Mad Rosetta - Chapter 45

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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 45

 

The Second Spring (2)

 

【Good grief, I’m living to see even Fordicus making such a face.】

 

“….”

 

Sing, who had been watching silently for a while, sneered with a voice full of disgust.

 

I was in complete agreement.

 

It was true that men and women who had undergone their coming-of-age ceremony could marry.

 

However, in my previous life, the time when Cessia and I formally held our ceremony was at the very end of my eighteenth year.

 

‘At that time, my reputation was so terrible that they had to consider whether to break off the engagement or not….’

 

Though things had improved compared to then, I thought the current situation wasn’t much different.

 

From Cessia’s perspective, my condition had only improved for about a year at most.

 

I couldn’t understand what he had seen in me during that time to make such a decision.

 

‘…Could it really be because of love?’

 

Cessia wasn’t someone who was swayed by emotions.

 

If someone seemed like they might cause him even the slightest harm, he would draw the line without mercy.

 

So even though the number of people who viewed me favorably had increased, proposing to me when my past disgrace could be dredged up at any time wasn’t like him.

 

One thing was certain: he was a man I wanted to use thoroughly as a tool to manipulate Odette, then kill with my own hands.

 

I couldn’t allow things to fall apart by unnecessarily stirring up trouble.

 

“Marriage, huh. Of course I’ll accept, but…. I’m a little worried.”

 

“What are you worried about?”

 

At this, I smiled bitterly as if apologetic.

 

“Well, as you know, my reputation hasn’t been all that good. For someone like me to marry Fordicus, I feel a bit…. Like I’m indebted.”

 

“…You were concerned about something like that?”

 

Don’t look so moved, you damn bastard.

 

As I spoke mournfully, Cessia looked at me with a pleased expression as if he thought I was being admirable.

 

I didn’t want to boost the already high self-esteem of this man.

 

But today, I needed to create an excuse to prevent something like being bound by marriage from happening.

 

“You know how proud I am. That’s why I’ve been showing my face around so much lately, and why I’ve been busy socializing.”

 

“Yes, that’s true. My acquaintances have been praising you a lot too.”

 

“That’s welcome news. Anyway, from my perspective, I’m still a bit… lacking. So I’d like more people to recognize that I’m someone who suits Benitra. Until then, I’d like to put talk of marriage on hold.”

 

“But that kind of thing can be done sufficiently even after marriage-”

 

“No, Fordicus.”

 

“….”

 

“I need a position as Benitra, not as a daughter-in-law of the Montague household.”

 

Since you too are someone who represents a noble house, you should understand what I mean.

 

At my firm declaration, Cessia eventually sighed low as if he had no choice.

 

“Alright, Rose. I’ll respect your words.”

 

“…Thank you.”

 

“Oh, since we’re talking about it, are you free sometime next week?”

 

“Why?”

 

“There’s an opera house that newly opened in Facade Estate, and I heard it’s not bad. I was thinking we could also visit Prim Facade Street while we’re at it.”

 

“Ah….”

 

“Since we’ve postponed the marriage, surely you can spare some time for a date, my fiancée.”

 

Ah, why does my heart ache like this.

 

Why did you change?

 

If only you had cherished me like before, treating me as just a puzzle piece for your perfect life….

 

My heart wouldn’t have become this uncomfortable.

 

‘If I hadn’t become sisters with Odette, if I hadn’t gone mad from poison…. Would it have been natural for you to look at me with such tender eyes someday?’

 

This kind of worry had been persistently following me since I became aware of Cessia’s feelings.

 

Then where should this heart that hates Cessia enough to want to kill him go?

 

– “Really, I’m sick and tired of seeing that woman’s gaunt figure.”

 

– “When that happens, you can just come see me, Lord Cessia.”

 

– “Haha! That’s why I came to you again today, didn’t I.”

 

…No. There’s nowhere to send it.

 

No matter how much I indulged in meaningless hypotheticals, neither the fact that Cessia and Odette had their affair, nor the fact that I died after disgracefully crumbling before him would change.

 

The past that doesn’t exist for you still exists for me.

 

“Yes, let’s go on a date.”

 

At my answer, with the lavishly blooming roses in the vase as a backdrop, Cessia smiled brightly like a flower.

 

I am justified in hating you.

 

So you too may curse and hate me as you die.

 

Just as I did….

 

Crumble disgracefully, Cessia.

 

* * *

 

【A daaate?】

 

“….”

 

【The guy who was saying let’s get married first suddenly wants a date? And someone readily agreed to it?】

 

“….”

 

【Ah, I’m so upset. The two of you going to Prim Facade together. Are you listening, darling? Honey? I’m so depressed.】

 

“Ah, stop your chattering!”

 

Sing had been whining in my ear the entire way back to my room through the corridor.

 

As soon as I closed the door to my room, I shouted angrily.

 

The startled fellow blinked his eyelids a couple of times, then narrowed his eyes and said.

 

【Honey, tell me honestly.】

 

“What.”

 

【You just wanted to go to Prim Facade Street, didn’t you?】

 

“….”

 

【Right? Even so, how could you think of going with Fordicus? There’s even a saying that ‘all lovers gather at Prim Facade.’ How could you, leaving me behind-】

 

“You’re going to follow anyway.”

 

【Well, probably.】

 

…I’m exhausted.

 

I glanced at the fellow with dead fish eyes, then trudged over to sit on the sofa.

 

On the table was a catalog from Etienne’s Atelier that Penny or the servants must have placed there.

 

Thanks to the dresses that Miss Etienne faithfully sent, I had enough to wear for this spring.

 

When I checked with curiosity, sure enough, it was a summer catalog.

 

‘I told her to take it easy. Really, such a workaholic.’

 

Well, she must be busy.

 

Last year, Father had supplied ‘Mir,’ a summer fabric he imported, to Etienne’s Atelier.

 

Thanks to successful commercialization, summer clothing had sold like hotcakes, so even starting preparations now would be cutting it close.

 

Skimming through it roughly, there were countless designs from light dresses for outings to gowns for banquets.

 

【Rather than those, this one would suit you better.】

 

Since when did you have expertise in fashion?

 

The fellow sat beside me and examined the catalog more intently than I did, then pointed to a dress and spoke.

 

The jade-colored dress, paler than celadon and with bright saturation, had a hue very similar to Sing’s eyes.

 

‘No, more than that, you’re too close.’

 

With that thought, I pushed Sing’s face away with my palm, and the fellow looked dazed for a moment.

 

【…Question. My lover has been acting rather cold lately, what should I do? What did I do wrong?】

 

“A world where even ghosts have lovers. I’d like to see what kind of crazy person that is.”

 

【I pity you for having such a narrow-minded perspective.】

 

“This is….”

 

I had been answering indifferently while keeping my gaze fixed on the catalog, but soon turned my head to glare at him.

 

However, for a moment I found myself at a loss for words.

 

【Of course there is.】

 

Those eyes, beautiful as a pristine sea, faintly visible like crescents.

 

The dimples that appeared along his smile lines, ready to tease as always.

 

【Her hair is red like crimson, her words are sharp, but she’s actually gentle with her subordinates.】

 

“….”

 

【And she’s quite a rare beauty.】

 

Each feature was enough to capture and hold my attention.

 

…There was a problem.

 

A very serious one at that.

 

‘Really, what’s wrong with me?’

 

Since when did being alone with Sing like this become so uncomfortable?

 

Even after thinking it over carefully, I still couldn’t figure out why I had become so conscious of him.

 

It was just that looking at that grinning face for more than a few seconds had become somewhat difficult.

 

The problem was that each time, I somehow felt queasy inside.

 

So I tried to keep my distance, but since we had always bickered together, suddenly trying to be formal felt awkward too.

 

Because of this, I had been living with my nerves on edge lately.

 

‘And this bastard doesn’t even realize it, just getting more frivolous by the day….’

 

I had to think it was probably because of his rather extraordinary appearance.

 

Moreover, being an unknown existence called a ghost, it had its own persuasive power.

 

Was it last winter?

 

With the fireplace crackling merrily beside us, I had read a book together with Sing because he couldn’t hold objects.

 

While doing so, I was watching his face as it glowed yellowish in the flickering firelight, and I casually asked.

 

– “…Can ghosts bewitch people and such?”

 

– 【Hm?】

 

– “Ah, no. You know, those kinds of stories. Someone bewitched by a ghost jumping off a bridge. Or sleeping with a beautiful being in the forest, only to find bones beside them the next day….”

 

– 【Haha, well…. I haven’t seen such cases among those I’ve encountered, so I wouldn’t know.】

 

Are you bewitched, darling?

 

Recalling those clear eyes of his as he asked that question, I felt my face growing hot again.

 

It was probably because the servants had put too much firewood in back then, making it stuffy.

 

Perhaps that’s why I felt hot whenever I remembered that moment.

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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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