Mad Rosetta - Chapter 35

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Mad Rosetta

 

Episode 35

 

The Villainess, Rose, and Ghost (1)

 

* * *

 

“I think it would be better to keep the fragrance subtle.”

 

“Should I bring the solid perfume then?”

 

“Hmm, I think braiding part of the hair would look more glamorous and better.”

 

The capital townhouse.

 

Due to the children making a fuss since dawn, I sat in front of the vanity with a very drowsy face.

 

Penny and the servants who began preparing to transform me into a lady befitting Lady Etienne’s dress seemed like they were going into battle.

 

Two days after I recovered from the aftereffects of the antidote.

 

We departed as scheduled and safely arrived at the townhouse to unpack.

 

And so, finally the day of the Spring Stage.

 

Benitra’s attendants were busily moving about for the ladies’ once-in-a-lifetime debut tante.

 

“Then how about curling only half of the hair on the side we’re securing and adding fresh flowers? I think it would look full and nice.”

 

The children continued their hand movements while chattering endlessly before my eyes, excited as they were.

 

I simply closed my eyes gently, telling them to dress me up as much as they wanted.

 

At this, they eagerly touched my face and styled my hair.

 

Seeing the children who had become quite talkative with me over the past few days, a secret pleased smile spread across my face.

 

As I sat there, I was reminded of when I had just awakened from my long sleep.

 

– 【You slept quite long.】

 

Sing, who was the first to greet me when I came to my senses, offered a rather dry greeting.

 

Perhaps because my vision was particularly clear, I immediately knew it was reality, not a dream.

 

Though I was a bit dazed, I could feel that the medicine had worked well and that it was completely different from before.

 

My head… didn’t hurt.

 

There was no pain that occasionally pierced through my temples, nor did my heart pound with anxiety that would suddenly come with the slightest stimulus.

 

– “Oh… Lady?”

 

So the servant’s efforts in visiting my room early to change the wet towel must have been so welcome.

 

Until then, it had been days that felt like dust had accumulated all over my body, like overcast rainy days would continue forever.

 

But what a refreshing feeling this was!

 

– “Of course, it’s such a beautiful day.”

 

On this truly refreshing morning I hadn’t felt in years, I chose to laugh rather than cry.

 

Reina looked bewildered, then touched my forehead saying she would excuse herself for a moment, and soon left my room saying she would call the physician.

 

– 【I really thought I’d die of boredom, darling…】

 

When Reina left, Sing finally seemed to relax and buried his face deep into my bed.

 

Why did the ghost muttering not to teach him again that there were limits even to talking to oneself seem both amusing and rather pitiful?

 

From the sight of the large man I occasionally saw when I drowsily opened my eyes, I knew he had stayed by my side the entire time.

 

Originally, no one yearns for food they don’t know.

 

Sing, who was a ghost, said he had never conversed with people before meeting me.

 

Having tasted the days of making eye contact with people, conversing, and playing pranks.

 

I thought he might have felt loneliness seeing himself muttering alone as before.

 

– 【You’ll have to drink the antidote again in two days. If you’re in as much pain as this time, not only won’t you be able to go to the banquet, but you might end up in the same situation as me.】

 

– “Spouting curses, are you?”

 

– 【So don’t even think about being in pain, Rose.】

 

How long have you lived as one of the dead?

 

Sing’s grumbling figure seemed somehow sad, so I couldn’t rebuke him anymore.

 

Fortunately, whether Marmint’s concern that the first time would be the hardest was right, when I emptied the second antidote, though nausea struck, I didn’t develop a fever or anything.

 

The last antidote would be perfectly timed to drink after finishing the Spring Stage, so I only looked forward to that day.

 

“Lady, you said you’d use Ceramimi accessories, right?”

 

Penny said this while bringing out a box from the wardrobe and opening it before me.

 

‘Oh, how dazzling.’

 

I nodded at the brilliance of the gem that appeared lavender from one angle and rose-colored from another.

 

The dawn after I collapsed.

 

Sing told me he saw Vicky enter to roughly tend to me, then go into the wardrobe.

 

– 【Like this, sprinkling it like breadcrumbs.】

 

Vicky apparently sprinkled powder on the necklace and earrings while wearing gloves, then left the room.

 

He even snorted, saying thanks to her, the fake pearls had gained even more luster.

 

So before preparing to leave for the townhouse, I hid the box containing those fake pearl accessories in a corner under the bed.

 

The servants packed Marandranché’s genuine pieces in the luggage instead.

 

Of course, I didn’t plan to wear those either.

 

“Wow! It really suits you perfectly, Lady.”

 

“Really. I knew it would look good on you.”

 

Reina and Sara continued their praise, even clapping as they looked at me wearing the accessories.

 

Just then Penny finished styling my hair and removed her hands from me, and I carefully admired my nearly finished appearance.

 

【Really… I don’t want to let you go.】

 

“…”

 

【Aren’t you sorry for the young ladies who will attend today’s banquet with such anticipation? Hmm?】

 

Even thinking of dancing with Cessia like this is truly absurd, Sing, who had been just watching until now, scolded me.

 

While he himself was just grinning.

 

At his reaction of naturally expressing in roundabout ways that I was exceptionally beautiful, I couldn’t help but giggle out loud.

 

‘Well… I do look like someone who’s been eating and living well.’

 

Benitra’s roses, procured since dawn, elegantly adorned my hair like a flower arrangement.

 

Since women who hadn’t undergone coming-of-age ceremonies couldn’t put their hair up, only part of my hair was curled small to the left with decorations inserted.

 

The remaining hair flowing abundantly downward, with the half-tied style, looked quite elegant.

 

The dress, busy shining along its grain like sunlight breaking over waves, was also truly beautiful.

 

‘…Really. Lady Etienne should have seen this sight with her own eyes.’

 

Ant Etienne seemed to have finally made up her mind, visiting the townhouse late yesterday afternoon.

 

Bringing the contract she had signed.

 

Instead of deliberately showing my pleasure, I asked her for a handshake.

 

Lady Etienne smiled, saying to call her anytime if I had any requests.

 

“Lady, excuse me for a moment.”

 

Finally, Penny put on shoes with diamonds set in fine lines.

 

I stood up with a satisfied smile at the perfectly fitting shoes.

 

Just then, Vicky, who had returned to the room, came into view, freezing at the sight of me.

 

It made me soak in the anticipation that today would be a very enjoyable day in many ways.

 

“Vicky, you’re back?”

 

“Ah, yes…”

 

She, who had been to the capital’s transport office since morning to send the item I had entrusted to her to the estate, couldn’t participate in my preparation.

 

Vicky, who had been wearing a dazed expression as if surprised, finally looked at Ceramimi’s necklace around my neck.

 

“Oh, Lady. You look truly beautiful.”

 

Her trembling voice held very deep anxiety.

 

“Mm, even I think I look quite decent today.”

 

“But, but the necklace… Weren’t you definitely going to wear pearls for the Spring Stage?”

 

Vicky asked with a forced awkward smile, as if coaxing a child.

 

At this, Sara asked back if such a decision had ever been made, and Reina playfully scolded, saying accessories could change according to the lady’s mood, so why was she so surprised.

 

“Ah, that. Didn’t I mention it?”

 

I answered very kindly.

 

“I sent the Marandranché accessories you recommended to Mother.”

 

“…What?”

 

“After all, I couldn’t wear both, and I happened to be looking for a suitable gift for Mother.”

 

Unlike me, who answered with a cheeky smile, Vicky’s expression turning pale in real-time was truly a sight to behold.

 

The method Sing had recommended for making an attendant tremble with anxiety was remarkably simple.

 

The first step was to make the attendant realize they had failed to properly carry out their master’s orders.

 

“Didn’t you just go to the courier service to send something to my estate?”

 

“….”

 

“Vicky, what you sent off was a gift for my mother.”

 

The second step was to instill anxiety that their mistake might actually harm their master.

 

Items received at the courier service in the morning depart for various destinations before lunchtime.

 

And it was already past lunch now.

 

No matter how urgently Vicky might rush back to the courier service, the item she had sent would already be on its way to Benitra Territory.

 

Having realized this fact, Vicky was just staring at me with violently trembling eyes.

 

‘She must be terrified. What if Lianna tries on the jewelry? That’s all she’ll be thinking about.’

 

Though it was Odette’s instigation, the one who had brazenly carried out the deed was undeniably herself.

 

Besides, Odette would soon find out that I was wearing different jewelry.

 

‘If, after all this, Lianna appeared before Odette’s eyes with a skin rash when Odette returned to the main residence after the banquet…’

 

Vicky was obviously consumed by such anxieties right now.

 

I would only take Penny, my personal maid, to the Imperial Palace banquet.

 

This meant Reina, Vicky, and Sara would remain at the townhouse to prepare for the banquet after the Spring Stage.

 

For all that time, Vicky would have to constantly worry about whether or not Lianna had tried on the pearl necklace.

 

That alone would clearly subject her to a torturous time, marinated in anxiety.

 

‘Though it’s all a lie.’

 

Of course, the story about it being a gift for Lianna was false.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————