Mad Rosetta - Chapter 64

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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 64

Calastaan Sing·Theo Arcanis (2)

* * *

I was sixteen years old.

Right after celebrating the New Year, His Majesty the Emperor passed away.

Not me, but our father.

The cause of death was airway asphyxiation. He died after vomit from excessive drinking blocked his airway and was left unattended.

I couldn’t shake the thought that even in death, he went out in such a pathetic way.

“…What are you doing?”

“She said she wants to devote herself to God, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

After Her Majesty the Empress—that is, my mother—died during childbirth,

Father quickly brought in the Second Empress to keep Carina in check.

Thanks to that, besides Jeremiah, I had another sibling two years younger than me—the First Princess, Selina Ashe.

That didn’t mean we were particularly close siblings though.

Since the Second Empress herself was weak-willed, she feared Carina and lived quietly as a mouse with Selina throughout their stay in the Imperial Palace.

Therefore, Selina was nothing more than a younger sister whose face I could barely see.

And right after His Majesty the Emperor’s funeral ended, she suddenly declared her devotion to me.

“Why?”

“It has been my lifelong dream.”

“Selina, you’re only fourteen years old. Don’t you think it’s rather early to use the phrase ‘lifelong’?”

“My birthday hasn’t passed yet, so I’m thirteen. Your Majesty is scheduled to ascend the throne at sixteen.”

What’s this? I thought she had grown taller, but apparently she’d grown an attitude too.

At the time, I was incredibly busy finishing Father’s funeral, preparing for the succession ceremony, and taking responsibility for Jeremiah and Carina’s departure…

Anyway, though I wasn’t particularly inclined to, I decided to grant Selina’s request.

I knew clearly that she cherished her mother dearly.

So I could only guess that her intention to devote herself was to completely withdraw from succession rights and dream of a comfortable life with the Second Empress.

In that early year full of work and troubles, I became Emperor.

* * *

Was this day enjoyable?

Yes. Unlike usual when everything felt hectic, I think I got to taste some pleasant moments.

“Won’t you have a drink, Your Majesty?”

“…It seems you’ve already had quite enough before coming here.”

When I greeted him with a cheerful laugh, Jeremiah also laughed foolishly with both cheeks flushed.

The mess that the previous Emperor had left behind, no…

After constantly solving neglected state affairs including those ridiculous policies, it was already six months since my enthronement.

“You refused even when I offered to grant you a separate palace. Are you feeling regretful now that you’re actually leaving the Imperial Palace?”

“If I stayed here unnecessarily, it would obviously only burden Your Majesty.”

Following Jeremiah’s hand tilting the wine glass, the red wine swayed.

The next day, Jeremiah and Carina would leave the Imperial Palace and depart for the granted estate.

Even thinking about it now, it was truly ironic.

I, who received all of Father’s love, shuddered at the thought of alcohol, while Jeremiah, who was shunned for being Carina’s child, enjoyed drinking.

Using the excuse that I hadn’t had my coming-of-age ceremony, I was just playing along when Jeremiah opened the terrace window wide, saying it was hot.

“…Your Majesty.”

“Didn’t we agree you’d call me Theo when we’re alone?”

“…Theo, Theo.”

“Yes, brother.”

“How is it living as a monarch?”

Whether he was quite drunk, even the area under Jeremiah’s eyes was now red.

“Haha, well. Since it’s just you, I’ll be honest… Just cleaning up the mess left by the late Emperor seems overwhelming.”

“But it’s because it’s you that you could organize this much in such a short time.”

“If you stayed by my side to help, it would lessen the burden going forward. It’s regrettable that you’re leaving.”

“Haha, you’re so naturally kind…”

The midsummer air was hot even in the evening, making even the wind feel lukewarm.

It was the moment I realized that Jeremiah’s eyes weren’t red from alcohol, but bloodshot from crying for a long time.

“We probably won’t meet in the same place even after death.”

I wanted to ask ‘What?’ but couldn’t.

If only the long sword that struck from behind without any sign hadn’t pierced through my chest and stayed there, I definitely would have.

Once, twice, three times.

The presumed assassin stabbed my chest three times in total in an instant, without giving me a chance to even groan, before turning toward Jeremiah.

What was I thinking as I watched Jeremiah just standing there?

At first, I wondered if my brother had staged a rebellion, and when the assassin stabbed Jeremiah’s lower abdomen, I wanted to shout for him to run.

But that was all.

Even while groaning in pain, Jeremiah grabbed the sword hanging on the wall.

The assassin, leaving Jeremiah who was still moving, rudely stepped over my body stuck to the floor and disappeared outside.

Afterward, Jeremiah very slowly and carefully lay down pretending to collapse, then looked me in the eyes and shouted.

“…Imperial Guard!”

“…”

“Hey, is there anyone outside!”

Ah, I see.

He was putting on an act.

Without any change in expression, Jeremiah shouted for rescue at the top of his lungs without taking his eyes off me.

Rather than feeling bewildered, I was so dumbfounded that I tried to call out to Jeremiah.

But every time I tried to make a sound, blood kept pouring out, so I couldn’t do it.

Blood was coming out of my nose too, making it severely salty.

Eventually the knights burst into the room, but by then I had already died with my eyes open.

It was truly a futile end for a young emperor who had reigned for only six months.

* * *

When I felt like I opened my eyes again, I was in a place I’d never seen before in my life.

That is, I was facing a desert that I’d only seen in books for the first time.

‘…It’s a baby.’

I had never imagined that a newborn baby wrapped in swaddling clothes would be staring at me blankly in the middle of a desert.

‘Surely I died at the assassin’s hands…’

Since I couldn’t understand what was happening, I first picked up the pitiful baby.

『I won’t explain at length. Understand at once.』

So I really am dead. A newborn without even hair is speaking so well…

…What, that’s scary.

The baby’s face looking up at me with emotionless eyes didn’t match the voice I was hearing, making my spine chill.

As I stood there awkwardly, wanting to put the swaddling clothes back down, the baby spoke again.

『I am Taran, the goddess who protects the Terkikan Dynasty. Use your power quickly to send me back to my homeland.』

【…】

『Did you lose your manners? I gave you a command but there’s no answer.』

【I don’t understand what you’re saying at all, baby.』

『It’s Taran.』

【Yes, Taran.】

The baby clicked her tongue as if exasperated.

No, I really heard the sound of tongue-clicking.

I guarantee that if you, Rosette, had witnessed this scene, you would have fainted on the spot.

『You need to use your power quickly so I can return to the Terkikan Dynasty. Is my meaning difficult?』

【What is this power? And why should I use it?】

“Princess Tabena transferred me to you, that’s why.”

【….】

“The day you were born, the Princess handed me over to you. What a cunning thing. I originally only dwell within women, but she dumped me on some young green boy…”

The baby, no… Taran harshly criticized Duchess Benitra.

Interpreting her words, originally in the Terkikan Dynasty, a princess who inherits Taran’s divine power is born across generations, and in this generation, that was Duchess Benitra.

However, Duchess Benitra, who had entered the Empress’s birthing chamber together, had transferred the Baby Goddess to me.

‘…Duchess. Isn’t this too much? If you were going to send such a newborn to me, shouldn’t you have at least given me a hint as proper courtesy?’

Being deceived and killed by my beloved brother was already frustrating enough to drive me mad.

I let out a deep sigh because of this baby god with quite an unpleasant manner of speaking.

“How dare you sigh so heavily before a god. You’re a spirit with severely poor prospects.”

I was immediately scolded.

【…Didn’t you say you’re not even a god of our nation? It seems none of your concern.】

“…Fine. Just hurry up and use your power to finish this. If it had been a child I originally dwelt in, they could have used power while alive too. But since you’re not the original owner, I could only appear after you died like this.”

【…Ha, let’s do that. Let’s hurry and end this idle chatter. Since I’m already dead anyway, I don’t want to get more tired, so what exactly is this power?】

Though my life was short, having never been oppressed anywhere, I was even beginning to feel petty emotions toward this goddess who frowned deeply every time our eyes met.

The power she explained was, well, how should I put it.

“You can twist the death of someone you love.”

【….】

It was vague.

And it was useless.

At least to me at that time.

“Well, don’t you have someone you love who’s on the verge of death right now?”

【I don’t. Though I do have someone I want to kill.】

“You don’t?”

【No, I don’t.】

“…How old are you?”

【I turned sixteen this year.】

“Huh, this one really lived life in vain…”

【….】

Duchess.

While I’m asking nicely, please take this goddess back.

That’s an imperial command.

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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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