Mad Rosetta - Chapter 42
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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 42
The Villainess, the Rose, and the Ghost (8)
So this was what she wanted to show me.
Even if she had just come running to tell me, I would have believed Rosetta’s words.
The sight of his daughter informing him of her situation in detail while enduring such nonsense pierced Artemis’s heart terribly.
“D-Duke. Your Grace….”
“Really, in all my life…. I’m so astounded I don’t even know how to scold you.”
Gone was the confident attitude that had just been hurling abuse at Rosetta.
As was the anger toward the servant whose face had turned deathly pale upon seeing him.
“Do you happen to know? When it’s judged that the honor of high nobility equivalent to royalty has been damaged, one can be sentenced to death for the crime of insulting nobility.”
“I-I….”
“If you did this knowing full well, it would truly be regrettable.”
No one could have predicted this.
* * *
“Y-Your Grace! I was wrong. I must have lost my mind for a moment. I was wrong, Your Grace!”
How pathetically she grovels.
Vicky, who had turned pale as death, prostrated herself on the floor and begged Father for forgiveness as if she had never been rude to me.
“…Did you think you could remain unharmed after spouting such nonsense to my daughter?”
Meanwhile, I found myself watching Father’s mood as he emanated an ominously fierce aura.
His jawline tensed with muscles as if forcibly swallowing his anger, and his coldly sunken violet eyes added to that energy.
Though I had taken the initiative hoping he would take a stronger stance after facing my situation….
This was the first time I had seen Father so enraged.
“P-Please. Your Grace, have mercy-”
“Is there no one outside!”
The guards came running in alarm at Father’s cry that was close to a shout.
The attendant bowing her head to the floor as if she had clearly committed a crime.
And seeing their master standing before her, the guards stiffened with tension.
There was nothing more to see.
Father said this while looking down at Vicky.
“Take this one away. I will interrogate her personally.”
His eyes were endlessly cold and sharp.
* * *
Tick-tock, tick-tock.
Only the sound of the grandfather clock in Father’s study echoed, as everyone present remained silent.
No, it would be more accurate to say they were all holding their breath in an atmosphere where one couldn’t easily speak.
Vicky was eventually dragged away and locked in the dungeon, and Father immediately summoned all family members to his study.
“…Explain, Butler. Why is His Grace so angry?”
Oh, what nerve she has.
In place of the brooding Father, Lianna asked the butler in a calm tone.
Since the order came right after Vicky was dragged away, both Lianna and Odette seemed unaware of the circumstances.
“That is…. It appears he recognized the severity of the situation upon seeing an attendant act recklessly toward Lady Rosetta.”
“…An attendant was rude to our Rosetta? What exactly did they do?”
“…From what I understand, they tampered with the Lady’s valuables with intent to harm, and the head of house discovered this.”
Due to the butler’s brief explanation while watching Father’s mood, both Lianna and Odette’s expressions froze simultaneously.
Valuables.
That alone would have told Odette that Vicky’s scheme had been properly exposed.
Moreover, seeing that even Lianna’s complexion had worsened, it seemed Odette had indeed shared her plan with her mother.
This mother-daughter pair would know best that Father cherishes me greatly.
Recognizing the severity that this incident had been discovered by none other than the head of the household, Lianna spoke quietly in a soothing tone.
“Such a thing happened…. How heartbroken you must be, dear. How about you, Rosetta? They tried to harm you—are you injured anywhere?”
“…Yes, fortunately not.”
“Really, how could such a thing happen in our household…. I don’t know the specific situation, but I’m relieved you weren’t hurt.”
“….”
“Where is that attendant now? Darling, I’ll make sure to punish such a person properly and throw them out-”
“Reina.”
“Yes?”
“Don’t you grasp the situation?”
It was truly an ice-cold voice.
Father, who had been silent with his head down, turned his eyes toward Lianna.
Whether overwhelmed by his presence or because Father’s reaction was unexpected.
Lianna seemed greatly tense, forgetting even her usual gentle smile.
“Do you know what that person said to Rosetta? That everyone in this household looks down on Rosetta.”
“….”
“From what I briefly heard from the child, there are quite a few attendants who go beyond neglecting their duties to being deceitful, not just that detestable servant.”
“…Darling, I understand you’re angry, but first, please calm-”
“How dare! To my daughter! While the heir of Benatra was being treated like this! What exactly were you doing!”
Father, who had been speaking through gritted teeth as if holding back his rising anger, finally exploded in fury and shouted.
Though the person who had made the threat looked like he was about to cry, which pained my heart, I didn’t show it.
Originally, the role of mistress includes various duties such as internal management and diplomatic activities.
However, among these, Lianna’s negligence in overseeing the attendants, which was her main duty, was bound to stand out.
No matter how much the domains were divided, this was separate from Father feeling responsible for the situation reaching this point.
“…When I decided to accept you and Bonita, didn’t you clearly promise me? That you would treat Rosetta preciously like Bonita and fulfill your duty as a parent.”
“…I fully understand your upset feelings. I also deeply feel the severity of this happening. So from now on, I’ll pay more attention-”
“A broken record. Didn’t I say that such attendants are not just one or two?”
“….”
“Now I see that you seem inadequate to manage the Duke’s household.”
“…Darling?”
Lianna’s voice trembled as if she had heard something unbelievable. Her eyes seemed to hold even shame.
Yet Father coldly pronounced his judgment on her with icy eyes.
“If you truly feel the gravity of this situation, then take responsibility.”
“….”
“You will step back from the Duke’s household affairs for the time being.”
“D-Darling!”
Lianna’s earnest pleading continued, saying this was too harsh a measure and begging him to reconsider.
However, Father stubbornly gave only the answer that there was nothing more to discuss.
Since this was the first time I had seen that woman flustered, I lifted my teacup to hide the sneer trying to escape my lips.
Soon after, Lianna looked at me with desperate eyes as if asking me to say something.
‘…Ridiculous. Does she really think I’m starving for a mother’s touch?’
Perhaps because I had shown intentions of wanting to get along well with a gentle smile.
Lianna shot me a look seeking even a bit of support.
As if I would give her that. Like Odette, I lowered my eyes as if afraid that Father’s anger might turn toward me.
No matter how desperate she was, I refused Lianna’s care from my side.
Thus Lianna lost her authority indefinitely.
* * *
“Whoa, everyone’s really here. Why did His Grace suddenly tell us to gather?”
“Didn’t you hear? This morning some servant from Rose Manor got thoroughly beaten and dragged away.”
“Eek! Lady Rosetta cracked a servant’s head open?”
“Clean out your ears.”
“Hasn’t she been a bit more lenient lately? Before, she used to-”
“Hey, I heard from the knight who was there. That guy just said such rude things to the Lady…”
“Has everyone gathered?”
At someone’s stern voice, the chaotic atmosphere instantly fell silent as if doused with cold water.
All the household attendants who had gathered in the manor’s hall at the head’s command looked up at the Duke who appeared on the central balcony.
Only Rosetta and his aide Stilling stood beside him.
“You must have all heard about what happened this morning.”
“…”
“Not only have you forgotten your duties and shown negligence, but I don’t think there’s only one person who would harm their own master. Therefore, starting today, we will redo your job training.”
At the Duke’s declaration that he would personally handle personnel management, people began to stir.
Scattered concerns and speculations about the Duchess could be heard, but it was brief compared to the chaos that followed.
“Also, Coco. From now on, you will identify the attendants who have been rude to you.”
“Yes, Father.”
“…I must pull out all the rotten roots.”
The commotion of the attendants, beyond mere unrest, could not be calmed.
Due to the Duke’s bombshell statement, some grumbled annoyedly, asking what this was all about.
Others wondered if he would really inspect hundreds of attendants one by one, yet couldn’t hide their anxious expressions.
Especially those who looked up at Rosetta with fear-tinged expressions as if they had something to worry about, swallowing dry saliva from tension.
‘I’ll need to post quite a large job opening.’
Rosetta, who had been watching them, finally followed the Duke’s steps.
On her calm face was neither the determination to finally carry out retribution, nor elation.
Nor even resentment toward them.
Only unwavering coldness, as if she would simply do what needed to be done.
The day of the Benatra purge had finally arrived.
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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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