Mad Rosetta - Chapter 70

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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 70

What to Watch Out for During the Hunt Isn’t Just the Beasts (1)

Perhaps due to the harsh words she had heard to the point of exhaustion, Odette kept her mouth shut with a completely dejected expression.

According to what the servants told me, Odette had come out crying after being summoned to Lianna’s room.

I’m certain that today’s scene wasn’t part of the picture Lianna had in mind.

‘…Just insurance for some unknown future time. That’s probably all Fordicus was to her.’

Odette isn’t a fool.

Lianna even less so.

Before their desire for Cessia, they valued their own dignity above all else.

Even if such an Odette exchanged letters with Cessia and went out on dates and such… She would have used her head quite a bit to avoid being caught by others doing such things.

‘But she probably never thought that her secret meeting partner would pull tricks on her.’

I know that guy gently coaxed young Odette into intentionally passing through streets where acquaintances would be, or showing off that he was meeting her at men’s gatherings.

It was only natural that people who received such news would pass it on again to their own families, lovers, or acquaintances.

Calculating from the day Odette was severely scolded, it was right after a gathering that Lianna attended as Father’s representative, so I could guess what kind of humiliation she suffered there.

– “Rosetta. She’s my only younger sister, so please take good care of her… I don’t know how such obscene rumors came about, but this mother will look into it too. You’re a smart child, so you wouldn’t believe such scandalous talk, would you?”

How desperate must she have been to come out to see us off at the carriage before departing for the forest where the hunting festival was held, entrusting Odette to me.

At times like this, she would naturally have to attend the hunting festival together to protect her child, but since Father was away, she couldn’t afford to do so.

Imagining her probably processing mountains of work with the help of the head maid and Lawrence even now, a shallow laugh escaped me.

“…So you were both here.”

Such a frivolous smile was quickly cut off by the appearance of the subject of the scandal, though.

When will that voice ever become dull to me?

My stomach sank with a thud, and I deliberately turned my head slowly to avoid showing it.

Cessia in reddish-brown riding attire, no… The guy approached with a cold expression as if he had read the uncomfortable atmosphere.

‘How eagerly must he have been meeting Odette to make even the Imperial Palace give him hints.’

Even his cloak had a calm red tinge, fervently revealing that it was originally meant to be a pair with my dress.

It was the matching outfit I had received from the Empress Dowager a few days ago.

The invitation to the hunting festival had been received long before, but the Empress Dowager’s intention in hastily having clothes made and sent was obvious.

‘The marriage between Benitra and Montague is solid… That must have been the meaning.’

Because of the guy greeting Odette with affectionate glances as soon as he saw her, the brows of the princesses nearby furrowed deeply, so that had already failed too.

Looking at the guy who was undeniably trying to confirm the truth of the rumors, I could imagine what an amusing spectacle we must be to others watching.

Even though everyone pretended otherwise, I could feel the persistent gazes of those attending the hunting festival.

“You. What were you discussing with Bonita?”

“Fo, Fordicus…”

The guy’s expression as he looked down at his fiancée seemed as if he was glaring at some nasty person bothering his lover with disgust.

Even though Odette, who had been watching me and the other princesses, urgently called out as if telling him not to make the situation worse, the guy wagged his tongue without restraint.

“Seeing how you’re just keeping your mouth shut like that, I can tell. You’re really inconsiderate to Bonita who came out following only you.”

“Fo, Fordicus! Please don’t do this. Sister, it’s not like that.”

“Oh, Bonita. I brought the horse you said you wanted to see last time, so why don’t you go see it? It’ll probably be more interesting than staying here.”

“Ah, th, that is…”

When did you two even discuss horses?

Even though the guy saw Odette fidgeting anxiously, he pushed forward recklessly like a man blinded by love.

“…Ho, how can he act like that? How shameless!”

“Goodness, Princess! Why haven’t you said anything! Even I’m getting angry watching this!”

“How many layers of iron does he have on his face! Are you just going to keep watching that behavior?”

Eventually, when even Odette left with a reluctant expression, it became my job to calm the princesses who began gossiping noisily.

I hadn’t said much, but I had suddenly become a pitiful woman who had properly lost her fiancé.

* * *

“Not even rose embroidery, but laurel leaves on a beige handkerchief. It’s so obvious it’s not even worth evaluating.”

“It’s hard to even breathe the same air.”

“Earlier I saw that Lord Demish received the same gift too.”

“Ha! That’s probably because she felt awkward and gave it to other men too!”

Amidst the dazzling criticisms going back and forth across the table, I quietly lifted my teacup.

It was when the men had gone out hunting in earnest and a refreshment gathering was being held in one corner of the camp.

‘I didn’t know she had prepared one for Lord Demish too.’

The most recent letter the guy sent contained content about requesting a handkerchief from Odette to encourage him at the hunting festival.

Probably, as the princesses said, it would have been awkward to wish only him good fortune, so she gave one to him too since he was her former Spring Stage partner.

‘Maybe it’s because it rained last night, but it’s damn cold.’

Shouldn’t this be called early winter?

For autumn, the air at the hunting grounds was very cold even in broad daylight due to the rain that poured down last night.

I was wearing a short-sleeved dress, so goosebumps rose every time the wind blew, and I was about to pull my thick shawl forward when.

“Si, sister…”

Odette, who had been sitting far away in one corner like a lonely bird, had somehow approached and called me.

She spoke in a pitiful voice and couldn’t even look me in the eyes.

It seemed she had suffered unbearable neglect even at other tables.

‘If I treated her warmly after she received such humiliation… The princesses would rather treat me like a fool and tear me down.’

With that thought, I deliberately didn’t even look at Odette and asked what was wrong, and she replied politely again in a pitiful voice.

“How about a walk…?”

“…”

“Th, there’s supposed to be a quiet lakeside nearby. I was hoping to have some conversation with you, sister.”

An awkward smile with upturned corners as if begging me not to refuse.

Odette seemed unable to get her bearings from the criticism she was experiencing for the first time in her life.

‘…I wonder what she’ll try to explain.’

Perhaps she might change her attitude in an instant and mock me.

The repetitive gossip was getting a bit tiresome, and I was curious about her current intentions, so I said sure and got up from my seat.

‘The scenery is absolutely stunning.’

The lake Odette mentioned was so close to the refreshment hall that it was hard to call it the entrance to the hunting grounds.

Perhaps the water level had risen a bit due to last night’s rain, as the surrounding ground was wet and the damp grass smell was strong.

Looking closely at the ground, there were quite a few hoof prints, and it seemed to be a place where those who went hunting watered their horses.

“…Sniff.”

Hmm, so you’ve decided to cry.

I, who had been admiring the scenery, turned around at Odette’s crying sound.

There was no need for a surprised expression or gestures to comfort her.

Just looking at her steadily, Odette, who had been crying as if she would cry for life, finally spoke.

“Si, sister. It’s really a misunderstanding… I don’t know how this happened either.”

It was truly a pitiful and pleading voice.

“I, I just thought that Cessia seemed to be having a precarious relationship with you lately, sister.”

“…”

“Sob…, I, I was worried so I met him a few times, that’s all. But I don’t know why things turned out like this. I, I…”

It sounds like ‘I had no such intention, but your fiancé admires me, so what can I do about it?’

Shamelessly, Odette pleaded as if she were truly wronged, so I decided to answer quite dryly.

“I’m not misunderstanding, so you don’t need to worry.”

“…Re, really? You believe what I’m saying, don’t you, sister?”

“What’s there not to believe? It’s not like Fordicus would be sincere toward you.”

Her tearful eyes that seemed to have found a ray of light lasted only until then.

Odette’s brightening complexion froze coldly at my following words.

“So even if the marriage with House Montague falls through because of this incident, it’s not your fault, Bonita, so you don’t need to worry about it. It would be largely due to Fordicus’s reckless attitude.”

“…Why? How can you be so certain?”

“Hm?”

“You saw it earlier too. How excessively Cessia was protecting me even in front of the other princesses.”

“…Ha, puhaha!”

I could only blink my eyes at her words before bursting into laughter.

I shouldn’t have done that.

Since I had no intention of mocking Odette, I had to suppress my loud laughter and clear my throat.

“Ah, ahaha! Oh my. I’m sorry, Bonita…. You seem so innocent.”

“…What did you say?”

Perhaps frustrated by not understanding my intentions, I could see strength quickly gathering at the tip of Odette’s chin.

But it was truly just funny.

“Well, that’s because he belongs to me.”

Whether to be buried underground or walk above ground.

The man called Fordicus Cessia has become someone who cannot even choose that much.

“Even if he plays around with other women, whatever he does. Always….”

“….”

“It means there’s nothing Fordicus can do according to his own will, Bonita.”

She who speaks of sincerity while knowing nothing at all… was truly ridiculously amusing.

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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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