Mad Rosetta - Chapter 75

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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 75

What to Watch Out for During the Hunt Isn’t Just the Beasts (6)

* * *

By conveying the news of my awakening to the Imperial Palace, things proceeded rapidly.

The trial date was set for two weeks later, and an imperial decree permitting House of Montague to guarantee the Princess’s safety was issued to Benitra.

With the single imperial command of ‘entrustment,’ Lianna could no longer argue about my accommodations, and Marquis Montague seemed to view this as an opportunity to rectify his son’s scandal and actively stepped forward.

“…Listen here. If we stay stuck together like this, no matter how much we tell the attendants to keep their mouths shut, rumors about the young master even spoon-feeding his fiancée are bound to spread.”

“Mmm.”

“Not ‘mmm.'”

Then there’s no point in staying in the guest room.

Despite keeping the terrace window open because of Sing who wouldn’t leave my side for even a moment, it was quite hot.

Perhaps because his feelings were complicated about romantic displays using Cessia’s shell, at some point he began frequently embracing me from behind.

Did it make him feel better as long as he couldn’t see the face?

In any case, while going back and forth with these complex and subtle feelings, I was also dedicating myself entirely to recovery.

“The Duchess wishes to have tea with both of you.”

An attendant who appeared saying he would briefly excuse himself informed us of tea time with the Marquis’s wife.

This was already the third invitation.

When I casually picked up my teacup, Sing, seeing this, quickly conveyed a message to the attendant.

“What to do, today I’ve had enough already. Tell Mother I’ll visit her next time.”

Whether he had grown accustomed to it, the attendant understood the refusal and readily left the room.

The Marquis’s wife often tried to have time with me while reading the mood.

However, days of me ignoring her repeated, as I had no particular need to make a good impression.

According to what Sing had discovered, timing-wise, it could only be seen that the current Marquis’s wife was brought in immediately upon hearing news of the Empress Dowager’s pregnancy.

It seemed that the Count’s daughter, whose ranking in the marriage market had dropped early due to infertility, and Marquis Montague had made a swift marriage.

Since Sing also said that her affection for Cessia was genuine, the Marquis’s wife seemed quite satisfied with her household.

‘But for such a son to force through a marriage with a mad Princess… How furious she must have been.’

Recalling once again the marriage life that had been trapped like catching a mouse, my mood soured and I just chewed on the innocent cookies on the table.

It wasn’t that I couldn’t understand the Marquis’s wife’s feelings. Nevertheless, the memories of being mistreated and tormented to the point of not being able to function as a person remained, so I decided not to care about the lady.

“Oh, I’m thinking of writing a letter to Marmint. Can you send it to the Academy?”

“Come to think of it, she must be very worried. She did come running at full speed the other day.”

“Yeah, I thought if I tell her directly that I’m fine, it might help a bit. I also have something I want to ask of her.”

“Making a young child worry so much. When I think about it, you’re quite a terrible guardian.”

“I guess all the terrible people in the world are dead. Just give me a pen quickly.”

Unlike me responding curtly, he giggled and brought paper and pen.

Day after day, news that my half-sister and stepmother were trying to harm Benitra’s direct line dominated the newspapers and gossip magazines.

As a precautionary measure, I contacted Marmint, and a few days later received a letter from Stilling.

It was news that Father had left Luman Kingdom and was on his way home.

* * *

Light filtered intermittently through the heavily hung navy blue curtains.

The trial proceeded in private and was held in a venue prepared by the Imperial Palace, which was the host of the hunting festival.

‘…Whether she’s lost her mind. Or harboring other thoughts.’

Odette’s noticeably gaunt profile caught my eye, but she couldn’t possibly look pitiful.

Amis Demish as a witness and even Sing as a related party attended the trial, and besides them, a small number of high-ranking nobles were seated for the private trial.

“…This case aims to investigate serious criminal charges regarding the attempted murder of Princess Rosetta Coco Benitra, and the defendant Bonita Odette Benitra faces charges of ethical violation for attempted murder between family members along with criminal charges of attempted murder of a noble.”

“…”

“This trial will proceed privately under Imperial approval, and no violation of any articles will be tolerated.”

Scary, so scary.

I thought this while glancing at the inquisitor seated in the center and the man beside him.

The inquisitor who had been delegated trial authority was one thing, but seeing that even the Minister of Justice was present clearly conveyed that the Imperial Palace was also keeping a close eye on this matter.

As if aware of this, Odette had an expression that couldn’t hide her tension.

Beside her, a noble was seated for official defense, but looking at his heartless expression, he didn’t seem to have much will to advocate for her.

After the notice reading ended, the inquisitor spoke again.

“Amis Demish. You testified that as a knight belonging to Benitra, you witnessed the crime scene during the hunting festival. Can you explain this in detail?”

Following the inquisitor’s statement, I looked at Knight Demish in the diagonal witness stand.

I knew he had come of age last year, but he had a face that looked particularly young for his age.

Yet perhaps due to his characteristic clear sky-blue eyes. Or maybe his ash-colored hair gave weight, but his atmosphere was full of dignity.

“…It’s correct that I witnessed the scene. At that time, I was heading to the lakeside to give water to my horse, and when I heard the two Ladies having a conversation and was about to turn back thinking I might be interrupting, I saw it.”

“…”

“…Lady Bonita pushing Lady Rosetta into the lake.”

Unlike Knight Demish who continued speaking calmly, Odette’s eyes were full of anger as if she had a detestable person right before her.

Quiet murmuring sounds followed from around, but they subsided with the inquisitor’s command for silence.

With the inquisitor’s permission that I could proceed if I had any parts I wanted to comment on, I opened my mouth while remaining seated.

“Since I know that many people testified to the fact that Bonita and I headed to the lakeside at that time, I won’t bother mentioning it.”

“…”

“Like the testimony of Knight Demish, the witness… While I had my back turned to Bonita, I felt someone push me.”

As soon as my brief testimony ended, I could see the attending nobles each letting out sighs or whispering to those beside them.

Though it was reorganized again due to Odette raising her hand with an anxious yet determined face.

Even though the right to refuse testimony was allowed, seeing her stubbornly trying to speak, I too became curious about what excuse she would make.

“Fi, first I want to clarify that I naturally had no intention of harming Sister Rosetta. How could I have tried to do such a cruel thing to family?”

…?

You did it all the time though.

“Ho, however. At that time I was…”

Odette hesitated for a moment, then continued in a very small mumbling voice.

“A, a bug…”

“…”

“A bug flew at me, so… trying to avoid it…”

…She’s crazy.

Sighs flowed out from here and there again, and I too opened my eyes wide like a dead fish at her truly absurd excuse.

I had wondered why her voice was getting smaller, but it seemed she knew to be embarrassed.

‘…But that kind of thing isn’t completely ineffective either.’

While it was indeed a ridiculous excuse, there was reasonable room to explain it as an unintentional mistake rather than deliberate.

Suddenly startled by a bug that popped out and flailing about, accidentally pushing her sister into the lake and suffering from guilt – who knows how much.

Odette’s appearance appealing in that way truly looked like a younger sister who felt sorry toward me.

It was a moment when I almost openly snorted in disgust at her detestable appearance.

“…Didn’t you two have an argument?”

Knight Demish quietly raised his hand to obtain speaking rights.

“Since you are refined Ladies, there was no raising of voices, but I heard directly and know that your conversation was not so smooth.”

Due to Knight Demish’s sudden testimony, people’s gazes immediately focused on Odette and me.

Her complexion turning pale as if unable to hide her confusion was a bonus.

‘Knight Demish… I’ll raise your salary when we return…’

How perfectly he picked out only the necessary words to say.

Timely supporting fire was exactly what you’d call something like that.

I was so greatly moved that I resolved to convey proper thanks to him as soon as we returned to the manor.

With Knight Demish’s statement that was more than enough to change the tide, the inquisitor’s gaze turned to me, and I sighed lowly as if I had no choice.

“At that time, Bonita was… suffering from malicious rumors related to my fiancé. So it’s true that our conversation grew long while discussing that matter.”

“What do you mean by rumors?”

“…The scandal that Bonita and my betrothed Fordicus Cessia are lovers.”

Some already knew about it, as they coughed or glanced at Sing and Odette as if uncomfortable.

Odette looked at Sing sitting in the reference seat with anxious and uneasy eyes, but he just crossed his arms with an expression of feigned ignorance.

‘Sorry, but that guy is on my side.’

Thinking this was my chance, I quickly continued speaking.

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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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