Mad Rosetta - Chapter 82

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Mad Rosetta

Episode 82

As Long as You Reach Your Destination, Any Path Will Do (4)

I must have been quite shocked. My heart was pounding so hard it seemed to echo in my ears.

The fact that Selina was a man… Does Carina know about it?

“At that time, His Majesty the Emperor’s condition was worsening day by day, so His Majesty Calastaan was already considering succession in advance. He was clashing considerably with Lord Jeremiah’s supporters… It was a very delicate period.”

“…”

“So when the fact that he was a man was discovered and the Second Empress faced the crisis of being held accountable, Lord Sergio made a deal with the current Empress Dowager. He would renounce his succession rights and completely withdraw in submission, so please don’t pursue the Second Empress and himself.”

“…”

“Then suddenly His Majesty the Emperor passed away, and His Majesty Calastaan succeeded him… It was simply perfectly timed.”

Since I hadn’t expected him to tell me in such detail, I quietly focused on Duke Muas’s story.

So Sergio, who headed north before even reaching his fourteenth birthday, left only the Second Empress at the temple and wandered foreign countries.

While the wealthy are generally all the same, the forms of poverty are infinitely varied.

The story was that Sergio, who experienced various countries’ welfare systems and returned, made North Port his base and actually cared for many poor people together with Agate Temple.

‘No wonder his hands were excessively rough.’

Moreover, even now that he’s established the 【Ar-Sel】 guild, he personally runs around on his own two feet gathering information, which explained the unusually detailed intelligence.

“When Lord Calastaan passed away, Lord Sergio was already abroad, so the news reached him late.”

For that reason, he couldn’t attend Sing’s funeral, Duke Muas said with a bitter smile.

‘…Why are the lives of this generation of Arcanis so harsh?’

Born and raised as the owner of the imperial crown, yet met death at his brother’s hands just months after ascending the throne.

Someone’s very existence becomes poison to their mother, so they must live in hiding with their freedom stripped away for life.

The life stories of these tragically fated young royals grew heavier on my heart the more I heard.

‘By the way, this conversation seems to be getting long…’

As I was thinking of Penny and Knight Demish who would be waiting for us, the interview room door finally opened and Sing and Sergio came out to the waiting room.

‘…Who are you?’

Are those even bashful olive-colored eyes really the same axe-eyed man I saw earlier?

At Sergio’s appearance, which seemed to appeal that he was a good and gentle person, I felt goosebumps on the back of my neck and had to awkwardly rise from the sofa.

“The talk went well, darling. Did you wait long?”

“Huh? Oh, no. Well…”

“…Princess, I apologize for the many discourtesies. I heard you’ve been taking good care of my older brother.”

“Ah, oh. Yes…”

…Older brother.

After being flustered by the awkward form of address for a moment, was it because Sergio’s appearance was outstanding?

Since it wasn’t annoying enough to bother me, I decided to deliberately ignore it.

“I’m still bewildered… but what choice do I have but to believe it.”

“Y-yes… I suppose so?”

“It’s getting late, and we seem to have heard the important parts. It would be good to meet again later.”

Unable to adapt to Sergio’s benevolent smile, I could only awkwardly repeat “Oh, ah, yes.”

‘By the way, what did they talk about and how far?’

When I glanced at Sing with that meaning, the guy smiled reassuringly as if to tell me not to worry.

I heard later that the process of informing him about Jeremiah and the Empress Dowager’s treason and persuading him about Sergio ascending to the throne took quite a while.

“His expression was resolute. My younger brother has become quite the adult.”

Sing’s face looked quite relieved as he said that, so I thought that was enough.

* * *

‘It’s not easy to look so unsuited either.’

Two days after returning from the guild.

Watching Odette get off the escort carriage according to the imperial security force’s handover, I thought that.

I had come out to greet her with the household’s attendants under the pretext of showing proper courtesy.

‘My, there’s no better entertainment than this. Yet Father didn’t even come out.’

I sneered inwardly and looked at Lianna, who stood beside me trying to maintain her composure.

As Sergio had said, besides the relationship between Lianna and Lawrence, the documents contained many new things.

For instance, the fact that the place cultivating Panilinia was Epsilon Manor.

‘I wondered how they managed to obtain such vile poison herbs every time. To think they were growing them directly…’

Anyway, I was impressed by how much dedication they poured into their evil deeds.

Originally, the main business of Baron Epsilon’s house was supplying perfume and cosmetic ingredients.

However, before Baron Epsilon’s death, he wanted to pursue developing products like anesthetics and tonics for the imperial family and upper class to expand his business.

For this purpose, he brought in poisonous herbs and foreign species to focus on cultivation and variant development, but ironically, Baron Epsilon himself, who was the business owner, died from worsening illness after complaining of poisoning symptoms.

‘…Patience, patience. Isn’t that all evidence? Preserve it well, you bastards.’

I had been grinding my teeth so hard in anger that my jaw was starting to hurt.

The original Epsilon Estate was returned to the imperial family according to law when Lianna remarried, and she came to own only Epsilon Manor as private property.

According to Sergio’s investigation, the greenhouse and various plants that Baron Epsilon had created still remain in that manor.

And Panilinia was included among those cultivated items.

“From this point, we formally hand over custody of Bonita Odette to Princess Benitra.”

“I can only express gratitude for your efforts in safely delivering her. Following the imperial command, I will ensure there is no negligence in management and supervision.”

I said that while glancing at Odette, who had a gloomy face as if she alone bore all the world’s worries.

My younger sister, who was as noble and pure as a delicate white lily… Even in this situation, you look only aggrieved and ashamed.

As if she couldn’t even remember the past when everyone cherished her, Odette looked incomparably more haggard than before.

Especially the rough lime-gray color characteristic of prison uniforms really didn’t suit her at all, making me almost laugh the entire time I looked at her.

Though that incongruous appearance was also satisfying as it seemed to show how grave her crimes were.

“We will escort this person to the designated quarters.”

“Ah, I’ll guide you to the quarters myself. Lady, I’ll escort you to Lili Hall.”

“…Escort?”

Lawrence, who stepped forward speaking in a calm tone, hesitated at my brief question.

Even in this situation, I immediately hardened my expression at Lawrence’s attitude of treating Odette like a precious lady.

“Butler, this is house arrest. You couldn’t possibly not understand what that means.”

“…”

“Bonita is currently here at the Duke’s Estate only as a criminal. Under the victim’s surveillance, she must properly serve her given sentence.”

“…Yes, Lady. So to Lili Hall-“

“I mean not there.”

After saying that, I quickly turned around and said sternly.

“Sara, Reina. Guide these people to the quarters we’ve prepared.”

“Yes, Lady.”

Sara and Reina moved efficiently to show the security force the way.

Meeting the butler’s eyes, which clearly showed bewilderment, I smiled quite benevolently, I believe.

“Bonita will be living in Rose Manor from now on. I’ll take care of her with all my heart, so you can worry less.”

“…If you need any assistance, please let me know anytime, Lady.”

As if nothing had happened, Lawrence quickly composed his expression and bowed his head calmly.

He must have quickly realized that he couldn’t change this situation with his abilities.

‘If you thought I’d just watch a luxurious house arrest, you underestimated me too much.’

No matter how much I had weeded out those who were kind to Odette, it had been over a year since I replaced the attendants.

Living leisurely in a spacious, well-appointed room being served by others isn’t punishment, is it?

“…But Rosetta.”

“Yes, Mother.”

Despite my kind response, Lianna, who had called me, couldn’t easily speak.

She still hadn’t agreed to the divorce.

She must have been in a hurry.

Even Lawrence, who heard the news, got scolded instead when he conveyed to Father that he hoped for careful consideration citing public opinion.

In this situation, if she wanted to argue for house arrest in Lili Hall rather than Rose Manor…

Lianna would naturally have to mention the crimes Odette had committed against me, the victim, so it was natural she couldn’t continue speaking.

“Ah, it hurts. Don’t drag me roughly…”

The sound of handcuffs clanking followed with each step as Odette, her arms held by the Security Bureau officers, was led away.

Her face, which had been looking back with a helpless voice, met the eyes of me and countless attendants, then was soon stained with shame and humiliation.

Ah, what a pitiful expression that is.

She’s finally fallen into my grasp.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————