Mad Rosetta - Chapter 37

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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 37

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

“I simply picked up such knowledge naturally from spending time at Father’s side.”

I smiled sweetly, layering the implication that my Father cherished me dearly.

Faint, indulgent laughter rippled through the gathering in response.

“Haha, how wonderfully modest of you. Typically, one doesn’t retain such details unless they hold genuine interest.”

“Indeed. It appears Duke Benatra holds the Princess in great affection. To know such recent matters in such detail speaks volumes.”

A flicker of suspicion crossed their eyes—doubts about the Duke’s eldest daughter, known for her malicious schemes and extreme sensitivity.

The rumor that even Duke Benatra had turned his back on his own daughter now clung to me, so I needed to thoroughly dismantle this particular narrative.

Especially that vile rumor suggesting he cherished Odette more like his true daughter—it was one of the most infuriating whispers I’d heard.

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

So I could easily afford to flatter the adults a little.

I turned my gaze toward Countess Haede and continued.

“I sampled it myself not long ago, and I thought the lingering notes were quite refined—perfectly suited to the Imperial Court.”

“Oh, is that so?”

“Yes. The apricot undertones at the finish are exactly the sort Father would appreciate, so I even recommended it to him.”

Noble conversation, after all, operates on a simple principle: praise me well, and I shall praise you in turn.

Watching Countess Haede’s brightening expression, I could confidently assure myself that my notorious reputation as an uneducated wretch would fade considerably in the eyes of these adults.

‘That was exhausting to memorize.’

To prepare, I had no idea how hard I studied every night in secret with Sing, memorizing 【Challenge! The 100 Noble Houses Leading the Arcanis Empire!】.

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

Recalling how he would flick my forehead with his finger every time I got a question wrong, I felt a phantom throbbing from where he’d struck me.

– 【I genuinely wish for your success.】

After getting hit just twice and my forehead turning red, I complained that he could at least go easy on me. He simply rolled up his sleeves and replied that way.

Ultimately, not wanting to be toyed with by him, I studied the information about the attendees of the feast with stubborn determination, and only today did I offer my forehead and gain a positive reputation +5.

‘It’s a hundred times, a thousand times better to make a good impression on the adults who wield real influence in society than on young people who haven’t come of age yet. Yes, absolutely.’

The result was truly moving enough to make my forehead ache with emotion.

‘But he’s still doing that.’

Even as I exchanged pleasantries here and there with Cessia, I kept glancing at Sing standing alone.

Ever since I began my first dance with Cessia, he had remained leaning against one wall, perfectly still.

He looked like a wallflower that no one approached, or perhaps like the host of this gathering, merely observing the proceedings.

And even now, he kept his gaze fixed on one point.

“Looking at this hall today, the future of the Empire seems rather uncertain. Each noble house….”

Beneath shoulder boards gilded in gold, a crimson cloak flowed like a carpet, proclaiming the authority of one of the highest rank.

Two rearing white horses. And between them, the rising sun.

The emblem on his chest was the symbol of House of Arcanis, said to have received the crown from the ancient sun god.

His blue eyes were silent testimony to his descent from the previous Emperor.

The current Emperor, Jeremias Eshed.

He lingered long at the end of Sing’s gaze.

‘Though he possesses a gentle and dignified temperament that earns considerable support from the Empire’s people… Father criticized him for conducting state affairs in the shadow of the Empress Dowager.’

The Emperor’s pale golden hair, as he exchanged pleasantries with several elder nobles on the dais, gleamed almost white under the intense illumination of the Banquet Hall.

Jeremias Eshed was born as the son of the First Imperial Consort, and had ascended to the throne naturally when the previous Emperor died at a young age.

As a result, Carina Perijia, who had been the First Imperial Consort, rose to become the current Empress Dowager, and the House of Montague, which had supported her early on, had grown into a family of superior influence.

‘That’s why there were many concerns that our household had leaned toward the Imperial Faction ever since my betrothal to Cessia.’

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

For that reason, the successive heads of the Benatra household had maintained neutrality to prevent any bias toward either side.

It was the way to serve this nation, and the method to protect such a vast household from countless attacks.

Yet they had betrothed Benatra’s only daughter to a staunch Imperial Faction supporter…

As I recalled Father during those chaotic times, beset by endless restraint and opposition, my heart grew inexplicably bitter.

‘…What are you saying?’

Having momentarily diverted my attention to the Emperor, I couldn’t tell when Sing had begun watching me.

He seemed to be saying something with his lips, so I focused intently on his mouth despite the surrounding conversations.

Re… move… your… hand…?

【Remove that hand.】

“…”

So that was what he meant—he was pointing out how I was clinging to Cessia as though we were the closest of companions, arm linked with his.

‘I wish I could do that, you fool.’

After coming of age last year, Cessia had actively engaged in social circles, and his standing was precisely what I needed now.

Thanks to him, I could introduce myself to these adults and subtly smile my way through conversations that conveyed, ‘I’m not such a terrible person after all.’

Though it was a shame that most of them were sympathetic to House of Montague.

‘There’s no better way to establish oneself,’ I thought.

Displeased by the fellow’s teasing smile, I turned my head as if my neck were stiff, glancing at him sideways—and he smiled again with that infuriating grin.

It made me look as though I were savoring some secret rendezvous, leaving me both irritated and anxious that someone might catch us like this.

My heart beat a little faster.

* * *

My bearing was elegant.

Throughout the feast, the compliments that reached my ears again and again made me feel as though my spirit might soar away.

It seemed I was not the villainess they imagined.

Since I had attended precisely to cultivate such an impression, I could have been satisfied and withdrawn at this point.

“…Fordicus, wait a moment. I need to go see Bonita.”

If only it weren’t for Odette and the other princesses, who knew when they had begun watching Cessia and me.

Those girls, who appeared to be Odette’s age, were unmistakably young princesses—with their plump cheeks and elaborate adornments that lacked the art of restraint.

When I approached, even the way they fanned themselves and cast sidelong glances seemed like awkward imitations of adults.

‘I didn’t want to expend effort clashing with Odette on a day like this.’

For this Spring Stage, I intended to focus solely on elevating my reputation, which clung to the very bottom.

Thus, these fledglings who had only just begun to venture into society.

Especially those princesses mingled with Odette’s circle, already harboring every conceivable prejudice against me—I had excluded them from my targets of influence.

Moreover, the prevailing rumor was that I was ‘the elder sister who torments her stepsister’…

If I were to engage in even a minor quarrel with Odette during the feast, it would clearly work against me.

“Bonita, are you enjoying the feast?”

“As you can see. It seemed like you wanted to spend time only with Fordicus, so I didn’t dare approach… but I’m delighted you’ve come to find me.”

How nauseating.

Where had that shameless way of calling out to Cessia gone? Now she spoke with such careful courtesy.

Whether cunning or thick-skinned—perhaps both.

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

“What an adorably cautious concern. Surely you know that Fordicus treasures you like a true younger sister. Feel free to greet us whenever you wish.”

“…I will.”

“By the way, you were with the others just now.”

“Yes, and I was just saying how fortunate it is that you seem to be enjoying yourself.”

“Indeed.”

As I replied, I observed the expressions of the young noblewomen around us.

Deep distrust.

Already saturated with Odette’s influence, my peers regarded me with eyes full of prejudice.

How far things had gone that they wouldn’t even agree with Odette’s sweetly spoken words, merely watching me instead.

When she carried on so brazenly without regard for hierarchy, how could I pretend not to notice?

“But… perhaps my coming here was inconvenient for you, Bonita?”

“Pardon?”

“You all seem rather quiet. Are you perhaps shy?”

As I spoke, I cast my gaze downward as though reading the mood of the young noblewomen.

Not even a greeting—how utterly discourteous of you.

…was the implication behind those words.

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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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