Mad Rosetta - Chapter 55

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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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Rosette Gone Mad

Chapter 55

I Have a Lover (1)

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It had been several days since I was confined to my room under house arrest.

“Are you in your right mind?”

“That’s what I’d like to ask you. It’s not during the school term, so why are you here?”

Marmint had come to visit.

A few days prior—on the second day of my confinement, while I was rolling about on my bed—Penny had delivered several letters to me.

Among the senders were the nobility I had corresponded with thus far, as well as Cessia, but the most welcome letters came from Marmint and Etienne.

⌜Request for visiting permission.⌟

For a letter sent by a child who had only just turned eleven this year, it was remarkably brief and arrogant, with every line somehow sending a chill down my spine.

So I promptly accepted, only to have Sara pass by and remark that ‘it’s admirable that she would think to pay a sick visit even during exam period.’

Unable to shake the thought that this little girl had postponed her own duties to come see me, I furrowed my brow just as Marmint did.

“I’ve heard from others that the Academy is in exam period right now. Aren’t you studying?”

“Hmph. That’s something only children who neglect their studies normally end up doing when they panic.”

Startled by Marmint’s cold gaze, I cast a look of complaint toward Sing, who stood leaning against the windowsill.

‘Is this right? Her eloquence has grown even sharper. I’m losing ground here.’

As if reading my thoughts, Sing offered a shallow, reassuring smile.

【She’s angry at having caused you worry. You already know what they’re saying about you out there, don’t you?】

I spent several days turning over in my mind the news that had set the Empire abuzz with whispers.

‘A true noblewoman who saved citizens from the inferno—Rosetta Coco!’ That was the gist of it.

Confinement imposed with a sound mind proved far more pleasant than I’d anticipated. Lying abed and savoring luxurious restorative meals, I found myself thinking precisely that.

No mandatory attendance at feasts or salons. No need to receive the tutors who called upon me from time to time.

Rumors swept through society that the Princess of Benatra, who had rescued the citizens, lay gravely wounded and required absolute rest.

This became a convenient excuse to grant audiences only to those I wished to see.

‘Though I did incinerate every wretched Knight who dared appear.’

Save for a handful of malicious articles—”The Ragged Princess,” or “The Princess of Benatra Scarred by Burns, Marriage Prospects in Jeopardy!”—and the like.

My reputation had grown remarkably robust, even among those who had never known of me before.

Moreover, when the Shop Owner’s testimony published in the papers and suspicious circumstances disclosed through the Security Bureau came to light, conspiracy theories swirled that this fire had been deliberately aimed at me, a noblewoman.

Yet amidst all this public fervor, my Father made no official statement regarding my condition.

As a result, news outlets were churning out reports suggesting I was hovering at death’s door.

‘Well, I see. I was wrong.’

If I heard that my patron was on the brink of death, teetering precariously, I would certainly find it impossible to focus on examinations or anything else.

I cheerfully patted the space beside my bed and called for Marmint.

“You were worried, weren’t you? Don’t just stand there gawking—come closer and look. Though the servants have made a fuss wrapping everything up, most of the burns are minor—”

“That’s not all, though.”

“…What?”

“You were trapped in the fire for several minutes, weren’t you? Everyone said the fire was massive. So I…”

Do you think I’m a fool?

As Marmint asked this, she clenched only the hem of her dress like someone holding back tears.

…How troublesome it is when one becomes too clever. So many worries multiply.

That’s what I thought.

Just as Marmint said, the visible burns were scarcely a serious matter.

Rather, the Physician had repeatedly warned me to be cautious of respiratory ailments and diseases that emerge after an incubation period.

I myself could feel my health deteriorating so markedly that without consistent care, disaster seemed inevitable one day.

‘Especially the nights are unbearable….’

When I fell asleep, I would dream of the day I last saw the Duchess mingled with memories of being trapped in the shop.

Because of this, I would scream awake, and each time I saw Sing’s black legs rushing to hold me.

They looked so much like those of the one who murdered my mother and walked away….

Unless I met his teal eyes, it was difficult to calm myself easily.

In this state, even if the outside world praised me as righteous, no one in my immediate circle considered my actions well done.

“…I’m sorry for worrying you.”

“If you’re sorry, then take better care of yourself. Don’t rob me of a full life span.”

“What, what is it. Surely no one would bully you just because I’m a bit frail?”

“…Just take this.”

Marmint spoke with a tone suggesting I was worrying over nothing, seeming somewhat exasperated, and placed the bag she had brought onto my bed with a thud.

Inside were various medicinal compounds along with liquid preparations.

“Since I wasn’t certain of your exact condition, I made a safe combination. Still, show it to the Physician before taking it.”

“Understood.”

“This is excellent for detoxification when exposed to gas. And this one promotes blood circulation effectively, with decent skin regeneration properties as well…”

Marmint explained the medicines she had brought with meticulous detail, noting that she had enhanced the formulas from remedies she’d once prepared during her childhood at the Orphanage, when the children would often injure themselves playing with fire.

‘And you’re still only eleven years old.’

I was so impressed by Marmint that I summoned the Physician himself to meet her.

Then I arranged a consultation to ensure her medicines could be taken safely alongside the treatments already in use.

One well-trained apothecary was worth ten physicians.

* * *

“The effects really are quite remarkable.”

“Indeed. I was so worried you’d have to bear scars for life. What a relief.”

Penny spoke with evident relief as she applied the salve to my body.

After hearing Sing mention the Imperial Palace’s burn salve, I mentioned it to Father without much expectation—and he promptly procured it for me.

Though I had only applied it after the initial period of rigorous disinfection, once the wound had sufficiently closed, the results were remarkably effective.

“You’re not quite ready to rise yet. But at this rate, you’ll recover quickly and be able to resume your external engagements soon.”

“You’ve become quite the physician, Penny. Though I confess, I’m reluctant to leave this bed.”

“You’ve been so busy day after day—rest is well-deserved. And I must admit, I was genuinely moved.”

“By what?”

“Not only did Marmint come to see you, but the dress the seamstress sent. It was such a thoughtful gesture that I’d be truly disappointed if you didn’t wear it.”

Ah, now I understood.

Etienne had heard news of my grave condition and sent the dress mere days after the accident.

She hoped such circumstances would never arise, but should I find myself obligated to attend some function, she urged me to wear it.

The fabric was soft where it touched skin, and the wide sleeves meant the material barely grazed my arms.

“I heard that Bonita has cancelled all her scheduled engagements. She sent flowers too, saying she hopes you recover soon and wake up.”

“Hmph. If she’s so concerned, why hasn’t she shown her face even once?”

I scoffed bitterly, and Penny forced an awkward laugh in response.

Given the social scrutiny surrounding my accident, she couldn’t possibly attend gatherings or social functions alone.

Still, Lianna visited me at least once. How could the person responsible not even show her face?

– “Rosette, I wish you could understand. She’s been crying and carrying on, saying it’s as though the accident happened because of her….”

Ah, even thinking about it now infuriates me.

Odette, locked away in Lili Hall, claiming she couldn’t bear to face me because of her guilt—the very thought of her made me want to scream.

Perhaps my expression had grown too fierce. Penny hurriedly scrambled to change the subject, speaking without coherence.

“W-well, since you’re resting and not seeing many people, you should recover quickly, shouldn’t you? I was so worried I almost asked the Butler for a recommendation on burn salves.”

“Lawrence? Why?”

“Oh, the Butler has scars too. Burn marks starting from the back of his hand and continuing up his arm like this. You didn’t know?”

My heart plummeted as though it had fallen through the floor.

Penny, who had been calmly applying salve, suddenly saw my face turn ashen and looked anxious, wondering if she’d misspoken.

– 【He was wearing leather gloves. It was dark, so I couldn’t see clearly, but burn scars were visible between his sleeves. They seemed to be around his wrist.】

In that moment, I recalled Sing’s expression as he spoke of the person who had murdered Dr. Drabe Beaumont.

The burn scars Penny had seen on Lawrence’s arm must surely be connected to the fire incident related to the Duchess’s death.

Penny, who had only worked at the Household for about three years, wouldn’t know—but Lawrence’s arms originally bore no burn scars whatsoever.

More importantly, when I woke up after losing my memory, his hands were clearly wrapped in bandages.

‘Could it be… could it possibly be…?’

The Duchess rising from her seat as though greeting a familiar acquaintance.

The black gloves he wore.

The distinctive mark of the one who murdered Dr. Drabe Beaumont.

And finally, the burn scar on his body—its very existence divided by whether it appeared before or after the Duchess’s death.

A deeply unsettling and horrifying premonition seized me.

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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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