Mad Rosetta - Chapter 91

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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 91

Land That Never Gets Wet (7)

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“….”

“Grandfather!”

Slurp.

How much time had passed since I was guided not to the reception room, but to the King’s private reception room?

Instead of looking at His Majesty the King, who had lost his words in bewilderment, I picked up my tea.

As soon as Hazard saw the King enter, he smiled brightly, kicked his chair away, and ran to embrace him.

Only then did I rise from my seat and bow politely.

“I am honored to meet His Majesty the King despite your busy schedule.”

“Sister said she wanted to see Grandfather, so I arranged this meeting!”

“….”

“I did well, didn’t I?”

Look at that troubled expression.

I was glad I had complained to Hazard that I seemed to lack time with Grandfather.

Even at Hazard’s innocent response, oblivious to the atmosphere, the King didn’t forget to pat his grandson’s small head without saying much.

It seemed true that he made sure to spend personal time with Hazard even during his busy state affairs.

“…Have you become so informal as to make requests through a child, Princess?”

Perhaps displeased that I had arranged a meeting by coaxing his grandson, the King gave me a pointed look.

“Oh my, of course. I have so much free time on my hands. Nothing makes a day pass faster than conversing with His Highness Hazard.”

Annoyed, I didn’t back down either.

I smiled sweetly as I replied, conveying the meaning ‘How desperate must I have been to play with a child while you wouldn’t meet me?’

The King’s eyes narrowed even more.

“I thought you were busy with state affairs… But it seems organizing your affection for His Highness Hazard is more urgent, which greatly moves me.”

“Ahem…!”

When I asked what kind of attitude it was to stubbornly refuse my requests claiming to be busy, yet come running when your grandson calls, the King finally let out a cough.

Perhaps it was bravado.

If I hadn’t known he was an old man who collected my images, I would never have fought fire with fire like this.

‘Certainly… Even if not as much as Hazard, he does seem to be mindful of me.’

When I timidly vented my frustration, the King merely wrinkled the corners of his mouth as if the current situation was uncomfortable.

The fact that there wasn’t a single shout proved it.

Had he realized that he couldn’t avoid it at this point?

The King let out a low sigh as if he had no choice and looked down at Hazard.

“Hazard. This grandfather has important matters to discuss with the Princess, so return to the palace.”

“Huh? Together, aren’t we all having tea together…?”

“I’ll make separate time for you, so please give this grandfather some time with the Princess you haven’t seen in so long.”

“Mmm…”

I’m sorry, Hazard.

Forgive your pathetic sister, Hazard.

As if this was an unexpected turn of events, the child’s utterly gloomy eyes turned back and forth between me and the King.

But even looking at us desperately was useless.

“Next, next time please include me too…”

Hazard finally answered in a crawling voice, then was carried out of the reception room by Palpal.

“Since you’ve sent the Crown Prince away like that, you must have much to say.”

The King said this and finally sat down in his chair. I also had to be nervous as I took the seat across from him.

Where should I start the conversation?

There was much I wanted to ask and much I wanted to hear.

But unlike Hazard, I couldn’t decide whether to treat Zahhar Basil solely as the sovereign of a foreign nation.

Or whether I should accept the fact that he was a maternal grandfather interested in his granddaughter.

Still, first I had to get him to withdraw his order for me to take refuge in Terkikan.

Just as I was about to speak about that matter.

“Did he tell you what it means to use one’s power on another?”

“Pardon? Ah…”

“….”

“…Ahem. I did hear about it.”

“From what I can see, you seem to have the same feelings as he does, Princess.”

“…Is that important?”

Being asked by someone I’m not even close to whether I’m romantically involved with a ghost made me feel so embarrassed I didn’t know what to do.

Feeling awkward, I nodded as if affirming and drank my tea.

I could feel the King’s gaze staring intently at me.

“Tsk. He’s not even someone who belongs to the mortal world… Why do you insist on taking such a difficult path?”

Grandfather, did you just click your tongue?

It seemed like he was mocking my feelings for Sing, so my mood soured completely.

‘Tch. He doesn’t even know that ghost is dozens of times better than the living Cessia.’

Come to think of it, he would have only seen him in the audience chamber, yet the King had figured out in that short time that Cessia was different from others.

Suddenly curious, I stared intently at the sacred object hanging around the King’s neck.

Perhaps noticing my gaze, he adjusted his posture and spoke as if it were nothing special.

“Just as people’s appearances differ from each other, souls also have different shapes and colors.”

“….”

“Body and soul are separate… It’s just that there’s a layer between them, as if wearing a shell. If it were a soul completely assimilated as one’s own, that wouldn’t happen, would it?”

Was there a barrier between body and soul?

It seemed to mean that there appeared to be a gap between them.

“…Even if Hazard bothers you a little, please understand generously. He’s a child who gets very lonely.”

“Is that why you showed him the Memoraph?”

“….”

“If I had known you would welcome me so warmly, I would have prepared a gift that His Highness would like.”

“I’ve given that child everything he’s interested in, so there’s no need to worry about it.”

“Even if it can’t be like before, couldn’t you continue the relationship?”

At that moment, the King’s eyes, which hadn’t shown a hint of emotion, flashed.

His eyes, fiercely and sharply raised as if angry, made my body stiffen involuntarily.

“You mean with your father, who quickly formed ties with another woman not even a few years after Tabena left this world?”

“…That’s-“

“Even when I told him not to, he stubbornly made a princess of a nation run away. His attitude, acting like they were lovers of the century, was so detestable that I can’t stand to see him anymore.”

The King threatened as if just remembering it made his teeth chatter.

It was natural for me to flare up at the insult toward my father.

However, contrary to my feelings, I couldn’t say I didn’t understand his sentiment either.

So much so that I felt grateful he didn’t hate even me, who was my mother’s child but also my father’s daughter.

‘But I can’t tell him that the current Duchess was the one who caused Mother’s death…’

At least I couldn’t let him know that fact now.

If I did, the situation would obviously become unspeakably complicated, so I bit my lips once and released them to try to relax.

“Father didn’t force the marriage because he was infatuated with my stepmother. It was because of a child who had lost her mind after losing her mother overnight.”

“Ha.”

“You probably don’t know that I completely forgot the day Mother passed away.”

“…What did you just say?”

I looked straight into the King’s eyes, stained with bewilderment.

“When I woke up, I could never see Mother again, who had been alive just yesterday.”

“….”

“Even her remains were sent to her homeland, so how can you not understand the feeling of not being able to pray to my heart’s content?”

It was a year of struggling with a sense of loss.

Both Father and I, who lost Mother in the winter of my thirteenth year and faced a stepmother at fourteen, experienced a whirlwind of emotions.

I didn’t want to pretend I didn’t understand the King’s feelings of losing a child.

Just as much, I couldn’t ignore Father’s feelings as he watched his daughter endlessly despair while he himself was grieving the loss of his wife.

The fact that the woman he carefully selected to fill Mother’s void was a Duchess known for raising her daughter with love even after her husband’s death proved this.

“Father simply brought in a woman known for her good reputation as the lady of the house. Affection, love… such things are nonsense.”

“…”

“As proof, the two of them haven’t had a single child together to this day.”

“…So this supposedly reputable lady’s child is trying to harm you?”

“Yes, it’s deeply regrettable. That’s why he’s currently preparing for divorce. Though that woman’s side isn’t agreeing to it.”

“…What an absurd household.”

My thoughts exactly.

Apart from the sarcasm that made my eyebrows twitch, I agreed with the King’s opinion.

‘…My head aches just thinking about what’s to come.’

When the time comes to reveal all the crimes of Mother’s murderer, there will be great repercussions.

If that news reaches the King, it was obvious that enormous political controversy would arise.

Perhaps he might even demand that the culprit who killed the Princess be handed over to Terkikan for execution.

‘Of course, the Empire wouldn’t stand by and let a foreign land take away the criminal who harmed the Duchess.’

Even though it would eventually be discovered anyway, I could change the situation depending on when I chose to speak.

I chose silence once again.

“Do you remember what I told you in our last meeting about the promise Sing… no, Youngsik and I made? That I also had something I needed to finish.”

“…Yes, you said something about returning to the past.”

“The power that Mother originally possessed came full circle and was used for me. Therefore, I intend to rightfully punish everything that tries to harm me and my family. Even if it’s someone who became part of our household.”

“…”

“So please help me safely complete what I must do.”

When logical persuasion doesn’t work, I have no choice but to appeal to emotions.

Whenever those swamp-like deep, deep green eyes gazed at me intently, it felt like they were pulling me in, preventing me from going anywhere.

But struggling and eventually breaking free is my specialty, isn’t it.

“There’s also the option of coming to Terkikan after carrying out your grand plan.”

“…”

But what should one do when a crocodile is waiting with its mouth wide open.

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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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