MR 08

Chapter 8

Mad Rosetta

Those Who Obey Don’t Get Punished (4)

Odette’s fifteenth birthday falls in spring.

Soon, she too would make her debut into high society alongside other young ladies.

Those noble ladies who, due to circumstances, skipped their debutante were either quietly introduced to society through a modest household ceremony or by attending the spring ball of the following year.

I clearly remembered this time of year—Odette visiting me and saying something like:

“My father is too busy, and the knights of Benetra are still scary. It would be wonderful if someone as reliable as Lord Chesia could escort me… but what am I to do?”

And then—

—“Of course, we can’t let our Bonita be troubled! I’ll tell Chesia to escort you!”

……My own idiotic past as well.

Odette was exceptionally skilled at making people move exactly as she wished.

That day, I had probably taken a nap right before her visit, gotten a severe headache, and ended up smashing a few pieces of furniture.

Because of that, I’d briefly felt refreshed and was able to greet her kindly.

‘Come to think of it, the fact that Panilnia flowers filled my room… that was also Odette. And the person I hit and cursed the most was also Odette…’

There was no denying that this had greatly contributed to her public image as “the pitiful yet benevolent younger sister who endures her cruel elder sister’s abuse and still takes care of her.”

But still, I couldn’t help thinking—she was ruthless.

“Looks like I should attend this banquet too.”

【Suddenly?】

As I grinned wickedly, imagining ruining Odette’s only debutante, Sing scolded me, saying I shouldn’t smile like that because it was scary.

What’s wrong with my smile?

My father once said every time I smiled, something outrageous like “I’m glad I couldn’t have Coco as a daughter, because even the Emperor wouldn’t be as happy as I am.”

“That’s right. I’ll do exactly to Odette what she did to me. Act as if I’m pitifully misunderstood, as if I’m being bullied by Lianna and Odette!”

【Ohhh.】

“Then I’ll be able to reclaim my graceful, pure, and fragile image.”

【Hmm, Roze? Darling?】

“Enough. Shut your mouth.”

【Do you not look in the mirror?】

“Shut it!”

As I huffed and puffed like some thug threatening people in a dark alley, Sing burst into laughter.

I didn’t know why he was always so amused. At times, he didn’t feel like a vengeful ghost at all—more like someone who had come out to casually enjoy the human world.

His constant giggling annoyed me, so I ordered him to stop. He pretended to wipe tears from his eyes, saying he was about to die laughing.

Seriously, what kind of ghost doesn’t even have eyes?

【Haah… I’ve laughed enough.】

“You were excessively so.”

I replied curtly.

Then Sing chuckled lowly and took a strand of my hair, twirling it around his finger.

His semi-transparent fingers made my dark hair curl and fall softly back down.

【Don’t be so sulky. When I said things like ‘pure’ or ‘fragile’… I just meant you’re beautiful enough without those words.】

He spoke gently, as if soothing a pouting child while playing with my hair.

Maybe it was because his voice was too soft, or because his fingers kept toying with my hair, smoothing it, curling it, tugging it—either way, I stiffened without realizing it.

【Speaking of balls… now that I think about it, Podcus used to appear more frequently around events like this.】

He nodded slightly, recalling Chesia’s past.

Just how long had he been watching Chesia? Even as a ghost, he was far too attached to the mortal world.

I silently vowed that I would never become a ghost like him, even if I died horribly young.

“Of course. Odette used to take Chesia as her partner even after her debutante.”

【…Even though your fiancé was running around with another woman, my darling was surprisingly calm?】

I couldn’t tell if he was genuinely curious or mocking me.

Honestly, I had never really worried about losing what I already had.

Chesia was one of those things.

“So what? Chesia was my fiancé. He said he loved me, so why would he cheat? And the person he’s accompanying is my younger sister… at what point is there even a problem?”

【……】

“I’ve even seen others try to seduce him like hungry people salivating over a forbidden apple. Ha! It only proved that what I had was desirable. I was proud of it.”

Jealousy and all that—it was pointless.

He was mine. Legally bound to me, no less. It would be morally wrong to act otherwise, so naturally I believed he wouldn’t.

Even though I died before turning nineteen, I had lived my whole life with that mindset.

【My dear.】

There it was again—his tongue trying to stir my emotions.

I was about to tell him to shut up again, but I couldn’t.

【What am I going to do with you… so innocent.】

Because my vision was suddenly blocked by Sing’s chest.

He had pulled me into an unexpected embrace, covering my head and gently patting it.

My heart pounded violently.

What the hell was this lunatic doing?

“Let go!”

With a loud shove, I pushed him away and he fell right off the chair.

The chair itself didn’t even move—as if it had never been occupied. It reminded me that Sing was the only one I could actually touch or hit.

【Hey, Roze. Darling? Are you even sick? You should enter a strength contest or something.】

“You, you crazy… how dare you touch a lady like that?”

【…Your face is red, darling.】

My face flared up even more at his words.

I waved my hand like a fan, trying to cool myself down.

Apparently, he wasn’t actually hurt. He returned to the chair and apologized for startling me.

【I didn’t realize you were so sensitive to touch.】

“…Is that something I need?”

【Haha, of course not.】

He then started rambling—saying he would ask permission before touching me, that I could jump into his arms anytime I wanted…

I smacked his invisible mouth repeatedly while scolding him.

At that moment, Penny’s voice came from outside.

“Miss, this is Penny. May I come in for a moment?”

What now? There was no way Marahan could’ve finished cleaning already.

After I allowed her in, Penny approached quietly and spoke respectfully.

“Lady Bonita requests an audience with you.”

“…What the hell!”

“Pardon?”

Penny flinched at my reflexive outburst.

Sorry. I just really hate her.

After what happened at breakfast, I couldn’t imagine Odette showing up so soon.

“Did she say why?”

“Yes… she said she believes she upset your mood during breakfast and wishes to apologize…”

“I see.”

I nodded, understanding immediately.

She was probably trying to play the role of the sweet younger sister who worries about her older sister’s feelings, especially now that she was attached to Penny.

The one who got scolded was herself, and yet she’s still this diligent…

I readily allowed Odette to come in, and Penny left quickly.

But when the door opened again and Odette entered—

I had to suppress the urge to throw my chair at her.

“Elder sister, I’m here.”

Look at her—walking in with a bouquet meant for me.

Her beige hair swayed gently with each step.

Her emerald eyes, so similar to her mother’s, curved beautifully when she smiled.

Everyone, including me, used to say she looked like a forest fairy.

“…What brings our Bonita here to see this sister of yours?”

I tried to keep my expression neutral, but my voice came out strained.

The sight of the Panilnia flowers in her arms sent a sharp pain through my body.

Maybe if I killed her right now, this pain would finally disappear…

【Relax, darling.】

I had been gripping the chair so tightly my knuckles were turning white.

If Sing hadn’t placed his hand over mine, I might have ended up beating my sister to death with a chair and becoming a true villainess.

“I just… wanted to check on you. You didn’t seem well at breakfast…”

Clutching her bouquet, she spoke timidly.

Anyone would think she was carefully watching my mood.

Every time I saw this side of her, I felt disgusted.

And she, for her part, always wrapped those Panilnia flowers so beautifully, as if she hated the scent’s effects on herself.

“Oh, right. Please take this. I brought flowers you like.”

“…What am I to do. I can’t accept that anymore.”

“Huh?”

“I’ll accept your feelings, but why don’t you display those flowers in your own room, Bonita?”

I smiled as gently as I could.

Since I had never once refused her flowers before, Odette looked visibly confused.

Don’t bring that poisonous weed into my room again. Hang it in yours.

She awkwardly held the bouquet midair before slowly taking it back.

“You’re upset, aren’t you? I shouldn’t have come…”

Her expression changed instantly.

I inwardly applauded her performance.

Wow… how does she act like that so naturally?

She looked like she was on the verge of tears while still forcing a smile to not worry me.

It was so pitifully convincing that I almost considered recommending her to the Duke as a stage actress.

Even Penny beside her looked sympathetic.

I found that extremely irritating and raised my hand sharply to interrupt.

“How can you be so weak…”

The moment I lifted my hand from the chair—

Odette shut her eyes tightly.

A posture prepared for being struck, as always.