Mad Rosetta - Chapter 37

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

Mad Rosetta

 

Episode 37

 

The Villainess, the Rose, and the Ghost (3)

 

“I simply learned naturally while spending time by Father’s side.”

 

I smiled gently, conveying the meaning ‘My father cherishes me greatly.’

 

In return, faint and generous laughter echoed back.

 

“Haha, how truly modest you are. Without interest, things usually don’t stick in one’s memory.”

 

“That’s right. Duke Benatra must cherish his daughter dearly. To know such recent news in such detail.”

 

I caught a glimpse of suspicion in their eyes regarding Benatra’s eldest daughter, who was rumored to cause trouble and display extreme sensitivity.

 

Since rumors were circulating that even Duke Benatra had turned his back on his daughter, I needed to properly dispel at least this issue.

 

Especially the inexplicable rumor that he cherished Odette more like his own daughter was truly one of the most disgusting rumors.

 

“By the way, I heard House Haede has begun supplying Luencho tea leaves to the Imperial Palace?”

 

So I could certainly manage to charm the adults.

 

I looked at Countess Haede and continued speaking.

 

“I also tried it recently, and the lingering fragrance was so refined that I thought it suited the Imperial family well.”

 

“Oh my, did you really?”

 

“Yes. The apricot scent at the finish was the type Father would enjoy, so I even recommended it to him.”

 

The essence of noble conversation is that if you praise me for being excellent, I shall say you are excellent too.

 

Seeing Countess Haede’s brightening expression, I could guarantee that my reputation for being ill-bred would at least fade among the adults before me.

 

‘It was hell memorizing all that.’

 

For this, I had no idea how diligently Sing and I secretly memorized 【Challenge! 100 Houses Leading the Arkanis Empire!】 every night.

 

‘That bastard flicked my forehead harder than I expected.’

 

Remembering how he would strike my forehead with his finger every time I got a question wrong, the spot where I was hit back then seemed to throb for no reason.

 

– 【I sincerely wish for your success.】

 

When I got annoyed after just two hits, holding my reddened forehead and asking if he couldn’t go easier, he rolled up his sleeves and replied like that.

 

In the end, not wanting to be toyed with by him, I desperately studied information about the people attending the banquet, and only today, after offering my forehead, did I gain a positive reputation +5.

 

‘It’s a hundred, a thousand times better to be favored by adults who wield considerable influence in high society than by young people who haven’t had their coming-of-age ceremony yet. Of course it is.’

 

It truly was a result so moving it made my forehead ache with emotion.

 

‘But he’s still doing that.’

 

Even while chatting here and there with Cessia, I kept glancing at Sing standing alone.

 

He had been quietly leaning against one wall ever since I started dancing the first dance with Cessia.

 

His appearance was like a wallflower whom no one approached, or like a host of this gathering simply observing.

 

That guy had been watching only one spot until now.

 

“Looking at this banquet hall today, the Empire’s future doesn’t look particularly bright. Each family’s….”

 

Beneath gold-plated epaulettes, a red carpet-like cloak flowed, boasting the authority of one of the highest rank.

 

Two leaping white horses. And the sun rising between them.

 

The emblem’s pattern on his chest was the symbol of the Arcanis royal family, said to have received their crown from the ancient sun god.

 

His blue eyes were silent testimony announcing his lineage from the previous emperor.

 

The current Emperor, Jeremias Eshed.

 

That man lingered long at the end of Sing’s gaze.

 

‘Though he has high support from the Empire’s citizens for his gentle and refined nature… Father criticized him for conducting state affairs in the Empress Dowager’s shadow.’

 

The Emperor’s pale blonde hair, as he chatted with several elder nobles on the platform, appeared almost white under the intense banquet hall lighting.

 

Jeremias Eshed was born to the former First Empress, and naturally ascended to the throne when the previous emperor died at an early age.

 

As a result, Carina Perijia, who had been the First Empress, rose to become the current Empress Dowager, and the Montague Marquessate, which had supported her early on, grew into a family with superior influence.

 

‘That’s why there were many concerns that our family had leaned toward the Emperor’s faction since my engagement to Cessia.’

 

The power of Benatra, also called a pillar of the Empire, had never been broken since this country was still a kingdom.

 

Therefore, to prevent leaning toward any one side, the heads of Benatra had maintained neutrality for generations.

 

This was because it was the path to serve this country and the method to protect the great family from countless attacks.

 

To have engaged Benatra’s only daughter to the hardline Emperor’s faction…

 

Recalling Father from those days when he was frantic due to all sorts of interference, my heart grew bitter for no reason.

 

‘…What is he saying?’

 

Having briefly turned my attention to the Emperor, I couldn’t tell when Sing had started looking at me.

 

It seemed like he was saying something with his mouth, so despite the sounds of others’ conversations, I focused intently on Sing’s lip movements.

 

Break, that, hand…?

 

【Break that hand off.】

 

“…”

 

I wondered what he was talking about, but he seemed to be pointing out how I was clinging close to Cessia with linked arms as if we were intimate.

 

‘I want to do that too, you bastard.’

 

Cessia’s position, having actively engaged in social activities after his coming-of-age ceremony last year, was exactly what I needed right now.

 

Thanks to that, I could make acquaintances with adults like this and approach them with subtle smiles meaning ‘I’m not such a bad person.’

 

Though it was disappointing that most were favorable to the Montague family.

 

‘There’s no better method for establishing oneself.’

 

Annoyed by him laughing teasingly, I pretended to turn my stiff neck while glancing at him sideways, and he grinned again.

 

This made it seem like we were enjoying some secret rendezvous, making me feel both unpleasant and simultaneously anxious that someone might catch us like this.

 

My heart pounded a little.

 

* * *

 

Her bearing is graceful.

 

Due to the compliments that reached my ears several times throughout the banquet, I felt like I could fly.

 

She doesn’t seem like such a wicked villainess after all.

 

Since I had attended to build such an impression, I could have been satisfied with this much and withdrawn.

 

“…Fordicus, just a moment. Let me go see Bonita.”

 

If only it weren’t for Odette and the other young ladies who had been watching Cessia and me for who knows how long.

 

The girls who appeared to be Odette’s age, with their plump baby fat and heavily decorated but lacking the aesthetics of restraint, were unmistakably young ladies.

 

Even the way they glanced at me while fanning themselves as I approached was clumsy, like they were imitating adults.

 

‘I didn’t want to exert myself by clashing with Odette on a day like today.’

 

At this Spring Stage, I had planned to focus solely on raising my reputation that was stuck at rock bottom.

 

Therefore, these fledglings who were just beginning to step into high society.

 

Especially the young ladies mixed in with Odette’s group, who already held every possible prejudice against me, were excluded from my recruitment targets.

 

Moreover, since the dominant rumor was that I was ‘the sister who bullies her stepsister’…

 

If I got into even a minor argument with Odette during the banquet, it would obviously work against me.

 

“Bonita, are you enjoying the banquet?”

 

“As you can see. It seemed like you wanted to be alone with Lord Fordicus, so I couldn’t bring myself to approach… I’m glad you came to find me.”

 

How disgusting.

 

Where did that shameless behavior of calling ‘Cessia, Cessia’ go? How well she addresses him with proper courtesy now.

 

Should I call it cunning, or thick-skinned?

 

I responded with a gentle smile to Odette’s subtle tone suggesting I was keeping her in check.

 

“What a rather cute worry. You must know that Fordicus also cherishes you like a real sister. Feel free to come greet us anytime.”

 

“…I will.”

 

“By the way, you were with other people.”

 

“Yes, we were just talking about how fortunate it was that you looked so happy.”

 

“I see.”

 

I replied thus while observing the expressions of the surrounding young ladies.

 

Deep distrust.

 

As if already heavily influenced by Odette, the young ladies of her age were looking at me with eyes full of prejudice.

 

How bad must it be that they wouldn’t even agree with Odette’s kind chatter, just watching me instead?

 

How could I pretend not to notice when they’re being so disrespectful?

 

“However… might my visit have made you uncomfortable, Bonita?”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“I wonder if they’re shy, since everyone is so quiet.”

 

I said this while lowering my gaze as if reading the young ladies’ reactions.

 

Not even greeting me, how rude of you.

 

…That was the implication behind his statement.

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