Mad Rosetta - Chapter 94

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Rosette Gone Mad
Chapter 94
A Noble Lady Must Possess Acting Skills as a Basic Accomplishment (1)
* * *
“Waaahhh…! Sob, sob!”
How troublesome.
“Sister, Sister! Waaahhh…. Must you really leave? And who knows when I’ll see you again!”
“Sniffle…. I will say no more, Crown Prince. Please compose yourself.”
“But, but. Mother….”
This was truly exasperating.
The Crown Princess’s eyes, which had been as gentle and pale pink as my own mother’s, suddenly hardened in an instant.
I watched this unfold before turning my gaze toward the distant void.
Today, as we returned to the Empire.
Our carefully laid plans to part amicably, blessed by the Terkikan Royal Family, had completely fallen apart.
The moment we turned to leave after wishing each other well, Hazard came charging at me from early morning, wailing in anguish.
“Don’t you understand that if you behave this way, the Noble Lady’s journey will be difficult!”
“Waaahhh! I don’t want this! I don’t want it!”
“…It seems our Hazard is testing this mother’s patience.”
Ah, damn it. This is awkward.
“…Pay it no mind and depart.”
My Maternal Grandfather spoke in a melancholy tone as though he too found himself in an equally difficult position, waving his hand dismissively.
‘No, you have to let go for me to leave.’
I stood helpless, watching the source of that ear-piercing wail and the Crown Princess, who looked ready to scold her child at any moment.
Until yesterday afternoon, Hazard had seemed dejected upon hearing of our departure.
Yet no tears had fallen—but when the day actually came, he clung to me firmly and wailed for the palace to stop us from leaving.
“…Perhaps it would be best if you stood up, Your Highness.”
“Waaahhh! I don’t want to! Why won’t you call me Hazard? You’re abandoning me like this!”
Though I reached out carefully, Hazard only cried harder with his mouth wide open, tensing his body further.
With Hazard clinging to my calf, he suddenly plopped down, his small bottom bumping against the toe of my shoe.
Faced with the Crown Prince’s shameless display, I could only anxiously gauge the reactions of the adults around us.
Yet I had no desire to watch Hazard be scolded before my eyes.
So before the Crown Princess’s clenched lips could part, I quickly crouched down and lifted Hazard to his feet.
“Did I not say I would return to see Hazard? So please, stop this.”
“You could just not leave…. You originally came to stay in Terkikan, so why. Why….”
…How did he know that?
No, I never agreed to live here in the first place.
I opened my eyes wide in an instant and looked at Grandfather, and immediately he averted his gaze.
‘…I knew this would happen.’
It seemed he had given his grandson hints of my arrival and expressed his ambition to make me stay here.
I released a low sigh, then smiled faintly once more.
“I promise to visit again in the new year. I don’t wish to leave with the memory of Hazard crying at our parting.”
“Sob, sniff. The new year is too, hiccup…. Too far away. Please come in autumn, Sister….”
“The Empire is in autumn right now.”
“Sniff, then stay even longer, pleeeease!”
Good heavens, who does he take after?
With such stubborn determination, there was no easy way to console him.
There were limits to supporting Hazard as he arched his body backward like a bow and wailed inconsolably.
Rather than trembling while crouched down, I lifted Hazard into my arms and rose to my feet in one motion.
The small hands that gripped my coat tails so desperately, the warmth of the child against my chest—all of it felt wonderfully warm.
“Hazard. Stop now, please.”
“Sniff, sniff….”
“What does Hazard like? There were so many soldier toys in your room…. Next time I visit, I’ll bring mountains of things you’d enjoy.”
“I… I like you, Sister….”
“Oh, how delightful.”
Those weren’t my words.
They were an exclamation from Sing, who had been quietly standing beside me with his mouth closed.
Well, I too found Hazard’s honest declaration endearing.
“Then next time, I shall bring my portrait. How does that sound?”
“…That, that sounds good.”
The sight of the child deliberating carefully while his nose ran was truly worth witnessing.
Hazard’s sniffling yet immediate response was so adorable that I couldn’t help but laugh aloud.
“…Lovely Hazard. When we meet next, you’ll have grown even more. They say those destined to lead nations grow by leaps and bounds each day.”
“Yes, yes….”
“Though you’ve dampened your cheeks today…. Look now. Haven’t you already stopped crying and become dignified? Truly, you are the Crown Prince of Terkikan.”
“Yes, yes…! That’s right, this Hazard will grow bigger than anyone else. More than the Montague Estate. More than, than Grandfather too.”
“Yes, I look forward to it.”
How lovely that such a bright face bloomed so readily from just a small word of praise.
I found myself thinking that perhaps the moment I leave the Royal Palace, Hazard would be the one I’d miss most.
“And, and Youngsik…. If you come together next time, I’ll show you more of Sister’s Memoraph.”
“Hmm? Don’t do that, just give me one— cough!”
I knew what he was about to say, so I jabbed him in the ribs with my elbow.
Sing had worn every arrogant expression imaginable before forcing a faint smile.
‘I keep telling him to restrain himself, but the fool never listens.’
Besides, even if I could bring Sing again, it wouldn’t be as Cessia.
No, I would make certain of that.
So I couldn’t burden a child with expectations I couldn’t keep.
I hastily removed Hazard from my arms and concluded our farewell.
“Send word as soon as you arrive.”
“…Yes, I shall do so.”
A restrained parting was meant to promise a future meeting.
Beneath the curtain that stretched across the Desert.
Before the image of the Kingdom etched beyond the sandstorm faded from my mind, I hoped to face it once more….
We returned to the Empire.
* * *
“Pardon me…?”
Marmint entered the Director’s Office with a somewhat nervous expression at the knock, but her face quickly hardened for an entirely different reason.
“Well, well, if it isn’t our Marmint.”
I could easily guess it was because I was sitting on the sofa in front of the Academy Director.
Upon seeing me, Marmint’s bewildered expression laid bare without filter, and she froze in place.
“W-what. Exactly, what….”
“Hehe, look at that surprise. How adorable.”
Not only had I visited the Academy without warning, but Marmint’s face twisted in an instant like someone witnessing something unbearable upon seeing my detestable eye smile.
‘Who does she think I’m putting on airs for?’
This was all a scheme to firmly imprint upon the school that Benatra’s patron favored Marmint, thereby paving a smooth path for her future.
Look at the evidence.
Wasn’t the Academy Director, who had been awkwardly observing until just moments ago, now hastily rising to personally offer Marmint a seat?
This is simply how society operates.
“Now that I’ve met with Marmint, it seems we need a quiet place for conversation.”
“Ah. Yes, of course. Certainly, Princess. I shall guide you to the Guest Hall at once.”
“I couldn’t possibly trouble the busy Director. I haven’t forgotten the way, so the child and I shall go alone.”
“Oh, but-”
“But what’s this appearance? Your face seems thinner than when I saw you last time.”
“Eh?”
“Is the Academy’s food not to your taste? Or perhaps you’re losing sleep because the dormitory bedding is uncomfortable?”
“Y-yes! I shall have someone called at once to tidy the interior. Please take your time moving with Marmint, Princess.”
“My. The Director remains as kind as ever.”
I responded with shameless aplomb, saying I’d made the right decision in admitting Marmint.
Then, lest I be detained, I quickly ushered her out of the Director’s Office.
“What, what is this! So sudden!”
The moment the Director’s Office door closed, Marmint burst out loudly.
…This girl had no sense of caution whatsoever.
I hastily glanced around and growled in a hushed voice like a thief creeping about.
“Keep your voice down, Youngsik…. We made an appointment, and they’ll hear everything inside.”
“B-but what is it…. You didn’t say you were coming.”
“Hmm, a surprise gift?”
“…Liar. It’s because of the request you made by letter last time, isn’t it? You said it was being made.”
In any case, her intuition was sharp.
I straightened my back, which I’d been bowing, and walked down the Corridor with Marmint.
Since I’d been guided to the Guest Hall when I admitted Marmint last year, it was true that I knew the way.
“Wait, here isn’t right, is it? This is the way to the Academic Building.”
“Oh, I understand.”
“Pardon?”
A sinister smile must have slipped across my face without my realizing it, for I heard Marmint’s anxious voice murmuring, asking what on earth was wrong.
‘I did say it was a surprise gift.’
That said, I hadn’t lied about heading straight there. There was no need to apologize unnecessarily.

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