Mad Rosetta - Chapter 83

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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 83

As Long as You Reach the Destination, the Path Doesn’t Matter (5)

* * *

Today marks the third day since Odette was confined to Rose Manor.

“Report.”

“Yes, Lady. First of all… she refused her meals again today. And this morning, she complained of shortness of breath, so we called the physician.”

“Mm, nothing serious, right?”

“Yes, she’s fine. And this is a bit troublesome, but she grabs every servant who enters the room and repeatedly complains, saying she doesn’t understand what’s happening.”

“…Those children?”

“They all came out in less than 10 minutes… It seems they just delivered the meals.”

“Good, that’s fine.”

Odette could no longer maintain her dignity.

I stretched contentedly at Marahan’s satisfying report.

She was currently using a room that had been a storage space.

Despite the children working hard to clean it the day before bringing Odette in, she believed she was being humiliated and threw tantrums daily, troubling the attendants.

‘Well, with behavior like that… even the children who viewed her favorably had no choice but to turn their backs.’

In fact, the attendants seemed to have no interest whether Odette skipped meals or not.

The first couple of times might have been amusing or funny to see a noble child’s downfall.

But these were people busy with their own survival, so Odette constantly causing troublesome incidents was naturally irritating.

Guards outside the door changing constantly to prevent forming bonds. Servants under Marahan’s command strictly only handling meals and checking if she was alive.

Even though all of this was prepared by me for Odette alone, she was a greedy person who never knew satisfaction.

“And just a moment ago, the Butler requested to visit, but I told him I would relay it to you, Lady, and sent him away.”

“…Good. Anyone who opens that door without my permission will face consequences without exception.”

“Yes, if he comes again, I’ll tell him you refused the request.”

And even Lawrence, who came to Rose Manor to check on Odette instead of Lianna, who was concerned about reputation.

The punishment of house arrest was proceeding according to protocol.

Under my supervision, I made it so even Father couldn’t face Odette and have a conversation.

“But refusing meals the entire time is troublesome. It must be especially hard for a child who’s never gone hungry.”

If she collapsed from malnutrition, they might bring up abuse and question my qualifications as a supervisor, which was somewhat worrying.

But perhaps because I didn’t continue my words, Marahan’s expression seemed slightly displeased.

As if she thought I was worrying about her.

“…I’ll instruct the servants to try persuading her once more.”

“Would the children listen to such words now? I’ll just go myself.”

“That won’t do, Lady.”

How quick her response was.

Rather than tactfully suggesting restraint, she dared to stop me like a superior, which seemed quite urgent.

Like Marahan, Penny and the other children were also alarmed and hastily blocked me.

They seemed anxious that I might suffer harm again if I went to Odette.

I must be quite an unreliable master.

“No need for such a fuss. You’ll all come with me.”

Saying that would be fine, I acted nonchalantly as if their worry was unnecessary.

Afterward, several footsteps followed me as I walked briskly, and we quickly arrived in front of the storage room where Odette was confined.

Just then, we encountered a servant coming out with a tray that had contained dinner, and looking at it, it seemed she hadn’t touched even the thin soup or water.

Perhaps thinking she’d be reprimanded because I stared so intently, the servant quickly bowed her head and reported.

“I earnestly urged her several times that she would collapse if she continued like this, asking her to have at least one bite… But it seems she’s still unable to eat due to her troubled state of mind and body.”

“My, you must have had a hard time. Really, Bonita… It would be good if she could manage even a little, seeing how you children think of her.”

“Ah… We should try even more-“

“Give me that and go about your business.”

When I casually extended my hand, Penny tactfully took the food instead of the child who was hesitating whether to hand the tray to the master.

Immediately, I spoke to the knights in front of the storage room.

“Open it. It’s fine.”

“…The Duke ordered us to escort you if you came to visit, Lady.”

He couldn’t wait and secretly gave instructions.

I responded as if it were routine, glancing at the children standing in a crowd behind me.

“Since the room is rather small, wouldn’t it be too cramped if we brought you all in as well? These children will also enter with me, so don’t worry and open it.”

When I commanded indifferently as if there was nothing more to say, the knights who had been exchanging uneasy glances soon took out the key and opened the door.

Whether the musty smell hadn’t dissipated yet, or because she couldn’t wash herself and hadn’t even bathed…

A rather stale odor came from inside the room.

The window was barely the size of a ventilation opening. Even so, it was a place where one could view a corner of Rose Manor’s garden as scenery.

‘Is she protesting by acting depressed?’

All the lights were turned off, making the view dark.

Only after Marahan turned on the room’s lights could I face Odette, who weakly raised her body from the shabby bed.

“You…!”

“You?”

There’s a limit to being ill-mannered. How dare she speak so rudely.

Gone were her drowsy eyes, and upon discovering me, Odette suddenly became fierce-eyed.

“…Despite my efforts to help you avoid prison, instead of showing any sign of remorse, you sit here protesting. Just how long do you plan to refuse meals?”

“…Remorse? After confining me to this kind of room. How shamelessly are you pretending to have done me a favor!”

…Oh my, she really must be out of her mind.

She was a child who never abandoned basic courtesy when others were watching, no matter the situation.

Whether she lost her character along with her strength from not eating, or because she thought there was no need to make a good impression due to the Rose Manor children treating her coldly for three days.

Odette raged with an uglily contorted expression, like someone who couldn’t distinguish right from wrong.

“…My younger sister seems to have completely lost her mind.”

“What are you, what are you to me…”

Really, in what way could that be called an honorable Princess?

Perhaps she thought further pretense was unnecessary now that her true face was completely exposed.

The children’s faces turned pale at the sight of Odette expressing her true feelings with her whole body.

At this point, couldn’t she give me an answer to what I’d been curious about? With that thought, I asked Odette.

“Let me ask just one thing. Bonita, you… why do you hate me enough to want to kill me?”

“…Ha! Ahahaha!”

“…”

“…Hah, how stupid.”

Contempt and rejection. Scorn and anger.

And even an indescribable resentment.

“There’s no reason I wouldn’t hate you.”

Facing her eyes that combined all of these emotions, I felt as if my throat was being strangled for a moment.

* * *

– “Become a lady without a single flaw, Odette.”

Mother’s words clearly etched in my mind.

On days when I failed to fulfill Mother’s wishes, without fail, clear marks would appear on the shins of the servant who assisted me.

Then that child won’t become a lady.

At some point, I only had such simple thoughts.

– “How beautiful and elegant Princess Epsilon is. Perhaps because of Madam’s touch, she’s different in every way.”

– “Such self-control at that age… I truly want to learn from Madam’s educational methods.”

At banquets, or places that were modest but called feasts in name, Mother was extremely pleased.

Elegance. Flawless gait. An honorable Princess.

Hearing such praise made me feel as if I was receiving compensation for past days.

That was until years later, when I saw that child with rose-red hair and amethyst-like eyes.

“Father… Just once, please? You promised to go with me.”

“…Well then. If I had known it was the Montague Duchess’s birthday feast, I wouldn’t have accepted so readily.”

“….”

“Ah, but I said I’d go. I should go then, shouldn’t I, Coco.”

At the second meal with Mother and Benitra, she only smiled brightly after hearing the answer I wanted.

‘…Strange.’

Yes, it was truly strange.

Openly wheedling for something to be done was what ill-mannered people did.

But why didn’t that father think to scold her, instead looking at his child with such fond eyes?

– “Damn bastard… Ugh. How would I know if you’re a child that stone-hearted mother of yours rolled around and birthed somewhere else?”

At that moment, I recalled Epsilon’s dead husband who used to be busy insulting Mother and me whenever he was in a foul mood.

Something… seemed to make a twisting sound.

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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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