Welcome to the Rose Mansion - Chapter 133
The room that the Sylvester matriarch provided for the Otis brothers was located on the fourth floor of the estate.
As you may know, rooms under the roof tend to be hot in the summer and cold in the winter, so they are usually only used by servants.
Of course, unlike other estates, the rooms on the fourth floor of Bertrand were quite comfortable, suitable even to be called guest rooms. The Sylvester matriarch was known for her generous treatment of her household.
However, no matter how nice it was, a room under the roof was still a room under the roof. At that time, the fourth floor of Bertrand was used as quarters for senior servants. The idea of sharing a living environment with mere servants was a blow to Neil Otis’s lofty pride.
Perhaps wanting to escape reality, Neil hardly stayed at the estate. He would leave early in the morning, wander outside all day, and return late at night, heavily drunk. Sometimes, he wouldn’t come back at all. Rumor had it that he was frequenting gambling dens, hoping to make a fortune overnight.
Neil’s absence was a blessing for Edgar. At least, that’s how it appeared to others. Whenever his brother didn’t come home, the boy couldn’t hide his anxiety and would pace nervously by the window.
Regardless of how the boy felt, it was clear that the more often Neil was away, the more peaceful Edgar’s life became. There was no one to hurl verbal abuse at him, and the servants, who despised Neil, pitied Edgar.
Especially the Sylvester matriarch. Every morning, after waking up late and finishing her morning preparations, she would ask her maid,
「 Where is Neil Otis? 」
「 He left the estate early in the morning, Madam. 」
The maid would reply politely, and the matriarch would nod with satisfaction.
「 Then pass on a message to Edgar. I would like him to join me for lunch. 」
When the servant conveyed the invitation, Edgar would respond with a gentle smile, tidy himself up, and make his way down to the dining room. The matriarch would greet the polite boy with a warm gaze.
「 Sit down, Edgar. You don’t look too bad today. Are you feeling better? Is there anything you’re uncomfortable with? 」
「 Thanks to your constant care, Madam, every day is a joy for me. 」
「 That’s good to hear. Now, let’s eat. You need to eat well to stay healthy. You’re still growing, so you must eat everything on this table. 」
As mentioned before, Edgar was a boy who could draw affection from anyone. The Sylvester matriarch cherished him like a grandson, and the servants soon began to treat him as if he were the household’s young lord. The proud head chef was overjoyed every time Edgar cleaned his plate.
Upon hearing that Edgar liked books, the matriarch even opened up the head of the family’s study for him. Edgar’s eyes sparkled like summer greenery at the sight of the countless books filling the shelves.
Watching the boy quietly as he browsed through various books, the matriarch felt a gentle breeze she hadn’t experienced in a long time. It was a sensation she hadn’t felt since losing her young daughter so tragically.
As she observed Edgar flipping through different books, she asked him with a kind expression:
「 Ah, that’s a collection of poems from the south. Edgar, do you know the language of the southern nations? 」
「 My skill is far from fluent. 」
「 Did you learn it from a tutor? 」
「 I learned the basics from my father, and the rest I picked up by reading on my own. 」
「 Impressive. Come over here and recite a few poems for me, will you? Southern poetry has a unique romantic charm, don’t you think? 」
The more the matriarch saw of Edgar, the more she liked him. With his gentle nature, polite manners, and sharp intellect, she found herself growing more attached to him.
At that time, Sylvester had no heirs to continue the family line. The matriarch was the last direct descendant, and her child had passed away at an early age. If the matriarch were to leave this world, the name Sylvester would disappear from history forever.
However, she had no intention of digging through distant relatives just to find someone to carry on the family name. She believed that forcing the issue would only tarnish the proud name of Sylvester.
But after meeting Edgar, she changed her mind. She thought it would be no loss to pass Sylvester down to this child. Edgar was still not of age, so it wasn’t too late to start educating him as an heir.
Having made up her mind, the matriarch called Edgar to her.
「 I would like to adopt you as my heir and pass on everything of Sylvester to you. What do you think? 」
Edgar was taken aback. Not knowing what to do, he clasped his hands tightly.
「 Madam… I am deeply grateful, but I am not suited to lead a household. 」
「 Anything lacking can be learned. 」
「 I was not born with good health. I will surely be a burden. 」
「 Since coming here, hasn’t your health improved significantly? If you continue to eat well, hear good things, and see good things, your health will no longer be an issue. 」
The matriarch spoke calmly, attempting to persuade him. She also did not forget to firmly impress her wishes upon him.
「 However, once you become my son, I would like you to completely sever your ties with Neil Otis. He is not someone who will have a good influence on you. Rather, he will drag you down to the very bottom. 」
