Mad Rosetta - Chapter 29

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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 29

A Spring Blossom With a Bitter Edge (3)

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Creak—

In the depths of the dark night, a door on the third floor of Rose Manor opened and closed with the faintest of sounds.

It was one of the rooms where Rosetta’s three servants resided.

Amid the surrounding darkness, her movements were cautious beyond measure—like a cat fleeing swiftly after stealing its prey.

From east to west.

She finally knocked on the second-floor door of Lili Hall, where Odette would be.

The door opened at once, and light that had been seeping through the crack now illuminated the surroundings brightly.

“…Welcome, Vicky.”

“I apologize for calling at such a late hour, Lady.”

“Vicky, there’s no need for such formality. There would be no other opportunity to visit at any other time, would there?”

Odette had finished her preparations for bed and was having her hair brushed by her maid.

She offered her greeting through the mirror, still facing away.

“So, what brings our dear Vicky here tonight?”

“…Rosetta asked me to recommend jewelry for her to wear at the Spring Stage. I selected an Arkoson pearl necklace from Marandranché and was instructed to keep it ready.”

“I see. Standing out too much at a debut would appear frivolous, after all. Besides, even if Rosetta simply sat still, she wouldn’t draw excessive attention.”

“Yes, you speak truly, Lady.”

“I’m truly worried about this. Sister needs peace of mind, yet she suddenly insists on attending the feast. Hasn’t she been leaving Vicky and the other children alone lately?”

Vicky hesitated for a moment, uncertain how to respond to Odette’s question.

– “You’ve all worked hard.”

– “I’ve arranged for your supper in the kitchen. Go and eat.”

That day when she and Marahan had eagerly cleaned Rosetta’s chaotic room.

Vicky had sensed something different about her, but she chose to dismiss it as mere imagination.

The mischievous behavior she had witnessed and the grievances the attendants had voiced remained vivid in her memory.

– “I hope you’ll look after Sister Rosetta well by her side, Vicky. It will be difficult, I know… but Sister tends toward dangerous behavior if no one watches over her. Understood?”

Thus, Vicky had volunteered as Rosetta’s servant upon Odette’s instruction, and had worked tirelessly to earn her trust.

Yet as time passed…

Rosetta, while maintaining a somewhat stern demeanor, did not seem to be someone prone to mischief over trivial matters.

Of course, occasionally she would grab her own head and cry out, or when angered, she would abruptly dismiss the attendants from her room—so her temperament still seemed unchanged.

“…Especially lately, without Penny Haffner, she seems particularly sensitive.”

Yet even this, Vicky chose to deliberately overlook.

At this, Odette displayed a radiant smile despite the late hour.

Vicky could only conclude that her own judgment had been correct.

“Ah, Michelle?”

Odette then called to the Maid who had been combing her hair.

Michelle promptly entered deeper into Odette’s room, and soon emerged carrying a small box no larger than a palm.

She opened it before Vicky’s eyes.

Faintly glimmering powder revealed itself, contained within a tiny glass vial.

“It’s a powder used in ancient times. They say it’s so potent that skin irritation appears immediately.”

“I see….”

“Would you dust this onto the jewelry Rosetta will be wearing?”

“This…? If I do that….”

“Yes, a rash will break out that very day, and she won’t be able to attend the feast. Even if she insists on going, the itching will force her to return immediately.”

“….”

“I didn’t want to resort to such methods with Rosetta, but I can’t bear to see her humiliated at the Imperial Palace. If that were to happen, my heart would break.”

You can do this, can’t you, Vicky?

All Vicky could offer in response to Odette’s question was an affirmative nod.

Wasn’t her own household currently living in relative comfort thanks to Odette’s support?

If the day came when she could stand beside Odette like that maid, she would surely gain honor beyond measure.

When Vicky agreed with what seemed like solemn resolve, Odette smiled with satisfaction.

“If it’s a Marandranché product, it should come as a set with earrings, so you’ll want to dust it on those as well. The rash will only appear where the jewelry touches, so she’ll think it’s a product defect and lodge a complaint with the shop.”

In that case, the shop would merely produce a certificate of quality, and the situation would likely be resolved without further incident, Odette added reassuringly.

“I can’t tell you how much peace of mind it gives me to have you by my side, Vicky.”

“…I am honored to be able to serve Bonita.”

“Hehe, you have such elegant words, Vicky. I’m sorry for calling you out at such a late hour. Go home carefully now.”

Seeing Odette’s graceful gesture, Vicky bowed her head and made her way toward Rose Manor.

Her hand clutching the thick shawl gripped the powder vial firmly.

Anxious that someone might discover her wandering the Duke’s Mansion in the dead of night, Vicky hurried along with a nervous heart.

Finally returning to her room, Vicky felt relieved that no one had caught her, and immediately locked the door firmly behind her.

“Where should I hide this…”

But who could have known?

That invisible beings often followed in the footsteps of servants who slipped out in secret, and sometimes watched through walls themselves.

Sing only returned to Rosetta’s room after confirming that Vicky had finally placed the empty bottle inside her pillowcase.

“How did it go?”

Rosetta yawned as if dying of drowsiness, shuffling toward him with heavy steps.

So Sing decided to deliver news that would satisfy her.

* * *

“Yes, only Vicky alone…”

【The other ladies departed for dreamland long ago.】

Sing settled onto the sofa and answered as if it were nothing remarkable.

Ever since we decided to actively search for the Epsilon Mother and Daughter’s agent among the three servants, Sing had ventured out from my room every night.

I continued my surveillance, watching how they behaved when I wasn’t looking, checking for any suspicious movements.

And it wasn’t long before we caught our culprit.

Sara, Vicky, Reina.

Among these three, only Vicky was observed regularly visiting Lili Hall.

【At this point, shouldn’t we exclude Sara and Reina from suspicion?】

“I think that would be best. Besides, those two never selected any accessories from Marandranché.”

I replied as such, and with sleight of hand, I retrieved the box from Drandri Jewelers that I had hidden away in the Wardrobe.

Inside lay the pearl necklace from Marandranché and Ceramimi’s diamond necklace, densely studded with morganite stones.

‘Looking at them again, the counterfeits really do imitate the originals well…’

They were forgeries I had commissioned with Penny some time ago.

At first, I had been anxious about what moves they might make to ruin my Spring Stage debut.

I was even worried that their sharp hands might reach toward Etienne’s dress.

So then, wouldn’t it be simple to give them choices?

– “Vicky? From watching you all this time, it seems your eye for taste is the finest. So I’d like you to choose the accessories I’ll wear at the Spring Stage.”

I smiled softly and showed Vicky the two necklaces.

In truth, I hadn’t given her the choice alone.

During my all-night discussions with her, if any other child besides Vicky continued suspicious behavior, even Sing wouldn’t be able to confirm it.

So to prepare for any contingency, I had all three servants choose accessories.

As a result, Vicky recommended the pearl necklace, while the other two servants recommended the diamond necklace.

‘I never expected her to choose Marandranché’s accessories so openly.’

I was once called the Rose of the Empire.

The Duke’s Estate servant, who could not have been unaware of that symbolism, showed a stark difference between the two accessories—passing over the rose-hued jewel and recommending the coral-toned necklace instead.

Moreover, because it clashed so distinctly with the pure white dress, it meant she harbored that much animosity toward me.

【So what will you do now? Your younger sister herself handed the evidence to the servant. You’ll have to wait until she actually wears it.】

“Well, since the day I ascend to Jedo isn’t far off, I have no intention of causing a commotion just yet. What did you say the powder was called?”

【According to Odette’s account, the time it takes for the skin rash to appear seems quite fast.】

“Where on earth is she getting all this information from?”

Perhaps only those born to wickedness could commit such deeds.

Even though she moves within my plans, the schemes Odette attempts to orchestrate make my blood run cold.

How does she even know of—much less acquire—things like Panilnia Flower, which I’ve never heard of, or that powder which caused skin poisoning and was discontinued long ago?

“…It’s not enough.”

【What?】

“Simply ending the Spring Stage and declaring ‘you’ve confessed your crimes!’ feels insufficient. My anger won’t settle.”

I wanted the world to know that the greatest villainess was not me, but Odette.

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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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