Mad Rosetta - Chapter 5

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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 5

Those Who Obey Well Have Nothing to Fear (1)

As soon as I arrived, they subtly pointed out my laziness for being later than father, while indirectly telling me that if I wanted to pretend to be sick, I shouldn’t crawl out of my room.

Their shameless faces gave me chills for a moment.

In the past, even though they were family bound only by documents, I mistakenly believed they truly cared for and cherished me, so I was easily manipulated…

‘Now I see I was the fool.’

Such blatant hostility was simply ridiculous.

‘I had no intention of starting a power struggle from the beginning…’

Since they threw the first punch, I suppose I’ll have to hit back about three times harder.

I brought up the issue that had been bothering me since I entered.

“But Bonita. I don’t see a seat for me.”

Saying this, I looked down at Odette.

Odette mumbled asking what I meant, then quickly understood my intention and showed a startled expression.

With father’s seat at the center of the dining table as reference, Lianna sat diagonally to the right, and Odette sat diagonally to the left.

“Would you move aside, Bonita?”

How dare the second daughter.

She was sitting in the eldest’s seat, the direct heir’s seat no less.

Odette’s eyes wavered as they turned toward Lianna.

It was a request for help.

“…What does seating matter among family, Rosetta. Rather than troubling ourselves to change what’s already set, wouldn’t it be better to just leave things as they are for today?”

“Oh mother. I understand you don’t want to scold Bonita because you cherish her.”

“No, that’s not-“

“However! If you truly care for Bonita, wouldn’t giving her proper guidance when she acts thoughtlessly like this be the way to help your beloved daughter grow more properly?”

“…”

Ah! Lianna’s support ship has been sunk!

Completely blown to pieces!

At my rebuke that she shouldn’t just coddle our girl but should educate her sternly when she’s wrong, Lianna’s plump lips pressed tightly shut.

I then gave a truly pitying look before taking the hand of Odette, who was still proudly keeping her heavy bottom planted in place.

“Bonita? In our household, no one would blame you for occasionally lacking formality. However, you’ll soon enter society, and if you make such mistakes then…”

“S-sister?”

“Moreover, if tender-hearted you were to show tears from embarrassment, I would regret for years not teaching you properly today.”

A pot that leaks inside will leak outside too, won’t it? You’re the type who cries when things don’t go your way, lacking any refinement.

I had to try not to laugh at Odette, who could only stammer without being able to answer properly.

She probably sat in this seat naturally from the time I was holed up in my room, barely eating meals, but now that the owner has come, you need to get lost.

When I shot barbs loaded with all sorts of harsh meanings, the fate of this thieving cat who coveted others’ things was miserable.

Especially since father was someone who wouldn’t tolerate overstepping one’s authority as a family member.

“Bonita. What are you doing?”

“Yes?”

“The food hasn’t come out yet. Hurry and return to your seat.”

At father’s indifferent remark, Odette quietly answered that she understood and moved to the side.

The way she bit and held her lower lip for a moment showed she was quite upset.

It was fascinating.

Odette had always shown me either gentle smiles or pitiful tears telling me not to be angry…

Realizing that was just the leisure she could afford when situations went her way, I confidently claimed the seat to father’s left.

Sing said this household was a complete spectacle worth watching from across the river, giving me a thumbs up saying the excitement was extraordinary.

‘What’s a thing without eyes even saying.’

I used his reaction as nourishment and chuckled quietly.

Once all the masters of Benitra were seated, various dishes filled the dining table as if it had never been empty.

Sadly, what was placed before me was only clear soup made from finely ground vegetables.

But with its beautiful color and garnishes neatly arranged, it seemed to be food father had ordered out of concern for me, who often skipped meals.

What a sweet father.

When father picked up his fork and knife, I also eagerly took a spoonful of food.

‘…It’s delicious.’

It felt like I hadn’t eaten for days.

And for good reason… Not long ago, just a few hours ago, wasn’t I frantically crawling through the back garden of Cessia’s estate with a poisoned body?

This moment of eating warm food felt precious.

I was busy eating only soup as random sentiments arose, when father, who had been glancing at me the whole time, let out an embarrassed cough.

“Ahem, cough! Coco. Your dress looks particularly radiant today, very lovely.”

At father’s words, Lianna and Odette’s gazes fixed on the dress I was wearing.

The only person who could send me a single high-quality dress without any note was father alone.

I quickly touched my outfit like a child showing off.

“Isn’t it? Since I had absolutely no decent clothes when I looked, I spotted this dress that fit me perfectly and came out wearing it.”

Dad, who stole all my clothes?

I answered while glancing at Odette sitting beside me.

No matter how much I was rumored to be a mad princess, how could father’s gifts be all I had?

Precious things offered to Benitra’s direct line to get even crumbs were always overflowing.

At the time, I was too frightened and refused even the maids’ gentle hands trying to dress me in pretty things, so I didn’t know, but Odette seemed to covet them greatly.

– “Sister, I’m really upset. I was supposed to go shopping with mother, but I don’t have a proper dress…”

– “Sigh, the young ladies are coming to visit today… What if they criticize my outfit for being unfashionable?”

Odette really would use various stories to completely clean out my wardrobe at every opportunity.

She would always cry when troubled, worrying about bringing shame to Benitra’s reputation. I found such a younger sister both pitiful and admirable, so I helped her with all my heart.

Of course, occasionally when I was furious, I would tell her to strip and go naked, tearing apart the dress Odette was wearing… But that was really only very rarely.

“No decent clothes? With all that’s been sent to you, Rosetta, you don’t have one fine dress.”

“That is…”

I trailed off, pretending to be mindful of Odette.

Since this was one of the behaviors unbecoming of Benitra, who should walk proudly anywhere, father quickly became angry.

I eventually turned the arrow toward Odette while maintaining a sullen expression as if I had no choice.

“The thing is, Bonita said she needed them, so out of pity…”

“S-sister! What are you saying? Father, that’s not true. I never asked for them… You just gave them to me as gifts saying they’d look better on me.”

“Oh my, but Bonita… When my dear younger sister was upset in front of me saying she had no pretty dresses, how could I not yield as an older sister? Though I didn’t know the entire wardrobe would be completely empty.”

“No, father. I really…”

“Enough!”

She really seems about to cry.

If the usual Odette would pitifully whine, now she looked like she was truly about to burst into tears from injustice.

Whether he couldn’t understand his daughter acting like a pushover, or was angry that the sisters caused discord over mere fabric scraps, father looked very displeased.

“…Sigh. Bonita?”

Father let out a deep sigh, then called Odette with raised eyes.

With his amethyst-colored eyes and sharply raised eyebrows, I thought so that’s how I look to others.

Meaning I looked terribly ill-tempered enough to make one’s knees weak.

“Didn’t you frequently go shopping with Lianna? Are all the receipts I’ve been handling just charity donations?”

“D-dear!”

“I promised to care for you without want… But now I see I’ve raised you to be greedy, Bonita. Refrain from purchasing luxury items for the time being.”

Lianna cried out “Dear!” again in shock, but father scolded her back, saying his words weren’t finished yet.

Kyahaha, greedy!

Since this was the first time I’d heard such a vulgar word directed at Odette, I had to hide my face downward and suppress my laughter while looking gloomy.

I nearly fell over as Sing made ridiculous impressions below Odette’s face, which was red with shame, saying greed was stuck all over her.

“Rosetta. Coco.”

“Yes, father.”

“You shouldn’t have done that as an older sister either. Didn’t you say so yourself earlier? As an older sister, you should set an example for your younger sister and correct her wrongs. From now on, even if Bonita acts cute and throws tantrums, you may buy her new clothes, but don’t give away your own things so easily.”

I answered that I would keep it in mind, while knowing that Father’s words weren’t meant as a scolding.

After all, there were very few things I couldn’t resolve by throwing a tantrum to Father, and I felt he was earnestly teaching me that while I should make concessions, I shouldn’t suffer losses.

Perhaps finding the dining atmosphere awkward as it had grown heavy due to our exchange of psychological warfare, Father cleared his throat again before bringing up the main topic.

“Ahem! Since we’ve finally gathered together after so long, we can’t let it end on such a gloomy note. I’ll have several beautiful dresses made and sent to both Rosetta and Bonita, so don’t be too upset just because this father said a few things.”

He’s surprisingly tender-hearted. Just because he scolded us a bit, he’s already trying to appease us like this.

Breakfast was able to end without any major conflict.

Actually, I had prepared various responses in case Lianna mentioned the commotion that occurred during the morning. But perhaps the shock of being suddenly struck by insignificant me hadn’t worn off, she ultimately let it pass without saying anything.

‘Well, causing too much trouble can become poison for oneself too…’

I too finished my meal by wiping my lips while harboring a feeling of satisfaction.

It was a good start.

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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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