Welcome to the Rose Mansion - Chapter 117
“The most… foolish girl in the world?”
Richelle hesitated as she repeated the question. Madam Otis’s bitter smile deepened.
“She’s the most foolish girl I’ve ever met in my entire life.”
She leaned back into the sofa, her frail fingers caressing the jewels she wore.
“Once upon a time… in a very small rural village, there lived a naive girl named Jacqueline Swann.”
***
Jacqueline Swann was the prettiest girl in the village. Her petite frame was always brimming with confidence, and she never hesitated to show off her talent for singing and dancing. Every day, she thought to herself:
—I must make myself known to the world. I’ll bring joy to people with my songs and etch my name into history.
But her humble village, filled with more trees than people, was far too small for her grand ambitions. So, as soon as she saved enough money for a train ticket, she set off for the capital, Lynton, her pockets full of fanciful dreams.
Although she was a country girl with little knowledge of the world, she understood that she needed to belong to some group or institution as quickly as possible to avoid trouble. Fortunately, Jacqueline was bright and sociable. Before long, she joined a small theater company that performed plays for commoners.
The plays Jacqueline performed in were always a huge success. It didn’t take long for the prettiest girl from the countryside to become known as the prettiest girl in the capital.
And then, her fortune arrived. A nobleman with a love for the arts offered to be her patron.
—You have a rare talent. One day, I’m sure you’ll sing before His Majesty the King. Until that day comes, I’ll take care of you.
Thanks to the nobleman’s support, Jacqueline advanced to larger theater companies and bigger stages. She was hailed as an irreplaceable prima donna, singing before noble lords and ladies.
Every day, flowers and gifts poured in. Noble sons would beg for just a glance or a chance to hold her hand. High society ladies fixated on the dresses and jewelry Jacqueline wore.
Then, one day, her patron arrived with an invitation.
—It’s done, Jacqueline. You’ve made it!
—What do you mean, sir?
—It means you can now take your talent to an even bigger stage! Look at this. You’ve been invited to Otis!
Jacqueline was overjoyed as she accepted the rose-scented invitation. Even a country girl like her knew of the immense power and influence of the Otis family.
If she could establish a connection with Otis, her fame would soar, eventually taking her all the way to the royal court.
—Jacqueline, you are the brightest gem I’ve ever discovered in my life, my dear.
The nobleman, who had no children even in his old age, cherished Jacqueline like a daughter, even like a granddaughter. He spared no expense in providing her with new dresses, jewels, and shoes for her journey to Bertrand.
But all of those luxurious new accessories paled in comparison to the brilliance of Bertrand. Even the overwhelming gold and opulence of Bertrand couldn’t outshine Jacqueline’s talent and beauty.
In a gathering of the most esteemed members of high society, Jacqueline sang in the center of it all, reveling in the peak of her joy. And then, their eyes met.
A pair of melancholy black eyes gazed at her.
The man’s eyes, which had fully taken in her beauty and grace, trembled ever so slightly. In that moment, it was as if the entire world had vanished, leaving only the two of them.
She knew instinctively.
That man would become an unforgettable presence in her life.
Jacqueline, the girl from the countryside, knew all too well how cruel the world could be. But because her life had been a string of successes, she still had a touch of innocence left in her.
Enough innocence to dream of a fateful love at first sight with a nobleman.
The man’s name was Rick Otis. The young noble was the master of the Otis family.
On the second day of the social gathering at Bertrand, their eyes met repeatedly.
On the third day, they strolled through the garden together.
On the fourth day, they danced in an empty hallway.
On the fifth day, Jacqueline sang to the accompaniment of his piano.
By then, rumors had spread that the master of House Otis had fallen deeply in love with the beautiful prima donna. The social gathering, originally planned for five days, extended to ten.
On the eighth day, Rick Otis proposed to Jacqueline. Hesitant until the last moment due to their overwhelming difference in status, Jacqueline finally accepted the ring he offered her on the tenth day.
Those days were dazzling and glorious beyond imagination.
The marriage between Jacqueline Swann, the kingdom’s most renowned prima donna, and Rick Otis, the richest man in the kingdom, shook the entire social world.
Those who witnessed the enormous diamond on Jacqueline’s ring finger spread the news wildly, unable to contain their excitement.
