Mad Rosetta - Chapter 38

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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 38

The Villainess, the Rose, and the Ghost (4)

Some awkwardly lowered their fans, while others stole glances at her as though gauging Odette’s reaction.

It was elementary protocol for those of lower station to introduce themselves first and offer their greetings.

Moreover, through the conversation I had shared with Odette, these women had learned of my status as a Princess of Benatra, and thus could not escape by claiming unfamiliarity.

“Everyone seems rather nervous since this is their first feast, sister. Please don’t be too harsh with them.”

Yet was I perhaps secretly delighted that I had pointed out their mistakes?

Odette appealed to me with an anxious expression, as though she anticipated some catastrophe was about to unfold.

Naturally, had I been my true self, I would have sternly rebuked her to deflate her spirits.

But to these women, I was currently not the spiteful Princess who tormented Odette and indulged in tyranny at every turn.

I needed to present the opposite face.

“It’s not that I’m blaming anyone—I’m simply worried that perhaps I’ve spoiled the atmosphere myself.”

Speaking as though I were someone who knew how to read others’ feelings with utmost care.

Unable to bear it any longer, they lifted the hems of their skirts and bowed their heads to me.

Only then did I smile, as though relieved.

“How fortunate that such proper ladies surround Bonita. I believe I’ve seen some of you at our Manor before.”

“…We visited after receiving an invitation from the Princess Bonita.”

“The young ladies sat in the Garden and did embroidery work, did they not?”

“Yes, Benatra’s Rose Garden, which we had only heard of in tales, was truly like a painting come to life.”

“I’m so delighted that you’ve taken a liking to our Household’s Garden.”

“Indeed. It’s quite moving to see Benatra’s roses even here in the Imperial Palace.”

…Hmm?

At her final remark, someone’s lips curled into a bitter, sneering smile.

Another watched Odette’s expression—tinged with something bittersweet—with anxious, searching eyes.

The remaining Princesses simply rolled their eyes in discomfort at the awkward atmosphere.

‘…Is she mocking me, or what?’

For a moment, I interpreted her mention of “Benatra’s roses” to mean she hadn’t expected to encounter me at the Feast.

But the gaze the Princess before me cast, combined with Odette’s pitiful expression, both pointed unmistakably to the fresh flowers adorning my hair.

A woman who, despite being family, refused to share even a single bloom with her younger sister—hoarding them all for herself.

That’s what she was reproaching me for now.

‘This is really…. If there had been no antidote, things could have gone terribly wrong.’

To suppress the urge to threaten her immediately, I conjured the innocent face of Marmint, who had worked so diligently to create the antidote.

My anger was more than justified this time.

– “Look at this, Coco. Doesn’t it resemble your lovely crimson hair perfectly?”

The blooming roses curled like my daughter’s flowing locks, and the petals scattered by the wind resembled the child who would leap into my arms.

My father’s smile as he sat young me in the Garden and spoke so gently was etched so vividly in my memory.

Why should I ever share that love with anyone else?

I had no intention of yielding even a corner of Benatra to those who had murdered my father and me, who had sought to devour the entire Household.

And yet, responding boldly to those before me who mock me as a greedy woman would surely be what Odette wished for….

I quickly erased the awkward stiffness from my expression and deliberately flashed a bright smile.

“They truly are exquisite, aren’t they? If the Princess finds them to her liking, I shall have them arranged into a bouquet and sent to you.”

“…Ah. Yes?”

“You see, this is my first Feast alongside my Younger Sister, so I sent flowers to Bonita early this morning as well….”

I trailed off deliberately while gazing at Odette, then offered a somewhat sheepish smile.

“It seems she chose not to use them out of consideration for me.”

“….”

Odette’s expression, unfiltered and tinged with bewilderment, offered me small consolation.

‘How fortunate that I sent flowers to Odette’s room early this morning as well.’

I had nearly become a woman whose greed clung to her like filth.

My deliberate effort to shield Odette—insisting she avoided the matching decoration not out of selfishness but out of consideration—subtly shifted the expressions of those around us.

Observing carefully, it seemed that aside from Odette and a few who had enjoyed the Refreshment Hall with her, the rest had not yet fully aligned themselves with her circle.

There was no need to hesitate. It was time to press forward.

“Ah, or perhaps—would you do me the honor of visiting our Household?”

“Ah….”

“If you would all join me in the Garden for a Refreshment Hall or flower arrangement, it would be such a delight.”

Perhaps it was my overeager tone that swayed them?

Or was it the rare and costly roses from Benatra that I offered as enticement?

“If you would extend such an invitation….”

“It would be impolite to disregard the Princess’s sincerity.”

As several of them nodded in agreement, the other young ladies who had been watching Odette’s expression also began to nod sporadically.

Whether they had judged that my appearance differed from the rumors, or if it was truly because of the roses, I neither knew nor cared.

‘Landing a blow against Odette is enough.’

I had already laid the groundwork to win over the young ladies my age, so I was beginning to turn back toward Fordicus.

“Sister, please invite me this time too.”

“….”

“I’ve always wanted to go to the Garden with you…. We’ve never had the chance before, have we?”

If only Odette were not so relentlessly tiresome.

The awkward yet rather heartwarming atmosphere froze over in an instant at Odette’s words.

It would appear obvious that the malicious older sister had even denied the poor younger sister access to the Garden.

‘This is ridiculous, you mad thing. I’ve seen you wandering around the Garden countless times while I was confined to my room.’

Moreover, you’ve held refreshment gatherings in the Garden more than once, yet it would all be resolved if you simply claimed you had entered the Garden without my knowledge. I exhaled a low sigh inwardly.

Then, as if overcome with joy, I leaned my face close to Odette with a welcoming expression.

“Really? You’ll truly come to the refreshment gathering I’m hosting, Bonita?”

Startled by my sudden approach, Odette flinched and hunched her shoulders.

I’m sorry, but all that has increased since I returned to the past is my patience and my acting ability.

This damnable younger sister.

“Y-yes, of course. You’ve never invited me before, after all.”

“Ah, I’m so glad. Truth is, whenever I watched you and Mother taking tea in the Garden from my room, I felt so envious….”

I swallowed back the tears that were beginning to surface, and even let out a small sniffle for effect.

“You seem to have such a warm and wonderful bond with the Duchess….”

“We, we just thought you seemed uncomfortable with us. So-“

“My goodness, Bonita! You’ve been laboring under such a misunderstanding? I was actually concerned about intruding between you and the Duchess. That’s why I was merely being cautious….”

Even when caught red-handed, Odette’s eyes darted swiftly across the room, gauging the reactions of the other noble ladies.

And then her expression crumbled into one of utter defeat.

Yet I could scarcely contain my delight at the sympathetic gazes the other young ladies cast upon me—gazes that spoke of their pity for my plight.

An invitation, after all, was little more than an extended hand offered first.

‘Moreover, I lost my mother far too early….’

It was only proper that Odette extend her hand first.

No amount of excuses about a lack of communication could salvage this now.

The image was already fixed in the minds of every noble lady present—the Duchess and her daughter laughing freely in the garden, while I gazed upon them from my room with sorrowful longing.

“Now that the misunderstanding is cleared, do promise to invite this sister along whenever you spend time with the Duchess, won’t you?”

So do be reasonable, dear sister.

As the situation spiraled beyond her control, Odette’s carefully cultivated reputation for kindness and consideration cracking visibly, a twitch seized the corner of her mouth.

To lose composure over something so trivial.

In that moment, I realized she was nothing more than a young debutante fresh from her coming-out ball.

‘…whether I should count this as fortune or not.’

She was in an entirely different league from me, who had endured countless insults and ridicule.

With that thought, I smiled with artless innocence.

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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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