylord owned were ultimately debts, and he must have planned to reduce them with the Doctor’s inheritance he would soon receive.

I let out a long sigh as if troubled but having no choice.

“Since you seem so troubled… Very well, I’ll give you some time to consider.”

“Th-thank you! But how long…?”

“However, I must attach a condition.”

With those words, I looked at Marmint, whose expression showed she wanted nothing more than to run away right now.

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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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