12.
“……Huh? What?”
“Her Grace, that is, um…….”
Anna trailed off, sending a desperate look. Rosetta barely pulled herself together. That is…… the drawing room. She had been in the middle of a conversation with some young nobleman. She had drifted into daydreaming out of sheer boredom, and apparently, had been lost in thought far too long.
The young nobleman sitting across from her had a face flushed bright red. Judging by the atmosphere, it seemed he was waiting for an answer, but Rosetta, just snapped out of her reverie, had no idea what he had said.
“So, what did you say, say again?”
“He inquired whether you would accompany him to the summer ball hosted at the Jeudo Renouac residence.”
“Jeudo?”
“Yes. Isn’t the social season beginning next week? Or, are you planning to skip this season, Your Grace?”
From a corner of the drawing room, the Duchess, pretending to do embroidery, elegantly coughed. To Rosetta, it sounded like a warning signal that skipping meant she’d be folded in half.
She had recently come to realize the Duchess possessed quite a fiery temper. Above all, breaking a teacup twice was an accident that must never happen again.
Rosetta cautiously nudged the teacup near the edge of the table further inward, offering a forced smile.
“I, I couldn’t possibly skip it. Oh, hoho…….”
“That’s a relief. Your presence would be a great joy. And if you would honor me with your company, it would mean even more.”
“Ho, hoho…….”
She barely managed to curl her trembling lips upward. It was driving her mad. Where on earth did these men collectively learn such embarrassingly sweet talk…….
Still, men like this were preferable. At least they mistook her mere smile as a sign the conversation was going smoothly. In contrast, Cardier…… She shook her head in surprise at her own thoughts.
“Of course, giving a definite answer must be difficult…….”
Somehow misunderstanding that, the young man spoke gloomily. She waved her fan carelessly. After all, even if she used the fan to pick her nose, most of these fools wouldn’t know the etiquette was wrong anyway. Too smitten by Lea’s looks…….
Having the most uniquely beautiful appearance in the world truly was convenient.
“I’ll talk to Mother first. It’s a bit hard to decide on my own…….”
She trailed off awkwardly, and the young man nodded as if he had just heard the most natural thing in the world. Afterwards, he repeatedly mentioned his merits—three carriages, an estate worth over a hundred acrons, five horses, and twenty servants—as if urging her, before leaving the drawing room accompanied by Anna.
Rosetta clicked her tongue. He would’ve been a decent alternative, if only he weren’t so desperate to marry. But the Duchess’s opinion seemed different from Rosetta’s.
“You refused well. To think your father would even accept a suitor’s formal letter from someone like that. What’s wrong with his head?”
“Huh?”
“No matter if he’s from the Marquis of Bedford’s family, he’s not the eldest son. He won’t even inherit the title.”
That alone was clearly enough to earn her contempt. Rosetta tried to shrug her shoulders, but under the Duchess’s sharp gaze, she awkwardly shifted to smoothing her hair instead.
After doing this for about a month, the only skill she had improved was reading the Duchess’s mood. Apparently satisfied with her demeanor, the Duchess gently took Rosetta’s hand.
“I’m glad you’re regaining your memories faster. At this rate, you’ll be back to normal before this social season ends.”
Normal. Since it wasn’t really about her anyway, it didn’t hurt, but wasn’t that a rather harsh thing for a mother to say to her daughter…….
“When you actually broke that heirloom teacup from your great-grandmother, I was truly shocked…….”
Rosetta quietly straightened her rebellious attitude. Of course, every word was sound and practical. Not because she was particularly weak to the word “heirloom.”
While the Duchess poured out yet another heartfelt sentiment at the sight of Rosetta behaving so obediently, a servant in white gloves placed a silver tray on the table. Rosetta thought it might be new refreshments, but instead, the tray was piled high with palm-sized cards.
The Duchess pulled the tray closer with a delighted expression.
“Look. Invitations have already arrived in such numbers. Picnics, exhibitions, balls, boat rides…… This season promises to be the most splendid one yet.”
“You mean…… we’ll attend all of these?”
“Child, what are you saying?”
The Duchess laughed aloud, as if she had just heard the funniest thing.
“Five times more invitations will come.”
“…….”
“Most importantly, we must urgently find a partner to help with your dance practice. Not that I doubt Madame Valmont’s skill, but you can’t waltz alone, can you?”
……It was already dreadful. Now she had to hold someone’s hand and spin around in circles? And what? Jeudo’s social circle? Rosetta urgently slapped the table.
“A, actually, now that I think about it, I might not need to go to Jeudo at all! I, I think I might have someone I want to get engaged to!”
“Which young noble?”
Rosetta could only gape speechlessly. She should’ve paid closer attention when Anna mentioned which noble from which family……. All the names were so long that she kept forgetting them anyway.
Besides, since all the men here were obsessed with mines, the moment she showed even slight interest, they’d start planning the wedding date—making it hard to find a suitable candidate. Suddenly, someone peeked into her mind, but Rosetta shuddered and shook her head violently.
Absolutely not him. Never.
As Rosetta remained silent, biting her lip without offering a name, the Duchess wore a complicated expression, then stood and approached her. She reached out and wrapped her arms around her daughter’s shoulders, soothing her.
“Given your long engagement to the Crown Prince, this will be just like your true debut into society.”
“…….”
“When I was your age, I made my debut too, and I was just as anxious as you. You’ll do well, my child.”
Glancing sideways, she saw Anna and the servants wiping away tears.
……This wasn’t right. Saying otherwise would make her seem like a heartless wretch. The Duchess, her eyes slightly reddened, carefully examined Rosetta and gently added,
“Wait. Now that I think of it, we’ll need to buy more dresses and jewels. We’ll have several made in Jeudo, but that’s no reason to skimp here.”
Very sensible words indeed. Well, except for the dresses—just the jewels. Jewels were good, very good, but…….
“I heard you particularly favor a sapphire necklace. I’ll call a jeweler tomorrow to order a pair of earrings as well.”
“Then I shall retire for the night, to prepare for tomorrow’s schedule.”
Rosetta quickly rose from her seat.
* * *
“…Do I really have to eat this?”
“Is it not to your liking? Should I have it remade?”
No, as if remaking it would help? There wasn’t a single edible dish to begin with?
She looked down skeptically at the food laid out on the table. Clear vegetable soup, not a single piece of meat in it. Rye bread, with no butter to spread. Greens salad, nothing but greens. Rosetta pouted and grumbled.
Among pirates, there was a saying: “Even if you starve to death on a ship, wear gemstone rings on all ten fingers; for your final meal, chew on a mouse’s bones.” Everyone interpreted it as they pleased, but to Rosetta, the meaning was crystal clear: chew meat with every meal.
And for twenty-eight years of her life, Rosetta had lived by that principle. If counting the time she was dead, thirty-two full years.
“But the mistress gave strict orders that you must follow this diet. Only then will you carry yourself properly when wearing your ball gown for the waltz.”
At Anna’s urging, Rosetta reluctantly picked up her spoon and stirred the soup. A few pieces of carrot and celery caught on the spoon in the water-clear broth. Seriously, in such an incredibly wealthy household, why would they deliberately serve food even a pirate wouldn’t eat?
……Well, everything else was fine. But expecting her to build stamina on this diet was like being told to catch a kraken with a handkerchief. Her hard-earned muscles would just melt away.
“Even so, this is going too far. I’m a patient, you know.”
Rosetta frowned, tapping the table with her finger. In this kind of fight, once you backed down, seizing the upper hand again would be difficult. Seeing Anna flinch and look away, it seemed the kitchen probably had other food after all.
Rosetta bared her teeth and growled.
“If you don’t bring me meat right now…….”
“She said she’d call the jeweler once you finish eating everything quietly.”
“…….”
……Apparently, Duchess Valdemore had figured out exactly how to handle her.
Male lead fell into her trap — and shattered when she walked away
This is also on my reread list!
This one is a slow burn, but when it burns, it burns hard.
Definitely worth a read, y’all!
The story follows a thousand-year-old seductive spirit who, on a bet, sets out to charm the male lead—a once-promising but unfortunate cultivator.
But just when she succeeds in making him fall for her, she heartlessly leaves, driving him to madness.
Determined to find her at all costs, he captures her, keeping her by his side no matter what, even if she hates him.
I love this kind of trope—I enjoy watching the male lead suffer in agony.
The ending drags a bit with unnecessary filler, but that’s fine.
As long as I enjoy the beginning, I’m good.
Intro
As an enchantress, Su Heng possesses captivating eyes and charming beauty, easily manipulating the joys and sorrows of living beings at her fingertips.
But to enchant a god, making him taste the bitterness of love’s separation, long-lasting resentment, unattainable desires, and inability to let go…
Do you dare?
Su Heng assists a divine lord in his cultivation, aiming to make him experience all the sufferings of love, so that he can attain the Great Dao.
Only after being chased down from the heavens by the divine lord, confined and completely possessed by him, does she realize how successful she has been.
The once gentle and polite youth has transformed into someone she no longer recognizes.
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
