Mad Rosetta - Chapter 28

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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 28

 

Too Spicy for a Spring Flower (2)

 

The contract’s contents weren’t particularly good or bad.

 

It could be summarized as ‘Benitra will make advance payments for my seasonal dresses in exchange for prioritizing them over other custom orders.’

 

Even though Etienne’s Atelier was small, being located in the capital meant the rent was considerable, which I could guess.

 

So I was trying to entice her with the seasonal payments from Benitra.

 

‘She wouldn’t refuse just because she dislikes the idea of me wearing her designs even if I die soon, would she?’

 

Still, the reason I was anxious with worry was largely due to my reputation problem.

 

It was natural psychology for renowned tailors to want famous figures who could perfectly showcase their designs.

 

However, the current me, called a scoundrel villainess, with a terrible temperament, and a master of causing trouble, was completely unsuitable as such a famous figure.

 

‘No, in some sense I am a famous figure, aren’t I? Just with a notorious reputation.’

 

Though I tried to argue petulantly in my mind, I was still anxious about being rejected.

 

From Ant Etienne’s perspective, she might think having me wear her work wouldn’t be particularly helpful.

 

“Can I sign it now?”

 

“…Hm, what?”

 

“Ah, no. I should read it more thoroughly first.”

 

…Miss Etienne, really?

 

After making my heart flutter like this, was she just going to pack her bags efficiently and leave?

 

Unaware of my feelings that had instantly plummeted, Miss Etienne shouldered her bag and met my eyes.

 

“Then I’ll see you in the capital, Princess.”

 

“…Bring good news.”

 

Ant Etienne bowed low without any particular response to my brazenness.

 

I had no choice but to order Vicky to escort her to the main gate.

 

Miss Etienne bowed once more before leaving through the doorway.

 

Looking at her, I thought she really didn’t have a particularly gentle personality either.

 

“Lady.”

 

“…Ah, right. Let’s go too.”

 

As soon as I sent Miss Etienne away, Sara and Reina subtly urged me.

 

Today’s lunch was supposed to be eaten together with the family in the main manor, so I hurried my steps.

 

Right, together with the family.

 

As of yesterday, Odette’s confinement had ended.

 

* * *

 

【It must have been quite a shock.】

 

As soon as I entered the dining hall, Sing muttered that.

 

I too slowly took in Odette’s appearance.

 

Right. For Odette, who had been called the model of a noble lady, even the word ‘confinement’ alone might have felt like tremendous humiliation.

 

Having come out of Lili Hall after so long, she looked quite gaunt, as if she had truly refused all food and drink.

 

Actually, when I had sent Sing several times to check on Odette.

 

She told me that Odette only checked if letters had come from Cessia or tended to her appearance, but didn’t particularly care about meals.

 

“…It’s been a while, sister. Your face looks even better.”

 

“That can’t be, Bonita. I was so worried about you being confined to your room that I lost sleep many nights.”

 

I replied calmly and took my seat.

 

Actually, I was quite busy having in-depth all-night discussions with Sing about how to deal with you and Lianna?

 

Moreover, having been tormented for several days regarding the Dr. Beaumont incident, my face couldn’t possibly look better than before.

 

Odette subtly sneered that I must have been comfortable and pleased while she was confined.

 

For someone whose confinement had just ended yesterday, her mouth was still as thoughtless as ever.

 

“Bonita, don’t do such things in the future either. No matter how much it was for your sick sister, others’ correspondence should be left to the person concerned.”

 

“…I’ll be careful in the future, Father. I was thoughtless.”

 

“Good…If you’ve reflected, that’s enough. So don’t worry too much about it. Your pretty face has become so haggard.”

 

Father said this while encouraging Odette to eat more food.

 

Did he know that I was inwardly grumbling at his behavior?

 

【The Duke isn’t in his right mind either.】

 

Sing’s eyes flashed beside me as if he found it absurd.

 

【Look here, Duke. Your daughter is clearly this one. So why are you sitting there worrying about the wrong daughter’s haggard face?】

 

…I can never tell if this guy is teasing me or empathizing well.

 

At his criticism of my father, spouting things like “Really!” “Honestly!” “Good grief!” as if it were truly an outrageous sight, I could neither laugh nor cry.

 

“Speaking of which. Are you both preparing well for the spring debut?”

 

“Actually, a dress came from the atelier this morning.”

 

“Coco, you insisted on sending your personal maid on vacation during such a busy time… I did approve it since you earnestly requested it, but will you really be alright?”

 

“The other girls are helping me well. Don’t worry too much.”

 

I smiled and answered Father, who still seemed quite displeased and was pursing his lips.

 

Penny had left for a two-week vacation.

 

‘Though it’s an excuse, of course.’

 

She said she couldn’t watch over or help during the research at the Beaumont household. But I was somehow concerned about Marmint.

 

So I arranged lodging for Penny near the capital under the pretext of vacation, and requested that she visit that household periodically.

 

By now, she would probably be going in and out of the Beaumont household under the name of ‘Benitra’s urging.’

 

This was both encouragement sent to Marmint and a warning to the Beaumont household.

 

It meant that I, a Benitra, was taking very great interest and effort in this contract, so they should naturally bring results.

 

Therefore, if Marmint could just be a little more assertive, the family wouldn’t be able to interfere with the research.

 

“Well, if you say so. Just make sure there’s no hindrance to preparing for the journey to Jedo.”

 

Father said this while continuing to cut his meat.

 

Most nobles would stay long in their townhouses in the capital during the social season.

 

But Benitra Territory wasn’t far from the capital.

 

So we scheduled to depart a few days before the spring debut.

 

Thanks to this, Penny’s vacation could be approved relatively smoothly.

 

“Come to think of it, sister, I heard you’re having yours made at a new atelier? I’m very curious what kind of dress it will be.”

 

“…Is that so?”

 

“Of course. Sister, regardless of the tailor’s reputation, you’d look good in anything you wear.”

 

After swallowing her food, Odette smiled quietly.

 

‘Right, right, you had your dress made at Chaitla… And mine from some unheard-of atelier would suit me so well.’

 

I might have heard it sarcastically.

 

But soon Odette groaned that she was worried her dress might be too flashy and stand out instead.

 

Seeing her like that, I knew my thoughts were correct.

 

However, this was an opportunity for me.

 

“That’s rather enviable, Bonita. Mine seems too plain, I don’t know what to do…”

 

“Oh my, is that so? Since it’s the spring debut, you can’t make your accessories too flashy either. That’s quite troublesome.”

 

Sing criticized Odette, saying she didn’t look at all like someone empathizing with a troubled person.

 

I wanted to nod in agreement with his words, but what was important now wasn’t responding to Odette’s sarcasm.

 

‘I need to make the informant move.’

 

Penny, who had sold her title to become a commoner, had gained the princess’s trust to become her personal maid.

 

What would a servant think seeing this process?

 

Moreover, since only that personal maid was favored and given all the important tasks, the servants would only wait for times when they could show their presence.

 

So while Penny was away, Sara, Vicky, and Reina were taking care of me with utmost devotion.

 

It wouldn’t be bad for me to gain support from new girls either.

 

The problem was finding evidence of the minions that mother and daughter – whether Lianna or Odette – had obviously planted.

 

“…So this time I’m thinking of leaving it to the servants. The girls seem to have decent taste.”

 

“Hmm, when it comes to dressing up, getting advice from the girls is indeed helpful.”

 

When Odette replied as if it wasn’t a bad idea, I could see Lianna also nodding slightly.

 

Since they could no longer keep the Panilnia Flower by my side, they would be worried that my scoundrel reputation might waver.

 

– “I was so shocked… I really had no idea Lady Patra would do such a thing. How on earth did you know, Lady?”

 

Indeed, Penny had shared this after spending a day using the same room as Patra, who had been Lianna’s maid.

 

She seemed quite shocked by Patra’s behavior in trying to induce gossip about me.

 

This meant that whether my irritability due to Panilnia’s toxicity was still effective was an important matter to them.

 

In that regard, while I did occasionally lose my temper suddenly, the fact that such incidents had noticeably decreased would not be welcome news to those two.

 

‘I shall graciously create an opportunity for them.’

 

If they planned to add insulting rumors about me, there was no way they would miss this banquet.

 

Then rather than preparing for their schemes, it would be better for me to set up the game directly and make them move only within it.

 

Look, this is how I will act.

 

So how will you utilize this?

 

The fox that comes out to hunt without knowing it’s a trap will ultimately lose its limbs.

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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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