Mad Rosetta - Chapter 28

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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 28

A Spring Blossom with a Spicy Bite (2)

The contract’s terms were neither exceptionally favorable nor unfavorable.

It essentially boiled down to this: Benatra would advance payment for my dresses each season, and in exchange, my orders would take priority over all other commissions.

Even if Etienne’s Atelier was modest in size, I could easily infer that the monthly rent in the Capital City was substantial.

Thus, Benatra was using the seasonal payments to tempt her.

‘Surely she wouldn’t refuse to dress me even if I were on my deathbed, would she?’

Yet my anxiety stemmed largely from concerns about my own reputation.

It was only natural that renowned seamstresses desired famous patrons who could flawlessly showcase their designs.

However, I—currently known as a reckless villainess, a woman of volatile temperament, a master of makeshift solutions—was hardly suited to such a role.

‘Well, in a sense, I am famous, am I not? It’s just that my notoriety precedes me.’

I offered this petty rebuttal to myself, yet the fear of rejection lingered.

Ant Etuilane might well conclude that dressing me would offer little benefit to her reputation.

“May I sign now?”

“…Hmm? What?”

“Oh, no. I think I should read it through once more first.”

…What was Etienne doing?

Did she think it acceptable to leave my heart in turmoil and then simply pack her bag with such efficiency?

Unaware of how my spirits had plummeted, Etienne slung her bag over one shoulder and met my gaze.

“Then I shall see you in the Capital City, Princess.”

“…Bring me good news.”

Ant Etienne bowed deeply without offering any particular response to my bluntness.

Left with no choice, I commanded Vicky to escort her to the Main Gate.

With one final bow, Etienne departed through the doorway.

Observing her, I found myself thinking that she too lacked a particularly warm disposition.

“Lady.”

“…Ah, yes. We should be going soon.”

The moment Etienne was gone, Sara and Reina began subtly urging me along.

Since we had planned to take lunch together as a family in the Main Manor, I quickened my pace.

Yes, all together as a family.

As of yesterday, Odette’s confinement had ended.

* * *

【It seems to have been quite a shock.】

The moment I entered the Dining Hall, Sing murmured as much.

I too slowly took in the sight of Odette.

Indeed. For someone once called the very model of a noble lady, the mere word “confinement” might have inflicted considerable humiliation.

Having emerged from Lili Hall after so long, she appeared gaunt, as though she had abstained from food entirely.

In fact, on the several occasions I had sent Sing to check on her.

He reported that she had only concerned herself with checking for letters from Cessia or tending to her appearance—she had made little effort to eat properly.

“…It’s been so long, Sister. Your complexion seems to have improved.”

“How could that be, Bonita? I’ve been losing sleep night after night worrying about you cooped up in your room.”

I replied with composure and took my seat.

The truth was I’d been far too occupied scheming with Sing about how to deal with you and Lianna, conducting deep discussions late into the night.

Moreover, having been tormented these past days by the Dr. Drabe Beaumont affair, my face could hardly look better than before.

Odette had subtly mocked me, suggesting she must have felt quite relieved and pleased while I was confined.

For someone whose confinement had only just been lifted yesterday, she still possessed that characteristically reckless tongue.

“Bonita, you mustn’t do such things again. No matter how much you meant it for your ailing sister’s sake, matters of correspondence should be left to the parties involved.”

“…I’ll be more careful going forward, Father. I was thoughtless.”

“Good. That’s all that matters. Don’t burden yourself too much with guilt. Such a lovely face shouldn’t be marred by sorrow.”

Father spoke thus while urging Odette to eat more, pressing food upon her.

Did he realize I was inwardly voicing complaints at the sight of him?

【The Duke has lost his mind too.】

Sing’s eyes flashed beside me with exasperation.

【Listen here, Duke. Your daughter clearly belongs to this side. So why are you sitting there fretting over the wrong daughter’s marred complexion?】

…Sometimes I couldn’t tell if this fellow was mocking me or genuinely empathizing.

At his relentless barrage of scoffs—Ha! Truly! Preposterous!—directed at my father as an absurd spectacle, I could neither laugh nor cry.

“Speaking of which, how are the preparations for the Spring Stage progressing for both of you?”

“The dresses arrived from the Atelier just this morning, actually.”

“Coco, you’ve been so busy, yet you’ve sent your personal Maid on leave regardless. I did approve your earnest request, but are you truly certain it’s alright?”

“The other children are helping quite well. Please don’t worry too much.”

I smiled and replied to Father, who still seemed dissatisfied, his lips pursed in displeasure.

Penny had departed on a two-week leave.

‘Of course, it was merely a pretext.’

Though I had mentioned that she couldn’t observe or assist while I conducted research at House Beaumont, I found myself increasingly concerned about Marmint.

Thus, under the guise of a vacation, I arranged lodgings for Penny near the Capital City and requested that she visit the Household periodically.

By now, she was likely frequenting House Beaumont under the pretense of ‘Benatra’s follow-up.’

This was both encouragement for Marmint and a warning to House Beaumont.

As Benatra, I was investing considerable interest and effort into this contract, which meant results were absolutely necessary.

Therefore, if Marmint simply took a firmer stance, her family would not dare interfere with the research.

“Very well, if that’s your decision, just ensure it doesn’t hinder our preparations for Jedo.”

Father finished cutting his meat as he spoke.

Most of the Nobility typically stayed at the Capital Townhouse for extended periods during the social season.

However, Benitra Territory was not particularly distant from the Capital City.

Thus, we had scheduled our departure for a few days before the Spring Stage.

Thanks to this, Penny’s leave was approved relatively smoothly.

“By the way, I heard you had your dress tailored at the new Atelier. I’m quite curious what it will look like.”

“…Is that so?”

“Of course. Regardless of the seamstress’s name, you’ll carry off anything beautifully, Sister.”

After swallowing her food, Odette laughed softly.

‘Yes, yes, so you had your dress tailored at Chaitla… and naturally, I must look absolutely splendid in something from an atelier no one’s ever heard of.’

I may have spoken with a touch of sarcasm.

Yet soon enough, Odette lamented that her own dress was so extravagant she worried it might stand out too much.

Witnessing her distress, I knew my suspicion was correct.

But this was an opportunity for me.

“I must confess, Bonita, I’m rather envious. My own dress seems far too plain, and I’m at a loss for what to do about it…”

“Oh my, is that so? But with the Spring Stage, surely you cannot adorn yourself too lavishly with jewelry. How troublesome that must be for you.”

Sing rebuked Odette, his expression betraying no genuine sympathy for someone supposedly in distress.

I wanted to nod in agreement with his words, but what mattered now was not responding to Odette’s mockery.

‘I need to set the strings in motion.’

Penny, who had sold her title and become a commoner, had earned the Princess’s trust and become her personal Maid.

What would the Servants who witnessed this transformation think?

Moreover, with only that personal Maid being favored and entrusted with all important tasks, the Servants would surely seize any opportunity to demonstrate their own worth.

Thus, while Penny was away, Sara, Vicky, and Reina attended to me with the utmost devotion.

I had nothing to lose in gaining the support of these new Children.

The real challenge was uncovering evidence of the minions that Lianna and Odette had undoubtedly planted.

“…which is why I’m thinking of entrusting this task to the Servants this time. Their eye for detail doesn’t seem to be lacking, after all.”

“Hmm, it does seem that seeking the Children’s counsel on matters of adornment can be quite helpful.”

As Odette replied as if it were not a bad idea, I saw Lianna give a shallow nod as well.

Since I could no longer keep the Panilnia Flower at my side, they would surely be anxious that my reputation as a reckless fool might waver.

– “How shocked I was…. I never expected Lady Patra to do such a thing. However did you find out, Lady?”

In fact, Penny had shared a room with Patra, who had been Lianna’s Maid, for a single day before relaying this to me.

She appeared to have been quite shaken by the way Patra had attempted to elicit disparaging remarks about me.

It meant that whether my nervousness from Panilnia’s toxin remained effective was still an important matter to them.

In that regard, while I did occasionally lose my temper without warning, the marked decrease in such incidents would hardly please either of them.

‘I shall create the opportunity myself.’

If they planned to add insulting rumors about me, they would certainly not miss this Feast.

Then rather than prepare for their scheming, it would be better for me to construct the board myself and keep them moving only within it.

Watch now—I shall act in this manner.

And how will you exploit it?

A fox who hunts unaware of the trap will ultimately lose its limbs.

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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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