Mad Rosetta - Chapter 63

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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 63

Calastian Sing·Theo Arcanis (1)

* * *

To survive means to be strong.

From this perspective, I don’t think I was a particularly strong ruler for my people.

Calastian Theo Arcanis.

An emperor who died just six months after ascending the throne, with no notable achievements to speak of—there’s no excuse for that.

If I had to pick the most special day of my sixteen years of life, it would probably be when I met your parents, Rosette.

“I heard you summoned me, Your Majesty.”

“Oh, Sing… Yes, I called for you.”

The smell of alcohol…

Despite it being broad daylight, I had to meet His Majesty, who as always reeked of liquor.

Though I was only seven at the time, even at that young age, I think I looked down on my father who lived with alcohol every day.

“You’re growing more and more like Vitali.”

His words as he reached out to me, along with my disgust for him, played a part.

My deceased mother, whom I had only seen in portraits.

Those rough hands that were busy touching my jet-black hair, saying I resembled his beloved.

The name given to the most cherished was passed down entirely to me, the son of the dead Empress.

Of course, since it was inherited unofficially, it wouldn’t be included in the Empire’s curriculum. But it would remain in the palace scribes’ records and as my father’s comfort, and that seemed enough.

“I heard you met with the First Imperial Consort yesterday.”

“…I only saw her briefly while having tea with Brother Jeremiah.”

“Don’t grow attached to the First Imperial Consort, Crown Prince. That woman could stab you in the back at any time.”

“…Yes, of course. I keep that in mind.”

That’s how Father evaluated the First Imperial Consort.

It was getting tiresome.

A father who didn’t properly tend to state affairs and only held onto the dead in his heart, and a First Imperial Consort who tried to monitor my every move to survive day by day in the palace under such an emperor’s oppression.

Even my brother, alienated by such parents and only busy watching my reactions.

It was a day when quite many things felt tiresome.

“Should I give you wildflowers, should I give you greenhouse flowers… I cannot give you either…”

The weather was exceptionally nice.

The wind wasn’t too cold, and the flowers planted in the garden were particularly brilliant, as if welcoming early spring.

So it was reasonable that I felt like taking a walk while waiting for my next lesson, and that my gaze was drawn to that particularly deep crimson hair.

It was all perfectly reasonable.

“How can I not give them… Because you are a flower yourself, haha! Ugh, what a cheesy song… Right, little one?”

Entry permits to the Imperial Palace Gardens aren’t easily granted to outsiders.

Yet she was sitting in the garden humming songs as if it were her own bedroom.

Judging by her somewhat swollen belly, she seemed to be pregnant, and she was even placing flower petals on her belly while talking to it.

After doing this for a while, perhaps sensing my gaze, she looked at me.

Her pale peach-colored eyes didn’t look away from me for quite some time.

Though I should have pointed out the rudeness of not bowing her head despite seeing royalty, I couldn’t easily speak up.

“Oh my!”

Only then did she struggle to rise from her seat, supporting her heavy belly with one hand while bowing low.

“Tabena Ariela greets His Majesty the Crown Prince.”

Tabena Ariela.

As soon as I heard that name, I immediately knew who she was.

The story of the current Duke Benatra, who fell in love and married her while negotiating with her as a princess of an enemy nation, was known throughout the Empire.

“Truly, I thought His Majesty Vitali had grown younger, so I momentarily forgot my manners.”

As was the fact that she had been close friends with my deceased mother.

Watching her burst into hearty laughter, I inwardly assessed that she certainly didn’t seem well-adapted to Imperial customs, while smiling kindly.

“So you’re Duchess Benitra. I saw an unfamiliar face in the garden and my gaze lingered somewhat long. Please forgive my rudeness.”

“Do I need to forgive every little thing like that? It’s fine to look a bit.”

“…”

“Since you’re here anyway, could you keep me company? My husband went in to work quite a while ago, but I haven’t seen hide nor hair of him yet.”

That’s when I first learned.

The linguistic refinement of nobles who speak in roundabout ways is completely useless in front of someone so direct and tactless.

Even then, Benatra was a family of tremendous influence among the high nobility, maintaining neutrality in any situation.

Since the wife of such a family was making a request, I couldn’t coldly refuse, so I readily extended my hand to her.

Since I couldn’t show the disgrace of sitting on the bare ground as she had done, it was to guide her to a well-arranged garden table.

“Hoho, I remember Your Majesty as a newborn. When did you grow up enough to escort me?”

“…It seems I met you when I was young, my lady.”

“Oh my, didn’t you know? I was there when Your Majesty came into this world.”

…I had no idea.

I knew that my deceased mother had been quite close to Duchess Benitra.

But she was in the birthing chamber with her?

Though I was seven, I felt inexplicably embarrassed and decided to quickly change the subject.

“Speaking of which, aren’t you also expecting, my lady? May I ask how much time remains until your delivery?”

“I’ve just completed eight months, so about two months remain.”

“Your body must be quite heavy—is it alright for you to be out here?”

“Don’t even mention it, Your Majesty. My husband won’t let me go anywhere beyond the garden all day long, so I begged to at least see the Imperial Palace Gardens and followed him here. Do you know how many months it’s been since I’ve been outside?”

She complained at length about her hardships while maintaining an excited expression throughout.

The more I listened to her story, the more I could tell how much the Duke and Duchess Benatra were looking forward to their child’s birth, which made me feel somewhat pleased as well.

“Come to think of it, at eight months, you might know the child’s gender, right? I keep asking because I’m ignorant about such matters.”

“Rosetta Coco.”

“…Pardon?”

I was greatly startled when the Duchess suddenly brought her face close and whispered.

Like a girl sharing a secret, she covered her mouth and spoke in a voice full of mischief.

“I heard from the priest. He told me to prepare swaddling clothes with frills.”

“Ah, yes. Then…”

“Yes, that’s right. Rosetta Coco. If it’s a girl, we’ve decided to name her that.”

She giggled, saying she deliberately hadn’t told her husband, looking truly delighted.

Unlike my bleak existence in the imperial palace where I still had to fulfill my duties, she seemed to radiate colors like a rainbow.

Though I might find tiresome this life where I must properly learn, understand, and accept things for this country’s sake…

I had never once envied another person.

“…It’s truly a beautiful name. She’ll surely become an outstanding princess, resembling you and Duke Benatra.”

“Of course. I guarantee she’ll become the most dazzling woman in the Empire.”

“Haha, if I asked to be put in line as a suitor in advance, would you grant that?”

It was purely flattery.

I simply thought that any parent would feel proud to have many suitors for their child, so I wanted to lift the Duchess’s spirits.

“That’s not for me to decide.”

Her firm answer was unexpected.

When I found myself asking back stupidly, the Duchess replied in a voice that was both serious and gentle.

“Since it’s a matter of choosing someone to spend a lifetime with, my daughter’s will is essential above all.”

“…”

“So if Your Majesty the Crown Prince should ever truly wish to win my daughter’s heart in the future… you’ll have to make the appropriate effort.”

Within her serious advice, her mischievous eyes were filled with love for her child.

For a moment, I became truly curious about you who would be born.

Despite knowing that royal marriages are all based on political decisions, and that there are countless people preparing to stand by my side, perhaps my pride was hurt.

So I impulsively leaned toward you who would be in her belly.

“Princess, do you know this?”

“….”

“The name ‘Sing’ is something bestowed upon those most beloved and precious.”

“….”

“So when the Princess is born and grows into the outstanding Benitra as the Duchess says… then I will give this ‘Sing’ to her.”

“….”

“It seems I’m the only one left in this Empire who can pass this on.”

Looking back now, it was truly an arrogant courtship, wasn’t it.

What was so special about a mere name.

Did I think a Princess whose face I’d never seen would naturally want it?

Others always treated me nobly, and I too believed such treatment was rightful.

So you in the future would also want to have what others envied.

I think I had such childish thoughts.

“Where are you, Ariel!”

“Oh my, it seems our dear has arrived.”

I still wonder what love would be if that wasn’t love, Rosette.

Your father’s appearance, his always upright and stern face turning pale as he called loudly for his wife despite being in the Imperial Palace.

Your mother’s retreating figure as she discovered her husband and hurried toward him with quick steps while cradling her heavy belly.

“Ah, darling! Hah, I told you to just stay at the Garden Entrance… With your body so heavy, where on earth have you been?”

“Soivan, it’s because you came late. You said it wouldn’t take long, honestly, always lying.”

The sight of the husband kissing his wife’s eyes while asking her to stop startling him because he was sorry, and your mother accepting it so naturally.

How happy would you be, born to such a couple, and how you would grow knowing such dazzling love.

I think I had expectations.

“…So they call each other darling.”

That’s how you call someone when you love them.

I think I realized.

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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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