Chapter 10

Mad Rosetta

Those Who Obey Don’t Get Punished (6)

No matter how frequently Odette came and went from the Rose Mansion, there were limits to how closely she could monitor me.

If she wanted to take control of the family more easily, she would have needed confirmation that I remained in a state from which I could never recover.

It wasn’t difficult to conclude that there were servants she had already placed around me.

“Since my behavior has changed, she must be feeling uneasy. So if a position opens up where someone can stay close to me and watch me, wouldn’t Odette immediately order her people to volunteer?”

【But that would also mean handing over the details of your daily life to them.】

“If I lose something, I gain something as well. I’ll reveal just enough and, at the perfect moment, cut off every one of Odette’s informants. Tracking them down one by one would take too long, and they’d be difficult to find.”

【Offering flesh to gain bone, huh? I like that strategy, darling.】

Leaving Sing grinning unpleasantly behind me, I headed to the bath.

This was a trap for Odette.

By making her believe, through her informants, that everything was still proceeding according to her wishes, I would crush every spark of hope she had left.

As I soaked in the bath, I repeatedly drifted off while imagining Odette after losing all her hands and feet.

Though it was only a misunderstanding, Penny might have had reason to feel upset. Yet just like in the morning, she carefully washed me with meticulous attention.

“Starting tomorrow, Penny, you won’t have to work so hard all by yourself anymore.”

“…Yes. Thank you, my lady.”

What a cute little thing.

Her tightly pressed lips looked almost pouty.

I’d heard that after her family sold their title, she had ended up working as a maid for our household.

She seemed to think she would be returning to cleaning duties starting tomorrow.

Suppressing a laugh, I finished my bath and headed toward my bed.

【Darling, I’ve been waiting for you.】

“……”

The ghost was sprawled across my bed, propping his head on one hand in an oddly seductive pose.

When exactly did I take a lover?

Too tired to argue, I shoved him aside with my foot and buried my face in the blankets.

The soft bedding from Trans Company wrapped around me, carrying the comforting scent of soap.

Even his joking complaints about how cruelly I treated him sounded like a lullaby.

Sleepiness washed over me, and I surrendered to it.

【My… you really sleep like a child.】

“……”

【If your mother were still alive, she’d probably scold me to death…】

I vaguely heard him whispering something as I drifted off.

But it was probably just the meaningless muttering of a ghost who had spent an absurdly long day with me.

Thinking that, I let sleep take me.

【Sleep well, darling.】

I must have been truly exhausted.

For once, I didn’t even dream.

* * *

“Did you cough, my lady?”

“I was made to cough.”

Stretching my stiff body, I answered irritably.

Though all the flowers had been burned, the poison from the Panilnia I had inhaled for so long seemed to have accumulated in my body.

I had planned to sleep in today.

Instead, Penny insisted from the crack of dawn that I absolutely needed to come out and see something.

As a result, I had been forcibly awakened.

While washing up, she told me to hum, so I hummed. When she suggested braiding my hair today, I told her to do as she liked.

Only then did Penny finally explain herself.

“The items His Grace sent have arrived in the hall. What would you like us to do with them?”

“So there was a reason for waking me up so urgently.”

Today was also the day my new maids would arrive.

Was Penny eager to fill my pitiful wardrobe as quickly as possible?

Seeing her complicated expression, I instructed her to have the gifts brought upstairs.

Father really works fast…

I had only informed him yesterday morning that I lacked suitable dresses.

The fact that he had already prepared and sent things warmed my heart.

“I’m sure he only mentioned sending a few outfits.”

“The custom-made items will take several days, so he sent everything that was already prepared.”

“Well then?”

I stared blankly at the boxes covering the sitting room floor.

One, two, three…

Once the count passed twenty, I gave up and told Penny to bring me only something I could wear immediately.

When the new maids arrived, their first task would be organizing the wardrobe.

As I watched Penny happily tearing open packages, I suddenly realized someone was missing.

Where did that fool wander off to?

Even if I’d only known him for a single day, Sing normally appeared the moment I opened my eyes, saying ridiculous things like “Darling, you’re awake?” or “I’ve been admiring your sleeping face.”

Yet no matter how much I looked around, he was nowhere to be seen.

Oddly enough, his absence left things feeling a little empty.

Meanwhile, thanks to Penny’s skillful hands, I was gradually starting to look like a proper person again when Marahan’s voice sounded from outside the door.

“My lady, this is Marahan. I have completed the task you assigned me.”

Do none of these people ever sleep?

I had only assigned the task last evening and expected the servants to arrive sometime in the afternoon.

Apparently the selections had been made much faster than expected.

Three maids entered behind Marahan and lined up.

As Penny continued applying my makeup, I glanced at them through the mirror.

Two of them were among the maids who had cleaned my room yesterday.

“Well done, Marahan. You may leave now.”

After bowing respectfully, Marahan departed.

The three introduced themselves as Sarah, Reina, and Vicky.

I studied them carefully.

All of them looked around Penny’s age, perhaps a year or two older.

Since I had never paid much attention to the people around me before, it was impossible to tell at a glance which of them might have connections to Odette.

“Very well. From now on, the three of you will become my hands and feet.”

“We will serve you with all our hearts, my lady.”

That response sounded impressively soulless.

Still, they maintained proper etiquette, which meant Marahan had trained them well.

Once Penny finished with perfume and my appearance was complete, I rose from the mirror and approached them.

“Penny, now that they’re here, there’s no longer any need for you to remain in your current position.”

“…Yes, my lady.”

The others were watching Penny.

One looked sympathetic, assuming she was being dismissed.

Another seemed to think it was only natural.

Both reactions were understandable.

Penny’s official duty had originally been cleaning—specifically polishing the second-floor hallway and staircase.

Since nobody else volunteered to assist me with bathing, she had only been assigned temporarily because she worked diligently.

Naturally, she should have returned to her original post.

“Therefore, starting today, Penny will become my personal maid and will be responsible for leading all of you.”

I could simply create a position if I wanted one.

The room suddenly became silent.

Everyone stared at me in shock.

Feeling slightly awkward, I continued.

“You will follow Penny’s lead and carry out your assigned duties faithfully. I will carefully consider the final division of responsibilities later. For now, start by moving and organizing those.”

Following my finger, they looked toward the mountain of gift boxes.

I expected them to be unhappy about receiving work immediately after being assigned to me, but instead they energetically began opening packages.

“M-My lady…”

“Penny, you should start by correcting the way you speak. It’s cute, but it lacks the dignity expected of my maid.”

“But… how can I become your personal maid? Could you reconsider?”

What was she saying?

I frowned in disbelief.

Being promoted from maid to lady’s attendant required three things:

Family background.

Education.

And luck.

A noble household carefully examined a candidate’s lineage, manners, knowledge, and competence before selecting a personal attendant.

It was a position of tremendous responsibility.

Yet this rabbit-like girl was actually refusing despite being chosen without any consideration of her background.

What was I supposed to do with her?

“I never expected you to question my decision. You’ll need a proper reason, Penny.”

“F-First, I’m too young to serve you properly.”

“There’s no age requirement.”

“A-And! I never received a proper education. If I stay by your side, I might only cause trouble.”

“My reputation has already fallen as low as it can go. Don’t worry about it.”

“Th-Then—!”

“Enough. Tsk.”

At the sound of my tongue clicking, Penny immediately snapped her mouth shut.

Realizing she had irritated me, her shoulders drooped.

I let out a long sigh before speaking.

“Listen, Penny. You are exceptionally good at reading your master’s mood and providing exactly what is needed at the right moment. I value those abilities and chose to keep you because of them. Yet if you call yourself an ignorant and worthless person, how is that any different from criticizing my judgment?”

“I would never mean that, my lady!”

“No matter how noble your intentions, other people are the ones who interpret your words. You must always remember that you act as my representative. Think carefully about the weight your words carry.”

“Y-Yes, my lady… I’ll remember that.”

Her shoulders sank even lower.

Part of me thought I had gone far enough.

But if I let this pass, I felt certain there would come a day when Penny disappointed me.

A maid serving me should never be someone others could look down upon.

I wanted her to strike down anyone who tried to make a fool of her with elegant words and flawless manners.

“I understand that you’re humble. That’s enough. Too much humility only makes you seem pathetic. Surely you don’t want your master to look ridiculous as well?”

“I-I will serve you proudly, my lady!”

“Yes, yes. See that you do.”

Deciding the lecture had gone on long enough, I left the room with only Penny.

I intended to visit Father and ask for permission to attend the spring banquet.

The problem was what I found the moment I stepped into the hallway.

There stood that ghost again—whether walking or floating was impossible to tell—cheerfully waving his hand at me as though nothing had happened.