Mad Rosetta - Chapter 34

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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 34

 

Too Spicy for a Spring Flower (8)

 

In fact, if I had been this sick while staying in Jedo, I probably would have risked having my Debut Tante attendance canceled due to Father’s persistent concerns.

 

‘Damn, I didn’t know it would hurt this much…’

 

I had courageously drunk the antidote.

 

Seeing Father’s anxious state, I felt nothing but guilt for causing him such worry.

 

Even Sing, perhaps out of consideration for the patient, said nothing and simply leaned against the window frame watching me.

 

‘Well, he’s not a guy who’s completely thrown away his manners.’

 

With that thought, I closed my drowsy eyes.

 

* * *

 

“…Are you really going to do this?”

 

“Yeah, I’m going to do this.”

 

Of course, in less than a few hours, I had to exhaust all my energy in an argument with Penny.

 

I woke from my deep sleep because Penny had been persistently bothering me.

 

She wasn’t normally a child who would carelessly disturb her master’s sleep.

 

Penny pointed to the bowl and tried to coax and cajole me.

 

“You’re so sick, so why on earth won’t you take your medicine!”

 

Then Penny finally raised her eyebrows high and shrieked at me.

 

‘…To think I’m getting lectured at my age for not taking medicine.’

 

Though it was somewhat embarrassing, I didn’t even want to look at the medicine the physician had sent.

 

And for good reason – who knows what kind of reaction it might cause when mixed with the antidote Marmint had made for me?

 

I stubbornly kept my lips sealed and declared I wouldn’t take it.

 

Then Penny, as if she had no choice, tried to force the medicine on me along with the other servants.

 

Despite my sick body, I had to throw a tantrum like a seven-year-old child refusing bitter medicine.

 

“Lady, why are you being like this! We’re really upset!”

 

But I was still too weak against Penny.

 

Her voice was filled with moisture at the end as she spoke with an expression of utter misery.

 

I had no choice but to send all the other children out except Penny, worried she might cry.

 

“You’re usually so perceptive, but today you’re being particularly stubborn. Don’t you think there’s a reason I’m saying I won’t take it?”

 

“…What reason?”

 

“Didn’t Marmint come by, Penny?”

 

Ugh, it’s damn cold. Really.

 

Even in the midst of this, I pulled the blanket up to my neck and spoke again.

 

“You haven’t forgotten that I commissioned that child to make medicine, have you?”

 

“Oh, then…”

 

Penny finally seemed to understand what I was talking about.

 

She also didn’t know that what I had commissioned from Marmint was an antidote to neutralize a specific poison.

 

She only knew it was medicine to restore energy and soothe frayed nerves, so I thought she would be sufficiently convinced.

 

“Si-si-side effects, right? Oh no, what should we do? I should send an urgent message to House Beaumont right away…!”

 

“No…!”

 

Though this development was unexpected.

 

‘Huff, huff. My head is really spinning.’

 

I almost fainted again, so I closed my eyes completely and murmured quietly.

 

“I was already told this would happen when the medicine takes effect. So Penny, you understand why I’m refusing that medicine, right?”

 

“…You’re not really doing this just because you hate taking medicine, are you?”

 

Hey, I may look like this, but I’m nineteen years old.

 

I was even married once, you know?

 

My head was foggy and I felt like I might faint at any moment, so I just nodded instead of answering.

 

Fortunately, Penny didn’t ask any more questions and quietly soaked the medicine with a handkerchief to dispose of it before withdrawing.

 

Only then could I rest comfortably alone.

 

【Groaning and suffering like this… doesn’t put me in a good mood.】

 

Strictly speaking, I wasn’t alone.

 

Sing sat perched on the small bedside chair where Father had been sitting earlier and muttered.

 

【What were you thinking, gulping down unverified medicine like that? Hm? Darling. You almost got seriously hurt.】

 

“…You knew today was the right time too. Ah, my head is ringing, so tone down the nagging a bit.”

 

【Still, acting recklessly without knowing what symptoms might appear was too much, darling.】

 

He said this while stroking my forehead once.

 

He was probably referring to when I fainted while heading toward the desk.

 

‘That… I’m a bit sorry about that.’

 

But who would have known I’d suddenly lose consciousness like that? I was barely holding onto my sanity even now to give a lengthy response.

 

Perhaps noticing this, Sing covered my eyes with his large hands, saying sleep was the best medicine.

 

That series of touches was quite affectionate, making me feel considerably reassured.

 

Lianna too, and Odette as well.

 

I thought they might be pleased to hear that I was bedridden like this, just before the day to go up to the capital.

 

‘I’m not sick, I’m in the process of recovering…’

 

In my fading consciousness.

 

I closed my eyes again after Sing’s quiet whisper asking if he should sing me a lullaby.

 

I thought I heard the sound of the door opening and closing intermittently, and his voice saying something.

 

But after that, I had to spend another full day just sleeping.

 

The touch of someone constantly brushing away the hair that clung damply to my neck from sweat was a small comfort.

 

* * *

 

The dusky blue light was particularly quiet, making the chirping of birds starting their day even more audible.

 

From dawn to morning.

 

Reina, who had just entered her third month as Rosetta’s servant, was hurrying to her master’s room with a fresh wet towel.

 

“Ah, I’m sleepy… Why did Lady suddenly get sick and cause all this fuss?”

 

Due to the Lady suddenly suffering from high fever since yesterday evening, Penny and the servants had been taking turns visiting Rosetta’s room.

 

Reina was also walking down the corridor as usual to perform her assigned duties.

 

“If she’s this sick, she might not be able to go up to Jedo…”

 

She muttered to herself out of loneliness.

 

She had secretly wanted to see Rosetta wearing a Spring Stage dress, so she thought it was disappointing.

 

– “Lady Rosetta is recruiting a new servant to attend to her. You may apply regardless of age or family background, so those who are interested…”

 

When Marahan conveyed this to the attendants.

 

Reina simply thought of Penny Haffner.

 

Penny, who was among the younger servants in the Duke’s household. In Reina’s memory, she was just a quiet, unremarkable child who silently did only what needed to be done.

 

But after finishing cleaning Rosetta’s room with Marahan that day, somehow the sight of Penny standing with Rosetta remained strongly in Reina’s mind.

 

She had heard it was just temporarily assisting Rosetta for about a day, but Penny seemed quite natural by her master’s side.

 

– “Should I try it once too?”

 

Perhaps there was some longing for an attendant cherished by the master.

 

Reina still couldn’t understand why she had raised her hand so eagerly to volunteer.

 

But when she recalled how Rosetta didn’t severely punish them for neglecting room management and even provided dinner…

 

The exclusive servant job didn’t seem like it would be too difficult.

 

It would have been even better if she had been assigned to Lili Hall where Odette was.

 

But after seeing Rosetta’s generosity in promoting Penny to personal maid, she secretly hoped she might achieve the same.

 

So Reina tried her best to take care of Rosetta in her own way.

 

‘It actually wasn’t particularly difficult… Why was I so mean to her before? Really.’

 

They say when a person changes, it’s time for them to die.

 

Seeing her suffer from fever like this, could Rosetta perhaps be terminally ill?

 

At that thought, Reina felt unnecessarily uncomfortable.

 

Had she perhaps grown attached?

 

When the past behaviors of Rosetta she had occasionally witnessed crossed with the current dignified appearance of her young Lady, her heart would stir restlessly.

 

“Lady, this is Reina. I’ll be coming in for a moment.”

 

Since Rosetta had spent a full day and a half sleeping, Reina merely announced who she was out of courtesy before opening her master’s doorway.

 

She had worked quite diligently preparing for the Debut Tante, and the smiles Rosetta occasionally showed somehow made her want to do even better.

 

Of course, most of them were closer to faint sneers.

 

But that alone was something for Benitra’s scoundrel.

 

With such thoughts, Reina entered Rosetta’s Bedroom.

 

However, she soon came to a stop.

 

“Uh…”

 

“What are you so surprised about, Reina.”

 

Did you see a ghost or something?

 

Rosetta, who asked this while leaning against the bed, was looking at her and smiling.

 

That is, very brightly.

 

It wasn’t the thin smile she usually wore, but a laugh like wind gently caressing spring water as it passed by.

 

“…You seem to be in a good mood.”

 

Reina was momentarily startled by her own reflexive question.

 

‘You fool. You should have first asked worriedly if she had awakened properly.’

 

Reina reproached herself like this and nervously watched Rosetta’s reaction.

 

She thought it might have sounded rather sarcastic.

 

However, at Rosetta’s eye-smile that followed, Reina realized her heart was being helplessly swayed.

 

“Well, isn’t it a lovely day.”

 

“…”

 

“My mood couldn’t possibly be better than this.”

 

Hadn’t she seen such a smile once, long ago?

 

Reina suddenly recalled the expression of young Rosetta she had briefly glimpsed when she had just entered the Duke’s Mansion not long ago.

 

That dazzling smile, warm like sunlight yet innocent, existed vividly before Reina’s eyes even 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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