Mad Rosetta - Chapter 42

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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 42

The Villainess, the Rose, and the Ghost (8)

So this was what she wanted to show me.

I would have believed her if she’d simply come to me and confessed everything. There was no need for all of this.

Watching my daughter lay bare every detail of her predicament while enduring such vile insults—it pierced Artemis’s chest with a searing ache.

“D-Duke. Your Grace….”

“In all my years, I’ve never encountered such insolence. I scarcely know where to begin.”

The Servant’s earlier boldness—the shameless insults hurled at Rosetta—had vanished entirely.

So too had the anger I felt toward her, watching her face drain of color the moment she saw me.

“Are you aware that defaming a high-ranking noble—one second only to the Imperial Family—constitutes lèse-majesté? The penalty is death.”

“I-I didn’t….”

“If you committed this act knowingly, I find it most regrettable indeed.”

No one could have guessed what would come next.

* * *

“Your Grace! Forgive me! I was mad for a moment. Please, Your Grace, I beg your forgiveness!”

How pathetic she’d become.

Vicky, now ashen-faced, threw herself prostrate before Father as though she’d never shown me any disrespect at all, begging for his mercy.

“…And you thought you could speak such filth to my daughter and walk away unscathed?”

I, meanwhile, found myself studying Father’s expression—the menacing aura radiating from him was almost frightening.

His clenched jaw, muscles taut with the effort of swallowing his fury, and his violet eyes, cold and sunken, only amplified that menacing aura.

I had taken the initiative, hoping that facing my circumstances would compel him to take a harder stance, but….

This was the first time I had ever seen Father so indignant.

“P-please. Duke, show mercy—”

“Is there no one outside!”

The guards, startled by Father’s roar, came rushing in.

The Attendant was prostrate on the floor, her head bowed as though she had committed some grave crime.

Seeing their master standing before her, the guards stiffened, their bodies rigid with tension.

There was nothing more to see.

Father spoke thus, his gaze descending upon Vicky.

“Take her away. I shall interrogate her myself.”

His eyes were infinitely cold and piercing.

* * *

Tick-tock, tick-tock.

The only sound in Father’s Study was the chiming of the wall clock hanging there, as everyone present sat in silence.

No, it would be more accurate to say that everyone was holding their breath in an atmosphere where they couldn’t easily speak up.

Vicky was eventually dragged away from that spot and locked in the Dungeon, and Father promptly summoned all family members to the Study.

“…Explain yourself, Butler. Why is the Duke so angry?”

Oh, you’ve got some guts.

In place of her father, who was silent, Lianna asked the Butler in a composed tone.

The moment Vicky was dragged away, the command fell so swiftly that neither Lianna nor Odette seemed to grasp the full context of what had transpired.

“It appears… the Attendant acted recklessly toward Miss Rosetta, and His Grace has come to understand the gravity of the situation.”

“An Attendant was disrespectful to our Rosetta? What on earth did she do?”

“From what I understand, she cast a curse on Miss Rosetta’s precious belongings with intent to cause harm, and His Grace discovered it.”

The Butler’s brief explanation, delivered while gauging Father’s expression, caused both Lianna and Odette’s faces to freeze simultaneously.

Precious belongings.

That alone was enough for Odette to realize that Vicky’s scheme had been thoroughly exposed.

Moreover, seeing Lianna’s complexion darken as well, it seemed Odette had indeed shared her plan with her own mother.

These two women surely knew better than anyone how deeply Father cherished me.

Realizing the gravity of the situation—that it had been discovered by none other than the head of the Household—Lianna spoke in a soothing tone, her final words carefully measured.

“So such a thing occurred… My dear, how distressed you must be. Rosetta, how are you? She tried to harm you, didn’t she? You weren’t injured, were you?”

“…Fortunately, no.”

“Truly, how could such a thing happen in our Household… I don’t know the specifics, but I’m relieved you weren’t hurt.”

“…”

“Where is that Attendant now? Darling, I shall ensure she is properly punished and cast out-“

“Reina.”

“Yes?”

“Do you not yet grasp the situation?”

His voice was as cold as ice.

Father, who had kept his head bowed in silence all this while, finally lifted his gaze toward Lianna.

Whether it was the weight of guilt pressing down on her, or if Father’s reaction was simply unexpected.

Lianna appeared deeply tense, her usual subtle smile completely absent from her face.

“What did that man say to Rosetta? I hear everyone in this Household disregards her.”

“….”

“From what I gathered from my child’s account, beyond that Servant who deserves nothing but contempt, there are more than one or two Attendants guilty of negligence and deception.”

“…Darling, I understand your anger. But first, let’s be calm-“

“How dare you! To my daughter! The heir of Benatra herself treated this way! What have you been doing all this time!”

Father, who had been speaking through gritted teeth as if restraining his barely contained fury, finally erupted and shouted.

Though the expression of the very person who had issued the threat looked as though she might cry at any moment, which pained my heart, I did not let it show.

The role of mistress of the Manor naturally encompasses many duties—household management, diplomatic activities, and more.

Yet Lianna’s negligence was bound to stand out, given that her primary responsibility was overseeing all the Attendants.

No matter how divided the domains of authority might be, Father’s sense of responsibility was separate from how the situation had spiraled to this extent.

“…When we agreed to accept you and Bonita, didn’t you make a promise to me? That you would cherish Rosetta just as you do Bonita, and fulfill your duties as a parent.”

“…I understand your distress completely. I too recognize the gravity of what has happened. So going forward, I’ll be more attentive-“

“Round and round we go. Did I not tell you there are more than one or two such Attendants?”

“….”

“It seems to me now that you are unfit to govern the Duke’s Estate.”

“…Darling?”

Lianna’s voice trembled as if she could not believe what she was hearing. Her eyes betrayed not just shock, but shame.

Yet Father, with cold eyes, delivered his final judgment to her nonetheless.

“If you acknowledge responsibility for this incident, then take it.”

“….”

“You are to withdraw from Duke’s Estate affairs for the time being.”

“D-Darling!”

Lianna’s earnest pleas continued, insisting this was far too harsh a measure and begging him to reconsider just once more.

Yet Father remained unyielding, offering nothing but the response that he had nothing more to say on the matter.

Witnessing this woman’s flustered state for the first time, I lifted my teacup to conceal the smirk threatening to escape my lips.

Soon after, Lianna turned to me with desperate eyes, as though urging me to say something in her defense.

‘…How amusing. Does she truly believe I’m starved for a mother’s touch?’

Perhaps because I had conveyed my intentions with a gentle smile, expressing my desire to live peacefully.

Lianna shot me a look seeking even the slightest show of support.

As if I would grant her that. Like Odette, I lowered my eyes, fearful that Father’s displeasure might turn toward me.

No matter how dire the circumstances, I had no intention of accepting Lianna’s care.

Thus, Lianna lost her authority indefinitely.

* * *

“Wow, they’re all really here. Why did the Duke suddenly summon everyone?”

“You didn’t hear? This morning, some servant at Rose Manor got completely smashed and dragged away.”

“Eek! Rosetta broke a servant’s head?”

“Clean your ears out.”

“Hasn’t she been a bit more lenient lately? Before, she would have-“

“Hey, I heard from that Knight who was there. He just let loose with crude remarks to the Lady without any restraint….”

“Is everyone here?”

At someone’s stern voice, the chaotic atmosphere instantly froze as if doused with cold water.

All the Attendants of the Household who had gathered in the Manor’s Hall at the head of the family’s command looked up at the Duke, who had appeared at the central railing.

Only Rosetta and his aide Stilling stood beside him.

“You’ve all surely heard of what happened this morning.”

“….”

“I don’t believe there is only one person who has forgotten their duty and shown negligence, let alone caused harm to their master. Therefore, from today onward, I shall personally conduct your duties retraining.”

At the Duke’s declaration that he would personally take charge of personnel management, the crowd began to stir.

Scattered concerns and speculations about the Duchess were heard, but they were brief compared to the chaos that followed.

“Furthermore, Coco. From now on, you are to identify the Attendants who have treated you with disrespect.”

“Yes, Father.”

“…I must root out all my rotten foundations.”

The murmuring chaos of the Attendants, beyond mere confusion, could not be suppressed.

Some smirked dismissively at the Duke’s bombshell announcement, as if to say what nonsense this was.

Others, unable to hide their anxious eyes, questioned whether he truly intended to scrutinize several hundred Attendants one by one.

Particularly those who looked up at Rosetta with expressions tinged with fear, as if something weighed heavily on their consciences, could only swallow nervously at the tension.

‘I’ll need to post quite a substantial recruitment notice.’

Rosetta, observing them all, soon followed the Duke’s footsteps.

On her composed face, there was neither the solemnity of one about to carry out punishment nor any hint of elation.

Or even resentment toward them.

There was only an unwavering coldness, as though I were simply fulfilling my duty without hesitation or doubt.

The day of Benatra’s purge had finally arrived.

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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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