Mad Rosetta - Chapter 26

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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 26

Even When Watering a Sprout Once, You Must Be Careful (9)

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“…Getting all high and mighty.”

“…”

“Do we have to wait for the likes of you?”

Inside the running carriage.

True to his twisted nature, nasty words spewed from the mouth of Gaildo’s second son, Bargo, aimed at Marmint.

A fellow who couldn’t inherit the family business since he wasn’t the eldest, and wasn’t particularly scholarly like his grandfather either.

Thus Bargo was currently barely on the verge of graduating from the Academy.

“If you’re living off others’ charity, you should know your place. What’s the point of doing anything with someone who’s obviously never drafted a contract before, really…”

“…”

Benitra’s troublesome burden, they said, and I can see why.”

Bargo’s relentless slander moved beyond Marmint to target Rosetta, but neither Gaildo nor his mother Marin made any effort to stop him.

They seemed uncomfortable with the current situation where their immediate welfare depended on young Marmint, showing their displeasure.

Or perhaps their petty pride wouldn’t allow them to suddenly be friendly to Marmint, whom they had been busy mistreating all this time.

‘What has he ever written?’

Marmint recalled Rosetta, who had told her not to think that people would make favorable contracts just because she was a child, and had thoroughly trained her.

So she thought to herself that stupid Bargo wasn’t one to talk.

“You don’t really believe what they say about the Princess having high expectations for you, do you?”

“…Are you saying the Princess was lying then?”

“What? Has this one gone mad.”

In his fury, Bargo glared with ghostly eyes.

Marmint’s original personality wasn’t particularly docile.

And that was a fact they had known for some time.

However, Marmint had spent several years living with the Beaumont Household, and despite protesting unfair treatment countless times, she had faced their unchanging attitude.

So out of exhaustion, she had simply lived a life of acceptance.

No matter what she did, it was obvious that she would never win their favor.

If that was the case, wouldn’t it be better to speak her mind before getting cursed at anyway? Marmint thought cynically.

At the sight of Marmint glaring back again, the finally angered Bargo continued his criticism.

“You should know that the Princess only commissioned you because you helped grandfather’s research. This is why uneducated people get uppity so quickly…! You need to know your place! Do you really think you’re something special to be entrusted with such an important task?”

“…If you disliked it so much, why didn’t you make me stop the research long ago and do it yourself instead? I’m sick and tired of medicines and manufacturing too!”

“What, what?”

“Ah, that’s right… Second brother barely got into the Academy, didn’t you? I suddenly remember how disappointed the Doctor was.”

Marmint’s sarcasm hit exactly at the inferiority complex Bargo had harbored toward her all along.

Drabu Beaumont had hoped for someone among his children or grandchildren who would show talent in academics like himself.

He had been pleased with Bargo, who had boasted since childhood that he would become a great scholar like his grandfather.

However, when Bargo later failed to meet expectations, what he received from his grandfather was ultimately a look mixed with disappointment and displeasure.

– “This is a child who will help me and live with us in this household from now on.”

So a few years ago, when he saw the child who shyly showed her face, led by his grandfather’s hand.

The displeasure Bargo felt was indescribable.

Bargo was greatly shocked by Drabu’s casual remark that he had taken her in because she showed exceptional talent in herbalism.

It was a clear sense of betrayal.

“…This one really!”

Bargo’s anger, which he couldn’t express to his grandfather, was ultimately directed at innocent Marmint.

As Bargo finally raised his palm in the air, Marmint reflexively squeezed her eyes shut.

– “Never be discouraged. Never.”

However, Marmint soon opened her tightly closed eyes wide and shouted out loud.

Because she remembered someone’s advice, like a reprimand, telling her to always be ready to bite back at them.

“Don’t hit me!”

When Marmint pulled her body forward and shouted angrily, Bargo’s hand flinched.

Marmint’s small fist, clenched desperately, was trembling.

Even though she looked like she might burst into tears at any moment, Marmint no longer kept her gaze lowered in front of them.

“Don’t hit me, I said. And don’t speak rudely to me either!”

“This, this one has lost her mind…”

“If you were going to act like this, why didn’t you say absolutely not when the Princess made her proposal? Turn the carriage around even now! And pay whatever penalty fee!”

“Ma, Marmint you! How dare you speak to your brother like that!”

Gaildo, unable to stand it anymore, shouted what he called a scolding, but it was entirely about being rude to his son.

Even in this situation, Bargo whined to his mother saying “Mother, I think she’s finally gone crazy,” despite being of adult age, constantly pointing fingers at Marmint.

To Marmint, such scenes looked truly pathetic.

‘…Really disgusting.’

Yes, they were pathetic.

When Marmint, who was smaller in build and height than her peers, stood up, their appearance seemed sky-high and terrifyingly intimidating.

So naturally, she thought her words wouldn’t reach them.

But now it was different.

The carriage was cramped, and everyone was sitting, so there was no need to look up.

Facing them directly, it was simply amazing that such a vile and pathetic family could exist.

“Why? Are you worried about having to bear the penalty fee if you actually say no? You’ve been constantly thinking about when to get rid of me… Do you need me now?”

“How, how can you say such things… We’re already family, Marmint.”

“Who gives a warehouse as a room to family?”

“That was, because there wasn’t a suitable small room in the house… If you were upset, you should have said so at the time.”

At Marmint’s seemingly angry behavior, Gaildo, perhaps feeling a sense of crisis, made shabby excuses.

Such things couldn’t possibly reach a child who had lived as an unwanted burden for several years.

“Ha! What would have changed if I had spoken up?”

Marmint immediately snorted.

The warehouse where miscellaneous items were stored was really small and had severe drafts.

So in winter, rather than shivering from the cold and thinking she might freeze to death, she spent more nights at the Academy Research Room desk.

– “Since it’s been natural all this time, they might look for various reasons to treat you carelessly and look down on you.”

Rosetta’s words were right, Marmint thought.

These people would try to appease her but would never apologize.

What could she expect from people who wouldn’t even try to please her?

This was treatment worse than that given to a pet dog.

– “If they threaten you asking if you’ll be okay without me, and if someone tries to humiliate you, look down on them instead. Make them realize that no one can treat you carelessly.”

Marmint recalled Rosetta’s words again.

Dialogue rather than threats, empathy rather than looking down on others.

That was the virtue Marmint had learned from the Orphanage Director, and the way to live proudly before oneself.

Even now she agreed with the Director’s beliefs, but overlapping Rosetta’s advice with the Beaumont Household people before her, Marmint realized one thing.

Sometimes threats to bite back are more effective than appeals.

Understanding and listening.

Such things only worked with people who regarded you as an equal.

“…Fine. If I hope for change now, I’ll just look more foolish. Just don’t interfere with my work.”

So Marmint smiled quite bitterly.

“Hey, Marmint! The way you’re talking is just…”

“Excuse me, lady!”

“Wha, what. What are you…”

It would have been better if she had kept her mouth shut the whole time.

Mrs. Marin, who had been stroking Bargo’s back, finally tried to say something, but was startled and shrugged her shoulders at Marmint’s booming voice.

With a crude form of address, as if calling a passerby.

Unable to believe that she had been called that way by Marmint, who had always only watched her mood, her face turned red with shame.

But Marmint paid no mind and continued speaking irritably.

“I wasn’t finished talking yet. Why do you keep interrupting me when I’m speaking?”

“You, you…!”

“What, are you upset? You’re the one who told me never to even think about calling you mother.”

So she had simply found another way to address her, Marmint replied in succession.

At the child’s behavior, Mrs. Marin wore an expression of shock, but couldn’t manage any particular response.

– “Oh my, child! Who said I was your mother? Don’t you dare call me that anywhere, not even by mistake!”

That was the scolding Marmint heard on the first and last day she ever called her mother.

Eyebrows raised high in displeasure. When she saw those thin lips twisted just like Bargo’s, Marmint couldn’t lift her face from shame.

It was because she realized how foolish she had been, intoxicated by the joy of having a family.

So even now, she thought it only made sense to treat them like strangers in return.

“Honestly, penalty fees, contracts… none of that has anything to do with me, does it?”

Very thoroughly, at that.

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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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