Mad Rosetta - Chapter 36

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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 36

 

The Villainess, the Rose, and the Ghost (2)

 

– 【You seem to try to make plans too honestly.】

 

Whether it was praise or criticism.

 

That excessive nobility can sometimes become shackles when confronting evil.

 

Sing had said that at the time, advising me to spare at least small lies.

 

So I had simply packed a dress I wouldn’t wear to the banquet and ordered Vicky to send it to the estate.

 

My dress would probably gallop hard on horseback and settle comfortably in my room at Rose Manor.

 

This meant I had absolutely no intention of giving Lianna a gift for the sake of one little lie.

 

‘Let’s see if your insides burn with anxiety.’

 

As I was glaring at Vicky, who couldn’t dare ask anything more.

 

Just then, the townhouse manager knocked on the doorway.

 

It was time to head to the Imperial Palace.

 

* * *

 

As I descended the manor stairs as if it were the day of a decisive battle, I even felt solemn.

 

But when I finally met the surprised eyes of Cessia and Odette waiting for me in front of the manor, excitement quickly surged.

 

Judging by their expressions, they seemed quite surprised by my dressed-up appearance.

 

If I had to point out a slight difference, unlike Cessia who was looking me over entirely, Odette’s gaze was fixed on my necklace.

 

‘Her expression though…’

 

Odette seemed to have realized from seeing my jewelry that Vicky had failed in her mission.

 

However, as if she had never hardened her expression, she was truly detestable as she smiled gently and asked if I had come.

 

“Rosetta, today… you’re truly beautiful today.”

 

“Thank you for saying so.”

 

The medicine must really be working well.

 

Even at Cessia’s expression that looked somewhat shy, I didn’t feel much desire to curse and tell him to wipe that look off his face.

 

‘I really found him disgustingly hateful…’

 

Just hearing his voice used to make me clench my fists so hard my nails dug into my flesh, and that was just yesterday.

 

Just not having to endure it while hurting myself was enough for Marmint’s antidote to fulfill its role.

 

I politely replied with thanks while glancing at the man waiting behind Odette.

 

‘Amis Demiš… was it?’

 

Calmly settled ash-gray hair.

 

Neat sky-blue eyes.

 

He was a son of the Demiš Baronial House, a vassal family of Benatra, and a knight within the household who would serve as Odette’s partner at this Spring Stage.

 

‘…A flawless choice, Odette.’

 

I heard he was chosen by Father’s recommendation, and certainly there seemed to be few better partners in the current situation.

 

Outstanding appearance, excellent skills, unknown character.

 

Though he was the third son of a baronial house, Lord Demiš’s maternal family had produced imperial tutors twice, so from Odette’s perspective, it would have seemed like a decent choice.

 

Judging by how she deliberately placed a household knight by her side, it seemed she intended not to allow even contact with any man other than Cessia.

 

– “Lord Cessia, look at this. It’s newly embroidered work, and I’d like to give it to you as a gift.”

 

I recalled Odette from some time ago, who had smiled brightly while offering Cessia a neatly folded handkerchief.

 

The embroidery, clearly sewn with care stitch by stitch, was the crest of House Montague, Cessia’s family.

 

The one being who could provoke Odette more than anything else.

 

With that thought, I moved closer to Cessia.

 

“…Ro, Rosetta?”

 

I paid no attention to Cessia’s bewildered voice and briefly adjusted the cravat around his neck.

 

I could sense Odette glaring at me with even wider round eyes, so it wasn’t a losing deal.

 

“It seemed a bit crooked. Fordicus, you also today… look very good.”

 

Ugh, I couldn’t bring myself to say he looked handsome, so I gave a roundabout compliment, and Cessia awkwardly thanked me.

 

The glimpse of his neck area turning red made him look like he was being bashful, which was nauseating.

 

Should I say I benefited from that?

 

Throughout the journey to the Imperial Palace, Odette neither continued conversation very warmly nor tried to provoke me with stories about Cessia.

 

She simply looked at me occasionally with eyes filled with quiet anger.

 

* * *

 

“You said you’re sixteen this year?”

 

“I think this is the first time I’ve seen her since the engagement ceremony with the Montague Estate. How many years has it been since we’ve seen this rose…”

 

“I heard she caught some unknown disease and her appearance was greatly damaged. It seems the other rumors were true instead.”

 

“They say Duke Benatra is also very troubled by that incident.”

 

“Well, the Duke’s doting love is famous, isn’t it? Though spoiling a child too much is also problematic.”

 

“On the other hand, Lady Bonita is indeed… as magnificent as the rumors say.”

 

Excuse me, I can hear everything.

 

Music flowed announcing the official start of the Spring Stage, and many young ladies who would make their debut here today joined hands with their respective partners.

 

Even amidst the murmuring of people busy with continuous criticism, I maintained my composure and continued dancing to Cessia’s lead.

 

Among them, the protagonists who had been the subject of gossip since entering the central hall were undoubtedly Odette and me.

 

“Tsk, look at that. Hogging all the flowers without sharing with her sister. Truly venomous beyond measure.”

 

“A thorned rose indeed.”

 

A thorned rose.

 

It was criticism saying that despite being beautifully packaged, I couldn’t hide my sharp nature.

 

That my personality became nasty because Father raised me so preciously, that I frequently tore Odette’s dresses out of jealousy.

 

All sorts of rumors mixed with the music reached my ears.

 

‘Endure it, endure… I never expected my reputation to change overnight anyway, right?’

 

My goal at the Spring Stage was clear.

 

The so-called 【Maybe she’s not such a bad person after all?】 operation!

 

Benatra’s villainess who was supposedly busy tormenting her stepsister day and night.

 

I couldn’t escape such public perception all at once.

 

This was a rumor that had grown uncontrollably as years of my misdeeds were combined with recent incidents.

 

‘So today, I must properly show people.’

 

I’m not some expert at putting patches on other people’s heads while breathing in and out, nor am I a sister who torments her only stepsister day after day out of displeasure.

 

For this purpose, since arriving at the Imperial Palace, I had been busy acting warmly toward Odette even when people’s gazes weren’t on us.

 

“But I noticed before that the Benatra sisters were taking good care of each other?”

 

“The rumors about her serious illness might have been true. There were also stories about Lady Bonita devotedly caring for her sister.”

 

“But that dress is a design I’ve never seen before. Which boutique’s work could it be?”

 

“They say Lady Bonita had hers made at Ceitela House. It’s probably the same boutique.”

 

“…Either way, there’s no denying she’s beautiful.”

 

Thanks to that, look.

 

Weren’t favorable conversations about me also occasionally reaching my ears?

 

I bent my waist following the swaying dress hem as if responding to them.

 

The hand that had been placed on Cessia’s shoulder bloomed in the air, and the rose fragrance that spread with each movement of my body was profound.

 

The small amount of petals that inevitably fell despite being carefully secured looked regretful and beautiful even to my eyes.

 

‘Have you ever seen such a cultured scoundrel?’

 

The graceful dance moves and drifting fragrance would clearly ease people’s wariness, if only temporarily.

 

The fortress built on rumors was like sand, and would eventually fall to even a weak wind.

 

Slowly, without even knowing it was crumbling.

 

* * *

 

After one round of dancing, a brief conversation time.

 

“Speaking of which, hasn’t Duke Benatra had good news recently?”

 

Even at Countess Haede’s sudden question, I replied without losing my smile.

 

“He has been meeting frequently with Braden Trading Company recently. Since the fabric needs to be commercialized before summer, he’s been busy. I’m quite worried he might harm his health.”

 

“Oh… Well, fabrics used for summer clothing have been established for a long time.”

 

“Yes. But it has excellent breathability and doesn’t wrinkle easily either. It seemed quite competitive.”

 

“Oh my… It seems the young lady has quite an interest in household business affairs.”

 

At Countess Haede’s intrigued reaction, the other people also nodded their heads.

 

Braden Trading Company.

 

It was a trading company that discovered a fabric called ‘mir’ in a small eastern kingdom last fall, and had signed an exclusive import contract for it earlier this year.

 

And by supporting this Braden Trading Company’s initial funding and ships, Father had secured exclusive sales rights for that fabric for five years.

 

‘It was worth it that he kept barging in asking how about having tea with his daughter.’

 

In high society, knowledge is power.

 

To establish my position as quickly as possible, I had to study Benitra’s business that people were so curious about.

 

That’s why I made an effort to spend as much time as possible talking with Father.

 

Cessia, who was standing beside me, also had an expression of satisfaction at my scholarly appearance.

 

‘But I have no intention of stopping here.’

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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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